Oh, the friends you'll make

... at the Bicycle Bash By the Bay.

Including:

SWAMP -- The premier off-road biking organization of west Florida will be on hand to tell you the best places to have some fun with your mountain bike. Look for Gary Rosseter, who works at SWFBUD member Revolution Bicycles, to inform you about trails and how to maintain and build them.

St. Petersburg CityTrails -- CityTrails -- the award-winning organization of the city of St. Petersburg, will be at Vinoy Park to hold the bike rodeo for the kids and inform you about the bicycle work being done on city streets. Cheryl Stacks, the city's bicycle-pedestrian coordinator, will be around to answer your questions.

St. Petersburg Bike Club -- The St. Petersburg Bike Club will be on the grounds to inform you about the regular scheduled bike rides you can enjoy in the city. Tim Butts, the bike club's president, is expected to lead a morning bike ride on Sunday to the Bicycle Bash by the Bay, then be around to chat with.

Tampa Bay Freewheelers -- The Freewheelers are a regional force, holding very popular 100-mile organized rides in the Dade City and Plant City areas every year. Reuben Watson, the Freewheelers' president, will be in the park.

Hillsborough County MPO Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee -- This BPAC received an award from the Florida Bicycle Association as the BPAC of the state this year. Gena Torres, the BPAC staff coordinator, will be around to answer your questions. And look for Tina Russo, the BPAC chairperson and experienced bicycle safety instructor, too.

Tampa BayCycle -- This new bike-commuting initiative recently won an international award for its innovative program of encouraging local folks to ride their bike to work and school. Julie Bond will be around to answer your questions.

Bikecommuters.com -- Speaking of bike commuting, we have Mr. Bike Commuter himself, Jack Sweeney of Tampa, on hand to show you his legendary "patriot bike." Jack is also known to write a word or two about bicycling in the Tampa area.

PSTA -- The Pinellas County bus authority will be in the house. Buses with bike racks are finding amazing business from users who like riding both their bikes and buses.

Suncoast Cycling Club -- For bicyclists in the Clearwater/Palm Harbor/Tarpon Springs area, the Suncoast Cycling Club is THE club to join. Look for its president, Tom Ferrero, who also is chairman of the Pinellas County Bicycle Advisory Committee.

University of South Florida Cycling Team -- The team suffered a tragic loss nearly two weeks ago when its leader, Josh Kuck, died in a bicycle accident during a 100-mile organized ride in Pasco County. Stop and say hi to the USF bicyclists, who will be holding a raffle to raise money for the Josh Kuck Foundation.

Police Unity Tour -- This group does a bike ride to Washington, D.C. every year to raise money for a national police memorial. Supporter Mary Young will be around, and bicylist Ellen Pierson of the PUT can talk to you, too.

Sierra Club -- Two local area chapters will be on hand to tell you all about their work. Look for Ben Berauer and Marcia Biggs, who helps organize the Earth Day event in Tampa.

Adventure Cycling -- Local representatives of this Montana-based group will be on hand to tell you about using your bicycle as a vehicle of adventure and also to give an award to SWFBUD member store Bicycle Outfitters of Seminole for being the national adverture cycling store of the year.

Alan Snel -- Director of SWFBUD and cycling blogger, Alan is a huge part of the cycling community here in Tampa Bay. He is also the driving force behind the Bash By the Bay.   

Tour de Bash-ville Friday

Can't quite wait for the Bicycle Bash By the Bay to begin? The Tour de Bash-ville will begin in St. Petersburg at Starbucks at 1st Ave. N and 2nd Street at 7 p.m. Friday. Bash promoter Alan Snel will be towing his Bash Board and handing out fliers, red blinker lights and leg reflectors and the ride will cruise slowly through downtown promoting the big event.
All participants must have front and rear lights. Contact Alan for more info.

Ride to the Bicycle Bash By the Bay

We hope you're still planning to attend the largest cycling event of the year in Tampa Bay, so why not arrive by bike!

• The St. Pete Bike Club is leading a ride from the North Shore Pool at 10 am and will do an hour-long ride out and back to the pool, which is next-door to Vinoy Park.
• The Suncoast Cycling Club will also be riding in. Check with Tom Ferrero at Suncoast Cycling for that club's route.
• The Tampa Bay Freewheelers will be coming in over the Gandy Bridge's Friendship Trail.
• Lance Riddile from the city of Largo will be coming in from central Pinellas County. Ride details: Sunday, Nov. 4 @ 9am, Leaving from 102nd Ave. & the Pinellas Trail. Once riders reach North Shore Pool they'll pick up some other riders and head out on what is traditionally called the, "26 North Ride." Out at Gandy Blvd. they will hook up with the Tampa Bay Free Wheelers and come back to North Shore Pool for the festivities.

The Guardian's tips for cyclists

It's no surprise that they think a bit different across the pond in the UK, where The Guardian offers up these, we hope, tongue-in-cheek tips for commuting by bike, including:

Bag
Why keep a handbag hidden away in a pannier or basket when a really good one can put the helmet in a whole new perspective? Wear it "messenger-style" across the body, but send out a most unmessenger-like message by making it ridiculously glamorous. This is the moment to buy into Chanel or, for those of us for whom £860 ($1,765) is too much, into a Chanel-inspired high-street design.

Friends mourn USF cycling team founder

University of South Florida students today mourned Josh Kuck, the founder of the school's cycling team who died Sunday while biking.

In this photo, Kim May, left, and Sarah Milton embrace outside the university's Marshall Center. May is on the staff of USF's student health services. Milton is a USF senior and a member of USF's cycling team.

Kuck died after he was hit by a Dodge Ram while riding in the "Hilly Hundred" in Dade City.

Photo and text by Chris Zuppa/St. Petersburg Times.

Forget bikes, ride this.... thing

The ROM is one serious looking machine. I'm not even sure what all those things sticking out do exactly, but according to its manufacturer it gives you the same workout in four minutes as a regular 45 minute workout. It also claims that because it uses 55% of the body’s muscles during the workout you can burn about 465 calories in that short amount of time.

Right.

At FastExcercise.com I learned some cool things about it, such as:

• It costs $14,615.
• That much money is well spent when it comes to your fitness and well being (ok, true, but not in this extreme).
• Winning over customers is hard: "After receiving our free video and literature, only 3 out of 10 people both view the video and read our literature. Those who fail to watch the video and read the literature are not very likely to purchase a ROM. It takes a small amount of discipline to both watch the video and thoroughly read the literature."
• It was featured in Newsweek in February 1992.
• The "experts" who 'dis the ROM don't know what they're talking about.

Memorial for Josh Kuck - Friday at USF

Friday at noon USF will host a memorial service for Josh Kuck, the founder of the school's cycling team who was killed while riding his bike Sunday. Meet at the Marshall Center (student union) at USF's main campus [map].

St. Pete Mad Dog wins Ironman World Championship

By Jessica Mundie/Times correspondent

Australian pro triathlete and St. Pete Mad Dogs member Chris McCormack arrived in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as a pre-race for the Ford Ironman World Championship. He trained there extensively this year, and his face is familiar to locals along the road.

McCormack, or "Macca" as he is known, finally fulfilled his dream, winning the race Oct. 13 with a time of 8 hours, 15 minutes, 34 seconds.

"I've dreamed about this day for 20 years," Macca told reporters at the Ironman finish line. "It's a beautiful event. It's been my dream."

When he raced at St. Anthony's Triathlon in April, Macca got the loudest cheers as he sped along Beach Drive, high-fiving St. Petersburg's crowds.

"I had to hope. We were running stupidly fast out in the lava fields. I have never suffered like that in my life," Macca said.

Ironman Triathlon race distances are swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles.

Once again, the top Florida finisher at Ford Ironman World Championship was Naples triathlete Joe Bonness, who won his 50-54 age division in 9:46:36. Bonness, 52, a road construction contractor and a member of the St. Pete Mad Dogs, was happy with his finish.

Also among Florida's finishers at Ford Ironman World Championship were Art Halttunen, 57, St. Petersburg, 11:17:55; Marni Rakes, 25, New Port Richey, 12:26:58; Jennifer Hutchison, 40, St. Petersburg, 12:54:02; and Dean Cosgrove, 47, Tarpon Springs, 15:00:44.

The Half-Ironman World Championship will be held in Clearwater November 10.

Chris McCormack guzzles energy drink after winning the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. AP photos

Fundraiser for Joshua Kuck USF Cycling scholarship

Members of the USF Cycling team have organized a fundraiser for a Joshua Kuck memorial scholarship. Kuck was killed Sunday during the Hilly Hundred ride in Pasco County.

The team will drop the puck at the USF hockey game Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Ice Sports Forum in Tampa.

The game is free with USF Student ID or USF Cycling polo shirt. There is a $5 fee for all others that goes to a pediatric cancer charity.

All are welcome, whether you are just a hockey fan or you just want to support two good causes.

Details for the USF Cycling team members are posted on the team site under the team forum. Also, the team calendar on the site will have the event added.

For more information, contact scholarship [at] usfcycling [dot] org.

Ride Without Limits - November 17-18

This two-day, 200-mile event will help raise funds and awareness for United Cerebral Palsy. You can ride as an individual, form a team or join a team. Each rider agrees to raise at least $500 in donations.

Learn more at Ride Without Limits.

Added to the Spoke N Word

USF cycling team founder killed during ride

Joshua Kuck

By Eric Smithers
Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Joshua Kuck loved anything on wheels. The co-founder of a USF cycling team grew up riding mountain and dirt bikes before switching to road bikes two years ago.

He once told his father that if he died he wanted his ashes strewn on a speedway. A crash in Dade City on Sunday made those words all too real.

Mr. Kuck ran a stop sign while riding in the “Hilly Hundred,” an event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Freewheelers cycling club, the Florida Highway Patrol reported.

He was turning left from Clay Hill Road onto Blanton Road when a Dodge Ram driven by James T. Browning, 48, of Dade City collided with Mr. Kuck’s Specialized E-5 bicycle and ejected him onto the shoulder, the Highway Patrol said.

A second pack of riders tried to revive him, but Mr. Kuck, who was wearing a helmet, died instantly of massive head trauma, his father said. He was 22.

No charges were filed.

The organized ride was not a race and was not conducted on a closed course, event coordinator Ruben Watson said.

A junior from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Mr. Kuck helped start the cycling team two years ago with nearly $15,000 collected from sponsors. Team members called him dedicated and selfless.

“Josh always made it known that if there was anything he could do in a race to sacrifice himself, he wouldn’t care if he lost or won, he just wanted us to do well,” teammate Brandon Kibler said.

His father, Stuart Kuck, described him as a go-getter who always stayed busy.

He said his son enjoyed motorcycling, water polo and lacrosse.

Mr. Kuck had spent five years in college trying to find himself — first at Plymouth State and then at the University of South Florida, his father said.

Finally, at USF, he did.

“I told him just last week I was so impressed,” Stuart Kuck said.

The family plans to cremate Mr. Kuck in Maine.

According to his father, he wished to have his ashes spread over the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon.

Stuart Kuck said he plans to do just that.

A memorial service has not been scheduled.

Meanwhile, the cycling team plans to have a memorial ride to the place where Josh Kuck died.

Next year, members hope to set up a scholarship program in his name.

“Josh put way too much time into this,” teammate Kristy Acuff said. “It was literally his baby, and he is the reason we have a team right now.”

Staff writer Casey Cora contributed to this report. Eric Smithers can be reached at (813) 226-3339 or esmithers@sptimes.com.

You can contact the USF cycling team through through its website.

Cycling alone isn't best for bones

The LA Times reports that a new study suggests that cycling alone, while great exercise, does nothing to improve or sustain bone density.

The study tested the bone mineral density of 27 cyclists and 16 runners ages 20 to 59 who had engaged in their sport a minimum of six hours a week for at least two years. Hinton controlled for diet, past exercise and weight training. Whole body scans and blood tests showed that 63% of cyclists had osteopenia of the spine or hip, compared with 19% of the runners.

Osteopenia is bone mineral density that's lower than normal but not so low to be considered osteoporosis, or very low bone mineral density. Not all who have osteopenia will develop osteoporosis, and treatment isn't always required.

Some of those with osteopenia were in their 20s and 30s, "and that was pretty alarming to me," says Pam Hinton, associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia and coauthor of the study accepted for publication in the journal Metabolism. "I thought I'd just see it in guys who were older and had been riding for years."

Sounds like common sense to me. It's also a perfect excuse to give cyclocross a shot!

Update on USF cyclist killed during Hilly Hundred

Joshua Kuck

by Casey Cora, Times staff writer

DADE CITY -- The co-founder and captain of the University of South Florida cycling team was killed during an organized cycling event Sunday.

Riding in the "Hilly Hundred," an event sponsored by the Tampa Bay Freewheelers cycling club, 22-year-old Joshua Kuck was headed south on Clay Hill Road when he ran a stop sign at the Blanton Road intersection, according to a Florida Highway Patrol news release.

Roads had not been closed for Sunday's ride, said Ruben Watson, a Tampa Bay Freewheelers organizer.

Kuck steered left onto Blanton Road, positioning his Specialized E-5 bicycle in the eastbound lanes and into the path of an eastbound Dodge Ram driven by James T. Browning, 48, of Dade City.

Highway patrol officials said the front of the truck hit the back of Kuck's bike. The impact tossed Kuck, who was wearing a helmet, onto the pavement.

No charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

According to profiles on Facebook.com and the cycling team's Web site, Kuck, a native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, was an active athlete. Enthused with road racing, Kuck co-founded the USF team in summer 2006. In addition to organizing funding for the startup team, Kuck and co-founder Brandon Crain led early-morning training sessions.

Facebook.com photo taken by Brandon Crain.

Cyclist killed during Hilly Hundred ride

It is with great sadness I bring you the news from Sunday's Hilly Hundred ride in Pasco County. Josh Kuck, 22, of Tampa, was killed during the ride after being struck by a vehicle. Josh was captain of the USF cycling team. The accident occurred at the intersection of Clay Hill Road and County Road 41. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Josh was approaching the intersection southbound on Clay Hill Road when he ran the stop sign to make a left on County Road 41. He entered the path of a Dodge Ram pickup driven by James Browning, 48, of Dade City.

I'll bring you more details as they become available. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Josh, his friends and his family.

Social networking for bikes

Like bragging about how much you ride? Velog is a site where you can create a profile, log your rides and compare with friends. You can find other riders in your city, add them as friends and chart their rides too.

Visit Spoke 'N' Word in Velog today!

Maybe your bikes are lonely. They need friends too! Check out Velospace - a place where bikes can meet other bikes and you can gawk at some hot bike porn. All types of bikes are welcome, but it's heavy on the fixed-gears. You can browse by category, search or comment on each bike's profile. You can also create and join clusters, such as "Red, White & Blue".

Mail by bike? Only in St. Pete

Mark Corder, a veteran of the St. Petersburg Post Office, delivers mail via bicycle in downtown St. Petersburg. Photo by Cherie Diez/St. Petersburg Times

One of the best cycling traditions in Tampa Bay is the bicycle-delivered mail in downtown St. Petersburg. The only such practice in Florida and one of only a few in the nation, the sturdy yellow bikes have been operating since 1917, says St. Petersburg's Open Air Station manager John Phelps. The Open Air Station delivers mail from 14th Avenue N to 17th Avenue S and from the water by the Pier to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

Both the bikes and the letter carriers have been profiled by the St. Petersburg Times and by one of the Poynter Institutes's summer journalism fellows.

I can't tell you how happy it makes me to live in a neighborhood that uses bicycles for such a practical purpose. Between the employee morale boost it brings, the reduction in operating costs and pollution and the personalized service, I can't imagine why more municipalities in Florida don't adopt this practice.

Think it would work where you live?

Orlando Bicycle Weekend!

Orlando has a great cycling scene and quick access to some of the nicest roads for cycling in Florida. On the weekend of November 30-December 2 throw your bike in the car and head over to check out the Orlando Bicycle Weekend.

Friday, November 30
Critical Blast: Just like a Critical Mass ride, but more fun and hopefully, fewer arrests.

Saturday, December 1
Florida Flurry Alleycat Race: The second Orlando alleycat. This time with catered food, bands, beer, water and more.

Sunday, December 2
Bicycle Bonanza Fun Day: Local vendors and bike shops, workshops teaching and discussing skills, food, drinks, live music, raffles, games (foot-down, skid competitions, sprints, freestyle). All ages are welcome.

Where can you find more cool stuff like this? Oh yeah, the Spoke 'N' Word calendar:

Just in time for fall! Florida century rides

October 12-14
The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival
The 33rd Annual Mount Dora Bicycle Festival will be held October 12, 13, & 14. This year's event will have two days of supported rides and Friday will be a "day on your own" to ride, enjoy the other activities of the area or check out the vendor area which will be set up on Friday. The Mount Dora Bicycle Festival takes full advantage of the road and scenery of Lake County. This year’s event will feature 8 supported rides from 25 – 100 miles in length, with options for all skill levels. The century ride is on Saturday.

October 20-21
The Gainesville Cycling Festival
This weekend consists of two back-to-back century rides.
The Sante Fe Century, Saturday: A tour through the lush forest and pasture land north of Gainesville up through the Santa Fe River valley. The ride begins with a trip through the historic town of High Springs, with a stop for refreshments. The Century traverses the scenic tree-lined Feagle roads in Columbia County, and then crosses Union County on its way to Worthington Springs. The final pit stop is at a roadside park once frequented by Ponce deLeon.
The Horse Far Hundred, Sunday: he rides proceed through the north Marion County horse farms, past miles of wooden fences surrounding manacured pastures, many with prancing thoroughbreds who will occasionally race you along the fence. After traversing country back roads to get back near Gainesville, the ride traverses the most scenic portions of the Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail. You'll have to get along without the pace vehicle from this point on, and speeds will need to be moderated to avoid conflict with other trail users.

October 21
The Hilly Hundred
Although the ride is called the "Hilly Hundred", there are four challenging ride distances of 18, 34, 63 and 100 miles from Dade City, Florida. The Hilly Hundred ride offers a short sleeved t-shirt, light continental breakfast fare, fully stocked SAG stops and about $1000 in door prize giveaways. As always, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to worthy cycling-related causes.

October 28
The Intracoastal Waterway Century
Sponsored by the Space Coast Freewheelers; you get to ride through the Kennedy Space Center and down Merritt Island; across the bridge to Eau Gallie then out to the spring training home of the Montreal Expos and finally up the historic River Road in Cocoa.

November 4
The Boys and Girls Club Salute to Freedom Century
Sponsored by and benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Seminole County; there are ride options of 33, 66 and 100 miles; the event will start at the headquarters of the American Automobile Association in Heathrow. You can register here.

November 18
The Horrible Hundred
This is the 28th Anniversary of the fabulous Horrible Hundred. The Florida Freewheelers invite you to participate in one of the oldest continuous rides in Florida, encompassing the “mountains” of Central Florida with names like “Buckhill,” “The Wall,” “Citrus Tower Hill,” “Hospital Hill,” and of course, “Sugarloaf Mountain.”

All these great events and more have been added to the Spoke 'N' Word calendar. Add it now.

Via Team Armada

Cancer can't stop Tampa Ironman

Almost a year to the day after surgery to remove what had been a softball-sized tumor from his pelvis, Chad McLeod, 25, will put his cancer-free, 150-pound body through a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run at the Ford Ironman World Championship.

He ran the Gasparilla 15-kilometer race on a cold Saturday morning last February, then headed across town to Moffitt Cancer Center for his regularly scheduled chemo treatment that afternoon.

You can read his amazing story here.

Photo by Ken Helle/St. Petersburg Times

Rails to Trails fundraiser gets record turnout

By Times correspondent Jessica Mundie

A strong statewide showing of cyclists showed their support by turning out in record numbers for Sunday's Withlacoochee Rails to Trails Ride in Inverness. Many cyclists took the 40-mile ride, while others rode 75-100 mile routes, winding up and down the paved path through rural Citrus and Pasco counties. Volunteers served lunch to more than 1,600 cyclists who came out for this annual fundraiser.

"We enjoyed 1,500 riders last year," ride organizer Al Harnage said. "This year our efforts were rewarded with a turnout of 1,600. And the money all goes to maintenance and upkeep of the Withlacoochee Trail."

Volunteers displayed information at the postride expo and luncheon, including those with details on Florida Bicycle Association and Share The Road.

Back from Boston

Spoke N Word took a trip to Boston this past weekend. It was great to see so many people choosing cycling as a way to get around the notoriously crowded and congested streets.

Not every part of town was bicycle friendly. Since Harvard's campus predates the invention of the bicycle by, oh.... 250 years, bikes were not permitted to be ridden in most areas:

But by and large it looked like any other college campus:

Remember: Two great events Saturday

1. The "Seminole Heights Let's Pedal Both Sides of the Interstate Bike Ride." Meet on the Garden Center lawn on Central Avenue at 8:15 a.m. Via Alan Snel

2. When Bikes Attack alleycat race. Downtown St. Pete. Meet at 3:30 at 66Fixed.

A cycling rant

St. Petersburg Times editor Kyle Kreiger writes an occasional feature called Rants. It's about the small things that drive us all nuts.

Now, bikes and cars have never gotten along well on Tampa Bay roads, but this week Kreiger shares his frustration with dangerous drivers and the group rides that often block traffic or run stop signs and lights:

Most cyclists just want to get their exercise without bothering anyone. But as a motorist I admit I've marveled (steamed) at TRUE bikers. You know them. They ride in packs, usually two or three wide, bottling up traffic, inflaming tempers. I've watched a club in my area ride FOUR wide on a road that has bike lanes.

I despise their hubris. But I've come to understand it. Again, drivers, it's your fault.

The group ride argument is one without an easy answer. Some are well behaved, some are not. Do group rides give cycling a bad name? Do Critical Mass rides? What drives you crazy when you're riding or driving?

Illustration by Charlos Gary/St. Petersburg Times

Police: Man arrested after riding bike with rifle

By Abhi Raghunathan, Times staff writer

ST. PETERSBURG -- Want to draw attention to yourself? Just ride around the neighborhood on a bicycle. While carrying a rifle.

Police say that's what Michael Bryant, 32, did Sunday night near his St. Petersburg home. Not surprisingly, someone called police.

When officers arrived at the 900 block of 12th Avenue S, they say they found Bryant on a bicycle with the stock of a rifle sticking out of a black plastic garbage bag. Bryant told police that someone -- he didn't know who -- gave him the gun.

Police didn't buy that explanation and arrested Bryant on charges of carrying a concealed firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

New bike lane on Tampa Street

The new one-way southbound bike lane extends from just north of MLK Blvd. all the way in to downtown. There isn't a corresponding outbound lane yet, so getting home might take a little longer.

Via Bike Commuters.

Photo by Jack Sweeney

Blog mash-up! Energy bar taste test

Today we've joined forces with Snack Pack, our guide to everything snackable, to bring you an energy bar taste test. Believe it or not, there was a time when people would snack on real food when out enjoying the outdoors. Trail mix, granola or the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich have fueled many an adventure. But alas, PB&J is not available individually-wrapped and is far from marketable, so we now have wide selection of energy bars available to keep us moving. Toss one in your bag for that mid-afternoon snack or in your pocket to stay fueled during a long ride. We sampled four:

Clif Bar
Chocolate brownie
2.4 oz
240 calories
4.5g of fat
45g of carbs
10g of protein
$.79 at Publix
Clif Bar is well known to any outdoors lover as a company heavily invested in environmental, health and social issues. It says so, right there on the wrapper. Their bars are also all natural and have 70% organic ingredients. But how do they taste? Well, imagine you took a perfectly good sheet of brownies, put them in some sort of compacter and squished all the fluff out of them. It's the world's most dense brownie. Not great, but certainly tasty. But I wasn't totally won over. When I first discovered Clif Bars I ate them a lot. After a few months I grew totally sick of them and now I can't stand them. B-

Gatorade Energy Bar
Peanut butter crunch
2.3 oz
250 calories
5g of fat
38g of carbs
15g of protein
$.99 at Publix
I was skeptical at first, given the shiny wrapper and Gatorade's fruit-flavor-based liquid offerings, but when I took that first bite, I was sold. The Gatorade bar was by far the best tasting of the bunch. It was light and crispy, but with a gooey peanut butter base (Which immediately melted in my pocket). It almost tasted like a Rice Krispie Treat. And it wasn't too chewy to eat while exercising. Of the bars sampled, it also features the highest amount of protein, which has been proven to aide endurance and recovery. A

Quaker Oatmeal To Go
Banana bread
2.1 oz
220 calories
4g of fat
43g of carbs
4g of protein
$3.19 for a box of six at Publix ($.54 ea)
While not technically an energy bar, I started purchasing these oatmeal bars as a thrifty alternative to the others. They offer similar calorie counts and have as many energy-fueling carbs as the Clif Bars. They also go on sale occasionally, so I stock up when they are buy one get one free. While tasty, they are still oatmeal-based, which can lead to a lot of heavy chewing and washing down with water. They are excellent during longer, easier workouts when you can relax and have a snack. If you're at home, you can also heat them up in the microwave. If you're the type who buys a lot of energy bars, or just wants to save a few pennies, check them out. B-

Snickers Marathon Energy Bar
Multi grain crunch
1.94 oz
220 calories
7g of fat
29g of carbs
10g of protein
$.99 at Publix
The Snickers bar is in many ways similar to the Gatorade bar. It's base is a crunchy, rice-based bar covered in a layer of chocolate. Like the Gatorade bar it, of course, melted, leaving a sticky mess. It features the lowest calorie count and the least amount of energy-fueling carbs. It's a little bit more chewy than the Gatorade bar, so it may be more difficult to eat during exercise. It also left me extremely thirsty afterwards, another downside. B

Photo by Adam Newman/St. Petersburg Times

Tampa awarded honorable mention as bike friendly community

The city of Tampa and Hillsborough County are making great strides to change the perception (and reality) that the city is an inhospitable place for cyclists. Well someone noticed. The League of American Bicyclists recently awarded Tampa an honorable mention as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

“It is important to recognize communities as they begin to build bicycle friendliness into their network. But a designation only goes to communities with established records in two or more of the five categories,” League Executive Director Andy Clarke said in a press release.

The five categories local and national reviewers look at are:
Education: Does the community have systems in place to train children and adult cyclists?
Engineering: Are bicyclists included in the city’s transportation plan?
Enforcement: Do police officers understand and enforce bicyclists’ rights and responsibilities?
Encouragement: Does the community participate in Bike Month, offer bike rodeos, host community bike rides, or otherwise encourage cycling?
Evaluation: Does the community have methods in place to ensure their bicyclist programs are making a difference?

The other award categories are Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. In Florida, Gainesville has previously been awarded a Silver honor with St. Petersburg, Orlando and Boca Raton having receivied Bronze recognition.

Car strikes bicycle, injures Seffner man

by Casey Cora, Times staff writer

VALRICO -- A Seffner man was seriously injured after the back of his bike was clipped by the front end of a car Wednesday.

Larry Smart, 55, 2005 Parsons Ave., was riding his bike west on Wheeler Road about 8:45 p.m. near the road's edge when the bike's back end was struck by a 2002 Ford driven by Christopher Simpson, Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in a statement.

Although Smart had a light on the handlebars, investigators say there were no lights on the back of the bike, and Simpson, 17, of Seffner, didn't have enough time to avoid the collision.

Smart was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Thursday afternoon.

No charges have been filed.

by Casey Cora, Times staff writer

VALRICO -- A Seffner man was seriously injured after the back of his bike was clipped by the front end of a car Wednesday.

Larry Smart, 55, 2005 Parsons Ave., was riding his bike west on Wheeler Road about 8:45 p.m. near the road's edge when the bike's back end was struck by a 2002 Ford driven by Christopher Simpson, Hillsborough sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said in a statement.

Although Smart had a light on the handlebars, investigators say there were no lights on the back of the bike, and Simpson, 17, of Seffner, didn't have enough time to avoid the collision.

Smart was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he remained in critical condition Thursday afternoon.

No charges have been filed.

Keeping kids safe - to and from school

Now that school is back in session we must readjust to the presence of school buses and crossing guards out on the roads. The Safe Kids Tampa coalition spoke to kids at Carrollwood Elementary today about ways to stay safe. One way is if you are riding your bike on the sidewalk, you must dismount and walk your bike across the intersection. (I know this Florida law to be true because I once had a rather unhappy police officer explain it to me after riding the wrong way down a one-way street in Gainesville.)

Safe Kids Tampa also passed out helmets to the kids. Helmets are required by Florida law for anyone under 15. Also, when riding through a school zone, the 15 mph speed limit applies to cyclists as well.

Via Tampa Bay's 10

Photo by Ken Helle/St. Petersburg Times

To group ride, or not to group ride?

Group rides are a great way to get more involved in cycling. Being around others with whom you share a passion will undoubtedly boost your own enjoyment. It's also a great way to push your limits, make new friends and motivate you to get out there and ride more.

But if you're training for specific goals -- a century ride, a triathlon or racing -- the structure of group rides may not be a good match for you.

Adam Baskin, a cycling coach at the National Training Center in Clermont, has some great advice about how to make the most of group and solo rides.

Via Team Armada

Photo by James Borchuck/St. Petersburg Times

Mountain biking in Florida?

Take a trip to Flatwoods Park with St. Petersburg Times outdoors editor Terry Tomlin and some friends in this cool video.

Police on bikes

Ok, maybe not what you were thinking, but '80s rockers The Police arrived at the Ministry Of Culture in Paris Oct. 1 on the city's Velib rental bicycles. They were there to be inducted as 'Knights in the Order of Arts and Letters'. But the important part is the bikes. Here Sting and guitarist Andy Summers have a little trouble navigating the courtyard.

Photo via Getty Images

Commuter choices week is under way!

Tampa Bay commuters spend an average of 45 hours a year stuck in traffic -- the equivalent of a full workweek, according to a recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute. Tampa-St. Petersburg was ranked as the nation's 20th-most congested metropolitan area.

Read more in today's St. Petersburg Times.