New West Florida Cycling forum

As much as I value all my readers here at Spoke N Word, a new Web site has come along offering many of the features I just can't provide in blog format. West Florida Cycling is designed as a focal point for local cycling clubs and their events and hosts a forum for discussing rides, events, training and whatever else you want to chat about.

Other features:

• Free
• No advertisements
• Fireboard forum with 44 categories and counting – registered members can read or post to any of the public forums. Choose or upload an avatar, create a signature, etc.
• Photo Gallery – registered members can upload photos
• Private Messaging – registered members receive and send private messages to other cyclist
• Event calendar - registered members can contribute charity, club or general events to the event calendar
• Training log - registered members can use the site training log to track workouts for cycling, running, swimming and the gym.  The Training Log can be set as private or public.
• Upcoming events module
• Event countdown module
• Cycling links to a long list of cycling related sites – registered members can submit new links
• News – cycling and site news
• Shopping links to local and national cycling related merchandise
• Training articles
• Area weather – Tampa, Palm Harbor, St Petersburg, Clearwater and Sarasota with links to additional weather sites
• Various Cycling video’s
• Polls
• Additional features are planned and will be added over time.

I don't have anything to do with this site's creation, but you bet I'm going to be reading!

Will Obama support cyclists? Watch the Obameter

Thanks to Poltifact, you can keep track of his more than 500 campaign promises. No. 486 is one we will likely have our eye on:

Will "ensure that more Metropolitan Planning Organizations create policies to incentivize greater bicycle and pedestrian usage of roads and sidewalks."

Clearwater welcomes Sunday Ciclovía

Head out to downtown Clearwater Sunday, March 1 for Ciclovía (Sē-klō-vē-a). Two miles of downtown streets will be closed to car traffic but opened for cycling, walking, strolling, jogging, dancing, aerobics, skipping or just hanging out. Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. enjoy multicultural food, entertainment, activities and exhibits on a car-free, carefree Cleveland Street, all to get Florida Bike Month started off on the right foot, err, wheel.

My sources tell me this could become a regular event. Could we hope for once a month? Once a week?

Is the Pinellas Trail safe?

Two cyclists make their way down the trail on 17th Street south between 1st and 2nd Avenue South were the trail runs between two industrial buildings and is covered. Many see this dark area as a safety concern. [Photo by James Borchuck/Times]

Fear along trail is largely unwarranted, officials say

That was the headline in Sunday's Neighborhood Times, where reporter Luis Perez pointed out that the Pinellas Trail is actually much safer than many users believe.

In 2008, the number of responses was 102, with eight unarmed robberies, two armed robberies, four cases of suspicious persons, five cases of disorderly juveniles and two ordinance violations.

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said the figures include cases that began near or ended away from the trail, as well as miscellaneous calls. Proffitt added that officers had not identified a trend in robberies or other crimes.

And if you feel comfortable there, you will certainly enjoy the new, 10-foot-wide North Bay Trail that is being constructed between downtown and Coffee Pot Bayou. The additions will take St. Petersburg trails to a vast 83 miles that can be traveled and explored by bicycle.

By the numbers

37 miles in the Pinellas Trail

8 number of police agencies that patrol the trail

72 number of times St. Petersburg police were called to or near the trail within city limits in 2007

102 number of times St. Petersburg police were called to or near the trail within city limits in 2008

I'm still here

I want to apologize to all you Spoke-N-Word fans who are disappointed that the blog has not been updated lately. I've been very busy with my new gig here at the Times and the blog has been pushed to the back burner.

I wish there was a way to support a discussion amongst all yourselves, rather than just everyone listening to me ramble. I'd love to hear from you about any ideas you may have about how to make the blog better, or to get the cycling community in Tampa Bay talking.

Thanks for sticking around. There will be more to come.

- Adam

Cyclist killed after falling in front of car

Franklin D. Cameron, 58, of 5347 Columbus Way S., St. Petersburg, was killed early Thursday along the 5200 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in St. Petersburg after falling in front of a passing car.

Via MSNBC

No more 'I'm somewhere on the trail'

By Richard Danielson, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, January 2, 2009

If you need help on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail, whether because of a bike crash, medical emergency or scary stalker, just look down.

Chances are you'll see a bright yellow decal, if not at your feet, then close by.

Hillsborough County park rangers recently installed 229 of the decals every 200 feet along the trail so bikers, joggers and skaters can tell 911 dispatchers exactly where they are.

As part of the $3,000 project, sheriff's deputies and firefighters have maps showing the location of each marker, as well as other information they may need, such as directions. If there's a locked gate between them and one of the marked locations on the trail, they'll also have the combination or the key to the lock, officials said.

Continue reading...

Photo: Senior park manager Tina Russo checks for cyclists, then puts a decal on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. Other trails are next. Photo by Richard Danielson/Times.

Service, not sales, is Clearwater bike shop's top priority

Marco Ortega of Clearwater fixes a flat at Hands On Bike. The shop provides stations where customers can fix their own bikes and pay for only the parts. Photo by Atoyia Deans/Times

By Demorris A. Lee, Times Staff Writer
In print: Tuesday, December 30, 2008

CLEARWATER — Henry Johnson was given a new pair of jeans for Christmas, but the seat on his bicycle was so tattered that he didn't want to risk ruining them.

So Friday, Johnson, a landscaper, carefully pedaled his only mode of transportation to Hands On Bicycle located in the city's East Gateway area. There, he got a new seat and his bike was given a quick safety inspection at no charge, courtesy of the shop's owner, Robert Ferrin.

"He's a real good dude," Johnson, 31, said. "He likes to help people. Last time, I had a hard time with my gear switch. He fixed that for me and I didn't have no money."

Johnson had money this time, but Ferrin refused to take it.

Open two months, Hands On Bicycle isn't your typical bike shop. Ferrin said he's trying to provide a community service with his business.

Continue reading...

Bike biz gets a reality check

It's too early to tell if bicycle sales eclipsed automobile sales in the U.S. in 2008 for the first time since the early 70's, but this winter, bike shops across the country can only hope next summer's numbers are as good as this year's, the New York Times reports.