Below is an open letter inviting cyclists to join him on Sunday October 4th to be part of the first bike ride on the Walkway over the Hudson. Fred Schaeffer who was instrumental in bringing a bike and walk path to the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge which will open for public use Sunday October 4th.

Cycling Friends:
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. – first bike ride over Walkway Over the Hudson
For 30 years I’ve been organizing bike rides in the Hudson Valley. It was 16 years ago I first walked out on the abandoned Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge and dreamed of a walkway and bike path on it over the Hudson River. As you might know, the Walkway Over the Hudson, will open to the public for cycling, walking and running on the weekend of October 2-4. I would like to invite you to join me in a ride across the Walkway on Sunday, October 4, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. This is not a formal event but just an invitation to my friends and fellow cyclists to enjoy the wonderful vista and quietness as you ride across the new Walkway. We will meet at the west entrance to the bridge at 87 Haviland Road in Highland, N.Y. at 10:30 A.M. ready to ride. Map on www.walkway.org .
I will provide maps which will suggest routes on both sides of the river for those who want to continue riding on either side. A round trip across the bridge and back is just 2.5+ miles but I have suggestions for 10 mile loops on both sides of the river which incorporate the sections of the Dutchess Rail Trail in Dutchess County and Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Ulster County.
Please RSVP to me via email FredinHV@aol.com or at 845-454-1190 so I know how many maps to prepare and how many to expect.
There is no charge for crossing the bridge nor for participating in this ride. We will simply be celebrating the volunteers, donors, engineers, construction crews and other supporters who help make this dream come true. I am not sure if Haviland Road will be open for parking so you may have to park in nearby lots (follow signs) on Rt. 9W, which will be open to the public for Walkway parking and cycle to Haviland Road. Allow enough time for extra traffic and finding a parking spot.
Pass on this invitation to your friends

Fred Schaeffer, Esq.

Thanks to your hard work friend and to so many others’s who helped make this happen. I look forward to riding across it in the coming weeks. These are Poughkeepsie Journal photos of the Walkway. In the center photo Fred Schaeffer gives it a test ride.

Just received word about a cycling event that is in progress and will conclude this weekend at Rockland Lake. Details follow:

The 1,000 mile Ride For the Cure to benefit GIST Cancer Research Fund will conclude on Saturday in Rockland Lake State Park in Congers.

The organizers are hoping that cyclists will join the core team for the final leg of the ride from Millerton, NY, to the park. Television news anchor Harry Martin will be among the local celebrities participating in the ride.

This 1,000 mile, 10-day bicycle ride was organized in 2006 by Peter Thomas, a British cancer patient suffering from a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). He wanted to call attention to this little known form of cancer and to raise money for the GIST Cancer Research Fund. Peter has passed away, but The 2009 Peter Thomas Gist Cancer Research Fund 1000 Mile, 10 Day Cycle Challenge continues the dream that he inspired.

A 15-member team of friends and family departed Montréal, Québec, Canada on September 24 and will finish at Rockland Lake. This trip will cover a distance of 1,000 miles (1600 kilometres) in 10 days. Some of the cyclists will then participate in the annual “round the lake” walk in Rockland Lake on Sunday which is an activity coordinated by the Gist Cancer Research Fund (www.gistinfo.com ).

The team is looking for the cyclists to join them on the final leg of the journey from Millerton to Rockland Lake.

GIST is an extremely rare sarcoma known as gastrointestinal stromal tumor. It is what the National Cancer Institute calls an orphan cancer because it affects a relatively small number of patients, and little is known about it. It was so uncommon that it was often lumped with another sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma. GIST does not respond to chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Surgery is the only treatment and GIST returns in 90 percent of the cases.

A cancer that strikes just 8,500 Americans a year doesn’t attract national attention or federal money. When GIST researchers apply for grants, no matter how sound their science, they are usually turned down, with the federal research money going to the more popular cancers. This makes private funding from such nonprofit groups as the GIST Cancer Research Fund all the more important. Doctors, surgeons, oncologists and most importantly, patients, need to be aware of what GIST is and where to find hope.

Because of this, a GIST patient and her husband, Tania and Robert Stutman, formed the GIST Cancer Research Fund, to raise awareness of GIST and raise money for GIST research. They also helped spearhead formation of an Internet support group and launched a Web site, www.gistinfo.org . The 2009 Peter Thomas Memorial Ride and Walk for the Cure are the two cornerstone fundraising events for GIST. Both are centered at Rockland Lake State Park on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The walk has become the largest annual gathering of GIST patients, caregivers, researchers, doctors and pharmaceutical company representatives in the world. More than 500 people from across the United States and as far away as Australia have participated in the Walk.

To get more information on the 2009 Peter Thomas Memorial Ride and registration, visit the website at www.giste2e.net or send an email to Enquiries@giste2e.net. For more information on the disease itself, go to www.gistinfo.org

The following is the official route:

Thursday, September 24, 2009         Day 1 • Montreal to Sherbrooke, Canada

Friday, September 25, 2009               Day 2 • Sherbrooke to Kingfield, Maine

Saturday, September 26, 2009          Day 3 • Kingfield to Brewer, Maine

Sunday, September 27, 2009            Day 4 • Brewer to Bar Harbor, Maine

Monday, September 28, 2009            Day 5 • Bar Harbor to Belfast, Maine

Tuesday, September 29, 2009          Day 6 • Belfast to Yarmouth, Maine

Wednesday, September 30, 2009    Day 7 • Yarmouth to Newburyport, MA

Thursday, October 01, 2009              Day 8 • Newburyport to New Salem, MA

Friday, October, 02, 2009                   Day 9 • New Salem to Millerton, NY

Saturday, October 03, 2009               Day 10 • Millerton to Rockland Lake State Park

The Westchester Putnam Biking and Walking Alliance held a fundraising cocktail party last Thursday evening at the lovely home of Paul and Karen Lightfoot in Briarcliff Manor. Paul is an active rider and member of the Westchester Cycle Club and WPBWA. The founder’s of the group, David Wilson, President of the WCC and Michael Oliva, Mid Atlantic Trail Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway have been working hard getting this advocacy group going and welcomed the 40 people who attended.

I was asked to speak with New York Time “Spokes” blogger David Goodman. Moderator, author Ben Cheever lead the conversation. While Cheever  was hoping David and I would disagree on some of the issues we found nearly total agreement during the discussion. We spoke mostly about how to bring cycling and walking into our daily lives, one of the main missions of the WPBWA.

David touched on the successes of bike lanes and other initiatives in New York City which while way behind most European cities is one of America’s leaders. We agreed that traffic congestion and the green movement are the current catalyst behind the change, but the Mayor Bloomberg has had great influences on changing the conditions in the city. We also agreed that the suburban communities face a different set of issues. Issues in Yonkers are different from Mount Kisco, which are different from Peekskill and each has their own local offcials to work with.

Here’s how Paul Lighthfoot felt about the evening.  “My neighborhood is within one walking mile of schools, a train station, parks, trailways, restaurants, shops and more, but is “landlocked” by a street too dangerous for walking or cycling.  The WPBWA provided the know-how and resources that enabled our community to organize and persuade the town to build us a sidewalk to the high school and village.  I hosted the event to help the WPBWA strengthen itself for my communities and others nearby.  Westchester County could and should be a place for safe biking and walking.”

The topic of greatest interest in the room was on the “Safe Routes to School” initiative. Currently less than ten percent of our students walk to school, less than one percent rides a bike. People commuting to work are about the same percentages, while in Europe well over 20 percent walk and ride to work with some countries nearing 50percent. Local committees will be organized through the WPBWA to work with the many towns to build a safer network for students to get out off cars and buses on having a healthier path to school. I’ll also suggest that not only are safer routes to school are needed but so are secure routes. ( Please vote in the current poll on how what age would you allow your child to ride a bike to school solo? )

The question that stumped me was from last year’s WCC cycling commuter of the year, Karin Weisburgh of Larchmont who rides 11 miles to her job at Consumers Union in Yonkers. She asked how do we get more weekend worriers like you to commute to work?

I really didn’t have an answer, it’s such a person choice on where we live and work. I didn’t have this organized of an answer at the time but here are my thoughts. Your employer needs to provide an infrastructure to facilitate this. Commuters needs secure bike parking and showers. Maybe zoning laws for businesses requiring bike parking and showers?  Our communities need to build networks of bike trails and lanes to provide safer routes during rush hour travel.

The night raised over $5,500 towards these  goals. To join or contribute to the WPBWA please click here.

I really enjoyed meeting everyone, thanks for the chance to speak about one of my passions.

By GRAHAM DUNBAR, AP Sports Writer, MENDRISIO, Switzerland/ Cadel Evans of Australia got the biggest single day win of his career on Sunday, breaking free on the final climb to win the men’s race at cycling’s road world championships.

The two-time Tour de France runner-up finished in an unofficial time of 6 hours, 56 minutes, 26 seconds on the 162.9-mile course.

“It’s something exceptional,” said the new world champion, who crossed the line kissing the wedding ring he wears on a necklace.

Alexandr Kolobnev of Russia crossed 27 seconds behind to take silver, beating Spain’s Joaquin Rodriguez in a sprint finish.

Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara was in contention on the final lap, but finished fifth as he sought a historic gold medal double after winning the time trial on Thursday.

Eds Note: The stared with nine riders but never played a role in the race. The best finisher was Craig Lewis in 59th place. The best Americas decided not to perticipate in the race. Lance Armstrong, George Hincapia, and Levi Leiphiemer all stayed home.

The 32-year-old Evans became the first Australian to take gold in the 76th edition of the world championships, triumphing on roads just a few miles from his home in Switzerland during the European summer season.

In addition to placing second in the Tour in 2007 and 2008, Evans was runner-up in the past three Dauphine Libere stage races. He was coming off a third-place finish in the Spanish Vuelta last Sunday.

His second place in Belgium’s Wallonne Arrow race last year was his best result in a one-day classic, and he took road race silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

“Sometimes it gets demoralizing,” Evans said. “But I’ve always looked ahead to the possibility of winning in the future.”

The riders covered 19 laps on a tight, hilly course that challenged them with two climbs, technically demanding downhill sections and little recovery time.

“I’ve been thinking about this race for two years,” Evans said. “The finish line is three kilometers from my home away from home.”

His Italian wife, Chiara, looked on, smiling and wiping away tears, as her husband spoke to reporters.

“I saw him passing but I didn’t watch (the race),” said his Italian wife, Chiara. “I was nearly fainting, just trying to hope he would find a way to get to the finish line.”

The race featured a dramatic final lap with all the prerace favorites in the lead group. Alexandre Vinokourov of Kazakhstan, who returned from a two-year doping ban last month, made the first move but was soon hauled in.

Cancellara went to the front with Olympic champion Samuel Sanchez on the descent following the steep Castel San Pietro climb, before being joined by Evans, Kolobnev and Rodriguez.

The three eventual medalists broke clear together and Evans made his decisive break on the final Novazzano climb.

“I thought I could catch him if he slowed going up the hill,” said Kolobnev, who also won silver in 2007. “I couldn’t make it by myself.”

Racing in bright, sunny weather on the Swiss-Italian border, six riders broke clear after the first lap on the 8.6-mile circuit.

The group grew to 10 cyclists early in the fourth lap and built a lead of nearly 10 minutes. The peloton closed to within six minutes at the race’s halfway stage.

The Italian trio of defending champion Alessandro Ballan, Michele Scarponi and Giovanni Visconti then helped force the pace in a chasing pack, and the leaders were caught after going alone for nearly 125 miles.

With three laps left, a new breakaway of 22 riders formed, including Ballan, 2005 winner Tom Boonen of Belgium and Australia’s Michael Rogers.

The peloton got to work with 12 miles left and bridged the gap going into the final circuit.

Australian Cadel Evens who had an up year wins going away. The only real favorite in the mix at the end was Fabian Cancallara who was a marked man, he finished fifth. More results later.
And thanks to Universal Sports Webcast of the event Live.

The weather looks perfect for the 15th annual Escape New York cycling event tomorrow. Day of registration is $50 cash and will benefit Recycle-A-Bicycle and Transportation Alternatives.

The three routes start at Sakura Park at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan and will take you across the George Washington bridge and into Bergen and Rockland counties.

The 100 mile “Century Challenge”  starts at 7:00am, The Rockland Roll covers 65 miles beginning at 8:00am and the Piermont Pleasures heads out at 9:00am.

I know there will be some Rockland Bicycle Club members heading down. If you go let us know about your experience.

MENDRISIO, Switzerland (AP) — Cycling’s governing body has stepped up its campaign to ban riders from using two-way radios to communicate with team managers.

The International Cycling Union says Thursday that radio communication on the road “distorts the nature of cycle sport.”

Its management committee agreed at a meeting Wednesday to set a timetable for phasing out the high-tech equipment — despite likely opposition from teams who believe the ban is dangerous.

Teams showed their disapproval during the Tour de France in July when forced to go without radio earpieces for a day. Riders effectively operated a go-slow strategy and the UCI backed down.

Race radios are banned in junior and under-23 events.

Eds note: This will upset many of the team managers and some of the riders if the reaction to banning radios during on stage of this years Tour de France holds true.

Fabian Cancellara is half way to his stated goal of winning both the road individual time trial and road race in this years World Championships in his home country Switzerland. The biggest surprise of the day was American Tim Zirbel who was an early rider and held the top spot for a ling time . Cancellara salutes his home crowd at the finish line in the AP photo.

Time Trial- Elite Men
(49.8k; 30.9 miles)

1. Fabian Cancellara, Switzerland, 57 minutes, 55.74 seconds.
2. Gustav Larsson, Sweden, 1 minutes, 27.13 seconds behind.
3. Tony Martin, Germany, 2:30.18.
4. Tim Zirbel, United States, 2:47.12. (Pictured)
5. Marco Pinotti, Italy, 3:02.88.
6. Janez Brajkovic, Slovenia, 3:08.49.
7. Koos Moerenhout, Netherlands, 3:11.59.
8. Alexandre Vinokourov, Kazakhstan, 3:20.95.
9. Ignatas Konovalovas, Lithuania, 3:33.88.
10. Bert Grabsch, Germany, 3:37.39.<
Also
23. Thomas Danielson, United States, 5:09.45.

Sunday is the 6th annual Tour de Foliage beginning at PACE University in Pleasantville. The ride raises awareness and money for the Dysautonomia Foundation, which funds treatment and care for familial dysautonmia, a genetic neurological condition which disables the sensory and autonomic nervous systems.
This affects a relatively small number of people worldwide with only 350 FD patients, but Westchester County if home to seven.
Lisa Newman, Lisa Rudley, and Melissa Slive chair and have organized the Tour de Foliage since it’s beginning. During this time their work has raised over half a million dollars.
This year’s event offers rides of 25 and 50 mile through scenic Westchester County. Riders are asked to raise money through sponsorship and will be entered in a raffle for great prizes. You will start with breakfast and finish with lunch. The routes will be well marked and have marshal and SAG wagon support.
For more information please visit www.fdcycletour.org

Here is Journal News staff writer, Barbara Livingston Nackman report on the parking near the Putnam County Trailway in Carmel that appeared in the September 23rd newspaper.

CARMEL – Town officials are set to restrict roadside parking near the Putnam County Trailway to appease bicyclists who need a place to park their vehicles and neighbors who say parking is dangerous.

The Carmel Town Board tossed out a proposal Sept. 16 that would have banned all parking on Willow Road and Willow Spur.

In a work session Wednesday, the board will discuss a compromise allowing parking on the east side of the streets and to improve the road shoulders.

Putnam County officials are working, as well, to find other parking options for the trail, which follows the old Putnam railroad from Westchester County to the Danbury, Conn., border.

“We want to encourage use of the bike path,” said town Supervisor Kenneth Schmitt. ”(But) the health, safety and welfare is paramount.”

The town installed concrete barriers on Willow Ridge when residents raised safety concerns.

Some bike path users have parked “haphazardly”on both sides of the streets – in the road and head-on into a shoulder, Schmitt said. During a recent weekend visit, he saw people sitting in the road putting on inline skates and leaving children in strollers in the road while they arranged stuff in their car trunks.

“This is an accident, a terrible tragedy, waiting to happen,” said the supervisor, a former town police officer.

Willow Ridge homeowner Anthony Garafola said a child ran in front of his car.

“We cannot allow it to continue,” he said.

He said the barriers were ugly and seemed satisfied with a one-side parking compromise.

Bicyclists and pedestrians said parking was essential.

Susan Bittel of Carmel said she walks the trail three times a week and needs a place to park when she does.

”(The path) is a really beneficial – spiritually, emotionally and physically,” she said.

David Wilson, an avid bicycler and Democratic candidate for town supervisor challenging Schmitt, urged officials to provide adequate parking for trail users.

County Legislator Mary Ellen Odell, R-Carmel, is hoping to get permission to use a nearby parking lot at a former plant nursery on Route 6. Most of the roughly 20-space lot is owned by New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection.

“We are fast-tracking this and told the city it is important to us,” the legislator said.

The county is facing litigation from nearby homeowners who oppose an under-construction 60-space commuter parking lot at Mount Hope Road in Mahopac, which could also serve walkers and bikers at another section of the trailway.