BIKELINK HONORED BY JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

Hoover, AL—BikeLink has been honored by the Jefferson County Public Library Association as a 2006 Library Champion for its Read to Ride Program. BikeLink has sponsored Read to Ride at the Hoover Public Library for three years. Each year, BikeLink donates bikes to be given away as prizes for the library’s summer reading program, and the library displays the bikes to encourage participation. According to Amanda Bonner of the Hoover Public Library, participation has increased 35% during the two summers that BikeLink sponsored the reading program.

The Library Champion Award recognizes individuals or organizations that make a significant contribution to libraries in Jefferson County. Bonner nominated Mike and Barb Wenning, owners of BikeLink, for their continued support of its reading programs. The Wennings and BikeLink were honored during the association’s annual holiday luncheon on December 11.

“We love to read, and we have certainly enjoyed the Hoover Public Library,” said Barb Wenning. “We are very appreciative of the recognition, but it is our pleasure to help such a worthwhile program.”

BikeLink offers a variety of bicycles, including Specialized, Seven, Raleigh, Diamondback, Electra and Redline plus complete service and repair for all bicycles. BikeLink has two locations: Hoover on John Hawkins Parkway near Wal-Mart and Inverness in Brook Highland Plaza. Visit www.bikelinkbham.com/ReadToRide.asp to see pictures of past Read to Ride program winners.

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BIKE LINK PRESENTS: “READ TO RIDE”
The “Read to Ride” program was developed by Bike Link to encourage elementary school age children to read more and to promote cycling for exercise and recreation. Bicycling is a wonderful experience and the exercise it provides relates well to the health issues facing our children.
It’s simple—you create the reading contest and we supply the grand prize, a bicycle provided by Bike Link. The child (girl or boy) will receive a gift certificate to redeem for the appropriate size/style of bicycle for them. Specialized Bicycle Company has been very gracious in their support of “Read to Ride” and participates in supplying the prize bikes.
All we ask from your school or library is to be able to display a bicycle and sign from our store during the contest period (typically 6-8 weeks) and to announce the contest via a flyer (produced and supplied by the school) to be sent home with each student and then announced again in one of your weekly or monthly emails. In the flyer and email promoting the reading contest, we would like to include a coupon (format supplied by Bike Link) for a helmet or accessory that can be redeemed in either of our two stores.
Bike Link enjoys the opportunity to be involved in the community schools and is owned and operated by long-time Birmingham residents, the Wenning family. Thank you for your consideration.
For further information about “Read to Ride”, please contact Michael Wenning at 205/991-5333.

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Although there are several high quality bicycle shops in the Birmingham-Hoover Area, Bike Link, with stores in Hoover on John Hawkins Parkway and in Birmingham in the Inverness/ Greystone area, is the only one currently involved in the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce. Both stores are fully equipped for quality bicycles, accessories, and mechanical services. Contact them at bikelinkbham@aol.com or visit their website at www.bikelinkbham.com!

For the best Mountain Bicycling Events in the Southeast, visit the Birmingham Urban Mountain Pedalers (BUMP) website at http://www.bump.org


For information and calendars on the Birmingham-Hoover MSA’s Premier Bicycle Racing Club, visit the GC Cycling website at
http://www.gccycling.org/

For information and calendars on the Birmingham-Hoover MSA’s General Membership Birmingham Bicycle Club, visit the BBC website at
http://www.bhambikeclub.org

MS-150 Tour de Beach Ride a Huge Success

Shown here are Phillip Vickrey of Adventus Technologies, left, and Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Powell after their completion of the 20th Annual MS-150 Bicycle Tour October 1 at Orange Beach. Vickrey has completed the event each of the last two years, while Powell has completed the event fifteen times. Hoover Chamber members not pictured who also rode the 150 miles of the two-day event include Andrea Shea of Executive Payroll Solutions and Eddie Owens of Greene’s Business Machines.
The John N. Whitaker Memorial MS-150 is one of the largest and most successful fund-raisers for the Alabama Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, raising some $200,000.00 annually for research and services to MS patients. Phillip Vickrey has raised over $2,000 this year, and Powell over $3,000 to date, with a goal this year of $7500.00. In the fifteen years of participation, he has raised almost $50,000 total.
Every MS Chapter holds an MS-150 Bike Tour, the Alabama Chapter named theirs in memory of Dr. John Whitaker, former chair of the Department of Neurology at UAB School of Medicine. He ironically died of a head injury following a crash in a training ride for his second MS-150 several years ago. He had also served on the MS Board of Trustees for many years.

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Mike Powell, son of Hoover Chamber Director Bill Powell, competes in bicycle races in the Los Angeles area.  Here he is winning a race against some 70 competitors in a recent Criterium in Orange County, California.

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Bump & Grind Report

Bump & Grind Mountain Bike Racers at Oak Mountain State Park's world-class 17-mile loop start off in one of the Sport category age-group classes.

The ELEVENTH Annual running of the Bump & Grind mountain bike race at Oak Mountain State Park in Shelby County on June 4, 2006 was a big success yet again, thanks in no small measure to the efforts of all the folks - mountain bikers or not - who filled the volunteer ranks, plus sponsors like Cahaba Cycles, Maxxis Tires, Southern Linc and Shelby County.

As expected, professional racers Jason Sager and Shonny Vanlandingham took home the big bucks in the top men's and women's categories, with times of 2:10 and 2:23 respectively for the 34-mile course, mostly single-track.  The weather this year was perfect, and the course was dry. All Expert classes rode the 17-mile trail loop twice, with Sport racers going around just once.Complete results are online at www.bump.org/bngres06.html . Thanks again to all who helped make this event one of the highlights on the southeastern US mountain bike racing calendar!

Mountain Bike Racers at the June Bump & Grind event leave the start line in the South Trailhead parking lot before heading into the woods for their 17-mile race. Hundreds of participants came from 26 states to participate in this event, ranked by Bicycle Magazine as one of the best courses or tracks in the southeast. Oak Mountain is in north Shelby County, less than a 10-minute drive from Hoover, just off I-65 South. See the race report below for more information.

Complete results are online at www.bump.org/bngres06.html. Thanks again to all who helped make this event one of the highlights on the southeastern US mountain bike racing calendar!

Generally Good Ideas
For rides starting from public parking areas please remember to park away from businesses so as to leave ample convenient parking spaces available for others, don't block traffic as you wait for the ride to start, and try to display a sense of decorum if you must heed the call of nature (hint - seek out some indoor plumbing). And while I'm on a roll nagging, let me add that you must be sure to wear your helmet, eat your peas, brush your teeth and lube your chain!

All cyclists, PLEASE CONSIDER WRITING:
For those who wish to write about the terrible, loose pavement on the Scenic Drive to Cheaha, here's the scoop:
DeJarvis Leonard is the man who works with the State of Alabama on re-surfacing roads. He asked that we send comments to him. He understands the situation and needs letters to assist him if he is to get it re-paved.
Here's his email address: leonardd@dot.state.al.us or write to:
DeJarvis Leonard, Division Engineer
ALDoT 4th Division
PO Box 1179
Alexander City, AL 35011

Feris Malki of Homewood/Cahaba Cycles takes on one of the big drops during the 17-mile Sport Class, as another racer tries to catch him.

Several club members mentioned that it would be great to have it widened at some point also.
Thanks.
Barry Nicholls
President, Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club
719 Quintard Avenue
Anniston, AL 36201

Today's Cycling Factoid
Per the National Bicycle Dealers Association, gross margins on bicycles average about 36%, while the break-even point for the average store would be around 40%. So how do the dealers keep their bills paid? VOLUME!
Seriously, what keeps the doors open down at your handy local shop is accessory sales and service work - something to keep in mind!