Peace Hibiscus Bicycle Tour. River. Riders. in the. News! Richard Shean. Wheelin Women s 3rd Annual Ride, St. Augustine to Punta Gorda

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1 Next Meeting Tuesday, May 11, 2009 Luigi s Pizzeria 88 Tamiami Trail Port Charlotte Club Officers President-Tom Ponder V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 4 Peace River Riders Bicycle Club M A Y Secretary-Laurie Graebner Wheelin Women s rd Annual Ride, St. Augustine to Punta Gorda Treasurer-Sheryl Martin Submitted by Karen Freeman Safety Advocate- I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Earl Lang Membership Chair- Sharon Brunhuber Web Master-Maria Bailey Publicist-Patty Stefan Ride of Silence 2 Solomon s Castle 2 Bike Me Out To the Ball Game Punta Gorda Bicycle Friendly Early Saturday morning, April 18, twenty three intrepid women riders loaded up for the trip to St. Augustine. Our adventure would start with an afternoon of touring & shopping in historic St. Augustine. We woke up to a howling wind, hoping that it would be a tailwind. It wasn't! Highway A1A south towards Daytona Beach Shores is beautiful. We traveled along the ocean, watching and listening to the crashing waves. Out of Cape Canaveral, we rode through the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. A little downpour cooled us off as we finished our 75 mile day. Danne had joined us and there are now 24. Maria started a new song, it goes like this: Wheelin' Women are back on the road. Sound off: 1 2; Sound off: 4; Sound off: 24. Get it? Finally, light winds as we travel to Vero Beach. Don't know what is wrong with the drivers here, they are very angry people. This route keeps looping back and forth over bridges, from A1A to the mainland and back. It is really pretty, but not a route many take in a car, too slow. Liz had a slight mishap today and bummed up her knee and elbow, she joined Carla the SAG van driver for rest of the trip. With the wind at our back we headed toward Pahokee on a clear and sunny day. At Fort Pierce the Fisherman's Wharf area is quite quaint. I crashed on some RR tracks and now I have a souvenir black eye. This was our long day, 8 miles. At Pahokee we stayed in cute modular's right on Lake Okeechobee. Pizza on the porch overlooking the lake ended a good day. On our way to La Belle, we rode the Okeechobee Rim Trail. 0 miles, no cars, nice and high, great views of the lake and sugar plantations and no wind! Through Clewiston for lunch and onto Moore Haven. Wow, 70 easy miles today. I never thought that I would call 70 miles easy. Our last day by way of Alva and N Ft. Myers. Easy going ride; stopped briefly at the Caloosahatchee River State Park. North on 41 into Punta Gorda with a little breeze in our faces, but hey, what's a little breeze after 20 mph winds in our faces for 2 solid days? Our total ride was 410 miles in 6 days for an average day of 68 miles. It was a great ride, new friends, beautiful weather, all capped off with a red rose and glass of Champagne as we were welcomed home. What more could you ask for. See you next year! Peace Hibiscus Bicycle Tour Healthy Recipes 4 River Application 5 Riders *Welcome* New Members in the Eric & Myrian Steinbaugh News! Richard Shean

2 PAGE 2 Ride of Silence On May 20, 2009, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. In 200, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in The Peace River Riders Bicycle Club Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors and no registration fees. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured. On May 20th 2009 at 7pm the Peace River Riders will sponsor a Ride of Silence beginning at Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda. The ride will be conducted in silence. All participants must wear a black arm band, red if you ve ever been injured by a motorist while riding. Helmets are required! The ride will be approximately 6 miles/12 mph. Remember there is strength in numbers. Solomon s Castle Ride sponsored their first Solomon's Castle Ride on April 19th from Punta Gorda to Ona, Florida. Despite the wind on the return trip, this ride promises to be an annual event. Total ride miles was approximately 82 miles. Two of the riders road the additional 18 miles to complete a century. Photos submitted by Tom Ponder

3 V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 4 P A G E Bike Me Out to the Ball Game Hey Peace River Riders baseball is back in Port Charlotte! We ve got a new team, a newly renovated stadium and all the sites, sounds and smells that make baseball the Great American Pass Time. This stadium even has bike racks! On April 11th the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs honored several Charlotte County businesses and organizations by inviting them out to the Friends of Acme Bicycle Shop enjoying a night out at the Stone Crabs game. Charlotte Sports park for a great night of baseball. Acme Bicycle Shop was one of the local businesses recognized so to make the evening more enjoyable, owners and friends of Acme pedaled their way to the ball game. Spring was in the air as riders rooted for the home team, sipped back a Yuengling Lager and ate an insurmountable pile of nachos and soft serve ice cream. Attendees also received a free Stone Crabs baseball cap and despite the Stone Crabs 11-6 loss to the Ft. Myers Miracles a great time was had by all. At the time of this writing the Stone Crabs were in 1st place. Go Crabs! Punta Gorda Receives Honorable Mention The League of American Bicyclists has announced its 2009 spring list of Bicycle Friendly Communities and States. Punta Gorda has made the list, receiving Honorable Mention as one of the Bicycle Friendly Communities. If that isn t enough, Safety Advocate, Earl Lang has received word from the Charlotte County Commissioner s office that Public Works will be erecting 8 Share the Road signs on Airport Road. It should be noted that TEAM Punta Gorda has worked diligently in getting Punta Gorda on the list. Their Rails to Trails committee has made great strides in raising public awareness about bicycling in Punta Gorda. There are many great projects in the works such as developing a trail on railroad right-of-ways to Arcadia and South to Ft. Myers with Punta Gorda as a hub and including a trail north that goes through the county, connecting to the new Sarasota bike trail. The press release from the American League of Bicyclists can be viewed at the link below. Punta Gorda Hibiscus Bicycle Tour The 4th annual Punta Gorda Hibiscus Bicycle Tour is coming up quick. So be sure to mark June 20th on your calendar. There will be several rides to choose from. 62 mile metric century 8am 0 mile half metric century 8:10am 15 mile quarter century 8:20am 7 mile Punta Gorda City Man- agers Ride 8:0am Events such as these help support public awareness of bicycling in our community as well as better health and a cleaner environment. Registration forms and additional details can be obtain by clicking on the link below.

4 It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle. ~Ernest Hemingway Congratulations for completing a Century! Myrian Steinbaugh Laurie Graebner Ray Heisey Court Nederveld Peace River Riders Mission Statement We are a casual bike riding club geared toward fun! We have a no drop policy on our rides unless otherwise indicated. We encourage bicycling as a transportation method as well as a leisure activity, beneficial form of exercise and as a sport. We endeavor to advance bicyclists rights and encourage safe bicycling practices. Recognizing the need for increased presence at the Local, State and Federal levels of government the Club will support Political Action, Advocacy and become a member of organizations such as: The League of American Bicyclist, Bikes Belong, and any other chosen by the Officers as worthy of our financial support. The Club will also maintain an active program in conjunction with the local hospitals for patients requiring exercise to enhance their recovery and rehabilitation. Heart Healthy Recipe-Rainbow Fruit Salad Ingredients 1 Large mango, peeled and diced 2 cups Fresh blueberries 2 Bananas, sliced 2 cups Fresh strawberries, halved 2 cups Seedless grapes 2 Nectarines, unpeeled and sliced 1 Kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced Honey Orange Sauce 1/ cup Unsweetened orange juice 2 tablespoons Lemon juice 1-1/2 tablespoons Honey 1/4 teaspoon Ground ginger Dash of nutmeg Preparation 1)Prepare the fruit (peeling, cutting, dicing, etc). 2. Combine and mix all ingredients for the sauce.. Just before serving, pour honey orange sauce over the fruit Nutrient Information Calories: 97 Carbohydrates: 24 Protein: 1.2 Makes 12 servings Recipe submitted by Sharon Mays. Sharon Mays is a Registered and Licensed dietician and the Coordinator for the WIC and Nutrition Program for the Charlotte County Health Department.

5 Select One: Select One: Membership Fee must accompany application Signatures are REQUIRED New Member Single Students must present School ID Family Renewal Student PEACE RIVER RIDERS membership is o a calendar year basis running from January 1 st to December 1 st of each year. Dues are $15 per year for a single member ($7.50 if a student), or $20 per year for family (immediate family only). Full dues are required for those new memberships received through June. Dues for those new memberships received during July thru September are half the normal dues. October through December are the normal annual fees, membership will be valid until the following December (up to 15 months membership) I ACKNOWLEDGE, agree and represent that I understand the nature of bicycling activities and that I am qualified, in good health and in proper physical condition to participate in PEACE RIVER RIDERS activities. I further acknowledge that PEACE RIVER RIDERS activities will be conducted over public roads and facilities open to the public during the activity and upon which the hazards of traveling are to be expected. I warrant that at any time I believe conditions to be unsafe; I will discontinue further participation in the PEACE RIVER RIDERS. I UNDERSTAND that, (a) bicycling activities involve risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis and death; (b) these risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the activity, the condition in which the activity takes place, or the negligence of the Releasees named below, (c) there may be other risks and social and economic losses either not known to me or not readily foreseeable at this time: hence I fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibilities for losses, costs and damages I incur as a result of my participation in the PEACE RIVER RIDERS activity. I HEREBY release, discharge and covenant not to sue PEACE RIVER RIDERS, the LAB, the respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, volunteers, and employees, other participants, sponsors, advertisers, owners and lessors of premises on which the activity takes place (each considered one of the Releasees herein) from all liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages on my account caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the Releasees to include negligent rescue operations; I further agree that if despite this Release and Waiver of Liability, assumption of risk, and indemnity agreement. I, or anyone on my behalf, makes a claim against any of the Releasees I will indemnify, save, and hold harmless each of the Releasees from any litigation expenses, attorney fees, loss liability, damage, or cost which may occur as a result of such claim. I HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, fully understand the terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law and agree that if any portion of this agreement is held to be invalid, the balance shall continue in full force and effect. Name(s): & Date of Birth: Date: Phone: Street Address: City/State/Zip: Signature(s) & Parent/Guardian (If member is under 18) Make checks payable to Peace River Riders Mail payment (no cash) to: Peace River Riders 2209 Omie Avenue Port Charlotte, FL 954