Hello everyone and welcome to my blog from Washington DC during the 2011 National Bike Summit! Today was an active day of both traveling and listening to quite a wonderful array of presentations. So lets start from the beginning!

I started my day in DC with a pre-summit workshop on the IMBA Public Lands Initiative. To give a little background, this workshop has its origins in a battle that IMBA has been fighting to conserve mountain biking in areas that the Federal government has been trying to give the “Wilderness” designation. As it says on the IMBA website, “The Public Lands Initiative targets critical campaigns where public lands policies, legislation and management practices could close important trails to bicycles.”

AKA: Lets keep trails open to Mountain bikes!

Moving on, the workshop also had appearances from the members of the Trail Care Crew as well as all of the IMBA regional directors from across the country. After that I stopped by the IMBA booth to pick up my registration package and hear giggles abound…Favorite quote of the day comes from IMBA Regional Director Hansi Johnson during this time of the day, “The Mountain Bikers are only a small bit of the people here…but we are the ones everyone wants to hang out with!”

The first timers orientation was standing room only, another very good sign for the summit this year.

At this point it was time for dinner and I really got an idea how many people had made the trip to DC this year.

During dinner delegates heard speeches from the President of the League of American Bicyclists Andy Clarke, President of Bikes Belong Tim Blumenthal and the highlight was Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. Secreatary LaHood was very proud to be speaking to the delegates again this year, going as far as saying that the Department of Transportation was with us and believed in what we were doing.

In review it was a fun and very tiring day that I wouldn’t have had any other way. Its certainly rewarding to be in a room full of bicycle nuts of all ages and disciplines. Its also very cool to see Dave Wiens and Gary Fisher wandering around…you can’t beat that!

Tomorrow will be a long day of breakout sessions and team planning with the other NC Delegates including the President of EC Velo Steven Hardy-Braz who i caught during dinner grinning away…

I’ll be filling everyone at the end of the day tomorrow as well since I don’t have WiFi access at the summit location. Until then everyone, have fun and be safe out there.

Mountain Bike Or Die

Austin Fenwick

VP Cape Fear SORBA

In preparation for my trip to the National Bike summit I have decided to do a fun little exercise for members of CFSORBA. One of the most important things that you can do when visiting and chatting with our representatives and their staff is make a personal connection with them. You have to find something that you can do that will both memorable and personal. I have to show them that I am not alone up there in DC spouting about Bicycles. I have to show them that I represent a wide range of people. Mountain bikers and road bikers from all walks of life. Those who cycle to work, cycle for fun, use cycling as their livelihood all matter here. So here is what I ask.

I would like as many people as possible to write one page letter about why cycling is important to you. Tell a story about why cycling is a part of your life. Say why having improved cycling infrastructure is important to you, and your family and friends. Tell me (and everyone in DC) why you love cycling and want it to be a part of your life. Make it personal. If your child rides bikes, ask your child to write a short letter saying why they love bikes! I want a binder full of these letters to present to our representatives in DC. Take 10 minutes and tell me why you care about cycling.  It could mean a great deal to everyone.

Please send all letters to me at thecreeper35@gmail.com, and please remember to put your name on them.

If you wish to mail them to me please make sure that you get them in the mail quickly! My mailing address is:

Austin Fenwick
206 Frederica Court
Wilmington, NC 28412

In addition! I will be blogging nightly at www.capefearsorba.com during my trip to DC so if you wish to find out how things are going you should check it out every evening. I will attempt to post throughout the day but if i cannot i will certainly make postings in the evening following the days events.

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from you.

Austin Fenwick
Vice President
Cape Fear SORBA
828-243-7867
thecreeper35@gmail.com

Hello Cape Fear SORBA. Currently there is a debate going on that we need your help with. Currently there are two options on the table for the next race series race in Greenville at the Bicycle Post Trail. The first is the usual cross country style race (like what we will have at Blue Clay next weekend). The other is a “short track race” that will be significantly shorter in race distance and race time (around 20 minutes) but higher intensity. We need your help as racers and club members to determine what we should do. So the question is: Would you prefer a short track race or a cross country race?

Below I have posted a link to a poll that can help us make this decision. Please take a moment and select an option that you believe is the best one.

http://ecvelo.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=330&club_id=984060

Thanks for your help! Hope to see you at Blue Clay next Sunday for the 3 race in the CCORS!

Austin Fenwick
Vice-President
Cape Fear SORBA
thecreeper35@gmail.com
828-243-7867