Friends on Wheels

Much of the joy of bicycling comes from the friends you make and meet along the way.

A few weeks ago, many of us had the opportunity to meet Matt Farrell, a cyclist from Pennsylvania en route to a work project in Mobile, Alabama. His visit was part of his goal to ride in all 50 states before he turns 50.

The plan evolved last spring, when Matt started to think about his cycling goals. As he realized that work and life commitments made his three month cross-country dream trip unlikely in the next decade or so, he chose what he considered a more attainable goal. With 12 states behind him and 10 years ahead, it comes to about four states a year.

His job—restoring and repairing church and theater organs—takes him around the country, and he gets three weeks of vacation. A few weeks before heading to the job in Mobile, Matt contacted the Club to help him add more states to his list. He’d found the 3-State 3-Mountain Century through an online search and figured he’d hit three on one ride. He asked if we could help him with maps and cue sheets.

Instead, we suggested he join us for a Sunday Club ride. After a few emails back and forth, Matt decided to delay his Alabama ride until he got to Mobile and to join us for the Lookout Valley/Murphy Hollow ride on March 11.

He called when he got to his hotel Saturday evening and said he planned to climb Lookout Mountain before the Club ride. After some discussion of what that would entail, Matt said he’d do it anyway. That morning, rain threatened but kept its distance, and we had an excellent turn-out. During the course of the day’s riding, Matt had a chance to talk to just about everybody and share some of his adventures.

He told of riding down Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui, which he called his “easiest 38-mile ride to date. You pedal to get started at the top and don’t pedal again until about 500 yards near the end of the ride. It starts at above 10,000 feet and ends at an ocean-front bar. It’s really a cyclist’s dream.”

Bars seem to be a theme with Matt’s cycling trips (unlike the rest of us, of course). A few years ago, he and some friends—who called themselves “Team Brew”—traveled to Florida for a week of cycling. A top priority was finding a base of operations. “We were able to find a good local watering hole with at least four pick-up trucks out front,” Matt said. “The first evening, we entered in full cycling spandex and were greeted by very strange looks from the locals. By the end of our stay, everyone looked forward to our arrival after a day of cycling and would always share the fresh catch of shrimp that they brought to the bar.” Cyclists tend to bring out the best in people.

After the CBC ride, we invited Matt to join us for lunch at the Stone Cup on the North Shore. The day had brightened, and we enjoyed the wonderful view to the Walnut Street Bridge, the Bluff View Art District, Coolidge Park and the Aquarium.

On future trips, Matt will likely tell other cyclists about his trip to Chattanooga. This is what he told us: “I must say that climbing up Lookout Mountain at sunrise was a challenge and thrill at the same time. I had no idea what I’d gotten myself into, but I wasn’t going to let the hill beat me. And then to be able to ride with some of the members of CBC who accepted me as one of their own for the day was truly a great experience.”

Matt asked if we’d pass along his email address and an open invitation to anyone visiting Reading or the Berks County area of Pennsylvania: “I would enjoy returning the favor of share my area with anyone interested.” You can reach Matt at mtrek520@msn.com. You may wish to wait until the snow melts and the temperatures stay consistently above freezing.

His Mobile trip added a total of five states, and Matt heads to New England in June, when he’ll add another six for a total of 22 down, 28 to go. Come back any time, Matt, even if that means repeating a state or two. Or come back on May 5 and do three states—if you liked Lookout with fresh legs, you’ll love it after 85 miles.

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In other Club and cycling news, the second annual Ride Leaders Dinner was a huge success at the English Rose Tea Room on March 16. It’s the Club’s way of recognizing and thanking members who volunteer to lead rides throughout the year. We enjoyed an evening of great food in a great setting among good friends. A special thank-you to road ride coordinator Joe Nivert for putting together a classy, fun evening and for keeping our ride calendar full. Joe also came up with bonus points for 2007 ride leaders who put together new routes, provide cue sheets or offer refreshments after a ride. Points translate to raffle tickets for the prize drawing at our annual holiday party.

At the dinner, Jenny and Jason Wagnon announced they’ve bought a townhouse outside Boulder and will move at the end of April. Boulder’s attractions include its active outdoor community, bike-friendly environment and wide variety of mountain bike trails. I guess that’s why it’s called the “Chattanooga of the West”—or should be. Jenny and Jason are two of the finest people I know. They have been dear friends to me and very supportive of the Club, and I know I’m among the many who will miss them, wish them well and find any excuse to visit. By the way, if anyone is looking for some wilderness property on Signal, they have 5.5 wooded acres to sell a half-mile into Sequatchie County sloping into Brock Creek.

A special thanks also to new member Andy Jones for coming up with and coordinating the Riverwalk Cleanup on March 10 and to the nearly 40 volunteers who showed up to help. As always, CBC Membership Director and Outdoor Chattanooga Bicycle Coordinator Phil Pugliese worked his usual magic to help promote the cleanup and smooth the way through the logistics. Thanks also to Coca Cola Chattanooga for contributing three cases of soft drinks and to Out of the Blue Café for the free ice cream.

Everything is on track for a successful 3-State 3-Mountain Challenge. Volunteers are still needed for SAG sweeps, start/finish line set-up, finish line recording and registration and should contact Dawn Salyer at dsalyer04@yahoo.com. Special thanks to Kelly Subaru for its $2000 support as presenting sponsor!

On March 12, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed the Jeff Roth Bicycle Protection Act, our state’s version of what’s known as the 3-foot passing law. Senate approval is still required. If the bill becomes law, it will require the operator of any motor vehicle to leave at least three feet “between the vehicle and a bicycle when passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction.” Any violation of this bill is a Class C misdemeanor. If the Senate also approves the bill, Tennessee will join just eight other states that have similar laws. The bill is named for a Knoxville-area cyclist killed when hit from behind on Route 321 last August. We encourage you to contact your state representatives to thank them for House approval of HB0235 and your state senators to encourage passing of SB1699.

April is a banner month for cycling in Chattanooga. Keep an eye on the Club calendar for exciting events including Riverwalk Bicycle Day on April 7 and Outdoor Chattanooga’s Cycledelic at the Hunter Museum of American Art—celebrating 40 years of Chattanooga cycling. Cycledelic also celebrates the arrival of the 2007 Tour de Georgia. Stage Three is Rome to Chattanooga, and Stage Four is Chickamauga to Lookout Mountain.

Until next month,

Jim Johnson