The Herald-Sun Oct 26, 2004 : 9:03 am ET Organized group bicycling events are a fun way to share your enthusiasm and curiosity about bikes with fellow cyclists. On Saturday, you have the chance to take part in welcoming two new biking events to the Triangle area. Capitol Broadcasting and the American Tobacco Historic District are hosting the “Halloween 100,” a supported distance ride covering 100 kilometers (a little more than 62 miles) of scenic roads through Durham and Orange counties. A 100k ride, also called a metric century, is not a race. Just finishing a ride of that length […]
Column: Bike tour promotes national greenway
The Herald-Sun October 7, 2004 DURHAM — Gene Mayhall of Durham writes in to say that he and his wife have ridden their bicycles on greenways — linear parks — all over the United States and even Canada. “Durham’s American Tobacco Trail (ATT), while not the longest, is one of the very best,” says Mayhall. “We’re lucky to have it.” If the East Coast Greenway (ECG) is successful with its plans, the ATT along with the South Ellerbee Creek Trail in northern Durham will become part of the longest greenway project in the country. The East Coast Greenway is an […]
Column: City needs to link its bike-ped friendly islands
Phillip Barron The Herald-Sun Sep 21, 2004 : 9:32 am ET DURHAM — The new American Tobacco District could be a great jump-start to revitalizing downtown Durham, but several things need to happen to realize its potential. Right now, Durham is an archipelago of bicycle and pedestrian-friendly islands. Ninth Street, Brightleaf with West Village, downtown, Fayetteville Street near N.C. Central University; these are all bikeable and walkable areas. Each has sidewalks, some have bike lanes on the roads, and they all have that urban feel that makes you wonder why you need a car. They are all islands, however. Islands […]
Column: September good month to try commuting
The Herald Sun September 9, 2004 Ruth Coppinger, a post-doctoral researcher in Duke University’s Pharmacology Department, rides her bike 8 miles from the Woodcroft area to work nearly everyday. When asked why she chooses to ride, she says “I like commuting by bike because I share a smile and a ‘Good morning!’ with other people on the trail and in the neighborhoods. It makes me happy and calm.” She’s not the only one. As more bike lanes and greenways are built, the number of riders is only increasing. Several readers of this column have written in to say how much […]
Column: Olympics may inspire desire to try mountain biking
The Herald-Sun Aug 24, 2004 : 9:25 am ET The 2004 summer Olympics in Athens have already seen some exciting race results in cycling. After leaving the Tour de France because of a back injury, Tyler Hamilton won the United States its first-ever gold medal in men’s road time trial. Axel Merckx, son of the legendary five-time Tour winner Eddie Merckx, earned a bronze medal in the men’s road race. Anna Meares and the Australian pursuit team have each broken world records in the velodrome and they aren’t even finished racing yet. And all this has happened on skinny tires […]
Column: Single-speed bicycles give rider more feel of the road
Phillip Barron The Herald-Sun August 10, 2004 12:10 pm DURHAM — When I was a kid, riding a bicycle with multiple gears was something for adults. My blue banana-seat cruiser had only one gear at the rear wheel. I admired my dad and the older neighborhood kids who could change gears, go faster and ride greater distances. I dreamed about the day when I’d share that privilege. My first 10-speed didn’t just make it easier to climb hills, it confirmed my maturity. Today, the term “10-speed” sounds dated. Bicycle manufacturers cram gears onto bikes allowing riders to select from as […]
Column: Bicycling can become way of life
Phillip Barron The Herald-Sun July 28, 2004 9:10 pm DURHAM — I ride a bicycle for many reasons. It’s healthy — riding my bike for an hour to and from work every day is a reasonable workout. It’s fun — there’s nothing like mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest. It costs less than driving a car — I save a lot of money on gas. It’s a cleaner mode of transportation than any automobile — the Triangle region has some of the worst air quality in the nation. Converting food to energy is a lot cleaner and more efficient than […]
new bicycling column
Every other Thursday, I’ll be writing a column on bicycling for the local paper, The Herald-Sun. How much fun will this be?!?