May is National Bike Month in the U. S. Additionally, the month of May was proclaimed as Bike Month in Tullahoma by Mayor Curlee in an effort to make the citizens of our city aware of the benefits of cycling. Studies show that cycling helps the environment, keeps people healthy and promotes the economy.

During Bike Month, the Highland Rim Bicycle Club, based in Tullahoma, TN, invited the public to several bike related events: Ride for Reading, where books were delivered to elementary age children to promote reading, cycling and good health; the Ride of Silence, a memorial ride for those injured or killed while cycling; the Ride to School Day, to encourage children to ride their bikes to school; and the Ride to Work Day, to promote commuting to work. Other events this year were: Retro-Ride 2014, sponsored by The Celtic Cup, where cyclists rode vintage bikes on a 22-mile route and enjoyed food and fun at The Celtic Cup; and Re-Cycle Tullahoma Initiative (Get-Fit Tullahoma) where club members helped middle school children rebuild a bike for their personal use. All these events were an attempt to make our area more bicycle-friendly. Continue reading →

I learned this, at least, by experiment:
if one advances confidently in the direction of his (her) dreams,
and endeavors to live the life which he (she) has imagined,
he (she) will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
—Henry David Thoreau

As cyclists, when we look back at our “stats” from the previous year, it can be astonishing at how many miles have been traveled advancing toward our dreams – while on our bikes. Some of us have a particular amount of miles we strive to go, and others of us are just happy to “go.”As we imagine what the next year may bring and plan what we hope to accomplish, excitement and maybe a twinge of anxiety may surface. In an attempt to avoid feeling anxious, I learned years ago to set a goal that can be accomplished. As cyclists, a goal that can be achieved by every one of us, would be – Riding our bike will be fun in 2014!Another very achievable goal could be advancing awareness of cycling in our community. Some ways to achieve this goal would be to wear your club jersey while cycling, use your ERV100 mug at work, or help a friend to begin the sport of cycling this year.Making the Tullahoma area more “Bike Friendly” would benefit our community economically and environmentally. It is a dream to imagine in common hours. Perhaps, we are advancing confidently toward this goal each and every day as we have fun on our bikes in 2014.As always, be safe out there.

Reminders

Please join us for the first meeting of 2014 on Friday, January 10, 6 p.m. at Highland Hills Church of Christ, 720 Kings Lane, Tullahoma, TN.If you, or your new to cycling friends, are in need of club merchandise, please note the shopping cart is now open for purchases until January 15. The next ordering window will be July 1¬15, 2014.