2017 ERV Ride

The 44th running of the Elk River Valley was a success. As far as we know everyone enjoyed the routes (12,52 and 75 miles) and no one was hurt. However, Mica Jon was “tackled” by a playful black lab and went down; he says he is fine but his bike was injured pretty badly.

There were around 65 riders for the September 9th ride. In addition to HRBike members, there was a huge contingent from the Murfreesboro Bike Club, a few Veloteers’, several from the Columbia Bike Club and one or two from other clubs.

Due to the way the registration was managed, we also have several new members: 4 families and 9 individuals. The combination of HRBike memberships and sale of HRBike merchandise helped us to come out in the black. Continue reading →

In Case of Emergency

Chris Smith, a local paramedic, spoke at the Summer HRBike meeting. Below is a summary of helpful information from Chris if we find ourselves in an emergency situation.

Stay Calm – Take a deep breath to get your thoughts together before calling 911. Clearly describe where you are, the details of what happened and the status of the person injured. Stay on the line until 911 says it is okay for you to hang up.

Don’t make the situation worse – If the injured party is in harm’s way, move them to safety as gently as possible keeping their head, neck and spine in alignment. To move them put your hands under their armpits and pull them to safety. If they can move on their own, it is probably okay for them to do so.

Figure out what is different from normal – Ask the injured person where they’re hurting and tell responders everything you know about what happened. If the injured person shows signs of shock – pale, cool skin, rapid heart rate & breath – cover them up. Continue reading →

Ride Report: Virginia Creeper

In June, Tim & I rode 68 mi on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a rail to trail that spans 34 mi from Abingdon to Whitetop, VA. We stayed in Damascus, VA, the mid-point of the trail, at a quaint Airbnb “The Inn on Creeper Way.” Bike rentals & shuttles are available in Damascus but we took our mountain bikes fitted with skinny tires, perfect for the crushed limestone surface. Our inn was right on the trail so we began there climbing 17 mi toward Whitetop. (Many riders take a 30 min. shuttle to Whitetop & coast the 17 mi downhill.) After riding to Whitetop and returning to Damascus, we headed toward Abingdon where there were fewer riders, and the landscape changed to trestles & farmland. I suggest riding the Creeper during the off-season or early in the day to avoid lots of novice riders. There were many water stops, one was Creeper Cafe home of the World Famous Chocolate Cake!