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 It's France, as in bike pants, not Fronce By John Kelso Austin American-Statesman, Tuesday, July 24, 2001 You've noticed how many folks are riding bicycles around town and pretending to be Lance Armstrong by wearing the colorful, flammable and, yes, extremely itchy bicycle clothing.
Whats in store for us? I think that every year all the officers of the club have encountered, at one time or another, uncertainties that have made us wonder about the future of the club. Some of our goals are long term goals, but some others are just a few steps away from us. Im always asking myself, how are we instrumental in keeping the flame alive? Well, here are some examples This afternoon Dave Starrett, Beauty & Beast 2001 Ride Director, Bill Cornelius, our TBC Vice President and I presented to the University of Texas at Tyler a check for $2,000. The money was presented to Howard Patterson, the new Director of the Athletic Department, Dale Lunsford, Dean of Student Affairs and their assistant, Mrs. Terry Merriman. Such was their excitement that I immediately got infected. I saw how important our contribution to the campus had been. Beauty and the Beast has left a big impression, and I feel we should honor our dream again. If I had doubts, now I feel that the door its opened again. We have a lot to contribute to the community. The university is planning to include cycling as part of their program and the new Athletic Director is very optimistic and interested. We were very proud today. Another check for $1,000 was donated to the Texas Bicycle Coalition. We hope that every cyclist understands how important this organization is. They represent us at the State Capitol, and we are very thankful for their efforts. On another subject, a cyclist from Bullard, brought to my attention a letter that was published recently in the Bullard Newspaper. We are bringing it to your attention, also. I invite you to read it in this issue. Im embarrassed by it. There are things to considered and we need to put the I'm in the right perspective. Tyler is growing and it seems that is moving in that direction. We still have to be very careful about how we react to the vehicular traffic. We dont want to regret accidental deaths, we dont want to lose friends due to careless riding or driving. We have to ride defensively, regardless. Please, let us not provoke violence. Asking the city to build bike trails and take us into consideration is a slow endeavor. Lets do everything we can to gain their respect. The Oklahoma-Arkansas ride (True Grit) is around the corner. Make plans to join us on the second weekend in October! Watch for the next Trash Pick-up date. Ride safely! One of our clubs purposes is to promote cycling. There is a way of doing this, I think, that we are overlooking. It is the newspaper. The Tyler Morning Telegraph, for the last couple of years, has had pretty decent coverage of the Tour de France. There have been pictures, and generally daily reports on the front page of the sports section. Then this year, coinciding with Lances victory in the Tour, the paper had a story, with picture, of a competitive high school cyclist from a neighboring east Texas town. Yeah, thats the ticket. This is just what we need. A native Texan winning a third straight Tour, high school athletes choosing cycling, and a local newspaper reporting it. What I think we may be overlooking is the opportunity to let the paper know that we appreciate the coverage, and that there are a lot of us out here. If that message is communicated to them, I expect this sort of coverage will continue, maybe ever broaden and expand. If not, the publishers might decide that cycling is not really a worthy topic to report on, and return to coverage ofstrictly mainstream sports. I would like to keep a good thing going. Call, write, or email your comments to the paper. It is online at www.Tylerpaper.com. The address is 410 W. Erwin. The phone number is 597 8111. Were all aware that accidents can happen when we ride on the roads. Most of us believe theyll happen to someone else and not us. Sometimes in an accident, theres no one around to give the E.M.T. personnel pertinent information, and the rider may not be conscious or coherent if theres a blow to the head. Often we may be in a city other than our own and have no one around who knows us. Tyler Bicycle Club is making available an Emergency I.D. card for members, family members, and or friends. The card is laminated and can be hung from the frame of your bike, or carried in your jersey pocket, or seat bag. In any event, basic information is available if needed. If youd like to have a card (or cards), the following information is needed: Front Side: Back Side: Butch Willingham recognized the need for the I.D. cards and started the project. He is providing the laminating machine and laminates. Dave Williams has provided much help and time in designing the cards and providing the card stock to be used. At this time, costs are minimal and there is no charge for the cards. We encourage each member to take advantage of this offer. Please send the information needed to Butch Willingham at gwillingham@juno.com (the membership list should be a g as in george, and not a 9) or to Dave Williams at davwilliam@tcainternet.com. Source: Bullard Weekly News Vol. 6 Issue 5. Wednesday, August 15, 2001 Editorial & Commentary Section This letter is to all the bicycle riders who come down and visit our little community of Bullard. I like to think of it as Tour de Bullard. I would just like to ask you all to please move over as much as you can. My 74, three-quarter-ton truck and cow trailer cant make it up these hills without a running start. When I went around on of yall the other day, I didnt know that cow was going to be going to the bathroom right when we went by and mess up one of those shirts yall wear that looks like its three sizes too small. Anyway, that old boy was giving me that finger that lets you know youre number one in his book, and he is not the first one to do that to me. I think if yall are going to ride around our lovely town and countryside and keep telling us we are number one in your book, we need to stop and get to know each other a little better. I think you need to get some tags and insurance like I have to have if one of yall run into my old truck while we are at Sherris Kitchen or over at Roddys getting a cold drink. I think your insurance should be liable for damages and lost wages and mental anguish and all that other stuff those TV lawyers promise you. Anyway, no hard feelings. Have fun and be safe, and tell that Armstrong fellow that I said Hello. Stop by anytime but be careful crossing that cattle guard. Its an ugly sight when one of those bicycle tires goes down between the pipes the wrong way. Troy Wright From: Martha Black To: TBC President First, let me make a brief introduction. You will remember me as the Bullard rider who used to ride in "plain clothes." I've ridden 33,892 miles in 9 years, mostly in Bullard. Several years ago, you used to call me often to get me to ride with you all. I joined the club in 1987. My ex-boyfriend and I bought our bikes together (we had been together years). 5 months later he broke his neck. We were riding in the dirt and he fell over the handlebars, tucked his head and rolled, and he is a quadriplegic. After that I did not ride for a couple of years. After much stress and gaining 51 pounds (I'm 5 ft tall), I was having horrible horrible problems with my stomach in 1989 and accidentally figured out that riding my bike helped me tremendously. That is why I was so obsessive about it, riding in the rain, the sleet, whatever. Anyway, at present I am not riding. I'll tell you the story about that sometime. My main reason for writing is an article that appeared in our local "Bullard Weekly" newspaper about the bicycle group that rides out on Saturdays. I have typed it into a word document which I am attaching. I will also send you the actual article if you will give me an address. I hope you decide to send in a rebuttal. (In all honesty, some of the riders do hog the road - you know it, I know it). For many years, I did not know about the cattle people having to "run" at the hills until I dated a cowboy and it was like "wow, I never thought of that." His point about bikers carrying insurance is obscene. P.S. I have let my membership lapse for sometime. I will be sending in money for the rest of this year and next year next Wednesday when I get paid. (so I'll have the right to send this article in). I already have my form filled out. Thank you. P.S.S. Many years ago, on the FM just past the school, a Bullard citizen got out and pulled a gun on one of the riders. I was really embarrassed. Ask one of the old members about it. Editors Note: Thanks for the efforts of Martha Black, renewing TBC Member, for creating a link of communication between the community of Bullard and TBC. Past attempts to forge this link have not been very successful. I have never met Ole Troy but somehow, I kind of like him for his honesty and forthright way of expressing his views. Lets all help these Bullard folk in their travels about the community by conducting our cycling activities courteously and defensively, treating others on the road with the SAME treatment we would like. As this graphic says: 
Rude Dog Time Trials After 5 Time Trials (8/16/01) Overall Leaders Women Master Women Men 20+ Men 30+ Men 40+ Men 50+ Men 60+ (WalMart Greeters) Tandem Juniors
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