Happy February, Folks!

June seems a long way off, but Cherry City's worker bees are already making preparations for the club's big fundraising ride, the Best of the Bay (the BOB), which will be held on June 16 this year. The first dedicated meeting for the event was held last month, and since then the insurance has been squared away, and a bike shop agreed to provide mechanic service at the lunchtime rest stop, and other facets of the event (like the ride poster) were being worked on. The next meeting for the BOB ride happens in just a few days to review progress and plan the next series of goals. The ride depends on many volunteers to make it a success, so if you'd like to help out, we can definitely find a job for you!

On a totally different topic, have you ever had your back suddenly "go off" on you, leaving you nearly in tears at the pain? I seem to have fallen into that group of people, with three or four incidents in the past five years. I just had another one last Sunday night, and I'm still getting over it, but how one gets over it seems to be a matter of debate. Some say take it very easy--maybe even spend a few days in bed. Others say that it's better to try to keep moving and power through it. I've become a believer in the second path. The last three times this has happened, I found that riding a bike was one of the best things I could do to speed the recovery from a painful back episode. Let's see...in 2009 the back went crazy during a four-day mountain bike ride in Utah. Getting up in the morning was agony, but the pain almost disappeared once we started riding for the day. Then in 2010, the back went bad again just before the big Yosemite ride. Lo and behold, the back troubles essentially vanished after the two days of hard riding that time! And then this week I rode the stationary bike at the gym for nearly an hour, less than 48 hours after the back went out, and that night I could actually move around in bed without it feeling like someone was stabbing me in the lower back! The "power through it" method may not work for everybody, but it sure seems to work for me.

Have a great February and don't forget that our monthly meeting is coming up shortly (on Feb. 8 at the Manor branch of the San Leandro Library)!

Hasta luego!

Mike Nagorka

Click on photo to see larger image

Tunnel Rd slide repair: Road will be open to bicyclists, but use caution Advisory: Tunnel road will be under construction during December 2011 and January 2012 to repair a landslide. The City's contractor may close Tunnel Road intermittently from Charring Cross to Hiller Drive to vehicular traffic but bicyclists may use the roadway. Please pay close attention to roadway signs, flaggers, and avoid Tunnel Road if possible. See notice on North Hills Community Association web page http://www.northhillscommunity.org/index.php?page=tunnelrd

Here is the link to our Special Events Rides for 2011

Tom & Stephanie DiPalma, Michael Jay and Vicky Ma.

Sean Gould has been so generous to volunteer in the creation of the pdf version of the newsletter with some different articles than this online version. Here is the second of many editions.

• PDF: Newsletter

Order your club jersey, vest, arm warmers, etc. today.

• 2011 Cherry City Cyclists Jersey Kit Clothing Order Form (Download a PDF document)

• How to Buy a Bike
• Build Your Core and Ride Stronger (Updated12/15/08)

• Why should I attend?

• To be informed, be heard, get involved, and make a  difference.

• When are meetings held?

• 2nd Wednesday of the month: 6:00pm – Board Meeting;  7:00 General Meeting, which now ends at 8pm.

• Where are meetings held?

• Meetings are at the San Leandro Manor Library on  Manor Blvd.

• (March and April meetings will be held at the Manor  Branch).

• Where are meetings held?

• Yes, attend 5 out of the remaining 9 meetings and get 1/2  off your 2011 membership fee.

• Since we are refining your new fixed routesheets, occasionally
• there may be some errors. Please inform us so we can
• correct these errors.
• Download route sheet 200901V2 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200902 rev 2 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200903 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200904 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200905 (PDF document)
• Download route sheet 200906 (PDF document)

• Monthly Rides ( Download a PDF document )
• Monthly Rides
• Weekly Rides
• Cull Canyon Show'n'Go (Ends in Oct. Returns next Spring)
• Special Events & Rides (click on to see all SER rides)
• How to lead a ride & ride routes for New Ride Leaders
• Ride Rating System
• Leaderless & Route Sheet Library

• 01-11-12 General Meeting Minutes
• 11-09-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 10-12-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 08-10-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 07-13-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 03-09-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 02-09-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 01-12-11 General Meeting Minutes
• 07-14-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 05-12-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 03-10-10 General Meeting Minutes
• 11-11-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 09-09-09 GeneralMeeting Minutes
• 06-10-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 05-13-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 03-11-09 General Meeting Minutes
• 02-11-09 General Meeting Minutes

• Ride Mileage
• Ride Rating System

Announcing the Impromptu Rides

The Problem: Due to busy schedules, many people who would like to lead a ride cannot plan 1 or 2 months in advance in order to get their ride(s) into the newsletter.  Nearly everyone enjoys watching their club mileage increase every month, however, you can only attain club mileage on “impromptu” rides, i.e., those that appear in the newsletter.

The Solution:

Announcing the Impromptu Rides.  Here is how it works

Nikki Grimes of Grimes Getaways Bicycle Tours will be presenting a 15-20 minute program sharing photos of cycle tours in the Glacier National Park area and in the Sierras from Groveland to Yosemite . Come and see what great areas you can access on your bicycle! You will also learn more about the camping tours being offered. This is a great time to get your questions answered if you have ever thought about taking a cycling vacation. There will be a drawing for a $50 coupon good toward any of the 2010 tours. Grimes Getaways Bicycle Tours is one of the club sponsors.