EBC rides this weekend..1) Helen is leading the EZ ride this Saturday (and the next couple) out of City Hall starting at 7:302) Sunday is the regular ride out of Ponce de Leon Middle School 7:303) Monday, starting at City Hall in the grove at 7:30, it’s the Miami Springs Cruzer. 26-30 miles at 15mph including a breakfast stop in Miami Springs. Free 6 pack of Budweiser or Coca Cola to the most patriotic kit.

OK, FINALLY, it seems to be getting warm again. Woohoo! Just in time to get our legs ready for Snowbird. So who's going for the full century? If you are going for the full 100, post it on our facebook page.

It was great to see new and old faces at the Everglades Bicycle Club banquet last month. Thanks to Elena Wascura for putting it together! Question- where are all the photos? Post 'em up on our facebook page.

This Sunday March 14th we get back to our 2nd Sunday Pastelito ride, only since its near St Patrick's Day I guess maybe soda bread and green cupcakes?!!?. Its currently the one monthly organized club ride so come on out. (Yes you can wear your Club Jersey if you want, but you don't have to..) AND we're having a quickie 5 min meeting before the ride so be there on time please.

If you have never done this ride before, it starts at 7:30 (so be there at 7:15) from Ponce De Leon middle school in Coral Gables (5801 Augusto Street
Miami, FL 33146-2606) . Three different groups 20-22, 18-19 and 15-17 mph with distances between 25-42 (jv estimate, your mileage may vary).. Afterwards you hang out and drink coffee and eat back at the school Yippee!

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS
Thanks to all of you who did. For those who haven't done it yet, you can save us the cost of postage and mailing by renewing here..

SNOWBIRD

Hey, time's about to expire on the discount pricing and free cycling cap. Deadline is 3/15. Register now on active.com, register using paypal or credit card here or download brochure

And now, a message from Mary Beth Garcia and Mike (Chucho) Gomez

Greetings EBC Members and Friends!

The Annual EBC Snowbird Century is March 28. We are expecting nearly 1000 riders for this year’s event. We have a new venue, new routes and more rest stops than ever----which brings me to the reason for this e-mail. We cannot support these rides successfully without hundreds of VOLUNTEERS—OR HEROES as we like to refer to them at EBC. These are the folks that make these events possible for all of us. Without our VOLUNTEER HEROES dedication, support and hard work---our events would never happen---like tacks in the road, we would come to a screeching halt! 

We have over 50 organizations and individual volunteers already on our Snowbird Team---and we need about 75 more to reach our goal of 100% safety and rider satisfaction!


Please review the jobs, dates and locations needed---I am sure there is a position you can support—even for those that want to ride the Snowbird—there is a job for you that will allow you to support the club, the riders and still enjoy the ride yourself. 

Please recruit co-workers, friends and family to help support this event. It is the best way to get involved with one of the greatest cycling events in South Florida. FYI---High School and College students are eligible for community service hours for this event!


We are currently in need of the following positions on the following dates and times:

March 25—Elite Cycle Pinecrest between 5 and 8:00 PM---packet pick up and registration


March 27—Bike Tech Bird Road between 12 and 5:00 PM—packet pick up and registration


March 27---9:30 to 4:00 PM---Costco Shopping Spree and then the sorting at the Homestead Air Reserve Park (the start of the ride)


March 28---6:30 AM to 4:00 PM---smaller shifts available---Registration, Rider Packet Pick Up, Rest stop food preparation for all rider, Food serving and preparation at the EBC Members Only VIP Lounge—must be 21 or older,


March 28---6:30 AM to 8:30 AM---Rider Parking assistance—please bring a flashlight


March 28—12:30 PM to 4:30 PM---Clean up Duty---great job for a Scout or School organization of volunteers


March 28—7:30 AM to 3:00 PM---assorted Rest Stops still need extra volunteers for food preparation for riders



Be a Hero, be a special friend to riders and the EBC by contacting Mary Beth Garcia @ 305-389-5156 or mbgarcia@novations.com or Chucho Gomez @ 305-796-1211 or chucho26@bellsouth.net. to start your Heroes journey!

Best Regards and Tailwinds forever!
Mary Beth Garcia and Chucho Gomez
MBG

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Hello, MS150? April 17-18th. If you are doing the MS150 and are an EBC member, good for you! We'll have a get together Sat nite, details to come. If you are still thinking about it, or don't have a team, check out the EBC team... Just click on this to register..

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/zimmerman-ms-bike-ride/index.aspx and then search for Everglades Bicycle Club. Thanks to Laura Wagner for joining our team.



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Member Oscar Gomez is organizing a trip the Dominican Republic. Highlights include a 150 km bike ride on May 1st.It's not an official EBC ride, but I've been on trips with Oscar before, it will be fun. Contact him at oscg@juno.com

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Ex-presidente Betty Trueba has offered to put out the EBC newsletter this year (this email is just the ramblings of one man), but she needs content, send it to her at truebabt1@bellsouth.net

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Non EBC stuff..



FYI-There's a happy hour put on by the Mack Cycle and Miami Pace team this Friday at The Grove Spot at 3324 Virginia Street. Its open to all MS150 riders $10 suggested donation, I don't know if its open bar-one can always dream :)

If you aren't already, check out the Miami Bike Scene blog.. http://miamibikescene.blogspot.com/ and see exactly what all those fixie types are up to :) That tweed ride looks like a great excuse to take out that 1970 schwinn you have been hiding in the back of the garage...

Thanks for reading, now go ride your bike!

John Voss
jvoss@jvossman.com
Secretary & Charity Chair, Everglades Bicycle Club
Register now or download brochure
for the 2010 Snowbird Century on March 28th!
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The first annual Blessing of The Bicycles event in South Florida will be held at Saint Mark Catholic Church on Saturday February 6, 2010 at 7:30 am Sharp. Saint Mark Catholic Church is located at 5601 South Flamingo Road South West Ranches, FL, 33330.

The event was put together by members of the South Florida cycling community for all bike riders, regardless of age, gender, bike and faith. Our friend at Saint Mark Catholic Church, Rev. Cesar Peña will say a few kind words and then sprinkle our bikes with holy water.

There will be a moment of silence to remember those cyclists WHO LOST their lives in the past and this year, it will be a chance for all of the riders to turn their bike’s cranks backwards or ring their bicycle bells in celebration of cycling. Due to the tragic event in Haiti a Hat (helmet) will be passed around to raise donations for the victims of the earthquake. Riders will be asked to donate in cash the equivalent of whatever they spent on a rest stop while riding. For example a Gatorade + granola bar.

After the short ceremony a “Ghost Bike” will be placed later around the intersection between Glades and route 84 in memory of Leon Hamer killed last year on a bike accident.
“The blessing of the bikes is a great way to raise awareness around the community in South Florida. Bicycle riders have the same right to share the road as cars and they must be respected. The unfortunate accidents of the past year have been very regrettable and we want to honor the lifes of these men.” said Juan F. Pineda a member of the Weston Flyers a group with more than 150 riders in West Broward.”

The event is SUPPORTED BY all of the major cycling clubs in South Florida and we expect hundreds of riders, skaters and non-motorized scooters to attend this beautiful and wonderful event.
With all of the numerous accidents involving cyclist, including one fatal accident on January, 2010, where a cyclist was killed on his way to Key Biscayne, the cycling community needs all the help they can get.

Contact Persons:
Juan F. Pineda: (305) 586-6833 / jfpineda@hotmail.com
Antonio Arias: (954) 347-6763 / tsgarias@comcast.net (St. Mark Emmaus)
1) The Blessing of The BIKES was born in New York City, at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NY. Currently The Blessing of The Bike in NY is on its 12th consecutive event with more than 500 CYCLISTS assisting this wonderful day.
For more information please visit: http://www.theblessingofthebikes.com
2) Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel.
For more information please visit: http://www.ghostbikes.org

Donwload December News letter NOW

Bill Detzner is organizing a 7 day bike ride the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The ride will begin on Monday, June 21.

Daily riding is between 65-70 miles per day, lots of hill climbing involved. We will stay in hotels at night, and we will have a sag for carrying gear. People will need a mandatory red light on the back of their bike, and a mandatory white light on the front of their bike for several tunnels having no artificial lighting. The ride will begin in Cherokeee, N.C. Each person will pay individually for meals and hotels. Bill will collecting money only for gas for the sag vehicle.

Please contact Bill Detzner 305-279-5488 if you are interested. Deadline for signing up for this trip is April 10, 2010.

NEW EBC RIDE Sunday September 13
Join EBC for our new monthly ride on the second Sunday of each month departing from Ponce de Leon Middle School. We will gather starting at 7am for pastelitos courtesy of EBC and depart at 7:30 sharp to Miami Beach. Speedway registration and membership applications will be available. Three speed groups options - a 22+, a 18-20, and a 16-18mph. Wear your new EBC uniform!
Traffic laws and ride speeds are strictly enforced

Also, don't forget to join FACEBOOK for the most up to date information. Look for the Everglades Bicycle Club Group.

Registrations for the Speedway and memberships will be available at the ride. Take advantage of the membership discount for the speeway ride and please register early.

This ride will be lead by John Voss
Any questions please email: jvoss@jvossman.com