I need your help to save funding for bicycles

5 minutes today can save $1.2 billion in federal funding.

Trek family, 

Over the past ten years, the bike community has made a huge difference in helping to make America a more bicycle friendly country. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we have a long way to go. Unfortunately, as a movement, we are facing some real challenges in Washington. On Thursday, February 2nd the House Transportation Committee is voting on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funding for biking and walking. We stand to lose $1.2 billion and over 3,000 potential bike and pedestrian projects, including Safe Routes to School programs. 

We need your help to preserve these dedicated biking and walking infrastructure funds.  What can you do?   

1. Pick up the phone and contact your elected official. Find their phone number here.

2. Send an email to your elected official. Find their email here.

3. Ask your representative to vote for Representative Petri's amendment to support dedicated funding for walking and biking.

4. Send your friends an email asking them to also contact their representative.

5. Ask your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter to take action.  

Your message can be as simple as this: 

My name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m contacting you today to ask you to protect the dedicated pedestrian and bicycle funding in the new American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.  

This bill is expected to eliminate the two largest programs that fund bicycling and walking infrastructure: Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities in your district and all over the country will lose access to resources to build the facilities that keep people safe.  

Bicycling and walking are critical to keeping our communities moving with healthy, safe, and accessible transportation options. 

Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips, but only 1.5 percent of federal funding.  

And bicycling is good for health and the environment.  

Thank you for your support. [YOUR NAME] [YOUR CITY AND STATE] 

A call will only take five minutes out of your day, but it could be the difference between no funding and over a billion dollars in funding. Zero projects or 3,000 biking and walking projects. 

When you call your representative’s office, you will most likely get voicemail or talk to the representative’s staff member. That's okay. Still leave the message. Every call counts. It is vital that every everyone reaches out in some way. 

Your phone call matters. Last year, when the Transportation extension was at risk, Bikes Belong called upon 20,000 California residents to contact Congressperson Pelosi and ask for her support of dedicated bicycle infrastructure funding. Within 48 hours they had over 2,000 calls to her office. 48 hours later Senator Pelosi called a press conference and publicly announced her support of the bicycle funding. This new multi-year bill is critical. We need every representative to hear from their constituents.  

Thank you, John Burke 

Click here for more information regarding the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act.

 

Dream Bikes, a brat, and a beer

It must have been around five years ago when I was working at a food pantry in Madison. Toward the end of work that night I asked Mike, the pantry manager, if there was anything that I could do to help out. "Well John, what these people really need is a job," Mike replied. "If I could do anything to wave a magic wand, it would be to open businesses near this neighborhood."

For the past few years I had been thinking about all the bikes that sit in garages of homes in really nice neighborhoods, not being used, and what it would take to get those bikes into the hands of kids who've never had a chance to own a bicycle. Put those two ideas together and we get Dream Bikes, the used bicycle store we helped open in a underserved neighborhood of Madison. Trek got the ball rolling and the local Boys & Girls Club joined forces to find the right kids.

Three years later we've sold thousands of used bikes to people who need them, and most importantly we have provided around 50 jobs to kids who needed a good job experience, a safe place to work, some money, and a lot of pride in a job well done. The Madison store has been such a success, we opened a store in Milwaukee. Next spring Dream Bikes #3 opens in Chicago. Once again changing the world with the bicycle.

On Monday the 22nd Tania and I are hosting the first annual Bike Drive at the house. Bring your bike to donate and stop by for a brat and a beer from 6-8. Bikes are the life blood of Dream Bikes and Dream Bikes needs bikes!!  If you don’t have a bike please join us and make a $25 donation to Dream Bikes. If you can't make it and want to help, send a direct donation to:

DreamBikes - Madison
4245 W. Beltline Highway
Madison, WI 53711

Jb

Mission accomplished.

I've been lucky enough to do some amazing rides in my life, including six previous l'Étapes du Tour, but this year’s edition of l'Étape was one was the BEST. Here's my recap.

The team started out as me, my wife Tania, and Nick Schaefer, better known as Mr. Trek France. We started in Modane, and it was super-fast, even for me. The first 15k were pretty much downhill and we were lucky enough to start in the first wave. On some sections we were cruising along at 35 miles per hour and it felt like we were doing really well. The night before I had put together the game plan as I always do before a big event; where I need to be on the route and at what time. I will take five key points and put down the numbers and stick it in my pocket.

After the first fast 15k we hit the base of Col du Telegraph, and up we went. The Telegraph climb was 13k long at a 7% gradient and we continued to do well. This was a beautiful day, bright blue sky with a few clouds and as we reached the top of the mountain, the views were amazing; so good that I stopped along the way to take a few pictures. The descent down the Telegraph was fast and I looked forward to the Galibier. At 17K to the top at 7.7%, this was going to be the ball game. If we could make it up the Galibier in one piece, I knew that we would finish.

Something funny happened up the Galibier, I was having fun! Before I even knew it, we passed the 12k mark, then the 8k mark and I thought, "I can do this." As we approached the top, the views again were amazing, you could look back from the top and see the road winding below filled with riders, it was super cool. I was told that the views at the top of Galibier are amazing and it did not disappoint. I thought we had seen the best as we hit the summit, but I was wrong, the view from the top looking down the other side was even better. We reached the top 1:20 ahead of schedule.

Now for the best part of the ride: downhill 47K to Le Bourg D’Oisans. This is definitely the strongest part of my riding; very long downhills that are not super steep so that you can get some good pedaling in and just cruise. This was an exciting descent with around 5 tunnels along the way. The scariest part of the ride came as I went into one of the tunnels and it was pitch black. I must have been going 35-40 miles an hour and there was no light, just the sounds of bicycles. Bicycles in front and…bicycles behind. Putting on the brakes was not a good option. I was happy when I saw light at the end of the tunnel! Down the hill we continued to go until we reached the village.

In this town, seven years ago at my first Étape, I was caught by the sweeper wagon and not allowed to go any further. I had a score to settle. We pulled into Bourg D’Oisans an hour and thirty minutes ahead of schedule, took a right at the roundabout and then before you know it, there it was… Alpe D'Huez… the legend of them all. 12k to the top, but the number I was focused on was 6k to the Trek Travel rest stop. By this time, I was definitely feeling tired, but kept the pedals moving until we arrived at the rest stop where guide Doug had an absolutely awesome spread. I had a few Cokes, a sandwich, a handful of M&M'S and I was ready to roll. Before my first Ironman my good friend Bart Knaggs told me, “Eat real food.” I have followed this advice in all of my endurance events: I play to my strengths!

As we headed back onto the course, I wasn’t feeling so good, but figured I could rally for the last 6K. We kept knocking them down and I had hoped to launch an attack with 3k to go. A few years back at L'Étape I was able to launch an attack at 3k from the top of the Hautacam to take down my friends Steve Malchow and Tony Smook but as we passed the 3k mark I didn’t have it. My wife did. I told her go catch the boys which she promptly did, catching and passing our friend Dr. T in spectacular fashion at the end. With 1.5k to go I found a little something and attacked with Trek's HR Director Mark Joslyn and Creative Director Eric Lynn. We passed 30 people before the finish line and left nothing in the tank.

Awesome course, awesome day, awesome support from Trek Travel, awesome bike, most importantly awesome friends.

Jb

Game time. L'Étape du Tour

At the start of L'Étape du Tour. 15 min before we go. Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez. It doesn't get any better than this. Awesome team today. Nick Schaefer, aka Mr. Trek France, Dr. T., Mark Joslyn, and Tania on the team with a bunch of others including Dan "titanium" Titus. Check out Dan's bike.

Game time!!! Hope we make it.

Jb

Trails and fees - your thoughts?

On Saturday I rode my bike 80 miles out to Paoli and back to Madison. There are some great new bike trails and instead of riding the roads, I decided to try the trail. This was a great day; 75, sunny, and lots of people on the bike trails. All good until my wife, Tania, and I came upon an intersection and were stopped by someone from the Dane County Parks Dept. who wanted to know if I had my trail pass. "No, I don’t have a trail pass”, I replied. “Well,” responded Mr. Dane County Parks, "that will be $20 for a trail pass for the year and a $5 fine for not having one.” I happily accepted my fine, which is much better than the speeding ticket I received in the past. Smaller fine, no points, and no police lights.
 
As I rode back to Madison I thought about whether charging a $20 fee for using the trail is a good idea or a bad idea. I started with the good idea first:
1.  Cars pay taxes to use the roads. 
2.  The county needs the money and they are providing me with a service 
3.  It is the law. 
 
Then I moved over to the bad idea side of the argument: 
1.  Bike trails are freeing up the congested roads.
2.  Bike trails help the environment.
3.  Bike trails get people active. 
These are all good things and shouldn't the county be encouraging this behavior instead of handing out tickets?
 
I don’t know, what do you think? A. Counties should charge for people to use bike trails. B. Counties should not charge for people to use bike trails.

Jb

My favorite ride of the year

Last weekend was my favorite ride of the year, the Trek 100. This was the 22nd annual event benefiting the MACC fund, a great organization that champions the fight against childhood cancer. Over the last 22 years Trek has raised over $10 million to help this great cause. A few reasons why I think this is one of the BEST rides in the country:
1.  The ride starts at Trek!
2.  The University of Wisconsin marching band is always on hand to send the riders off.
3.  The route is designed so that there is very little traffic. I counted less than 20 cars in 100 miles!
4.  The rest stops are the BEST. A few examples: A stop with bratwurst and a polka band. Or the stop with bread pudding and ribs. Or, how about the Hawaiian themed-stop featuring piles of fruit? This year they added a chocolate fountain.

5.  The finish party rocks. Great music, great fun, great food, and the BEST Wisconsin beer from Capital Brewery.
6.  The Trek 100 has raised over $10 million since it started 22 years ago, when the cure rate for childhood cancer was 35%. Today it is 80%. We have made a difference.

A new twist to the Trek 100 this year is a special Trek 100 online auction. There are awesome items including a VIP trip to the 2012 Tour of California, a Trek Top Fuel 9.8 or Superfly Elite with a tour of Trek and our mtb trail network, and a three-day stay at my house in Santa Barbara with bikes, and a guide supplied for your stay.

He stays on the bus

I flew to Belgium on Tuesday with Joe V to attend Wouter Weylandt's funeral. I never met Wouter, but everyone associated with the LEOPARD TREK team is a part of a family. The team does such an awesome job of representing Trek around the world that I wanted to be there and pay my respects and represent everyone from the Trek family.

The plane arrived an hour late getting into Brussels, so I changed in the men's room at the airport and we drove to Ghent. We parked and walked to the church. The site was amazing. A beautiful old European church with what must have been a couple of thousand people outside. We went in and paid our respects to the family and took our seats for the service. Near the alter, they had a slide show and I love pictures, so I checked out all the photos. I can tell you that Wouter had a lot of friends, and that Wouter lived a very full life.

After the funeral, Joe and I joined a reception for close friends and the team. I met Wouter's father and we had a good conversation. Fabian Cancellara and Flavio, the team owner, came over and we  talked with Wouter's father about what we could do for the family. I let him know that Trek was there to help. Flavio went through a list of things that he was doing for the family. Wouter's father then looked at Flavio and said "I only have one request right now. Do you think it would be possible where the pictures of the riders are on the bus, that the picture of Wouter could stay on the team bus? He really loved being part of LEOPARD TREK." Before he finished Fabian, in a very clear Swiss way, looked at Wouter's father and said "He stays on the bus."

Photo by LEOPARD TREK

Jb.

 

If you ever have a problem with your Trek

Last week I flew home from a trip to Asia. Flight arrived in Detroit at 11 am, my flight home to Madison was at 2 pm. I check the board and there is an earlier flight. I am going to see if I can catch it. I get to the gate only to find out that it is full. No luck there so I wait around for the 2 pm flight. 2 pm comes and goes. Plane gets delayed till 3:30. Beautiful day outside, weather is good in Madison.  I have my day lined up. Bike ride when I get back home, visit a Trek party in honor of two 30-year employees, and attend a cookout for a very good friend who has spent the year fighting breast cancer. Head to the gate for the 3:30 flight, it gets pushed back to 4:30. I ask, "Is there anything anyone can do for me? I need to make it back to Madison." I happen to have Diamond status, which is the highest frequent flyer level, but, it doesn’t seem to be getting me anywhere. To top that off, I am traveling with three other people from Trek who all have Diamond status. No one cares. Long story short; 2 cancelled flights, 6 delays, and I get into Madison at 11:30 pm. There are people dying of cancer who have real problems, so this isn't a tragedy, but...the tragedy to me is that no one cared.

I always have a way of bringing my story around at the end. So JB, what is the point of the story?  The point of the story is this; if you ever have a problem with your Trek product, go see your local retailer. We have a great group of dedicated retailers and they will take care of you. You don't need Diamond status and every Trek customer is part of our Trek family.

If you don’t feel like you have been taken care of, get in touch with Trek customer service. They do a great job of taking care of people. If you don’t feel that you are being taken care of then, send me an e-mail. During the season I get 1-2 notes a week from customers who do not feel like they have had good service. I read every note that comes in and then I send it to Jason Shumacher, our customer service manager, who helps me solve the problem. Jason and I have a very high success rate in solving people's problems, and we care.

Jb

A sad day for cycling

This  morning I heard the news that Wouter Weylandt of the Leopard Trek Team died from a crash during Stage 3 at the Giro. I was shocked and saddened to hear this news. On behalf of the entire Trek family our hearts go out to Wouter's family.

Jb.

12 reasons to start using a bike for transportation

Yesterday I had my first commute to work on my bike. 31 fun-loving degrees and 22.4 miles each way.  My best year for riding to work before last year totaled 3 commutes. My total last year was 33 trips to work and 217 miles around town on my commuting bike. As we head into the riding season, check out 12 reasons to start using a bike for transportation and then set a goal to have your BEST cycling season of all time!

Jb.