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PanTerra
01-13-2004, 01:25 PM
>
>Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:44:57 -0800 (PST)
>From: Chris Phelan <coachphelan@yahoo.com>
>Subject: The Ride Of Silence
>
>
>My name is Chris Phelan.
>Last year I sent out e-mails 10 days from when
>the Ride Of Silence, a rider inspired by Larry
>Schwartz, was to ride. One thousand cyclists came
>out to show solidarity for those killed on the
>road or harassed by motorists. (On October 10, I
>was struck from behind by a drunk driver, who
>didnít even get a ticket. This year the ride will
>now be more personal for me.)
>This year the date is May 19, 7pm, starting on
>the west side of White Rock Lake, at T.P.
>Hill/Paddle Boats. Again, like last year, there
>is no registration, no fee, and no t-shirt. We
>will ride no faster than 12mph, in silence, with
>police escort in front and behind. Our goals will
>stay the same (see below).
>Please come out and show your armbands (black to
>mourn, red if youíve been harassed or injured by
>a motorist). Much will be said in silence.
>Please post this on your web site or chat room.
>Iím attaching a flyer for this year that you may
>use as you see fit. Print is off or sent it out.
>Modify as you need to.
>With this e-mail, we start listing those people,
>clubs, and companies (see the list below from
>last included more than just cyclists), who wish
>to endorse this event. Reply to
>coachphelan@yahoo.com, and let us know your
>intentions.
>(To our friends beyond Dallas, please consider
>contacting your local bike club/shop, and put the
>word out there. Let me know if I can help.)
>This year, the ride will also be going nation
>wide with a ride taking place on the same day, at
>the same time, in cities in Utah, Colorado,
>Michigan, North Carolina, Missouri and Wisconsin,
>with more expected to come on board. In the state
>of Texas, rides will go off in Houston, Conroe,
>San Antonio, and Austin. These are the contacts
>we have this first day (1/12/03) of getting the
>word out:
>
>Boulder, CO
>Alicke, Falk Fritz
>f-alicke@ti.com
>
>Hill Abel
>Bicycle Sport Shop
>Austin
>hill@bicyclesportshop.com
>
>Lea Grasshoff
>Texas Racing Post
>contributing editor
>lgrasshoff@sbcglobal.net
>
>Tobin Behling
>President of TMBRA (Texas Mountain Bike Racing
>Association)
>www.tmbra.org.
>
>Ken OíGrady
>214-384-1999
>Plano
>ken@ogrady.net
>ken.ogrady.com
>
>Mike Keel
>2620 Glen Forest Lane
>Plano, TX 75023
>H972-758-0116
>W972-578-5719
>C972-567-8365
>
>Detroit:
>Detroit Cycle
>800-826-0781
>
>Dennyís Cycle Sports
>1215 E. Grand River
>East Lansing, MI 48823
>517-351-2000
>
>St. George, Utah:
>Jerry Simmons
>Red Rock Bicycle Center
>190 S. Main
>St. George, Utah 84770
>435-674-3185
>
>Jerry Simmons
>Red Rock Bicycle Company
>190 S. Main
>St. George, Utah 84770
>435-674-3185
>ride@redrock.net
>
>Randy Perrenoud
>Hearns Cycling & Fitness
>34 Broadway
>Ashville, NC 28801
>828-253-4800
>www.hearncycling.com
>
>Inside Out Sports
>2002 Grisdale Lane
>Cary, NC
>919-466-0101
>888-343-6313
>www.insideoutsports.com
>__@insideoutsports.com
>
>Mathew Britz
>8914 Pineville-Mathews Road
>Charlotte, NC 28226
>704-542-6379
>bicsouth@msn.com
>
>Bart Stetler
>South Park Cycles
>5121 South Park Rd.
>Charlotte, NC 28217
>704-522-7006
>bart@southparkcycles.com
>
>St. Louis
>Susan Kubinak, DVM
>Kubinak@aol.com
>
>Eric S. Powell -
>ExxonMobil Cycling Team - Houston
>eric.s.powell@exxonmobil.com
>
>Cindy Weisinger
>Austin, Texas
>"Cynthia Weisinger" <spinnincin@sbcglobal.net>
>
>Milwaukee/Madison
>"tommy brauneis" <tommybrauneis@hotmail.com>
>
>
>This is just AMAZING to me. As you may know, this
>was originally inspired by a stupid accident
>involving a world-class cyclist and a school bus,
>during the late morning hours on a sunny road
>with no other traffic. Both were the epitome of
>safety, and yet one died, and one walked away.
>I began sending e-mails to everyone I knew,
>saying I was going to do a silent loop of White
>Rock Lake (10 mi) a no faster than 12MPH in
>memory of Larry Schwartz (the cyclist) and others
>who have lost their lives or been harassed by
>motorists. There would be NO registration, NO
>fee, NO t-shirt.
>Below is the original e-mail.
>(last year)
>THE RIDE OF SILENCE
>MAY 21, 7PM, TEE PEE HILL ñ The Padde Boats,
>WHITE ROCK LAKE, DALLAS
>One 10-mile loop on the road, purposely slow
>(12mph), in silence.
>
>ìThe cycling community just lost one of it's best
>ambassador's.
> The Dallas cycling community needs to organize
>and show it's strength to get the message out
>that we deserve road usage, and equal rights.
>It's high time we organize a "Critical Mass" or
>friendly rally to pay respect to Larry and
>increase public awareness. The D/FW area and
>Texas are way behind the times when it comes to
>fostering a ëCycling Friendlyí environment -
>especially when you consider that the best
>professional cyclist currently racing developed
>his talent on the same roads we all ride today.
> Action needs to happen to make our roads safer,
>and protect our sport that we love. I can not
>think of a better time than the present.î
>- Eric Koenigs, May 7, 2003
>
>This is what's going to happen:
>Wednesday, May 21, 7PM, Tee Pee / The Paddle
>Boats at White Rock Lake,
>"The Ride Of Silence"
>No registration, no fee.
>
>The ride will be one 10-mile lap clockwise around
>White Rock Lake in silence. Maximum speed will be
>a slow and respectful 12 mph.
>
>To memorialize Larry Schwartz and others who have
>been lost or injured involving motorists (Miji
>Reoch, Jim Kerr, Bob Blum, Matthew Brown, Chris
>Pearson, Ralph Phillips, Phil Wyrick, Martha
>Parks, Greg Stone), we will ride one lap of White
>Rock Lake in silence at a slow and respectful
>maximum speed of 12 mph; a vigil for fallen
>comrades who have shared the road.
>
>This will be open to anyone that has access to a
>bike and a helmet. Amateur, professional, biker,
>runner, triathlete, duathlete, skater, road bikes
>and mountain bikes are welcomed and encouraged.
>
>This will be a public ride; a ride showing
>support and public countenance. This is NOT a
>race, NOT to be thought of as a race, and NOT to
>be treated as a race. This ride will be
>non-partisan, not sponsored, non-promotional and
>not for a charity.
>
>This is the endorsement list as of today, Monday,
>May 19, 2003. I am expecting endorsements as the
>days go by.
>
>Our Goals:
>1. To memorialize Larry Schwartz and those who
>have been lost or injured to motorists;
>2. Through any media exposure, to show motorists:
>a) weíre not going a way; b) make them more aware
>of sharing the road;
>3. A chance for the cycling public-at-large to
>pay and show their respects through public
>assembly;
>4. To let cyclists bond together in mourning.
>
>Parking is limited. It is recommended you park at
>some other location, then bike to the start.
>Athletes may meet before 7pm to talk and workout,
>and can continue after The Ride Of Silence. Black
>ankle and/or arm bans are encouraged. If you have
>been injured or harassed by a motorist, please
>wear a red band, also.
>
>Riders at the front of the pack will be
>responsible for holding back the speed to a
>maximum of 12mph.
>
>This is NOT a race.
>
>I hope you will join The Ride Of Silence for
>those we have dearly loved. This will not be an
>annual event.
>
>Chris Phelan
>coachphelan@yahoo.com
>972-698-8732
>
>
>As you can read, it was NOT to "be an annual
>event." It was put together in 10 days, and took
>time away from my work. Now, look below to see
>those who responded as endorsing the ride.
>
>

PanTerra
01-13-2004, 01:27 PM
Cont'd.

ENDORSED BY
>The Phast Times News
>Bikiní Mike Keel
>Plano Cycling & Fitness
>The Texas Health Club
>Plano Kawasaki Suzuki Aprilia
>Thurston Racing
>Health&Fitness Magazine
>Paul Richardson and the Dallas Area Galloway
>Marathon Training Program
>Cowtown Area Mountain Bikers Association
>Tri Dallas
>Lone Star Works
>Christian Williams and The Texas Racing Post.
>Sheryl Nash
>Tom Short
>Mark and Kathy Norman
>Mike Ramsey
>Richardson Bike Mart
>Tri Cowtown Triathlon Club
>Mirage Cycling Club
>Judith Jolly
>South Texas Runners, Riders, and Swimmers ñ
>Corpus Christi
>Estela Reynoso
>Texins Triathlon Club
>Baylor/Tom Landry Cycling Program
>Mike Baker, USA Cycling Club Coach
>Robert (Stan) Phillips
>Fit2Train
>The Texas Bicycle Coalition
>Jack Johnston Bicycles
>Dr. Randy Silvangi and Coit Chiropractic
>Ft.Worth Bicycle Assoc.
>DH Sports
>Tom Ryan and Dallas Athletes Athletic Club
>Pat Cheshier and The Dallas Police Department
>George Lowery
>Dallas Aquatic Masters
>Craig Miller and The Ticket
>Carl Woodard and Associates
>USA Triathlon, South Mid West
>Greater Dallas Bicyclists
>Mary Carey
>Frank Fong
>Jeph Abara
>Dallas Off Road Bicycle Assoc (DORBA)
>David K. Adams and The Matrix Cycle Club
>Charlie and Sheree Bratt
>W. Tom Parker
>Cline Taplin and The Cross Country Club of Dallas
>Plano Bicycle Association
>Rick Alexander, Executive Director, and Bikes On
>A Mission
>Adam Wilk
>Maria Richards, President and For the Love of the
>Lake
>Sandy Lovejoy
>Steve and Teresa Cook
>Rob Phillips
>
>Pending:
>WB33, KDAF
>Fox News
>The Dallas Morning News
>Moritz Chevy crew
>
>
>You will find the event listed with the Texas
>Bicycle Coalition, Greater Dallas Bicycle Club,
>Dallas Tri Greeks, Dallas Off Road Bicycle
>Association, Mirage Racing Team, the Lone Star
>Randonneurs, Bicycles Inc. (sponsor of TBI), and
>Texas Wheels Cycling Club web sites and many
>more. I am expecting more endorsements as the
>days go by.
>
>
>A thousand cyclists showed up, along with media.
>Bike clubs CANCELLED their Wednesday night crits,
>and rides. It was phenominal!
>This is the review printed in the Texas Racing
>Post:
>THE RIDE OF SILENCE
>May 21, 2003
>White Rock Lake, 7pm
>They began gathering at 6:30. The start wasnít
>for another 30 minutes. It was an unusual day and
>time to have a bike rally, a Wednesday, at 7pm.
>But this was an unusual gathering of kindred
>spirits.
>Ten days in the making, The Ride Of Silence came
>together at White Rock Lakeís Tee Pee Hill paddle
>boats, under the banner of remembering those that
>have been killed on the roads. Though the ride
>was inspired by the most recent death of
>endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz, it welcomed
>runners and anyone else who shares the road, and
>therefore risks life and limb, with motorists.
>Though bikers go no slower than farm equipment
>and are no smaller than motorcycles, there is a
>slaughter taking place on the roads we have a
>legal right to share with motor vehicles.
>As cyclists representing various clubs and teams
>from the Metroplex (Plano Cycling & Fitness,
>Cowtown Area Mountain Bikers Association, Tri
>Dallas, Lone Star Works, Richardson Bike Mart,
>Tri Cowtown Triathlon Club, Mirage Cycling Club,
>Texins Triathlon Club, Baylor/Tom Landry Cycling
>Program, Fit2Train, Jack Johnston Bicycles,
>Ft.Worth Bicycle Assoc., Dallas Athletes Athletic
>Club, Greater Dallas Bicyclists, Dallas Off Road
>Bicycle Assoc (DORBA), The Matrix Cycle Club,
>Plano Bicycle Association, Moritz Chevy Crew)
>gathered in hushed tones, the atmosphere was
>different than your typical race or rally.
>Cyclists greeted one another from other teams and
>factions. Old friends re-united and new ones were
>made. Instead of Type A behavior, one could
>easily see a different side to the cycling
>community, one that had to come to mourn the loss
>of loved ones, dear.
>A flurry of e-mails went out beginning May 12
>announcing the chance for all that share the road
>with motorists, to come together to speak volumes
>in silence; to gather and ride, instead of with
>speed, and noise, to ride with restraint and
>silence. There would be no registration, no fee,
>no T-Shirt, no sponsors. There would be, simple,
>a ride in silence.
>This was unprecedented, and some questioned itís
>value, purpose, and validity. And weather it
>could happen.
>It had rained most of the day. Some e-mails and
>phone calls were fielded about the ride still
>taking place. Yes, it would, went out the
>message.
>Over 500 cyclists and some runners came together
>under cloud skies, comfortably cool temperatures,
>and dry streets. Channel 33 was on hand to film
>the event and do a story. The Texas Racing Post,
>and The Phast Times News were also on hand, along
>with Judith Jolly to represent her fiancÈ who
>inspired the ride.
>A few words were spoken of why they had gathered
>and strict instructions to ride no faster than 12
>MPH. The front of the pack was asked to block,
>and hold the rest of the pack back. A volunteer
>Police escort with Officer Pat Cheshier, lead the
>cyclist, after they were allowed to ìproceed when
>it is safe do so.î
>And then it started. Mountain bikes, tri-bikes,
>roadies, tandems, and recumbents. An older man
>riding a traditional bike with red high tops. In
>a deafening silence, all began rolling clockwise
>around the 10 mile loop, with most wearing black
>arm band to memorialize those that have fallen,
>and red arm bands for those that have either been
>injured or harassed by a motorist.
>The air became thick with emotion, as once steely
>competitors remembered those that have died doing
>something they loved, or remembered how close
>they had come to death on a past ride. One man
>was crying; several were moist with sadness. The
>rest wore sunglasses. In silence, they rode as
>one, remembering those that have gone before,
>themselves, and each other.
>Going around the first bay on the west side
>allowed the opportunity to turn back and look at
>the stretch of bicycles, all riding deliberately
>slow. People on the sides on the road, stopped.
>You could see them whisper to each other. They
>knew something significant was happening, but
>werenít sure what. They were used to seeing large
>packs of 20 or so cyclists hammering along this
>popular lake, yelling out commands, with abandon
>and disregard for any spectators on the roadside.
>But this was different. These cyclists said
>nothing. There was a complete and enormously
>powerful silence that gripped hearts and emotion.
>There speed of such restraint, it immediately
>told any bystander that something was being said,
>that a statement was being made.
>By the time the riders made it to Mockingbird
>Land to cross the bridge over White Rock Lake, it
>was obvious the event was working. Cyclists were
>seen hugging, shaking or holding hands, or giving
>a nod that meant solidarity as they rode in the
>quiet.
>Though there was no brochure, poster, or clothing
>associated with The Ride Of Silence, the impact
>that was made was crater sized, in the otherwise
>materialistic world of Dallasí TV remotes,
>cosmetic surgery, SUVís and personalized licensed
>plates.
>Once on Mockingbird bridge where cyclist and
>motorist merge, even the motorist seemed to ìget
>itî for the moment, that something different was
>happening. It was the tail end of rush hour, and
>yet the cars and traffic were slowing for riders.

PanTerra
01-13-2004, 01:28 PM
cont'd.


>At Winfrey Point, one could look back north to
>the back of the pack coming out of Sunset Bay,
>then look south along the Arboretum to the
>spillway on Garland Road, and see a continuous
>line of bikes that stretched to almost a mile,
>longer than the peleton in the Tour díFrance.
>We had strength in numbers. We were unified over
>the one thing that brings us all together: death.
>Our own or someone we are close to. As Mike Keel
>pointed out, everyone out there is someoneís
>daughter, son, father, mother, or grandparent.
>There is the realization we all just one ride
>away from death despite our safety record. This
>is, after all, the one sport where one must be
>concerned about being killed before they can
>enjoy, learn or excel. A poignant point. Just as
>Larry Schwartz was obsessively safety conscious,
>so is the school bus driver who has just left off
>his cargo for the morning. And yet, these two
>collide and one dies as a result.
>The camaraderie among the cyclists this hour,
>went beyond being seen and demonstrated. It was
>so palatable, it was felt by those who stood on
>the side, as well as the occasional rider who
>pulled to the side to take pictures, wait for
>someone they wanted to share this special moment
>with, or just take in the significance of the
>event.
>The list of groups endorsing the ride was
>enormous at 41. Groups as diverse as Dallas
>Aquatics Masters, the Corpus Christi South Texas
>Runners, Bikers, and Swimmers, Thurston Racing,
>The Cross Country Club of Dallas, USA Triathlon ñ
>South Mid West, and For The Love Of The Lake.
>Groups such as The Texas Health Club, Plano
>Kawasaki Suzuki Aprilia, Health&Fitness Magazine,
>the Dallas Area Galloway Marathon Training
>Program, The Texins Triathlon Club, Coit
>Chiropractic, DH Sports, The Dallas Police
>Department, Craig Miller and The Ticket, Carl
>Woodard Associates, and Bikes On A Mission who
>stood behind what the ride was standing for, and
>that could understand the venerability of the
>lone athlete training in their environment. A
>real sign of import was the endorsement from The
>Texas Bicycle Coalition, whom Schwartz himself
>had requested donations be made to in place of
>flowers.
>The sun was starting to the western horizon as
>the bikers made their way off the bike and foot
>bridge at Garland and Winsted Roads. The police
>had again made it possible to allow the cyclists
>the right of way, allowing the two wheeled
>vehicles to continue on their way, uninterrupted
>to White Rock Trail, without traffic coming off
>Garland Road. Since the cyclists were a large
>enough group, the stop signs were legally
>suspended during the ride.
>A large green SUV found it necessary to have to
>pass the cyclists along White Rock Trail before
>Williamson. The SUV entered the left hand lane
>and began passing at a high rate of speed
>endangering his life, his wife life sitting next
>to him and the hundreds of cyclists who had the
>legal right of way. He went on without incident.
>Toward the end, before the ride ended, a yellow
>shirt was spotted on the back of a rider. In
>memory of Schwartz, in said it all. ìLife is
>short. Ride far.î
>At the paddle boats, the riders hugged and
>comforted each other, thanking one another for
>being there this day and on other rides past and
>future. Hands shaking, smiles and hugs were easy
>and freely given out. Larrry Schwartz did not die
>in vain. Hardly. ìHeíd be smiling down us right
>now,î said cyclist Keith Hester.

>
>And a letter I wrote, 5/11/03
>
>I believe in this event with my whole heart and
>being.
>This event, and the thought behind it, is not me.
>It is about those comrades, that have fallen,
>those with whom we have shared the road with, to
>carve out that space that hugs the white
>break-down line as motorist drive by unaware.
>Understand, this is not about any of those who
>have come to endorse it. This is about those
>bikers (and runners) who have lost their lives on
>the road due to motor vehicles. This about living
>in a provincial town that doesn't seem to look
>beyond it's need to get to home and work as quick
>as possible. This about bring people who are also
>vulnerable on the road and mourning those we have
>lost, about sharing the road and making people on
>the road more aware.
>This is about cutting through the knife thick
>partisan tension in this town (what store, team,
>club, faction, you bike/run for), and realizing
>we are all just cutting our own throats, coming
>together over one common idea we all deal with:
>death. That coming together, en masse, with
>purpose and in silence, we can speak volumes
>about our common concerns.
>I cry for Larry Schwartz. But he is not the
>first, and sadly will not be the last. Miji
>Reoch, Bob Blum, and Jim Kerr were also
>senselessly lost while on their bike. These are
>only a few of the names, Mike. There are
>literally thousands. Motorists need to realized
>1) we are not going away; 2)we don't want to
>steal the roads from under the vehicles. But we
>do want to share the road with them.
>It's a poor testament to a sport where your first
>priority is not about enjoying or excelling in
>the sport, but about avoiding being killed. What
>other sport has that to say about it? Not even
>the football.
>It started when I mentioned doing something
>significant as a memorial to a few people at
>Larry's funeral. Although people all agreed on
>doing something, all were non-committal, probably
>for very reasons. I mentioned this idea while
>talking to them. The day after, fearing that
>nothing would happen, I (working solo) made two,
>maybe three phone calls, and sent out the
>original e-mail to everyone I knew.
>The response has been overwhelming. I'm hoping
>Larry, Miji, Bob, Jim, and others are somewhere
>where they can appreciate what they are inspiring
>in Dallas area athletes. I am very
>impressed...and thankful.
>I am sincerely grieved if people will not be able
>to come to this event to mourn. I hope they will
>find a time to do so on their own, in their own
>way.
>If I am alone or if a million people attend on
>May 21, 7pm, at Tee Pee Hill, I will be O.K. with
>either scenario.
>I hope to see you there, and ride in
>silence...together.
>Thank you for all of this. I consider you all a
>comrade and an earnest friend. Let me know if
>there's ANYTHING else I can do to help or forward
>this on.
>Stay active. Thank you for your time and
>conscience.
>c
>972-698-8732

PanTerra
05-19-2004, 12:48 PM
Today is the day, with all the new cities that are taking part in this memorial ride, are any other forum members able to make this event?

http://www.rideofsilence.org./locations.php

PanTerra
05-20-2004, 11:50 PM
They rode in silence, in tribute
Thousands quietly work to raise awareness of dangers facing cyclists


11:26 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2004

By PAUL J. WEBER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News


Gary Glickman's favorite part of cycling White Rock Lake was the camaraderie he felt with other riders.

No doubt, then, he would have loved Wednesday night.

Mr. Glickman was fatally struck while riding his bicycle in March. More than 2,500 rode to honor him and other fallen cyclists at White Rock Lake in the Ride of Silence.

More than 2,500 rode to honor fallen cyclists at White Rock Lake in the Ride of Silence. It was the second year for an event that has spread nationwide since starting in Dallas last May.

Only the steady clicking of bicycle chains was heard after the ride's 7 p.m. start, the same time similar events began in 54 other cities. The nearly half-mile-long pack of riders traveled the 10-mile loop around White Rock Lake in silence, spinning no faster than 12 mph.

It was a pace far slower than what Mr. Glickman – who was riding with his cycling club friends when a pickup struck him – was used to going, but his widow, Kate Glickman, said her husband would have appreciated what the event was about.

"Hopefully, this will create more awareness in the public so that these accidents don't happen," said Mrs. Glickman, who rode with her 4-year-old son, Cameron, in tow.

When Garland's Chris Phelan organized the Ride of Silence last year, safety advocacy wasn't his inspiration. Instead, he simply wanted to honor the memory of friend Larry Schwartz, who died in May 2003 after his head hit a school bus mirror while he was riding.

Mr. Phelan sent a few e-mails after Mr. Schwartz's funeral and, less than two weeks later, more than 1,000 riders showed up at White Rock Lake.

Riders hope the Ride of Silence gives motorists a greater appreciation of cyclists' fears.

Robin Stallings, executive director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, said that about 50 bicyclists are killed by motorists in Texas each year.

Dallas resident Brian Hasenbauer, who was a close friend of Mr. Schwartz's and is a former professional triathlete, said: "I never ride anywhere – not even a race – anymore thinking that I'm protected. I never trust a police officer. I never trust a volunteer. If I don't see a motorist's eyes before I cross an intersection, I'll stop."

Mr. Hasenbauer has been hit by motorists three times since 1995. He said those accidents, coupled with losing two friends to traffic accidents, have caused him to significantly curb his training because he's afraid to ride on the road.

Mr. Phelan, who was struck by a car five months after organizing the Ride of Silence last year, hopes the event's popularity will help spur reforms.

Among the changes he seeks are 6-foot shoulders for cyclists on new roads and more time addressing cyclists' concerns in defensive driving and driver's education courses.

http://tinyurl.com/2x5hb