Category Archives: Events

Articles on events that are going on around Albany.

by Lorenz M. Worden | September 10, 2013 · 2:22 pm

Hudson Valley Ramble Bicycle Tour – Sun, Sept 15

To: All Who Love to Bicycle, Explore, Discover, and Socialize:

Join us for a Hudson Valley Ramble Bicycle Tour this Sunday September 15, 2013. We will meet at 10:00 – 10:30 at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, 25 Quackenbush Sq., corner of Clinton and Broadway in downtown Albany for an 11:00 am start.

This ride will be 25 miles, a casual pace with a couple of short climbs, on roads with medium traffic and short sections of unpaved bike paths. We will visit the sites and cities that were part of the great American Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s.

Sights and sounds that we will experience include the original Erie Canal, the Great Falls at Cohoes, the Waterford Harbor, and countless “Industrial Revolution” era buildings that were used for factories, workplaces, entertainment, and homes in downtown Albany, Cohoes, Waterford, and Troy.

Bring your camera with your mandatory helmet along with an extra tube for your bike in case of a flat. This is a self-supported ride so be prepared!

Cost is $10. Snacks, fruit, and water provided at the start.

We will stop for lunch near the halfway point so bring a little cash ($10- $15.) This new deli has great soups, sandwiches, baked goods, and picnic tables with a spectacular view.

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Filed under Comings and Goings, Local Bike Rides, Rides

by Lorenz M. Worden | August 4, 2013 · 12:49 pm

APD Chief Krokoff’s Traffic Safety Initiative.

Albany Bicycle Coalition calls for safe cycling and offers support for APD Chief Krokoff’s “Traffic Safety” initiative.

______________
August 3, 2013

Steven Krokoff, Chief
Albany Police Department
165 Henry Johnson Blvd.
Albany, New York 12210

Dear Chief Krokoff:

Thank you for your briefing at the July 17, 2013 meeting of the Safety Committee of the Albany Common Council. We found your planned approach to be both enlightening and encouraging. We are most interested in your plans and in working with the Albany Police Department to help on them.

We in the Albany Bicycle Coalition are concerned about cyclist behavior as it relates to their safety and to that of transit riders, pedestrians, motor vehicle operators, and, in fact, other cyclists. Our observations and those of other experienced cyclists suggest that much of the flagrant behavior is not malicious or intentional but rather derives from ignorance, lack of training, and a lack of appreciation of the impact on other road users. Our particular concerns are these:

– Riding against traffic – that is, on the left side (usually in the erroneous belief that this is safer)
– Racing (as opposed to coasting) through red lights and stop signs
– Riding on the sidewalk by those 10 years of age and older
– Riding the wrong way on one-way streets

As cycling increases in the city, and as more and more untrained or inexperienced cyclists take to the streets, we can expect an increase in the incidence of these adverse behaviors. As mentioned, we look to the Albany Police Department to develop a non-punitive way of addressing these issues.

We in the Albany Bicycle Coalition would like to support and, in fact, participate in this effort. To that end, would you consider meeting with the leadership of ABC this coming fall to brief us on your ideas and to outline how we might contribute?

Sincerely,

Albany Bicycle Coalition

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Filed under Activism, City Review, Feature, Meetings, Support the Cause

by Lorenz M. Worden | August 3, 2013 · 9:28 pm

ABC Donates to Matthew Ratelle Benefit Ride

Tomhannock Bicycles is hosting a “Matthew Ratelle Family Trust” benefit ride on Sunday, 8/18, 9 AM. The Albany Bicycle Coalition made a donation to benefit the late cyclist’s children one of whom was born after his death.

The ride starts at Tomhannock Bicycles, 3149 Rt. 7, Pittstown (10 min. east of Troy). There is a $25 entry fee for a 28-mile loop ride for all levels with food and refreshments after the ride. All proceeds from registrations go to the Trust. Register at bikereg.com. Those wishing to contribute individually may make checks payable to the “Matthew Ratelle Benefit Ride” and mail them to the following address:
Timothy Bonnier
ATTN: Matthew Ratelle Benefit Ride
Tomhannock Bicycles
3149 NYS Rt. 7
Pittstown, NY 12094

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Filed under Events, Fundraising, Rides, Support the Cause

Tagged as drunks and cyclists, ghost bike

by Lorenz M. Worden | August 2, 2013 · 12:03 pm

Schuylerville to Fort Edward Bicycle Tour – August 11, 2013, 9:30 am-4:00 pm.

Schuylerville to Fort Edward Bicycle Tour
CONTACT: John Vendetti
(518) 225-4209, hardworkinjohn@aol.com
This 28-mile tour between Schuylerville and Fort Edward along the Hudson River with stops at historic sites from the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War.

Where: Hudson Crossing Park, Champlain Canal Lock 5, Schuylerville, NY
When: August 11, 2013, 9:30 am-4:00 pm.

On Sunday August 11, enjoy a 28-mile guided bicycle tour along the Champlain Canalway Trail between Hudson Crossing Park in Northumberland and Fort Edward. This tour will take bikers past historic sites of interest related to the Revolutionary War and the Champlain Canal. Learn about Rogers Rangers, Jane McCrea, the route that General John Burgoyne’s army took on the way to the Battles of Saratoga, and the development of the Champlain Canal.

Tour departs at 9:30 AM at Hudson Crossing Park and returns by 4:00 PM. Pre-register by August 8 by calling John Vendetti at 518-225-4209 or email at hardworkinjohn@aol.com with your name, e-mail, phone number, and number in your party. Suggested $10 donation payable at check-in. Tour limited to the first 50 registrants. Terrain is flat to rolling with one climb. Helmet required. Dining opportunities in Fort Edward or bring your own lunch.

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Filed under Comings and Goings, Rides

Tagged as Feature, rides

by Lorenz M. Worden | June 4, 2013 · 10:43 am

MeetUp at the Daily Grind

A small group “met up” on a soon-to-be-sizzling Saturday at 9 AM in Washington Park to ride the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail to Troy’s outstanding Farmers Market. After cruising around the wide selection of goodies and groceries, a couple of us stopped in at the Fence Show at the Arts Center of the Capital Region to see the 555 entries. Don’t wait – the salon style show will end on 6/16 to be followed with the chosen 50 pieces to be exhibited in the “Fence Select.” While the “select” show is nice, seeing all the varied entries in many media displayed wall to wall and ceiling to floor is a real treat.

Following our visit to the Famers Market, we rode a couple blocks over to the Troy Daily Grind to present a framed photograph of last year’s Daily Grind-Daily Grind ride (see photo from 2012). The owner, Barrye, our host in years past and again for the to-be-announced 2013 ride, graciously asked the on-duty counter staff to pose for the presentation with ride leader Keith and rider Roberta. The “5th Annual” 2012 ride was a family first with young participants Indiana (pictured) and Theo (aged two at the time) who met up with us in Troy.

The 2013 Daily Grind ride will be in early-mid August.