C
Cycle America/N
Guest
Here is the indomitable Jim Muellner, who at 67 is fully pushing the envelope for what is possible
as he works to get thru the Utah desert heat by riding at night. At the end is the Longmont CO
newspaper article that was written about this legendary man as he powers toward our 2nd annual Santa
Cruz NBG Bike Fest where he informs me that his company, Just Two Recumbents, will be there to help
him show off the trike he has been crossing America on!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 4th of July Weekend Hi, can't say more I am too dry, just kidding:
Today I received a gift from someone, a discarded section of the July 5th issue of the "New York
Times". I wish they would have left the whole thing. I love reading the Times and discussing issues
with someone interesting. But the article most important to me was the one about Lewis and Clark's
travels and their reporting.
Here more that a century later, I have tried to show you the America I see also at a slow pace. I
have tried to describe to you one small part of it in the form of some of the flowers or animals I
have seen during my ride. How beautiful they are as you slowly cycle past them. And yet there is
great sadness at times as I do so.
I feel for those sealed containers that go past at 60 or 70 mph, listening to a radio or munching on
a treat. These travelers never see, smell or hear the beauty of their country. If you go to page A9
in the July 5th issue of the Times you will see what I mean. The pictures you will find there are
real life master pieces that reinvigorate the soul about our planet. No, I have not seen herds of
buffalo, but have often imagined what it would have been like.
What greatly tarnishes this image is the discarded can, thrown bottles, water bottles and the paper
cups that these sealed containers of people hurl into this masterpiece. It brings tears to my eyes
when I see this. It brings a little anger when a thrown beer or pop bottle shatters on the road's
shoulder ready to cause the next person who rides by on a bike a flat tire.
We have such a beautiful country and yet I see various people toss things that they expect others
to pick up. How can we as Americans save our beautiful country from this careless practice? When
you pick up a single piece of trash you are helping repaint the American masterpiece, to
re-establish its original beauty to that which it deserves. It will make a difference, even picking
up one piece of trash.
It is so healthy and pure to be able to look at a world without man made distraction. When
the sights and sounds are only coming from nature the allure of its wonder is magnified a
thousand times.
Last night as I cycled in the moonlight everything had an eerie beauty to it. Every shadow was a
surprise, a long eared rabbit or a scurrying mouse often made me laugh. My memories will forever be
golden. The sunset was a act in itself. First a golden haze, turning into a red, then a blazing red
horizon. Later it turned into a purple shading that many an artist has tried to capture. It was so
beautiful I was wondering if I was alone in watching it unfold.
The moon light has taken over and so I must go.
Well, it is off to bed. It is cold enough, that I have been riding with my stocking cap. The Night
Rider, Jim
------------------------------
Local access to PocketMail mobile e-mail now available in Europe, North America & Australia
http://www.pocketmail.com
Cyclist visits Longmont By Annalise Kinkel The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT ‹ City officials declared last Saturday ³National Bicycle Greenway Day² as a variety of
bicycles and tricycles left for Boulder from High Gear Cyclery on Main Street. The convoy of about a
dozen cyclists accompanied 67-year-old Jim Muellner for the next leg of the coast-to-coast National
Mayor¹s Ride. Muellner left from Washington,
D.C., on May 2 and arrived in Longmont last Thursday. He had ridden nearly 2,300 miles and is
expected to finish the ride in Santa Cruz, Calif., on Aug. 16.
The National Mayor¹s Ride is sponsored by the National Bicycle Greenway. Muellner said the ride is
intended to ³encourage the officials in every city to put bike-friendly routes on their agenda.² The
ride is part of NBG¹s goal to establish a network of bike paths across the country, similar to what
the interstate is for cars. Muellner said The National Mayor¹s Ride promotes ³more
transportation-oriented biking rather than just exercise-oriented biking.²
Just before the cyclists departed from High Gear, Longmont City Council member Fred Wilson presented
Muellner with a proclamation. Wilson said new bike routes are planned and partially funded
throughout Boulder County. ³We do what we can as money allows,² Wilson said.
Muellner said the highlight of his trek has been all of the kind and supportive people he has met.
³Everyone has been so nice and encouraging. It¹s been wonderful,² he said. Muellner said he gets
e-mails of support from all over the country. So far, he has heard that he has fan clubs in
Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Chicago.
A bike designer from White Bear Lake, Minn., Muellner has been cycling for 15 years. This is his
second ride across the country. He rode from Los Angeles to Orlando, Fla., in 1998. In the last five
years, he also has ridden up the East Coast and along the northern border of the United States.
Muellner said one doesn¹t have to be a ³spring chicken² to be a serious cyclist.
³I felt that it¹s important (to show) that older people who have the time can do this,² he said.
Muellner attributed part of his ability to ride for such long distances to his bike, which is a
tricycle rather than an upright bike. The trike, Muellner said, requires the same amount of work as
an upright bike, but it allows him to travel uphill at any speed he wants without worrying about
maintaining balance.
After passing through Longmont, Muellner cycled to Estes Park and Steamboat Springs en route to
California.
Annalise Kinkel can be reached at 303-776-2244, Ext. 389, or by e-mail at [email protected].
67 year old, trike riding Jim Muellner can be found at
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/JimMuellner His email on the road is:
[email protected]
If you want to start from the beginning and/or follow Jim our other NBG relay riders as they move
forward in the National Mayors' Ride at
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/schedule.php>, point to their blog at
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/reports.php>. All of this excitement will
al be consummated at the second annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest on Sunday August 17 c/
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Festival>:
btw: If you want to become a rider, we WANT you!! Go to
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/getstarted.php>, to find out how!! btw2: We
have pictures from the various ride legs on line at
http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/gallery/2003Mayors btw3: If you want to see who these
cyclists are, go to <http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/bios>.
MARTIN KRIEG: "Awake Again" Author c/o BikeRoute.com 79 & 86 TransAms, nonprofit Nat. Bicycle
Greenway CEO Ever wanted anything so bad U were willing to die for it? Really die? By moving thru
clinical death and reversing paralysis, *I saw God* when I answered that question.
as he works to get thru the Utah desert heat by riding at night. At the end is the Longmont CO
newspaper article that was written about this legendary man as he powers toward our 2nd annual Santa
Cruz NBG Bike Fest where he informs me that his company, Just Two Recumbents, will be there to help
him show off the trike he has been crossing America on!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Happy 4th of July Weekend Hi, can't say more I am too dry, just kidding:
Today I received a gift from someone, a discarded section of the July 5th issue of the "New York
Times". I wish they would have left the whole thing. I love reading the Times and discussing issues
with someone interesting. But the article most important to me was the one about Lewis and Clark's
travels and their reporting.
Here more that a century later, I have tried to show you the America I see also at a slow pace. I
have tried to describe to you one small part of it in the form of some of the flowers or animals I
have seen during my ride. How beautiful they are as you slowly cycle past them. And yet there is
great sadness at times as I do so.
I feel for those sealed containers that go past at 60 or 70 mph, listening to a radio or munching on
a treat. These travelers never see, smell or hear the beauty of their country. If you go to page A9
in the July 5th issue of the Times you will see what I mean. The pictures you will find there are
real life master pieces that reinvigorate the soul about our planet. No, I have not seen herds of
buffalo, but have often imagined what it would have been like.
What greatly tarnishes this image is the discarded can, thrown bottles, water bottles and the paper
cups that these sealed containers of people hurl into this masterpiece. It brings tears to my eyes
when I see this. It brings a little anger when a thrown beer or pop bottle shatters on the road's
shoulder ready to cause the next person who rides by on a bike a flat tire.
We have such a beautiful country and yet I see various people toss things that they expect others
to pick up. How can we as Americans save our beautiful country from this careless practice? When
you pick up a single piece of trash you are helping repaint the American masterpiece, to
re-establish its original beauty to that which it deserves. It will make a difference, even picking
up one piece of trash.
It is so healthy and pure to be able to look at a world without man made distraction. When
the sights and sounds are only coming from nature the allure of its wonder is magnified a
thousand times.
Last night as I cycled in the moonlight everything had an eerie beauty to it. Every shadow was a
surprise, a long eared rabbit or a scurrying mouse often made me laugh. My memories will forever be
golden. The sunset was a act in itself. First a golden haze, turning into a red, then a blazing red
horizon. Later it turned into a purple shading that many an artist has tried to capture. It was so
beautiful I was wondering if I was alone in watching it unfold.
The moon light has taken over and so I must go.
Well, it is off to bed. It is cold enough, that I have been riding with my stocking cap. The Night
Rider, Jim
------------------------------
Local access to PocketMail mobile e-mail now available in Europe, North America & Australia
http://www.pocketmail.com
Cyclist visits Longmont By Annalise Kinkel The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT ‹ City officials declared last Saturday ³National Bicycle Greenway Day² as a variety of
bicycles and tricycles left for Boulder from High Gear Cyclery on Main Street. The convoy of about a
dozen cyclists accompanied 67-year-old Jim Muellner for the next leg of the coast-to-coast National
Mayor¹s Ride. Muellner left from Washington,
D.C., on May 2 and arrived in Longmont last Thursday. He had ridden nearly 2,300 miles and is
expected to finish the ride in Santa Cruz, Calif., on Aug. 16.
The National Mayor¹s Ride is sponsored by the National Bicycle Greenway. Muellner said the ride is
intended to ³encourage the officials in every city to put bike-friendly routes on their agenda.² The
ride is part of NBG¹s goal to establish a network of bike paths across the country, similar to what
the interstate is for cars. Muellner said The National Mayor¹s Ride promotes ³more
transportation-oriented biking rather than just exercise-oriented biking.²
Just before the cyclists departed from High Gear, Longmont City Council member Fred Wilson presented
Muellner with a proclamation. Wilson said new bike routes are planned and partially funded
throughout Boulder County. ³We do what we can as money allows,² Wilson said.
Muellner said the highlight of his trek has been all of the kind and supportive people he has met.
³Everyone has been so nice and encouraging. It¹s been wonderful,² he said. Muellner said he gets
e-mails of support from all over the country. So far, he has heard that he has fan clubs in
Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Chicago.
A bike designer from White Bear Lake, Minn., Muellner has been cycling for 15 years. This is his
second ride across the country. He rode from Los Angeles to Orlando, Fla., in 1998. In the last five
years, he also has ridden up the East Coast and along the northern border of the United States.
Muellner said one doesn¹t have to be a ³spring chicken² to be a serious cyclist.
³I felt that it¹s important (to show) that older people who have the time can do this,² he said.
Muellner attributed part of his ability to ride for such long distances to his bike, which is a
tricycle rather than an upright bike. The trike, Muellner said, requires the same amount of work as
an upright bike, but it allows him to travel uphill at any speed he wants without worrying about
maintaining balance.
After passing through Longmont, Muellner cycled to Estes Park and Steamboat Springs en route to
California.
Annalise Kinkel can be reached at 303-776-2244, Ext. 389, or by e-mail at [email protected].
67 year old, trike riding Jim Muellner can be found at
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/JimMuellner His email on the road is:
[email protected]
If you want to start from the beginning and/or follow Jim our other NBG relay riders as they move
forward in the National Mayors' Ride at
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/schedule.php>, point to their blog at
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/reports.php>. All of this excitement will
al be consummated at the second annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest on Sunday August 17 c/
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Festival>:
btw: If you want to become a rider, we WANT you!! Go to
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/getstarted.php>, to find out how!! btw2: We
have pictures from the various ride legs on line at
http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/gallery/2003Mayors btw3: If you want to see who these
cyclists are, go to <http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/bios>.
MARTIN KRIEG: "Awake Again" Author c/o BikeRoute.com 79 & 86 TransAms, nonprofit Nat. Bicycle
Greenway CEO Ever wanted anything so bad U were willing to die for it? Really die? By moving thru
clinical death and reversing paralysis, *I saw God* when I answered that question.
