NBG Columbus Celebration H U G E !! Exciting!!

Jim Muellner, David Huggins-Daines, Denise Hill and Mike Costarell rode in from Pittsburgh to
Columbus to the grand celebration that Columbus Communications Director, Dan Trevas, and RAAM racer,
Jeff Stephens, powered together for them. The City Council's Public Service and Transportation
Committee Chairwoman, Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, rode the last eight miles in with probably 40 other
members of the Central Ohio cycling community to the City Hall celebration. There renowned public
speaker, Rosemarie Rosetti <http://www.RosemarieSpeaks.com>, was on hand with city city officials to
welcome them. Fred Kirchner was also on hand with his son. He and Jim Muellner of Just Two Bikes
<http://justtwobikes.com> continue on to Indianapolis this week. Here is how Jeff "Bubba" Stephens
described the event:

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A hugely diverse representation of our community...racers, ultra folks
(me), a triathlete, super tourists, recreational riders, recumbent riders, a few tandems, bike
messengers, some of my commuter heros in ties....wow! I'm grateful we sent a powerful message
that all niches of our cycling community support the NBG vision...and that of our need to get
active locally. Now...my big challenge is to follow up with each one that came...and engage them
with some form of meaningful action. And, I'm pretty confident I'll continue a dialogue with the
city Administration about placing cyclists on the 2 key transportation committees.

Thanks for allowing the Central Ohio cycling community the opportunity to "use" the Mayor's ride to
accomplish several valuable goals today.

But...on the fun side...I woke at 3:00am...rode out 50 miles to find our relay riders...only to have
to sit drinking coffee until they woke up! But, my pre-dawn ride & patience was rewarded.....their
collective enthusiasm & excitement for making this trip was contagious. It took me back to my
TransAm trek of '88...and within minutes...we felt as if we were all fast friends. I look forward to
connecting with them again...and maybe have them teach me the loaded touring ropes!

I'm hopeful I'll get to ride out of town with Fred next week.
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To see the great pictures and Dan and Jim's reports, go to:

http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/Columbus

News Flash: In addition to all the excitement that awaits our riders in Santa Cruz at the 2nd annual
Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest, Prince Lawsha <http://princelawsha.com> tells us he is going to play in
the US! For the NBG again!! At our Festival http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Festival

Yahooo this is all to exciting!! WoW WOW!!

btw: If you want to become a rider, we need you!! Go to
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/getstarted.php>, to find out how!! btw2: We
have pictures from the Pittsburgh to Columbus leg 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.