Where to Ride on the West Side

We recently received a question from a guy who just moved to Westlake from Dallas, Texas, and wanted to know where to find some convenient places to bicycle on the West Side of Cleveland.

If you're looking to avoid traffic, especially if you're looking to squeeze in training miles in the early morning or late evening hours, there's the all-purpose trail within the Cleveland Metroparks. The most convenient area of the park for west-siders is the Rocky River Reservation, with the longest continuous stretch of paved trail starting at Detroit Road and going south all the way through Berea and beyond. There's also a short stretch of bike path in the Huntington Reservation, which connects to the Bay Village bike path network. You can find maps and descriptions of all of the Cleveland Metroparks on their web site at:

http://www.clemetparks.com/recreation/hiking/all%20purpose.asp

If you're looking for a longish road route, with scenery and food options along the way, we've mapped out a suggested route from our store in Rocky River, out to the city of Vermilion and back, which we've dubbed the "Rocky River Vermilion Voyage."

Just to the west, our neighbors in Lorain County have mapped out a scenic route that includes both quiet back roads and dedicated bike paths, which they have named the "Back Roads and Beaches Bike Tour." You can learn more about this route on their web site at:

http://www.backroadsandbeachesohio.com

No matter where you live or visit in Northeast Ohio, and whether you like to ride the roads, singletrack mountain bike trails, or bike paths, you can find tips on the best places to ride in the Where To Ride section on our web site. Check it out!

Century Cycles is the Best of the West!

Our grateful thanks to the readers of West Shore magazine for naming Century Cycles the best bike shop on Cleveland's west side -- including Lakewood, Rocky River, Bay Village, Westlake, and Avon Lake!

Quick Links: Bicycling and books, the Innerbelt Bridge, and more

A charming bike tour: David Byrne's "Bicycle Diaries." (Plain Dealer Books)

ODOT is asked if a bike path is being considered for one of the two new Innerbelt Bridges -- plus reasons why it should happen and how you can help. (GreenCityBlueLake)

The Ethicist weighs in on a landlord who had the police remove a tenant's "abandoned" bicycle (second item). (New York Times) Playing bike polo with the Pedal Republik. (Cleveland Magazine) The mayor of Columbia, Mo., is spending millions to promote cycling. (Parade) Kim Crow buys her husband Ted a bike hat. (The Plain Dealer) Bike commuter Bill Trentel shows Clevelanders how it's done. (Inside Business) A biomedical engineer (and avid cyclist) discovers pedaling regimen improves patients with Parkinson's. (The Plain Dealer) Pedaling through Vermont amid the fall colors. (New York Times)

Raleigh Talus 8.0 on Patrol in Medina County

A 2010 Raleigh Talus 8.0 mountain bike was recently commissioned into service for duty by some of our finest public servants!

Gloria Glens is a community situated near Chippewa Lake in Medina County. The village is patrolled by the Medina County Sheriff's Department. When they originally set up their bicycle patrol unit some time ago, they shared a bicycle with nearby Lafayette Township. Due to scheduling demands, they decided it was time to get their own vehicle, and had originally looked at a police-specific Smith & Wesson model, but decided to see what Century Cycles, their hometown bicycle shop in Medina, had to offer. The Raleigh Talus 8.0 provided a better-equipped bike at a lower price.

Here it is all decked out with police-issue lights from NiteRider, Topeak Explorer rear cargo rack and bag, Lezyne frame pump, kickstand and other accessories (including some custom-made Sheriff's Department stickers):

Officer Mike Hereda of the Gloria Glens force says that they love the comfort and performance of the bike, plus the visibility and access to the neighborhood that it provides them. He says citizens are much more able and willing to approach and talk to an officer patrolling on the bike, compared to sitting in a police cruiser. An unexpected benefit came after a recent tornado passed near the area; the resulting road closures meant that the bike was the only vehicle able to access the community!

Our thanks go to the Gloria Glens Council for approving the purchase, and to the Police Department for sharing their story and photo with us! If you'd like to test out the Raleigh Talus 8.0 for your own adventures, we've got them in stock in all three of our stores!

Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us in the Century Cycles family, we hope that you and your family have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Happy Holidays Sale, now thru Dec. 31!

Print the coupons below and bring them into any of our three stores for crazy deals on bicycles, clothing, accessories, and even tune-ups. The product coupons are valid now through December 31, 2009 -- good for the whole holiday season, NOT just Black Friday -- and the tune-up coupons are good through February 28, 2010!Join us in the donning of holiday apparel and get cool free stuff!
Wear YOUR Crazy Christmas Sweater into

any Century Cycles on 12/5, 12/12, or 12/19

and receive a special holiday gift, FREE with

any $10 purchase! One gift is just for coffee

drinkers, the other is for beer drinkers --

both are our way of saying "ho ho ho!"

And remember, in addition to the offers listed above, we also have these options to make your holiday shopping easier:

• Gift Cards
• Lay-away
• 6 Months Same As Cash
• Free Gift Bicycle Storage 'Til Dec. 24
• Free Bicycle Delivery *

* Within our service area. Other restrictions may apply; see stores for details.

Century Cycles supports CVNPA Bids for Kids!

Each year, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association (CVNPA) organizes the Bids for Kids charity auction. The 2009 CVNPA Bids for Kids is now open. The auction runs from Friday, November 20th at 9:00 AM to Monday, December 7th at 8:00 PM.

Have fun shopping this holiday season in the comfort of your own home! And help connect kids with nature at the same time! The 2009 CVNPA Bids for Kids offers something for everyone on your list including concert tickets, vacation packages, memorable experiences, lawn & garden items, and much more.

Enjoy guilt-free shopping knowing that your winning bid will benefit scholarships and education programming support for urban school children attending the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center (CVEEC) through CVNPA. Each year, over 9,000 children from northeast Ohio learn about the environment and experience nature through one of the many residential, summer and day camps provided by CVEEC. Scholarship assistance of more than $120,000 provided by CVNPA allows over 800 urban children to participate in the 4-day, 3-night residential program, who otherwise won't afford to. For these children, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend a week in their national park.

Click here to view and bid on the item donated by Century Cycles; click here for the Bids for Kids home page to see all available items!

New for the Holidays: Detours Bicycle Bags

New for the season and just in time for your holiday gift shopping, Century Cycles introduces a new line of bicycle bags from Detours. Look for them in our stores beginning today!

Detours makes a wide selection of practical and stylish cycling bags for every rider. Whether you're a cross-country tourist, an everyday commuter, or you just want a great way to carry your stuff, you'll find a Detours bag, pack, or pannier that's perfect for you and all your two-wheeled adventures.

Since their beginnings, Detours has designed a variety of fine products for a wide range of riding needs and advocated for green living, too. Their unique Juicy bags and panniers for example, such as the Toocan Juicy and Toocan Grassy, are not only eye-catching, but also eco-friendly and made from recycled juice boxes and grasses native to Vietnam. Also, proceeds from the sales of these products go to the non-profit organization, Money From Garbage, which helps employ women in the rural Philippines.

We've also got the regular Toocan pannier; all bags in the Toocan series feature a large opening with zippered closure, and easy carrying handles that also serve as shoulder straps. Another option for carrying your groceries or commuting gear on a rear bicycle rack is the sleeker Toto bag, which features a magnetic closure.

We've also got Detours' durable version of the basic under-seat bag, know as the Guppy, in Medium and Large sizes in an assortment of colors.

Finally, for keeping your wallet, phone, camera, and other essential items handy, we've got handlebar-mounted bags in stock in two sizes. The massive Cruiser is for people who want to carry everything including the kitchen sink on their rides. The tiny Mini Met is for the minimalist traveler. Both feature a quick-release bracket and included shoulder strap to make it easy to take either one with you when you step off the bike.

For all of you who race in triathlons and other endurance events, there's even a frame top-tube-mounted Goodie Bag for holding your energy bars and gels!

To read more details about our line of bicycle bags from Detours, you can check out (and order) our selection online by clicking over to: www.centurycycles.com/get/detours

Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships Report

The Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships were held last month in Portland, Oregon. If you're into singlespeed riding, cyclocross racing, or just want to see some crazy video about the shenanigans that go on at this sort of event in the Pacific Northwest, check it out.

Perhaps more hotly contested than the race itself was the competition to decide the host city of the event for next year. The contest involved an arcane and not-entirely understood-by-the-general-public series of three events: an open debate the night before the race, the race itself, and a mud-wrestling competition.

The host city contest was narrowed down to San Francisco and Seattle. The debate was held between Brian "Sally" Fornes of Seattle, who also happens to be the Marketing Manager for Raleigh Bicycles (based in nearby Kent, Washington). Arguing on the San Francisco side was Sheila Moon. Yes, THAT Sheila Moon, of Sheila Moon Athletic Apparel fame, not just some other woman who happened to be named Sheila Moon.

The race itself featured typical Northwest weather and conditions, as you see from this video shot by and featuring several other Raleigh employees (including the guy racing in his tighty-whities):

Raleigh SSCXWC from Saleigh on Vimeo.

As we reported last month, Raleigh held a give-away for a singlespeed cyclocross bike. Here's a video interview of the lucky winner:

Golden Ticket Winner from Saleigh on Vimeo.

I'm not sure how the mud-wrestling competition shook out, but if you can find any videos of that, please let me know. But somehow, in the end, Seattle was declared the winner, and will host the SSCXWC in 2010.

50% Off Select Pearl Izumi Winter Cycling Gloves - Hot Deal #2

This season's Hot Deals for Cold Days continues with 50% Off of two perfect items to help keep your hands hot on cold days!

We’re offering two great glove options from one of the top cycling accessory manufacturers for Hot Deal #2 -- perfect for you as the temperatures continue to drop or for a loved one as a stocking stuffer! Pearl Izumi Grip-Lite Gloves sport the excellent warmth and moisture management of Pearl's ThermaFleece fabric and feature long cuffs to keep drafts out. Silicone screening on the palms provides a great grip, too. The Grip-Lite Gloves are great used alone or as liners beneath (or even over!) other cushioned gloves on really cold days. Only $9.99 (regularly $19.99).

Pearl Izumi P.R.O. SoftShell Gloves are terrific when the temperatures drop below freezing. Their P.R.O. Barrier and AmFIB fabric blends offer excellent wind and water protection, while the fleece interior feels great against the skin and provides extra warmth. You'll love the silicone dotted palm that gives you plenty of grip on the handlebars and the neoprene wrist gusset that allows easy movement. Plus, the Softshells come with a soft microfleece wiping surface (read: built-in snot rag) and a hook-and-loop closure system for a customized fit. Only $22.49 (regularly $44.99).

Hot Deal #2 is good only November 19 through December 2, 2009, or while supplies last. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Patti The Buyer’s Tip O’ The Day

When the temperatures dip below 50 degrees, it’s time to trade your fingerless gloves for long-finger gloves, as you strive to keep warm and limit skin exposure. Dress in layers, yet be sure not to overdress in cold weather -- you should feel a bit chilly for the first mile. Others advise that if you are warm for the first ten minutes of riding, you are overdressed.

Sign up to receive a new Hot Deal for Cold Days in your Inbox every two weeks from now through February of 2010!

Bicycling Merit Badge Program

From time to time, the Century Cycles staff helps around the community by providing presentations to local youth groups about bicycling safety and basic maintenance. Sometimes, these talks help local scouting groups earn their Bicycling Merit Badges.

The latest such event was hosted by Doug at the Peninsula store for two Cub Scout dens from the Brunswick area, this past Monday, November 16.

New Music Video featuring urban cycling in LA

The band 30 Seconds to Mars has released the music video for their song "Kings + Queens:"


Thirty Seconds To Mars - Kings + Queens - HD

30 Seconds to Mars | MySpace Video

Thanks to UrbanVelo for the link; their comments on the piece are:

"30 Seconds to Mars recently released this video which features members of LA’s Midnight Ridazz. The song may not be your cup of tea...but the production quality is impressive and it’s good to see the growth of urban cycling continues to make an impact on the mainstream media."

Our Latest eNewsletter

The latest edition of the Century Cycles eNewsletter was sent out a couple of days ago. If you haven't read it yet, here's what you have to look forward to:

• 2010 Century Cycles Bicycle Maintenance Class Schedule
• Fall Clearance Sale Continues
• Electra Bicycles Rebate
• Hot Deals for Cold Days
• Poll: What do you hope Santa leaves under your tree?
• Our Holiday Shopping Services and Hours
• 5 Questions: Patti Grauel

You can read the November eNewsletter online by clicking here, and sign up to receive it in your Inbox (if you don't already) here.

Staff Profile: Patti Grauel

If you’re a fan our Hot Deals for Cold Days promotion, then you more likely know Patti Grauel as “Patti The Buyer.” She’s the person who finds the best deals from our bicycle accessory and clothing manufacturers, then passes them on to you. It’s a talent she’s honed during an entire career devoted to being a buyer. Prior to joining Century Cycles six years ago, Patti was a buyer for the Wilderness Shop in Lakewood. She now does all of the accessory and clothing buying for all three Century Cycles stores out of our Peninula location and lives nearby, just west of Akron.

Q: How many bikes do you own?

A: I have four right now – a mountain bike, a cyclocross bike, and two road bikes.

Q: Do you have a favorite?

A: I do. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I’m most passionate about mountain biking and I really like my mountain bike, a Raleigh XXIX+G.

Q: In September, you attended Interbike, the big bicycle industry trade show in Las Vegas. What were your impressions?

A: Big picture, the bike industry is doing pretty well despite the economy. Everyone was pretty optimistic and upbeat, which it usually tends to be because the bike industry is so much fun! There were a lot of great new products.

Q: What trends did you notice?

A: The commuter trend is still going strong. The road bikes also looked great, with a lot of different price points and choices. There are a tremendous amount of really fun things, like Electra’s new accessories, SRAM's new components, and new lights from Blackburn and Nightrider. Pearl Izumi has changed their entire shoe line for spring and we’re one of the first stores to have them. I think the new line-up is going to be very strong. Women’s-specific clothing and bike selection continues to expand and grow. The manufacturers are responding and recognizing that women are a huge part of the bicycle business. They are no longer simply making smaller/scaled down sizes, but are designing products and components that really fit women and therefore increase their enjoyment on a bicycle.

Q: What’s your favorite trail or ride?

A: In Ohio, it’s Mohican State Park. Anywhere else in the U.S., it’s probably the trails in the Moab area. I’m really lucky that I’ve been able to spend so much time out west, usually traveling for work, and there are so many great trails that I've had the opportunity to ride.

Q: What do you enjoy about working at Century Cycles?

A: It’s great working with everyone at the Peninsula store. I was a Century Cycles customer when I lived in Lakewood, so it’s been a great opportunity for me to work for a company I shopped and appreciated. The bicycle industry is very fun and you can tell we all really love what we do. I never lose sight of how wonderful it is to work in the middle of a national park. My commute to work is very scenic and it is great to work where bicycling is natural part of the landscape.

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working at Century Cycles or on a bike?

A: I really enjoy martial arts and am working towards earning a black belt in tae kwon do. I’m still very much into climbing, mountaineering, and hiking with my dogs.

Q: What was your first bike?

A: It was a blue Schwinn with a banana seat.

Q: What three words describe how you feel on your bike?

A: Adventure. Fun. Joy.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment on a bike?

A: Some of the downhill mountain bike trails outside Park City, Utah. It was challenging terrain – especially after mountain biking in Ohio – and really challenged my technical skills.

Q: What was the best cycling advice you’ve been given?

A: Wear your helmet, try not to fall too much, and have lots of fun.

Q: What cycling advice do you give most often?

A: The same -- wear your helmet, try not to fall too much, and have lots of fun!

What do you hope Santa leaves under your tree?

Click here to take our online poll!

Century Cycles Postcards from Thailand

Our friend and Rocky River store customer James Quilty sent us a video earlier this year from a trip he took in Thailand with the Khon Kaen Mountain Bike Team. The video featured several scenes of team members in Century Cycles custom retro jerseys that James provided to them.

James sent us a few photos from a more recent trip that the team took to the Chayaphum region in Northeast Thailand. Check out more team members in their CC jerseys!

You can find more pictures from the event on the team's web site at:

http://www.thaimtb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=115450&start=120

Thanks again for the photos, James!

Get our blog by e-mail

The other day, we talked about options--options for your bike parts, options for paying for your bike, and more options.

Now, we're offering another option for reading this blog. Some of you may have noticed already that directly to the right of where you're reading this on the Century Cycles blog, there's a box that says "Subscribe by e-mail." Just enter your e-mail address in the box and click on the "Subscribe" button.

Once you do this, you'll receive an e-mail message with a link to confirm your subscription. From then on, you'll get an e-mail message every morning containing any of the previous day's posts from the Century Cycles Blog. If there are multiple posts that day, they'll all be in one e-mail. If there are no posts for a given day, you won't get any e-mail.

This option is great for those of you who prefer to get as much of your news as possible in your Inbox, without having to remember to visit various blogs and web sites.

Keep in mind that this subscription is for the blog posts only, and is separate from our regular monthly eNewsletters and Hot Deals for Cold Days that you can receive by e-mail.

As usual, if you decide that you don't want to receive the e-mail updates any more, every e-mail message contains a link that lets you easily and instantly un-subscribe.

Economic Stimulus, Part Deaux: 6 Months Same As Cash

At Century Cycles, we're all about options. You want wide tires or skinny tires? You want bar-end shifters, or integrated brake/shifters? Do you even want brakes? We've got it covered.

Now, we've got you covered even more when it comes to paying for your new dream bike. In addition to most major credit cards, personal checks, our flexible lay-away program, and good old hard cash, we now have an even more generous financing program.

Introducing 6 Months Same As Cash, now twice as good as our measly old 3 Months Same As Cash program! That's right, you can take a new bike home today, plus all the accessories you'll need to go with it, and you'll have six months to pay for it without any interest or finance charges!

How can we do this, you ask? Aren't we just a swell bunch of folks? Well, maybe we are, but really, you can thank the folks who run the program, who work out of a big office tower somewhere in Manhattan, or maybe it's in Sioux Falls. You take your bike, they promise to pay us for it, and you just gotta promise to pay them back. Sounds like a big pyramid scheme, right? If so, it's time you got a piece of the action, anyway. The only catch is that if you decide not to pay them back right away, you've gotta give the guys in suits a little bit of "hush money" every month.

Signing up for this deal is pretty easy; you can even do it online by clicking on the "apply online" link on our Payment Options web page. Once you're approved, just print out your confirmation page, and stop into any of our stores and flash it in our face (try not to shove it too close; we're just as concerned about this whole flu thing as you are).

The 6 Months Same As Cash financing option can be used to purchase any in-stock or special-order bike, or bikes, including any of our new 2010 models, our Fall Clearance Bikes, or order that new Surly you've had your eye on.

Buy an Electra Bicycle, Get Cash Back!

Call it a rebate, call it economic stimulus, call it whatever you want--either way, it's money in your pocket!

Now through the end of the year, Electra Bicycles is offering a mail-in rebate for any Electra bike purchased from your local authorized Electra dealer (e.g. Century Cycles).

Buy any Electra Bicycle for $399.99 or more (excluding tax) and get a $25 rebate. Buy any Electra Bicycle for less than $399.99 and get a $10 rebate.

There is no limit to the number of Electra Bicycles you can buy and the number of rebates you can claim within the rebate time period! The offer is valid on any Electra that we have in stock or that we can special-order for you, including the popular Townie bikes and kids' models!

Whether you're shopping for gifts for the coming holiday season, or the dream ride for yourself, now is the time to buy Electra!

For full details and to download the Rebate Request Form, go to:

www.centurycycles.com/get/ElectraRebate

Adventure Cycling 2010 roster is posted

News from the Adventure Cycling Association:

The Adventure Cycling 2010 tours roster is posted and ready for the reading. With more than 40 trips in nearly every corner of the country, ranging in duration from five days to three months, there's something for just about everyone. Proven adventures like the TransAm (both self-contained and van-supported), C&O Canal/Great Allegheny Passage, and Heart of the Underground Railroad are there, sure--but so, too, are some new highlights that you'll want to take a very close look at. In May, for instance, we'll be offering one of our relaxed format tours along Missouri's heralded Katy Trail, which is bound to be a popular trip. And we're adapting our North Rim of the Grand Canyon outing, originally a self-contained ride, into a van-supported trip, making this incredible adventure accessible to a broader range of riders. Or for something longer, you might consider the new self-contained Pueblos to Peaks, going from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Boulder, Colorado. Click here, dig in, and start the dream machine.

Bike love from Treehugger

A friend recommended I subscribe to daily emails from Treehugger (thanks, Michelle!) and I gotta pass the tip along -- almost every day it has a great bicycling-related story. Here's a recent sampling:

How to get killed on a bicycle

Cycling mayor saves environmentalist

The war on cyclists and pedestrians is getting ugly

Bicycle cargo. Chapter 2: Bike trailers

Cars make Americans 15% more obese: Stop driving, stay thin

It's time to rip out the stop signs and stop blaming cyclists

Recycling, freecycling, and upcycling, oh my: 9 pathways toward green "cycling"

David Byrne on changing road behavior: "There's no poop on the streets"

Is my electric bicycle lame?

50% off Blackburn Indoor Trainer - Hot Deal #1

Hot Deals for Cold Days are back!

Just like last winter, Patti The Buyer negotiated amazing 50% off deals on some of our most popular bicycling accessories and we're passing the savings on to you! We'll be offering a new Hot Deals for Cold Days offer every two weeks, now through February, along with a helpful tip o' the day.

Blackburn TrakStand Ultra Trainer

$149.99

(regularly $299.99; half-off price valid Nov. 5-18, 2009;
in-store purchases only, while supplies last)

Hot Deal #1 is something we've rarely offered in our 18-year history at Century Cycles - a whopping 50% off the Blackburn TrakStand Ultra Trainer! That's a trainer for half price, folks, available in all three stores while supplies last!

This product is perfect for the start of the cold-weather training season, when you want to bring your rides indoors. The Blackburn TrakStand Ultra Trainer is ultra smooth, quiet, and adjustable. Thanks to the ingenious Centriforce resistance unit, there's a smooth transition to coasting, and jerky dead spots are a thing of the past. Plus, with some simple disassembly, you can choose from 3 different resistance curves, so you'll be able to fine-tune the workout as you get fitter and fitter. And, you'll love the road-like feel of the sturdy aluminum frame, how quick and easy it is to mount your bike, and the convenience of folding this trainer for transport and storage. If you've been thinking of trying indoor riding, this is the trainer (and deal!) for you!

Patti The Buyer's Tip O' The Day

Use your indoor training time to catch up on TV news or your favorite weekly sitcoms that you've recorded on your DVR. Maximize your workout with a structured training video from industry experts such as Cyclops and Velo Press or download a regimen available for free at many popular cycling websites. And remember: Trainers are not just for winter use--many racers take them along for their pre-event warm up, and stash them in their trunk just before heading to the starting line.

You can sign up to receive Hot Deals for Cold Days by e-mail, as well as the Century Cycles Monthly eNewsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Want to bike the bridge? Speak up!

ClevelandBikes sent out this alert last night:

Can you spare a Friday morning to join with other concerned cyclists for a review hearing of the Ohio Department of Transportation plans for the Innerbelt Bridge at the Cleveland Planning Department?

ODOT says they will not provide bike and pedestrian access to the Innerbelt Bridge (unlike more than thirty communities across the country), although it would provide a dramatic, beautiful and practical connection to downtown Cleveland. ClevelandBikes has disagreed with them from the start and will continue to press for bike and pedestrian access. There is a rumor that ODOT is willing to expand the Abbey Avenue Bridge, which would still present safety questions (just as their earlier suggestion that cyclists and pedestrians could travel over through the flats).

On Friday morning, Cleveland Planning Commission will hold a public hearing with ODOT regarding the design for the new Innerbelt Bridge. Please join us and let ODOT that you care about bike and pedestrian access on the new innerbelt bridge.

This Friday, November 6th, 9-11:00am (Planning Department staff says the discussion will begin at 9:30) Cleveland City Hall, 5th Floor (Planning Department Meeting Room)
601 Lakeside Avenue (East Sixth Street and Lakeside avenue, downtown Cleveland)

You can find more information at the Green City Blue Lakes website: http://www.gcbl.org/events/cleveland-planning-commission-innerbelt-bridge-11-06-2009

While the first, overwhelming, preference is for you to attend the Friday Cleveland Planning Commission hearing to let ODOT know you like bikes and you want them to let you "Bike the Bridge" when they create a new Innerbelt Bridge, you may have other responsibilities. If you can't attend personally, please contact the City and ODOT to let them know you ride, you vote, you pay taxes and Ohio needs to join other communities around the country that are adopting transportation solutions that help promote healthy cycling and walking, not just riding a car -- "WE WANT TO BIKE THE BRIDGE!"

You can contact the city, which has been HELPFUL, and the state, which has been RESISTANT, here:

Ohio Department of Transportation, District 12
Attention: Craig Hebebrand
5500 Transportation Boulevard
Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125
Phone: (216) 581- 2100
Fax: (216) 584-2274
Email: craig.hebebrand@dot.state.oh.us

CLEVELAND CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
Robert N. Brown, Director
601 Lakeside Ave.
City Hall Room 501
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Phone: 216-664-2210
Fax: 216-664-3281

Or leave a message through the CPC website:
http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/aug09.php

Catch Canal Fever in Hudson

Are you a history buff or trail trekker, or want to learn more about the Ohio & Erie Canal - past, present, and future? A new book, Canal Fever: The Ohio & Erie Canal, from Waterway to Canalway, is available at the Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson (204 N. Main St. Hudson, OH 44236).

This Thursday, November 5, 2009, you can meet the authors of the book. Peg Bobel, Lynn Metzger, and Chuck Ayers will visit The Learned Owl Book Shop in person to talk about the book and answer questions. The time of the event is 5:30 - 7:30pm.

You can call The Learned Owl at 330-653-2252 for more information.

Highland Community Health Fair and Bike Tour - Prize Winner!

Thanks to everyone who turned out in Medina last weekend for the Highland Community Health Fair and Bike Tour on October 24-25. We were lucky to have good weather and a good crowd!

Congratulations to Jessica from Akron, who was the lucky winner of the drawing for a Raleigh Route 3.0 bicycle!

Fall Hours Now In Effect

PLEASE NOTE: Our Fall Hours are now in effect at all three Century Cycles locations. What this means is that we close one hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays. We're still open seven days a week, and open late Mondays through Thursdays!

Our current store hours are:

• Monday through Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm
• Friday and Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
• Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm

As always, our currently-in-effect store hours can be found on our web site at:

www.centurycycles.com/for/hours