Mr. Hartman doesn’t have insurance so his co-workers have setup a collection fund at Coppermark Bank to help defray the medical costs.  You can leave donations at any local Coppermark Bank location.

Click on the image below to see the full story:

OBC is partnering with the town of Jones, in eastern Oklahoma county to put on the First-Ever Hogback Attack Bike Ride in October, 2012. Jones Mayor, Ray Poland, offered to act as liaison between OBC and surrounding jurisdictions and the Jones Board of Trustees passed, by unanimous vote, a resolution to support the event in any way they could.

The ride will be held in conjunction with the Jones Old Timers Celebration held the first Saturday each October that does not conflict with the OU vs. Texas football game. This year that will be Saturday, October 13th since the game is scheduled for the 6th.The ride will offer three routes – A 24 mile fairly flat beginners route, 48 miles of challenging hills, and a very challenging 64 mile course. The 48 and 64 mile routes will take riders through Luther, Harrah, Choctaw, and Spencer before returning to the Start/Finish at the high school in Jones. The area has long been popular with cyclists for the low traffic, good roads, scenic views, and challenging hills.

The partnership between OBC and the town of Jones is seen as another step in the process of improving relationships between cyclists and the citizens of eastern Oklahoma county.

via Oklahoma Bicycling Coalition – Town of Jones Votes Unanimously to Support First-Ever OBC Hogback Attack Bike Ride.

This is really good news and demonstrates the improving situation in the area as both motorists and cyclists learn how to co-exist in some of the best riding country in central Oklahoma.   The full article about the ride gives some background on the Jones’ history with the cycling community and is well worth a read to see how cycling organizations can really make a difference for both cyclists and motorists alike.

Diana Winslow, Downtown Examiner writer’s bike is MIA from near Lake Hefner as of Thursday January 05-2012.

AKA “Chick on a Bike”, the writer’s very distinctive beaten red Nishiki 3 speed is a racing style bike, with a Selle Royale seat, various lights, bell and book rack on the back.

The bike has been serviced by both Al’s Bicycles and by Schlegel Bicycles and bears marks of both.

When taken, the bike had a blue crate strapped to the back with bungees and the helmet and doglead red cable with a combination lock.

via Downown Examiner’s bike taken in Northwest OKC – Oklahoma City Oklahoma City | Examiner.com.

Below is a picture of the bicycle in question:

If you have any information regarding this bicycle, you are asked to contact the Hefner office of the Oklahoma City Police Department at (405) 297 1150 and talk to Officer 984, Sgt. Duroy.

by Mr. T in DC

Bike sharing programs are the rage around the world and across the nation (the photo above is of the DC bike share program, Capital Bikeshare).  Oklahoma City first announced the program back in August and additional details were announced yesterday at the Oklahoma City Council meeting.  According to NewsOK, the program has been given an official name of “Spokies” and will consist of 95 bicycles (up from 90) placed at six stations in the downtown Oklahoma City area.  The money for the bikes and stations is coming from a federal grant.

While the locations haven’t been fixed, NewsOK is giving some initial indications of how the stations will be scattered:

The kiosks will have locking bike stands attached. The locations aren’t firm, but the idea is to have them within easy cycling of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, Bricktown, Midtown, Chesapeake Energy Arena and the adjacent Cox Convention Center, Deep Deuce, City Hall and the Civic Center Music Hall.

via Oklahoma City to launch shared-bike program downtown | NewsOK.com.

I’m still particularly pleased to see that the primary purpose of the program is to provide transportation instead of pure recreation which has been my criticism of Tulsa’s program, The Tulsa Townies.

Between the forests and country homes of eastern Oklahoma County, the spandex and carbon fiber associated with cycling are an increasingly common sight.

“Any evening after five 5 o’clock, you’re going to find some bikers coming through here,” Jones Mayor Ray Poland said.

A resident of Jones for more than 30 years and mayor since 2009, Poland said the number of bicyclists peaked two years ago and hasn’t shrunk.

Speed limits are high, but traffic is light and road conditions are good east of Interstate 35, said Roger Welch, president of the Oklahoma Bicycle Society, the biggest cycling club in the Oklahoma City area. The eastern hills appeal to experienced road bikers looking for a more challenging terrain than the wind-swept blacktops around Yukon or the busy trails in Oklahoma City.

“You can only ride them (the trails) so many times, and you’re looking for some variety,” Welch said.

via Eastern Oklahoma County is viewed as prime cycling destination | NewsOK.com.

The University of Central Oklahoma invites its students, faculty, staff and alumni to compete in the Tour de Central bicycle relay race at 3 p.m., Nov. 2.

As part of Central’s Passport to France semester of activities, the race will simulate the Tour de France, the annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries.

The teams will compete in divisions – students, faculty, staff and alumni –to win the coveted yellow jerseys, or “maillots jaune.”

“The Tour de France is one of the most exciting features of modern French culture, for the audience as well as the participants,” said Susan Spencer, Ph.D., English professor at Central and Passport UCO coordinator.

“The Tour de Central is a chance to connect with that uniquely French tradition on our own campus.”

The Tour de Central staging area, where the teams of four will start, finish and exchange riders, will be located just north of Broncho Lake on Central’s campus.

One “cycliste,”or rider, from each team will circle the Business and Communications buildings before returning to the exchange area to hand off the race to the next teammate. Each rider will race on a bike provided by the university from Central’s free bicycle rental program, Bum-a-Bike.

Initiated in 2004, the Passport UCO program selects a country or region to celebrate during the fall semester.

Registration costs $5 per rider, or $20 per team.

For registration information and a listing of other Passport to France events, visit www.uco.edu/passport.

via UCO News: UCO To Host ‘Tour de Central’ Bike Race As Part of ‘Passport To France’ Activities.

A group of Oklahomans is holding the state’s first-ever bike summit in the hopes of making Oklahoma more bike-friendly.

This two-day conference in Oklahoma City in early November, coordinated by the Oklahoma Bike Coalition, will be geared toward engineers, city planners and cycling advocates.

via Oklahoma Gazette News: Pedal power.

As a reminder, the conference will take place on November 4th and 5th. You can register at http://okbikesummit2011.eventbrite.com/.  I will be attending most of the session on November 5th and will be tweeting from the event.

The Tour de Cure will happen on June 23rd, 2012. Routes for the next tour are still being determined, however they will include 10 mile routes through metric centuries.  However, this is a perfect time to sign up and start raising funds.  If you sign up and donate at least $15 dollars to your self before the end of October you will get a free “in training” t-shirt!  Sign up by clicking here today!

Drivers are urged to steer clear of Oklahoma’s bicyclists

Bicyclists who haven’t been able to ride recreationally or train during Oklahoma’s historically warmest summer are now hitting the streets. Officials encourage drivers to be cautious and share the road with bicycle riders.

via Drivers are urged to steer clear of Oklahoma’s bicyclists | NewsOK.com.