The following from Brian K of Santa Fe Road Riders (SFRR).

“Thursday, April 7, is also the SFRR First Thursday happy hour.  Through Bob Bogart I invited the SOBs to join us at Second Street’s Railyard location, beginning at 4 PM, as an expression of solidarity and support from the Road Riders.  It may also give those unable to join the Memorial Ride due to the work day event schedule a chance to commune and express solidarity with the SOBs.  Bob has graciously accepted our invitation on behalf of the SOBs.  This SFRR First Thursday will no doubt be more of an open cycling community event so that Pedal Queens or other riding groups may feel free to join us.”

SOBs, please join in. Thursday April 7, 4pm,  2nd Street Brewery at the Railyard.  See you there.

We will be leaving the Museum Hill parking lot promptly at 10 AM on April 7.

We will ride in one large group.  There will be no late starters allowed.  If you are not at the start when we leave, then you are not in the ride.  There will be a lead motorcycle who will pace the ride based on the cyclists closest to the officer.  We need to accommodate all rider abilities.  The vast majority of the ride is downhill but most riders will not be used to riding in this type of procession.  If you are near the front, keep it slow and safe so everyone can ride together.

There will be a trailing SFPD Community Service vehicle marking the back of the ride.  If you are in front of that vehicle you are fine.  If you are in back of the trail vehicle you are NOT in the ride.  Do NOT attempt to pass the trail vehicle.

Besides the lead and trail vehicles there will be two additional motorcycles that will block the side and cross streets on a rolling basis.  Once we have passed through an intersection, the motorcycle officer will then be passing the ride line to set up at the next intersection.  Do not freak out if you see a motorcycle passing on the left.

If you have a mechanical.  Pull to the right of the road safely.  Get up on the sidewalk and deal with your issue.  Do not try to rejoin the ride if the trailing vehicle has passed you.  You may ride as a lone cyclist after the official ride has passed, if you so desire.

THE SFPD will block Old Santa Fe Trail (OSFT) for us to turn left from Camino Lejo (Museum Hill)  onto OSFT.  They will do a rolling blockade of all the side streets and cross streets as we travel down OSFT.

They will block Old Pecos at the merge with OSFT.

They will close off Paseo De Peralta so that we cross in one group.

Immediately after crossing Paseo we will be at the Roundhouse and we will turn left and dismount to walk our bikes on the sidewalk up toward the east side of the Roundhouse for a short program.

SFPD has requested that we ride REASONABLY close together.  No large gaps in the group.  It is totally acceptable, in fact preferred, by SFPD for us to ride 2 or 3 abreast on OSFT (Of course there may be traffic coming towards us so be sure to stay safely to the right of the double yellow).  Riding two or three abreast will compact the group and shorten any road closures.

Of course, OBEY ALL DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY SFPD.  They are providing us with the escort and we must be courteous and follow their instructions.

The board met before today’s general meeting.  We made the following decisions:

Created Vice President position and Pam R has accepted that role.  The VP (as normal) will fill in for the President if the President is unable to attend a board meeting.

Lynn P will be the acting Ride Director.  I will assist her.

Approved April 7 Memorial Ride.  Subgroup formed to help.  We will invite all other local cycling clubs and organizations as well as Cactus Club to participate.

Bill P will update Judy’s status via email list.  If you want to be on the list, email Bill or admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and we will add your name.  Good progress made today by Judy.

A/B and B/C SUNDAY RIDE

Start time changed to 10.30am due to start of Daylight Saving Time.  Ride starts from Caja Del Rio Rec area.  See this link for details.

Here is a collection of notes that we have received at the club email.  They are in chronological order from oldest to newest.  (Note, I have removed last names and email addresses to protect folks privacy.)

From: Sandy H
Subject: Tucson Tragedy
Dear friends,
I am horrified and saddened by yesterday's tragedy.  My condolences to the family and all the SOB community.
Best,
Sandy H
Cambridge Valley Cycling
Cambridge, New yourk

Hi folks, My name is Cynthia and I was your shuttle driver in Sabino Canyon. I am so sorry to hear on the news about the devastating accident that happened here. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Cynthia

From: Diane P
Subject: Sad news
I just read about the horrific accident here in Tucson.  I , too, am a cyclist and have always felt there was safety in numbers--apparently not.  I'm writing to offer any assistance I can to the remaining riders.  I have a spare bedroom I'd be happy to share.  I reside in Marana, just about Turcon.
Diane P

From: Kate G
Subject: Judy C
Hello,
I have heard about the  tragic accident involving your bicycle club in Tucson.  My thoughts are with all of you.
I heard Judy C was on the trip.  Is she the critically injured Judy?  If so can you let me know any details or an appropriate person to contact.  I am her room-mate on a Bicycle Adventure Club trip in Argentina iin April.  
Again.  I can't imagine the horror you all must feel over the senseless injuries and  loss of life .
Kate G

From: Patrick M
Subject: condolences
I just wanted to express my condolences to your membership regarding the horrible tragedy that happened this week in Tucson AZ.  Words can't describe the sorry I feel when someone is killed or injured while out doing something so wholesome as cycling.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.
God bless,
Patrick M
longtime cyclist.

From: Lara S
Subject: crash in Tucson
Just wanted to send out my condolences to you all for the loss of Clare Rhoades.  This accident happened right down the street from my place of work and it weighed heavy on the hearts of many customers.  It is all people talked about.  I am so sorry to your club and her family.  Please know that you all are in my prayers.

From: Ruth Ann G
Subject: Tucson crash
As fellow bicyclists, we extend our condolences to your entire community.   We are extremely saddened that this could have happened at all, let alone just four miles from our home.  Our prayers are with all of you.
Tom and Ruth Ann G
Oro Valley, AZ

From: Khalil S
Subject: Condolences and wishes
Dear SoB's
Please accept my condolences for the loss of Claire Rhoades and get well wishes for Judy C.  I don't live in Santa Fe and am not retired yet, so will be at work on Thursday. But my heart will be with you all.
Khal S
Los Alamos
BCNM Board Member

Barb and I visited Judy today (Saturday). She is still in ICU but plan is to move her out of ICU today or tomorrow.  Her sister is here.  Judy is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.  They put a new pin in her arm where the old one was and a plate in her pelvis.  Her hip is OK.  Her neck is stabilized but from all indications not broken.  All her limbs move.  We chatted for awhile but she needs lots of rest.  Plans for rehab and return to SF are still pending. She may be in Tucson awhile.  

DUI driver held on 1.5 million bail.  Link to story.

Hey Judy and all other SOB’s,
The surgery on Feb. 8 lasted for eight hours. They found more things to
clean up than expected. The consequence of such a long surgery was my heart
went into afib so after the surgery they sent me to the cardiac unit. I’m
now on beta blockers but have not had any heart problems since. We were
released from the hospital on Feb. 12 and drove to Greeley to Dee’s sister.
Yes we are in very good hands for a recovery. Getting the pain under
control was a bit of a trick, but I have been walking outside for three
days so I am getting stronger every day. We will probably be here until
the end of February after being cleared by the doctor and having 14 inches
of staples removed. We should be back in Santa Fe by March 1. Probably I
won’t be riding until end of May or June. In the meantime hope you all
have a great, fun, and safe riding season. My best wishes to all.

George

Jim would like to share the following. There are some interesting statistics in their included link to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.

From Jim:
We spend so much time worrying about the physical health of our senior loved ones that we end up neglecting a key element affecting their overall well being–their mental health.

The CDC notes that 20 percent of people 55 and older experience “some type of mental health concern,” but mental health issues are widely “untreated or under-treated” among seniors. It saddens me to think that our seniors so often feel lonely and forgotten. http://www.cdc.gov/aging/pdf/mental_health.pdf

My wife and I created ElderAction http://elderaction.org/ after we began noticing the decline in mental health of our ailing parents. We’ve worked hard to help our parents be as happy and fulfilled as possible, and we’re hoping to provide other seniors and their loved ones with the support they need to make the most of their golden years.

I’d love to provide tips and advice on how we can help improve the mental health of the nation’s seniors in an article for santafesobblog.com. I’ll include resources and research so that seniors, loved ones, and caretakers will be better prepared to offer seniors the mental health support they need.

If this offer interests you, please let me know.

Sincerely, Jim Vogel – jim@elderaction.org
www.ElderAction.org

I took the liberty of adding a brief search on aging and exercise studies. Steve

“We do not yet know for sure what the causal relationship between physical activity and depression is like. What is clear is that elderly people who are physically active are less depressed, but higher levels of depression can also lead to less exercise, and this suggests there is a mutual influence,” Dr. Magnus Lindwall, associate professor in exercise and health psychology at the University of Gothenburg. http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/11/02/reduce-risk-of-senior-depression-with-exercise/30983.html

Exercise Compared to Antidepressants: Blumenthal and colleagues carried out a randomized controlled trial to establish the effectiveness on depression of an aerobic exercise program (3 supervised exercise sessions per week, in a group-setting) compared to sertraline (50-200 mg) or combined treatment (exercise plus sertraline) on a sample of 156 depressed volunteers aged 50 years (mean age 57 years). After 16 weeks of treatment, all groups exhibited statistically and clinically significant reductions… Patients receiving medication alone and mildly depressed patients receiving combined treatment exhibited the fastest initial response; however, at the end of treatment, exercise was equally effective in reducing depression. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758953/

Number One Anti-Aging Medicine “If exercise could be put in a pill it would be the number one anti-aging medicine and the number one anti-depression medicine,” Dr. Robert N. Butler, President of the International Longevity Center, at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City. “It’s also cheap, and it avoids problems such as the side-effects of medication.” http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Depression/story?id=117946&page=1

The following article in The American Journal of Epidemiology http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/4/328.full concludes with an extended list, that can be accessed on line, of other aging and exercise articles similar to the following five.

The reciprocal relationship between physical activity and depression in older European adults
Evid. Based Nurs. (2012) 15 (4): 125

Exercise and social support are associated with psychological distress outcomes in a population of community-dwelling older adults
J Health Psychol (2012) 17 (6): 833-844

Physical activity among older people and related factors
Health Education Journal (2012) 71 (2): 144-153

Don’t Worry, be Active: Positive Affect and Habitual Physical Activity
Aust N Z J Psychiatry (2011) 45 (12): 1047-1052

The Association Between Midlife Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life: Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci (2015) 0 (2015): glv196v1-glv196

We rode this last Saturday. About half-way down from Monte Sereno to Tesuque Village Mkt on county rd 73 there is a pile of hardened cement and rock right on or close to the white line dividing the road and the bike lane. It is hard to see and when you ride over it, the bike gets quite a jolt. If you are not careful you could go down at 30 mph. Given all the gravel in the bike lane you are more likely to be near or over the white line. Be careful.

All you have to do is click on the link, and if you can, pass the word on to like minded others.

It is way overdue that law enforcement, drivers and even the media reporting cycling accidents take it more seriously. They almost always automatically blame the bike rider by the way they investigate or report the incident.

We all know people who have been injured by irresponsible motorists. Please sign the petition, hopefully it will help bring the problem to the attention of people who work on the rules.

Below is the link to the petition, please add your name. NM Petition regarding motorists who injure cyclists

Thanks to Nancy Balcer for bringing this to my attention.

The ride leaders and board are meeting on Feb 6.  Now is the time for everyone to check out the proposed schedule and suggest new rides or revised routes if they want.  Here is how you can do that.

1.  Go to the website and click the Ride Schedule menu item.
2. Scroll down until you see April 2016.  The Thursday rides start on April 7.
3. You can look at all the rides by scrolling down.  At the bottom of the page you will have to click “2” to get to the 2nd page.
4. I have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to provide your input.
   • This blog post will accept comments.  If you have a site login, then login, click this link or just find this blog item (the one you are reading), and post your comment(s).  There is already one there, mine.
   • If that is too difficult, send an email to ridesched@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com  That email will go to me, Ian, Judy, and Edwin.  I can add your email comments to the blog if you so indicate in your email.  The comment will look like it came from me, but I will add your attribution in bold.
5. If you don’t have a login and you want one, email admin@sfsob.cosine-santafe.com and we will create one for you.

Click below to view:

http://santafempo.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SFMPO-Newsletter-SEPTEMBER-2015-FINAL.pdf

A partnership between the City of Santa Fe Parking Division, Economic Development Division and the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization helped to further implement the 2012 Metropolitan Bicycle Master Plan by installing a Bicycle Corral along the South Guadalupe Business District.

The Bicycle Corral is a pilot project that will be monitored over the course of a year by the Santa Fe MPO. Safety issues were the primary driver of the location and design, however the purpose of the corral falls in line with a fundamental premise that corrals and other on-street bicycle facilities promote both bicycling and an increase in the economic livelihood of business districts.

Communities that have invested in corrals “have seen considerable economic benefits by attracting businesses, tourism and active residents,” according to Advocacy Advance – a partnership of the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

On the launch of Santa Fe and New Mexico’s first ever Bicycle Corral, Mayor Javier M. Gonzales said, “This is big. First, it’s a meaningful part of our ongoing commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging Santa Feans to hop on a bike before they reach for their car keys. But it also promotes an active, outdoor economy that embraces and supports small, local businesses.”

He added, “Santa Feans should know their city is committed to becoming one of the most bikeable in the country, and initiatives like this send that signal loud and clear.”

The South Guadalupe Street Bike Corral can accommodate up to twelve bicycles, leaving the sidewalks open for pedestrians and sending a positive message to tourists and locals that Santa Fe is a bicycle friendly community. The owners of The Cowgirl BBQ have been supportive and enthusiastic since discussions of the project first began last year.

The City and the MPO will also be testing green pavement markings for bicycle routes along Camino Carlos Rey from Zia to Cerrillos Road this summer. For more information about bicycle corrals and other innovative bicycle investments please visit www.santafempo.org.
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