Is Bicycling the New Golf?
Business leaders are dropping the clubs and pedaling for charity.
I don’t golf, but after riding with more than 350 area business leaders last Friday on the Eppstein Uhen Architects Beyond Design Tour, I think I’m going to start printing business cards on waterproof paper so they don’t get soggy when you put them in your jersey pocket!
This was the tenth year that Rich Tennessen and the team from Eppstein Uhen Architects put on their fundraising ride, which raised almost $100,000 to split between the seven charities (including the Bike Federation of Wisconsin) that have benefited from the ride since it began. All of the charities have already benefited from the Eppstein Uhen Foundation, so it was incredibly generous of them to use the 10th anniversary to give back to all previous charity recipients this year:
- VARIETY – The Children’s Charity of Wisconsin
- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee
- Goodman Community Center
- Wisconsin Bike Federation
- YMCA
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
- 4 Kids – UW-Milwaukee
- Safe & Sound
Rich Tennessen, President of EUA, gives the pre-ride talk to ride captains. (Photo by Dave Schlabowske)
This year the Bike Fed staff took an active role to help organize the ride, but most of the heavy lifting was done by Rich, Jodi Ventura and the rest of the great team at EUA. Of course the ride would not be possible without generous donations from all the sponsoring businesses. Next time you have a building or construction project, I encourage you to check this list for companies that support cycling.
It was perfectly appropriate for Team Velocause to lead the ride since they are all fast and a team of business professionals who race to give back to charities. (Photo taken by Dave Schlabowske)
The ride ended with a great meal and auction at Monona Terrace. After the dinner, Greg Uhen got up to thank the EUA team and all their business connections for helping them do so much good for so many worthy non-profits over the last 10 years. His talk reminded me of other business leaders I have heard speak recently at cycling events as well as Jason Kayzar‘s Midwest Cycling Networking Rides. I can’t say if joining the Bike Fed and getting a bicycle is a better business investment than a set of clubs and a country club membership, but it can’t hurt to buy a set of waterproof business cards either way!
These three guys seem to be having a good day at the office, and you can hardly feel safer than when you are riding with the von Briesen cycling team! (Photo by Dave Schlabowske)
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It is great that people ares starting to ride, I cycle almost every day when there is not ice on the streets, but I push safety. Too many riders believe that cause they have the right of way that they are somehow immune to getting killed or injured. Too often I see riders at dusk with dark clothes on, no lites on really busy streets. Happened two days ago. I have lost 4 friends, killed by cars, who did not see them, for various reasons, all seasoned riders. Jeff Littman and his girlfriends were racers.
Wear bright clothes. On the bike paths I am often seeing people with those crossing guard bright yellow uniforms. Wear your helmet. If you have a worthless head then don’t bother but if you value your cranium watch it. If you have to ride on busy streets get those strobe lights. people drive too fast on Bluemound, North ave. etc.
Watch out for choke points. If you have bee riding on the curb then have to swing out to go past parked cars you might have to go three feet to avoid getting hit by opening door. This has happened to many of my friends with some bad injuries. Nothing ever happens to driver unless civl suit. If you swing around the car, out three feet at the same time a truck is coming and the truck does not move over, and their rear view mirror hangs ou,t you have a problem. I have ridden all over Milwaukee but I always take the side streets or wide enough streets with out parked cars.
I have ridden motorcycles all my life. I have ridden over hundred thousand miles on them and no collisions with cars. With both bikes you take your life in your hands from inattentive drivers doing many things: cell phone, texting, talking radios misc.. One collision with a car can be disaster so safety, helmets gloves are bet first defense.
The life you save will be your own.
Try to be gracious on the road but always prepare for the worst possible scenario and trust no automobile or truck driver…ever. Leave no opening, for only death or injury await the trusting bicyclist. Think of every driver as a drunk 18- year-old texting his girlfriend.
Bright clothes, helmets and flashing lights are OK but don’t let them lull you into a false sense of security. It doesn’t matter what you wear or how you equip your bike, you must be willing to take drastic action at all times. Don’t let red lights or stop signs stifle your protective instincts…run them if necessary and have no qualms about doing so.
Finally!…never, ever drink before riding. Unlike driving a car you are precariously balanced on two wheels…a compromised sense of balance is certain disaster.
Lee, thanks. too many riders, especially kids think that they are armored and have the Right of Way. Also obey the laws, they apply to you . You run a stop sing and a car does the same, who loses??? One collision with a car is all that you might get.