Here is the indomitable Jim Muellner, who at 67 is fully pushing the
envelope for what is possible as he works to get thru the Utah desert
heat by riding at night. At the end is the Longmont CO newspaper
article that was written about this legendary man as he powers toward
our 2nd annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest where he informs me that his
company, Just Two Recumbents, will be there to help him show off the
trike he has been crossing America on!
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Happy 4th of July Weekend
Hi, can't say more I am too dry, just kidding:
Today I received a gift from someone, a discarded section of the July
5th issue of the "New York Times". I wish they would have left the
whole thing. I love reading the Times and discussing issues with
someone interesting. But the article most important to me was the one
about Lewis and Clark's travels and their reporting.
Here more that a century later, I have tried to show you the America I
see also at a slow pace. I have tried to describe to you one small part
of it in the form of some of the flowers or animals I have seen during
my ride. How beautiful they are as you slowly cycle past them. And yet
there is great sadness at times as I do so.
I feel for those sealed containers that go past at 60 or 70 mph,
listening to a radio or munching on a treat. These travelers never see,
smell or hear the beauty of their country. If you go to page A9 in the
July 5th issue of the Times you will see what I mean. The pictures you
will find there are real life master pieces that reinvigorate the
soul about our planet. No, I have not seen herds of buffalo, but have
often imagined what it would have been like.
What greatly tarnishes this image is the discarded can, thrown
bottles, water bottles and the paper cups that these sealed containers
of people hurl into this masterpiece. It brings tears to my eyes when I
see this. It brings a little anger when a thrown beer or pop bottle
shatters on the road's shoulder ready to cause the next person who
rides by on a bike a flat tire.
We have such a beautiful country and yet I see various people toss
things that they expect others to pick up. How can we as Americans save
our beautiful country from this careless practice? When you pick up a
single piece of trash you are helping repaint the American masterpiece,
to re-establish its original beauty to that which it deserves. It will
make a difference, even picking up one piece of trash.
It is so healthy and pure to be able to look at a world without man
made distraction. When the sights and sounds are only coming from
nature the allure of its wonder is magnified a thousand times.
Last night as I cycled in the moonlight everything had an eerie beauty
to it. Every shadow was a surprise, a long eared rabbit or a scurrying
mouse often made me laugh. My memories will forever be golden. The
sunset was a act in itself. First a golden haze, turning into a red,
then a blazing red horizon. Later it turned into a purple shading that
many an artist has tried to capture. It was so beautiful I was
wondering if I was alone in watching it unfold.
The moon light has taken over and so I must go.
Well, it is off to bed. It is cold enough, that I have been riding with
my stocking cap.
The Night Rider, Jim
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Local access to PocketMail mobile
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Cyclist visits Longmont
By Annalise Kinkel
The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT City officials declared last Saturday ³National Bicycle
Greenway Day² as a variety of bicycles and tricycles left for Boulder
from High Gear Cyclery on Main Street. The convoy of about a dozen
cyclists accompanied 67-year-old Jim Muellner for the next leg of the
coast-to-coast National Mayorıs Ride. Muellner left from Washington,
D.C., on May 2 and arrived in Longmont last Thursday. He had ridden
nearly 2,300 miles and is expected to finish the ride in Santa Cruz,
Calif., on Aug. 16.
The National Mayorıs Ride is sponsored by the National Bicycle
Greenway. Muellner said the ride is intended to ³encourage the
officials in every city to put bike-friendly routes on their agenda.²
The ride is part of NBGıs goal to establish a network of bike paths
across the country, similar to what the interstate is for cars.
Muellner said The National Mayorıs Ride promotes ³more
transportation-oriented biking rather than just exercise-oriented
biking.²
Just before the cyclists departed from High Gear, Longmont City Council
member Fred Wilson presented Muellner with a proclamation. Wilson said
new bike routes are planned and partially funded throughout Boulder
County. ³We do what we can as money allows,² Wilson said.
Muellner said the highlight of his trek has been all of the kind and
supportive people he has met.
³Everyone has been so nice and encouraging. Itıs been wonderful,² he
said. Muellner said he gets e-mails of support from all over the
country. So far, he has heard that he has fan clubs in Pittsburgh,
Indianapolis and Chicago.
A bike designer from White Bear Lake, Minn., Muellner has been cycling
for 15 years. This is his second ride across the country. He rode from
Los Angeles to Orlando, Fla., in 1998. In the last five years, he also
has ridden up the East Coast and along the northern border of the
United States.
Muellner said one doesnıt have to be a ³spring chicken² to be a serious
cyclist.
³I felt that itıs important (to show) that older people who have the
time can do this,² he said.
Muellner attributed part of his ability to ride for such long distances
to his bike, which is a tricycle rather than an upright bike. The
trike, Muellner said, requires the same amount of work as an upright
bike, but it allows him to travel uphill at any speed he wants without
worrying about maintaining balance.
After passing through Longmont, Muellner cycled to Estes Park and
Steamboat Springs en route to California.
Annalise Kinkel can be reached at 303-776-2244, Ext. 389, or by e-mail
at akinkel@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
year old, trike riding Jim Muellner can be found at
http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/JimMuellner
His email on the road is: jmuellner@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
you want to start from the beginning and/or follow Jim our other
NBG relay riders as they move forward in the National Mayors' Ride at
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/schedule.php>,
point to their blog at
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/reports.php>.
All of this excitement will al be consummated at the second annual
Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest on Sunday August 17 c/:o
<http://www.nationalbicyclegreenway.com/Events/Festival>:
btw: If you want to become a rider, we WANT you!! Go to
<http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/getstarted.php>,
to find out how!!
btw2: We have pictures from the various ride legs 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.
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