Ed McLaughlin will be the Grand Marshal of the Pioneer Days Parade this
Saturday, May 3rd and the Chico Velo Cycling Club will be the second entry,
riding their bicycles behind him.  Signs with the individual letters of "Chico
Velo" will be attached to the front of the lead rider's bikes.  Riders following
will be giving out about 100 "Tour de Ed" t-shirts and wrist bands to the crowd.

If you are interested in supporting Ed and having some fun this Saturday, meet
on W 3rd Street between Salem and Normal Street this Saturday at 10 am.  The
parade starts at 11 and will take one hour to do the loop.  Riders should ride
their town bikes (with baskets) and wear their "Tour de Ed" shirts (I have extra
if riders don't have one).  All ages are welcome!!!


If you have any questions, please contact Ann Schwab at
friendsofannschwab@... or at 530-518-7383.


Rodney Cox
Chico, CA
www.chicocyclist.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo

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We all meet at the front gate at the Fair Grounds
a bit before 7:00am to see who is there and doing
what.

We leave at 7:00am.

One group is doing Honey Run Rd. and then splitting
up at the Lunch Stop at the bottom of Pentz. Rd --
one group heads for Oroville and Table Mt. and the
other heads towards Chico. This group plans to ride
easy and stop at most of the rest stops to enjoy the
great food.

The other group will push for 100+ miles. Steady pace,
several re-groups, but few rest stops. The front end
of the group will, after Table Mt., head for Pulga,
some will turn around at Jarbo Gap. After, it is the
big Lunch Stop, re-group, and then gunning for Chico.

Forecast: 89 with few clouds, Wind SW 10mph.

Sun, 04/27 -- The Wildflower Century.
Nice weather, we leave at 7:00am from the
Fair Grounds' front gate. There will be
30 to 112-mile groups.

Sun, 05/04 -- Chico Corsa's Honey Run Rd. TT.
9:00am Time Trial start from the Covered Bridge.
5 miles up to Paradise. We will re-group at the
finish and do a bit more riding afterwards.

Sat, 05/10 -- City of Gold Triathlon.
Race, volunteer, or cheer, but be there.

Sun, 05/18 -- Paskenta Hills, 50-mile Ride.
7:00am carpool from One Mile. 7:45am ride from
Flournoy. An alt. start option will be 8:00am
from the Paskenta store giving you 40 miles.
Options for more riding for those interested.

Mon, 05/26 -- Memorial Day Lassen Ride.
If the road is clear up to/over the road summit
we head up and ride our yearly spring Lassen Ride.
15-50 mile options. Road clearing progress:
http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/lassen_roadsandtrails.htm

Sun, 06/01 -- Oroville - Challenge - Bangor Ride.
7:00 am carpool from One Mile. 7:45am ride from
the Lakeside Market at
(Kelly Ridge Rd./Miners Ranch Rd./Hwy 162).
45 to 65 miles -- out-back or loop option.

Sun, 06/15 -- Father's Day Nevada City Ride.
6:00am from One Mile. 86-miles & 6 hours.
We take the "low" route. An alt. starting place
is the Lakeside Market out in Oroville.
We shower at the South Yuba Club, 555 Searls Ave.,
eat lunch, and watch some of the bike races.
Bike race information: www.ncclassic.com
Remember to arrange for a sag on the way home.

All Joanne's hard work paid off and she had
a great race. She improved her time from last
year with 13 minutes to 3:34:16 hrs - a pace
of 8:11 min/mile.

That is equivalent to a 51-min 10K pace.

Hi-

Versus (OLN-TV) is as usual showing the spring and other cycling
classics throughout the season.

It is a chance to see and learn from the best. Tape some of it and
look at it when you have a bit of time. Study their riding techniques
and body positions as they time trial, climb, attack, chase, out-fox,
sprint, stand, sit, draft, rotate through the pace line, go through
turns on the way up and down, etc.

Each race has its own website in case you are interested in more details.


Sun, April 20th @ 4PM ET
Created in 1896, and the most famous one-day classic, the Paris-Roubaix.

Sun, April 27th @ 5PM ET
First held in 1892, Liège-Bastogne-Liège is known as the 'La Doyenne'
because it is the oldest classic on the cycling calendar.

Sun April 27th @ 5:30PM ET
Created 70 years ago this race is the first of 2 Ardennes classics in
Belgium.  Along the 3-lap race are smaller climbs but the final climb
up the steep Mur de Huy is where the race is won or lost.

Sat, May 3rd @ 3PM ET
The Tour de Georgia is North America's premier, professional cycling
event and showcases one-of-a-kind towns and terrain of the Southeast.

Sun, May 4th @ 4PM ET
The Tour de Romandie is a short stage that tests rider's all round
ability. The six-day race always includes two flat stages for the
sprinters, a time trial, rolling stages in the hills and a tough
mountain finish in the breathtaking Alps.

Sat, May 11th @ 4PM ET, May 18th @ 4PM ET
Sun, May 25th @ 4PM & June 1st @ 3PM ET
The 2008 Giro d'Italia will be noted for its number of time trials –
four – and starts in Palermo on May 10 and ends in Milano on June 1,
and totals 3423.8 kilometres.

Sun, June 8th @ 5PM ET & Sun, June 15th @ 5PM ET
The week-long Dauphiné Libéré comes at a strategic moment in the
season as the leading stage race riders begin to fine tune for the
summer stage races. The route of the Dauphiné Libéré always includes
some of the legendary Alpine climbs as well mountain stages, time
trials and flat stages.

Wed-Sun, June 25th-28th @ 6PM ET & Sun, June 29th @ 5:30PM ET
The Tour of Pennsylvania, a six-day stage race covering more than 450
miles of Pennsylvania's rolling hills and city streets.

Sat, July 5th-27th (Complete TV Schedule Coming Soon)
Tour de France, the most prestigious bicycle race in the world. The
race leader wears a yellow jersey, or "Maillot Jaune" in French, the
color of a French newspaper, L'Auto, the race's original sponsor. The
King of the Mountains jersey, which signifies the best climber, is a
white jersey with big red polka dots on it. The Points jersey, which
signifies the rider with the most consistent finishes and intermediate
sprints, is the green jersey.

Sun, September 7th @ 5:30PM ET
The USA Cycling Professional Championships takes place in Greenville,
South Carolina. Two events - the individual time trial race against
the clock for 30 miles and a 145 mile road race.

Sun, September 21st @ 5PM ET
La Vuelta, the Tour of Spain is where climbers can celebrate. A return
to the gruelling Angliru, a very tough day in the Pyrenees, an uphill
time trial, a total of five summit finishes and just 40 kilometres of
flat time trial for the specialists against the clock; this is, in
truth, a Vuelta tailor-made for those who shine when it comes to
battling with gravity. Starting in Granada on August 30th and
concluding in Madrid 23 days and 3169 kilometers later.

Sun, September 28th @ 5PM ET
Tour of Missouri, twelve cities have been selected as Start or Finish
cities for the second edition of the Tour of Missouri.

Sun, October 12th @ 4PM ET
Paris-Tours, a race which covers over 250 k in one day, is the last
prestigious race on the cycling calendar.

Sun, October 19th @ 4PM ET
The last classic of the season, the Giro di Lombardia, "the race of
the falling leaves" will take place for the one hundredth time this
year in Italy.

Sun, November 9th @ 4PM ET
In less than 20 years, the Tour du Faso has become the greatest
professional race in Africa, reflecting the vitality of its creators.

Carpool leaves from One Mile at 7:00am.

The ride leaves from Wall-Mart in Willows
(north/west corner of I-5/Hwy 162) at 8:00am.

Option 1: 90 miles, Willows, Maxwell, Lodoga,
Stonyford (store,) Elk Creek (store,) Willows.

Option 2: 46 miles, Willows to Elk Creek (store)
then return back to Willows.

Don't miss the bald eagle nest, on the west side
of the bridge where you turn north of Elk Creek.

There will be a Willows - Elk Creek - Willows
"group" Sunday. Let use know if anybody else is
interested in that option and wants to be brought
up to speed with the plans.

Hello Tri Women!!!
I'm selling my bicycle if you are interested drop me an email or call!
I can send you a picture, or it is at North Rim Adventure Sports
now if you want to see it (2nd street, chico).  Just ask someone
there to see it.
Happy Riding to you all.


$750.00 (Or Best Offer)
2003 Cannondale R2000 Si
52 cm
Light blue paint
With CAAD7 tubing
Ultegra Cranks, shifters & brakes
Dura Ace rear derailer
Womens specific Salsa bars
Women's Terry butterfly seat
Ritchy seat post
Mavic Cosmos wheelset
Cat Eye MITY3 computer
Low Miles
Contact-Heather Sousa
892-8543
hsousa@...

The Tri Girls are doing the Italian Triple ride Sunday
leaving from One Mile at 8:00am sharp.

Cohasset (30 miles,) Honey Run, down Neal (65 miles,)
and finally Forest Ranch -- for a total of 96 miles.

Up to the Cohasset Store from One Mile, back down, left at
the light onto E. Eaton Ave., left onto East Ave., across to
Bruce Rd., across to the Steve Harrison Memorial Bike Path
to Honey Run Rd., up to Paradise, down Skyway to Neal Rd.,
Neal Rd. down and the Midway bike path back to Chico, right
on Humboldt Ave., the bike path under Hwy 99 to Humboldt Rd.,
across Forrest Ave. (stop at 7-11 maybe), up Humboldt Rd.,
Hwy 32 to Forest Ranch, and back down.

Some riders are just going to do the first two hills for
65 miles.

There are no planned re-groupings so think about
"buddying" up along the way when you see who is doing
what and are going at your pace -- bring money, food,
drinks, and spare tubes -- the usual.

The train will keep rolling so if you are in the "back"
up towards Cohasset be prepared to turn around when they
come back down if you want to stay in the group back to
Chico and on the flats over towards and up Honey Run.

Turn around before the group passes you so you don't have
to chase the next 15 miles!!!

After a rather short store stop up in Paradise (1/4 mile down
Skyway on the left) the train heads down Neal Rd. to Chico.

Good luck...

Hi, Ladies!  A new race is on the calendar and scheduled for Sunday,
April 6, 2008.  Come out and enjoy the Inaugural Trail Less Traveled
Trail Run Experience at Saddle Dam of the Lake Oroville State
Recreation Area.  Challenging trails in both 5K and ¼ Marathon (6.55
miles)  distances await your arrival.  The spring weather should
provide a spectacular backdrop of green grass and colorful
wildflowers.  There is no shortage of elevation changes and, as past
City of Gold Triathlon participants can attest, the "hill" is a beauty!

This year's event will benefit the Oroville YMCA.  Support your
health, support your community, and enjoy our trails.
For more information and online registration visit
http://www.athleteslounge.com/events/event.php?eventid=2419&. You can
also find race brochures at North Rim, CycleSport, Fleet Feet, Campus
Bicycles - (and Preben has some too)!
See you in April!
Julie Healy & Nikki Stadler
Co-Directors
Under the Sun Events

I keep getting messages from folks who are not getting my email so I will try
once again.

   Girls Just a reminder!!!

   You need to register from March 4 to March 18 using a GROUP ID (my email
address which is kewltrichk747@...).

   We will either all get in as a group or we will not get in at all.
   Call me if you have any questions 892-2224.

   Leslie


---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

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I recently got a Barnes and Noble member card. In order to use it you only need
to have my phone number 892-2224. (the card number if you need it is 517 7335
746 and my zip is 95926). It is transferable acc'd to one of the cashiers.
   So save yourself some $$ and enjoy it.
   Leslie



---------------------------------
Looking for last minute shopping deals?  Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

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Is anyone interested in a set of barely used syntace C2 clip aerobars?

How ironic...

Observing the number of runners at the Bidwell Classic
who were


-/ wearing head phones,
-/ running with baby strollers and baby joggers,
-/ being accompanied (paced) by friends and family not in
the race -- like runner number 121, who had a personal water
escort (we know the name) and used head phones,
-/ being handed or handed off water bottles, food, clothes,
etc. along the route, and
-/ the handful who had personal bike escorts (and not the
lead runners),


was quite ironic in the light of the accusations leveled against
and the warning given to the Women's Tri Club about not repeating
alleged conduct (accepting water bottles/cups from an aid station)
that would be in violation of 2008 race policy and considered
unfair to other runners and potentially create an unsafe event.


One could easily, in light of the above observations, get the
impression that the unsubstantiated accusations and admonition
to the Women's Triathlon Club prior to this year's Bidwell
Classic event by the Race Director, Susan Plummer, and the Chico
Running Club is rooted in nothing more than jealousy and
vindictiveness and in no means is of a sincere or credible nature.

Check out this link:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXgNUBROX8c


She wrote us the following:

     Well, here it is...the most talked about aspect of my job is now
on video and it is hilarious how I am presented as an "expert" at
Canada Goose egg oiling (when it was only my first season and third
time doing it). It was WAY more stressful for me than it appears on
the video (thank God they edited out my swearing). A DVD was even
created and is now being sold by the MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) for $5...get them while they are
hot! Ha!

     Enjoy!



     The Living With Wildlife program of the Massachusetts
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)
has produced a 13-minute DVD: Resolving Conflicts with
Canada Geese in Massachusetts.

     This DVD provides information on the natural behavior
of resident and migrating Canada geese, information on how
communities can prevent and resolve Canada geese conflicts
by following the three strategies of the nationally recognized
GeesePeace program, and testimonials from communities in
Massachusetts that have dramatically decreased conflicts with
Canada geese by embracing the GeesePeace program.

     This DVD is an effective educational tool that will help
policy makers, business owners, municipal officials, land
owners, and others learn how to humanely resolve conflicts
with Canada geese.

     Jen
     a.k.a. Biologist Extraordinaire

     P.S. I am looking for volunteers to help me do this again this
April...so let me know.

Dear Friends of Ed,

Ed and I want to send our heartfelt Thank Yous and appreciation to all the
planners and sponsors of and participants in the "Tour de Ed", otherwise known
as the Almond Blossom Ride.  Ed realizes that many folks worked very hard to
pull this event together.  Maybe this event will spur an annual reappearance of
this classic Velo ride. As I drove home from the hospital today, I soaked in our
beautiful landscape and the blooming trees.  We are lucky to live in such a
beautiful place.  A great balance of awesome countryside plus a vibrant
downtown.   All of us wish Ed could have been there to participate and greet all
the riders, helpers and sponsors.  But for right now, Ed still has a bit of
recovery to do before he can come home.  Ed is very aware of all the hard work
that went into pulling off this event with short notice. Inspite of all his
medical issues, Ed is still keenly aware of all things Velo and upcoming
community issues.  He will be very happy to be home and with that transition
will come a whole new realm of  challenges.  All along, Ed has been inspired by 
the outpouring of support for him since the accident.  The staff at the hospital
has also been moved by the level of community support and interest that this
catastrophic event has evoked.  I seem to wear out the phrase "Thank you", but
believe me, it comes from the heart.  All of us look forward to the day when Ed
is back in Chico and can return to "stirring up the pot" of all his favorite
issues.  He is already concerned about the upcoming issue of future plans for
the Esplanade...  Ed will be home soon and his mind and voice are fully
engaged!!

Merci Beaucoup, Ed and Suzanne


Rodney Cox
Chico, CA
www.chicocyclist.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo

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Hi Everyone! On Wednesday, February 27th at 4:00PM, there will be a Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony for the new Steve Harrison Memorial Bike Path. This is the new
bike path that goes from 20th Street to Honey Run Road - a great path that will
keep us off of a section of Bruce Road and then the Skyway. Steve Harrison was
one of the biggest advocates for this bike path, and always pushed to have this
path installed. And if you haven't been on it yet, it is a GREAT path!! The
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on the 20th Street side of the bike path
- go straight down 20th until you get to the path, and the party will be there.
Looking forward to seeing you all!

Rodney Cox
Chico, CA
www.chicocyclist.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo

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Hi,

Tia, a certified massage therapist, has recently opened
Ola Mana Massage & Bodywork. She focuses on massage therapy
for women. Her regular one-hour rate is $55 for a deeply
relaxing Swedish massage incorporating heat and aromatherapy.

She would like to offer the tri-girls a special "first visit"
rate of $45 for a one-hour massage. You can see her web site
for information, including hours and location, at:

www.olamana.com.

Tia

Tia Cronin
Ola Mana Massage & Bodywork
530.570.0582

Hey Girls! Grab your social calendar for the 2nd Annual Oscar Party on Feb 24.
It was super fun last year (if you missed it).
   You all should be getting an evite with all the details.
   Email me if you do not get an evite by Feb 2nd. I will add your email to the
list.
   It's a don't miss event.

   Leslie and Nikki


---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now.

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Now is the time to express appreciation for the supervisors who voted
their conscience, for the community and against the mine:  Bill
Connelly, Jane Dolan and Maureen Kirk.  They need our support, and to
know how much the vote means to us.  You can email them a quick thanks
at:

MKirk@...
JDolan@...
BConnelly@...

Giving them your thanks will help them know they made the right
decision, and it's also an opportunity to indirectly let them know
that bikers are involved constituents who will probably be more
inclined to vote for them in the future.

In case you did not see the Chico EnterpriseRecord,
here is how the Board of Supervisors voted -- which will
help you see who to thank for supporting your position:

Supervisor Curt Josiassen
Board Chairman
(mine project in his district)

Voted for the mine -

Had reservations, but argued that mining, like farming,
is a "messy" enterprise and therefore should not be
singled out or required to meet higher standards -- and
that a mine needs to be somewhere.


Supervisor Kim Yamauchi
Paradise

Voted for the mine -

Argued that the Planning Commission's approval was based
on the county's General Plan in which mineral resources
mining is encouraged and that the project would provide
a valuable economic resource for the county itself
rendering any subjective emotional opposition a mood fact.


Suprervisor Maureen Kirk
Chico

Voted against the mine -

Questioned if the project's traffic study accurately
could reflect and predict the conditions in 2014, the
mine's earliest opening date -- in regards to cyclists
and other traffic.

Questioned the adequacy of the amount of funds set aside
to cover road repairs -- pointed out the the funds were
only for county roads and not for Chico roads.

Supervisor Jane Dolan
Chico

Voted against the mine -

Argued that the traffic and air quality issues posed a
problem that could not be mitigated away and saw no
"overriding considerations" in support of the project in
light of there problems.

Argued that the project's mitigation measures were overly
broad and somewhat unspecified and therefore difficult if
not impossible to enforce once the project was in operation.


Supervisor Bill Connelly
Oroville

Voted against the mine -

Argued that big truck were not a problem and that he saw no
particular threat posed to cyclists.

Northern California Runners!

A new race is on the calendar for 9:00am, Sun, Apr 6, '08.

Come out and enjoy the Inaugural Trail Less Traveled Trail
Run Experience which offers a 5K run and walk plus a
1/4 marathon (6.55 miles).

There is no shortage of elevation changes on the course
and, as past City of Gold Triathlon participants can attest
to, the "hill" is a beauty!

Event site: Saddle Dam.

Take Olive Hwy / Hwy 162 east for about 5 miles, at the
bottom of the hill turn left onto Kelly Ridge Rd., the
Saddle Dam Day Use Area is about 2/3-mile in on the right
hand side, Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.

The spring weather should provide a spectacular backdrop
of green grass and colorful wildflowers.

The event will benefit the Oroville YMCA.

Support your health, support your community and enjoy
our trails.

For more information and online registration visit
http://www.athleteslounge.com/events/event.php?eventid=2419&.

See you in April,

Julie Healy & Nikki Stadler
Co-Directors
Under the Sun Events

Hi-

According to the E-R the Butte County Board of Supervisors has,
with a 3-2 vote, rejected the M&T Ranch, 200-acre gravel mine
proposal by the Baldwin Contracting Co., by upholding the appeal
of the BC Planning Commission's approval.

The Baldwin Contracting Co. is on of 27 companies owned by
the Knife River Corporation, North Dakota, a company with
operations in 14 states. http://www.kniferiver.com/

Voting for the appeal (against the mine) were supervisors
Maureen Kirk of Chico,
Jane Dolan of Chico, and
Bill Connelly of Oroville.

Voting against the appeal (for the mine) were supervisors
Kim Yamaguchi of Paradise, and
Curt Josiassen of Richvale.

The proposed mine site was in Curt Josiassen's district.

Full story: Wed's Enterprise-Record and on ChicoER.com.


And -- don't forget to let your Supervisor know what you
feel about the decision and about their vote!

The BCAG staff presented the draft Chico Area Bike Map to the BCAG
Board of Directors this morning.  The following links will take you to
our website if anybody wants to review and or comment.  Over the next
month, staff will address gap closures connecting the various bike
routes.  You may want to distribute the link to the Bicycle Advisory
Committee and other interested individuals or groups for review and
comment.

I would appreciate the Bicycle Advisory Committee assistance on
identifying key points of interest to be included in the index.  I
will track down key safety information / rider tips / helmet safety
etc., information that may also be included.

BCAG's What's New Web Page:  http://www.bcag.org/__whats_new/index.html

FRONT SIDE of MAP:
http://www.bcag.org/__whats_new/documents/Chico_Bike_Map/CHICO_FRONT.pdf

BACK SIDE of MAP:
http://www.bcag.org/__whats_new/documents/Chico_Bike_Map/CHICO_BACK.pdf

All comments should be directed to my attention by February 8, 2008.
BCAG placed an announcement in the local newspaper requesting comments
by this date.

Once this project is complete, all files will be made available should
the City or any other group want to expand the scope of this project.
  All GIS layers will be made available in hopes the City will post on
their website with the ability to turn on and off various layers to
suite their individual needs. We will pursue this option with you in
more detail.

If you have any questions please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you.

Ivan Garcia

Programming Manager

Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG)

Butte Regional Transit (B-Line)

2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100

530-879-2468 Phone   530-879-2444 Fax

igarcia@...   www.bcag.org

"Bike Week" is part of a national effort to encourage bicycle use. A planning
meeting is being held at the Chico City Municipal Building, Conference Room 2 on
Thursday, January 24th at 7 pm .  Everyone who is interested in promoting
bicycling to make Bike Week a resounding success is welcome to attend.  For more
information, or if you are interested but can't make this meeting, email
kgchico@....  Pedal forward!

Karen Goodwin, MS
Nutrition Education Specialist
Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion
California State University, Chico
OPT for Fit Kids (530) 898-5678
(530) 519-2646  mail to: kgoodwin@...

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Sunny and 60

We will do Saturday's ride Sunday instead

We leave from One Mile at 8:00am. We will only ride to
Pulga (36 miles) before turning around.

It is an out-back ride. We will group-ride at 17-18 mph
out to Pentz Rd.

There the climbing begins and we will slowly split up
on the way up. Some will ride to the Yankee Hill store,
most will likely make it to Jarbo Gap (store / fire station),
while a few will roll down to the Pulga bridge and come back
up. Talk to others and see what they are planning on doing.

On the section from Jarbo Gap to Pulga there will be a great
view and, at this time of the year, plenty of spectacular
water falls coming off the rock walls.

Ride as far as you can, rest (at the store) and then head
back the same way you came out. The riders further up the
(hill) road will likely catch back up to you on the way back
down and back to Chico.

Crossing the bridge over Oroville Lake going up Hwy 70, stay
to the right on the bridge (there are plates) -- there are
three grates that will catch your wheels if you ride over
them -- in both directions.

Also, crossing the bridge on the way up, note that the train
tracks run right under the road way on the bridge and into
the hill side on the other side-- and continue under ground
until it comes out on the other side of Jarbo Gap, 1,300' below
in the canyon to the right next to the river. At the Pulga
Bridge the tracks run below the bridge -- if you are lucky
you will get to see an "any" train way down there.

The ride heads out past Butte College (16 miles/300'),
over to and right, onto Pentz Rd. (21 miles/780'),
left and up Hwy 70 (22 miles / 720'),
past the look-out point (1,863'), 1 mile from Yankee Hill,
through Yankee Hill (store on the left/27 miles/2,027'),
past a second store, on the right (27.25 miles/2,075'),
through Deadwood and up over Jarbo Gap (store/30 miles/2,360'),
down to Pulga (36 miles/1,500') and back to Chico.

Ed McLaughlin, Chico's bicycle advocate, and
all-around nice guy, was badly injured in a bicycle

accident. He is in a rehabilitation clinic and in

typical Ed fashion, is working hard to turn lemons

into lemonade.

Ed has given decades of effort to make cycling

better in Chico, but now he needs help with his

recovery.

Please make a donation and sign this Chico

Bicycle City USA poster for Ed. The signed poster

will be given to Ed, letting him know that Chico is

Pulling for him.

This poster will be available for signing at the following Downtown businesses:

Upper Crust January 10

North Rim Adventure Sports January 11

Campus Bicycles January 12

Pullins Cyclery January 14

Malvina's January 15

Black Crow January 16

Cyclesport January 17

Naked Lounge January 18

Nantucket January 19

Please make checks to: Chico Velo Cyclist Care Fund

Rodney Cox
Chico, CA
www.chicocyclist.blogspot.com
www.flickr.com/photos/chicovelo

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Hi, Ladies.
Want to help at the 4th Annual Frost or Fog 1/4 Marathon
and 5K on Saturday, January 19? We have spots available for
volunteers beginning at 7 a.m. You get a snazzy sweatshirt
and a surprise gift from Bidwell Perk!!!

Call Nikki at 530-966-3241 or email
nikkistadler@... for more information.

Thanks,
Nikki

Butte County Board of Supervisors-

We can only strongly urge the Butte County Board of Supervisors to
support the appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of this
project and to deny the mining use permit.

This project will not benefit the citizens of Butte County. It will
primary benefit some out-of-county large corporation with not interest
in our local health, safety or economy.

Currently, the demand for gravel is served and gravel truck traffic
moves along roads designed for and able to handle such traffic in a
safe and efficient manner.

Currently, the project site is a great natural habitat, it is under
the Williamson Act, and it is considered prime farmland.

The economic benefits, as pointed out be the proponents, seems
relatively minor, and if realized, are only going to go to the owners
of the mine – which are not even local (Knife River Corporation.)

The economic cost (traffic, roads, laid-off drivers, etc.) along with
the intangible costs (safety, pollution, habitat destruction, etc.) is
passed on to the county's residents – and we are local.

Supportive of many of the claims made in opposition, we will here just
mention two reason against the project and then offer responses to a
few of the project supporter's claims made in local media and in
project documents.

Reason to oppose this project:

A gravel mine operating for the next 20-30 years at the proposed site
will very likely to become the "go-to" mine for all the surrounding
counties.

That will significantly increase the number of gravel truck trips
beyond the number put forth in the project proposal meaning that
traffic safety concerns, road damage, pollution, etc. identified in
project documents will become a much bigger problems than project
documents lend us to believe.

Reason to oppose this project:

All the impacted roads, River Road especially, are used by countless
number of cyclists every day year round. Adding 8-10 hard-to-slow and
speed-up, gravel trucks per hour to that, on a narrow road, will get
somebody killed. That is in addition to regular slow-moving farm
equipment plus the farm truck using the roads in the harvest season.

This is only going to get worse when the surrounding counties start
getting their aggregate from this proposed mine on River Road.

Last, local and state law enforcement agencies have, through actions
and the lack of, indicated that they will side with commercial
traffic, even where and when cyclist's lives are put in danger.

Responses to project proponent's claims:

-          Claim: In 5 years time reclamation at the project site is
going to start up. It will provide a lake system and wildlife habitat
that is good for the environment.

-          Response: Currently, all 235 acres form an undisturbed
natural ecosystem. Reclamation of a smaller area cannot in any way be
a plus or an argument for first "destroying" the existing habitat area.

-          Claims: a) The project will result in a saving of 2 million
gallons of fossil fuel and 11 million of rock truck miles will be
eliminated because the River Rd. mining site is a lot closer to the
Skyway processing plant that the current mining sites. b) The project
will provide the county with over $1 million in fees and add monies
for road repairs in Butte County.

-          Response: a) Assuming that that is the case, it also means
that half or more of the currently employed rock truck drives will be
out of work. One driver can, with a mine on River Rd., make 2 or more
trips to the Skyway processing plant in the same time it today takes a
driver to make one trip meaning that one driver can take care of the
work of 2 or more current drivers. Drivers will get fired -- unless
this claim is untrue!

-          Response: b) $1 million in fees divided over 20-30 years
and discounted over time adds up to very little (especially down the
line) for road repairs, especially in light of the fact that the
current roads are too narrow and too "weak" to handle this kind of
traffic. In the DEIR it states that the Ord Ferry / Little Chico Creek
Bridge will have to be improved and that the mining project only will
be responsible for $40,000 of that cost, based on a "…relative
proportional…" measure. The bridge project only has to be done due to
the project, so why is the project not being asked to pay the full
cost of the improvement? Right here the full $1 million from 20-30
years of trip fees is eaten up – and way ahead of the last yearly
payment in 20 or 30 years which NPV will be "nothing." $1 million
seems to be way off what the true project cost now and in the future
will be - and we are only talking about roads here.

-          Claim: Every person consumes on average 7 tons of aggregate
per year.

-          Response: With the significant decrease in new building
activities nationwide, that number is very likely to drop
dramatically. Plus, the 7-ton average figure is misleading. The vast
majority of people "demand" little aggregate. Aggregate is primarily
consumed by new construction and new developments.

We can only strongly urge the Butte County Board of Supervisors to
support the appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of the
project and to deny the mining use permit.

This project will not benefit the citizens of Butte County. It will
primary benefit some out-of-county large corporation with not interest
in our local health, safety or economy.

Over $600.00 were raised for this great cause on Friday
at Barnes and Noble. The funds are very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Gabrielle