Unbelievable as it may seem, we are once more locked out of Camp until tommorrow (Friday the 29th). Turkey hunting seems to take precidence over our riding. I have once again been assured this will be it, no more days blocked off in the near future. We'll see.

Gary

Our next BACA meeting will be May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Oyster Bar, 3003 W. Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas. In conjunction with National Bike to Work Month, we will have a panel discussion on bicycle commuting. If you commute by bicycle (even occasionally) and are interested in participating in the panel, please contact Ken at 225-5343(h) or 324-9952(w) or ksgould@ualr.edu.

In addition, we will have several updates, including plans for the May 20th National Bike to Work Day. Click on the meetings link for minutes of the April 7th meeting.

Remember to contact Monte Cole at mcole@aristotle.net to help with National Bike to Work Day, May 20, 2005.

Continuing to work on better ways to determine when Camp is closed due to training exercises. Always call when in doubt

Surprise, they did it again, now we are not allowed on Camp due to hunting until the 23rd. Sorry I just found out again.

Gary

Come Celebrate Earth Day by Helping Clean-up Allsopp Park! All volunteers will be entered into a Keep America Beautiful national car giveaway (Honda Hybrid)! In honor of Earth Day, there will be a clean up & trail maintenance on Thursday, April 21. We have things to do for everyone!

* Time: 5:00pm until dark.
* Meeting Place: Meet at the pavilion across from the soft ball field.
* Provided: Trash bags and refreshments.
* Bring: Work gloves & long pants/sleeves. If you want to help with trail maintenance, please also bring picks and/or shovels.

The project is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, LR Parks & Recreation and the Hillcrest Residents Association. Come help take care of one of Little Rock's premier parks! For more information, call 350-1540.

Please pass this email onto anyone you think might want to help out.

...AND...
Do not go to Camp today (April 19). Hunters are in our area and we will not be allowed in. If you don't sign in you could be shot accidentally. Tomorrow will be back to normal. Sorry about the late notice I just found out myself.
Gary

Saw this over at ABC....
Jim Caron's bike was stolen out of the back of his truck. If you see it around town give him an email at spacer.conrad@lycos.com. Here is a brief description - See pic at ABC:
It's a Diamondback WCF 4.0, identical in color to the picture. I don't have the serial number, but it's a remarkable bike and not at all common in this area. The darker areas in the straight sections of frame tubes are made of carbon fiber, which is visible through the finish, and the tubing closer to the joints is cro-moly steel. The bike has a Shimano LX group, with grip shifters, and spd/platform pedals. Holler at Jim if you think you've see it.

BACA has put out this year's 2005 Bike To Work registration. The event is happening May 20 with rides leaving from both the Little Rock and North Little Rock sides. Check out the info here. Also don't miss out on this year's Bike To Work Corporate Commuter Challenge.

Thx
Monty

Orbea is having a Grand Opening of its new shop in North Little Rock this coming Tuesday at 4:00 pm. If you can make it, this should be a blast! Come meet all the Orbea folks and check out the new facility! You never know who you might see there.

Orbea USA
600 North Broadway
North Little Rock, AR 72114
Phone: 501-280-9700
Fax: 501-280-9705
:-)

UPDATE
MEDIA RELEASE

On Tuesday, April 12 at 4:00 p.m., ORBEA, USA will have a grand opening ceremony at their North American distribution facility at 600 North Broadway, North Little Rock. (one block north of the 5th and Broadway intersection)

Attending from the US Company (Subsidiary of Spain):
Tony Karklins, Managing Director (CEO equivalent), ORBEA USA T.J. Karklins, CFO, ORBEA USA

Attending from the Spanish Company – ORBEA S. . Coop Ltda.: Miguel Ocana – Managing Director for ORBEA Globally Jon Fernandez – Commercial Director and Director of Operations for ORBEA Globally Daniel Martinez – Global Logistics Director for ORBEA Globally and President of the Board of Employee Owners Xabi Irizar – ORBEA Global Product Manager Oscar Farinas – Logistics Manager

ORBEA S Coop Ltda is the leading Spanish manufacturer of high quality bicycles. ORBEA markets their bicycles globally. It has the market share leadership in Spain, #3 market share in France and Belgium. ORBEA manufactures most of its products in the Mallabia, Spain facility with an additional facility in Portugal. ORBEA USA has been manufacturing bicycles for over 80 years and the company has been in existence for over 150 years....

“ORBEA USA could have located this new facility anywhere in the world and they chose Arkansas,” said Larry Walther, Director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development. “Arkansas’ talented and dedicated workforce will be a perfect fit for this new operation. We welcome ORBEA USA to Arkansas and look forward to a long and profitable relationship.”
and more...

Reminder:

BACA has a great meeting coming up at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at the Oyster Bar, 3003, W. Markham. Coreen Frasier, BACA’s representative at the National Bike Summit, has just returned from the Summit & is very excited about sharing with us what she learned. The Bike Summit is the annual meeting of bicycle advocacy organizations from across the country & with Coreen’s knowledge & experience (she has bicycled across the country several times in addition to having undertaken numerous other bicycling adventures) we were very well represented.

Come to the meeting to learn from Coreen, share in her excitement & enjoy the good food & company. We will also get several updates, including plans for the May 20th National Bike to Work Day.

Ken

Update - SpringHill Classic site is up....
SpringHill Classic Website is up....http://springhillclassic.net/

A large note posted in the Police station on Camp Sunday declares our training areas will be closed for training Monday thru Thursday (April 11th thru the 14th ) next week. As you all know this will not be up for negotiation at the front gate. Don't even try. So ride like the wind till then!!!!!!!

UPDATE - Carp Cookout
April 6th - Carp Cookout this Wed night! That's right, the're back. The first cookout of the year. This months cookout will be sponsored by the "McGhee Brothers" known by all, loved by few---however-- everyone will want to come out enjoy the ride and watch these guys sweat over some yummie burgers and dogs. At the Carp Pad towards the end of the parking area, food ready after the ride (around dark). Free for Carp members, so don't miss it. Everyone can ride anytime and still eat, but our group ride will start at 6:00 PM and leave from the parking lot. Cookout will be cancelled if it is raining hard.

Gary

From the Arkansas Bicycling Bulletin Board.....

Meet Gary Fisher at Arkansas Cycling & Fitness Saturday April 9th at Location on Bowman Rd.

The Man himself will be here to sigh autographs and bikes or whatever(?) from approx 2PM until 4PM at the West Little Rock Arkansas Cycling & Fitness and then on Sunday he will be racing in the Oauchita Challenge!

So Change Your Plans and plan on being here Saturday!

mtnbikefool