There Is A Great, New Local Food Experience in Scottsville, Virginia

Cyclists can not survive on riding and caffeine alone... We also require food, and I have found a great, new place that you should try if you find yourself near the historic town of Scottsville, in Central Virginia.

Country Blessings Local Food's has just opened on Main Street (actually addess is 20 Valley Street). It is easy to find though, look for the first building on your left after the James River Bridge if your heading North, or the last on your right if heading South on Highway 20.

Country Blessing's offers a wide variety of Virginia products with the majority coming from within a 50 mile radius. Products from well-known, local sources and local organic produce, a great varity of  Wines From Virginia Vineyards: and Great Mirco-Brews FromVeritas Virginia Breweries.

The Deli/Grocery Carries Regional and International Food and Cheeses

They also serve Breakfast, Lunch, Weekend Brunch (which I really like) and are open until 8PM every night,

Their menu includes Pizzas (Be sure to try the Deep Dish!), Strombolis, Calzones, Sandwiches (Deli &; Grilled), Paninis, Burgers (hormone-free beef),  Gyros (Whowould have ever thgouth you Salads, Home-Made Sides.

Even better you can download a copy of their menu for yourself.

Happy Tax Day!?

Leo Tolstoy:


“I sit on a man's back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means -- except by getting off his back.”

Hmmmm…. Happy April 15.

Austin unveils bicycle sharing for city workers

AUSTIN, Texas — A new going green project in Austin, TX involves people power and balance.

The city on Thursday unveiled a bicycle-sharing program for municipal workers who need to travel short distances for meetings or other business.

Austin bought 15 bicycles, at a cost of $256 each, as part of the Climate Protection Program funded by Austin Energy.

City spokeswoman Charlotte Blum says Austin is providing helmets and locks.
Workers can reserve the bicycles via the city's Intranet Web site, then they receive an access code.

The bicycles must be returned to the same location, with six sites available, as part of the city's pilot program to also ease traffic congestion.

Portland, Portland Style: Touring by Bicycle

Matt Furber over at the New York Times has written a pretty good article of cycling in Portland, Ore. Good enough to make me want to take a trip out there just to see if he is correct.

"Careering through streets on a bicycle in Portland, Ore., this time of year can be an easy weekend adventure that mixes showers, sunbursts, cafes and a robust bicycle culture. And equipped with a sturdy rain jacket, booties, fenders and a bike map (a waterproof version that folds to the size of a credit card is handy), visitors can enjoy the city the way locals do."

Check out the rest of the article here

2009 San Diego Custom Bicycle Show, April 3-5

If You're in San Diego this Weekend...You love bikes? You really love bikes and you're near San Diego? Well then, you've got to check out the 2009 San Diego Custom Bicycle Show! It takes place this weekend on April 3rd, 4th and 5th. Of course, best not to drive to the show. Here's the San Diego regional bike map, and if the weather's not nice, there's always mass transit.

Here's the exhibitor list:
The show takes place at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in the "Golden Pacific Ballroom", 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, California 92108. This is where Highway 163 crosses Interstate Highway 8.

For more information, visit the official San Diego Custom Bicycle Show website. You can order your tickets here.

Via San Diego Custom Bicycle Show, Cyclelicious

Six Great Long-Distance Bike Trails Without Cars

Wouldn't it be great if there were long-distance trails specifically for bicycles? Basically -- roads without cars?

Well, there are! A quickly emerging network of abandoned railway lines are being converted by regional governments into superb bike paths. In addition to offering very gentle grades that are ideal for bikes, many of these new trails are satisfying long. The longest rail trail is over 300 miles long, and the longest off-pavement bike trail in the country stretches 2,500 miles. On these bike roads you can cruise along for weeks without ever encountering a car, or worrying about being bumped off the white line by an oblivious motorist. These are not paved roads, but packed gravel or dirt. Many sport spectacular tunnels and bridges courtesy of the former railways. At the same time these trails pass through small towns affording local eateries and rural lodging, as well as the usual camping spots along the way. I tell you, there's nothing like arriving at the soft pillows of a B&B after a long day of pedaling.

Many of these trails did not exist as bike paths even a few years ago. More are being opened every day. There's great effort to sew short sections together into long haul bike-primary paths. Eventually you will be able to cross the country via a series of interconnected car-free roads. In the meantime, the clearinghouse for the latest additions to the bike-road network is the Rail to Trails Conservancy.

But you don't have to wait to enjoy some fantastic overnight tours on roads without cars. Here are six of the longest continuous bike trails in operation right now, in ascending order of length on Kevin Kelly's Website KK.org/cooltools.

David Zabriskie Makes It Three Straight At USA Cycling Pro Time Trial Champion

For the third year in a row, David Zabriskie proved his talents as the American super hero of time trials by winning this year's US Pro individual time trial. This will mark his fourth title as US national time trial champion with his first win coming in 2004.

Zabriskie who rides on the outstanding Garmin-Chipotle Pro Cycling Team remains the only athlete to win a USA Cycling professional time trial championship after successfully defending his national title on Saturday, Aug. 30th, 2008 - his third straight since the event’s inception in 2006 and his fourth overall

The ride marked a huge comeback for David who had only competed in two races since his back injury during stage 2 of the Giro d’Italia before today’s ride.

Zabriskie edged runner-up Tom Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Bissell) by just five seconds to maintain his monopoly on the stars-and-stripes jersey, completing the 33.4-kilometer course in 40 minutes, 39.40 seconds. Zabriskie’s Garmin-Chipotle teammate, Christian Vande Velde (Boulder, Colo.), took home the bronze medal, finishing 10 seconds off the pace.

Fresh off a 12th-place finish in the time trial at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Zabriskie once again illustrated his reputation as the fastest American in the individual race against the clock. Remarkably, his 2008 title comes only three months after fracturing a vertebrae in a crash at the Giro d’Italia last May.