BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

you need a wing each for danny and gerry.

And Oscar.

Some time in the past year, someone said that they knew someone who knew a relative of the guy that got the bike lane put on the I-79 bridge near Sewickley. That has to be one of the earliest examples of bike advocacy around here, that was like 30 years ago. That guys story needs to be recorded somewhere.

A student at CMU did a "poster project" on bicycle planning in Pittsburgh last fall. Her name is Prisca Ohito. There was an exhibit at the Posner Center at CMU, but I don't know if it is still up.

She collected some great information, photos, etc. PM me and I can put you in touch, assuming her email has not changed since last fall.

I think it would be cool if you had the histories of the local bike clubs like WPW, MTCC, ACA, etc. Info about how they started, by whom and any notable events & photos. You also need to have something about the Thrift Drug Classic & how it came to be.

Get your info togather please and call us,,,i was told once about a guy back in the 1890s or so who road a high wheel bike around the world,he started here in the burg anyone have info on that,after that he wrote a book about it i was told,,true or not i dont know for certain,,i would like info on bike / frame builders here from pittsburgh tO .Im trying to find the guy here in pittsburgh who remade the swing bike as i remember selling him bike frames to build proto / types and he soon made what was called the joy ride bikes c.o,i would love to talk to him again is he here still in pittsburgh anyone know ?.If you have a bike shop with some history i can post that in the Museum as well.I hope Jerry kraynick sends me info on his shop as everyone knows its one kool bike shop like no other,,all this info should not be lost,,please help me on this,,thank you

The 1890s Pittsburgh cyclist is Frank Lenz. There's a book about him, but it's not an autobiography, as he was murdered in Turkey during his attempt to ride around the world.

Steve,,now thats a cool story,,this one will be in the museum,,thanks to you,i couldent even think what it must have been like to ride a bike like that,,hard wheels no gears,,Frank Lens was real bike man,,

Thanks for the link i just bought a few books on Frank Lenz,,,,,again thanks Steven

Funny, I had just picked up a copy of the Lost Cyclist off Amazon without realizing that the protagonist was a Pittsburgher. It arrived just last week, and I haven't started it. If Bicycle Heaven hasn't ordered that one, perhaps I'll donate it there when I am done with it? Or if they already have it, to the Carnegie Library. I am pretty sure they do NOT have it yet.

You should carry some books on Major Taylor, because he's awesome and people should know, but his daughter, Sydney Taylor Brown, lived in Pittsburgh until her passing in 2005. http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/biography.htm

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05138/506118-122.stm

@Sara CLPGH appears to have a number of copies, most of which are available.

velodrome in duquesne gardens in oakland which

was demolished in 1956. major taylor raced there.

Davis Phinney raced around pittsburgh a lot and

resided in the Chew household in the 80's. he

went on to win a bronze medal. most winning

american cyclist evar.

south park and north park bmx tracks.

@steevo, how did you forget matt eaton?

who is matt e

Eaton won the 1984 US National Championship. He

was from Renfrew, up near butler.

He is still the only American to win the British

Milk race or the "tour of britan"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_Britain

I never knew Duquesne Gardens existed, bicycle racing in Pittsbugh? Snippets of old news found in online searching,a,b,c,d

"Some time in the past year, someone said that they knew someone who knew a relative of the guy that got the bike lane put on the I-79 bridge near Sewickley. That has to be one of the earliest examples of bike advocacy around here, that was like 30 years ago."

Wait...there's a bike lane on that I-79 bridge across the Ohio River? How do you access it?

You can get on the bridge from the Deer Run Road ramp and you have to get off at the Neville Island Grand Avenue ramp.

The google streetview pics don't show the signs, there's construction, but I'm pretty sure the signs were put back up. I'll check for sure on Thursday, if nothing else.

Those old newspaper articles are so cool.

I need to find somebody to nickname "Torchy".

"Torchy" sounds like an englishman who likes to ride lit up like a christmas tree.

or an american pyro. Do you guys remember the first rollerblading barbie that was recalled because the sparks that flew from her little rollerblade wheels set stuff on fire? One of the late night people did a bit on it and caught underwear on fire or something (I don't want to google it from work). Torchy would be the cyclist who rigged up his bike to spit sparks like that. That would be awesome if not life threatening.

Nate's "a" page also has (separate) stories on the Wabash Tunnel and Rep. Bud Shuster arguing for road funding, both interstate and local.

@jkp - you can actually access the I-79 ramps from any of the ramps from the north side of the river (Deer Run, as noted above, Glenfield Road, Route 65) or from Neville Island (heading NB.)

You could do a half decent loop by starting at the Glenfield Park and Ride lot, heading SB on I-79 to Neville Island, then heading north through Neville and Coraopolis to the Sewickley Bridge, then back via Beaver Street/Avenue. That would put you on Route 65 for a very short distance (less than a mile) during a downhill section of road).

Given the Route 65 element, it might be best reserved for early on a weekend morning, when traffic is lightest.

still need more help on this great pittsburgh onfo,,