Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
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Gary Cziko
Mar 4, 2012, 5:27:58 PM3/4/12
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People,
Tuesday's forecast has a hijg of 58F and winds 30 to 35 mph from the south.
Forecasts like that make me consider a wind-assisted ride from Mattoon (50 miles) or Effingham (80 miles) with the assistance of Amtrak leaving Champaign at 10:25 am and arriving Mattoon at 11:05 am and Effingham at 11:29 am.
People with folding bikes can just take them on the train. Standard bikes require reserving and paying for one of the few spaces on the train for unboxed bikes.
One-way fare to Mattoon is $5.50. To Effingham $7.00. Bicycle service charge is $10.
This Tuesday is not the best day for me to do this, but I'd be tempted if someone else wanted to do it.
Wednesday looks like the best non-wind-assisted day of the week coming up.
-- Gary
--
Five Steps to Cyclist Empowerment:
(1) Knowledge of the Law, (2) Knowledge of Bicycle Safety, (3) Knowledge of Traffic Cycling Problem Solving, (4) Bike Handling Skills, and (5) Traffic Cycling Skills.
These five steps are provided by CyclingSavvy. See also Smart Moves for Cyclists
and CyclingSavvy handout (pdf).
Gary Cziko ("ZEE-ko"), PhD,
CyclingSavvy Instructor (CSI) & League Cycling Instructor (LCI)
Professor Emeritus, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chairman, Champaign County Bikes
Member, Sustainability Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL
Member, Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL
Tuesday's forecast has a hijg of 58F and winds 30 to 35 mph from the south.
Forecasts like that make me consider a wind-assisted ride from Mattoon (50 miles) or Effingham (80 miles) with the assistance of Amtrak leaving Champaign at 10:25 am and arriving Mattoon at 11:05 am and Effingham at 11:29 am.
People with folding bikes can just take them on the train. Standard bikes require reserving and paying for one of the few spaces on the train for unboxed bikes.
One-way fare to Mattoon is $5.50. To Effingham $7.00. Bicycle service charge is $10.
This Tuesday is not the best day for me to do this, but I'd be tempted if someone else wanted to do it.
Wednesday looks like the best non-wind-assisted day of the week coming up.
-- Gary
--
Five Steps to Cyclist Empowerment:
(1) Knowledge of the Law, (2) Knowledge of Bicycle Safety, (3) Knowledge of Traffic Cycling Problem Solving, (4) Bike Handling Skills, and (5) Traffic Cycling Skills.
These five steps are provided by CyclingSavvy. See also Smart Moves for Cyclists
and CyclingSavvy handout (pdf).
Gary Cziko ("ZEE-ko"), PhD,
CyclingSavvy Instructor (CSI) & League Cycling Instructor (LCI)
Professor Emeritus, Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Chairman, Champaign County Bikes
Member, Sustainability Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL
Member, Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission, Urbana, IL
mark slaughter
Mar 4, 2012, 5:55:23 PM3/4/12
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Gary: sounds interesting; would you take your folding bike and how would that hold up with a road bike?
From: Gary Cziko <gcz...@gmail.com>
To: ucbik...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 4, 2012 4:27 PM
Subject: [ucbikeride] Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
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Gary Cziko
Mar 4, 2012, 6:02:49 PM3/4/12
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Mark,
Yes, I would take my Bike Friday Crusoe. It is a road bike. The wheels are only 20 inches, but I've got a big chainwheel in the front and 9-tooth sprocket in the back, so my biggest gear is about the same as my "normal" road bike.
-- Gary
Yes, I would take my Bike Friday Crusoe. It is a road bike. The wheels are only 20 inches, but I've got a big chainwheel in the front and 9-tooth sprocket in the back, so my biggest gear is about the same as my "normal" road bike.
-- Gary
Carl .S
Mar 5, 2012, 12:05:07 AM3/5/12
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wow _35mph tail...sounds like a candy tour can you eep up Ed prmkt. Thx
mark slaughter
Mar 5, 2012, 6:32:03 AM3/5/12
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Gary/Carl: I am willing to give it a try and prefer to get my money's worth, so let's go for the 80 miles. Gary: do I call and reserve a place for my bike or can I do it on line with cc payment? This is a new one for me so any details are appreciated. Do you really want to do it?
From: Carl .S <ski...@gmail.com>
To: ucbik...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 4, 2012 11:05 PM
Subject: Re: [ucbikeride] Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
Gary Cziko
Mar 5, 2012, 8:51:52 AM3/5/12
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Mark & Carl,
I'm glad to see your interest in Amtrak wind-assisted ride this week.
Let's see if we can nail this down considering some choices and decisions:
1. Day. It now looks like Wednesday will be a copy of Tuesday weather-wise with winds from the south 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40, highs in upper 50s to low 60s. So we could also do this Wednesday. Either day works for me with a slight preference for Wednesday. If Wednesday is better for one or both you, we can try then. If not, go for Tuesday.
2. Destination. Effingham would give us 80 miles straight back to Urbana. Mattoon is just 50 miles straight back, but it gives us the option of heading first east to Charleston and then back along the Embarrass River which would be a total of about 70 miles. This seems to be a bit more scenic but would require 10 miles of crosswind from Mattoon to Charleston and then some west-bound legs. Walnut State Park is also along that route. This looks a bit more scenic than riding more or less straight back from Effingham, although the latter could take us through part of Amish country and Chicken Bristle. Given the strong winds forecast both days with gusts to 45, it might be best to avoid as much crosswind as possible, making Effingham a better route. But I wanted to mention the Mattoon-Charleston option.
3. Booking. To make sure we can all get on the train with our bikes, it makes sense to get the three tickets and two bike spots with the same reservation. If the reservation doesn't work for one day, say Tuesday. I could then try again for Wednesday, if that is an option. I could do this and put the tickets on my credit card and have you pay me the cost of your tickets.
So, here's what I propose:
1. Let me know if you all agree with Effingham over Mattoon (we can do the Mattoon-Charleston-Urbana ride another time when the wind is not predicted to be quite so strong).
2. Let me know if Wednesday is also possible and or preferable.
3. I will make a reservation for three of us on the preferred day. If that doesn't work, I will try the other day, but only if the other day also works for both of you.
-- Gary
P.S. Mark are you 62+ to qualify for the senior discount? Carl and I are too young for this.
I'm glad to see your interest in Amtrak wind-assisted ride this week.
Let's see if we can nail this down considering some choices and decisions:
1. Day. It now looks like Wednesday will be a copy of Tuesday weather-wise with winds from the south 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40, highs in upper 50s to low 60s. So we could also do this Wednesday. Either day works for me with a slight preference for Wednesday. If Wednesday is better for one or both you, we can try then. If not, go for Tuesday.
2. Destination. Effingham would give us 80 miles straight back to Urbana. Mattoon is just 50 miles straight back, but it gives us the option of heading first east to Charleston and then back along the Embarrass River which would be a total of about 70 miles. This seems to be a bit more scenic but would require 10 miles of crosswind from Mattoon to Charleston and then some west-bound legs. Walnut State Park is also along that route. This looks a bit more scenic than riding more or less straight back from Effingham, although the latter could take us through part of Amish country and Chicken Bristle. Given the strong winds forecast both days with gusts to 45, it might be best to avoid as much crosswind as possible, making Effingham a better route. But I wanted to mention the Mattoon-Charleston option.
3. Booking. To make sure we can all get on the train with our bikes, it makes sense to get the three tickets and two bike spots with the same reservation. If the reservation doesn't work for one day, say Tuesday. I could then try again for Wednesday, if that is an option. I could do this and put the tickets on my credit card and have you pay me the cost of your tickets.
So, here's what I propose:
1. Let me know if you all agree with Effingham over Mattoon (we can do the Mattoon-Charleston-Urbana ride another time when the wind is not predicted to be quite so strong).
2. Let me know if Wednesday is also possible and or preferable.
3. I will make a reservation for three of us on the preferred day. If that doesn't work, I will try the other day, but only if the other day also works for both of you.
-- Gary
P.S. Mark are you 62+ to qualify for the senior discount? Carl and I are too young for this.
On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 07:06, Carl .S <ski...@gmail.com> wrote:
I will print out my ticket from the kiosk inside the station, when you make the online purchase "add bike" is an option, there is also +62 senior option ticket price = $5.95
Valerie Sivicek
Mar 5, 2012, 10:21:33 AM3/5/12
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I'm interested in doing this too, sometime. I'm not sure that I can fit it in this week (Tuesday's out for sure), but I'm sure we'll have plenty of days this spring with a strong wind from the south.
Valerie
Valerie
mark slaughter
Mar 5, 2012, 11:42:18 AM3/5/12
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Gary: tomorrow is best for me; Effingham is also my choice; please see if you can book it; thanks, it is very kind of you Mark
PS: I will go Wednesday if you and Carl decide that is the best day
Sent: Monday, March 5, 2012 7:51 AM
mike bernon
Mar 5, 2012, 12:52:12 PM3/5/12
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Room for a fourth? If so, I can give you confirmation shortly.
Subject: Re: [ucbikeride] Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
mike bernon
Mar 5, 2012, 1:18:40 PM3/5/12
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I'm good for either day with an edge going to Wed. Can't we just put a bike rack on back of the train? :-)
Miguel
From: mikeb...@hotmail.com
To: ucbik...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [ucbikeride] Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 11:52:12 -0600
From: mikeb...@hotmail.com
To: ucbik...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [ucbikeride] Slacker Amtrak and wind-assisted ride opportunity
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 11:52:12 -0600
Gary Cziko
Mar 5, 2012, 1:30:41 PM3/5/12
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People,
Mark, Carl and I now have our reservations for tomorrow's 10:25 am Saluki train arriving in Effingham about an hour later. We also have two bike slots reserved for normal, unboxed bikes (I don't need this for my Bike Friday folding bike).
Others who want to pedal furiously for 80 miles with a strong tailwind are welcome to join the fun. But I don't know how many more (if any) bike slots are available as I had heard there may be as little as two spaces on some trains.
We will probably have an early lunch on the train ride down and perhaps stop for a snack in Amish country on the way back before hitting Chicken Bristle.
-- Gary
Mark, Carl and I now have our reservations for tomorrow's 10:25 am Saluki train arriving in Effingham about an hour later. We also have two bike slots reserved for normal, unboxed bikes (I don't need this for my Bike Friday folding bike).
Others who want to pedal furiously for 80 miles with a strong tailwind are welcome to join the fun. But I don't know how many more (if any) bike slots are available as I had heard there may be as little as two spaces on some trains.
We will probably have an early lunch on the train ride down and perhaps stop for a snack in Amish country on the way back before hitting Chicken Bristle.
-- Gary
Gary Cziko
Mar 5, 2012, 7:10:38 PM3/5/12
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Mike,
As I said, others are welcome. But I don't know if there are still spaces on the train for another bike. You'd have to try to reserve the Amtrack Saluki tomorrow from Champaign to Effingham to find out.
Let us know.
-- Gary
As I said, others are welcome. But I don't know if there are still spaces on the train for another bike. You'd have to try to reserve the Amtrack Saluki tomorrow from Champaign to Effingham to find out.
Let us know.
-- Gary
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