Pittsburgh Mayor to Celebrate NBG Nick and Troy!!

Cycle America

Troy Bogdan and Nick Hein completed their ride in from
Washington DC yesterday and stayed busy rattling cages, as
you will see below, for the rally that will take place at
12:30 there today. And a worthy rally it will be! Just got
off the phone with Ro Fischer, Mayor Tom Murphy's Sr. Aide,
and she tells me that there is now way her boss is going to
miss the event. THX to Michael Sobkowiak of Venture
Outdoors, the local TV, radio and newspaper all plan to be
there to receive Nick and Troy who will have symbolically
ridden back into town from the Trailhead joined by a crowd
of local cyclists that could even include the Mayor's
daughter. A police escort will usher them to City Hall!!
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D.C. to Pittsburgh, Bicycle Rally Today! Newspaper!!

Good morning everybody, Looks like I (Troy) made the local
newspaper, or at least online, since I haven't read it in
person yet. Being the local boy, I guess that is why I was
mentioned by name, and not Nick. Anybody have any press
contacts in Morgantown W.V. (Nick's Home Town)????

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/search/s_202530.html

Also, last night I went to a bar on the South Side (Our
official celebration H.Q. is at the Holiday Inn Express on
the South Side, next to the 10th St. Bridge) called "Smokey
Joe's", where there was a promotional party set up to cheer
on Lance Armstrong of the United States Postal Team's "Tour
De France" race. There were many cyclists in the audience,
and they were having giveaways, and an endurance contest to
see who could ride a stationary bike the fastest in 102
seconds. The radio station D.J. that was running the event
was from local rock station 102.5 WDVE, one of the sponsors
for last night's event.

We promoted the NGB Mayor's Ride and Rally on the
microphone, and the crowd cheered us on and hopefully we
will get some of them to attend either today's trail ride,
and/or Market Square Rally.

By the way, Rudy from "CycleWorks" was at the event last
night, and we want to give him a Big Thank You. His bike
shop along the trail in "Little Boston," PA. really helped
us out by fixing Nicks recumbent bike when he lost his
brakes along the trail. THANK YOU CYCLEWORKS!!!!!! They also
have a bike shop in Monroeville, and best of all, Rudy
donated his time and services to the NGB cause, and didn't
charge Nick for the repair, nor the shuttle to the
Monroeville store to get a special part!!!! THANKS RUDY!!!!

Cycleworks gave away a Trek Mountain Bike last night to the
biker who went to farthest distance in 102 minutes on the
bike. Both of us NGB bikers tried to win it. First, I
started off real strong, making that rear tire hum like a
machine, but half way through the trial, I popped the chain,
much to the sadness of the crowd. I did get a second chance,
out of fairness, but I never recovered my strength. I won a
consolation prize of a "Outdoor Life Network" t-shirt and a
Trek/USPS Water Bottle.

Nick was next, and he put in a good enough ride to earn
third place, and won a new helmet. The second place person
received a POWERBAR duffel bag, and the winner got to take
home the bike last night. It was fun!!!!!!

Today is the big day. We plan on starting out this morning,
riding the river trails in the city, promoting the rally
today, and then meeting at the Eliza Furnace (Jail Trail)
Trail at 11:00 in preparation for the rally.

Remember, the first twenty bikers at the trailhead will get
a free t-shirt, courtesy of our Venture Outdoors sponsor,
and then we will ride to celebration at Market Square at
Noon, with a 12:20 scheduled arrival and Mayor's Ceremony. I
hope to see as many of you there as possible.

From Pittsburgh's South Side, Reporting Live, Troy Bogdan,
NBG Bio: http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com/Events/Mayors_R-
ide/bios/Troy_Bogdan.ph p

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Good morning, Just wanted to let you know that we got NBG on
another local radio channel last nite. Cycleworks, a local
bikeshop chain, was putting on a party last nite with a
local radio DJ (FM 102) broadcasting live while coverage of
the Tour de France was shown on TV. After showing up and
introducing ourselves we were given a few minutes to explain
NBG to the radio audience and invite local riders downtown
for the proclamation signing. The night's party game was a
resistance trainer. The rider to go the farthest distance in
102 seconds would win a Trek mountain bike. Troy and I both
gave it a shot. On Troy's first turn the chain fell off, and
when he tried again he was unable to place. As I got on I
decided to give it everything I had since I was riding for
NBG. This was enough to tie me for first place with 2 other
riders (who looked to be about half my age of 47). I place
3rd in the final runoff, but the timer came over to let me
know how close it had been. First and third places had
average speeds of 41.7 and 41.5 mph respectively.

Anyway, I think we can expect a pretty good turnout tomorrow
- I'd like to thank Rudy of Cycleworks and Radio Station FM
102 for the opportunity. By the way, I met Rudy because of a
mechanical breakdown and I also want to thank him for the
exceptionally quick, careful repair and logistical
assistance that got me back on the road with Troy without
any delay.

Hope to see some of you at noon, From the road, Nick Hein
Morgantown, WV. NBG Bio: http://NationalBicycleGreenway.com-
/Events/Mayors_Ride/bios/Nick_Hein.php