West Fel Classic Race This Weekend

Here is the link to the West Fel Classic to register.

http://www.westfelclassic.org/

Big Chris

Baton Rouge Bike Club Century

Please join the Baton Rouge Bike Club next Sunday, May 30th, at the West Feliciana Sports Park for our annual Spring Century! Register online at Active.com (no active.com fees will apply) or by mail.

Or, join the West Feliciana Classic Stage Race on Saturday and Sunday, May 29-30. Register online at Active.com (no active.com fees will apply). See www.westfelclassic.org for more details.

There will be plenty of free beer, food, drinks, and entertainment at the Sports Park to enjoy after the ride!!

What: Baton Rouge Bike Club Century
When: Sunday, May 30th
Where: West Feliciana Sports Park, just north of St. Francisville, La.

This year the BRBC Spring Century will be part of the West Feliciana Memorial Weekend Classic. The ride will include four routes: 100 miles departing at 7:30am, 50 and 61 miles both departing at 8:00am, and a family route of 21 miles departing at 9:00am. All routes will start at the West Feliciana Sports Park, take the riders through the beautiful rolling hills of West Feliciana Parish, past live oaks and plantations, and then back to the Sports Park.

Included with the ride are: rest stops with snacks, water, sport drinks, and toilet facilities; route maps; route markings; pre-ride announcements; t-shirts; and participation in the West Feliciana Classic Festival events. A roving support van will be available to support tired bikes and riders. With participation, the rider will also receive a one year membership in the Baton Rouge Bicycle Club.

Fee is $25 for early registration, $30 after May 28th. Registration the day of the ride will open at 6:30 am.
Mail-in registration forms are here. Online registration on Active.com (No active fees will apply!)

For more information, go to www.batonrougebikeclub.com , or www.westfelclassic.org

hit and run suspect as well as the Ride of Silence.

Great update on the hit and run suspect as well as the Ride of Silence.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/94031569.html

According to the official report filed by the State Police, Mr. Hahn gave a statement in which he said he was dirving south on River Road: "eating a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's when he struck a bicyclist riding south on River Road in the southbound lane."

So much for the unavoidable accident claim by his attorney. After hitting Mike, Hahn didn't stop, drove away from the scene and went to work. The judge set bond at FIFTEEN THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!! Thats right, $10, 000 for running Mike down, $5,000 for leaving the scene and $100 each for the traffic charges. Judge Johnson set the bond which I am sure was posted before Hahn spent any time in jail.

We have to make ouselves heard about this. If we don't then you can be sure that Hahn won't spend anytime in jail. Its up to us to let the District Attorney and the Judge know that enough is enough. This man needs to be convicted and go to jail as an example to other criminally negligent drivers.

I also want to remind all of you about the Colin Goodier Memorial Ride on Saturday, June 19, starting at 8:00 from Pharr Park. We need to turn out in big numbers to make our voices heard.

Looks like Hahn will be the first person in the state to be charged with breaking the "3-foot law" (the Colin Goodier act). This law is to protect everyone not in a motorized vehicle who is standing, walking, running or cycling on a roadway. You have to pass people no closer than 3 feet. It's the law!

WBRZ News 2 Louisiana : Baton Rouge, LA | Hahn booked into EBR Parish Prison

The Ride of Silence this Wednesday

The Ride of Silence is an international rolling memorial to cyclists injured and killed by motorists. It happens to be this Wendesday, May 17th from 7-8PM. The Baton Rouge version will be starting from the parking lot on Skip Bertman and River Road across from the Vet School. The ride will progress at 8-12mph for about 10 miles through downtown, midcity, and LSU and will be silent. Helmets are required and lights are reccomended.

I have confirmed media coverage from WBRZ and others for Wednesday. Let's show motorists that we are here to stay.

I would urge everyone here to find a Ride of Silence in their area and participate. I would also urge everyone to continue to advocate for safer roads and respect from motorists by contacting your local, state, and national politicians to support bicycling legislation, give to the League of American Bicyclists, join your local bike advocacy group, and do everything in your power to be seen and follow the rules of the road.

Following the ride, there will be a benefit for Mike Bitton at Chelsea's under the Perkins Rd overpass. The LSU cycling team is working on this now and will have more details soon. Please consider comming out to help support Mike and his family.

For more information, check out:

www.rideofsilence.com
ride of silence, Baton Rouge facebook page
Support Mike Bitton facebook page

The Ride Will Not Be Silent!

Chris Clark

"Donate blood in the name of Michael Bitton"

Taylor invited you to "Donate blood in the name of Michael Bitton" on Monday, May 16, 2011 at 8:00am.

Event: Donate blood in the name of Michael Bitton
Start Time: Monday, May 16, 2011 at 8:00am
End Time: Monday, May 16, 2011 at 4:30pm
Where: LifeShare Blood Centers, 3849 North Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, other locations throughout Louisiana

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=128897213787346&mid=25abd5aG5af32dc2ebd6G4d28fdG7&n_m=pedalplay%40eatel.net

Thanks,
The Facebook Team

Ride of Silence Ride Wednesday...

Fellow Cyclists,

In light of the recent hit and run severely injuring Mike Bitton, we are moving the Ride of Silence start to the parking lot on Skip Bertman and River Road across from the Vet School near the site of the collision. The ride will still begin at 7PM, head down Nicholson to Government to Acadian and back to the Vet School. We will be done with this 10 mile loop around 8PM

Everyone is invited to Chelsea's under the Perkins Road overpass following the ride for a benefit to raise money for Mike Bitton. The LSU Cycling team is organizing a benefit to help defray the massive costs him and his family are incurring following the accident.

Remember, Helmets are mandatory for the ride and lights are highly recommended. If possible, wear a black armband for those who have died, or a red armband if you have been injured by a motorist.

For more information, see:

www.rideofsilence.org
Ride of Silence, Baton Rouge facebook page
Support Mike Bitton facebook page

-Chris

This is just sad! Hit and Run, Come on Burton Guidry, really?

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - State police have arrested the man they believe is responsible for sending an LSU graduate student to the hospital with life threatening injuries. State police say Marshall Hahn, 30, from Lacombe accompanied by an attorney, turned himself in around 2 p.m. Sunday. Hahn is accused of hitting 34-year-old Michael Bitton as he rode his bicycle along river road early Saturday. Police say after hitting Bitton, Hahn took off in his friends black 2005 Toyota Tundra. State Trooper Russell Graham says after getting a tip from the public police were able to find the Tundra, which led to Hahn turning himself in. He now faces a long list of charges including felony hit and run and negligent injury. "You get in a crash and I understand people get scared when things like that happen," said Graham. "But you need to stop and you need to check on these people to see what's going on. State law requires you to stop and render aid."

Hahn's attorney, Burton Guidry, released the following statement. "Our investigation so far reveals that the accident was unavoidable and that the cyclist was traveling River Road in an area that has no bicycle path and inadequate shoulders, and where cyclists must travel within the roadway in the path of oncoming vehicles." He went on to say, "It is our understanding that at least four cyclists have died in the past 10 years after being hit by vehicles in the same area of River Road. "Marshall and his family sincerely regret the error in judgment in his not remaining at or near the accident scene. Marshall and his family are praying for Mr. Bitton's full recovery and wish him and his family Godspeed."

Bitton is still in the intensive care unit fighting for his life.

John Couvillon wrote:Also, too, I drove by the site tonight. There was about a 1-2’ of standing water in the ditch where we found Michae