Gerald Eddlemon Ride Across Alaska - Record Set

Congratulations to Knoxville cyclist Gerald Eddlemon has recently completed a ride across Alaska from south to north, going from the Pacific Ocean to Arctic Ocean, in record time pending verification from the Ultra-Marathon Cycling Association.

His report to the Smoky Mountain Wheelmen is reproduced below in its entirety.

How Do You Ride?

Are you on a carbon fiber Dura Ace steed wearing full kit or do you commute in old khaki's and a t-shirt? Here's an interesting English view on how to ride and plan (or not) your next tour. Sometimes I think we turn off potential new cyclists with our old Discovery team jerseys and clipless pedals.

United States Bicycle Route System

. . The United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS) is gaining support daily. Click a state to see the most up-to-date state status on the project. The National Corridor Plan identifies 50-mile wide corridors, both prioritized (numbered) and un-prioritized (faint brown corridors). The Plan can change, based upon state opportunities and interests, with new corridors or realignments. As corridors turn into routes, the lines will go from wide swaths of color to defined routes. Links to U.S. Bike Route (USBR) maps, state bike maps and informational websites will be provided as they become available.
. . TDOT enlisted a consultant to expand the state bicycle route network. Once TDOT approves the network, it will be sent to local Bike/Ped Coordinators and Bike Walk Tennessee for review. Bike Walk Tennessee is partnering with TDOT to implement routes that fall within the National Corridor Plan, visit Coast Down Hills to see the draft routes. USBR 25 will be the first route implemented and will coordinate with Kentucky.
. . For more information or to volunteer, contact Bruce Day from Bike Walk Tennessee.

Rumbles again

On a recent ride we encountered this bit of rumbling along TN SR 290 in Bedford Co between Chapel Hill and Shelbyville. The part in Marshall Co was not rumbled, had the same shoulder and same traffic. The part in Marshall Co felt perfectly safe but the part in Bedford Co did not. The bit of shoulder that was left was too narrow to ride, especially when there was a multi foot drop off from pavement to grass. After almost falling when being chased off the travel lane by a horse hauling truck and trailer having to move back to the right to accommodate oncoming traffic, we searched and found a usable side road. This road has no special merit except for being direct and easy to follow and in the future I will avoid 290 entirely. However it does highlight several issues.