It's American Bicycler Day!

I hope you were able to take advantage of the delightful mild weather we have been enjoying to get out and ride your bike (I was actually out in shorts!).

For today is March 13th, the birthday of Charles Eadward Pratt, born in Vassalboro, Maine, in 1845. Pratt was an early pioneer and advocate of cycling, and wrote one of the earliest cycling guidebooks, The American Bicycler, in 1879. Pratt served as the first president of the League of American Wheelmen, and is considered by some as the Father of American Bicycling.

Not to mention that he is a native-born Mainer (I did mention it, didn't I?) and that certainly qualifies him as one of our patron saints hereabouts. Here is an 1879 photo of the man himself (courtesy of the Smithsonian) with his wheel, taken in a studio most likely prior to quick jaunt out into the countryside.

Happy Birthday, Charles E. Pratt!

The Jersey Deliberation

If you haven't already done so, you have about 24 hours to enter the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's 20th Anniversary Cycling Jersey selection contest to select their new jersey. Out of all the votes they will have a drawing for one winner of a new jersey (whichever design that will be). I suppose if you win you can always say you had that design picked out from the start. Or that it was one of your top three choices. Something like that.

Which brings up the subject of a KVBC jersey! We need some ideas and cool designs. Maybe we can have a contest to see who can design the best jersey? Or even a jersey. Then we can have our own jersey contest! So, if your tastes run from contemporary to retro to somewhere in between, grab some crayons or markers and go to it. Send in your designs and we'll take it from there!