Here's some more information about the Biddeford Pool route I wrote about in the June 24 Telegram. For route mapping, I'm trying out mapmyride.com. It seems pretty handy, very easy to use, and you can get elevation profiles and all kinds of maps from satellite to topo to 3D. However, when I used the code to embed the route on my blog, it doesn't seem to work in all browsers (for instance, Safari on a Mac). So, if all you see is white space down below, click this link instead: ROUTE MAP (and sorry about the big empty white space!)

The Maine Bike Rally is fast approaching (July 6, 7, and 8) and the good folks at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, the Casco Bay Bike Club and Merrymeeting Wheelers could really use some volunteers. The rallly is taking place in Yarmouth again this year and will offer about 30 rides of all lengths, both on and off-road. There are lots of activities besides riding, too... all in all, it's a big biking social.

You can lead a ride, ride sweep, be an ice cream scooper (there must be fringe benefits for that), help out at the time trial race, or help set up or clean up. Volunteers get a discount on the bike rally registration fee, too.

So, it's passed -- the bike bill that folks were debating so hotly on some of the Press Herald Web pages. The Legislature passed it Friday and the Gov is expected to sign it. As reported by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, here are some of the main features:
> Motorists must give cyclists three feet of clearance.
> Motorists may cross the centerline in no-passing zones in order to pass bicyclists when safe to do so.
> There's a $25 fine for those 15 and under who fail to wear a helmet. (Youth can be fined after the second or subsequent offense, but the fine can be waived by showing proof that a helmet has been purchased.)
> The law clarifies the rule that requires cyclists to ride to the right. The bill recognizes numerous situations when bicyclists need to move from the right portion of the roadway such as avoiding obstacles, proceeding straight near right-turn lanes or preparing to turn left.
> The law waives liability for businesses with drive-up windows that serve cyclists.

I never realized I couldn't ride up to the ATM. I hope this doesn't encourage cyclists to go through the Starbucks drive-through; I've seen a few people riding with coffee cups in one hand and really, what are they thinking?

I like the helmet fines too. At the very least, it gives parents some leverage with their kids. Now if a kid protests wearing a helmet, a parent can say, "It's the LAW" and take the fine out of their allowance.

Ever tried to take your bike on a plane? This is a subject people obsess about and many Web sites (www.ibike.org, www.bikeaccess.net) and blogs cover this subject pretty well. My husband travels for work a lot and has, until now, rented bikes in cities across the U.S. to get some rides in while he's away. Now he's testing out a new strategy: a Ritchey Break-Away bike.

So, since this is a blog, I get to offer my totally biased opinion about things, right? I got a press release about this Smart Cycle Physical Learning Arcade System by Fisher-Price. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about this just seemed very very strange to me. The press release was from a hotel chain, which is now putting these kiddie exercycle arcade games in their hotels. Thoughts?

The Women's Ride for Heart Health was great fun and seemed to be a whopping success. There were well over 200 women -- of all ages and levels -- in Freeport despite gray skies and a slight drizzle. I rode with eight-year-old twins Brooke and Emily Papineau along the 5-mile route and they said they had fun on their first ever group charity ride.