American Public Television
Cycling Charity Events
Pedal America aims to make a difference. To have your charitable event posted on our site, go to our charitable cycling events page to make an informal request.
Safe Routes To School
Pedal America supports Safe Routes To School. Click here to learn if you live in a Safe Routes neighborhood. Let us know at comments@pedalamerica.tv so we can list you on the website and maybe give your neighborhood an on-air shout-out.
Pedal America Jersey
Purchase your own Pedal America-Voler cycling jersey made right here in the U.S.A. Ride with pride!
Pedal America donates a percentage of its net proceeds to the League of American Bicyclists. The nonprofit organization works to ensure that federal budgets include dedicated funds for bicycle pathways. So get your jersey and then " Get out there and Pedal America!"
|
Ira David’s Pedal America Blog
|
Thank You to All Viewers!
|
 |
 |
|
I'd like to thank all our viewers for a strong showing during our first two broadcast weeks. Lot's more wonderful episodes to come.
We proudly stand behind our efforts to both showcase and make cycling fun, accessible, safe, and attainable for all. But really, it's communities and people that make the big difference. We salute the bike community in Tampa, FL and the work they do to enhance bike safety and accessibility; and hope you enjoy our Tampa episode when it airs later in the series. Here's a link that looks at one of that region's issues.
|
|
|
Florida MS Riders Turn Out On Day 2
|
|
|
|
It doesn't take more than a little sun and two wheels to bring out the spirit of giving. After a soggy wash-out on Day 1 of the South Florida MS Ride, more than 400 riders showed up on Day 2 with full conviction for the cause. The sun beat down on the riders as they reached for bananas, instant oatmeal, bagel and orange wedges. Thanks to everybody who visited our Subaru of America booth! We had a blast meeting you.
Congrats to Michael Oosterman and Iliana for winning Subaru-Pedal America bike jerseys. Wear them in good health!
|
|
Safety First at South Florida MS Ride
|
|
|
 We booked the hotel rooms three months in advance, ordered 500 sport-bottle handouts, booked flights for my team, worked with Subaru of America, Inc. to set up the $500 raffle prize toward a Trek Bike and other give-aways, and drove more than 1500 miles from Chicago to Key Largo, FL. We had a blast setting up the "prime property" Subaru-Pedal America booth at the South Florida MS Bike Ride. We anticipated cheering on the riders as they pedaled to the finish of Day 1 and welcoming them into our booth. I even took the Subaru Outback to the hand-detail car wash.
But on Saturday, Mother Nature cast its own wash on our Subaru Outback and the 2000 MS Bike riders. Torrential downpours and lightning caused the event organizers to cancel Day 1. When the 5 a.m. phone call came I slipped back into bed and reflected on the travel, the expense, our sponsors, the riders, and all the volunteer efforts. A real bummer! And then, I smiled.
More important than the ride is the MS Society’s commitment to its cause and keeping each rider safe. Kudos to the South Florida MS Ride for accomplishing both! We all got behind the effort in some way, and for that we can all stand proud.
Pedal
America's Subaru Outback in all its glory confidently awaits South
Florida MS Riders. |
A Subaru-Pedal America banners set
to greet South Florida MS Riders at the finish line of Day 1. |
|
|
Can You See Me Now?
|
|
|
|
Tuesday night the Pedal America crew practically commandeered the Rapid Transit Cycles shop at 1305 S. Halsted, in Chicago, to shoot three Bike Tech 101 segments for Season One. One of the segments teaches the importance of bike or head gear-mounted mirrors. My comfort zone typically ranges between looking over my right and left shoulders to see what’s coming up from behind. But Rapid Transit’s owner, Chris Stodder, enlightened me when he demonstrated how looking over the shoulder takes your eyes off the road ahead. I never really thought about it like that since the motion of looking over the shoulder is so swift. Mirrors “help save lives,” Chris says. This resonates with many of the cyclists we met while shooting in Tampa, and you can hear their comments when we broadcast that episode. But bicycle mirrors are also personal. Choosing one is as personal as choosing a bicycle seat. Who says you can’t get intimate with your bike? Visit Rapid Transit’s bike blog to learn more. 
Pedal America Host and Executive Producer, Ira David, with Rapid Transit Cycles shop owner, Chris Stodder, shooting a Bike Tech 101 segment for Season One of the national tv series scheduled to air nationally on public television, in May 2012.
|
|
Red Rocks: Where The Women Rule The Vortexes (Part 1)
|
|
|
|
Only one word describes Red Rock country: Spectacular! The energy center vortexes and vistas are so bedazzling that it made no difference where we pointed the cameras; we always had a shot.
If the vortexes do emit energy forces that influence our inner male-female balance, well...uhm…hands down, the women win out in Sedona. I'm amazed at the number of women who have found the balance between tranquility and power just from cycling here. Thanks so much to Jan A. Sullivan and her friend Gina for guiding me along the Bellrock Pathway and Mystic Trails. I’m still not a mountain bike expert but my time in Raystown, Pennsylvania and Sedona are quickly diminishing my inhibitions and advancing my love for the activity. My full suspension Trek Bike helps too; I’m astounded at just how much of the work the bike does for me.
If you’re more the road cyclist, you’ll have little problem finding fun here thanks to the efforts of Sedona's Bicycle Coordinator, Dave Singer, who played a large part in building the designated bike lane on Hwy 179. We support his efforts toward proposing the additional bike lane along Hwy 89A – you go Dave! A special thanks to my road cycling partner, Heather Paris. Once the episode airs you’ll help to teach the world that women at any age and skill level can ride. Continued next blog…
|
|
Red Rocks: Where Dale Gannon Rules (Part 2)
|
|
|
|
"Help, we need food and massage!" Traveling on the road for a month is no easy task and as a team we welcome comfort wherever we can get it. In Sedona, we found it at the Amara Resort and Spa. Manager Dale Gannon and his illustrious staff took care of our every whim. I’m confident his valet employees quickly lost count how many times we asked for the Pedal America production vehicles to be waiting in front for us, even so our Sound Mixer, Wil Masisak, could record voice-overs in the car while sitting in the parking garage. The resort’s 100 Rox restaurant catered to my crew’s high-maintenance dietary needs. The dishes and plating far-exceeded what our palates would expect from any other high-end hotel and resort fare.
But my real treat was mountain biking with Dale Gannon himself. Thanks Dale for sporting a ride with me and for helping to arrange a special in-room massage for my endearing and hard-working production manager, Stephanie Rabiola. If anyone ever wants to know what it's like to carry backpacks, a computer, multiple cell phones up and into the mountains while slating scenes, and carrying on discussions with contacts at our next shoot location, just ask Stephanie – well…uhm…maybe don't ask. After listening to her, You'll need a massage at the Amara too.
My only disappointment in Sedona was not spotting any of those Havelon Pigs. The closest thing I saw to wildlife was a dead baby snake and one red ant. Oh well, onward to Napa Valley! |
|
It’s not really weird; it's just fun!
|
|
|
|
The Pedal America team just completed shooting its Austin, Texas episode. Austinites have built a world-class cycling culture here. Bicycle racks practically litter the streets. As promised in my last blog, we taped the Austin episode’s teaser open at the Tour de Fat bicycle parade that included more than 400 bicyclists celebrating "two wheels" except for the snake bicycle that most likely used 20 wheels. The parade lasted only 15 minutes so I had little time to land the opening dialogue. With guest co-host Kati Lightholder by my side and Andrew Freund and Peter Pilafian behind the cameras, we squeezed in three takes. It all happened so fast that I was certain the second take was best, but after looking the footage, the team agreed upon the first take. It’s true what they say: the camera never lies.
A big thanks to our Austinite friend Sara DeShong from the Austin Cycling Association, and Eileen Schaubert at Lance Armstrong's co-owned Mellow Johnny’s bicycle shop, for serving as our home-base for much of our production staging and catering to all of our bicycle-related needs.
A massive "HUG" plus one "free ticket" to our camera ace, Andrew Freund, for capturing the 1.5 million bats flying out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge at 7:15 p.m. If you’re wondering about Andrew’s hair, "no" the bats didn't get to him, it's always a bit moppy and we here at Pedal America love it! Thanks Andrew!
|
|
Welcome to Ira David's Blog
|
|
|
|
Welcome to Ira David's Behind-the-Scenes blog! I will use the first entry to start with a big "Thank You" to all of Pedal America’s supporters, fans, and sponsors. My team and I will do everything we can to produce uncompromised programming. We aim to educate, entertain, and inspire viewers to re-discover the liberating joys and benefits of recreational cycling. Please send us ideas via our Pedal Americaville survey and website email. It only takes about 5-7 minutes to complete, and it’s free! Who doesn’t like "free?" If I learned anything while filming our first two episodes in Chicago and Raystown, Pa., situations are not as important as how we choose to respond. Challenged by wet weather in Chicago and tough terrain deep in the Allegheny Mountains, each Pedal America crew member stepped up to the bike (literally) and shifted into high gear for the better of the production rather than their own personal comfort levels. The latter would be the easier, but the former produces a greater personal reward. Clad in helmet and bike-mounted cams while lugging his own gear on his back, our 62-year old Director of Photography, Peter Pilafian, out-paced all of us on the Allegrippis Trail mountain bike system. Go Peter! Every team member shunned fear and braved mountain biking, some for the very first time (ehm, myself included), just to produce amazing content. Now that's a team to stand behind!….or, should I say bike behind. A massive "Thank you" and Pedal America HUG (we like hugs – BIG HUGS) to Evan Gross and his team at the RothRock Bicycle Shop in Huntingdon for showing and granting us access to the trail system, lending me his friend’s bicycle shorts, catering to our every need and whim. Or, perhaps, we should thank the universe for sending Pedal America this angel. Thanks, Evan, Tony, Charlie, and Paul. I cleaned and FedExed the shorts back. So today our crew will converge in Austin, Teaxs. This morning the crew ate breakfast at Queenie’s in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a wonderful little bakery café. I had the real buttermilk pancakes topped with fresh blueberries – a great anti-oxidant. I took a fancy to the little white-haired woman placing the just home-baked cookies into the display cases. Certainly, she must have been "Queenie," but my journalistic instinct taught us otherwise. The real Queenie was a cow that had died. It's now 1 p.m. and our production vehicles just crossed into Texas. We will spend one week producing our third episode in Austin. Come on out and say "hi" to us at the Tour de Fat parade and festival on Saturday, October 22nd. We will shoot the parade for the episode. Bring your helmet and strike your sexiest pose for our cameras at the festival! Just look for our Subaru Outback! Ride safely, always keeping the rubber side down! Ira David
|
|
Boston Now On Pedal America’s Radar
|
|
|
On Sunday, August 9, 2009 The New York Times article "Boston Tries to Shed Longtime Reputation As Cyclists' Minefield" featured the city’s strides toward becoming more bicycle-friendly. With Mayor Thomas M. Menino rediscovering cycling and creating Hub on Wheels, Boston is on the right trek.
Though already called the Walking City, newly installed short-range bicycle lanes and pathways are inching Boston toward more activity on two wheels. But one problem the article addresses is the city’s infrastructure. Many streets are just too narrow to accommodate bike lanes. What’s the mayor to do? I say tap into the multitude of ivy-clad structures that house some of our nation’s brightest minds.
Boston hosts one of the largest concentrations of colleges and universities anywhere on earth. And with lots of attention being paid to service-learning and the community, I’m confident that talented architectural and city-planning engineering students would jump at the chance to showcase their blueprints for a more bicycle-friendly city. Menino should sponsor a contest for such students, with assistance from their professors, to submit plans. Offer a tuition scholarship for the winner. Toss in a little grant money. That should inspire students to engage in the community, hop on their bikes, and apply what they learn in class to a real need. It would help students to build their resumes and portfolios, as well. We can even feature the winner on our program.
With its endless rolling hills, majestic mountains, wineries, historic ports, and fall foliage, New Englanders have an abundance of recreational cycling adventures just outside their doorsteps. And as Bostonians grow to appreciate the fall leaves softly crunching under their bicycle wheels, Pedal America will stand by, looking ahead to bring its cameras and crew to Beantown.
Let us know when you’re ready.
David
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 2 of 3 |
|
