Category: News

  • Thanks & Goodbye, Chuck Anderson

    Thanks & Goodbye, Chuck Anderson

    Farewell, Chuck!

    Long time CRBC volunteer, Vice-President, and past-President, Chuck Anderson will be leaving the area and us at the end of December. To explain why and where he’s going, I thought it best to use his own words: 

    “With mixed emotions I want to let you all know that at after Christmas Susie and I are moving to Boulder, CO. I have been offered a position with the National Geophysical Data Center there in Boulder. It has been great working with you all over the years and I will miss the challenges and opportunities of the bike community here in State College. I am proud of the work CRBC has done and regret that I will not be a part of it. On the flip side, Boulder is a platinum level BFC and I’ll pass along anything I see there that would fit into the needs here in State College.” 

    We regret it, too, Chuck!  Chuck has been an integral part of the cycling advocacy scene since his arrival in the area. As well as serving multiple executive posts, Chuck was always working on one cycling issue or the other. Many of the improvements you’ve seen, and many you may not have noticed, were started, nudged, & sometimes pushed along through Chuck’s tenacious desire to see things bettered for cyclists in the area. From consulting with accident victims, to interacting with area planning agencies, police forces, and PennDOT, Chuck put a lot of personal time and effort behind his beliefs. 

    Chuck AndersonAs a League (of American Bicyclists) Cycling Instructor, Chuck’s Street Skills and Fix-a-Flat and More classes at Penn State helped spread the word and experience that cycling is and can be an enjoyable experience that needn’t be feared, whether on a bike path, a trail, or down Atherton St.  

    As a member of our Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) committee, Chuck helped write the application that won the Centre Region BFC Bronze, and he served on advisory committees at Penn State that spurred the progress that led to PSU’s recent award of Bronze Bicycle Friendly University. 

    As a volunteer for CRBC, Chuck could always be counted on to help staff our tables for Bike-to-Work Day/Week/Month, run a cycling education seminar for Earth Day, or events with the Campus Sustainability Office. 

    And as I write this, I realize the void that Chuck’s departure will leave in the organization. I hope that some of his legacy will be to inspire others, as he has me, to take up the banner of cycling advocacy, pitch in, and help fill that void and keep the area progressing towards an even more bicycle friendly place. 

    Thanks Chuck. The CRBC and the Centre Region appreciate all you’ve done for us. Good luck to you and Susie in this new phase of your lives. We’ll miss you. 

    Paul Rito 

  • October 18: Everything you always wanted to know about Bicycle Touring

    Slides from the presentation are available here: http://www.centrebike.org/images/downloads/documents/tourpres2012.pdf

    Thursday, October 18th, 6 pm in Room 201 of the State College Borough Building, 243 S. Allen St.

    Bicycle Touring can be as simple as an overnight to a nearby location or as monumental as an around-the-world adventure. If you are thinking of a tour next year, it’s time to start thinking about why and where how and whatifs. Maybe you’re just interested in learning what touring’s all about. Either way, join us for a panel discussion featuring local touring cyclists who’ve done a variety of tours from local overnights to cross-country and European tours. We’ll talk about types of tours, planning, equipment, cost, training, resources, and share our experiences with you (and we’ll be showing pics from our tours throughout the discussions).

    Our panel includes:

    • Brian Dempsey rode 2400 miles from Arcata, CA to St. Louis, MO during May 2006. He rode with a friend, partially supported the first two weeks. It was a life-changing event!
    • Roy Greenfield is a retired PSU Geoscience Professor and has ridden, with Toby Carlson and others, more than 10 self-supported 2 week rides in Europe staying in moderately priced hotels and B&Bs.
    • Kurt Kunka has crossed-countried multiple times and has extensive local and regional touring experience.
    • Dana Miller solo crossed-countried from D.C. to Oregon in 2010, and will provide a woman’s perspective on solo and small group touring.
    • Eric Nord and his brother crossed the country between mid May and July of 1993 on mountain bikes converted for touring.
    • Paul Rito cross-countried from Seattle to Bethany Beach in 2005, combining organized group and solo touring. He’s also organized and led smaller scale tours locally over the last 5 years.

  • Fix that Flat! (and Beyond)

    Thursday September 27th Fix that Flat (and Beyond) 6-9pm in rm 117 EES Bldg. WEL 512

    We will discuss routine preventive maintenance for your bike, including maintenance of cables and shifting mechanisms, adjustment of brakes, and proper lubrication techniques. You will also learn how to handle emergency roadside repairs, such as flat tires, broken cables, jammed chains, and bent wheels. This is the perfect class for people who ride bikes but always take it to the shop for even minor maintenance, and who think of their cell phone as their emergency repair kit.

    Register at:PSU Health Matters (if you’re not a PSUE student/faculty/staff, you’ll need to use/create a “Friend of Penn State” account to register, or you can call 863-4606).