	TOUR OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY JUNE 13-14 2009
TOMRV 2009 Trip Report TOMRV Cyclists, This is not the last version. I want to make a revision of this report on Friday June 19. So check back for more info then. I am adding the door prize winners. If you have photos, observations, or accident reports, please email me at tomrv_dt@msn.com so I can include them. Meanwhile, I am including a photo I took May 25th along the TOMRV route. This is on Canal Shore Drive near LeClaire, with the Mississippi river and the I-80 bridge in the background. Doug Truesdell Ride Conditions Saturday morning was a cool 55 degrees, with light rain and a light East wind at both the Bettendorf and Preston starts. The rain had ended everwhere by 11 AM, and temperatures warmed to 60 degrees at noon and finally reaching 67. So the morning was damp, but the day was great for cycling. Sunday was nearly perfect - partly sunny, a high of 76 degrees, and light wind from the northeast So overall, riders rode well, experienced few problems, and had a great weekend on the bike. Rider statistics There were 1,405 riders signed up for TOMRV this year. This is about 50 fewer than last year. I will include breakdowns of our riders in the revision. Several people have asked for numbers on the riders. Drawing results The drawing occurred in the Atrium at 6:15. There was a scheduling mistake and we posted the wrong time and place for the drawing. Congratulations to those who were drawn. The winners have all been notified, and their certificates are being mailed. You did not have to be present to win. The first drawing was for a free registration to next year's TOMRV. There were two names drawn. Janet Potter of Bettendorf, IA George Kuzma of Naperville, IL The second drawong was for a gift certificate for $500 redeemable at your local bike shop. There were three names drawn Melanie Payne of Rock Island, IL Michael Hauptman of Rochelle, IL John Carey of Arlington, VA Rider safety and accidents We had one accident right at the start of the ride. A rider was found off the road part way down the hill on Belmont road about 7:30 AM on Saturday. He was brought back to Scott, and then taken to a hospital by ambulance since he appeared to have a concussion and remained confused. I don't have a final report on this rider. The steel roadbed bridge to Sabula was slick in the rain. This was far more than usual, because many of us have crossed this bridge in rain without a problem in the past. Many riders walked the bridge once they felt their bikes squirm on the steel. I have heard of falls, but I have no first-hand reports as yet. One rider with a lot of cycling experience on the bridge pointed out that some new steel treads may have been recently placed on the bridge. So possibly a lack of surface corrosion layers on the new steel was the reason for the extremely slippery bridge condition. There were no reported car-bicycle accidents and no reports accidents resulting in a serious injury, excepting the one rider on Belmont road. If you have knowledge of a significant accident on the tour, please email me. The Slippery Sabula Steel Bridge Most of our riders crossed the Sabula steel bridge in a light rain, and all reported extremely slippery conditions when crossing. A large percentage of riders walked the bridge, while in the past few did. My personal observation was that the rear tires of riders in front of me slid to one side and then the other until encountering a longitudinal rib on the steel grate. This slide was easily felt on the bike, so I knew that mine was doing the same. This bridge has been used by TOMRV for 30 years. It has been crossed in wet condition by the tour probably more than five of those years. This condition was never encountered in the past. John Thiel, a cyclist who has crossed this bridge more than most, reports that he walked the bridge himself for the first time ever. He wondered if the steel decking was replaced in the recent repairs. I checked with the road engineer, and indeed, 60% of the decking was replaced. The old decking is of unknown age, but had deteriorated to a point where replacement was required. (The bridge first opened in 1930.) The new decking is Zinc coated to extend its life. The coating itself may be a factor in the slippery condition since abraded Zinc Oxide mixed with water might make a slippery paste. But also it has prevented corrosion on the surface. Rust and pitting would increase friction compared to smooth bare metal. So you can expect a warning "slippery when wet" for the forseeable future on this bridge. Lost and Found Each year people leave bits of their gear behind. We keep a lost and found box in front of the Atrium and attempt to re-patriate these things. This year the box has some very nice items. email me at tomrv_dt@msn.com if something of yours is described here A wedge pack, left on a car in the parking lot at Scott. (Claimed) Wrist watch A nice wind jacket, riding glasses are in the pocket Pair of riding gloves Riding glasses A Krypto cable lock A vinyl rain parka Flashlight A small blue T-shirt A red long sleeve T-shirt, left at Scott

TOUR OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

JUNE 13-14 2009

TOMRV 2009 Trip Report

TOMRV Cyclists,

This is not the last version. I want to make a revision of this report on Friday June 19. So check back for more info then. I am adding the door prize winners. If you have photos, observations, or accident reports, please email me at tomrv_dt@msn.com so I can include them. Meanwhile, I am including a photo I took May 25th along the TOMRV route. This is on Canal Shore Drive near LeClaire, with the Mississippi river and the I-80 bridge in the background.

Doug Truesdell

Ride Conditions

Saturday morning was a cool 55 degrees, with light rain and a light East wind at both the Bettendorf and Preston starts. The rain had ended everwhere by 11 AM, and temperatures warmed to 60 degrees at noon and finally reaching 67. So the morning was damp, but the day was great for cycling. Sunday was nearly perfect - partly sunny, a high of 76 degrees, and light wind from the northeast

So overall, riders rode well, experienced few problems, and had a great weekend on the bike.

Rider statistics

There were 1,405 riders signed up for TOMRV this year. This is about 50 fewer than last year. I will include breakdowns of our riders in the revision. Several people have asked for numbers on the riders.

Drawing results

The drawing occurred in the Atrium at 6:15. There was a scheduling mistake and we posted the wrong time and place for the drawing. Congratulations to those who were drawn. The winners have all been notified, and their certificates are being mailed. You did not have to be present to win.

The first drawing was for a free registration to next year's TOMRV. There were two names drawn.

Janet Potter of Bettendorf, IA
George Kuzma of Naperville, IL

The second drawong was for a gift certificate for $500 redeemable at your local bike shop. There were three names drawn

Melanie Payne of Rock Island, IL
Michael Hauptman of Rochelle, IL
John Carey of Arlington, VA

Rider safety and accidents

We had one accident right at the start of the ride. A rider was found off the road part way down the hill on Belmont road about 7:30 AM on Saturday. He was brought back to Scott, and then taken to a hospital by ambulance since he appeared to have a concussion and remained confused. I don't have a final report on this rider.

The steel roadbed bridge to Sabula was slick in the rain. This was far more than usual, because many of us have crossed this bridge in rain without a problem in the past. Many riders walked the bridge once they felt their bikes squirm on the steel. I have heard of falls, but I have no first-hand reports as yet.

One rider with a lot of cycling experience on the bridge pointed out that some new steel treads may have been recently placed on the bridge. So possibly a lack of surface corrosion layers on the new steel was the reason for the extremely slippery bridge condition.

There were no reported car-bicycle accidents and no reports accidents resulting in a serious injury, excepting the one rider on Belmont road. If you have knowledge of a significant accident on the tour, please email me.

The Slippery Sabula Steel Bridge

Most of our riders crossed the Sabula steel bridge in a light rain, and all reported extremely slippery conditions when crossing. A large percentage of riders walked the bridge, while in the past few did. My personal observation was that the rear tires of riders in front of me slid to one side and then the other until encountering a longitudinal rib on the steel grate. This slide was easily felt on the bike, so I knew that mine was doing the same.

This bridge has been used by TOMRV for 30 years. It has been crossed in wet condition by the tour probably more than five of those years. This condition was never encountered in the past.

John Thiel, a cyclist who has crossed this bridge more than most, reports that he walked the bridge himself for the first time ever. He wondered if the steel decking was replaced in the recent repairs.

I checked with the road engineer, and indeed, 60% of the decking was replaced. The old decking is of unknown age, but had deteriorated to a point where replacement was required. (The bridge first opened in 1930.) The new decking is Zinc coated to extend its life. The coating itself may be a factor in the slippery condition since abraded Zinc Oxide mixed with water might make a slippery paste. But also it has prevented corrosion on the surface. Rust and pitting would increase friction compared to smooth bare metal.

So you can expect a warning "slippery when wet" for the forseeable future on this bridge.

Lost and Found

Each year people leave bits of their gear behind. We keep a lost and found box in front of the Atrium and attempt to re-patriate these things. This year the box has some very nice items. email me at tomrv_dt@msn.com if something of yours is described here

A wedge pack, left on a car in the parking lot at Scott. (Claimed)
Wrist watch
A nice wind jacket, riding glasses are in the pocket
Pair of riding gloves
Riding glasses
A Krypto cable lock
A vinyl rain parka
Flashlight
A small blue T-shirt
A red long sleeve T-shirt, left at Scott