Riding a bicycle on streets and most highways is a right most all of us have. Conversely, driving a motor vehicle on those same byways is a privilege that can be removed. This distinction deserves some thought from cyclists and motorists alike.

First of all, let’s get past the obvious “dead right” comments and state that any right can be abused; so caution and intelligence should rule when any right is exercised. We have the right to free speech, but mouth off at the wrong time and see where that gets you!

Driving a motor vehicle requires a license. There are certain requirements that must be met and maintained to continue to have that privilege. Unfortunately, caution and intelligence can be lacking here as well. Consider all the dangerous, distracted drivers!

The repercussions of abusing your right to ride a bicycle on streets and highways are generally not as severe as abusing one’s privilege of operating a motor vehicle dangerously. One can do a great deal more damage with a two-ton loaded weapon moving at any speed than with a relatively lightweight bicycle and rider.

The conversation gets more interesting when you consider the accident in San Francisco when a cyclist plowed into a pedestrian, killing a 70-year man who was crossing the street. The cyclist was charged with vehicular manslaughter, convicted and given community service requirements as a sentence. This is the first case of such a ruling, ever!

Now every cyclist is guilty of blowing through residential stop signs and many will run a red light or two, usually hurting no one. And, there are thousands of cases where privileged, reckless motorists have injured, or killed cyclists who were properly exercising their rights. There is some irony that most of these motorists are not prosecuted, or even charged with wrong doing, and the one case of a cyclist causing a death is dealt with using swift justice!

So, should cyclists have a license? Should reckless drivers be charged and convicted? Is it ok to drive distracted? Who should have privileges and who should have rights? Maybe all we cyclists can do is remind those motorists who question our use of “their” roadway that we have that right, and driving on “our” roadway is a privilege to them . . . and they should not abuse it.

Of course, as responsible cyclists, we should slow or stop at stop signs and never run red lights. Always use caution on the roads, be visible and ride as if you are invisible! Yes, it is our right to ride a bicycle almost anywhere . . . and we should consider it a privilege.

We have at least 100 bikes and kayaks we do not want to carry over to our 2018 inventory! Come by the shop THIS WEEK and see if there is a fit for your desires and we will do our best to send it away with you! There are new and used bikes and kayaks for you to consider. Call and make an appointment anytime before January 2 for your best deal! Start your year off right with us!

NOB Extreme Ride – Nov. 2-3 2018

For many years, RideSouth Recumbents has sponsored the Natchez or Bust Ride (NOB) from Jackson, Mississippi to historic Natchez, Mississippi. In the past, the ride has launched from the RideSouth shop and finished at the Natchez State Park, a few miles outside of Natchez. To celebrate our 20th Anniversary of serving the recumbent faithful, we are announcing the Natchez or Bust Extreme Ride that will launch from Nashville, TN and finish in downtown Natchez, MS. The Extreme part of this ride is that the group will all be riding recumbent trikes . . . and the ride will take less than 24 hours to complete!

We will publish details of the ride on our RideSouth.com page, and eventually on our RideSouthEvents.com page. Basically, we wish to recruit similarly sized, fast trikes that will form a team to help traverse the 444 miles of the scenic Natchez Trace Parkway in one day! On Friday evening at 6:00 PM, a group of riders will launch from the famous Loveless Cafe in Nashville, switching out with others as necessary along the way, and finishing with all riders at the Natchez National Historical Park Visitor Center in Historic Natchez on Saturday evening. Each rider will rotate in small groups every mile marker, or join the SAG buses for rest, refreshment or repair as needed. Riders will also take turns with bus duties so no additional SAG personnel will be required.

Preparation for this event will include several rides on the Trace during the upcoming year. At least one of these rides will be at night. Times and locations TBA. RideSouth will furnish lights and jerseys for all NOB Extreme riders to achieve uniformity and visibility. No fairings, tail boxes or racks should be on your bike as we will have to pack and store bikes quickly on the trailer during the ride. Maximum rear wheel size should be limited to 20” for the same reason. RideSouth will provide walkie talkies for all riders to communicate with other riders and buses for safety. We anticipate charging $100 to help with expenses and secure your spot in this history-making adventure. Please respond now to [email protected] to indicate your interest in the NOB Extreme Ride on November 2-3, 2018.

www.ridesouth.com
[email protected]
601 992-2490
105 Avalon Court
Brandon, MS 39047

We have Hobie kayaks, bikes, trikes and accessories in every nook and cranny of the shop! Check out our growing inventory of used bikes and trikes as well!

BentBoatLovers and Friends!

Our long anticipated shipment of brand new Hobie kayaks will be here this Friday! We will be unloading Friday afternoon and hope to have them all ready to load on your vehicle immediately! We will have plenty of the exciting new Hobie Mirage Compass kayaks that sell for $1949 plus shipping! This is a great new price point for a stable, pedal driven fishing boat that is sure to increase your catch! Of course there will be some Pro Angler 12s and 14s for you professional fishermen and fisherwomen!

For our BentLovers and Friends, we will plan to have the Rise & Shine Bread Ride and include Round th’ Rez for you folks who have been asking about this popular route. The Rez route will leave from the shop no later than 8:00AM and not stop at Kroger to save time. Of course other routes will also be available, as always! Hope to see you all here this weekend for some fun!

We will postpone our Natchez or Bust ride until another day as rain is expected in Natchez on Saturday. We will plan more trips on bikes in November and December, so stay tuned!

RideSouth . . . The way to Ride!
This message was sent to [email protected] from [email protected]
Jim Snider | RideSouth | 105 Avalon Court | Brandon, MS 39047

“Do you have a V-8 in that thing?” This was the question asked when I coasted past about 50 cyclists down a slight hill on a benefit ride recently. Yes, a few of them caught up to this heavy rider on the next uphill to ask the question. I explained that I was just coasting and drove home the point pedaling past them on the next downhill. I did not see them again to see if they understood the aerodynamics of the Aero trike yet.

I confess, my naturally fast bike was powered by a vintage 1948 two stroke organic electric motor, definitely not a V-8. Not in the best running condition either mind you, but still, just organic fuel powering neurons and muscles on the original equipment manufactured (another, more notable OEM!) motor. No fossil fuels or fossil-fueled electricity consumed for 50 miles of fun and safe transportation!

Non-organic electric motors for bikes are becoming more sought after by many nowadays. We have sold them and will sell them again. Some have compelling reasons for assist and some just want a free ride. For all, we encourage you to get on a recumbent bike, or trike, and ride it multiple times before you decide to go electric. The combination of increased power and decreased drag you get with recumbents may well allow your own organic electric motor to get you to your destination, in style! And that is good for yourself and your Planet!

New Construction

It is always exciting when we begin working on something new. Whether that new thing is physical, emotional, spiritual, motivational or just plain brick and mortar. Today, we are announcing an addition to our Bike Park at RideSouth. Construction begins this week on a Bike Stop, or bus stop like structure, adjacent to our bike test track which was completed last year.

The Bike Stop will offer some shade and seating for folks waiting to test ride bikes on the track. It will also offer a staging place for events in the future, as well as a platform for some solar collectors to power planned trail lights and timing electronics for trike testing. We hope to be complete with this project by August.

Another new thing at RideSouth is that we have the latest new construction model of the popular Greenspeed Magnum. We are finishing assembly of our first one today. Be sure to come by and test ride it and all the other bikes we have on display. We also have the new Hobie Camo Pro Angler 12 on the floor today. It will not be here long!

You may have new construction going on in parts of your life. Change, it seems, is in the air these days. We can react to it, or we can cause it. We continue to search for ways to progressively cause positive change in ourselves and in those lives that we touch at RideSouth. We will be open for business this weekend and are planning rides almost every day through the Fourth of July holiday. We hope you will join us!

Trike-a-rama 2017

Trike-a-rama 2017 Schedule of Events

Friday May 26: 5:00 PM Aero Workshop RideSouth Shop

Saturday May 27: 8:00 AM Launch Bread Ride from RideSouth Shop – Wirtz/YMCA Route

Saturday May 27: 10:00 AM Launch Trike Around at Pine Lake Baptist Church on Lakeland

Saturday May 27: 11:30-12:30 Chick-fil-A Lunch at RideSouth shop

Sunday May 28: 8:30 AM Bus leaves RIdeSouth shop for Sumrall, MS

Sunday May 28: 10:30 AM Sumrall Gateway LongLeaf Trace Hattiesburg for Lunch Ride

Sunday May 28: 4:00 PM (approximate) Bus leaves for return to RideSouth shop from Sumrall

Sunday May 28: 6:00 PM (approximate) Bus arrives at RideSouth shop

Monday May 29: 9:00 AM Memorial Day Ride from shop to Madison, MS on bike lanes/trails

Monday May 29: 11:00 AM Lunch Break at Renaissance Shopping Center

Monday May 29: 12:00 Noon Regroup at Renaissance Fountain to ride back together

Monday May 29: 2:00 PM Arrive back at RideSouth Shop! Happy Memorial Day!

Cost for Event: $30 Includes Lunch Saturday, Transport to Sumrall, Tee Shirt and Water Bottle. Lunch in Hattiesburg and Madison on your own. Tee shirts are nice but limited so please sign up early! Please let us know if you can help with the event. Thank you!

[email protected]
601 992-2490
105 Avalon Court Brandon, MS 39047
RideSouth Recumbents, LLC
105 Avalon Court
Brandon, MS 39047
601 992-2490
www.ridesouth.com

Click here for a special invite to our upcoming event on Memorial Day weekend!

Special Invitation for you!