Conference noted::bicycle

    I've been  a  member  for  the past 3 years. LAW (sometimes called
    Bicycle  USA)  is a very old organization that was formed to lobby
    for  roads  (before  cars)  that  bicycles  could  travel  on.  It
    continues  to  be  the major bicyclists lobbying organization, and
    all   cyclists   should   support  it  for  that  reason.  It  was
    instrumental  in  reversing  the  New  York  city  and  Shenandoah
    national  park  bike bans. (In Shenandoah the ban prohibited bikes
    from  Skyline  drive,  the scenic road that runs the length of the
    park.)

    The league runs bicycle rallies (not races) that run for a weekend
    or  a week, and are great places to ride with a bunch of people on
    an  enormous  variety of well arrowed rides with parties at night,
    interesting  presentations on everything from touring with kids to
    bike frames to HPV races and preparing for the RAAM.

    It also  publishes  a  directory  of  where  to get information on
    bicycle maps and clubs in each state.

    I think  the  emphasis  is  on  day riding and touring, with a few
    people  interested  in  racing, but mainly marathons and HPVs. All
    bicylists should join to support the lobbying efforts.

The address is:
		League of American Wheelmen
		Suite 209
		6707 Whitestone Rd.
		Baltimore, MD.  21207

	phone: (301)944-3399

I don't know what the current dues are.

--David

I Fully agree with David (.1), the League is well worth supporting.

Few cyclists are aware of the extent to which the L.A.W. has fought 
for their right to use our roads.  It is a continuing, and lately an 
uphill, battle.  It is expensive and volunteer intensive.

If you join the League you get "Bicycle USA" magazine 9 times per
year.  The January issue is the Almanac, a bible for cyclists.  It
contains info on touring, government contacts, clubs, legislation
and many other subjects.  Invaluable. 

L.A.W. dues for an individual are $22.00/year.

[BTW:  The Charles River Wheelmen is one of the few, and by far the
largest, 100% L.A.W. Clubs.  This means if you join CRW, you join the
League at the same time.  CRW (membership is now over 500) yearly
dues are $26.00, thus the combination of the two is a great deal
financially (as well as for all the other reasons). 

See note 42.4 for more info on CRW; feel free to contact me (I'm the 
CRW President) for additional information.]

If you bike on public roads and parks, it is because LAW efforts 
have continually fought for that right.  Laws within the 50 states 
are now generally advantageous and uniform with respect to bicycles.
That too is thanks to the League.

Please consider joining.  

	~Mike	(stepping off the soapbox)

    	OK Mike, I'll take the soapbox.  The LAW also runs the best
    instruction program for bicyclists: the Effective Cycling program.
    They train and certify instructors and publicize the program.  The
    rallies, usually called GEARs, are FANTASTIC! if you are a recreational
    rather than racing oriented rider!  I snubbed these for years until
    I became involved in NEAR, our local rally. I went to a GEAR to
    see what I could learn.  To say I got hooked is putting it mildly.
    I now attend any GEAR within 1000 miles. See you in Lancaster, PA
    in June!  - Chris (LAW Life Member)
    	[the soapbox goes to...)

I'm an L.A.W. life member.  I joined back in 1976 when bicycling was
enjoying a re-birth and the L.A.W. was recovering from some comatose
years.

Anyway, the L.A.W. has been the national organization for bicylists
since 1880.  Their primary focus has been towards recreational and
utilitarian cycling.

Over the past few years, several attempts have been made to change the
name.  The only succesful part of that was to change the name of
the monthly magazine from "American Wheelmen" to "BICYCLE USA" and
to promote events under the trade name "BICYCLE USA".

The L.A.W. provides a variety of activities for recreational cyclists.
Currently, they sponsor a number of bicycle rallies such as GEAR, the
Great EAstern Rally.  There's now a GEAR-Up and a GEAR-Down.
L.A.W. is probably most famous for the September "Sanctioned Centuries"
which most L.A.W.-affiliated clubs run.

But most of the L.A.W.'s work has always been to support cycling as an
alternative to automobile travel.  They have lobbied against restrictive
legislation which would prevent bicycle access to roads, as well as
lobbying for consideration of cyclists in new highway construction.
In addition, they have been a legal resource for injured cyclists
who feel they have been mistreated.

For several years I was on the L.A.W. legislative committee for
Massachusetts.  I just haven't had the time to put into it lately.
Some of the things that have come about because of the L.A.W.'s work
in Massachusetts includes:  A state bicycle coordinator; requiring
adequate bicycle lighting at night; access to some bridges in Boston.
There's much more work to be done!

The L.A.W. is the only organization that is addressing the issue
of making cyclists a part of the road use community.  That's what
distinguishes it from all the other organizations.

Why join the L.A.W.?  If you are a bicyclist, you probably are using
public roads.  Joining the L.A.W. is joining the team that supports
your use of the public roads.

Besides that, of course, there's the L.A.W. magazine, with articles
on incredible bicycle tours and all sorts of bicycle trivia, and
the calender of events-- which lists most of the tours, centuries,
and other open events run across the country.  That's where I found
my first double century to do!

Really, you can get most of the benefits of the L.A.W. without joining...
since most of the local clubs are "affiliated" clubs, they get to hand out
L.A.W. patches and publish L.A.W. materials.

If anyone is interested, I have membership forms and can provide
additional information.
                --tom

Wow!  Thanks for all the info!  Mike, I'll have to take a pass on the 
Charles River Wheelmen.  The commute from the Chicago area is a bit much
for me!  However, could anyone look in one of those directories for a
local affiliated club?  Local for me is Woodstock, Crystal Lake,
Belvidere, Harvard, Marengo, possibly McHenry (all in Illinois).  If
there is such an organization near me, then I can get both taken care
of at once, and maybe the club gets a bit more for the package....

				Thanks for all the good replies!

Larry:

Sorry to hear you don't wish to commute to CRW rides - it would be a 
great way to add to your mileage.  (Should you be in the area, be 
sure to let me know).

The LAW Almanac lists some 30 bicycle clubs in Illinois.  Only one 
has an address in one of the towns you list.  Probably others 
overlap as well, but I don't know the area.  

	McHenry County Bicycle Club
	c/o Jim Becker
	P.O. Box 917
	Crystal Lake, IL 60014
	815/497-3496

Am sure they could point you toward other possibilities (of course 
when you join the League, they will send you an Almanac of your very 
own).

Glad to help.  Happy riding.

	~Mike

    Well, yesterday I sent in my applications to LAW and the McHenry
    County Bicycle Club.  I wish I'd known about the club earlier....
    their last meeting featured Lon Haldeman giving a presentation and
    video and bring the tandem that he and Pete Penseyeres used for
    their tandem trip across America....  Anyway, thanks, everyone for
    all the help!

    Does LAW do anything for mountain bikers?? If mountain bikers were
    to join, would they help open up trails?? Is there an organization
    that does??