An Update from Jesse

I forwarded to Ron and asked him what
he'd prefer on bikes. Ideal is that riders would volunteer at Sharing
Wheels both building their bike and building/repairing bikes for
others.

Second-most preferable is you can just purchase the bike you like
that's available there.

The Bike Shack also has that option but it's not nearly as formalized
and the selection is much smaller. It is, however, much closer and
manned more days of the week. Same thing applies there, you could
build your own bike or you can buy a ready made one there (also
uber-cheap) and Erica and I (or other Bike Shack volunteers) can teach
you lots of simple things that you'll need to know on the road at an
organized workshop or something if you like.

There are also other places like the Bikery who do training and class
things as well. http://www.thebikery.org/news.html (a drivetrain class
this Saturday!)

So there are lots of options and some might prefer to do one or another.
I'd also like to amend the statement of what type of bike you'll have
at the end. Quality can vary depending on what's available and what
you like. I certainly wouldn't promise a "high-end road bike" to
anyone, let alone everyone. Ron (and myself) favor 80s mountain bike
frames and touring frames for long-distance rides. They're very
sturdy and hold up under many many road conditions. Lots of people
really prefer a touring or road bike with very skinny tires, but won't
necessarily handle the weight or adverse road conditions as well or,
possibly, last as long.

Ron should get back with me in the next few days on if he has bikes
available in those sizes that are really good matches in the next
coupla days.

I revisited my map that you included. I had it as 14 days from
Seattle to San Fran, that just glancing at the distances I would
revise to about 17 or so. Currently the average ride length per day
is 83 miles, with 3 century+ days. Many riders wouldn't appreciate
that.

Here's my recommendation locales to see if there are nearby
projects/green buildings/hosts:
1 Seattle-Oly
2 Oly-Centralia
3 Centralia-Longview/Kelso
4 Longview/Kelso-Portland
5 Portland-Salem
6 Salem-Eugene
7 Eugene-Roseburg
8 Roseburg-Grants Pass
9 Grants Pass-Crescent City
10 Crescent City-Eureka
11 Eureka-Big Bar
12 Big Bar-Redding
13 Redding-Chico
14 Chico-Sacramento
15 Sacramento-Fairfield
16 Fairfield-San Francisco

Which only knocks it down to estimated average of 71 miles/day (1149
with highway avoid on), but shows you how much leeway we can make.
That's 6 days of 80+ miles, one above 90. These are all doable miles
and allows us to make more project and/or rest days, but you'll
definitely feel it some of those days.

12/12 Meeting Minutes

During last nights session we began to divide up tasks and form groups.

GENERAL UPDATES

Registered Riders:
Elis Wooton
Jesse Card
Erica Weiland
Jessamyn Bateman-Iino
Dave Sanford
Amanda Steinhauser
Matt Dupre
Elise Cope

- Next RGBG Meeting: January 9th. Exact location and time TBA.

- Application Deadline for Riders: Feb 1. 12 more riders to go!

-The RGBG website will be up by next week. The site will give anyone interested a clear picture of what RGBG all about. (We don't really have that right now unless you come to a meeting!) People will also be able to access the rider application online. In the meantime, RGBG's progress can be followed at www.rgbg.blogspot.com. Once the website is up, the blogspot will still serve as a common forum of communication for riders and organizers. **Cue current riders to network with eachother via www.rgbg.blogspot.com**


ORGANIZATION GROUPS

- Site Coordination:
Matt Dupre is going to began coordinating with sites. It was decided last night that 10 "work days" at green affordable housing projects would put more a lot of pressure on our schedule. As such we're aiming to work at 3-4 sites, perhaps spending a couple days at each. Matt will look into volunteer opps. at Habitat for Humanity affiliates as well as other green affordable housing orgs. The route plays a big part in what sites we work at. Right now Matt is looking at an amalgamation of the Oregon Bike Route, and this: http://tinyurl.com/2ukbpa

- Wheels:
Jesse Card is networking with Sharing Wheels Community Bike Shop in Everett for riders to build their own bike. And by "own" bike, we mean bike that's affordable, you know every inch of because you built it and is the equivalent of a high-en- kick-ass road bike. http://mysite.verizon.net/res1liz9/index.html.
Elis Wooton is researching options for a support vehicle and will report back Jan. 9th with some options.

- Rider Training: Dave Sanford is going to put together a training schedule for riders that we'll review Jan 9th. Elis Wooton and Jessamyn Bateman-Iino are lining up someone to train riders on fundraising. Each rider will raise $2,000. We'll talk more about this, and fundraising goals next meeting. All funds raised will be donated to Habitat for Humanity, EKC to sponsor their first LEEDS Certified affordable home. (*key word; affordable)

- Community Events: No one working on this yet-- Once sites and route have been established we will form this group, going to work on creating an opportunity for people to participate in smaller legs of our trip as we ride to San Fran.

- Sponsorship: Funding from sponsors will be solely for operating costs. Elise Cope is researching estimated operating costs and potential sponsors.

- Media and Outreach: Elise is spreading the word-- as are all the other riders as they tell people what they are up to! Remember to use those conversations as an opportunity for registering riders, or green+bike advocacy contacts.

3rd Info Session

Interested in riding? Don't want to ride, but you like the cause and want to help organize?
Info and organizational sessions every other Wednesday 7-8.

December 12, 7pm
@ 123 NE 52nd St, Seattle 98105

For more info conatct
Elise Cope
508.317.0647
rgbgseattle@gmail.com

Defining Green Affordable Housing

Green building fosters long term affordability for low income families. According to Global Green USA, low income families spend more income on utilities than on education and healthcare.

With our communities expanding as they are, there is an ever growing need to address poverty and the environment such that we create sustainable, healthy communities. The green movement is surely on the up and up- with Al Gore winning the Nobel peace prize, organics becoming common selection at our grocery stores, and nearly every where you turn some company, organization or magazine is boasting their commitment to preserving the earth and making that commitment accessible to you.

Environmental Impacts of Building

Some of the biggest impacts we have on the environment lie within the structures we build to accommodate our lives. Buildings in the US account for:

• 40% of total annual US energy;
• 25% of water use;
• 20-30% of municipal solid waste stream;
• 30-40% of wood and materials use;
• 25% of greenhouse gas emissions;

The Green Affordable Housing Coalition outlines green affordable housing projects with the following criteria:

• Are integrated to the site and region;
• Use energy, water and materials wisely;
• Minimize and recycle construction waste;
• Create their own energy;