There was discussion around how the club was started and the goals for the future.

Announcements of sponsors and there is room for additional sponsors (got a business?)

Discussion around ride leaders – need more B-C ride leaders – to grow the club must meet needs

Possibilities of getting a team to travel to events together

T-Shirts with new logo issued to attendees that signed up – Founding Members – on short great time to get in on the ground floor.

Organizing additional rides on days other than their standard Saturday and Wednesday Rides.

Looking for assistance to grow the club – many opportunities – if you love to ride and live on Eastside of Orlando here is your chance to start riding with a nice group of guys/gals that know and love bikes and group rides.

I am happy to be a member of the Eastside Cycle Club (Founding Member) I also sponsor the group. Although my only ride with the group started ended with a flat – I look forward to riding with Eastside Cycle Club on Saturday morning rides which gather @ 6:45 AM Avalon Park YMCA.

In their website, the injury law firm of Rue & Ziffra bring to light, some facts gathered from Bicycle Safety Helmet Institute, they state:

• There are 85 million bicycle riders in the U.S.
• 784 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2005; 92% of them died in crashes with motor vehicles (720).
• About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and
27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.
• Bicycle crashes and injuries are underreported because the majority are not serious enough for emergency room visits.
• 1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries had a brain injury.
• Two-thirds of the deaths here are from traumatic brain injury.
• A very high percentage of cyclists’ brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88%.

Rue & Ziffra, leading Daytona and Orlando Florida bicycle injury attorneys, have, in the past three decades of injury law practice
have looked after the rights of the injured bicyclists and have handled numerous bicycle injury
cases and help them in recovering their losses.

The respected and knowledgeable injury attorneys at Rue & Ziffra tell their clients that, ‘Medical bills can be very costly and put tremendous pressure on the individual and his or her family. If you have suffered damages or injury in a bicycle accident resulting from a negligent motor vehicle operator or other cause, you may be able to file a claim to recover your losses.”

Florida based personal injury law firm serving Central Florida region of: Orlando, Palm Bay, Lakeland, Melbourne, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Orange City and surrounding areas.

Attorney Thomas B. Luka had sued former bicycle officer Anthony Miller, accusing him of false arrest and excessive force.

Luka testified in Orlando federal court this week that Miller had arrested him, then once locked in a holding cell, hit his back, shouders, arms and legs.

Defense Attorney Robert Bonner said there was no beating.

Miller and another officer did arrest Luka Sept. 20, 2006, outside a bar near Central Avenue and Court Street. He was accused of battery and resisting arrest without violence, but prosecutors a month later dropped the charges.

Luka originally sued both Miller and Orlando, the officer’s employer. However, U.S. District Judge Anne Conway in May dismissed the city as a defendant.

The case against Miller went to trial Monday. Jurors began deliberations Wednesday about 5:30 p.m., and returned a verdict 30 minutes later.

Luka is a criminal defense attorney and sometimes sues police agencies. He also currently represents Lee Anthony, brother of Casey Anthony, who is currently awaiting trial on charges she murdered her 2-year-old daughter.

Luka was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Miller retired from the Orlando Police Department in October, Bonner said.

Our monthly Club meetings will be the last Thursday of every month, so mark your calendars.  This month, that falls on July 30th.

When: 7:00pm

Where: Avalon Park YMCA

What:  The agenda includes formal club formation, member roster signup, race and event signups, and a sneak peak at the new Club T-shirt and Cycling Jersey & shorts.

*** Special post-meeting workshop – changing a tube on the road.  ***

Directions: Alafaya Trail South, left turn onto Avalon Boulevard, approx 1 mile to YMCA on the left

For more information call Jim at 407 902.6686 or email website@eastsidecyclingclub.org

Avalon Park Riding Group
visit them @ www.eastsidecyclingclub.org