Rah, Rah, Rochester???

[Dave Hallaway]

Would anyone like to contact this guy? I'm the wrong person...

Hello Dave and Mike,

You are probably aware Rochester recently received a community award
from the League of American Bicyclists. I understand that fairly few
cities in Minnesota have received this award. It's worthy of coverage
in the newspaper.

I was thinking a fun and interesting way to report this news would be
to sit down with 2-3 avid local bicyclists -- not racers or long-
distance riders, necessarily, but more just people who spend a lot of
time recreationally biking around town. I'd like to ask them about
their biking history, habits, favorite places to ride, pet peeves,
wishes for future improvement...that sort of thing. It could be a
fairly quick interview. I would intend to post the article in a
question-and-answer format.

Would you recommend a couple of people for me to contact, or feel free
to give them my contact information and allow them to reach me? My
timeframe is this week. Thanks for any assistance.
-------
Jeff Pieters
Reporter
Post-Bulletin
Rochester, Minn.
Voice: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

[jno]

Charly Tri seems to be the media darling around here. The only person I would talk to from the Post Bulletin is Dan Gaz. Dan is a fellow cyclist and does some freelance stuff for them.

This guy's intentions seem good, but I am wary of reporters. Maybe it's the media in general. Add on all the tools that post to the website in the comments section. I'm guessing the story will be spun into a motorist vs cyclist arguement. Talk about the great bike paths, and you will get flak from pedestrians, talk about the great county roads, you will get flak from motorists. Talk about commuting, people complain about bicycles in downtown traffic.

I see a no win situation. Better to keep quiet.

MHO,

J-No

[Charly Tri]

Aren't we the optimist?

I wouldn't do the interview anyways, it would interfere with my big autobiography coming out soon. Watch for book signings.

[danielgaz]

Thanks for the props, Jason. I'll see if this story hits my "desk."

[jno]

May 5, 2010 7:25:52 GMT -5 @Charly Tri said:

Aren't we the optimist?

I wouldn't do the interview anyways, it would interfere with my big autobiography coming out soon. Watch for book signings.

I would be happy to write the foreword to the autobiography, as well as the chapter where you bought/swindled rental property for pennies on the dollar from honest, hardworking property owners.