2019 Product Guide

Newsletter of the International Police Mountain Bike Association

Some Ride to Remember; Some Ride to Forget CAF Meets IPMBA: by Maureen Becker Executive Director From Bicycles to Warbirds he last issue of IPMBA News contained some sobering statistics and by David Cohen T articles, not only about suicides among public safety personnel, but Maryland National Capital Park Police Reserve Unit also among our own membership. It was a challenging issue to write in ince joining IPMBA in 2007, I have many respects, not the least of which was not knowing how you, the S submitted quite a few articles. The one reader, would react to such a sensitive subject. Most of us know – or thing I get asked about even more than the suspect we know – someone who has taken his or her own life. content of any of the articles is my “About the Author” blurb, which indicates that I restore The reaction from our members was gratifying. Many emailed to thank World War II era aircraft: how I came to be me for acknowledging the “elephant in the room”. Others expressed involved in such an enterprise. their appreciation for the resource page dedicated to suicide prevention By the winter of 2011–2012, I had become and awareness that we have added to the website. One person took me quite adept at restoring old bicycles. Working aside during the IPMBA Conference in Fort Worth and simply said, on bicycles was always fun to me, but it was “thank you.” That spoke volumes. also starting to get to be old hat. I was looking for another challenge. Ever since I was a young As if that weren’t rewarding enough, IPMBA Instructor Allen Daniels boy, World War II aviation has fascinated me, engaged me in conversation during the competition. I had received an and when I learned about the Warbird email from him in late February that referenced a workshop for 2020. movement – people who actually restore and Focused on 2019, I set it aside. I wish I hadn’t. As it turns out, Allen fly these aircraft – I knew it was something that has been diagnosed with PTSD related to having engaged in search and I wanted to do. rescue operations at the Pentagon on 9/11. It was triggered by his return I was aware of an operation somewhat near me to Washington for a reunion with his unit members in September 2018. that was restoring a TBM Avenger, a World War II carrier based torpedo bomber. I found Allen has the good fortune to work in a supportive environment. Rather one of the contacts online and asked if I could than being told to “suck it up, buttercup”, he was given access to therapies and treatments often not available to members of the public (Continued on page 38) safety community. As an avid cyclist, he found himself gravitating to his bicycle for comfort and to “ground” himself. His decision to ride on- or off-road is governed by a seemingly simple tenet: Ride on the road to remember. Ride in the forest to forget. Board of Directors ...... 34 Riding on the open road enables him to focus on breathing, cadence, and Corporate Members ...... 24 surroundings; the very definition of “mindfulness”. Thoughts flow in and out as the miles fly by. The mind engages in a dialogue with itself, Gears and Gadgets ...... 27-28 often leading to clarity of vision. Riding in the woods requires more Instructor Corner ...... 35 concentration on the trail, the surroundings, and body positioning. It Issue Focus: The Product Guide .... 5-24 forces everything but survival in the moment – including demons – to the side. Both forms of riding release adrenaline that might otherwise be Airo Bike Saddle ...... 18 stored as negative emotional energy. CABDA Heads West ...... 11 Evolution of a Cyclist ...... 13 Allen will be offering a workshop about his experience dealing with his Improving Officers’ Health ...... 19 PTSD, both through traditional therapies and riding. He envisions it as a two-part session: a classroom discussion followed by a mindfulness Product Purchase Program ...... 21-23 ride. Reports from Interbike 2018 ...... 5-10 Good-Bye, Old Friend ...... 5 If you are planning to attend the 2020 Conference and are open to My First and Last ...... 7 sharing stories about the traumatic situations that you have faced, the support you have received (or would like to receive), and the coping Well-Worth It ...... 9 mechanisms you have adopted, or you just want to talk, please contact RZ Mask ...... 15 Allen at [email protected] or 207-208-7174. Shimano SH-GR7 ...... 17 Member News...... 29-34 IPMBA 2020: June 1-6, 2020, in Dayton, Ohio. It is time to let the 1 IPMBAelephant NEWS, out ofVOL. the 28,room. NO. 1 2019 President’s Column ...... 2-3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN New Year’s Resolutions:

ne of the most time-honored There are also amazing networking opportunities. The O traditions is making New nature of our jobs often puts us in a silo. Too often we Year’s resolutions at the dawn of become complacent, which translates into our job a new year. Webster’s defines performance. There is a value in learning how things are the making of a New Year’s done in other areas and how other departments have dealt Resolution as a “tradition in with the same problems you are facing. The ability to which a person resolves to share training guidelines, policies, funding streams, and change an undesired trait or validate your tactics and program is invaluable to the behavior, accomplish a personal sustainability of your bike team/unit. The bottom line, it is goal, or otherwise improve their life.” So how does this a big deal and if you miss it, you are missing out! apply to IPMBA? Practice the Fundamental Public Safety Cycling Skills. The IPMBA New Year’s Resolution can be described as a Too often we become busy and take the basic skills for “tradition in which a member resolves to change an granted. Time is valuable, so why spend it on something undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal you’ve already accomplished, right? It is this mindset that goal or otherwise improve IPMBA.” The top sets most up for failure. As a Public Safety Cyclist, five resolutions that can improve IPMBA it is easy to get caught up in doing the job. (and you) year-round are: Before you know it, you’ve worked several shifts or events without utilizing many of the Maintain your Membership. Even if skills you had to master to achieve the your department does not cover this certification. So you grow complacent. expense, invest in your professional Fast forward ahead in your career, and now growth and development and join or you want to become an IPMBA Instructor. renew your membership. The inability to demonstrate a mastery of Become an Active Member. So, the basic skills and knowledge is the you’ve done #1 above, now what? downfall of nearly everyone who goes Think of your membership as being home on day two of the Instructor Course. more than a requirement for your job. We want YOU to be an Make it a point to practice your basic skills Don’t sit idly by, passively reading the active IPMBA Member! during every shift or event you work. IPMBA News! Instead, become a Negotiate urban obstacles in the park, tackle the contributing member. As an IPMBA member, built environment in an urban area, or ride the box you are part of a family of 3,000 like-minded individuals in your standard parking space. Never pass up an throughout the United States and beyond. The easiest opportunity to develop your skills and technique as a things to do are to follow IPMBA on social media and like, cyclist. comment, and share posts. Up the ante by writing an Challenge Yourself. Have you taken any advanced level article for the IPMBA News, write a product review public safety cyclist training? Have you ventured out (contact Maureen at [email protected] for guidelines), or beyond your basic cyclist certification? Unfortunately, few join and actively participate in an IPMBA Committee or departments place a high value on advanced certification Task Force. As with any relationship, what you get out of courses as requirements for advancing within the team/ it reflects what you put into it. unit. Did you stop at the basic Police, EMS, or Security Attend the Annual Conference. IPMBA was founded Cyclist level, or have you driven yourself to advanced with an annual conference at its core. This is a time and training? Do you buy into the misguided notion that once place where like-minded folks can come together, learn, you are an instructor, there is nothing more you can learn? train, instruct, and network. Since the beginning, this has I hope not. The Duke of Wellington claimed, “No man been a “bring all of your stuff” conference, because you are fears to do that which he knows he does well.” Challenge going to put it to use. One of the factors that has made the yourself to learn more, to do more, and to do it well, for the conference such a success is the fact that you do not spend day may come when your life, or the life of another, it sitting in a conference hall or classroom. depends on it! It was – and continues to be – a hands-on event. You Studies show that 60% of us make New Year’s actually practice what you are being taught. It is also the Resolutions, but only 8% of us achieve them. The majority “Main Event” of the year. A majority of the board’s time fail before January 31st. If you are still reading this, you is spent preparing for and conducting this live event for the are already ahead of the game. benefit of the attendees. Certain IPMBA certification To be successful, you should use a technique used in courses are only offered at the annual conference. These writing learning objectives as part of a lesson plan. Use certification courses add value to your resume and what the process of being SMART: specific, measurable, you bring back to your department. Call it a “deliverable” achievable, relevant and time-bound. for your leadership.

2 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION An Ongoing Commitment PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

 Specific. Your resolution should be absolutely clear. passion in the moment, it doesn’t usually last long,” Setting concrete goals is more important than just said Dr. Michael Bennett, a psychiatrist and co-author vaguely saying, “I want to ride 300 miles in the Police of two self-help books. “But if you build up a process Unity Tour or EMS Memorial Ride.” You need to where you’re thinking harder about what’s good for have solid goals. How far do you want to ride, and at you, you’re changing the structure of your life, and what time interval? Setting a goal of twenty miles you’re bringing people into your life who will reinforce twice a week in the next two months followed by 30 that resolution, I think you have a fighting chance.” miles three times a week one month out will be more  Time-Bound. Like setting achievable goals, the effective. timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic.  Measurable. This may seem obvious if your goal is That means allowing yourself enough time to do it with related to fitness or weight loss. Being able to track lots of smaller, intermediate goals set up along the way. your progress over time shows your success. A lot of Start with your membership renewal. Mark it on your little accomplishments will lead to the larger main goal. calendar and relish the fact that it will make your Logging progress into a journal, making notes on your conference fees less expensive and because you are phone or engaging an app designed to help you track part of a larger community. Every shift, check yourself behaviors can reinforce the progress, no matter what on two basic cycling skills and progress to a re-read of your resolution may be. the Complete Guide. Annually make it a point to re- take the basic written test as part of your training  Achievable. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have regimen. These are all small battle victories towards “big stretch” goals. But trying to take too big of a step the goal of winning the war. too fast can leave you frustrated, or affect other areas of your life to the point that your resolution takes over January 2019 is behind us, but it is never too late to start. your life, causing you, your friends, and/or your family If you can accomplish these five resolutions, you will to flail. likely achieve some of the more common resolutions we often fail to accomplish. You can count on your 3,000  Relevant. Is this a goal that really matters to you, and fellow IPMBA members to help you are you setting it for the right reasons? “If you do it achieve these resolutions. out of a sense of self-hate or remorse or a strong

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 3 MEMBER NEWS

4 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Welcome to the 17th Annual IPMBA Product Guide. This issue of IPMBA News is all about highlighting products and services designed to enhance your safety and effectiveness, both on- and off-the-job. It features reports from the now-defunct Interbike and the emerging CABDA, product reviews, musings about changes in technology, research results, and the updated Product Purchase Program. It celebrates one new Corporate Member – GeoOrbital Wheels – and one returning after an absence of several years – Trek Bicycle Corporation. It is the hope of the authors and contributors that you will find inspiration in these pages, not only to support the companies listed within, but to go forth and bring new suppliers into the fold. Pages 5-24.

Interbike 2018: Goodbye, Old Friend! by Clint Sandusky, former PCI #849/EMSCI #159 in September 2019 in Reno as The author went on to say, “Pivot and Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Department (ret.) previously scheduled. Instead, the other brands are looking to regional company will research alternative bike shows as a way to reach retailers. plans for 2020 and beyond, Cocalis plans to attend the including the opportunity to launch Chicagoland Area Bike Dealers events featuring bicycling and bike- Association (CABDA) show. related components within or CABDA holds its Chicago event in alongside its various successful, February and will launch a second multi-sport trade show franchises.” event in San Diego this January.” This Under “About Interbike” it read: may be the future of bicycle trade “Established in 1982, Interbike has shows in the U.S. [Ed.s’ Note: see CABDA article, page 11 of this issue.] been the leading bicycle trade event in North America, bringing together My hope and the hope of others is that manufacturers, retailers, industry Interbike can somehow reinvent itself advocates, distributors and media to and return in 2020 or beyond. A conduct the business of cycling. January 17, 2019, posting on Bicycle Interbike and its events have Retailer and Industry News announced provided an important platform for that Emerald Expositions is face-to-face business interaction, considering adding a bicycle Entrance to 2018 Interbike Show product line previews and media component to one or more of the launches, sales lead generation, Outdoor Retailer shows, which are also operated by Emerald. At press n its heyday, Interbike was “the” trend setting, networking and retail III bicycle trade show and outdoor education. Interbike is owned by time, the Outdoor Retailer website demo to go to in North America, Emerald Expositions, a leading indicates that bikes will be coming to attracting manufacturers, retailers, operator of business-to-business trade the Winter Market, to be held in inventors, designers, and more. It was shows in the United States.” Denver in November. a great place to learn about the coming In a VeloNews article entitled, On a personal note, I have enjoyed year’s new product lines and to “Interbike is dead. Now every Interbike show I’ve attended maintain and/or create relationships what?” (December 18, 2018), the over the years. Seeing all the new and within the bicycle industry. However, author noted, “Numerous factors and cool stuff was a blast. I also learned a it may be time to say, “Goodbye, Old changing dynamics contributed to lot from presentations such as the e- Friend.” Interbike’s death: the shrinking Bike ones conducted by BOSCH A press release posted on Interbike’s number of American retailers, big eBike Systems and PeopleforBikes. website on December 6, 2018, stated: brands launching their own dealer But the relational aspect of attending “Interbike owner, Emerald camps, and the rise of e-commerce, Interbike with friends, meeting up with Expositions, announced today that the among other things.” California POST and IPMBA Interbike tradeshow will not take place (Continued on page 6)

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 5 Interbike 2018: GoodGood----Bye,Bye, Old Friend

“Boogaloo Class One Electric Mountain Bike Race” was held at Northstar California’s Bike Park. Race categories included Pro, Open, and Youth. It was my second e- MTB race of the season, and it did not go well. However, the race experience was invaluable for me, both as an e-Bike enthusiast and a member of IPMBA’s e-Bike Task Force. COPSWEST 2018 Mike Wear and Clint at COPSWEST 2018 So you think that was the ONLY fun I had on this trip up north? demonstrate its use and effectiveness as a patrol tool! Clint, Jason Bain, and Jared Williams at NEGATIVE. Prior to attending Interbike 2017 Interbike, I had the honor of assisting Mike and I spoke with and promoted IPMBA Board Member Mike Wear at IPMBA to numerous attendees. We (Continued from page 5) the 2018 COPSWEST Expo, held in even had a long conversation with a Sacramento, capital of the State of top California POST representative, instructors, and nurturing and who attended one of our demos. He establishing new relationships with California. We staffed the IPMBA Booth and had the opportunity to do appeared genuinely interested in exhibitors were the most important IPMBA and the e-Bike as a patrol reasons I attended. some bike patrol demos during the Expo. Of course, I used my police tool. Will IPMBA become more Everyone who has attended multiple model e-MTB to highlight and accepted and taught in California in Interbike shows will tell you that the the future? We all hope so. 2018 show in Reno was The COPSWEST Expo generated much smaller than in recent some excitement and controversy, years, when it was held at the attracting a crowd demonstrating over Mandalay Bay Convention a past Sacramento Police Department Center in Las Vegas, NV. OIS. It was cool to see the Aaron Roesler of American Sacramento Police “BIRT” (which Bike Patrol Services (an includes several IPMBA Instructors) IPMBA Corporate Member), in action, helping to protect all us said of the 2018 Show, “you exhibitors and attendees. Great job, could roll a bowling ball Sac City PD! from one end to the other,” comparatively speaking. Clint retired in 2016 after a 24-year law enforcement career with the Los Angeles In my opinion, the best part County Sheriff's and the Riverside Community of this year’s Interbike was College District Police Departments. He helped form RCCD PD's Bike Team in 1993 the Outdoor Demo. It was and has been an active California POST Bike truly a FANTASTIC way to Patrol Instructor since 1994. Clint has highlight mountain bikes of attended numerous bicycle patrol and bicycle all makes and models, safety courses, seminars, and conferences. He including e-MTBs. It was joined IPMBA in 1994, completed the Advanced Police Cyclist Course in 2000, and held over three days at the the IPMBA Instructor Course in 2005. He very popular Northstar taught at the 2006, 2007 and 2018 IPMBA California Resort and Conferences. He is currently a member of Village, in beautiful Lake IPMBA’s e-Bike Task Force. He can be Tahoe, and included the reached at [email protected]. Northstar Free-Ride Festival Photos courtesy Clint Sandusky. for the public. As part of the festival, an e- MTB race known as the Clint readies for the e-MTB Race

6 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Interbike 2018: My First and Last by Scott Bixby, PCI #1684 2018 sponsored by Yamaha Power As I mentioned, the test bikes available NY State University Police, University at Buffalo Assist Bicycles”. In fact, the more I at the outdoor test track were [Ed.’s Note: This article was written prior to walked around, the more convinced I predominantly e-Bikes. I probably did the announcement by Emerald Expositions that became that the name of the show should one hundred laps of the track on this Interbike, in its current format, would be discontinued.] have been “Inter-E-Bike”. Mondraker Crafty. There were a couple of small jumps so I lowered the dropper f you don’t know me, trust me when I To be clear, I don’t hate e-Bikes. I’ve ridden several, and they are fun. And I and hit them over and over and over! I III tell you that I’m a mountain bike borrowed the bike from the Bosch tent fanatic. In mid-August, when IPMBA certainly understand how useful they can be in public safety operations. The fact and fully expected them to come pull me Industry Liaison James Englert called off the track at some point. and asked if I wanted to attend Interbike is, they dominated Interbike 2018. There 2018 in Reno, Nevada, on behalf of was an outdoor test ride area, and it was IPMBA, I struggled to contain my hard to find a bike that didn’t have an excitement as I nonchalantly replied, electric motor. And one whole wing of “yeah, I might be interested in the conference center was occupied by attending.” I’m fairly certain James saw Asian companies with very similar right through my feigned indifference! sounding names displaying their latest and greatest motors, controllers and If you aren’t familiar with Interbike, it’s batteries. probably the largest bicycle trade show in the United States. Since 1992, it has If you need to haul kids to day care and been a chance for the bicycle industry as soccer practice, there is an e-Bike for a whole to showcase all their new you! products for the coming year to dealers Back to the task of identifying products and other industry insiders. In other specific to public safety operations, words, “bicycle nirvana” for a fanatic here’s what I found. such as myself. KHS Bicycles had a large booth set up If you’re paying attention to the industry, and inside the display I found this K9 you’ve probably heard that Interbike is Police model. declining in attendance and relevance so I was really excited to be able to attend before the show went away completely. As it turns out, the end was closer than I expected. As I was writing this article, the owners of Interbike announced that the 2019 show had been cancelled. I doubt we’ll see another Interbike in the future, but I’ll talk about that later on in this report. Interbike is too big for one person to cover, so I met up with IPMBA Board Member and Conference Coordinator I spoke at length about the bike with a Brian Gillman in Reno. We made a plan KHS representative. I misplaced his to work together to say hello to past and business card, so I apologize for not present IPMBA Corporate Partners and recalling his name, but he was heavily the companies that support the IPMBA If you’re into bike-packing but just can’t involved with specifying the Product Purchase Program. We also had manage without a Yeti cooler and components. The bike is nicely some assignments from IPMBA propane grill, there is an e-Bike for you, equipped with 1 x 11 Shimano Executive Director Maureen Becker, so too! drivetrain, 27.5+ wheels, and a rear rack it was a very busy two days for both of and bag. The bike is us! on their website here Before I delve into the products I https:// consider relevant to bike patrol, let me khsbicycles.com/ say that if you aren’t convinced that e- bikes/2019-khs- Bikes are literally exploding in the models/k9-19/. bicycle industry, you only needed to If you are interested walk through the front door of the Reno in this bike, I Conference Center. There you were recommend that you greeted with a sign reading “Interbike (Continued on page 8)

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 7 IInterbikenterbike 2018: My First and Last

(Continued from page 7) That’s all the public safety-specific the first week of December, Interbike contact KHS for clarification on some bikes I could find. However, I did see owner Emerald Expositions announced details. Specifically, they list a 42-tooth this custom e-Bike from the Laguna that they were cancelling the 2019 Shimano 10-speed cassette. If you Beach Fire Department. show. This article published on know Shimano, you know that 42-tooth Pinkbike (https://www.pinkbike.com/ is only available on their 11-speed news/rest-in-peace-the-rise-and-fall-of- group. That’s what I saw on the model interbike-expo.html) lays it all out there, sitting on the floor in Reno. but just as MTV claimed that “video Their website also lists “141 Boost”. killed the radio star” in the early ‘80’s, I’m thoroughly confused as Boost is social media killed the bicycle industry normally associated with 148 mm drop- trade show. out spacing and a 12 mm thru axle. For all the reasons mentioned in the That’s definitely a quick release skewer Pinkbike article, I don’t believe that in my photo and on their website photo. we’ll see Interbike return. Technology MSRP was $999 or $1099 depending on has changed the way businesses interact options selected. And I tried to convince my boss that I with their customers and that Haro Bikes also had a large display that needed this $9999 Pivot Shuttle to patrol relationship is rapidly evolving. included the 2019 PD4. the more rugged areas of our campuses Unfortunately, the “fly away” industry but he (literally) wasn’t buying! trade show is a great idea whose time has passed. I’m thankful to James and Maureen and IPMBA for giving me the opportunity to attend Interbike. Thanks for reading. As always, if you want to talk bikes, shoot me an email at [email protected]. Here’s to lots of bike patrol in 2019! Scott is a Lieutenant with the New York State University Police at the University of Buffalo. He has been a member of the bike patrol unit since 2005 and currently serves as Similar to the KHS, the Haro has 27.5” I said hello to several IPMBA friends its supervisor. He has also been the lead wheels but smaller 27.5 x 2.0 tires with and supporters including Volcanic instructor for the UB Police Bike Patrol School Bikes, ISM Saddles, Bar Mitts, Kenda since 2017. Scott is an expert level mountain reflective sidewalls. The Haro comes biker and has been riding and racing mountain with a mix of Shimano XT and SLX USA, SockGuy, Cygolite, and NuGo Nutrition. But after two days of walking bikes since 1999. He also runs a bicycle wheel drivetrain parts and a large range 11-46 building and bike repair business that can be cassette. That should be plenty of gear around, I really couldn’t find anything found at www.bluelinebicyclerepair.com. He range for all but the most vertically else that I found ground-breaking or can be reached at [email protected]. interesting. challenging locales! MSRP is $1299 Photos courtesy Scott Bixby. and you can find all the specifications That’s a perfect segue into a brief

here: https://haromtb.com/collections/ discussion about the demise of police-bikes/products/pd4-2019. Interbike. As I mentioned previously, in

For your copy call Toll free: (800) 832-0034 Switchboard: (978) 443-5000 Customer service: ext. 8197 Online: www.jblearning.com

Made possible through the support of Mocean, manufacturers of technical law enforcement and bike patrol uniforms. $44.95 • Paperback • 264 Pages • © 2008

8 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Interbike 2018: Well Worth the Experience by Brian Gillman, EMSCI #189T-B industry: all kinds of bikes, electric bikes, nutritional Cypress Creek (TX) EMS IPMBA Conference Coordinator products, apparel, safety accessories, parts, tools, and more. It was overwhelming to see so many of the latest products [Ed.’s Note: This article was written prior to the announcement by and trends in the industry. Emerald Expositions that Interbike, in its current format, would be discontinued.] For me personally, it was eye-opening to be exposed to countless products that I have never encountered even after nterbike 2018 was held this year in Reno, Nevada, in mid- years as a public safety cyclist. The e-Bike industry is I September. It was a new home for this show and it did not explosive, with models that I would have never imagined. disappoint. For those of you not familiar with Interbike, this Obviously, they had the electric versions of the mountain is where the bicycle industry and cycling enthusiasts gather to bike, the cruiser, and the like. celebrate, educate, conduct business and, of course, ride. Attendees range from bike retailers, enthusiasts, importers, But from the European market, where e-Bikes are far more distributors, and non-profit groups to some of the top retailers established as a mode of transportation, I was amazed to see and suppliers in the industry. several versions of cargo and family bikes. These bikes were in excess of eight feet long and probably 1-2 feet wide, with This year I was fortunate to attend on behalf of the IPMBA large cargo areas for moving groceries, kids, light cargo, etc. Board of Directors. I was somewhat skeptical when I was It was really interesting to test ride a bike where the first asked to attend, as I would not necessarily consider handlebars controlled a wheel that was three feet forward of myself a “bike enthusiast”. Most of my riding is done in the the rider. We tested bikes that would potentially work for public safety capacity with some occasional beginner to public safety from a variety of vendors and met one-on-one maybe intermediate mountain biking. Bike maintenance has with company representatives. become a hobby of mine and I find myself enjoying that aspect more every year. IPMBA Industry Liaison James The Electric Bike Theatre was a particularly beneficial to me Englert can be persuasive, so he managed to convince me that this year. With many departments evaluating the use of e- this would be a great opportunity for both IPMBA and me. Bikes for their public safety cyclists, IPMBA is pro-actively So off I went to meet up with Scott Bixby from the trying to determine how best to serve the training needs of University of Buffalo Police Department. those agencies which adopt e-Bikes in the future. I sat in on two very interesting educational sessions. The City of Reno and the Reno Sparks Convention Center were transformed into a cyclist’s paradise. Reno is a bike- The first was a legislative session presented by People for friendly city and offers easy access to unrivaled desert and Bikes. This association lobbies for the bicycle industry and mountain trails. The exhibit hall was nothing less than presented a legislative overview of a “model bill” for e-Bikes amazing. There were more than 800 companies representing they have proposed. They are working with state legislatures nearly 1000 brands all on one floor. towards nationwide adoption. It was a very interesting and engaging discussion as to how e-Bikes are classified in My entire first day was spent walking the halls and meeting various states. Approximately 30 states have specific statutes with various companies, discussing their product lines, regarding e-Bikes already, with (at press time) 16 having making connections and educating each other on products adopted the “model regulations”. An additional 20 have that could be useful in the public safety sector. If I had to outdated laws that do not specifically address e-Bikes. guess, I probably met with at least 100 different exhibitors, offering everything you could imagine in the bicycle (Continued on page 10)

Map courtesy of People For Bikes. IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 9 Interbike 2018: Well Worth the Experience

(Continued from page 9) about IPMBA and the sometimes unique needs of the public The second presentation was given by LAPD and focused on safety cyclist. My primary mission was to encourage them to the evaluation and initial implementation of e-Bikes into their consider attending one of our conferences as an exhibitor and/ patrol fleet. The presentation covered the entire process of or joining our Product Purchase Program. initial product evaluations, the RFP process, vendor selection, Secondly, I had the opportunity to meet with many companies proposed changes, fleet testing, fleet maintenance, staff about potentially testing their products, so hopefully these training, and staff feedback following the implementation, and contacts come to fruition and we can see some product reviews evaluation of the chosen equipment. They had personnel from in the coming months. There were so many amazing products all phases of the process available for questions and answers. already available and some just finishing R&D which I hope to At the conclusion of their presentation, I met with the bike see reach the market. The final part of the day was spent training division officers for over an hour and took the doing some riding. This is where I finally rode a few versions opportunity to discuss the pro and cons of e-Bikes and how of e-Bikes, which was an enlightening experience. Scott they adapted their standard bike training to meet the demands Bixby really took advantage of the day and rode a wider range of the e-Bikes. On a side note, one of the officers was of bikes, some of which are mentioned in his article. previously an IPMBA Instructor who attended the 2011 In conclusion, whether you are a cycling enthusiast or not, the IPMBA Conference in Richmond with me. They were Interbike Expo is well worth the experience. Educational gracious enough to share details about their program, what sessions, the latest products and trends, networking with top they have learned over the last year, and how they have retailers and suppliers: Interbike brings it all together under evolved their standard bike training program to meet the needs one roof. of the e-Bike rider. This information will be invaluable to the E-Bike Task Force as we move forward on training initiatives. Brian has more than 20 years’ experience as a field paramedic and Fire/ EMS dispatcher with Cypress Creek EMS in Spring, Texas. He is the On day two of the conference, I split my time between the logistics coordinator for the CCEMS Bike Team and has been active on exhibit hall floor and the outdoor demo track. I went back to the team since 2005. He has been an IPMBA Instructor since 2007, a specific vendors that were either already familiar with IPMBA maintenance officer since 2008, and teaches 2-3 IPMBA Courses or those that I thought would have products our membership annually. He was elected to the IPMBA Board in 2014 and has held the positions of Membership and EMS Coordinator. He currently serves as could use. The vendors were welcoming and open to learning Conference Coordinator. He can be reached at [email protected].

10 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION CABDA West Comes to SoCal

by Clint Sandusky, former PCI #849/EMSCI #159 Riverside (CA) Community College District Police Dept. (ret.) Overall, I preferred the smaller show to the expanse, expense and time commitment of Interbike. I do believe these smaller, regional shows are the future for the bicycle industry trade show. As with anything in today’s society, adapting to changing trends and needs, social media and financial demands is crucial. I would recommend this show to anyone with an interest in tracking the cycling industry. CABDA also features a Midwest show in the Chicago area, and has since its relaunch in 2015. Visit www.cabda.com for details. From the standpoint of public safety cycling, both NiteRider and Serfas have made updates to their public safety bicycle lighting systems. And interestingly to me, it did not seem like e-Bikes dominated the show as they have in recent or those of you who do not know what “CABDA” years at Interbike. I took the opportunity to discuss the role F stands for (as I did not, until recently), it is of e-Bikes in public safety with representatives of both “Chicagoland Area Bike Dealers Association”, though as CABDA and PeopleForBikes. I provided CABDA Director they expand beyond the Chicago area, they are branding Jim Kersten with a proposal to present a workshop for themselves as just CABDA. retailers next year on “Selling e-Bikes to Law Enforcement: Having attended Interbike on a number of occasions, I was Understanding their Unique Needs.” He was very intrigued by the idea of a smaller, regional bicycle retailer interested in it for next year. trade show. I knew I had to go, and I thank Aaron Roesler For a glimpse of the CABDA West experience (with an of American Bike Patrol Services (an IPMBA Corporate e-Bike slant), check out this video from Electric Bike Member) for getting me a ticket. I do occasionally help Review: https://youtu.be/dSJJsQ2CddQ. him teach security bike patrol classes. Clint retired in 2016 after a 24-year law enforcement career with the The show was held January 16-17, 2019, in Del Mar, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and the Riverside Community College California, not far from San Diego. It only took me a little District Police Departments. He helped form RCCD PD’s Bike Team in 1993 and has been an active California POST Bike Patrol more than two hours, even in the heavy rain, to get there. Instructor since 1994. Clint has attended numerous bicycle patrol Yes, SoCal gets rain. and bicycle safety courses, seminars, and conferences, and continues I was pleasantly surprised there was NO fee to park at the to do so. He joined IPMBA in 1994, completed the Advanced Police Cyclist Course in 2000, and the IPMBA Instructor Course in 2005. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Racetrack. That was the first He taught at the 2006, 2007 and 2018 IPMBA Conferences. He is plus. The second plus was the intimate and relaxed setting currently a member of IPMBA’s e-Bike Task Force. He can be of the show, which was contained within a single exhibit reached at [email protected]. hall. However, I heard they hope to expand the show next Photo courtesy Clint Sandusky. year, when it returns to the San Diego area. This smaller format allowed me to spend more time one-on-one and in informative conversations with the exhibitors I selected, such as: Upcoming CABDA Shows  CABDA Rockies – October 2019 – Denver Metro  Bosch eBike Systems  Bulls Bikes  CABDA West – January 15-16, 2020 – Del Mar Racetrack, San Diego Metro  CABDA  Chamois Butt’r  CABDA Central – February 12-13, 2020 –  KHS Bicycles Schaumburg Convention Center, Chicago Metro  NiteRider  CABDA East – March 11-12, 2020 – Meadowlands  PeopleForBikes Expo Center, New York City Metro  Serfas

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 11

12 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Evolution of a Cyclist: From Skeptic to Believer by Allan Howard, PCI #001 Sure, many of the new products made Unlike an internal combustion engine, Dayton (OH) Police Department (ret.) riding more comfortable, but when your electric motors produce 100% torque at orty years ago on January 20, 1979, employer is buying fleet vehicles, they one RPM. They are immediately more

F a documentary piece entitled aren’t interested in “comfort”; they aren't powerful than anything we have today. “Mountain Biking” was filmed in paying you to be comfortable. Safety, That’s why freight trains use diesel Fairfax, California, for a local show however, is an outright obligation. engines as electric generators to power called Evening Magazine. Quite Remember that next time you’re trying the electric motors that actually move the literally, this was the first film/video of to sell someone on a new idea. train; nothing else can pull that kind of the predecessors of the bikes we ride Right now, our bikes are changing again. weight from a dead stop more efficiently. today. From the very beginning, the Disc brakes (hydraulic & hybrid), thru- Because of that instantaneous power, a bikes used to bomb down those old fire axles, wider rear wheel spacing, different little more specific training is needed so roads were altered for function, not form. gearing (don’t get me started on the 1x we don't have injuries to public servants They weren’t constricted by conventions thing) and electric bikes are becoming or civilians. It’s an exciting time to be of the past because they started with the ubiquitous. Electric bikes, in my involved in our industry; I can’t wait to idea of what they wanted the bikes to do opinion, are going to be one of those see what’s next. rather than how they wanted them to things that quickly develops into a “why With all this talk of change and progress, look. didn’t we do this before?” thing. Having I have one final thought. The current Without being tied to the way “things been here a while, I can tell name of the bikes we have have always been”, they were able to you why: batteries, charging Early ATBs/ now is “Mountain Bike”, drive the stodgy bicycle industry into devices, and motor designs mountain bikes were despite the fact that many of making practical, all terrain bicycles were crude and bulky. Not crude in comparison us live hundreds, if not (ATBs) that were more robust than the all of us are lucky enough to to what we have thousands, of miles from the “traditional” svelte road bikes that were be riding around on a work today, but for rough nearest mountain. I’ve seen “what a bike should be”. Once the bike only laden with some terrain and urban organizations go through bicycle industry figured out there was a basic stuff in a rack bag. We concrete obstacle name changes for all kinds market for alternatives, the gates of the have many members who riding, they were of reasons; some good, some “Wild West” were opened. have to tote heavy medical better than anything bad. Sometimes it nearly Development was fast and furious – long equipment, and e-Bikes are that had been kills the brand. There are before the movie franchise of the same the simple and correct produced before. some very powerful name. Most of it was good, some not so answer to that. organizations with names bad; but there was also the bad, the Even if you aren’t hauling heavy that are clearly from the past, but people ridiculous, and the downright unsafe. equipment, riding an e-Bike on patrol understand and accept it. Despite being a USCF road racer, I tried that will leave you fresher for a foot Someday, the bikes public safety my best to ride everything the mountain chase or struggle could literally save personnel will be riding will be called bike industry had to offer. At first, my lives – civilians, officers and suspects. something else. The bicycling industry motivation was to prove that anything Heck, even recreationally, e-Bikes make will see to it because people want to buy that could be done on an “ATB” or sense. You can’t go any direction from what is new, even if it’s only a name, “Mountain Bike” could also be done on a where I live and not hit a hill. I’m like “gravel bike”, for instance. road bike with cyclo-cross wheels. Early coming into my sixth decade of living In a little more than 30 years, I’d like to ATBs/mountain bikes were crude in and have had to change my gearing from see this organization still called the comparison to what we have today, but a straight block (one tooth changes International Police Mountain Bike for rough terrain and urban concrete between cogs) to wide range cassettes, Association, despite the fact that our obstacle riding, they were better than despite all my training efforts. There members are comprised of firefighters, anything that had been produced before. may soon come a day where I’m riding paramedics, security and other public Alas! I went in a skeptic and came out a an e-Road bike like some of the guys safety workers as well as “police”. This believer. I had no idea where it would who are using them to cheat in bike races isn’t a slight to those in our organization take me, and thousands of other public right now ;-). Will I get rid of my who aren't law enforcement officers, it is safety personnel, decades later. Campy-equipped Colnagos? Heck no, simply a nod to our history, the history The first innovations to our beloved but nothing says you can’t have both of how “our” organization came into mountain bikes that were truly “game- something old and something new. being. changers” were suspension and lighting. I recently took an IPMBA survey By the time you read this, the 2019 These two things were major regarding e-Bikes. One of the questions IPMBA Conference will be history and improvements to overall safety and was about training and whether more we will have added another chapter to launched a period of product training should be required for e-Bikes the story about what makes this development that surpassed what the beyond the regular P/E/S/C Course. organization great. bicycle industry had experienced in the Having ridden every e-Bike that was on prior 100 years combined. Notice I used display at the last conference, I gave a the word “safety” in lieu of “comfort”. resounding “yes” to that question. Allan

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 13 14 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION RZ Mask

RZ Mask: Portable and Functional RZ Mask: Meeting

by Andy Shiu or Creating a Need? Lake Forest (IL) Police Department by David Miniscalco olice officers need tools that are both portable and functional. There’s not much Lake Forest (IL) Police Department

P room left nowadays on duty belts, in cargo pockets or on exterior body armor fter hearing about the reusable

carriers with all of the gear we have to carry at work. There is certainly nowhere to A masks manufactured by IPMBA carry a full gas mask. That’s where the RZ Mask comes into play. Corporate Member RZ Mask, and I’ve had the opportunity to utilize the RZ Mask over reading their claim of being effective the past six months in several situations: at a for police work, I decided I would residence where a search warrant was executed, at a give them a trial run for a few months. death investigation scene, and during BRT Training. My goal was to determine if there was a need for this type of mask for my The RZ mask fits perfectly into the dwindling room daily police activities. we have left on our bodies or in a “go bag”. I carry mine in the zippered pouch (that comes with the The representatives at RZ Mask were mask) slipped behind my handcuff pouch, which is kind enough to send a variety of masks MOLLE-mounted on my outside body armor to evaluate during this testing period. carrier. The filter and valve system while carried in I selected the “Hi-Flow Electrostatic + the pouch is about an inch thick and isn’t bulky. The Activated Carbon” filter set in the mask is very comfortable and the hook / loop strap to “M1” neoprene face mask. close the mask is sturdy. My first impression upon opening the The key to the RZ Mask for me was its portability. face mask and filter was that they were After all, you can’t use it if you don’t have it, made with high-quality materials. The right? The first time I deployed it was at a house face mask felt thick enough to be where a search warrant for narcotics was executed. durable but thin enough to be folded After the scene was secure, I wore the mask to avoid inhaling substances that could be and stowed in a pocket. The stitching made airborne while moving through and/or searching the house. was good, and the hook-and-loop pieces used to close the mask was The mask is very effective – there was a room in which cannabis had been smoked symmetrical and seemingly durable. before we arrived, and it was very strong. I left the room, put on the mask, and went The dual “V1” valve system along the back inside – I could not smell it at cheeks appeared to be sturdy and well- all through the mask! I also wore the set within the material. mask at a death investigation scene, which smelled plenty awful because The filter itself appeared to be multi- there was feces all over the floor and layered and really gave an initial the body had been there for several impression that it meant business. days. The odor was strong, almost The whole system folded nicely into unmanageable, even after I opened my jacket pocket. several windows to air out the condominium unit. I went outside, From February to May, I utilized the donned the RZ Mask, and went back mask on a number of occasions, the inside. I was very relieved to not majority being during car searches. have to work the scene and contend The first thing I can tell you is that with the odors at the same time. It this mask works. The filters do a made the next few hours I spent tremendous job removing particles processing the scene much more manageable. from the air. In fact, it does such a good job that I had to take the mask While wearing a full gas mask is preferred during riot control, BRT deployment or off during a number of the searches. hazardous material situation, the RZ Mask is very functional for a police officer to use during day-to-day operations on patrol. It is compact and can be packed away in an The mask and filter completely evidence technician’s toolkit, slipped into a cargo pocket, or mounted on an outside removed the odor of the substance that body armor carrier during a detective assignment. I would highly recommend this I was attempting to locate. I often product for police use. have to play “Warmer/Colder” with an illicit substance on a search. As the RZ Mask is an IPMBA Corporate Member and participates in the IPMBA Product smell intensifies, I know I am getting Purchase Program, offering 20% off retail to IPMBA Members. Visit closer. As it fades, I realize I may www.rzmask.com or email [email protected] for details. have passed it up. If the odor Andy Shiu is an 18 year veteran of the Lake Forest (IL) police Department (IL) and is currently dissipates or persists despite the assigned as a detective. He is an IPMBA-certified police cyclist and Bicycle Response Team windows or doors being open, that is rider. He specializes in field training, defensive tactics and firearms instruction. He can be also an indication that particular reached at [email protected]. substances are present or not. Photos courtesy Andy Shiu. (Continued on page 16)

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 15 RZ Mask: Meeting or Creating a Need?

(Continued from page 15) However, with so many substances having a delivery method of After wearing the mask on a search, I told a co-worker that it inhalation, it would seem having a readily available mask on made my nose feel “blind”. I couldn’t detect any characteristics patrol would be critical. That said, in many of those situations, of the substance I was seeking. a full-face mask that covers the eyes or perhaps even higher level personal haz-mat protective equipment On one particularly frozen evening, I wore the would be required. The products from RZ Mask mask for warmth as I directed traffic on an Overall, I would accident scene. It worked well and had the added conclude this may be attempting to fill a niche in police work benefit of completely removing the odor of sulfur product does that does not exist, which is not to say they do not have utility for other applications. from the flare smoke. exactly as it claims. One incident that I did not encounter during my One thing I noticed, and this pertains to any item It is a comfortable, testing was a DOA with advanced decomposition. worn over the face, not just the RZ Mask, was an reusable face I believe this to be one of the few situations occasional muffled radio transmission. While not mask that will filter as bad as a full face gas mask, it is still something where a readily deployable filter and mask would airborne particles. shine, but have been unable to confirm this. to consider when wearing it on scene. RZ Mask is an IPMBA Corporate Member and Overall, I would conclude this product does exactly as it claims. participates in the IPMBA Product Purchase Program, offering It is a comfortable, reusable face mask that will filter airborne 20% off retail to IPMBA Members. Visit www.rzmask.com or particles. Now, whether there is a place for this item in my daily police work has yet to be determined. The sense of smell email [email protected] for details. is very important in many incidents, not only for arrests, but Dave has been a patrol officer for a small suburb in the greater also for possible hazardous material situations. Having this Chicagoland area for the last five years. He has been part of a multi- sense muted or outright blocked could hinder an investigation. jurisdictional emergency services team for three years and prior to his current department, he worked in corrections. His favorite color is green. He can be reached at [email protected].

Newsletter of the International Police Mountain Bike Association 583 Frederick Road, Suite 5B | Baltimore, MD 21228 Phone: 410-744-2400 | Fax: 410-744-5504 E-mail: [email protected] | Website: www.ipmba.org Wren Nealy | IPMBA President Maureen Becker | Executive Director; Managing Editor Jennifer Horan | Design and Layout

Copyright 2019 © International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA).

Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The International Police Mountain Bike Association promotes the use of bikes for public safety, provides resources and networking opportunities, and offers the best, most complete training for public safety cyclists. IPMBA Membership is $60.00 per year. Interested in submitting an article? Interested in advertising in IPMBA News? Email [email protected] for information.

16 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Shimano SH-GR7: More Comfort, Less Grip

by Scott Bixby, PCI #1684 You can find the GR7 on Shimano’s Overall, I would rate the comfort of these NY State University Police, University at Buffalo website here: https://bike.shimano.com/en shoes as excellent. They wouldn’t be my f you want to quickly start an argument -EU/product/apparel-accessories/ first choice for a long walk, but I found among bicyclists, especially those of shimano/SH-GR700.html. You’ll them to be comfortable for all off-bike, in theI “mountain” persuasion, mention probably notice very quickly that the the office walking and standing. pedals. To speed things along, start with black and grey version isn’t listed as an Through experience, I know that Five Ten “(insert flat or clipless here) are so much option. And I can tell you from my are narrow, so I buy 13, which is one size better than (insert flat or clipless here) for personal experience when I was trying to up from my normal 12. The Shimano size find a pair for this test, they are hard to mountain biking.” It’s been my chart lists the Euro 48 as equal to US 12, experience that only the wheel size debate find. I ended up going directly to and I did find them to be typical of other elicits a more passionate response from Shimano. I’ll come back to the size 12 shoes I’ve worn. The difference riders. availability issue later on in this review. was the toe box of the Shimano. It was Personally, I’m a flat pedal rider, both as a When the shoes finally arrived, my first noticeably wider than Five Ten and really mountain biker and a public safety cyclist. thought as I lifted them out of the box contributed to my personal comfort. You may already know that if you read was, “wow, these feel light!” I wouldn’t I suspect that the idea my 2018 IPMBA News review of the normally weigh shoes, but I grabbed my behind the neoprene Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedal. trusty canvas Five Ten Freeriders and put cuff is to keep trail/road them on the scale for a comparison. Hopefully, you’ve also read the IPMBA debris out of the shoe. Position Paper regarding flat pedals issued While I like the idea, the in 2016. If you haven’t read the paper, cuff always assumed a please do. “bunched up” condition The keys to successfully riding flat pedals around the back of my are 1) quality pedals with replaceable ankle. It wasn’t traction pins (such as the Catalyst), and 2) uncomfortable, just a shoe designed for use with flat pedals. annoying. I did some Flat pedal shoes will have a flat, mostly off-road riding and the featureless sole made from a rubber cuff did seem to do a compound formulated to be sticky. decent job keeping out debris out of the shoe. Many public safety cyclists, myself included, prefer (or are required to wear) The Michelin rubber subtle black or grey shoes on-duty. These sole provided an muted colors have typically been hard to acceptably firm find, but with the recent resurgence in the As you can see, the difference only pedaling platform. If popularity of flat pedals, it seems as if a amounted to a little more than four you are familiar with new brand of flat pedal shoes are hitting ounces. However, based on my time Five Ten, I found the the market almost weekly. wearing them, I can tell you that the GR7 sole to be more weight difference is noticeable, even if it flexible than the Freerider sole. Some Shimano recently released the SH-GR7 in is only four ounces. riders might prefer a stiffer sole on the what I would consider a “public safety pedals, but I didn’t notice any additional cyclist-friendly” black-and-grey option. Here are my other “out-of–the-box” observations: foot fatigue as compared to my Five Ten’s.  A pair of black shoelaces was included in case the standard grey laces are just In my opinion, Five Ten Stealth S1 rubber a bit too flashy for your taste or is the standard by which all other rubber uniform requirements. soles are judged. As I mentioned in my Catalyst pedal review, I like grip, and Five  The neoprene cuff around the back of Ten delivers. The Michelin rubber in the the ankle, while interesting in theory, GR7 is merely adequate. On the pedals, it turned out to be not executed very yields a harder, less connected feel, and I well, at least in my opinion. More on did find my feet moving around on the that later. pedals more than I like.  I have wide feet and the Euro 48 had a I think Shimano/Michelin delineated the very roomy toe box. tread the way that they did to add a little walking traction. Caution is needed on  The Michelin-branded sole “felt” certain surfaces with flat soles so I sticky and appeared to be of high appreciate the effort from Michelin. The quality. Catalyst pedal I prefer works best when I  The strongly delineated tread pattern am pedaling with the pedal axle in the struck me as odd. (Continued on page 18)

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 17 I NDUSTRY Airo Bike Saddle: Wing-SpringTM

(Continued from page 17) by Tyler Hofacker, PCI #1700-B center of my foot arch. Unfortunately, Dayton (OH) Police Department that mid-foot position left half of the mmediately upon opening the rear traction pins on the Catalyst in the I package, I knew I would be very void between the different tread interested in testing out this saddle. patterns on the sole. The design is nothing that I have seen Earlier, I mentioned that the GR-7 can before. Although it resembles a be hard to find in black and grey. I “traditional” saddle, it is truly one of attended Interbike 2018 in Reno, a kind. The description from Airo Nevada, and made it a point to visit the reads: “The Airo bike saddle Shimano display and check out the transmits minimal pressure to your sit shoes. The shoe sitting on the rack bones and sensitive soft tissue and labeled “GR7” was decidedly different provides superior pelvic support and than the GR7 I had been testing. spinal posture. The secret is Airo’s Specifically, the neoprene ankle cuff patented Wing-Spring™ technology.” was missing, replaced by a more After I installed the saddle and did the initial set up, I had to adjust the attitude of the traditional padded cuff. seat after several rides to get it just right. The nose of the seat slopes down some so The young man in the Shimano shirt it was a challenge getting it just right to my sit bones. On my first ride, I noticed the that I spoke with was not very familiar “Wing-Spring™” parts of the saddle. With every pedal rotation, I could feel the side with Shimano’s shoe line-up and of the seat move with my body. It took a couple of shifts to get used to that feeling couldn’t speak about the changes or of wings moving, but it was very comfortable. The Wing-Spring™ of the saddle did when the revised GR7 might be what it says and kept my perineum off the seat with every pedal stroke. The wings available. It did have a black/grey color of the saddle do indeed absorb the vibrations of the road, making for a more pattern, but it’s highly likely that my comfortable ride. comments about the ankle cuff are now Airo states, “Whether you’re riding in an upright or a more aggressive forward irrelevant. As of late December 2018, I position, the Wing-Spring™ responds dynamically to maintain proper sit bone haven’t been able to find a picture of contact. As your pelvis rotates, the specially engineered springs flex to maintain the revised GR7. proper pelvic support”. The saddle definitely adapts to your body and riding Availability issues aside, I think the position. After a good week of riding time, I Shimano GR7 would make a very nice noticed one of the wings of the seat had moved shoe for public safety cycling from where it was straight out of the package. operations. A quick Google search At first, I thought that I bent the wing, but I shows that the GR7 is fairly average quickly realized that during the 30-mile ride for when it comes to price compared to our Police Cyclist Course, it just adapted to my other shoes on the market. body and my sit-bones. Personally, thanks to the wide toe box, I Airo has two sizes of this saddle that are based found the GR7 to be the most on your body weight/width. Being a smaller comfortable flat shoe I’ve worn. guy, I chose the smaller option. When I first However, after testing the GR7, I can saw the saddle, I was nervous that it was going say that I won’t be giving up my Five to be uncomfortable, due to it being narrow. I Ten Freeriders. The Freerider isn’t was proven wrong very quickly. I have THAT uncomfortable, and more experienced very little discomfort with this importantly, I like grip on the pedals saddle. The only time I have worn cycling and the GR7 just doesn’t deliver. shorts with this saddle is on a 30-mile ride, because I knew that it was going to be a lot of Thanks for reading. As always, if you saddle time. There is very little to no pressure want to talk bikes, shoot me an email at on the perineal area. At no point have I felt [email protected]. Here’s to lots of any numbness riding with this saddle. bike patrol in 2019! I would definitely recommend this saddle to other riders, especially to ones who have Scott is a Lieutenant with the New York a rougher terrain to ride daily. The saddle absorbs the shocks of riding better than State University Police at the University of Buffalo. He has been a member of the bike you would expect from just looking at it. Due to the high demand of the saddle they patrol unit since 2005 and currently serves are currently experiencing a manufacturing delay so I cannot provide a price range. as its supervisor. He has also been the lead At publication, there was no further information on the website regarding instructor for the UB Police Bike Patrol availability. School since 2017. Scott is an expert level mountain biker and has been riding and Tyler was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in 2016 and as an IPMBA Instructor in 2017. racing mountain bikes since 1999. He also He attended the Bicycle Response Team Training and BRT Instructor Seminar in 2018. He runs a bicycle wheel building and bike also attended the Maintenance Officer Course. He is looking forward to being part of the repair business that can be found at IPMBA 2020 Host Agency Committee. He can be reached at [email protected]. www.bluelinebicyclerepair.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Photos courtesy Tyler Hofacker. Photos courtesy Scott Bixby.

18 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION BBlugoldlugold Research Aims to Improve Police Officers’ Health by Judy Berthiaume, Senior Editor ECPD officers still will wear UW-Eau Claire Department of Marketing and Integrated Communications duty belts, but they will hold only guns and tasers. The radio, This article appeared on the UW-Eau Claire hand cuffs, flashlight and other website (https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/uw- eau-claire-research-leads-to-equipment-change- gear officers always have on for-police-officers-3294/) on October 23, 2018. them will be carried on the vests instead, Rokus said. he Eau Claire Police Department is T making a significant change to how Fifteen Eau Claire police officers carry their equipment after a officers volunteered to be part UW-Eau Claire research team of the university’s study. For determined that load-bearing vests are a three months, some officers safe and healthier alternative to the wore load-bearing vests while traditional duty belt. the others carried gear on the duty belts. The officers wearing Officers who carry most of their belts then switched to vests, and equipment – which often weighs close to those wearing vests went back 30 pounds – on vests rather than duty to belts for three months. belts experience significantly less hip Matt Rokus, deputy chief of police, (left) issues Eau Claire and lower-back pain, the study found. After every shift, the officers police officer Mark Vang his load-bearing vest. self-reported and self-recorded “The findings are clear and they are any discomfort and rated the level of from long hours of sitting in his squad significant,” said Dr. Jeff Janot, a lower-back discomfort, giving car, walking his beat or apprehending professor of kinesiology and the faculty researchers extensive data from a six- suspects, all while carrying the heavy lead on a six-month study that involved month period. gear around his waist. UW-Eau Claire, ECPD and Mayo Clinic The 15 officers who participated in the “As soon as I put the vest on, I noticed Health System. “While the vests weigh the difference,” said Reeves. “I wore the more, the weight is more evenly study already have been issued their vests and began wearing them duty belt the first three months, and distributed so there is less strain on the noticed an immediate difference when I hips and lower back.” immediately. The research partners in the study – UW-Eau Claire, the city of put on the vest for the last three months. Researchers also determined that the Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic Health It’s a lot more comfortable. It was easier vests do not limit the officers’ range of System – shared the costs of the 15 vests to spend long hours on the job when I motion or create other issues that would being used by the officers who was wearing the vest.” be problematic for the officers from a volunteered to participate in the Officer Breanna Montgomery said the safety standpoint, said Chantal Bougie, a research. As funding allows, the ECPD vest allows her to sit up straight in her senior kinesiology major from Oshkosh will purchase additional vests so every squad car, something that isn’t possible and the student lead on the research officer will have one, Rokus said, noting with the fully equipped belt. Since she project. that vests cost $300 each so it will take spends many hours in her vehicle “We didn’t find any unintended some time to purchase them all. completing paperwork and other tasks, consequences from wearing the load- All officers go through extensive use-of- the awkward sitting position strains her bearing vest that would cause health or force training, which results in muscle back, she says. safety issues for the officers,” Bougie memory that they rely on when “When I have the vest on, instead of said. accessing their equipment. As officers sitting curved forward, I can sit up Given the study results, the ECPD transition to the vests, they will be straight,” said Montgomery, who has already has begun to transition some of retrained to create that same reflexive been an Eau Claire police officer for its 100 sworn officers from the duty belts response, Rokus said. more than three years. “Also, when I’m on calls, if I’m standing for a long time, to the load-bearing vests, said Matt “This is a significant investment given Rokus, deputy chief of police for the the costs of the vests and the training,” I don’t have extra weight on my waist so ECPD. Rokus said. “It’s an investment we will it’s more comfortable and easier on my back.” “The health and well-being of our make because we have the information officers is our priority,” said Rokus, from UW-Eau Claire’s research to While it is impossible to eliminate all the noting that lower-back pain is a support our decision. We know this is health-related challenges that police significant health issue for law good for the health of our officers.” officers face, the vest does address issues enforcement personnel everywhere. That’s good news for Cory Reeves, who with lower-back pain, which is among the most common health problem “This study shows empirically that said that after five years as an officer transitioning to the load-bearing vests is with the ECPD he’s already reported by officers, especially patrol the right thing to do for our officers and experiencing hip and lower-back pain officers, Rokus said. our community.” (Continued on page 20) IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 19 I NDUSTRY Improving Officers’ Health Since the study was announced in the ECPD’s ongoing wellness programming, (Continued from page 19) spring, Janot has been contacted by Rokus said. “Policing is a physically demanding dozens of law enforcement agencies By expanding its research to include the profession,” said Rokus. “Officers spend from across the country asking about the biometric screenings, researchers a lot of time in their vehicles because results. provided the ECPD with important they use them as their offices. They also This winter, the UW-Eau Claire research information about the health of its often stand to talk to people or hold team will present its findings to top law officers, and UW-Eau Claire students suspects, or chase a combative suspect, enforcement officials from agencies gained valuable experience using high- all while carrying 30 pounds of police across Wisconsin. end equipment as part of a real-world equipment on their waists.” “It’s exciting to partner with our study, Janot said. As a result, many officers experience community, but it’s also exciting to Given the success of the project with the constant back pain, diminishing the know that our work ECPD, Janot hopes to continue to work quality of their lives, may make a difference with the department and to partner with Rokus said. They also “The health far beyond Eau other local agencies to help them solve miss patrol shifts improvement for our Claire,” Janot said. problems. because of back issues, which leads to staffing officers is important,” Bougie said it’s “We have the students, cutting-edge shortages, overtime Rokus said of the incredible to know that technology and expertise to gather the costs and worker comp vests. “But there her work as a student information the ECPD and other claims, he said. also should be a researcher will make a agencies need to address a variety of reduction in health positive difference in problems,” Janot said. “We’ve shared “The health the quality of the lives our data with the ECPD, but we’re not improvement for our care cost and lost of police officers here done yet. Interest in this study is officers is important,” time due to injury, and elsewhere. extremely high so we will share what we Rokus said of the which is good for our “Knowing I am learned, but also are looking for ways to vests. “But there also build on it.” should be a reduction community.” helping these police in health care cost and officers who keep us UW-Eau Claire faculty involved in the lost time due to injury, which is good for safe is pretty special,” said Bougie, who vest research include Janot; Dr. Nick our community.” plans to work as a physical therapist after Beltz, assistant professor; Dr. Saori graduate school. “It feels like I am Braun, assistant professor; and Dr. Knowing the strain that the heavy belt giving them something in return for what Marquell Johnson, associate professor. puts onto officers’ backs during their 10- they do for all of us. That’s an amazing Student researchers include Bougie, hour shifts, the researchers anticipated feeling.” that their study would find that the vests Anna Kohler, Sierra Freid, Maddy would ease back pain, Bougie said. While the vests-versus-belts question is Downing, Jessica Nagel and Lindsey at the center of their project, the Opelt. “But we were surprised by just how big researchers also built a biometric profile Dr. Andrew Floren of Mayo Clinic of a difference the vests made in how the of more than three dozen active-duty officers rated their pain,” Bougie said. Health System helped UW-Eau Claire police officers, giving the ECPD a look researchers design the study. “When the officers went from the vest to at the overall health status of its officers, the belt, there were really big jumps up Janot said. For more information about the police in the levels of pain they reported.” vest research, contact Dr. Jeff Janot, The biometric screenings tested things Other than a study in Sweden, Janot said professor of kinesiology, at like the officers’ flexibility, spinal 715-836-5333 or [email protected], or he doesn’t know of any other research on mobility, core endurance, aerobic fitness, this issue. Matt Rokus, deputy chief of police, at upper-body endurance and lower-body 715-839-4979 or Given its importance and the limited strength. [email protected]. research done, interest in UW-Eau These screenings give the ECPD a Claire’s findings is significant and For information about The Vest Man baseline that they can use to identify company’s hybrid vest carrier vests that widespread among law enforcement strategies to improve the overall health, agencies, Janot said. were used by officers in the study, well-being and readiness of their contact John Gurrola at 310-864-1567 or “The vest-versus-belt issue sounds like a officers, and to identify possible by email at [email protected]. fairly simple question but it’s actually underlying issues that contribute to very complicated,” said Janot. “Law officers’ health issues, Janot said. Judy is the IMC's chief storyteller, sharing enforcement agencies all over want to stories about the many exceptional people that “Having the answers to a lot of small make UW-Eau Claire such a phenomenal place. know if the vests can help address questions can be used to make a big She talks with students, faculty, staff and alumni officers’ back problems. Like in Eau difference,” Janot said. to find and to share their successes, initiatives, Claire, they want data that will help them challenges and dreams with the campus make an informed decision.” The information gained from the community and the world beyond. screenings will be used as part of the

20 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Product Purchase Program MEMBER NEWS The IPMBA Product Purchase Program is going strong. As the retail environment continues to evolve, online shopping has made it increasingly easier to take advantage of the discounts offered by the below-listed companies. Many of them now offer a coupon code entered at checkout that automatically applies the discount. We know you have many choices when you shop, but we urge you to support those who support you. Visit http://ipmba.org/product-purchase-program and start shopping today!

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(Continued from page 21) Website: www.showerspass.com Product: Bikes, Uniforms, Equipment, Park Tools, Notes: Order online. Enter coupon code IPMBA201940 at checkout. Product: Tires, Saddles, Grips, Rims, Wheels, Patrol Cycle Shoes Wheel Parts Discount/Cost to Members: Contact for Pricing Discount/Cost to Members: 50% off MSRP Contact Name: Mark Eumurian Contact Info: 651-773-8763/[email protected] Product: High Performance Cycling, Running, Contact Name: Jordan Smoke Hiking, and Lacrosse Socks Contact Info: 415-389-5040 x 10/[email protected] Discount/Cost to Members: 30% off on Police and Website: www.wtb.com Product: Accessories, Components, Tools (Trek, Sheriff socks Notes: Email [email protected] with IPMBA member Contact Name: Michael Foley number and expire date. Shimano, Bontrager, Pearl Izumi, etc.) Discount/Cost to Members: 15% off MSRP Contact Info: 760-804-1344/ Contact Name: Geoff or Greg Thielmeyer [email protected] Contact Info: 513-522-1551/ Website: www.sockguy.com [email protected] Notes: Online: Enter promo code SGPOLICE18 at Website: www.teamcyclingandfitness.com checkout and click recalculate. Can be used up to Notes: Use discount code IPMBA in promo box at five times per individual during the year. Product: Automatic Bike Lift Storage Systems checkout. Discount does not apply to bicycles. Discount/Cost to Members: 25% off MSRP Contact Name: Chris Benyo Contact Info: 800-825-4777/[email protected] Product: Bikes and Accessories Website: www.liftnstore.com Discount/Cost to Members: 15% off any regular Product: Panniers, Equipment Bags & priced merchandise and labor Safety Vests Contact Name: Sal Piccolo Discount/Cost to Members: 15% off Retail Product: Bicycle Storage for the Home, Apartment, Contact Info: 973-377-6616/ Contact Name: Jessica Schultz and Commercial Settings [email protected] Contact Info: 800-553-1911/[email protected] Discount/Cost to Members: 20% off MSRP Website: www.thebicyclestorenj.com Website: www.rbfab.com Contact Name: Eric Anderson or Sean O’Rourke Notes: Complete police application. Call to demo a Contact Info: 972-824-9633/[email protected] complete police mountain bike. Website: www.velogrip.com Product: Air Filtration Masks Notes: Online: Use discount code Discount/Cost to Members: 30% off MSRP IPMBAMEMBER in promo box at checkout. 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Contact Info: 800-728-1536/ Contact Name: Mike Flynn [email protected] Contact Info: 951-318-7341/[email protected] Website: www.alertesystems.com Website: www.police-bikes.com Product: Helmets, Pads, and Accessories Discount/Cost to Members: 40% off MSRP Contact Name: Amber Allaire Product: Full Line of Bicycles, Bicycle Contact Info: 781-582-8125/ Product: MaxPatrol-600 Police Light System, Patrol Lights, E-Bikes, Sirens, Bags, [email protected] Siren, Cycling Lights, Gloves, Bags Accessories, Uniforms, C3Sports, Fuji, Haro Website: www.bernunlimited.com Discount/Cost to Members: 20% off MSRP Discount/Cost to Members: Additional 5-10% off Notes: Order online at www.bernunlimited.com Contact Name: Michael Espejo Web Prices using promo code IPMBA40 at checkout. Contact Info: 973-631-9839/[email protected] Contact Name: Michael Espejo Website: www.c3sports.com Contact Info: 973-366-5868/ Notes: Enter discount code IPMBA20 at checkout. [email protected] Product: Summer & Winter Moisture-Wicking Website: www.policebikestore.com Headwear and Sock Liners Discount/Cost to Members: 35% off Retail Product: Cycling Computers, Lights, and Contact Name: Liz Fuoco Accessories Product: Police Bikes and First Responder Bicycle Contact Info: 800-556-2948/[email protected] Discount/Cost to Members: 30% off MSRP Duty Accessories; “Head-to-Toe” Outfitting Website: www.maxit-inc.com, www.headgator.com Contact Name: Jim Blattner Discount/Cost to Members: 10% or more off Notes: Provide IPMBA membership number/expire Contact Info: 303-501-1317/[email protected] MSRP date. Website: www.cateye.com Contact Name: Mark Leonard Notes: Order via www.cateyeamerica.com. Apply Contact Info: 501-517-5338/ “IPMBA2018” discount code at checkout. [email protected] Product: Cycling Outerwear & Apparel Website: www.4bike-police.com Discount/Cost to Members: 40% off MSRP Notes: When ordering online, use coupon code Contact Name: Jeremy Rider Product: Police & EMS Mini-Sirens & Lighting for IPMBA 10 for 10% discount. Contact Info: 503-203-8000/ Bike Patrol [email protected] (Continued on page 23)

22 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Product Purchase Program INDUSTRY

(Continued from page 18) Discount/Cost to Members: 12% off Retail Contact Name: Greg Bohning Contact Info: 877-477-4736/[email protected] Website: www.cyclesiren.com Product: Cycling Shoes Notes: E-mail or call with your name and IPMBA Discount/Cost to Members: 50% off MSRP Product: Online Mountain Bike Skills Coaching membership number. Contact Name: Customer Service with Coach Support Contact Info: 866-639-7916/ Discount/Cost to Members: 50% off Monthly [email protected] Subscription Product: Cycling and Underwater Lighting Website: www.adidasoutdoor.com/fiveten-brand Contact Name: Ryan Leech Discount/Cost to Members: 40% off non-sale items Notes: Go to www.adidasoutdoor.com/vip and apply. Contact Info: [email protected] Contact Name: Ryan Stokey Upon approval, orders placed using the email address Website: http://learn.ryanleech.com Contact Info: 831-645-1538/ on the account will be eligible for the discount. Notes: Use coupon code IPMBA at checkout. [email protected] Website: www.lightandmotion.com Product: HAIX Footwear Notes: Use discount code IPMBA-2019 at checkout. Product: Street Crimes Training Discount/Cost to Members: 15% off + free shipping Discount/Cost to Members: $299 and returns over $49 Contact Name: Gail McCarthy, Natalie Walsh Product: Bicycle Lights/Tactical Flashlights Contact Name: Sandy Longarzo Contact Info: 800-275-4915/ Discount/Cost to Members: 15% off MSRP Contact Info: 866-344-HAIX (4249)/service- [email protected] Contact Name: Evan Hsieh [email protected] Website: www.streetcrimes.com Contact Info: 800-592-0319/ Website: www.haix.com Notes: Call and mention IPMBA and the $100 [email protected] Notes: Place orders via www.haixusa.com/ipmba discount when registering. Website: www.nightprovision.com Notes: Online: During checkout, use coupon code MAINTENANCE AND TOOLS IPMBA15 and include your IPMBA membership number under “Comments and Notes”.

Product: ProLink Chain Lube, ProGold Lubes, EPX Product: Bike Uniforms Discount/Cost to Members: 40% off Retail Discount/Cost to Members: 10% off Standard Price Contact Name: Brad Walker List Product: Trauma Bags & Accessories Contact Info: 800-421-5823/ Contact Name: Sally Discount/Cost to Members: 35% off MSRP [email protected] Contact Info: 253-625-7420/[email protected] Contact Name: Andrew Tepper Website: www.progoldmfr.com Website: www.bratwear.com Contact Info: 435-627-2265/[email protected] Notes: Use coupon code LEMIL online. Website: www.statpacks.com Notes: Enter coupon code IPMBA35 online during Product: Bike Patrol Uniforms checkout or reference when placing phone orders. Product: Bicycle Tools and Parts Discount/Cost to Members: 25% off Retail Discount/Cost to Members: Wholesale Pricing to Contact Name: Bill Levitt Departments Contact Info: 877-662-3680/ Contact Name: Erik Larsen or Mark Super [email protected] Contact Info: 541-482-1750/[email protected] Website: www.moceantactical.com Website: www.unitedbicyclesupply.com Product: Eyewear Notes: Discount available only on orders placed Notes: Call to establish an account for your directly with Mocean. Discount/Cost to Members: 40% off Retail department to be eligible for wholesale pricing on all Contact Name: Kyle Gulla products. Contact Info: 720-235-1112/ [email protected] Website: www.dualeyewear.com Product: Bike Patrol Uniforms Notes: Enter your membership number in the fax Discount/Cost to Members: 10% off Retail Prices field on the checkout page. Enter IPMBA-2017 in the Contact Name: Julie Cruise discount code field in the shopping cart. Your Product: GQ-6 3:2:1 Hydration Base, GQ-6 REFUL Contact Info: 206-722-1412/[email protected] membership status will be verified prior to order Endurance & Energy, GQ-6 REKUVR Nite Time Website: www.olyuniforms.com fulfillment. Does not apply to discontinued items, Discount/Cost to Members: 35% off online orders Thin Optics, or bundle packages. Contact Name: Richard Hiraga Contact Info: 949-940-6649/[email protected] Product: Uniforms Website: www.gq-6.com Discount/Cost to Members: 30% off MSRP Product: Sunglasses, Sport Eyewear, Helmets, Notes: Use the online code IPMBA2019 at checkout. Contact Name: Fred Gonzalez Goggles, Prescription Eyewear Contact Info: 888-800-5999 ext. 182/ Discount/Cost to Members: 35% off Retail + [email protected] additional 10% off closeouts and promotional items Product: Nutrition/Energy Bars Website: www.bellwetherclothing.com Contact Name: Reba Kucera Discount/Cost to Members: 20% off MSRP Notes: Contact Fred for a list of participating dealers. Contact Info: 949-272-2468/[email protected] Contact Name: Alyssa Nard Website: www.rudyprojectna.com/vip Contact Info: 888-421-2032/ Notes: Online: Go to www.rudyprojectna.com/vip [email protected] and enter VIP code IPMBA to view discounts. Website: www.nugonutrition.com Product: Uniforms Includes prescription eyewear. Notes: Enter coupon code IPMBA20 at checkout. Discount/Cost to Members: 10% off Retail Contact Name: Customer Service Team Contact Info: 800-225-6715/[email protected] Product: Prescription, Performance, and Casual Website: www.blauer.com Eyewear Notes: Enter IPMBA10 at checkout to receive the Discount/Cost to Members: 60% off MSRP Product: Outdoor-Bike-Action Sports Gear discount. Contact Name: Reba Kucera Discount/Cost to Members: Promotional Pricing Contact Info: 949-272-2468/[email protected] Contact Name: Customer Service Website: www.xx2i.com Contact Info: 866-376-4685/ Notes: Use coupon code IPMBA at checkout. Website: www.expertvoice.com Notes: Email [email protected] for the access code to create an account.

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 23 Corporate Members

GeoOrbital IPMBA thanks iForce Bikes, ISM Saddles, MOCEAN Tactical, Police Bike Store, R&B Fabrications, and RZ The Patented GeoOrbital wheel is a revolutionary, self-powered Mask for their continued participation in the Corporate electric wheel that can make any Membership Program, and welcomes GeoOrbital and Trek vehicle fully electric by simply Bicycle Corporation! These new and renewing Corporate replacing the standard wheel. Members have made a commitment to IPMBA and public safety cycling, and we urge you to patronize them and the other Corporate Upgrade your manual patrol Members whenever possible. bicycles to powerful pedaling- optional electric bikes by swapping out your regular front American Bike Patrol Jones & Bartlett Learning wheel for a Patent Pending Services Product: Educational Materials, Product: Police Bikes and Complete Guide to Public Safety GeoOrbital wheel. The Custom eBikes, Specialty Cycling installation takes seconds and Lighting, Apparel and Phone: 800-832-0034 the wheel fits almost any bike. Accessories Website: www.jblearning.com Phone: 800-488-9690 Website: www.bikepatrol.info MOCEAN Adding electric power to your Product: Technical Bike Patrol patrol bikes greatly increases the Bicycle Patrol Outfitters Uniforms efficiency of your public safety Product: Bike Patrol Products Phone: 949-646-1701/877-662-3680 Phone: 951-318-7341 Website: www.moceantactical.com patrols. Website: www.police-bikes.com NAEMT Bicycles with electric power not Cera Products Product: Association of EMS only improve officer safety and Product: Rice-Based Hydration Practitioners Products Phone: 601-924-7744 increase range, but they also Phone: 706-221-1542 Website: www.naemt.org ease the ride on hilly terrain and Website: www.ceraproductsinc.com Police Bike Store in hot climates. Product: Complete line of public Cygolite Bicycle Lighting safety bikes & accessories Trek Bicycle Corporation Systems Phone: 973-366-5868 Product: High-intensity lighting Website: www.policebikestore.com Since its founding in 1975, Trek systems, designed and built in the USA R & B Fabrications Bicycle Corporation has Phone: 949-297-4972 Product: Panniers & Safety Vests Website: www.cygolite.com Phone: 800-553-1911 remained at the forefront of Website: www.rbfab.com technological advancement. EMS World Product: Leading EMS Magazine, RZ Mask, LLC Throughout the years, Trek has Website, and Expo Product: The World’s Most continued to serve the needs of Phone: 800-547-7377 Comfortable Air Filtration Mask Website: www.emsworld.com Phone: 952-324-54743 public safety cyclists and Website: https://rzmask.com/pages/ currently offers both a GeoOrbital public-safety Product: GeoOrbital Public conventional and an e-Bike Safety Electric Wheel Sound Uniform Solutions designed to meet the needs of Phone: 781-248-5594 Product/Service: Bratwear and Website: www.geoo.com/pages/ Olympic Uniforms the public safety market. public_safety Bratwear Phone: 253-625-7420 Police is a rugged, pedal- iFORCE Patrol Bicycles Website: www.bratwear.com Olympic Uniforms Product: iFORCE Patrol Bicycles powered patrol bike featuring Phone: 206-722-1412 and Accessories Website: www.olyuniforms.com tough construction, quality Phone: 412-215-2983 components, and patrol-ready Website: www.iforcebikes.com Trek Bicycle Corporation features like a rack and ISM Saddles Phone: 920-478-2191 Product: Electric and Standard Product: ISM Bike Seats kickstand. Patrol Bikes Phone: 813-909-1441 The Powerfly Police is a sturdy Website: www.ismseat.com Volcanic Bicycles electric patrol bike equipped Product: Patrol Bicycles, Hand-Built in the USA with a powerful Bosch motor for Phone: 509-427-8623 sustained speeds of up to 28 Website: www.volcanicbikes.com mph, a light and tough alloy frame, a high-quality suspension fork, and patrol-ready features SSupportupport your supporters! Buy like a rack and kickstand.

24 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 25 IPMBA BOARD

26 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Gears and Gadgets: One, Two, Three GEARS & GADGETS by David Cohen Those are not bad gear ratios, particulary on the low end. Let’s Maryland National Capital Park Police Reserve Unit see how they compare to the double and triples. side from e-Bikes vs conventional bikes, no single topic in bicycle world seems to elicit more debate than the one Double Chain Ring over the proper number of front chain rings a bicycle The double chain ring is really should have: single, double or triple. There are certainly the oldest of the technologies. advantages and disadvantages to each one, but the question Growing up, my Schwinn remains: which makes the most sense for the public safety World Sport had a non-indexed cyclist? double with a 39 low gear and a There’s no doubt that when it comes to bicycles, particularly in 54 high gear. Quite a few first- the public safety role, I’m old school. I prefer my bikes and generation mountain bikes from componentry to be simple and rugged. I’ve learned from years of the 1980’s were equipped with tinkering on everything from bikes to airplanes that the quickest the double. They became way to get myself in trouble is to try to fix something that isn’t obsolete almost overnight with broken. On the flip side, I don’t want to be so resistant to change the advent of the triple chain that I’m missing the boat on technology that could be beneficial ring. While always a staple for road bikes, the double chain ring to the public safety cyclist. I don’t want to be the proverbial old is making a comeback in the mountain bike world. It has the guy telling the kids to “get off my lawn!” advantages of being less complicated mechanically than a triple ring, while giving a greater gear range than the single ring. There While there is no substitute for an actual trial under genuine is a slight weight penalty, as you have the same 11 or 12 speed riding conditions, I thought that mathematically analyzing the rear cassette and the front derailleur. However, we’re only various gear combinations afforded by the various systems would talking about ounces, which is almost negligible on a public be a good place to start. Digging out my old high school safety bike when you consider how much gear both the bike and geometry lessons, I’ve come up with a hypothetical 29-inch the rider carry. wheel patrol bicycle (I may be old school, but I’m not that old school!) to at least do a paper exercise on what the bicycle is Most double chain rings are 26 low / 36 high gearing, combined theoretically capable of with each type of front chainring system. with an 11–42 rear cassette. Once again, let’s do the math on the low end and high end. For you math geeks, the mathematical formula works like this: take the circumference of the 29-inch wheel, which is two times Low End: 26 front / 42 rear = 0.62:1 gear ratio. Even lower than the radius (from the tire to the hub) times Pi (3.14, etc.). That the single chain ring, which translates to 4.7 feet for every turn of gives us a measurement in inches, which for a 29er is 91.1 the crank, roughly two fewer inches than on a single chain ring, inches. You then take this measurement and multiply it by the which I would consider a negligible difference gear ratio (i.e., a 33 front / 11 rear yields a 3 to 1 gear ratio) and High End: 36 high / 11 rear = 3.27:1 gear ratio. This gives you a you find out how much ground you can cover in one full slightly higher gear ratio, yielding about 24.8 feet for every turn revolution of the pedals. Divide the result by 12 and you have of the crank, This is a slight advantage; about six inches for each the measurement in feet. Then use these formulae to measure crank turn. While six inches per crank turn might not seem like a and compare the lowest and highest gear ratios afforded by each big deal, if you are in pursuit in top gear, and running a crank rate system. of 90 rpms, that translates into a difference of 45 feet each Single Chain Ring minute, which could make a critical difference. The other very slight advantage on the double crankset is having The single chain ring with an a slightly wider chain (5.5 mm to 5.3 mm). Generally, a wider 11 or 12 speed rear cassette chain is going to be stronger. Single speed chains are very wide combination seems to be the for a reason. They have to stand up to the enormous amounts of latest fad in high-end torque placed on them. mountain bikes. The main advantage is that you do Triple Chain Ring away with the front derailleur altogether, which While the double chain ring is one less thing to go wrong. may be the oldest of the There is a slight weight technologies, it was the triple advantage, which is somewhat negated by the larger cassette on chain ring that made mountain the rear. Rear derailleur technology has advanced to the point biking, particularly cross- where smoother shifts are available across the entire range. Most country style mountain biking, single chain ring bikes have a 32-tooth front chain ring with a 10- a reality for most of the 50 cassette. We’ll examine the low end and the high end. cycling public. Low End: 32 front / 50 rear = 0.64:1 gear ratio. For every one It provides a very wide-spread crank of the pedals, the wheel only turns a bit less than 2/3rds of gear range, from super-low for its distance. The bike will only move forward about 4.85 feet climbing roads off-road, to with each crank. This is a very low gear and capable of scaling fairly high gears for pavement riding. The common chain ring extremely steep grades. for mountain bikes is 22 / 33 / 44. Some 700c commuter bikes use a 28 / 38 / 48 front combination; both mountain and High End: 32 front / 10 rear = 3.2:1 gear ratio. For every one commuter bikes typically use an 11–34 rear cassette, although crank of the pedals, the wheel turns 3.2 times. That translates to I’ve seen 11–32 and 11–28 combinations. The advantage of the roughly 24.3 feet. (Continued on page 28) IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 27 G EARS & GADGETS Gears & Gadgets: 1x vs. 2x vs. 3x (Continued from page 27) travel, and cantilever brakes. To say that surface trails, where the top end gears triple chain ring is that it is supposed to this bike would be obsolete today would be aren’t really necessary. I seldom have used have a wider gear range than a single or a grand understatement. Many of the anything deeper than a 44 / 14 combination double. The disadvantage is that it is improvements in mountain bikes have off- road, a 3.14 to 1 ratio, which is mechanically more complex. It would carried over to the public safety cycling roughly equivalent to the 3.2 to 1 top end have a slight weight advantage over the arena and have dramatically improved our gear ratio offered by a single chain ring double chain ring due to the smaller experience, most notably, disc brakes. mountain bike. The use of the single chain cassette needed in the rear. For our However, some improvements, such as ring on higher end mountain bikes is exercise, we’ll stick with the mountain slacker head angles, which make a bike emblematic of a bigger trend: while the gearing. more stable but not as public safety bike and the mountain bike Low End: 22 The continued development of the responsive, aren’t so can trace their lineage to a common good. As far as the ancestor – the early mountain bikes – the front / 34 rear. mountain bike may not necessarily increasing use of evolution of both bikes has taken them This yields a gear translate into usable improvements single and double down two increasingly divergent paths. ratio of 0.65:1, to the public safety bicycle. just slightly higher chain-rings vs the The continued development of the triple chain-ring in the public safety mountain bike may not necessarily than the single chain ring, and also higher environment, I find myself very guarded, at translate into usable improvements to the than the double chain ring. This actually best. public safety bicycle. came as a bit of a surprise. In terms of distance, though, it translates to about 4.93 I’ve read in other articles that the By trying to relegate the triple chain ring feet per crank, about 2.75 inches less than a conventional wisdom is/was that EMS setup to the scrapheap of bicycle history, I double chain ring, and about 9/10ths of an bikes should retain the triple chain ring believe we’re trying to fix something that inch less than a single chain ring bike. At because of the better low end gearing. As was never broken. A properly set up and the low end, there really is no appreciable we have seen by the math, the differences adjusted front derailleur should last an difference in chain rings. in the low end gearing between the three entire season without giving the rider much chain ring types is negligible. And, for the trouble. As an avid mountain biker who High End: 44 front / 11 rear. This yields a kind of riding EMS personnel do, having has led numerous group rides over the 4:1 gear ratio, which is a very significant the low end and the simplicity of not years, I’m very hard-pressed to come up difference from the single and double chain having to deal with a front derailleur may with any incidents where riders suffered ring bikes. In terms of distance, that is be worth investigating. I don’t think the front derailleur failures. A more common more than six feet further than a single shallower top end gearing would come into issue is a bent chain ring that interferes chain ring bike per crank and 5½ feet serious play in the EMS bike role. They with the derailleur’s operation. The rear further than the double crank set. Using need speed, but they don’t derailleur is far more our hypothetical pursuit at 90 rpm, that need the kind of pursuit ...the 4:1 top end ratio of a vulnerable, as I can means an advantage of 540 feet in just one speed a police officer may triple-chain ring bike has a think of dozens of minute of riding over a single chain ring need. considerable advantage over times on group rides bike and an advantage of 405 feet over a single / double chain rings. when riders have double chain ring. Several bike versus car My primary concern with lost their rear pursuits have been documented on the the single and double derailleurs to an errant stick or rock, or tore pages of the IPMBA News over the years. chain ring setups is the loss of the top end the derailleur up in a crash. The kind of difference between the high for the police bicycle. As demonstrated end of a triple chain ring and its above, the 4:1 top end ratio of a triple- I continue to wrestle with my conscience competitors could literally make the chain ring bike has a considerable about being a stick-in-the-mud for not difference between an apprehension and advantage over single / double chain rings. embracing the “latest and greatest” the suspect getting away. A good analogy for this is the Dodge advancement in mountain bikes. However, Charger police cruiser. The Charger has a I simply cannot escape the mathematical Triple chain rings offer one other important top speed of 145 miles per hour. Odds are, calculations showing that abandoning the advantage. The drivetrain has a wider and there will never be a point in your career triple chain ring would be a mistake for stronger chain because the rear cassette has where you’re going to have to take the car public safety cycling, in general, and police fewer gears. My personal preference is for that fast. But, if the need ever arose, it’s cycling, specifically. the 8-speed chain, which is 7mm wide; that nice to know that you have that kind of is, 32% wider than a 12-speed chain and I know this is a hot topic. I do not claim to speed and power at your disposal. 27% wider than an 11-speed chain. As be the know-all / be-all when it comes to mentioned earlier, the wider chains can That is the same rationale for having the bicycling and I certainly encourage your handle more torque without snapping. 44 / 11 combination on a triple chain ring feedback, good, bad or indifferent. I Even the more commonplace 9-speed chain bike. As a rider, you may never need to imagine this debate will continue. Until is 22% and 18% wider than the 12- and 11- use the 44 / 11 combination, but it’s nice to then, ride safely, everyone! speed chains, respectively. know it’s there. In fact, if I was patrolling David Cohen is a 12 year volunteer with the in a relatively flat jurisdiction, I’d even Conclusions Maryland-National Capital Park Police. When consider running a 28 / 38 / 48 triple he isn’t riding or tinkering with bicycles, David Mountain bikes have made breathtaking combination to have an even stronger top can be found tinkering with vintage cars or leaps in technology in a relatively short end. World War II airplanes. An avid historian, time. When I first cut my teeth on David enjoys researching and writing as well. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind He can be reached at [email protected]. mountain bikes, I was riding an 18-speed that the single chain ring mountain bike with thumb shifters, a fork that had 60mm yields a magnificent bike for natural Photos courtesy David Cohen.

28 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Krav Maga for Public Safety Cyclists MEMBER NEWS by Gail Boxrud That is where Krav Maga training can As an IPMBA instructor and BRRT team Krav Maga Minneapolis potentially help, by giving officers simple, leader, Prust helped Krav Maga EA Agent Don Canestraro led a intuitive hand-to-hand skills for those Minneapolis instructors Gail Boxrud and team into a suspected drug house encounters in which an officer cannot Dante Pastrano develop their program: in Minnesota a few years ago. shoot or doesn’t want to shoot, says Avi Krav Maga for Public Safety Cyclists. Moyal, Chairman of the International They knocked, forced open the door with Krav Maga for Public Safety Cyclists Krav Maga Federation. guns drawn, but the suspect inside did not training focuses on those situations when comply with their commands. He backed Moyal travels around the they are more away nervously and then appeared to world as the lead likely to be reach for something out of their vision. instructor of the largest attacked: slow Another agent started to ease the slack out Krav Maga organization, speed patrols in of his trigger, as the encounter intensified. teaching IKMF Krav crowded areas. Then Don employed a Krav Maga Maga to law enforcement This training takes technique called the educational stop, a agencies of all kinds. An you “from bike to simple technique that stuns the suspect equally important part of fight” by without injuring him. that teaching, he says, is combining IPMBA getting feedback from dismounts with Don used his open hand to push the man those departments on the Krav Maga law back, palm to his chest, and fingers to his threats they face and the enforcement windpipe. This move knocked the suspect solutions they need to do techniques such as into the wall, and he fell to the ground, their jobs. These protecting your where they handcuffed him. problems are worked on gun; defending A tense encounter that could have by Moyal and the IKMF’s Global against common strikes, grabs, chokes, justified shooting the suspect, based on his Instructor Team of experts in Israel, to knife attacks, both while standing and actions. The suspect turned out to be develop simple techniques and improve while on the ground; and gun threats and unarmed, but scared and confused. He their law enforcement curriculum. That helmet grabs. information is shared with departments was hard of hearing and didn’t speak “The awesome part about Krav Maga with English. around the world through the IKMF’s bicycles is that it can be applied to instructor courses, workshops and Canestraro, now retired, started training at civilians, medics and police officers with seminars. Krav Maga Minneapolis in 2008, when he only a few tweaks,” Prust says. “All of was still an active agent. He trained Krav Maga was originally developed for my police instincts would tell me to ditch consistently for three years, and then off the Israeli military back when Israel first the bike if I was involved in some type of and on, for another five years until he became a nation. Everyone had to be a dynamic encounter.” But the bike can moved to Washington DC. He retired soldier, so it had to be simple, intuitive also be a great tool for self-defense and from the DEA after 22 years of service. and effective for a smaller person fending police work. off a larger attacker. The training “Krav Maga is a practical, easy-to-learn “With Krav Maga, we introduce incorporates stress and multiple attacker defensive tactics system essential for techniques that help you protect yourself, drills that are built around real-life street survival in today’s high risk and may allow you to use a lower level of situations. environment,” Canestraro says. force to control the situation,” Prust says. Saint Paul Police Sgt. Murray Prust The ramifications of shooting a suspect Krav Maga Minneapolis instructors Gail attended his first Krav Maga training at a for any law enforcement officer, even Boxrud, ranked Expert 1, and Dante seminar with Avi Moyal at Pastrano, ranked Expert 2, are certified by Krav Maga Minneapolis in the International Krav Maga Federation to 2010. He was hooked, and teach civilians, law enforcement, VIP said he had never trained protection, women and children. They are like that before. He also certified Security Cyclists by subsequently completed IPMBA. They developed a series of Krav three levels of the IKMF’s Maga on Bicycles seminars for civilians Law Enforcement first, then worked with Prust to develop Instructor training, and the law enforcement version. They started helps teach for Krav Maga teaching the workshop at the annual Minneapolis. IPMBA conference in Saint Paul in 2012 The system is modern, and and have offered it each year since. constantly being updated They look forward to delivering this and adapted to the many effective training to the 2020 IPMBA civilian, law enforcement Conference, June 1-6, 2020, in Dayton, and military sectors. Ohio. IKMF instructors take the justified, are huge. Every move will be training to environment: cars, buses, air Photos by Raymond Cervantes, Fort scrutinized by the department, the public planes, ships, theaters, night clubs and Worth Police Department. and in the worst case scenario, a jury. bicycles.

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 29 30 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Ironman Texas North American MEMBER NEWS Championship: an EMS Challenge by Brian Gillman, EMSCI #189T-B teams had deployed to support the Cypress Creek (TX) EMS IPMBA Conference Coordinator swim portion of the event. The almost 2800 swimmers enter a t’s the beginning of 2019 and local lake on the north shore, swim Cypress Creek EMS is in the th to the south and then enter a planning stages for our 9 Ironman narrow canal that leads to a retail North American Championship. This area in the heart of the Woodlands, race is held annually in the heart of where they transition to the bike The Woodlands area north of Houston segment of the race. in late April to late May. It requires the cooperation of several public Approximately two hours into the safety agencies to protect and serve race, we received a call that a the nearly 10,000 participants, swimmer was in distress in the canal side of the canal that the patient was spectators and visitors who attend. not far from the swim transition area. extracted to. They happened to be just As we prepare, I reflect on all the Two advanced life support bike teams above the patient location and successes we have had over the years working the waterway canal were navigated a trail system quickly down due to great cooperation and planning. dispatched. Further information came the canal. The initial team comprised in that the patient was located at the an experienced paramedic who had Over the years, we have staffed two canal level under one of the been on our bike team for many years, medical tents with physicians, nurses, overpasses and that a bystander had and a relatively new EMT that had athletic trainers and the pulled the athlete from the water. just completed his IPMBA training a paraprofessional hospital staff few months prior. necessary to staff more than 100 beds The first bike team arrived quickly and bring first class medical care to and went on the scene with an adult The second team had been staged on the athletes. The local lifeguard and male athlete in cardiac arrest. the other side of the canal and quickly water rescue volunteers, supported by Advanced life support care was responded to the incident, adding two dive teams and water rescue teams, immediately started, additional more seasoned paramedics to the call. provide a flotilla of kayaks and paddle resources were requested, and a The medical cart was at a staging boards to help athletes in the water. second bike team and medical utility location on the same side of the canal Among all our partnering Fire and cart arrived on scene within the first as the incident and two paramedics EMS agencies, we have staffed fifteen minute of the call. An ambulance was responded with additional medical and dedicated ambulances, four supervisor dispatched at the same time, but was extrication equipment. The response vehicles, ten transport carts, and caught in traffic on the overpass above would have been delayed if they upwards of twenty-five bike teams to due to traffic rerouting for the race followed paths to the lower deck, so assist the athletes, spectators and the course. The patient was treated on they responded to an access point general public along the entire 140- scene and eventually transported to directly above the patient and carried mile course. Our medical team will the hospital. Although the outcome the necessary equipment down the make between six hundred and a for the patient was not what we had short, steep hill to meet up with the thousand medical contacts during this worked and hoped for, the response other crews. By this time, the streets event. from all of the teams was remarkable. above were congested with Saturday This was our first fatal incident that morning traffic that had been re- In 2017, all the planning and our race had experienced. routed due to the race course and the preparation really served us well. police response to the incident. That morning, all our early morning As we looked back on this incident and measured it against our goals The ambulance, from another agency, for such events, we were proud was delayed for several minutes due of our team’s performance. At to traffic standstill, then had to use the most of our events where bike path system to bring down a stretcher teams and medical carts are for transport. By the time the deployed, it is our goal to be able transporting ambulance crews arrived to provide advanced prehospital on location, all critical medical care to a patient within ninety interventions were complete. The seconds of a call for help. Our patient received CPR within forty-five first team arrived within thirty seconds; an AED was deployed; seconds, with advanced care intubation, IV access and medication initiated almost immediately. administration was within minutes of The first team was staged on the (Continued on page 32)

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 31 MEMBER NEWS INSTRUCTOR CORNER Ironman Texas: An EMS Challenge

(Continued from page 31) dozens of calls during the next other non-conventional units in certain arrival and continued through transfer fourteen to twenty-two hours. areas and during events such as this of care to the transporting unit. The The average standard response time massive race. The four months of pre- bike team deployment worked for a 911 ambulance with this level of planning by all the medical partners – perfectly, as planned, for this type of pre-hospital care is seven to eight fire department, EMS agencies, incident. They hospital staff, water safety crews, were able to athletic trainers and Ironman staff – quickly access make this one of the safest events I the patient and have the privilege of working with begin critical every year. patient As we conclude the planning and treatments, begin the implementation for the ninth notify consecutive year, I look forward to command of working with the amazing group of additional professionals. resources needed, and Brian has more than 20 years’ experience as a field paramedic and Fire/EMS dispatcher with finally interact Cypress Creek EMS in Spring, Texas. He is and transfer the logistics coordinator for the CCEMS Bike care to a Team and has been active on the team since transport unit. 2005. He has been an IPMBA Instructor since 2007, a maintenance officer since 2008, and The multiple teaches 2-3 IPMBA Courses annually. He was agency, multi-discipline response was minutes in this general area, but here elected to the IPMBA Board in 2014 and has seamless due to solid pre-planning, you receive treatment within seconds. held the positions of Membership and EMS Coordinator. He currently serves as strong incident command and perfect This again reinforces the benefit to the Conference Coordinator. He can be reached performance from all the teams on public of having public safety at [email protected]. scene. All the teams were quickly responders deployed on bikes and Photos courtesy Cypress Creek EMS. back in-service and responded to

32 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION MEMBER NEWS MEMBER NEWS

BECOME AN IPMBA INSTRUCTOR Upcoming Courses: October 7-11, 2019 all 410-744-2400 or email [email protected] for an Salem, OR C instructor application packet. In the simplest of terms, June 1-5, 2020 to become an Instructor, you must meet the criteria outlined Dayton, OH in the packet, apply to IPMBA headquarters, be approved, then register for and attend one of the Instructor Courses. Other Dates to Be Announced

NEEDS YOU! Please remember IPMBA in your giving plan. I support IPMBA’s efforts to keep world-class public Your support helps us develop world-class training and safety cyclist training accessible and affordable. resources for public safety cyclists. My tax-deductible contribution is enclosed: When it comes to police, EMS, and security cycling, § $100 § $75 § $50 § $25 § $ ______IPMBA’s got your back! — We Thank — Name ______Jason Bain, Saint Paul (MN) Police Membership Number ______Elizabeth Bouchard, Univ. of Guelph (ON) Police Address ______Jim Bowell, Troy (OH) Fire (ret.) ______Arthur Chatman, Jr., Armed Security on Bikes (TX) Email ______Alexander Gorme, Los Angeles (CA) Fire Phone Number (______)______Amount of contribution: $ ______Tom Harris, East Baton Rouge (LA) EMS £ My check is enclosed (payable to Police on Bikes, Inc.). Craig Lepkowski, Lake Forest (IL) Police £ Charge my MC/Visa: Wren Nealy, Cypress Creek (TX) EMS ______| ______| ______| ______Jeff Parmelee, Indianapolis Metro (IN) Police EXP ___/___ CVV Code: ______Scan here to donate now! Gregory Parsons, Leesburg (VA) Police Mail to: International Police Mountain Bike Association Brad Rhodes, Colorado State Patrol 583 Frederick Rd., Suite 5B, Baltimore MD 21228 Michael Wear, Metropolitan (DC) Police Donate online at www.ipmba.org. Thomas Young, Shippensburg (PA) Police

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 33 MEMBER NEWS The IPMBA Board

IPMBA Members on the Move President Wren Nealy, Jr. David Hansen, Minneapolis Police Department – retired EMSCI# 154-B/PCI#860-B Tom Madera, Eastern Connecticut State University – retired, now Cypress Creek EMS/Waller County Sheriff’s Office, Spring TX with Yale University Security [email protected]

Vice President Michael A. Wear PCI #516T-B/EMSCI #059T-B Metropolitan Police, Washington DC [email protected]

Secretary Craig Lepkowski PCI #1180-B / EMSCI #272-B Lake Forest Police, Lake Forest IL [email protected]

Treasurer Elizabeth Bouchard PCI #905-B/EMSCI #214-B Univ. of Guelph Police, Guelph ON [email protected]

Education Coordinator David Millican PCI #1006T/EMSCI #343T Denton Police, Denton TX [email protected]

Conference Coordinator Brian Gillman EMSCI #189T-B Cypress Creek EMS, Spring TX [email protected]

Industry Liaison Jason Bain PCI #1046-B/EMSCI #278-B Saint Paul PD, Saint Paul, MN [email protected]

EMS Coordinator Rob Collett EMSCI #263 UC Health EMS, Fort Collins CO [email protected]

Membership Coordinator James Englert PCI #1081 Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Centennial CO [email protected]

34 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION Survival Essentials for the IPMBA Instructor INSTRUCTOR CORNER by Mitch Trujillo, PCI #244T/EMSCI #248T Remember: A working brain is the Student Bicycle Assessment Boulder (CO) Police Department instructor’s most important asset. The Questionnaire Contributors: ability to troubleshoot, use common sense, Michael Wear, PCI #516T-B/EMSCI #059T-B Despite having been provided with a list of and draw on experience are to be relied on, required equipment prior to class, students Metropolitan (DC) Police Department particularly if an EMS provider or a shop Immediate Past Education Director will arrive on day one with bicycles that Rance Okada, PCI #246T mechanic is not readily available. are unsuitable for training or public safety Westminster (CO) Police Department (ret.) Michael Pitman, PCI #1186T/EMSCI #250T  First aid supplies: for cuts and abrasions use. The standards set for a bicycle that Carmel (IN) Police Department (BLS supplies can be carried by licensed will be used in class are non-negotiable Tom Madera, PCI #384T EMS riders). and are for the safety of the rider and Yale University (CT) Public Safety others. Even the smallest undiagnosed Bobby Sellers, PCI #1313T-B/EMSCI #268T-B  Sunscreen and bug repellent: to prevent Cypress Creek (TX) EMS and relieve pain. defect in a bicycle can have catastrophic Mo Ibrahim, PCI #1326T-B/EMSCI #321T-B consequences. Metropolitan (DC) Police Department  Disposable gloves: for administering We recommend that you set aside time on first aid, working on bikes, and handling or before the first day of training to filthy traffic cones. perform a complete and thorough check of  Cell phone or radio: to summon every student bicycle. Below is a list of additional resources or communicate bike parts the Instructor should logistics. troubleshoot prior to allowing use of the  Camera or camera phone: for bike in training. It has been designed to memorable moments or post-crash help you identify potential problems documentation. before they arise. This list is not all- inclusive and some remedies may require  IPMBA Incident Report forms and a more than basic bicycle mechanic skills. trusty pen: in the event of property damage or injury. ndeed, it is the IPMBA Instructor’s  Pocket class schedule: a cheat sheet to responsibility to ensure a safe and keep everything from going I productive training environment for catawampus. every student. Preparation and planning  Simple tools for common repairs and are the foundation for a successful class. adjustments: multi-tool with built-in Those two things begin well before the universal chain tool and spoke wrenches start of instruction on the first day, as even preferred. an ounce of prevention can go a long way.  Spare tubes: Presta and Schrader, with This article focuses on “survival adaptor for converting one to the other. essentials” – items instructors should carry while teaching – and a questionnaire used  Tire levers: wide versions, which are to assess student bikes before riding. The tubeless tire compatible. survival essentials will help you – the  Patch kit / tire boot: glue and glueless. Bike Frame IPMBA Instructor – mitigate some of the “what if’s” when teaching. The lists may  High volume mini-pump: capable of  Is the frame size appropriate for the be used in tandem. inflating both types of valves. rider? Consider having each student Instructor Gear  Suspension pump with gauge: to tune check in with their bike on the day before class starts, so an instructor can In bike training, problems can appear and prevent forks and rear shocks from bottoming out. visually assess bike and rider. unexpectedly and take on a variety of Otherwise, this may not be determined forms. As with falls, “It’s not a matter of  “Zip” ties and duct tape: for assorted until Bike Fit on day one. ‘if”, but ‘when’.” Some snafus can be emergency repairs. prevented, but not all circumstances can be  Is the frame free from defects or  Light system, traffic vest and whistle: predicted. Hence, there is no “ultimate” damage? for conspicuity’s sake! gear list. Pedals  Lumber crayons or sidewalk chalk, Thus, it can be said that IPMBA  Are the pedals in good condition? Instructors are obliged to carry certain tennis ball halves: for the impromptu precautionary materials for student safety obstacle course.  Are they properly mounted? Are the and to help minimize delays. Some  Tape measure: to maintain standards and pedal components functional and in materials are already listed in the IPMBA settle disputes. good condition? ITK checklists (and are expounded on  Is the rider familiar with the pedal below) and should be standard equipment  Assorted bolts and fasteners: for racks, toe clips, bottle cages, cleats, etc. system and its use? Experience and for all on-bike skills, including road rides. proficiency may not be proven until Whether you choose to carry them on-bike  Optional: Fiber Fix Spoke (to practice on the first day. Consider or on-body, these items come temporarily replace damaged spokes), querying the students before class starts. recommended by instructors, for chain master links, tube valve cores and instructors, whenever you are conducting valve core tool, motivational stickers for bicycle training. helmets, etc. (Continued on page 36) IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 35 I NSTRUCTOR CORNER Survival Essentials for the IPMBA Instructor

deformities? Is the tread in good condition and conducive to the training surfaces?  How do the side walls of the tires look? Is there obvious dry rot? Are there abraded or worn areas from rim brakes?  Are the tires an acceptable width?  Are the tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations? This may need to be verified during the ABC Quick Check. Suspension  Does the suspension bottom out with little weighted pressure?  Does there appear to be adequate air pressure in either the fork (Continued from page 35) or rear shock? If not, does either retain pressure when inflated?  If the bicycle is equipped with either clipless or platform pedals, Spokes and Rims does the rider have compatible shoes? This may not be  Are there any loose, bent, or missing spokes? Are the spokes revealed until practice on day one. Consider inquiring before properly tensioned? class starts.  Do the rims have any worn or dented areas? Brake and Shifter Cables  Are they warped and in need of truing? Can they be trued?  Are the brake and shifter cable housing free from deformities such as cracks, kinks, or breaks? Are any of the housings too Miscellaneous short or too long? Do the cables and ferrules appear to be free  Place tag(s) describing any concerns, deficiencies and from corrosion? corrective actions on every bicycle. This will help create a near  Are there any exposed cables with frays, broken strands, or risk-free training experience and provide the student with useful visible rust? feedback and training. Require students to have questionable bikes repaired or replaced before riding on day one, even if it  Do brake and shifter cables move freely within their cable means taking the bike to a mechanic over lunch. Loaner bikes housings? Do the brakes and shifters function properly? Are may be an option as well. they properly mounted? Are the shifts accurate or do they hesitate between gears? Conclusion  Do the brake levers pull within one thumb’s width? Consider Debacle, boondoggle, kerfuffle, brouhaha, or snafu: these making fine adjustments for either brake or shifters to help the survival essentials can help you prevent it. They do not take the student achieve optimal use, or otherwise have the student place of a resourceful and crafty instructor whose responsibility it perform barrel adjustments after the lesson on Bicycle is to conduct a safe and productive bike class. However, having Maintenance and Repairs. the tools and knowledge to perform these checks and balances prior to training, will set you – the IPMBA Instructor – on the  Are all brake and shifter cables attached and routed properly? path toward assuring a safe, productive and meaningful training Chain for everyone involved. The members of the IPMBA Education Committee who contributed to this  Are there any loose or bent chain links? article are volunteers who served under the current Board Member and  Is there any visible rust? former Education Director, Michael Wear. Do you have more to add to this article? Share your input via [email protected].  Does the chain glide smoothly and unobstructed in a straight path from the chain rings to cassette? Do the derailleur limit Photos courtesy the contributors. adjustments prevent the chain from dropping from either the lower or upper gear?  Is the chain “stretched” (elongated) more than one eighth of an inch past its original length? A ruler or chain length gauge can be used to determine this. Chain Rings and Cassette  Are there any bent, broken, missing, or badly worn teeth on either the chain ring or cassette?  Do the chain rings and cassette appear to be clean and free of debris?  Do they move smooth and freely? Do they appear to be mounted properly? Tires  Are the tires properly mounted on the rims?  Are there any worn or bald spots in the treads? Are there any areas where the belt wires are exposed, or other obvious

36 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION MEMBER NEWS INSTRUCTOR CORNER

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 37 COVER STORY CAF MeetsCOVER IPMBA: STORY (Continued from page 1) Jack offered to restore the plane for the They discovered that it was difficult to stop by and see what was going on. He CAF, if they would pick up the cost of the find another WWII aircraft because the said “Sure”, so on the morning of April materials. A deal was struck and the surplus aircraft were being scrapped. 20, 2012, I set out across northern second Avenger was delivered to Fawn They were appalled that no-one was Maryland and into southern Pennsylvania, Grove. saving the aircraft. Even the U.S. military to a farm outside of Fawn Grove. didn’t seem too concerned with keeping By the time I arrived in 2012, the Avenger was nearing completion. The these machines, which, by most accounts, group was more than willing led to the Allied victory. So, the group switched from aviation enthusiasts to to let a “bicycle guy” come preservationists. They set a goal of and join their ranks; after all, Orville and Wilbur Wright obtaining one of each type of World War started as bicycle mechanics, II aircraft. too! The average age of the Once they had a few Bearcats, a Mustang, volunteers in Jack’s group and a P-40, they started adding bombers to was 84 years old, so I was the collection as well. They began doing quite the “baby”. I would airshows in the 1960s. The concept of joke that this was my mid-life having multiple aircraft in the air, telling a crisis; while many men “of a story and showing off the impressive certain age” try to hang out aircraft was well-received by crowds. with women half their age, CAF airshows became legendary, and the here I was hanging out with CAF was invited to various locations to TBM Avenger opened up for maintenance men twice my age! perform a World War II Flying Circus act. The Avenger was moved to Today, although the past 60 years have The farm belonged to Jack Kosko, who Hagerstown for final assembly and made wrought many changes, the CAF is still was an Avenger radioman in World War its first post-restoration flight on April 18, much the same. The organization is II, flying off the USS Langley in Torpedo 2014. After putting up the requisite driven by people who are very passionate Squadron 23 from February through May number of hours to obtain its full flight about keeping alive the history of World 1945. Jack was a remarkable individual. certification, the plane went to its new War II and America’s airpower, as well as A carpenter by trade, he was considered a home in Culpeper. the thousands of stories of the men and “car guy” for much of his life, having I remained with Jack and his group for a women who built, flew and maintained amassed a collection that once numbered these aircraft. Phrases like “Keep ‘em few more years, as they were working on 21 cars. In 1996, at age 71, he decided he Flying” and “Lest We Forget” are still the a Cessna Bobcat for their next project. was going to restore an Avenger to Unfortunately, health issues battle cries of CAF members. replicate the one he flew in World War II. finally caught up with Jack. Now, mind you, Jack had no experience He sold the farm in 2016; the with airplanes up until this point. People Bobcat went to another asked him, “How do you restore an collector in Massachusetts. airplane?” He replied, “You just do it.” In May 2017, Jack Kosko In keeping with the famous line from the passed away at age 91. movie Field of Dreams: “If you build it, In the aftermath of his they will come”. Once word got out that passing, I felt the best way to Jack was restoring an Avenger to honor his legacy was to join airworthy condition, all kinds of the group that now had the individuals came out to volunteer with second Avenger, the CAF’s him. Almost all had military experience; Capital Wing in Culpeper, some were World War II veterans. After Virginia. I “pulled the about six years and 23,000 man-hours, the trigger” and joined the group. Avenger was delivered to the Mid- Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, The CAF, or Pennsylvania, where it was flown and Commemorative Air Force, The Capital Wing Hangar added to their collection. was founded in 1957 by a group of pilots in Harlingen, Texas. They It is through the support of thousands of Shortly after the first Avenger left, the wanted to fly WWII fighters, but even volunteers, donors, airshow patrons, and group found out about a second Avenger though it was really inexpensive by belonging to the Commemorative Air educators that the CAF remains the today’s standards, they couldn’t “World’s Largest Flying Museum” and Force (CAF). It was purchased in 2001 individually afford it, so they went in one of the most impactful World War II for one of their local chapters in Frederick, together and bought a P-51 Mustang. organizations. Maryland. When the chapter folded, the When they flew it, people would run plane was moved to Hagerstown, The CAF currently has a membership of outside to see it. Pretty soon they realized Maryland, where it languished for several that it would be a lot more fun to have two about 12,000 people in 80 different units years. The plane was then assigned to the planes flying that could play dogfight, so (Wings) throughout the country and boasts CAF’s Capital Wing in Culpeper, more than 170 aircraft. Unlike the group they went looking for another aircraft. Virginia, but it needed to be restored. (Continued on page 39)

38 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION From Bicycles to Warbirds COVER STORY at Jack Kosko’s hangar, the average age is More importantly, CAF members share Becoming a CAF Colonel entitles you to 57 years old, and has been trending the same values of dedication, teamwork receive a CAF name tag, wings and downward as many of the original World and patriotism that are at the core of law commission certificate, become a member War II generation volunteers have passed enforcement. Many members are ex- of the local CAF Wing, fly in CAF on and younger volunteers have taken up military themselves, a profession which aircraft on a space-available basis as a the challenge. has always been closely related to law qualified crew member, and receive the The Capital Wing in Culpeper, Virginia, enforcement. In a world where the monthly member magazine Dispatch and is representative of one of those units. profession of police officer gets gift shop discounts. The Capital Wing is currently responsible for four aircraft. Besides the Avenger, the Wing has an L-5 Sentinel (a small observation/liaison type plane) and a Vultee BT-13 Valiant trainer that was used at Tuskegee Field during World War II to train pilots who would ultimately become the Tuskegee Airmen. The last plane is a replica of a Japanese Val dive bomber. This was one of the planes assembled for the movies Tora, Tora, Tora and Midway, the TV miniseries War and Remembrance, and other appearances. The TBM Avenger taxiing the runway These airplanes are not “hangar queens”. demonized in news and social media, the Above all, it’s about keeping these flying They go out to various airshows CAF provides an environment where treasures in the air. Sure, you can go to a throughout the spring, summer and fall. LEOs are welcomed and supported. On museum and see a historic plane in The Capital Wing’s Avenger, now known Open Hangar Days, when, as the name person. That plane, though, is inert. as “Doris Mae”, has a very active airshow suggests, the hangars are opened to the When you see one of these planes fly, schedule and is one of the busiest public, LEOs can bring their families and history comes alive. Children and adults Avengers on the East Coast. “Doris” has know that they are in an environment that alike get to see, hear and even feel what it made appearances at airshows from New supports their efforts every day. was like when these planes were called England to Florida, has flown over Finally, being part of the CAF means that upon to protect our Country’s freedom. football stadiums, performed flyovers and you are part of preserving history. More Knowing you’re part of the team that simulated dogfights over the S.S. John W. than 98 percent of the World War II helped put these planes in the air is a great Brown (a restored World War II Liberty generation – our “Greatest Generation” – feeling, too. Ship that cruises the Chesapeake Bay), th have now passed on. The CAF is as and participated in the 70 Anniversary I can tell you there are few things that dedicated to preserving their stories as World War II Victory Flyover in make my heart sing with pride like seeing they are about preserving the aircraft they Washington, D.C. in 2015. “Doris” the Avenger that I helped restore wowing flew in. For, without the human part of averages about 50 hours of flight time per the crowds and reminding a younger the equation, the CAF would only have year. During the winters, she undergoes generation of the courage and dedication collection of old planes. It is the exploits maintenance to prepare for the next flying of those who fought in World War II. of the people who flew these planes that season. make them truly come alive. If what I’ve written sounds interesting to While working to keep these planes flying you, please check the Commemorative Joining the CAF is not cheap. Annual is a major focus of the group, there are Air Force website at dues to become a CAF Colonel are $200, literally dozens of roles to be filled that do www.commemorativeairforce.org. which makes IPMBA dues seem like an not necessarily involve mechanics, from absolute bargain! The reason it is set so Who knows, maybe I’ll see YOU as a bookkeeping to selling souvenirs during high is two-fold. First, restoring and fellow CAF Colonel at an upcoming airshows. If you’re willing to come out, maintaining aircraft is a very expensive airshow! the Wing will find a place for you. proposition. For some of the larger Besides being a Colonel with the So, why should IPMBA members aircraft, operational costs can be more Commemorative Air Force’s Capital Wing in consider joining the CAF? First off, being than $2000 per flight hour. Replacement Culpeper, VA, David is also a 12- year around these planes is just really cool. engines cost anywhere from $60,000- volunteer with the Maryland-National Capital Unlike in museums, where you see the $100,000 dollars. Park Police, Montgomery County Division and planes from behind stanchions, when you the new writer of IPMBA’s “Gears and The second reason is that the high dues are with a CAF wing, it is literally hands- Gadgets” feature. He can be reached separate the “tire-kickers” from those who on. You can touch the planes, climb on at [email protected]. are genuinely dedicated to preserving the planes and go inside the planes. The these aircraft. There are also separate Photos courtesy David Cohen. other thing you notice is that being dues to the local Wing, which tend to airworthy, these planes are alive. The vary, but the dues for the Capital Wing, distinctive smell of gasoline, oil, hydraulic for example, are another $50 per year. fluid and paint permeates the hangars where the planes live.

IPMBA NEWS, VOL. 28, NO. 1 2019 39

International Police Mountain Bike Association 583 Frederick Rd., Suite 5B Baltimore MD 21228

40 INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION