Vol 2024 l No 2 l February | Table of Contents
- President's Message
- Annual Celebration Recap - January 27, 2024
- Order of the Knights of the Cast Iron Crotch - 2023
- Thank You to Our Wonderful Ride Leaders!
- College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive Kickoff
- Guy's Bicycles Supports College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
- Brian Boger Speaks at Annual Celebration
- Registration NOW OPEN: 2024 SCU Summer Century, Saturday, July 13 at Delaware Valley University
- SCU Ride Guidelines (and safety reminder)
- SCU eBike Policy
- Reminder of Member Benefits
- Online Club Resources
- Regional Events Calendar and Mileage Log
- New Members
- Executive Committee Meeting Schedule (Members Welcome)
- SCU Executive Committee
| President's Message
February 2024
It was just a few days ago that we held our Annual Celebration where we came together as friends and cyclists to recognize our ride leaders and volunteers. They are the heart and soul of every ride and social event in this club. There would not be a club without the time and energy they invest in making the good times roll for everyone. If you couldn't make it to the Celebration, next time you see a ride leader, Century volunteer, or picnic volunteer, be sure to thank them for stepping forward to make things happen. We should also be especially appreciative of Chrislee Butcher's extraordinary planning, organizing, and preparing for this excellent event, all while starting a new second job. Sadly, this new job will not allow her time to continue as Social Director. But you can pass on your thanks through her mother, Pat, who was her partner in this effort.
The banquet was also a time to appreciate the sense of community enjoyed by all cyclists in the region. We kicked off our Helmet Drive for College Settlement Camp with thirty helmets purchased at a steep discount with the help of Suzanne Pacitti of Guy's Bicycles. Ariana Kalziqi spoke about College Settlement Camp's mission of providing outdoor experiences for youth regardless of their ability to pay, which features a dedicated program to teach them the skills they need to have fun with friends on bicycles. Brian Boger of Bikeworks Doylestown came out to speak about the role cycling has in bringing people together as documented in the film Mountains We Climb. Before and after the awards ceremony I had the chance to chat with several long-time club members about how club riding has enriched their lives over the years, hearing about the experiences they have had and shared with cycling buddies they met through the club. These are all examples of how we as individual cyclists form a vibrant community where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
February 2 is Groundhog Day. 'Weather' or not you believe in Punxsutawney Phil's predictive powers, this day does mark the midpoint of Winter, and we are on the home stretch towards Spring. Soon we will shed our thermal tights, heavy jackets, and thick gloves as part of another season of shared cycling experiences and community-building that we will celebrate again this time next year.
Steve "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Muth
SCU President | Annual Celebration Recap - January 27, 2024
Many thanks to all who organized and came out to the Annual Celebration last Saturday evening! Everyone had a great time at the Whitemarsh Valley Event Center celebrating the 2023 SCU Cycling Year that Was and looking forward to an even better 2024.
Highlights of the Evening:
- Saying Thank You and Hello to Steve Muth (who we had said goodbye to last year) as he steps back into the role of Club President. So glad to have him back!
- Cast Iron Crotch Awards to riders who exceeded 5,000 miles for the year
- Recognition of our terrific Ride Leaders
- Door prizes and dancing
Congratulations to 2023 SCU Member of the Year - Andrew Nathans
A Big Thank You to Outgoing Digital Communications
Director Steve DiLabio | Order of the Knights of the Cast Iron Crotch - 2023
Thirty-seven (37) SCUers submitted their names for the Cast Iron Crotch award by cycling greater than 5,000 miles in 2023. Some fun facts:
- This group collectively rode 261,913 miles or over 10 times around the globe at the equator (up from 7 times around the globe last year!)
- The average mileage was 7,078 miles for the group
- The range was from 5001 miles to just under 13,000 miles
- 1/2 of the group rode above 6200 miles (Median), and 1/2 below.
Even bigger congratulations to Matthew Murray, Michael Nagle, Linda McGrane, Jeff Kochanowicz and Pat Butcher who all exceeded 10,000 miles for the year!
Full List of those over 5,000 miles in 2023:
Matthew Murray 12,969 miles
Michael Nagle 12,875
Linda McGrane 12,529
Jeff Kochanowicz 11,895
Pat Butcher 11,000
Judith Pyle 8,654
Stephen Muth 8,181
Joseph Pless 7,730
Curtis Schwartz 7,635
Dean Mondelblatt 7,573
Kevin Kulp 7,304
Tom Kramlik 7,100
Charlene Dunlap 6,871
Marilyn Harvey 6,797
Jeff Braff 6,589
Wayne Dunlap 6,480
Wesley Wolf 6,297
Rai Gundermann 6,253
Chris Marcille 6,220
Bob Scharle 6,142
Rob Leder 6,137
Joe Phelps 6,123
Rebecca Michalak 6,110
Howard Hochheiser 6,072
Shirley Landis 6,036
Charles Brant Jr. 6,008
Catherine Hunt 5,608
Scott Losch 5,588
Carl Leinbach 5,551
Sharon Hansen 5,438
Kevin Olsavsky 5,390
Elliot Titcher 5,367
Claire Tanzer 5,160
Joel Gaskin 5,115
Gary Kosits 5,059
Rick Lochlear 5,056
| Thank You to Our Wonderful Ride Leaders!
Our ride leaders truly make it happen for SCU! We would like to acknowledge all of the ride leaders for stepping up to lead rides for the club membership. In 2023 this group collectively led over 1000 rides! That equates to an average of 19 rides/week or 2-3 rides/day. This is the reason we have such a vibrant club with so many choices of rides across all levels. Very well done!!!
2023 SCU Ride Leaders:
Linda McGrane
Joe Phelps
Wesley Wolf
Catherine Hunt
Scott Siegfried
Dave Atkins
Rob Leder
Dan Operacz
Elliot Titcher
Monica Coleman
Howard Hochheiser
Tom Beckett
Terry Strobaugh
Curtis Schwartz
Doug Smithman
Scott Willbanks
Bob Scharle
Bob Doyle
Stephen Muth
Dmitri Levin
Tom Madle
Thom McAdams
Claire Tanzer
Cassandra Hogue
Jeff Kochanowicz
Robert Post
Mike Mitchell
Elliot Selsley
Elisabeth Charrier
Sharon Hansen
David Kaplan
Judith Pyle
Kevin Olsavsky
Andrew Nathans
Savannah Lee
Jim Fenstermacher
James Humes | College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive Kickoff
The helmet drive for College Settlement Camp was kicked off the SCU's Annual Celebration. The Camp's Outreach Coordinator, Ariana Kalziqi, was present to explain the Camp's mission of providing an outdoor camp experience for young people in the Philly area regardless of their ability to pay. An important part of that experience is the biking program where many of them have their first opportunity to learn to ride. New helmets are needed to provide each child with a properly fitting helmet in good condition.
The Drive goal is to raise $1,000 towards the purchase of helmets and other bicycling gear. The Kick Off raised over $300 in both cash and online donations. You can contribute online in two ways: Make a donation through SCU's website by clicking here or scanning the QR code below. Or you can buy a new helmet of your choice then drop it off at the Camp or give it to any EC member.
|  |  | Ariana Kalziqi from College Settlement Camp addressing the Club | A nice card we received from College Settlement Camp | Guy's Bicycles Supports College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
Guy's Bicycles arranged a special purchase of helmets to help SCU with the helmet drive for kids at College Settlement Camp. Guy's arranged for SCU to buy 30 Cannondale helmets at just $20 each. Details on how you can contribute to the helmet drive are in the section above. Shown in the photo is Suzanne Pacitti, owner of Guy's, presenting Steve Muth, SCU President, with the first of such helmets at Guy's shop in Feasterville. |  | Brian Boger Speaks at Annual Celebration
At this year's Annual Celebration, Brian Boger of Bikeworks Doylestown spoke about his vision of cycling as a transformation experience for the individual and an activity that builds community. He applauded the efforts of SCU and College Settlement Camp to support that vision. He urged everyone present to watch the video Mountains We Climb about one cyclist's realization that he was riding not just for himself, but for everyone who supports him. The video is now available for free on Youtube.
| Brian Boger speaks to the Club |
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Registration Now Open!
2024 SCU Summer Century
Saturday, July 13
NEW LOCATION!
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, PA
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- Featuring:
NEW LOCATION:
Delaware Valley University
Lot A, Campus Loop Road
New Britain, Pa. 18901
- Four beautiful routes in Bucks County, PA and the scenic horse country of Hunterdon County, NJ.
33 Miles (+/-)
50 Miles (+/-)
62 Mile Metric
100 Mile Century (+/-)
- Pizza party at the finish
- GPS links will be available in advance of the ride.
- Baked goods, drinks and friendly SCU volunteers at three well-stocked rest stops
- SAG support
- Well-marked routes
- Cue sheets
- Online route maps and GPX files
- Free parking at the start/finish
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Registration Fees:
- EarlyRegistration - $50 (before June 1, 2024)
- Regular Registration - $55 (before June 29, 2024)
- Late Registration - $65 (after June 29, 2024)
- SCU Members receive a $5 registration discount!
- Registration is limited to 500 riders.
- 2023 event registrants will receive an e-mail with a discount code for complimentary registration.
Group and Team Discount
- Groups of eight or more registering as a group can receive a $5 per person discount.
Tandem-Two-for-One
- Riders on a tandem pay one registration for two riders.
Unicyclists -- half price!
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Doylestown is well-situated for exploring Bucks County, Pennsylvania with its covered bridges, historic barns, wineries, restaurants, antiques and so much more.
Click hereto learn more about things to do and places to stay in beautiful and Historic Buck County.
Note: Our terms of insurance do not allow for the use of Class 2 (throttled) e-bikes. If you are planning to ride the Century route on an e-bike, please check your compliance with NJ state law for e-bikes.
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| The SCU Ride Guide (and Safety Reminders)
- Arrive ten to 15 minutes early and Be Prepared To Leave On Time! The starting times are actual departure times
- Make sure your bike is in proper working order Before you arrive
- Carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump, water bottle, and some form of I.D. (emergency information)
- Ride in a safe manner and obey all traffic laws
- The wearing of a helmet (ANSI and/or Snell approved) is Required on all club rides
- Do not "Bike off" more than you can do. Go on rides within your ability, interest and experience
- Each rider assumes his or her own risk on all rides
- Those who ride ahead of the group are on their own ride
- Always notify the ride leader when leaving the group
- Riders should adhere to the advertised speed of the ride
- Ride leaders are not expected to be bike mechanics
- During Winter months or questionable weather conditions, please contact the ride leader
- If it is raining at the start time, then the ride is canceled unless otherwise noted by the ride leader
- Have fun riding your bike.
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Hello SCU Riders !!!
Passing along a few safety reminders and points we all need to be aware of on our group rides...
- Please always use a red tail light - even during the day - for visibility since it does make you more visible. You need to be visible and conspicuous on the road. Especially if you have a bright red tail light of close to 100 lumens. Please see what you have and make changes if necessary. If you do not have a rear red tail light, please get one. Using a front white light helps even more with being seen.
- While passing another rider, ALW\AYS pass on their left side and ALWAYS announce that you are passing them on their left. If - for a very rare reason - you are on a riders right side need or need to pass a rider on their right, ALWAYS announce that also. Otherwise it is not a good idea to ever pass or even ride directly on the right side of a rider in front of you. If you are on a riders' right side, stay well behind them and still let them know you are there.
- And while we are talking about trailing a rider, please avoid "half-wheeling" the rider in front of you for any reason. Either on their left or right if they are in front of you.. This occurs when your front wheel overlaps the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. Sometimes the shoulders of roads are narrow and this will make for a dangerous situation when cars are passing.
- When someone yells out "CAR BACK" we should all be looking to immediately form a single line of cyclists as quickly and as safely as possible and not ride two abreast in the lane the cars are in. This should be the case regardless of the width of the shoulder. The narrower the shoulder, the more we should be aware of this condition. A safe way of doing this is, if you are the rider on the right of the two-abreast, allow the rider on your left to get in front of you. that way the left side rider is not drifting back toward the oncoming and approaching car and gtets out of the way quicker..
- When coming to a light and there is a right-hand turning lane and you are going straight, stay to the right in the lane in the direction you are travelling. Do not veer right into that lane and then jump back into the lane where you are going straight. One of the best ways to be safe it to be "Predictable" and "Conspicuous"
Thank you Thom McAdams for the reminder!
| SCU eBike policy
More information will be explained and distributed at SCU club rides by the ride leaders, but below describes the 3 categories of e-bikes and what is allowed on club rides. As the popularity of eBikes increases both in general and in SCU, we welcome the use of them on club rides but need to be aware of limitations and what is allowed.
Summary:
Electric bikes shall be permitted on club rides only as covered by the club's insurance policy and as consistent with local, state and Federal laws. The Treasurer shall determine the club's insurance coverage regarding electric bikes. A summary of this coverage and any changes to it shall be communicated to membership by the Digital Communications Director and directly communicated to ride leaders by the Ride Director. The ride sign-in sheet shall be revised and updated as needed to indicate this coverage.
- Only pedal assist eBikes (Classes 1 and 3) will be allowed on club rides.
- As SCU club rides cross into multiple states (PA, NJ, DE), it is critical we adhere to the regulations of all 3.
- If you have questions, please contact the SUC executive team or talk to your ride leader.
3 Classifications - eBikes
- Allowed: A “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Not Allowed: A “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Allowed: A “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and is equipped with a speedometer.
When considering purchasing an eBike, it is important to understand the laws in your state and the type riding you want to do, including if bringing it on a SCU club ride (which again, we enjoy having them).
Thank you,
SCU Executive Team |  | | As membership director, I want to welcome back all of our SCU members who have renewed their memberships and I am encouraging our non-members to join our ranks! We are excited to have over 1,800 cyclists in our Meetup Group but we would be even more excited to have more of the group become dues-paying SCU members. Our membership fee is one of the best bargains around!! So what are the benefits you will receive with your SCU membership you may ask?
Here are just a few:
- Insurance coverage if an accident occurs while participating in a SCU ride
- Access to all SCU events including the SCU picnic, awards banquet, tailgate parties and many more events that occur throughout the year
- Discounts at designated local bike shops and SCU Century / Summer Event rides
- Monthly newsletter
And most importantly...supporting our cycling community especially our experienced and dedicated ride leaders who work hard at providing our club members with the best and safest routes throughout the region that accommodates various rider abilities.
The SCU membership fees help to sustain our club so please consider becoming a member today! To join our club, click https://suburbancyclists.org/. Please feel free to reach out to me at membership@suburbancyclists.org or any of our Executive Committee if you have any questions or comments.
Hope to see you on the road!
Pat Butcher
Membership Director
| Online Club Resources
As a reminder, there are other online resources available to you to fully enjoy your club membership:
- Meetup.com: Look for the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited (SCU) Meetup page to learn about and sign up for group rides.
- Facebook: Visit the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited page to hear about the latest club news or pictures and adventures from club rides.
| Regional Events Calendar & Mileage Log | | Regional Events Update
Be sure check Jack Elias' famous Calendar of Regional Events for an updated, chronological list of regional events. Jack is updating the list as information is provided.
This calendar is presented by Suburban Cyclists Unlimited and lists recreational bicycle events that take place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and start within approximately 150 miles of Horsham, Montgomery County, PA.
| | Mileage Tracker and
Universal Mileage Logs are available
The universal mileage log features include:
- A universal log that is good for any year.
- An automatic summation of mileage and number of rides and computation of the average ride distance.
- Displays six charts of mileage, number of rides and average distance.
- The mileage logs can be found in the Documents Library on the SCU website.
- Go to SCU's Documents Library and scroll down to "Ride Documents" and “Mileage Log”.
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- Frank Deon - Philadelphia, PA
- Sue Patterson - Philadelphia, PA
- Deborah Cebular - Mohnton, PA
| | | All Members Welcome at Executive Committee Meetings
For 2024, Executive Committee meetings are held every third Thursday (normally) of the month and are posted to the Meetup ride calendar. All members are invited to participate in the discussions or share thoughts and ideas. Meetings are held via Zoom. If you RSVP to the Meetup or send an email to president@suburbancyclists.org, a Zoom link and an agenda will be sent to you shortly before the meeting. If you have something specific to share, you will be put at the top of the agenda so you can be heard without waiting through the routine business. Meetings are posted in MeetUp.
Hope to see you there. | President
Steve Muth
Secretary
Helen Muth
Treasurer
Savannah Lee
Signature Event Director
Open
Digital Communications Director
Kevin Olsavsky
IT Director
Jim Hill
Membership Director
Pat Butcher
Public Relations Director
Linda A. McGrane
Ride Leader Director
Curtis Schwartz
Social Director
Chrislee Butcher
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Regional Calendar Editor
Jack Elias
Merchandise Manager
Open | |