Table of Contents
- President's Message
- Registration NOW OPEN: 2024 SCU Summer Century, Saturday, July 13 at Delaware Valley University
- Reminder: Dues Increase Effective April 1, 2024
- Spring Rides are Starting!
- Ride Leader Training Approacheth
- College Settlement Camp Cleanup Day - Saturday, May 4
- College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
- Hatboro Earth Day Festival - April 13
- SCU Votes Needed to Support College Settlement Camp Administrator's Nomination
- Cinco de Mayo Ride - Sunday, May 5
- Chestertown Weekend (Memorial Day Weekend)
- Save the Date: CBBC Covered Bridge Ride - October 13, 2024
- Support Bike North Penn
- White Clay Bicycle Club Events
- 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
April 2024
All peddlers ride in line, faster only on level streets, downhill and yesterday.
The cycling season has come full cycle -- Spring is here! There may be a few more chilly mornings, but the stronger and longer sunshine will make short work of them. Time to put away the cold-weather kit, clean the bike, and plan some longer cycling adventures.
Cycling is a jewel with many faces. You can get the basic fresh air and exercise your body needs to stay healthy. Or you can upgrade your workout if you want the excitement of challenging yourself to go farther and faster than others or yourself. All cycling involves socializing of some type. This is usually with your riding buddies, but even when riding alone your bike and your ride becomes a point of conversation that helps strangers become new friends. Riding your bike for errands saves gas and reduces the impact on the environment. And, I know it's been said before, but it's impossible to be unhappy while riding a bicycle. I can personally attest that my only regrettable riding experiences have been when I abruptly found myself no longer riding.
As Spring blossoms there will be more events coming up with SCU and our neighboring bike clubs. In fact, many SCU-er's belong to more than one club, which gives all the clubs a source of fresh ideas. The semi-official start of weeknight rides is April 1. Watch the ride calendar on Meetup for postings. SCU and Bicycle Club of Philadelphia have collaborated on Ride Leader Training for many years. This year this collaboration will be expanded to include Central Bucks Bicycle Club and possibly others. Our LAB certified instructor Thom Macadams will be offering the Traffic Skills course, an excellent opportunity to improve your riding skills regardless of your level of experience. Also this Spring will be the Round-up Ride, if we can find a volunteer organizer. (Hint. Hint. Said volunteer would be coached.) Lastly but certainly not leastly, check out the regional ride calendar tab on the website for upcoming organized rides for the Spring. Jack Elias has been its editor for years and does such a great job that riders throughout the region consider it the best resource for finding organized rides to suit their preferences.
Regardless of why, how, where and when you ride, hope to see you on a Spring ride soon!
Steve "Read all the way to the end" Muth
SCU President
|  | Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now |
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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 PAVED 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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| Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now - Do It Now |  | REMINDER: Dues Increase Effective April 1, 2024
At its February 15 meeting, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to increase annual dues by five dollars effective April 1, 2024. This date was chosen because many long-time members are still on an annual Springtime renewal cycle that predates the current rolling join/renewal system. The new membership rates will be $30 for individuals and $40 for families.
It’s been a long time since the club last increased its membership fees (since at least 2006). A lot of change has occurred within the club since that time. Most notably, there is only one annual fund-raising event since dropping the Lake Nockamixon Century about a dozen years ago. The loss of revenue from “The Nock” has been somewhat offset by discontinuation of the printed-and-mailed newsletter and other cost saving measures. However, over the years general inflation for all goods and services seems to have caught up with us. There has also been a recent dramatic increase in the cost of insurance for all bike clubs in the region.
The Executive Committee did some homework before making this decision. We reviewed our annual budget carefully, taking extra time to consider how future budgets will look after we are done absorbing the impact of last year’s cancellation of the Summer Century due to unsafe weather conditions. We also confirmed that we have an insurance plan that is less costly than most bike clubs’ in the region. The ultimate conclusion was that while SCU is financially sound at this point, we could not sustain our program of rides and social events at the current membership rates without eroding our ‘rainy day fund’.
Even with this increase, SCU membership still costs less than a new tire for your bike and remains one of the best bargains around. There are hundreds of weekday and weekend rides in the Philly suburbs available throughout the year plus the Round-up Ride, the Annual Picnic, Happy Hours, Member Appreciation Tailgates, and the Annual Celebration -- more ways to enjoy cycling with friends than you can shake a spoke at!
| Spring Rides are Starting!
As we all know, CYCLING SEASON STARTS IN APRIL and with that many of our weekday evening group rides will begin again.
- Evening rides from Church of the Saviour in Wayne (co-hosted by BCP) will begin on Monday, April 8. The ride coordinator will be Tom Beckett.
- Flourtown Wednesday evening rides will begin on Wednesday, May 1st. The ride coordinator will be David Kaplan.
- Tuesday and Thursday rides starting from Horsham Library will begin April 9.
- Thursday rides from North Penn High School will begin on Thursday, April 11. The ride leader will be Monica Coleman.
Keep in mind that early in the season rides may still finish around dusk, so lights and high visibility kit are advisable!
See our ride postings on Meetup for exact locations and start times!
| Ride Leader Training Approacheth
Ride leaders are truly the heart and soul of a cycling club!
SCU is planning to conduct ride leader training for SCU members who would like to lead club group rides. As in the past, it will be jointly held with the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia (BCP). Central Bucks Bicycle Club is also likely to participate. The details and structure are still being finalized, but so far it is looking like this:
1. An introductory class for those who sign up, probably the 3rd or 4th week of April (look for a separate announcement via e-mail)
2. An online component put together by Chuck Herbert of BCP with input from the different participating bicycle clubs, that you can complete at your own pace at home on your computer. This online portion will cover the basic aspects of leading rides, plus those aspects specific to SCU, i.e., posting rides on Meetup, sign-in sheets, various SCU policies.
3. A ride leader check-out where, working with an SCU ride leader, you create a route, post the ride on Meetup, and lead the ride in the presence of another SCU ride leader.
Please watch your e-mail for a separate announcement this month! We LOVE our ride leaders!!
| College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
(There Is Still Time to Contribute! Click Link or Scan QR Code)
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.
|  |  | College Settlement Camp Cleanup Day - Saturday, May 4
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CSC is excited to announce a special Star Wars-themed Clean Up Day, happening on May 4th at 8:30 AM.
As we get ready to welcome campers back to College Settlement this summer, we're reaching out to our community (very much including SCU) to help ensure everything is in perfect shape and ready for their arrival!
Together, we'll be channeling our inner Jedi as we mulch flower beds, plant flowers, clear leaves and branches, restore hiking trails, and more. Your participation will help ensure that our cabins, dining hall, environmental center, pool, and play areas are ready to embark on a summer adventure beyond the stars.
Location:
597 Witmer Road, Horsham, PA 19044
Jobs Include:
- Leia's Landscapers
- Wookie Wheelbarrow Workout
- Jedi Artistry Alliance
- Reviving Rebel Picnic Tables
- Crafting Cosmic Care Packages
- Hutt's Hospitality Crew
Schedule:
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast and Registration
- 9:00 AM: Begin Working
- 12:00 PM: Lunch Break
- 1:00 PM: Back to Work and Final Cleanup
As an added bonus, each volunteer will be automatically entered to win a $125 gift card toElements Massagein Horsham!
We look forward to seeing you there. May the force be with you!
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|  | SCU will have a display table at the Hatboro Earth Day Festival.
This event is geared (see what I did there?) primarily for bike safety for families.
SCU ride Leaders are welcome and encouraged to post rides which either start/finish or visit the event during the ride.
Hatboro installed a Traffic Garden at this location to teach kids about bike safety and the rules of the road. If you would be interested in leading a Bike Safety Rodeo for kids, the Event Organizer would be very receptive to this support! (please contact Kelly A'Harrah, kellyaharrah@gmail.com). |
SCU Votes Needed to Support College Settlement Camp Administrator's Nomination
Hi Cycling Friends,
Rebecca Coco, a key administrator at our non-profit partner, College Settlement Camp, has been nominated to the Camp Administrator Hall of Fame in recognition of her excellent service. Those of you who have worked with the Camp have likely met her as you first enter the office building in the old farmhouse on Witmer Road. See photo below. Your vote is needed to help her achieve this professional milestone which will include a $1000 scholarship for kids to attend the Camp this summer. Follow this link to the Camp Administrator Hall of Fame website to learn about Rebecca's service to College Settlement Camp and vote for her induction.
Thanks for all you do to support SCU and our partners!
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Cinco de Mayo Ride - Sunday, May 5
Experience one of the most scenic rides in Pennsylvania at the Cinco de Mayo Benefit Ride and Walk on Sunday, May 5th! Offering picturesque 25- and 50-mile routes plus a trail ride, it’s the perfect blend of challenge and beauty while supporting cycling and other sports opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more and register now at www.cincodemayoride.org. Join us to make a difference and enjoy a day filled with incredible views and camaraderie!
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Chestertown Weekend - May 24-27 (Memorial Day Weekend)
Registration for the Baltimore Bicycle Club's Chestertown Weekend is now open.
Join the Baltimore Bicycling Club in celebrating the 40th year of this event! Enjoy riding along the flat, scenic roads of Kent County, Maryland, and stay in the historic port town of Chestertown, MD on the Chester River
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Save the Date: CBBC Covered Bridges Ride - October 13, 2024
The annual Central Bucks Bicycle Club (CBBC) Covered Bridges Ride will take place on Sunday, October 13, 2024. This is a beautiful event and often the Finale to the organized event season in the Delaware Valley. Detailed event and registration information will be posted on the CBBC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/cbbike.
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For SCU members who live and/or cycle in the North Penn area of Montco (Lansdale, North Wales, Upper Gwynedd, etc.) Bike North Penn needs more citizen involvement to improve bike safety, access, infrastructure, etc. They are advocating to increase bike trails/paths, as well as create connections between existing trails.
Bike North Penn also sponsors slow-rolling community group bike rides (e.g., 6 miles through North Wales Borough) They meet on the second Thursday of every month at 7pm, at
Eclipse Center for Creative Community
30 Vine St
Lansdale, PA 19446
Next meeting: April 11 - ZOOM CONNECTION AVAILABLE - check web calendar https://bikenorthpenn.org/calendar-2/
Website: bikenorthpenn.org (There is a News Blog here.)
Director: William Jackson, 215-280-7064, william.jackson@bikenorthpenn.org
|  | 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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- Enrico Colzani - Wyndmoor, PA
- Joseph Licwinco - Collegeville, PA
- Keith McDonough - Drexel Hill, 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
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