Table of Contents
- President's Message
- REGISTER NOW! REGULAR REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 13 - 2025 SCU Best of Bucks Metric
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the 2025 SCU Best of Bucks Metric!!
- THANK YOU to Our Winter Hike Leaders!!
- Bike Shop Open Houses - Recap
- The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County/Upper Gwynedd 'Unplugged Week'
- Hatboro Earth Day Celebration 2025
- ERRATA - Knights of the Cast Iron Crotch 2024
- Interested in Leading Rides?
- SCU IS NOW ON INSTAGRAM!
- 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 2025
I love group rides. There is the camaraderie of mutual support and social motivation. It's a chance to connect with people not only during the ride, but also at the start, the end and any rest breaks. It's enjoyable to follow a route planned and led by someone else, knowing that it will follow quiet roads to pleasant destinations. And if you are leading, your riding buddies are there for discussion and advice when challenges crop up such as nasty weather or unexpected road closures. Sharing the ride experience forms bonds with others.
However, riding solo has benefits you can't enjoy when with a group. You can cruise along, stop and rest, or go-go-go whenever you darn well please. The route and destination are subject only to your goals or desires. If you see a road you've never ridden, you can turn down it on a whim. It's a chance to focus on your own thoughts and meditate on life's larger issues. You learn to become self-reliant in the face of challenges, increasing your confidence in your own abilities. You are more likely to meet new friends when riding alone as people are more comfortable approaching a solo rider than a group. An individual ride experience helps you connect with yourself.
Of course, when you ride solo there is a chance you may miss your riding buddies. The good news is that you can ride with them next time. In fact, you might find that you appreciate your group riding buddies all the more when balanced by an occasional solo ride.
Steve "You need to keep moving to maintain your balance"* Muth
SCU President
*My own spin on the words of Albert Einstein.
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REGISTER NOW!
REGULAR REGISTRATION ENDS APRIL 13
2025 SCU Best of Bucks Metric
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA
Follow the link below to the information page.
We look forward to seeing you there!
2025 Best of Bucks Metric
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!
The Best of Bucks Metric is SCU's signature event and helps
to support club activities throughout the year.
Please support your club by
sharing your time and talents to make the event a success!
We need bakers, rest stop attendants, registration/check-in
helpers, route markers, parking guides, SAG drivers and more.
Many volunteer opportunities can also be coordinated
to allow you to ride in the event!
Follow the link below to the Signup Genius for open slots.
Thank you for supporting your cycling club!
| THANK YOU to Our Winter Hike Leaders!
During a cold winter like this past one, staying active can be challenging. A BIG THANK YOU to the leaders of our winter hikes for keeping us moving and taking in beautiful scenery along the way! Thank you to Robin Einhorn, Linda & Doug Mueller, Linda McGrane, Doug Smithman and Jeff Reardon, among others who helped organize and sweep the hikes.
| Bike Shop Open Houses - Recap
Thank you to Keswick Cycle-Glenside and Trek Bicycle-Spring House for hosting open house/seminar events during the month of March.
Trek Bicycle held a "Spring Training" open house and seminar on spring maintenance and tune-ups. Thanks to store manager Brittany Ashe and her crew!
Keswick Cycle - Glenside hosted a seminar covering Nutrition (by Michelle Handren, Strength & Endurance Coach) and Chain Waxing ( by John Stenger, Service Manager). Thanks to store manager Steve Fitzmaurice!
SCU greatly appreciates the knowledge-sharing by our friends in the cycling community!
|  | The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County/
Upper Gwynedd 'Unplugged Week'
The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County (PTMA-MC) is a nonprofit agency dedicated to advancing transportation solutions that are accessible, affordable, safe and sustainable. Their programs include many that focus on cycling initiatives (such as Bike Share, Bike Safety, Bike More/Drive Less and Bike Match, among others). They've been recognized as a 'Bike-Friendly Business at the Gold Level' by the League of American Bicyclists!
PTMA-MC is sponsoring Upper Gwynedd Township's 'Unplugged Week' from Monday, April 14 to Thursday, April 17. Unplugged Week is a week of NO photes, NO TV, NO video games!
PTMA-MC invites all SCU members and their families to join them and Bike North Penn on Wednesday, April 16 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm at Parkside Place Park in North Wales for a short, family-friendly bike ride for all ages.
Information about Unplugged Week and The Partnership TMA of Montgomery County can be found at the following links:
|  |  | ERRATA - Order of the Knights of the Cast Iron Crotch 2024
In the March edition of the Chainletter, our summary of the Knights of the Cast Iron Crotch had one error in it. Joseph Pless rode 6,632 miles (we were low by > 1,000 miles). Apologies for the mistake and congratulations to Joe on a lot of quality time in the saddle!
| Interested in Leading Rides?
Our ride leaders truly make it happen for SCU! They are the reason we have such a vibrant club with so many choices of rides across all levels.
If you would like to try leading rides for SCU, please contact the Ride Leader Coordinator, Curtis Schwartz, at rides@suburbancyclists.org and he can provide more information to start you on your way!
| SCU IS NOW ON INSTAGRAM!
Follow SCU on Instagram for images and news from the club and our growing cycling community!
| 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 SCU 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.
- Instagram: Check SCU on Instagram for images and news from the club and our cycling community.
| 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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- Matt Bogusch - West Chester, PA
- Dane P. Gray - Downingtown, PA
- Joseph W. Holden - Colmar, PA
- Logan D. Schmidt - North Wales, PA
- Taylor Schoen - Media, 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
Digital Communications Director
Kevin Olsavsky
Membership Director
Pat Butcher
Public Relations Director
Linda A. McGrane
Ride Leader Director
Curtis Schwartz
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Regional Calendar Editor
Jack Elias
Merchandise Manager
Open | |