gearing up - Frederick Pedalers

F r ed er i ck P ed al e r s/ Fr e e S t at e C lu s t er Bi c yc l e C lu b s
July 2004
Volume 32, No. 6
G EARING U P
WWW.FREDERICKPEDALERS.ORG
"If You Can't Get There by Bike, There's
No Reason to Go"
Breakfast With the Tour and
Support the Tyler Hamilton
Foundation
Your Bicycle Club Still Wants
YOU!
Inside this issue:
(a Presidential Rant by Bill Smith)
Far Away Rides
2
Who Let the Dogs Out?
Road Apples
Ride Start Locations
3
Calendar
4
More Helmets
Tip of the Month
5
Bicycling Begets Big
Bucks
New Jersey Trails
RAAM Picture
For Sale
Lancaster County
6
About the club
7
Featured Web Sites
8
No—we’re not Public Television, so we don’t send you
mailings pleading for money.
Nor will we send you a Tour
de France DVD with your
$250 contribution or a Lance
Armstrong bobble head doll. For a mere $15
or $20 a year, we are looking for participation. For a wee bit o’ your time.
We need your help to make this bicycle
club become more than it is now. We need
people to step up to lead rides; to come out
on rides (so those who volunteer to lead them
don’t ride alone); to come to the club meetings and voice their opinions on what we
need more (or less) of and where we should
be going. People like Ian Jessop and Bill
Pakenas have done just that (thanks!). Others, such as webmaster Brian King, have brought
(Continued on page 8)
Man Arrested for Assaulting
Bicyclist
"When I see an adult on
a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of
the Human race."
-H. G. Wells
Club E-mail:
clubmail@frederickpedalers.
org
(source: the League of American Bicyclists)
On Saturday, July 17, grab a cup of joe and
watch the fireworks on the third mountain stage of
the Tour de France from Lannemezan to the uphill
finish at the Plateau de Beille. But don’t just roll
out of bed and watch it all by your lonesome.
Catch the action in bigger than life-size on a movie
theatre screen and go nuts, along with hundreds of
other cycling fans. The Tyler Hamilton Foundation, in collaboration with Regal Cinemedia and
Outdoor Life Network, will present a live viewing
of Stage 13 of the 2004 Tour de France, at Regal
Cinema theatres around the country. Guaranteed
to blow your nice little plasma screen off the wall.
Come for breakfast, watch the Tour on the big
screen while hooting and hollering with fellow
cyclists, and support the Tyler Hamilton Foundation's twin mission to help individuals affected by
multiple sclerosis and support aspiring young athletes with a passion for cycling. Door prizes will
be raffled off at each theater.
The nearest location to Frederick is Regal Ballston Commons Stadium 12, Arlington, VA. Prices
are $25 and $40.
Visit http://www.tylerhamiltonfoundation.org/
tdf25.html for details.
(condensed from the Frederick News-Post)
—Friday, June 18—
Robert L. Smith, 39, of Thurmont, was
arrested on charges of first– and seconddegree assault and reckless endangerment
after following a male bicyclist on Mountaindale Rd in his red truck at high speed and
yelling profanities at him.
Frederick County Sheriff’s Office deputies
arrived at the scene when a resident of Mountaindale Rd called police to complain about a
speeding red truck that was chasing a bicyclist.
New and Renewing Members:
● Dr. Laura Chaffiotte (new)
● Vicki Crum
● Jon Disbennett
● Laura Lee Brandon (new)
Page 2
Volume 32, No. 6
Far Away (and Not-So-Far Away) Rides (inclusion does not necessarily constitute an endorsement)
(NOTE: Editor usually has registration pamphlets/more information about these rides) (*RED font = nearby)
To the Rescue Bicycle Tour: July 13; benefits James City-Bruton VFD; Williamsburg; 757-566-2126 or www.jcvfr.com
The Great Big FANY Ride: July 25-31; upstate New York; 70 miles/day (shorter options); $200; 518-461-9663 or www.FANYride.com
BonTon Roulet: July 25-31; New York’s Finger Lakes; 315-253-5304 or www.bontonroulet.com
River to River: July 31: Indian Valley Farmers’ Market; 25-100 miles; 215-513-9577 or www.pedalpa.com
Shenandoah Valley Bike Festival: July 31; Bridgewater, VA; 100/65/40/32/24/23 miles; $15; www.ourcommunityplace.org or active.com
4th Annual To the Rescue Bike Tour: July 31; Toano, VA; up to 100 miles; 757-566-2126 or www.jcvfr.com
Moose Tour: August 1-6; Maine Wheels Bicycle Club; 330 miles/6 days; 207-743-5993 or www.moosetour.com
Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge: August 7; 100/70/56/27 miles; sagged; bikemountainmama.homestead.com
*Dutch Treat: August 8-12; Lancaster County PA; 215-513-9577 or www.pedalpa.com
*Eat a Peach Challenge: August 14; Brain Injury Assn. Of MD; 12/33/40/67/100 miles; Westminster MD; 410-448-2924 or www.biamd.org
*Cumberland Valley Century: Aug 21; Cumberland Valley Cycling Club (Hagerstown); www.bikecvcc.com/theride.html; Very nice route!
*Pete Wysoki Memorial Cycling Tour: Aug 21; Dedicated to a former Washington Redskin and bicycle racer; www.thecaboose.org/pjw50.htm
*Cedar Ridge Century: August 28; Cedar Ridge Children’s Home; 25/62/100 miles; $35; 301-582-0282 or www.cedar-ridge.org
*Reston Century: August 29; Reston, VA; 30/60/100 miles; SAG support; $25; www.restonbikeclub.org
Indiana Bikefest 2004: Sept 3-6; Bicyclists National Rally; www.bicycleindiana.org
*26th Annual Hanover Cyclers Labor Day Century: Sept 6; 25/50/65/100; food/cue sheets/etc. 717-225-3768 or www.hanovercyclers.org
*Civil War Century: Sept 11; Baltimore Bicycle Club; Thurmont; www.baltobikeclub.org
*Tour de Canal: Sept 11-12; entire C & O Canal in one weekend (184 miles); Cumberland to DC; 800-728-9255 or www.alz-nca.org
West Wicomico Heritage Ride: Sept 11; Salisbury MD, 15/32/50/62 miles; $30, supported; www.pembertonpark.org/heritage.htm
*Southern MD Century: Sept 12; Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club; 100/63/30 miles; 301-567-0089 or www.ohbike.org
22nd Annual Shenandoah Valley Century: Sept 12; Harrisonburg VA; 100/50/25 miles; http://neups.tripod.com/svc.html or 540-433-9247
*BikeDC: Sept 18; 15-mile River Ride (Clara Barton Pkwy); 20-mile City Tour (streets of DC); 202-628-2500 or www.waba.org
4-H Tour de Youth Metric Century: Sept 18, Smethport, PA; 65/33/15 road or 20 off-road; SAG support; www.mckean.extension.psu.edu/bike
Heart of Virginia Century Ride & Bike Festival: Sept 18-19; Ashland VA; www.raba.org/heartofva_basic.html
*PPTC Back Country Century: Sept 19; Berryville, VA; 24/50/63/100 miles; www.bikepptc.org
*FREDERICK PEDALERS CENTURY: Sept 25; from Thurmont to New Oxford, PA; rolling terrain, no major hills
*Ed Sander Memorial Ride: Oct 2; Lily Pons Water Gardens, Buckeystown; 10/25/36/50/100 miles; www.ncvc.net or www.active.com
*Seagull Century: Oct 9; www.seagullcentury.org
*Tour of Hope DC: Oct 9; www.tourofhope.org
Central Bucks Covered Bridges: Oct 17; Erwinna PA; 20/30/33/50/63 miles; www.cbbikeclub.org
Victorian Cape May: Oct 22-24; Smyrna DE to Cape May NJ; White Clay Bicycle Club; 3 days-142 miles; $95; www.whiteclaybicycleclub.org
Frederick Pedalers / Free State Cluster Bicycle Club
Membership Application
Name:
Email*:
Address:
*E-mail newsletter to above address? Y N
City:
Home Phone:
State:
Work Phone:
How did you learn about us?
Are you a member of LAB? Y N
If family membership, member’s names:
Briefly describe your ideal ride:
What do you hope to get from the club?
Zip Code:
Ride Classes: A B C D
Style: On-Road
Off-Road
Kid Carrier
Family
Single
Tandem
I am interested in:
Advocacy
Club Leadership
Planning Events
Contributing to the Newsletter
Leading Rides
Other (describe)
Please sign and date:
Make check ($15 single, $20 family) payable to Frederick Pedalers and send it to the club post office (P.O. Box 1293, Frederick, 21702-0293)
Gearing Up
Page 3
Who Let the Dogs Out?
Had a dog chase/attack you on
your bike? Let your fellow cyclists know where to be extra
careful. Contact us to list it here.
And report the incident to Animal Control (301-694-1546).
The animal’s owner can be fined
for repeat offenses.
Ride Start Locations
for July:
● Glade Elementary School (Walkersville): Take
US15 north to a right (east) on MD26; then left
(north) on MD194; just past Walkersville, turn left
onto Devilbiss Bridge Rd; then left into the school
parking lot in about 0.4 miles.
2004
>> 8846 Creagerstown Road
>> Boyers Mill Road (exact address unknown). Two dogs,
possibly pit bulls.
>> 14804 Mud College Road (five incidents, owner cited)
>> 11949 Wilhide Rd, near the emu farm—a German shepherd and a black lab (multiple incidents)
2003
>>Glade Rd—10400 block—exact address requested if you
can get it for us—black dog
>>Basford Rd E, between Ballenger Creek Pike and US15
2240 Pleasant View Rd (*)
(*) signifies bite attack
● Monocacy Middle School (Frederick): US15
north to Motter Ave/Opossumtown Pike exit; Right
from exit ramp; Right at 5th light to school parking
lot; park away from the middle school, near Opossumtown Pike. Note: If there is some other event
going on at the school, park across the street at FCC.
● Wheelbase Bicycles (Frederick): The bike shop is at
229 N. Market St, between 2nd and 3rd streets on
the west (left) side. There is usually parking available
on Market St out front.
● Whittier Elementary School (Frederick): From
Frederick, take Rosemont Ave (4th St) west, past
US15. The road name will change to Yellow Springs
Rd. Turn left onto Christopher’s Crossing. Take the
first right (Whittier Dr) and continue around the
lake. The school will be on your right.
ANIMAL CONTROL: 301-694-1546
Road Apples
Sugarloaf
Ride—April
22
(Steve Walter)
We had a
lovely day for
the Sugarloaf ride. Seven riders came
out for this circuitous route to Sugarloaf. The riders included Vicki Crum,
Peggy Parker, Brian King, Matt
(guest rider from Florida), Bill Pakenas, Mary Walter and I (Steve Walter). We looped over rolling hills
through Poolesville and finally up the
Sugarloaf ascent. We fought off the
invasion of the cicadas and enjoyed the
serenade from man and bug at the East
overlook. Everyone seemed to
have a good time and we logged a total
of 48 miles.
Mountaindale—May
30
(John
Munns)
Two riders joined the leader on the C ride to
Mountaindale on May 30 during the
height of the cicada season: Regine Pacchiana and Glenn Angus joined John
Munns as well as one cicada. The cicada
rode the handlebars of the leader before
being kicked off to be with his fellow cicadas in Mountaindale. We made a short
stop at the Mountaindale General store
before arriving home by 12:00 noon.
New Market—June 12
(John Munns)
The ride to New Market on Saturday
June 12 broke up into two groups with
Tim Rice, Bob Dollar, and nonmember John Scott in the front group;
and Vicki Crum, John Fauerby,
Lynne Rosenbusch, Peggy Parker,
and leader John Munns in the rear
group. As advertised, the ride had short
steep hills around New Market. The
rear group had no troubles with the
hills, and enjoyed lunch at the Deli in
Trout’s grocery store in Woodsboro.
The rear group took the time to observe
St. Peter Church in Libertytown that
sadly was partially destroyed by fire.
The front group also ate at Trout’s; just
it was the Trout’s restaurant.
Volume 32, No. 6
Page 4
THE CALENDAR
Sunrise Times: July 1: 5:46 a.m.; July 8: 5:50 a.m.; July 15: 5:55 a.m.; July 22: 6:00 a.m.; July 31: 6:08 a.m.
Sunset Times: July 1: 8:40 p.m.; July 8: 8:39 p.m.; July 15: 8:35 p.m.; July 22: 8:31 p.m.; July 31: 8:23 p.m.
Evenings
Mondays 6:00 pm
B+/A 25-35
Wheelbase
Monday Night Road Ride
Expect an average pace of 16-18 mph; there will be “no attacks” on this ride; just a friendly, fast-pace. There will usually be one break for food/
drink—not necessarily at a store. Ride cancelled if raining or rain is imminent. Ray Clark, Wheelbase Bikes, 301-663-9288.
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00 pm
B
25-35
Tues-Thurs Road Ride
Glade E.S.
The racers are starting from here, so don’t get confused. We’re easy to tell apart—they’re looking at the finish line, we’re looking at the waist line.
Expect a pace of about 15-17 mph. Martha cannot be there every night, some nights it’s an impromptu ride. Martha Bush, 410-775-7658 (home)
or 301-845-4500 (work).
Wednesdays 6:15 pm
C
20-25
Start Slow, Then Ease Off
Glade E.S.
The ride title says it all! We’ll go at a very easy pace. New riders are welcomed, as this will be a social ride and a recovery ride for those who
choose to push harder on Monday and Tuesday nights. No one will be left behind. The ride leader duties will be shared and thus will vary. Contact Bill Smith (301-698-9090 / fellinicat@aol.com) or John Munns (301-624-5621 / jmunns@fred1.org) for more information.
Weekends/Weekday Mornings
Every Wednesday 9:00 am
B+
35-50
Wheelbase
Wednesday AM Road Ride
This is a mid-week ride that starts at Wheelbase Bicycles in Frederick. Call the bike shop in advance for more information. Wheelbase: 301-6639288.
Every Sunday 8:00 am A/B
35-50
Wheelbase
The Sunday Morning Road Ride
The entire group stays together for about an hour then usually breaks into two smaller groups, a faster ride and a slower ride. Ride goes if it is
not too windy and the roads are dry. Mike Adams or Tom Peperone, 301-663-9288.
July 3 (Sat) 8:30 am
B-/B
45-50
Glade E.S.
Tour de France Prologue
Formally known as the Bastille Day ride, there will be no climbs up L'Alpe d'Huez, just the rolling hills of Frederick and Carroll County. Cue sheets
will be provided for those who don't want to stay with the peloton but want to go at their own pace. We'll get an early start to beat le heat. Joan
Wicks 410-775-7822 jwicks@criver.com
July 11 (Sun) 8:30 am B/C+
57
Whittier E.S.
Crossing the Border to Union Bridge
We are crossing the border into Carroll County to visit the town of Union Bridge. Basically rolling terrain, with several short steep hills. John Munns
301-624-5621 jmunns@fred1.org.
July 17 (Sat) 9:00 am
ALL
July 18 (Sun) 7:45 am C
Bethel E.L. Church
42
Adopt-a-Road Cleanup
Monocacy M.S. Thurmont Breakfast Ride
Let's ride up to Thurmont for breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen Restaurant. Easy pace, few hills of note, light traffic. Bill Smith, 301-698-9090.
July 25 (Sun) 9:00 am ALL
20
Glade E.S.
TDF Cyclysm Finale
Come over to the ride leader's house in Libertytown to watch the final stage of the 2004 TDF live on OLN from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon in wide
screen HDTV splendor. After Lance (hopefully) wins his record 6th TDF we'll head over to Glade E.S. for a 20 mile victory ride. Contact the ride
leader for more details and make sure to bring your Maillot Jaune. Brian King 301-898-8482 bigring@adelphia.net
Other Events
Adopt-a-Road Saturday Morning Cleanups (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.): July 17, October 9—intersection of Opossumtown & Bethel
Club Meetings (7:15 p.m.): July 12 (new date), August 9, September 6, October 4—Jennifer’s Restaurant, Frederick MD
Club Banquet (6:30 p.m.): Saturday, November 13, Cozy Restaurant, Thurmont (tentative)
Gearing Up
Bicycle Helmets: Consumer Reports Publishes Helmet Article
(by Randy Swart, via e-mail)
Consumer Reports has an article on helmets
in their July issue. The article rates 15 adult
helmets, eight youth models and six toddler
helmets. That is a very small cross-section of
the hundreds of models on the market, but it
represents the only independent lab test data
publicly available, so it is a major event in the
helmet field.
Impact Test Results
Among the adult helmets, Consumers Union
picked the Louis Garneau Zen as a Best Buy,
awarding it a Very Good in impact protection
and Excellent for other characteristics. Other
Very Good ratings for impact were awarded to
the Trek Interval and the Specialized Telluride, but the latter is not recommended because the buckles on some samples failed (see
comment below). The Bell Influx was similarly not recommended. All other adult helmets were Good, with only the Bell Scuffle
scoring lower in the Fair category. This is not
too surprising, as most helmets are basically
designed to meet the same CPSC standard.
Among youth helmets, the Specialized Air
Wave Mega was the only helmet in this study
found Excellent for impact protection. The
Louis Garneau Grunge 2-V, Bell Amigo and
Schwinn Thrasher were all Very Good. In
toddler sizes, the Bell Boomerang was Very
Good for impact and highly recommended,
while the Fisher-Price Toddler (Bell Belino)
model was rated only Fair. The Trek Little
Dipper was not recommended due to buckle
failures.
Retention Test Results
Most of the helmets tested scored Excellent
in retention effectiveness. But remember that
in the lab the helmets are adjusted carefully by
experts, and there is no test for loosening over
time by "strap creep."
Skate vs. Bicycle
The only helmet CU tested this time that
met both skateboard and bicycle helmet standards was the Ripper2 by W helmets. CU also
mentions the adult models corresponding to
the youth helmets they tested, but they did not
test the adult sizes, and the results might be
very different, as they apparently are for the
Ripper2.
Page 5
Buckle breakage: Continued controversy
The Consumer Reports lab continues to
break buckles as they did in 1997, but
both they and the helmet manufacturers
don't seem to know why, since the same
buckles pass on other models. Lab technique could be at fault, since the ASTM
bicycle helmet standard now requires that
the buckle be adjusted away from the
steel rods on the test apparatus that simulates the jaw. A buckle placed against
those steel rods for the hard jerk required
will break every time, but the test is not
realistic. On the other hand, there are
differences in strap materials, anchoring
or strap routing, shells and helmet foam
density that could account for the problem if they produce a more rigid structure
that gives less and increases the sharpness
of the jerk. We are not particularly concerned about the breakage, since it does
not seem to be happening in the field on
helmets whose buckles CU broke in the
past, and CPSC was mostly unable to
reproduce the 1997 failures in their lab.
In that article CU did not even recommend avoiding the models whose buckles
broke, indicating that they did not consider it a serious problem at that time. To
be on the safe side you may want to steer
away from the three models as CU recommends this time, since there are lots of
other good ones available. We would be
more concerned about the Fair impact
performance of the Bell Scuffle, and see
no excuse for buying that one.
We have much more on the 1997 buckle
question at www.helmets.org/cu_1997.
htm
You can read the article in the July issue of
Consumer Reports, available at news stands
for several weeks and thereafter in your
local library or for a fee on the Consumer's
Union Web site at www.consumerreports.org
The Helmet Update - Bicycle Helmet Safety
Institute
Randy Swart, Editor - randy@helmets.org
4611 Seventh Street South, Arlington, VA
22204-1419 USA
(703) 486-0100 (voice or fax)
info@helmets.org http://www.helmets.org
Tip of
the
Month
What to
Bring on
a Club
Ride
If you
haven’t been
on an organized ride lately, here are some tips
on what to bring with you on every
ride.
•
•
•
What We Missed
This article is a must-read if you are
researching a new helmet, but as always
we were disappointed that some really
interesting helmets were not included.
Foremost among them is the Bell Metro,
a round and smooth new helmet for
which we would have appreciated ratings.
There are others as well, particularly the
lower-priced models found at Toys R Us
and other discounters, where most parents
buy child helmets. But testing is expensive, and no single lab, including the US
Government, can afford to test every helmet on the market. Our own listing of
Helmets for 2004 is much more comprehensive, but has no lab test results, severely limiting its usefulness.
www.helmets.org/helmet04.htm
•
•
First of all, bring and wear your
helmet.
Second, make sure your bicycle is
in good working order. If in
doubt, check with your LBS (local
bike shop).
Third, bring enough water, food
and cash to get you through the
ride.
Fourth, have a spare tube (or tubular tire), patch kit and pump.
Know how to use these. Note:
the club hopes to hold some repair clinics this coming winter, if
there is adequate interest. If you
cannot fix a flat, there is usually
someone on the ride who’ll do it
for you for the price of a Gatorade.
Fifth, if the pace is too fast for you
and you are working too hard to
keep up, don’t let it be a secret.
Tell the leader.
Volume 32, No. 6
Page 6
Bicycling Begets Big Bucks
(source: the Adventure Cycling Association)
According to a study done recently by the
North Carolina Department of Transportation's
bicycle and pedestrian
division, bicycling in the
Outer Banks -- just one
region of one state -- generates an estimated annual
economic benefit of $60
million. Next time you
hear a local official or anyone else poohpoohing the impact that cycling and/or
cyclists can make on a local economy, slip this
into their bookmarked web favorites:
http://www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/safety/
safety_economicimpact.html
Jure Robic, winner of the 2004 Insight Race Across America, riding
through Western Maryland (photo by Nancy Guth)
Be a volunteer! Contact Brian King to
lead a ride!
NJDOT Study Unveils New
Trail Route Through North
Jersey
(or, Another Trip for Anne and
Fred?)
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), in partnership with the East
Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA), the nonprofit organization developing a 2600-mile
trail connecting cities of the eastern seaboard
for non-motorized users, has unveiled the new
trail route for the East Coast Greenway
(ECG) through northern New Jersey.
NJDOT’s planning study identified a 64mile route through 5 counties and 22 municipalities connecting the existing Delaware and
Raritan River (D&R) Canal Towpath through
the Middlesex Greenway and Jersey City’s
historic Harsimus Cove Railroad Embankment to the Hudson River Walkway--which
will provide access to New York City via
multiple water ferries. Visit http://www.
greenway.org for more information on the
progress of the East Coast Greenway Alliance
This 6-pound frame
of Special Lightweight Reynolds 531
Butted Frame Tubes,
Fork Blades & Stays
was custom built by
Rodney Moseman.
The frame has never
been built up. It has
Campagnolo drop-outs, a Dura-Ace headset,
and English BB threads.
Wheelbase = 98 cm
Chainstays = 42.5 cm
BB Center to Seat Lug Center = 46.5 cm
Top Tube = 51.5 cm
Rear Drop-out Spacing = 126 mm
Asking Price = $350.00
Lancaster County
Accommodation
Have you ever thought of Traveling
to Lancaster County for a sponsored
bike ride? There are plenty of uncrowded county farm roads here
where the car traffic is almost nonexistent (Mainly because we have lots
of Amish and Mennonites here that
travel by horse and buggy.) I own a
B&B here and would love to have you
fill my INN with bikers. I will be
happy to give you special pricing, except in October - that's our BUSY
month! I could provide maps of bike
trails with covered bridges, water and
a boxed lunch.
Come spend some quality time in
an area that time forgot.
Betsy Fitzpatrick
Quiet Comfort in Authentic Amish
Surroundings.
Stay at the Boxwood Inn
800 238 3466
Gearing Up
Page 7
About the Newsletter
Gearing Up is the publication of the Frederick Pedalers/Free
State Cluster bicycle club. It is published monthly from March
through November, and every other month in the winter, and
is sent to all members. A one-year membership is available
to all by filling out the membership application on the back of
this newsletter and mailing it, with a check made out for the
appropriate amount, to the club treasurer.
The Copy Deadline is two Mondays before the first Saturday
of the month (unless specified otherwise in the Calendar section).
The Ride Schedule Deadline is the same day as the newsletter’s. Please call Chris Borkman at 301-371-5957 or Email
to clubmail@frederickpedalers.org to submit a ride.
Submission of Copy for Publication: Send copy to the
Club mailbox; the address is:
Newsletter Exchange: Frederick Pedalers encourages other
bicycle clubs and organizations to send copies of their newsletters to Frederick Pedalers and will reciprocate in kind. When
practical, Frederick Pedalers will include relevant events, announcements and articles from exchanged newsletters in
Gearing Up.
About the Club
The Frederick Pedalers/Free State Cluster Bicycle Club,
founded in 1972, is an all-volunteer organization whose purpose is to promote cycling for pleasure, health and transportation, defend the rights of cyclists and encourage safer cycling.
The club publishes this newsletter 10 times per year and
provides for the organization of member-led rides on most
weekend days and holidays. The club sponsors evening rides
on weekdays, allowing club members to unwind gracefully after the day's toil. During the winter, regular Sunday breakfast
rides are scheduled.
The club's annual business/social meeting (and election) is
held every March; other regular annual events include a Club
Picnic in the Summer, a Club Century in the Fall and a Club
Banquet (also in the Fall).
Frederick Pedalers
PO Box 1293
Frederick, MD 21702-0293
—or— e-mail to: clubmail@frederickpedalers.org
The Bulletin Board service is available free for members
(non-commercial only); send copy directly to the editor.
Paid Advertising (including bulletin board) is accepted subject to editorial approval; contact the editor or club president
for rates.
Club Officers through March of 2005:
President:
Bill Smith
301-698-9090
Administrative VP:
John Munns
301-624-5621
Touring VP:
Brian King
301-898-8482
Secretary:
Martha Bush
301-898-8227
Treasurer:
Bob Dollar
301-694-2328
=======================================
Webmaster:
Brian King
Frederick Pedalers Rides
The Ride Schedule, included in each newsletter, provides members with the information necessary to select rides. The format
for the rides is reasonably self-explanatory, except for the first line. An annotated example first line is shown below:
March 9 (Saturday)
10 am
C/B 25
Grove Stadium
Point of Rocks or Thereabouts
(date and day)
(start time) (class) (distance)
(start location)
(title)
Frederick Pedalers’ RIDE CLASSES are defined as follows:
F “family” - leisurely-paced, 10-20 miles, frequent stops; easy terrain, encouraging cyclists with children in trailers/trailer
bikes; (G).
D "casual" - leisurely-paced, 10-20 miles, frequent stops; usually flat to slightly-rolling terrain; (G).
C "easy touring" - 20-50 miles at 10 to 13 mph; rolling terrain, (some hills possible); rest stops as needed; (G).
B "touring" - for stronger, seasoned cyclists; 30-75 miles at 14-17 mph; rolling to hilly terrain; fewer rest stops; (G) (W).
A "fast touring" - for very fit, experienced cyclists; 45-100+ miles at 17-20+ mph; hills likely, stops are farther apart; (D).
ATB "All-Terrain" - generally 10 to 25+ miles, depending on terrain; usually on dirt roads and hilly trails
Tandem for cyclists riding tandems (“bicycles built for two”)
ATB and Tandem rides are not graded for difficulty; if you are unsure as to your ability or the ride difficulty, you should call
the ride leader in advance to make sure that the ride is suited to your abilities and interests.
(G) above means that riders ride together as a group.
(W) above means that slower riders may be dropped, but that leader(s) will wait for slower riders at turns.
(D) above means that slower riders may be dropped; riders are strongly advised to carry maps.
“Impromptus”: When a ride is designated as “Impromptu”, this means that there will be no formal ride leader. Riders should bring maps and
perhaps old cue sheets appropriate to the ride description. At the ride start, riders discuss routes prior to the ride and then start out.
Frederick Pedalers has a well-deserved reputation as a "friendly" club; most rides are at least somewhat social, and it is very rare for a rider to be
dropped by the group. Be conservative in choosing your first few club rides, especially if this is your first bike club ride. Don’t hesitate to call
the ride leader for questions; that's why the phone number is there!
If the Weather looks threatening or otherwise inhospitable, the best thing to do is call the ride leader. You can do this the evening before the ride
or in the morning before the ride otherwise. Call early enough to catch the ride leader at home, but use common sense; the ride leader’s family
probably won’t appreciate a 6:00 am call on a Sunday morning, for example.
Volume 32, No. 6
Page 8
THIS MONTH’S
FEATURED WEB
SITES
Your Bicycle Club Still Wants YOU!
(Continued from page 1)
new energy and expertise to the club.
Trust me—there’s no danger. We won’t ask you to coordinate the club century
or picnic or become a club officer. However, if you want to, we won’t stop you!
We want you to get involved—the officers are a busy bunch and have lives of
their own outside of this club and need help. We can’t lead all of the rides. It is so
very true that, “many hands make light work”. If half of our members lead one
ride each year, we’ll have so many rides we won’t know what to do with all of
them.
Haven’t attended a ride yet? Why not? You are missing out on something
good. Can’t commit to leading a ride a couple of weeks out? No worries—contact
Brian King and he’ll post your ride on the web page a couple of days beforehand.
Tour de France History:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/
veloarchive/pages/intro.htm
How to Fit a Bicycle (by Peter
White):
http://www.peterwhitecycles.
com/fitting.htm
Have a favorite website? Send
it to us at
clubmail@frederickpedalers.org
Frederick Pedalers
P.O. Box 1293
Frederick, Md. 21702-0293
If checked, this is your last newsletter
until renewal is received
Haven’t come to a club meeting? You’re missing some good food, conversation
and brews.
Write articles for the newsletter. Anne and Fred Abeles have shared their adventures with us for a couple of years now. So have Bill Preston, David
Whitaker, Ian Jessop and others.
So—GET INVOLVED TODAY! There’s no risk or obligation—well, perhaps
there is a risk. You just might find that you enjoy meeting new people, making
new friends, and all of the other perks that come from helping out a totally volunteer organization. Contact any club officer and/or come to a meeting for more information.
See you out there—Bill
FIRST CLASS