oct ml - the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey

masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
Contents
4
President’s Message
Quality Cycling
5
Volunteer Reconition
Bob DeMair
6
Advocacy and Safety
The Piermont Protocol
8
Rides Captain’s Corner
5
The Basic Rules For Safe Riding
This Month
3
October Membership Meeting
Thursday, October 8, 2015, 7:30pm
13
New Members Ride
Sunday, October 11, 2015, 9:00am
6
On The Cover:
Michael Kerlen, Haiying Sun, and Michael Aldeman particiapte in Michael
Kerlen’s first ride as a leader on September 19. He led a 15.5-mile D ride.
Photo courtesy of Michael Kerlen
PAGE 2
8
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
October
Membership
Meeting
PRESIDENT
Bill Telgheder
telgheder@aol.com
VICE PRESIDENT
MEMBERSHIP
Alan Scherl
Harold Todman
ajscherl@gmail.com
htodman@aol.com
SECRETARY
RALLY CHAIRPERSON
Harriet Einschlag
Ethan Brook
heinschlag@gmail.com
ethanbrook@gmail.com
RIDES CAPTAIN
MASTERLINK
Andres Tiribocchi
Marc Soloff
andrestiri@yahoo.com
marcsoloff@optimum.net
WEBMASTER
PUBLICITY
Larry Schwartz
Barbara Augenblick
larryjet@gmail.com
beejayaug@gmail.com
SPCL. EVENTS/VOL. DEVELOPMENT
TOURS
Leslie Felsen
Don Schlenger
felsenleslie@gmail.com
aschleng@optonline.net
TREASURER
ADVOCACY AND SAFETY
Franklin Wimer
Tom Conlon
FBWimerjr@gmail.com
tqconlon@gmail.com
October 2015, Volume 38, Number 10. Circulation: approx. 1,500 via electronic download.
MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the official publication of the
Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey,
PO Box 853, Ridgewood NJ 07451. Our website is www.btcnj.com.
©2015 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.
“MasterLink”, “BTCNJ”, “BTCNJ.COM”, “Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey” (words and
logo), and “Ramapo Rally” are trademarks of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey.
MasterLink Submissions:
Materials for MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month for publication
in the following month’s issue. Please send articles, photos, letters, or comments
to MasterLink, at our email address btcnj.masterlink@gmail.com. Materials may
be edited by the MasterLink staff for length and clarity. Publication of materials
submitted is at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted for publication
become the property of BTCNJ®. Due to copyright laws, any articles, photos, cartoons,
art, etc., that have appeared in other publications may not be published in
MasterLink without written consent of the copyright holder.
Photos in MasterLink may not be reused or republished without prior permission.
Protection of the Intellectual Property of BTCNJ®
We welcome your creative suggestions for promotional activities using the
Club’s brands, however, the Club’s name, slogans, designs and logos are its intellectual
property, which embody the “goodwill” of the Club as developed over the years
through service to its members and the community, with thanks to the volunteer
efforts of countless members. In order to preserve and protect our goodwill, it is
critical that all use of the Club’s intellectual property be properly regulated.
Please do not reproduce or simulate the Club logo, the names “BTCNJ” or
“Bicycling Touring Club of North Jersey”, or any other brands such as “Ramapo Rally”
and “MasterLink” on shirts, caps, jerseys, bottles, stickers, or any other merchandise
without authorization from our Merchandise Chair, Harold Todman.
It’s autumn once again and many
of us will decide it’s time to retire
our old ride and invest in a shiny
new bicycle. As you head off to
the local bike shop, you think
your biggest decision will be the
color of the bike.
But when you get to the shop,
you’re hit with a mountain of
choices! What type of bike do
you want? Mountain, gravel,
hybrid, cyclocross, road, triathlon,
or touring? Wait a second, a
gravel bike? “You’re kidding me,
right?” you say. I kid you not!
Then there’s the choice of steel,
aluminum, titanium, carbon, and
even bamboo frames. Electronic
or manual shifting, does it make
a difference? A relaxed or
aggressive frame configuration!
Huh? What the heck does that
even mean? And we haven’t
even gotten to brands yet!
We’ve invited John Russo from
The Cosmic Wheel bike shop in
Ridgefield Park, NJ, to come to
our Membership Meeting. He’ll
give us some tips as to what all
these choices mean and how to
focus in on what’s important to
you and so you can decide on
what bike is best for your style
of cycling.
When: Thursday October 8
Time: 7:30 PM
Where: Ridgewood Public Library
125 N Maple Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450
PAGE 3
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Cycling
By Bill Telgheder
What makes for a quality group
ride? Is it a good ride, a route you
like, easy terrain, or challenging
climbs?
Years ago, I attended quality training courses. I learned that quality is
defined as meeting the customer’s
requirements. Let’s say we manufacture bike chains for a popular
bike manufacturer. The customer’s
requirement is that the chain’s width
be 6.1 mm, plus or minus .01 mm.
As long as we produce a chain with
a width between 6.09 and 6.11 mm,
we are on our way to providing a
quality chain. Chains outside that
width may be good chains, but
because they don’t meet the
What makes a
quality group ride?
One that meets the
rider’s requirements.
PAGE 4
requirement,
they are not
q u a l i t y
chains for our
customer.
So, what makes
a quality group
ride? One that
meets the rider’s
requirements.
Most riders want a
ride that will meet the
posted start time, terrain,
pace, and distance. If applicable,
they want to be provided cue sheets
and be guided by a Ride Leader who
waits for stragglers and assists those
having mechanical difficulty. They
want the Ride Leader to use proper
hand signals and follows traffic laws
to minimize the risk of accidents.
A quality slogan that was engrained into our work culture was,
“Do It Right the First Time.” Manufacturing bike chains “Right the First
Time” at our chain company makes
a lot of sense. We save time and
money.
I apply this
slogan to cycling often. I
try hard to
“Ride
Right
the First Time.”
The
consequences
otherwise are frightful.
I concentrate on biking,
following the traffic laws,
watching the road ahead for holes
and cracks, and checking behind
and around for oncoming cyclists
and cars. I ride to the right, single
file, and only chat with a fellow cyclist when conditions are safe.
BTCNJ prides itself on great rides.
We use the slogan, “Great Rides
Start with Us.” Great rides are quality
rides that meet the rider’s requirements. “Ride Right the First Time” is
another slogan we could consider.
Applying sound cycling skills, those
that we can control, will minimize
the risk of accidents.
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
VOLUNTEER RECONITION:
Bob DeMair
By Leslie Felsen
Bob DeMair joined BTCNJ in 1973.
He had been doing duathlons and
wanted to improve his cycling speed
and felt that riding with cyclists
would help him reach his goals.
He enjoyed riding so much that he
decided to give up running and its
accompanying injuries to just ride.
Bob went through the progression
of Ride Lieutenant, Rides Captain
and Vice President to become
President of the club for the years
2003 and 2004.
He recalls that he had an incredibly
talented and dedicated board of
directors who assisted him in
running the club. Two accomplishments during his term which Bob
likes to recall are: 1. Moving the
Ramapo Rally start site to Ramapo
College to be closer to residential
roads which families with children
and new cyclists would be more
comfortable riding; and 2. Proposing
the idea of a club jersey.
Alan Horwitz designed the current
jersey and the idea was expanded
to become a complete outfit with
accessories.
In 2005 and 2008 Bob was Rally
chairperson. He remembers that
running the rally is as big a job as
running the club. He has nothing but
praise for the way his successors
have improved and expanded the
Rally by bringing in sponsors to improve revenue and thereby donate
more to charity.
Bob is the “Tarp Master.” He purchased the 20’ x 40’ tarp for the
2005 Rally and it has been used
every year since and he is present
every year for Saturday set-up. He
recalls the terrible thunderstorm in
2005 which rolled in and threatened
to blow the tarp away. He and three
other men crawled underneath and
hung on to the metal frame to weigh
it down. He realized at that time
what a dangerous thing they were
doing.
Now Bob keeps a close eye on the
weather and doesn’t put the canvas
top on unless calm weather is
expected. His additional after-Rally
chore is to travel to the towns of
Pompton Lakes, Boonton, and
Boonton Township to black out our
colorful Rally arrows.
Since 2012 Bob has organized the
Amagansett event with the help of
his family. He stepped up because he
enjoyed the trip so much he wanted
to see it continue. Sixty to eighty
people attend every year which
attests to its popularity.
Bob normally leads rides in the B*
category but after a two week
hospital stay in June with pneumonia he is happy to be riding again.
He takes a positive attitude about
the experience. “I have enjoyed
riding at a relaxed pace and meeting
people whom I would never had the
chance if I had not become sick.
Amagansett was more of a social
event this year for me because I rode
with the masses in the C*/B
category. The experience was
rewarding and memorable.”
Congratulations and thank you
Bob!
DON’T DELAY,
submit your photos
and videos today
for the Year in Review
Email them to btcnjyir@gmail.com or upload them to: https://dbinbox.com/BTCNJ-YIR-2015
Please place multiple photos/videos in a folder and either zip or compress the folder with
your name and photo info (tour name, Ramapo Rally, etc).
PAGE 5
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
ADVOCACY AND SAFETY:
The Piermont Protocol
By Tom Conlon
You might think “The Piermont Protocol” is the title of a new Matt
Damon movie, but its actually an important new agreement between
cycle clubs and the village to promote cyclist, pedestrian, and motorist
safety,
and
peaceful
coexistence of cyclists and Piermont
residents.
Piermont police chief Mike O’Shea
introduced the Piermont Protocol
to representatives of the Rockland
Bicycle Club, CycleSport Park Ridge,
and BTCNJ last week. It is modeled
on New York Cycle Club’s Central
Park Protocol and was one outcome
of Chief O’Shea’s meeting with the
NYCC president Neile Weissman.
The chief joined NYCC in urging all
clubs to educate their members on
the protocol, and promote voluntary
compliance with it.
The protocol is an answer to challenges both Piermont and cyclists
face when on a summer Saturday or
Sunday 5,000 cyclists ride the
village of 3,000 on the same day
7,000 non-cyclist visitors are in town
for shopping, dining, strolling, or
simply passing through. Chief
We urge BTCNJ
members support
the protocol,
and recommend ride
leaders brief their
riders on any ride to
or through Piermont.
PAGE 6
O’Shea
also
wants riders to
use
Piermont
Ave n u e / R i ve r
Road because
Route 9W between Sparkhill
and Nyack is
dangerous for
cars and trucks,
and extremely
dangerous for
cyclists. (Note: NY State DOT has
agreed to study improvements to
9W but that is for the future.)
The protocol is simple, sensible,
and there is a solid rationale behind
each of the seven items.
1. Cyclists are subject to all Vehicle
and Traffic Laws
Piermont residents’ biggest complaint about cyclists is that they too
often violate traffic laws by riding
two or more abreast, running the red
light at Piermont and Paradise
Avenues and stop signs out of the
parking lot where Piermont Bike is
located.
While NY motor vehicle code
requires single file riding if riding
two-abreast would impede the flow
of traffic, as is clearly the case on
Piermont Avenue, Piermont, along
with Grandview and South Nyack,
have local codes requiring cyclists
ride single-file through the villages.
Many drivers do not know they are
permitted to cross the center line to
pass cyclists. Piermont’s code states
“Persons riding bicycles ... upon any
public street ... shall not ride more
than one abreast and shall ride ...
near the right-hand curb or edge of
the roadway or upon a usable righthand shoulder in such a manner as
to prevent undue interference with
the flow of traffic except when
preparing for a left-hand turn or
when necessary to avoid conditions
that would make it unsafe to continue along near the right-hand curb
or edge.”
2. Employ caution and common
sense when approaching
crosswalks and signal lights
In New York, cyclists must always
yield to pedestrians.
3. Ride at a speed appropriate to
the circumstances and safe for the
density of the Business District
Although the speed limit is 25 mph,
cyclists are urged to ride slower in
the presence of pedestrians and cars
parking or emerging.
4. Be extra cautious on Piermont
Avenue between Paradise Avenue
and Café Portofino
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
This is the congested central business district, from the signal light
where Ferdon Avenue meets
Piermont and Paradise Avenues, and
north.
5. Carry valid identification
Identification is not a legal
requirement, but is needed in the
event of emergencies. Cyclists
should also carry emergency
contact information.
A Road ID bracelet or dog tag is
helpful to emergency responders.
6. Maximize visibility by wearing
bright colored clothing and
employing front and rear lighting
Front lighting is helpful on narrows
roads to alert oncoming vehicles
who may cross into your lane to
avoid obstacles, cyclists, or emerging or turning vehicles in their lane.
7. Be alert and aware that the
Village is full of tourists who
may not know to look for cyclists
Pedestrians often cross mid-block,
or may be texting or talking while
crossing streets. While residents may
have learned to look before opening
car doors, visitors may not.
A Note From The
Nominating Committee
Three Executive Committee
positions are up for nomination
effective December 1, 2015.
Special Events/Volunteer
Development currently held by
Leslie Felsen. Lauren Kelly has
accepted the nomination to fill
Leslie’s, position.
Publicity currently held by
Barbara Augenblick. Karen Rose
has accepted the nomination
to fill Barbara’s position.
Rally Chairperson currently held
by Ethan Brook. We are searching
for someone to fill this position.
Many of the 2016 Ramapo Rally
functions are already in place.
There are about 25 team leaders
for the Rally. Fifteen to twenty
have already agreed to remain in
their positions, which incudes
some of the more difficult and
time-consuming functions.
Possibly, two members would
like to work together to Chair the
Rally. Please contact Bill
Telgheder at telgheder@aol.com,
if you would like to discuss filling
this position.
Two Executive Committee
positions are up for Presidential
appointment according to the
BTCNJ bylaws.
Rides Captain - Keith Schlanger
has accepted the appointment
as Rides Captain.
Treasurer - Don Kaplan has
accepted the appointment as
Treasurer.
Do You
Remember?
“Town of Ambleside in
Lake Region of England”
See how many riders you can identify in
the picture. Answer on page 11.
Photo by Lynn Ronan.
PAGE 7
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
RIDES CAPTAIN’S CORNER:
The Basic Rules For Safe Riding
By Andres Tiribocchi
Earlier sunsets mean that the
popular evening rides are quickly
coming to an end, but there are
plenty of opportunities to enjoy
ideal temperatures for cycling and
spectacular scenic rides that
October offers. We will also have a
special event during the first half of
the month, the fall edition of the
New Members Ride. This event has
the goal of underscoring the importance of developing solid cycling
skills to ride safely and have more
fun in your club rides.
On any group ride with a relatively
big number of participants, the Ride
Leaders usually remind all of the cyclists the basic rules for safe riding:
keep a single file, do not pass on the
right side, and point out hazards for
those riders behind. When cycling in
a relatively organized paceline, it is
essential for every rider to be able to
anticipate changes in direction and
potential obstacles on the road.
One of the topics that usually
gets the attention of many new
members is the practice of calling
out hazards and signaling our intenPAGE 8
tions in advance.
Communicate as much as you can;
this is probably one of the most important rules for safe group riding.
Since our bicycles are not designed
with turning and stopping lights, we
must use our hands to send the message to the rest of the group, and
sometimes more importantly, to the
rest of the users of the road.
For this purpose, there are two
basic signals for hazards and obstacles that every cyclist must know:
Road hazard (pothole, rock, grate,
gravel, etc.): point your finger down
on the side the hazard is located – in
case of glass, point and shout
“glass.”
Move over (car parked, oncoming
runner or walker, etc.): wave your
right arm behind your back from
right to left.
To signal changes of direction or
stops, the signals should be those
recommended by DOT in their
manuals for bicycling and driving.
http://wwbpa.org/2011/01/njdotnew-bicycling-manual/
http://goo.gl/Wor5N
Slowing/stopping: your arm out,
your palm facing down and backwards.
Turn left: your left arm extended to
the left.
Turn right: your right arm extended to the right/alternative: your
left arm out and bend your elbow so
your hand points upwards.
According to the DOT manuals,
all the signs may be done with the
left arm; however, this is based on
an old tradition: they replicate the
hand signals for car drivers who can
only extend and show their left arms,
and are from the time that cars did
not have turning and braking lights.
When in traffic be careful and do
not assume that young drivers know
or understand the alternative right
turn signal with the left arm.
To see some of these hand signals
in action, watch these videos from
the League of American Bicyclist
and Art’s Cyclery:
https://youtu.be/glLYm7prWo8
https://youtu.be/VVHs6RSlhhE
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
Update On The
2015 Ride Leader
Jersey Contest
Our most creative members submitted nine fantastic
designs for the 2015 Ride Leader Jersey, and it is time
for our Ride Leaders to decide which one they will
wear next year.
During the first week of October, all of the Ride
Leaders with at least 6 (six) points by October 1st
will receive an e-mail with instructions to vote for
the designs of their preference; they will be able to
choose up to 3 different designs and give them points
according to their order of preference: the first
selection will receive 5 points; the second, 3 points;
and the third, 1 point.
After the vote ends, if the two or more designs with
the highest number of votes were separated by a
margin of points no higher than ten percent (10%),
we will run a second and definitive round of voting in
the month of November as a tie-breaker. The artwork
with the highest number of votes will be the winner
of the contest, and will be announced at the BTCNJ
monthly meeting in December.
If you did not submit your completed rides information
and want to participate in the election, hurry up and
send it immediately to ridechair@optonline.net.
If you already qualify for voting, stay tuned for the
invitation to vote in your inbox!
-Andres Tiribocchi, Rides Captain
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For information about club merchandise,
contact Harold Todman at htodman@aol.com.
You do not need to be a BTCNJ member to purchase
BTCNJ merchandise. The color photos on your screen
may differ from the actual item color, due to
differences in computer monitors and settings.
PAGE 9
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
NJBWC BLOG:
TTF Should Include Funding
For Active Transportation
By Cyndi.Steiner
Long, dangerous commutes to
work are among the ways in which
the American driver has “accepted
mediocrity”
in
transportation,
according to NJDOT Commissioner
Jamie Fox.
Speaking in late November at a
Newark Regional Business Partnership transportation symposium, Fox
lamented the mediocrity, and said
we can do better.
One of the “deals” we have made
is the acceptance of traffic congestion as a normal part of our day.
The 2013 US Census American Community Survey shows that New Jerseyans have the longest commuting
times in the nation. New Jersey commutes average 30 minutes or more
each way; no other state has the majority of its residents spending more
time than that to get to work.
In 2011, the traffic data company
INRIX reported that for every 1%
reduction in vehicle miles traveled,
there was as much as a 30%
decrease in travel time. Active transportation (mainly bicycling and
walking) are ways to reduce the
number of cars on the road, with
matching reductions in travel time.
The current discussion on the need
to raise the state’s gas tax to generate funds for transportation infrastructure has mainly focused on the
need to repair roads and bridges.
The state legislators should also recognize the need for capital investment in active transportation
infrastructure.
PAGE 10
Bicycling and walking are increasingly popular — and necessary —
forms of transportation, for one
main reason: they are a solution to
the traffic congestion that plagues
our state. Offering these options
would dramatically reduce the number of cars on the road in the morning and evening rush hours.
For example, residents who live
within three miles of a train station
or bus stop could reach them
by bike or by walking, rather than
sitting in automobile traffic trying
to reach bus stops and alreadyclogged train station parking lots.
Mass transit users would benefit
greatly from the ability to complete
the “first mile and last mile” of their
commute by walking or bicycling,
and thereby avoiding altogether
congested roadways near transit
hubs.
Active transportation improves the
economies of the participating communities; provides long-term health
benefits to individuals; and is envi-
New Jersey
has the nation’s
second-worst bike
and pedestrian
deaths
as percentage of
all road deaths
ronmentally friendly.
When we provide sufficient transportation infrastructure for bicycling
and walking, their usage rates increase substantially enough that
communities experience positive
economic impacts. Communities
that have made these investments
benefit directly, in that bike riders
and pedestrians spend more dollars
per month than car drivers.
It is easier to shop when your time
is not spent in search of a parking
space. The nation’s first protected
bike lane, installed along 9th Avenue
in New York City, caused an increase
of 49% in sales revenue for shops
along that street, compared with just
a 3% increase city-wide. Business
districts across the country that
have implemented bike lanes show
similar gains in sales revenues, as
well as decreases in commercial vacancies along the same corridors.
But we must provide walking and
bicycling accommodations that are
safe before there will be widespread
adoption of these methods. Infrastructure amenities — such as bike
lanes, crosswalks, trails, and pedestrian countdown signals — are safety
and traffic-calming measures that
reduce crashes between automobiles and active transportation users,
thereby making the road safe for all
users, and encouraging their use.
That being said, New Jersey has
the nation’s second-worst bike and
pedestrian deaths as percentage of
all road deaths — over 30% as of
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
Bicycling and walking are increasingly
popular - and necessary - forms of
transportation,
for one main reason: they are a solution to the
traffic congestion that plagues our state.
2014, based on data from National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This statistic shows there is significant need for bike and pedestrian
projects in the state, to reduce our
road fatality and injury rates.
A 2013 report by the Rutgers/
Voorhees Transportation Center on
the economic contribution of active
transportation to the state reported:
• In 2011, active transportation infrastructure investment in the state
was $63 million by governmental
agencies, which:
‣ funded approximately
250 projects across
New Jersey;
‣ generated $150 million in
economic activity;
‣ created 648 jobs;
‣ produced $44.5 million in
wages and salary;
‣ provided $16 million in tax
revenue, and;
‣ contributed $75 million to
the GDP in 2011.
• The combined overall economic
impact of capital investments,
bicycling events and activities, and
the bicycling business in the state,
is $497 million annually, which:
‣ supports 4,018 jobs;
‣ provides $153 million in
compensation;
‣ adds $278 million to the
state’s GDP, and;
‣ generates $49 million in
tax revenue, accounting
for almost three-fourths of
the $63 million infrastructure investment.
What this tells us is there is
tremendous economic potential if
the state invested in active transportation infrastructure. If the economic benefit to the state is
currently almost half a billion dollars
per year, and the state has the nation’s second-worst percentage of
road fatalities attributable to active
transportation users, imagine the
economic benefits when we make
the roads safer.
A study of residents of Portland,
OR, one of the nation’s most bicyclefriendly states, reports that 60% of
the population is “interested but
concerned”; they would use active
transportation to get around if the
roads were made safer. Of the remaining 40%, 7% are already using
active transportation, and 33% are
labeled as “no way, no how.” Imagine
the decrease in congestion if 60% of
drivers switched to active transportation to reach transit hubs; even
half that percentage would have a
dramatic impact on traffic.
Active transportation infrastructure projects are labor intensive, and
therefore create more jobs than
highway projects. In 2010, bike and
pedestrian transportation projects
across the US created 11 jobs per $1
million spent, while road projects
created seven jobs per $1 million
spent. That represents a 57% increase in the number of jobs created
for every dollar spent on transportation infrastructure. In 2012, the US
spent $1.2 billion on bike and pedestrian projects; this generated 8,400
jobs nationally, according to the
Federal Highway Administration.
Investments in our road infrastructure so that our roads can accommodate all users will increase safety,
reduce congestion and will also
translate to economic value for communities through job creation, revenue for local businesses, and tax
revenues for municipalities.
Originally published by NJBWC
on May 7, 2015.
Do You
Remember?
Nancy Fezell, Roger Rossi, Cyndi Steiner, Joel Irwin,
Elaine Molinaro, Matt Schottenfeld, Lila Landau,
Marianne Schottenfeld
PAGE 11
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
SUPPORT YOUR
LOCAL BIKE SHOP
The owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in MasterLink.
Show them your BTCNJ membership card for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicycle
pros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that the discount may not apply to sale items and
may not allow credit card payment. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the
definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items in their stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.
D.J.s’ Cycles .............................................Belmar
732-681-8228
Toga Bike ...............................................NYC, NY
212-759-0002
Brookdale Cycle .............................Bloomfield
973-338-8908
Nyack Bicycle Outfitters ..............Nyack, NY
845-353-0268
Get-a-way Cycle Center........Bloomingdale
973-291-4163
Pedal Sports .........................................Oakland
201-337-9380
Bikeland..................................................Caldwell
973-403-3330
CampMor...............................................Paramus
201-445-5000
Bikeland II.............................................Chatham
973-635-8066
The Bicycle II........................................Paramus
201-632-0200
Closter Cycle...........................................Closter
201-768-3086
Cycle Sport Cyclery......................Park Ridge
201-391-5269
Congers Bike Shop ....................Congers, NY
845-268-3315
Cycle Craft .......................................Parsippany
973-227-4462
Steve’s Moped & Bicycle ..................Dumont
201-384-7777
Bicycle Depot..................................Pearl River
845-735-8686
Sam’s Bicycle Repair.............Elmwood Park
201-797-5819
Heino’s Ski and Cycle................Pequannock
973-696-3044
Bike Master......................................Englewood
201-569-3773
Piermont Bicycle.......................Piermont, NY
845-365-0900
Strictly Bicycles...................................Fort Lee
201-944-7074
Cycle Center...........................Pompton Lakes
973-835-6339
Carrera Cycles ..................................Glen Rock
201-857-0106
Bicycle Source.......................Pompton Plains
973-835-7595
Marty’s Reliable ........................Hackettstown
908-852-1650
Bike & Ski Shop ....................................Ramsey
201-327-9480
Bike Pad ............................................Hawthorne
973-427-9400
Ramsey Outdoor..................................Ramsey
201-327-8141
Grove Street Bicycles ..................Jersey City
201-451-2453
Ultimate Cycle Shop...........................Ramsey
201-962-9000
James Vincent................................Jersey City
201-420-5151
Marty’s Reliable ....................................Randolf
973-584-7773
Ramsey Outdoor..........................Ledgewood
973-584-7798
Cosmic Wheel ........................Ridgefield Park
201-440-6655
Bicycle Tech ..................................Lincoln Park
973-694-6775
Fit Werx....................................Ridgefield Park
201-440-2025
D.J.’s Cycles..................................Long Branch
732-870-2277
Ridgewood Cycle .........................Ridgewood
201-444-2553
Peddler ..........................................Long Branch
732-229-6623
Bikeworks....................................Rochelle Park
201-843-6409
Cycle Craft ......................................Long Valley
908-876-5600
Original Bike Shop ...................Saddle Brook
973-478-6555
Madison Bicycle Shop.......................Madison
973-377-6616
Valley Cycle .........................Spring Valley, NY
845-356-3179
High Gear Cyclery ...............................Millburn
973-376-0001
High Gear Cyclery................................Stiriling
908-647-2010
Diamond Cycle...................................Montclair
973-509-0233
Bicycle Workshop .................................Tenafly
201-568-9372
The Bikery............................................Montclair
973-744-7252
Fusion Cycles..........................................Tenafly
201-266-6925
Marty’s Reliable .............................Morristown
973-538-7773
Toga Bike..............................Upper Nyack, NY
845-358-3455
Cycle World.................................New City, NY
845-364-2384
Town Cycle............................West Milford, NJ
973-728-8878
James Vincent...........................North Bergen
201-869-1901
Albert’s Westwood Cycle ...........Westwood
201-664-1688
Chelsea Bikes.......................................NYC, NY
646-230-7715
Whippany Cycle ..............................Whippany
973-887-8150
Gotham Bike.........................................NYC, NY
212-732-2453
Wyckoff Cycle......................................Wyckoff
201-891-5500
As proof of BTCNJ membership, you will need to print your membership card through the BTCNJ website.
Log onto the site, select Membership Card under the Membership tab. Printing instructions are provided.
PAGE 12
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
Welcome New Members!
Join The BTCNJ New Members Ride
When: Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Ramsey Municipal Parking Lot
Have you recently joined the club and are eager to
ride, but reluctant to join a group ride?
On Sunday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m., experienced
leaders and riders will gather at the Ramsey Municipal
Parking Lot for our last New Members Ride of the
season (check the Ride Schedule on the BTCNJ
website for details). There will be a brief overview of
skills required for safe group riding. Our intent is to
pay special attention to those of you who are new to
the club and/or new to group riding.
not sure of where you fit in, in terms of riding ability,
the leaders will assist you in choosing a ride level.
If that level turns out to be to challenging, there will
be an opportunity to drop back by simply waiting for
the group behind to reach you. Terrain is rolling.
After the ride we will gather at a local deli for a quick
lunch. If you are interested in joining us, please sign up
on the ride schedule on the website.
Hope to see you there!
We will lead rides at four paces (B, C*, C, D), of varying
distances, all leaving at the same time. The first few
miles of each ride will be on the same route. If you are
-Harold Todman, Membership Chair
Andres Tiribocchi, Rides Captain
BTCNJ TOURS
Martha’s Vineyard Columbus Day Weekend
October 9-12, 2015
Martha’s Vineyard is extremely bicycle friendly, with designated
bicycle paths throughout the island, and bicycle routes that
showcase the beauty and intrigue of the Island. Martha’s Vineyard
is also a fabulous bicycling destination in autumn. The ocean is
warm, the fall colors are magnificent, the tourists (and Presidents
and traffic) are gone, and the roads and bicycle paths are serene.
Come join us for a long weekend—Friday through Monday.
Visit quaint lighthouses and historic buildings, Aquinnah Beach
and its breathtaking cliffs, as well as Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and
Chappaquiddick. We will have rides Friday afternoon, Saturday,
Sunday and Monday morning. Rides will be 20-50 miles, with terrain from flat to rolling.
Accommodations will be at the Vineyard Harbor Motel, a short walk from the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal,
so you don’t need to bring a car. You can take the ferry from New Bedford or Woods Hole, Massachusetts, or
the fast ferry from North Kingston, Rhode Island. Near the motel are a great variety of restaurants at all levels
of price and sophistication, including the famous Black Dog Tavern. Shopping, too.
Registration fee of $270 per person (double occupancy) includes 3 nights’ accommodations, meet and greet
reception Friday evening, breakfasts on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings, a group dinner on Saturday
evening, and a “farewell” reception on Sunday evening. To secure your space, please send a check made payable
to Helene Blaustein at 33 Rabbit Run, Newfoundland, NJ 07435.
For more information, contact Helene (862-251-3152, ltchelene@msn.com) or Don Schlenger
(aschleng@optonline.net).
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masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
BTCNJ RIDE CATEGORIES
RIDE LEVEL
DESCRIPTION
A
Average speed 17+ mph - For strong/experienced cyclists. Stops every 30+ miles.
B*
Average speed 15.0 - 16.9 mph - average speed on flats 17.0 - 18.0 mph.
For strong cyclists. Stops every 20 - 25 miles
B
Average speed 13.0 - 14.9 mph - average speed on flats 15.0 - 16.0 mph.
For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C*
Average speed 11.0 - 12.9 mph - average speed on flats 13.0 - 14.0 mph.
For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C
Average speed 9.0 - 10.9 mph - average speed on flats 11.0 - 12.0 mph.
For average cyclists. Stops as needed.
D
Average speed Under 9.0 mph - average speed on flats 10.0 mph.
For new, inexperienced cyclists. Frequent stops.
F
Family ride for families. Frequent stops, child friendly.
MTB-B
Mountain Bike - Single track with challenging surfaces, rocks, roots, logs and
technical terrain. Extended ascents and challenging descents.
MTB-C
Mountain Bike - Single and double track trails with uneven surfaces and
minimal obstacles. Gradual and moderate climbing and descents.
MTB-D
Mountain Bike - Unpaved wide trails and fire roads with obstruction free riding
surfaces. Small and gradual changes in elevation.
A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and written directions
(cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers and assist those having
mechanical difficulty. MTB rides: the slowest participant dictates ride pace; no rider is ever left behind.
TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONS
Hilly: Numerous long and steep climbs
Moderately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hills
Rolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downs
Flat: Minimal gear shifting required
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEADERS
Bring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders
with unsound bikes from joining the ride. Within the
first few miles, urge riders who are unable to maintain
the advertised pace to leave the ride. Adhere to the
advertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceeding
your intended pace that they will be considered to be
on their own.
RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETS
TO EARN RIDE LEADER POINTS.
PAGE 14
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RIDERS
Riders must obey NJ motor vehicle laws. Bring tools:
tire irons, pump, and spare tube. Bicycle must be in
good working order. Don’t ride in a category that is
too difficult for you. Advise leader if you are making an
unscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rides will not
go in the following conditions (unless otherwise noted
in the rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads,
or temperatures under 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutes
after the published meeting time (unless otherwise
noted.) For rides longer than 15 miles, bring snacks,
for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a deli stop
is indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age must
be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on all
rides. Every rider is required to wear a helmet that
meets CPSC Performance Standards on all club rides.
Headphones are not permitted on rides.
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
BTCNJ® EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Executive Summary of Meeting Minutes
September 1, 2015
Present:
Bill Telgheder, President
Harriet Einschlag, Secretary
Frank Wimer, Treasurer
Alan Scherl, Vice President
Leslie Felsen, Volunteer Development
Barbara Augenblick, Public Relations
Harold Todman, Membership
Andres Tiribocchi, Rides Captain
Marc Soloff, MasterLink
Tom Conlon, Advocacy and Safety Committee Chair
Ethan Brook, Rally Chair
Not Present:
Larry Schwartz, Webmaster
Don Schlenger, Tours
Call to Order
President Bill Telgheder opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
President:
• Bill opened the meeting by welcoming the committee members.
• Bill reported on the following recommendations for replacing Executive Committee members resigning
December 1, 2015:
‣ Keith Schlanger as Rides Captain
‣ Lauren Kelly as Special Events/Volunteer Development
• Bill will formulate a nominating committee to find replacements for the other open positions.
• Bill made a motion to accept the waiver language Keith Danish submitted. Harold seconded the motion.
There was discussion. The motion passed unanimously. The revised language will appear on the
membership join/rejoin page.
• Bill discussed the costs to enter the new 585 members from the rally. Marc Soloff noted that these new
members will receive the MasterLink.
• Bill announced that the proposed bylaws amendments will be sent to members via electronic ballot.
Vice President:
• Alan Scherl reported that September’s club meeting will be about first aid and emergency medicine,
October’s meeting will feature Cosmic Wheel on what to look for when buying a bike, and November’s
meeting will have Bruce Weber, author of Life is a Wheel.
Secretary:
• Harriet Einschlag reported on cards sent to members.
Treasurer:
• Frank Wimer provided a financial review. He covered account balances and Ramapo Rally comparisons from
2014 to 2015. A preliminary comparison of last year’s Rally finances to this year shows approximately $5000
less in revenue. We will receive one more small revenue check from a vendor and there are expenses that
have not been submitted yet. The end result should be about the same or better than last year in terms of
net income. Donations will be discussed in November.
PAGE 15
masterlink / OCTOBER 2015
• Frank requested that all members who incurred rally expenses submit them to him prior to the end of
September. Most of the previously submitted expense reimbursement requests have already been paid;
the rest will be paid by September 16.
• Frank noted that the international insurance policy is effective until June 26, 2016.
• Frank announced he will be resigning from the treasurer position at the end of the year.
Rides Captain:
• Andres Tiribocchi reported that the rides incentives program ran from May through August. As a result,
D rides were up 30% from last year, and C rides were up 120% from last year.
• Andres reported that from January to September total rides were down 10% from last year. There was a
decrease in the number of B* and B rides. Some leaders in those categories didn’t lead rides this year.
Category A rides were up 120%, and C* rides were up 5%.
• Andres reported that there are 21 new ride leaders; 14 of those new leaders are in the C or C* category.
Special Events/Volunteer Development:
• Leslie Felsen reported that the safety clinic will take place on October 10, and participant cost is $25.
Bill Feeney from TransOptions will present the clinic for club members. This will be publicized in the
MasterLink and eletter.
• Leslie thanked rally volunteers in September’s MasterLink. There were 180 volunteers and some volunteers
handled multiple tasks.
• Leslie solicited recommendations for volunteer recognition and Volunteer of the Year.
Publicity:
• Barbara Augenblick requested topics for the September eletter. She will include the safety clinic,
October meeting topic, Nyack Halloween Parade information, Ride Leader Jersey contest information,
and registration information for a CPR/First Aid course.
MasterLink:
• Marc Soloff led a discussion on participation of BTCNJ in Nyack’s Halloween Parade on October 24, 2015.
This is a very large parade with many spectators.
• After discussion, Executive Committee decided that it is acceptable to list charity rides in the MasterLink,
subject to Marc’s judgement regarding appropriateness of charity to cycling and available space in the
MasterLink.
• Marc will explain how to make YIR photo submissions at the November meeting and will write an
explanatory article in the MasterLink.
Ramapo Rally:
• Ethan Brook reviewed some rally survey results. He noted that Andres had written a guide which participants
read and gave high marks. Volunteers were highly complimentary and the arrow markings were good.
Overall survey results rated the rally well.
• Ethan noted that the ham radio group did not participate this year.
• Ethan reported that he is stepping down as rally chair, but he will handle the rally sponsorships for next year.
Bill noted that he will work on compiling a manual for the rally.
Advocacy and Safety:
• Tom Conlon reported that two EMT experts will be the presenters at the next meeting. He is working with
them on a proposal for training all ride leaders in the procedure for the first 3-5 minutes of an accident.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Harriet
Einschlag
Harriet Einschlag
BTCNJ Board Secretary
PAGE 16