New Riding Season Kicks-off with Safety in Mind.

SPRING 2015
Huntington Bicycle Club’s Monthly Newsletter
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
New Riding Season Kicks-off
with Safety in Mind.
by Lou Bruno
By the time you are reading this newsletter, many of us
will have some cycling mileage under our belts. But the
stark reminder of the horrible winter can be observed on
the many roadways our cycling community utilizes in the
form of potholes, cracks, gravel, crevices and craters.
With this in mind, it is important to think about SAFETY;
more this year than in any past years. Please be careful
when cycling and be aware not only of motor vehicles and
pedestrians but also of the dangerous road conditions.
As of this date, our dedicated HBC board in conjunction
with our Gold Coast Coordinators, Bridget and Jeff, are
busy working towards the goal of yet another successful
Gold Coast for the year 2015. This process is time
consuming and I am pleased to be around such
dedicated board members. In the near future, we will
need YOUR HELP in the form of volunteerism. This is an
important day for our club and we need participation by
the membership for the various tasks.
This is also a very important Gold Coast for a good cause
as we are donating to a worthwhile charity. KIDS NEED
MORE-CAMP ADVENTURE is a charity that sends
terminally ill children to a summer camp plus other
hospital activities throughout the year.
Lastly, I have a goal this year to have ALL our members
trained in CPR at a very reduced price which will be
discussed at upcoming meetings. My other goal is to have
CONTENT at every meeting which is interesting to the
membership with emphasis on new members. Our Hill
Climbing Clinic was an outstanding success and hope we
will also have more training rides with the help of our
experienced leaders.
In closing, be safe and ride carefully. Our club is about
health, fitness and fun.
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Join a Ride
REMINDER -- DUES are Due!
Time to register for 2015 a link is provided below to
make it convenient to access, and the Application
PDF can be easily printed.
You can register at our next meeting, or if you prefer, use the links via
PAYPAL from our website: http://huntingtonbcli.com/
The Huntington Bicycle Club,
Inc. is a rider friendly, non-profit
club organized to promote safe, enjoyable bicycle
rides and to share information on cycling safety,
fitness, equipment and maintenance.
About HBC
HBC is a member of the League of American
Bicyclists and part of an organization in
New York that promotes and protects the rights
and welfare of all bicycling enthusiasts.
Join today or renew your membership!
http://huntingtonbcli.com/
HBC Officers
President - Lou Bruno//Social Media Director
V.P. and Ride Chairperson – John Greene
Treasurer – Ross Moore
Secretary – Karen Gellert
Gold Coast Chairperson – Bridget Erlikh
Membership Chairperson – Sal Levy
Safety Officer – Arne Johnson
Education Chairman - Jay Bender
Blog Commentator – Arch Carey
Ride Calendar Coordinator - John Greene
Nassau Suffolk Bike Coalition – Joe DePalma
Newsletter Credits:
Terry Mortell, Lou Bruno, Arch Carey
HBC is also a member of New York Bicycling
Coalition www.nybc.net. New York Bicycling
Coalition advocates for pro-bicycle policies and
funding at all levels of government; educates
New Yorkers about bicycle safety and the benefits of bicycling; provides technical assistance
and support to advocates and
government entities; and promotes bicycle
tourism across the state.
Don’t Forget!
Below are the links to our
YAHOO liststerve and Facebook.
Please join to obtain the latest
news and updates.
Yahoo
Facebook
See Ride Calendar
http://huntingtonbcli.com/ride-calendar-2/
Rides start from Smith St. train parking lot in Greenlawn
Saturday and Sunday! Riders of all ability are welcome
to join.
Your Board has already started to work on the Gold
Coast 2015 - July 12th. We are going to donate to
the below organization (see link) which helps
young children cope with a terminal illness by
sending a child to CAMP ADVENTURE on Shelter
Island during the summer or various hospital
visits. This is a LOCAL cause and our board has
already contacted the organization.
We will need everyone’s volunteer help this year to
make our GC 2015 a success. This includes ALL
levels of rides on the day of our Gold Coast Tour.
The 2015 Gold Coast Tour will benefit KIDS
NEED MORE - CAMP ADVENTURE for children
with diagnosed with cancer
http://kidsneedmore.org/
2
Tour De Apple - Annual Ride
Around Manhattan
by Bob McLaughlin
into that nice warm waiting room. As I rode up, I could hear Lou Bruno
shouting “Hey Mike” as he unloaded his bike from the car and I was happy
to see Bruce Feinberg already in the room. It was 6:15 now, and the rest
of the hearty gang began to appear. First Donny Natiello, then Gregg
Fremed, Carl Fiore, Arne Johnson, David Hirsch and Steve Tobias. I could
now hear Bob in the parking lot talking to Pat Kalvar and Steve in his usual
energetic tone as Dr. Scott Gross and Rich Meyer opened the door to
come in. Rich reminded us that we were going to meet his son Greg at the
Westbury station as he analyzed the number of g’s in the names.
In all, 14 of us were on the ride;
Quite a showing for a chilly
morning. Boarding the train,
we set up the bikes in the
handicapped alcoves in three
cars and secured them with
bungees. The train ride in was
pretty animated in anticipation
of our ride.
I love to ride the big apple. We plan at least one B level trip around
Manhattan each year, and our favorite is an annual ride on NYC Marathon
day in November. It’s a great day for the tour, since we get to see a bit of
the marathon as we circle the Island. So this year, when the weather came
up in the mid forties with gale force gusts, we were a bit disappointed, and
we re-scheduled to November 16th in the hopes that we would encounter
better riding conditions.
Waking up on Sunday the 16th to frost and 28 degree temperatures made
me wonder about the wisdom of that decision, especially as I rode up the
hill to the Huntington LIRR station at 6:00 in the dark. I couldn’t wait to get
"The sky was overcast,
and the air was damp
and cold, and perfumed
with the wonderful scent
of NYC sewer."
The sunrise was a welcome sight. Arriving at Penn, we quickly headed
out into the midtown air and headed west on 33d street to the Greenway
bike path. The sky was overcast, and the air was damp and cold, and
perfumed with the wonderful scent of NYC sewer. We started down toward
Battery Park on the desolate path and rounded the riverside curves along
the Hudson with the Statue of Liberty and the Freedom Tower forcing
smiles on all our frozen faces. “Next stop Brooklyn Bridge” Bob shouted,
as he led the line of flashing lights and wheels past the Staten Island Ferry
terminal. We just had to make a photo stop at the unusual sculpture of a
large pair of spheres along the way.
3
Tour De Apple - Continued
took Nicholas Avenue up to reconnect with the
bike path along the Harlem River. I was
amazed at how the city has enhanced the bike
lanes everywhere that we went. Cycling north in
Harlem revealed bedrock formations and hills
that we never see on Long Island. Upon
entering the Harlem River portion of the
bikeway, Steve picked up a nice piece of glass,
and we all took a break to repair the only flat of
the ride.
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge is an awesome
experience. The last time we did that, it was
June and the bridge was loaded with tourists
taking pictures and blocking the bike path.
Today it was just us and a few oncoming
cyclists; Eerie, and beautiful. The cables and
supports are a work of art.
Next on the agenda was our “pollõs stop at a
small eatery on Dykman Street. Fried chicken
and fish are featured here, along with Greek
gyro, and for a price that puts the Mickey D’s up
the street to shame. The final leg of our journey
took us south on the Greenway to the GWB
where we stopped for a photo at the Little Red
Lighthouse. We were ready to head home.
Back on 34th Street, we headed into Penn
Station and caught the 2:22 back home. We
were all a little tired, but warmer now, and
basking in the memory of a great ride. Bob and
I are planning another one in the spring. This
time we will add some new side trips.
Come join us!
On the Brooklyn side, we made a quick stop at
my son Adam’s apartment. Adam came out to
greet us in his vintage Gold Coast tee shirt.
Brooklyn Heights is a classic brownstone
neighborhood overlooking the East River. We
headed over to Montegue Street for our
morning bagel and coffee.
The “Tour De Apple” continued back across the
Manhattan Bridge and up the East Side along
the river, through mini parks with picnic tables
and workout areas, under overpasses that
function as emergency lavatories, and up huge
stairs that required carrying our bikes on our
shoulders. Steve commented that it was a bit
like mountain biking. We cut across Harlem and
4
Health and
Fitness Tip
by Kathy Eaton
Enjoy getting outdoors and cycling and remember to
HYDRATE!!! For those of you who were at my
presentation remember these Hydration Rules!!
• Consume a minimum of 64 oz daily
• Consume 4 oz more for every 15 min of exercise you do.
The best time to drink it is at each 15 min mark so you
don’t overload your stomach with too much water at one
time
• If you feel thirsty you are already becoming
dehydrated. Your goal is to avoid being thirsty
• Weigh yourself before you go out on your ride
and weigh yourself when you return. For every
pound you lose you need to drink 13-16 oz of
water DURING YOUR RIDE.
Enjoy everyone!!
HBC Member, Kathy Eaton PT,MS, CSCS, AASDN
Nutrition Specialist Certified. Owner, Huntington Fit
Boot Camp, New York Ave, Huntington.
Get Pumped?
"Of all our research on tires, the
most revolutionary finding is this:
Tire pressure has almost no effect
on a tire’s speed. We did not
believe it at first, either, so we’ve
tested it numerous times. It’s been confirmed numerous
times, with different methodologies..."
See Full Article
Bike.edu
by Jay Bender
First, a little history…I joined HBC in the early
90’s. (That’s a date, not my age.) Reviewing the
club by-laws, I noticed that the first two objectives
were, and still are,about safety. So my next question
was “Who is the Safety Chairman?” The blank
stares were overwhelming. There was none.
So, I decided to fill the vacuum and start a
committee- of- one. This involved safety and
education. After about 20 years I passed the
baton to Arne Johnson, a worthy successor.
Now he is the Safety Chairman, and I am
charged with the education part of the equation.
This prompted me to review all my old notes and
miscellaneous articles. What was so fascinating
to me, was that so little has changed. Yes, the
equipment has advanced, but the basics are
still very much the same.
and something called “compact gears”.
I have boiled what could be complex, to one
phrase- Down and Out, and Up and In. Simply
put, if you are going downhill, or downwind, use
the outside gears, front and back. Conversely,
if you are going uphill, or upwind, use the inside
gears. I hope the attendees enjoyed the session,
and understood the concept.
Looking forward to future articles regarding
education, and would appreciate anyone’s
Input, as to subject matter.
My phone number is 631-499-8813, and my
e-mail address is jmbender@optonline.net.
See you on the road, and be safe out there!!
We began, at the last meeting, to give the
“newbies” info that they need to get off
to a fun filled and safe start.
That particular evening we spoke
about shifting gears. In the old
days, we had friction shifters
on the down tube.
Then we “advanced “
to index shifting,
still on the downtube. Now we have
handlebar shifters,
Tire Tricks
See Full Article and Tips
5
Cycling Safety –
It’s Up to You
by Arne Johnson
The weather is finally warming up and we’re
enthusiastically assembling on the weekends
for our first rides of 2015. Conversations about
safety often focus on the danger of cars, but
statistically only about 5% of cycling accidents
are from getting hit by a car (if you’re cycling
on the right side of a roadway and generally
following the rules).
You are far more likely to get injured from
hitting something in the roadway (50% of
reported accidents) or colliding with another
cyclist during your ride (17% of reported
accidents).
So if you are in a cycling accident it’s most
likely your fault, or caused by someone you
are riding with. (I know – I’m blaming the victim – blah, blah, blah. Sometimes the truth
hurts!)
By following these simple rules, most of these
types of cycling accidents can be prevented:
Pay Attention – There are lots of hazards out
there; pot holes, sticks, sand, garbage, etc. To
avoid them you must first be aware that they
exist, and then have enough time to take evasive action. This requires a constant focus on
what’s in front of you. When there are cyclists
in front, look beyond them to see what’s approaching – if you just can’t see through the
group, leave extra space between you and the
bike in front of you.
“There are lots of
hazards out there”
Stop Talking – whenever a hazard is called
out, or you see something on your own, or you
are approaching a higher risk situation (e.g.
steep downhill, intersection, merging traffic,
etc.) stop all conversation immediately and totally focus on your riding.
Call out hazards for those behind you – the
more specific the better – “hole on the left” or
“hole” while pointing to the left is a lot better
than just “hole”. Pointing is especially helpful.
Signal all turns – just because the ride leader
signals a turn doesn’t mean everyone will see
it. It’s for your own safety to make sure those
behind you knows about each turn.
"If you are in a cycling
accident it’s most likely your
fault, or caused by someone
you are riding with".
Signal when slowing or stopping – this is especially important when a slow down or stop is
not expected by those behind you.
Never overlap the rider in front of you - Overlapped, you are in the blind spot of the rider in
front, and any sudden movement of the lead
bike can cause a really bad accident.
Default to single file – in general, the safest
place to be in a group ride is about 6 to 10 feet
directly behind the rider in front. This position
gives each rider the maximum visibility and
flexibility and to take evasive actions and avoid
accidents. (Also, a single file of riders is the
easiest for a car to deal with – more about this
in a future article)
We all share the responsibility for each other’s
safety in a group ride. Riding in a consistent
and predictable manner and following the rules
above will minimize our collective risks and
lead to more enjoyable outings.
6
Geared-up for the Hills
HBC Hill Training Ride
by Sal Levy
Sunday, April 12, 2015, was a beautiful day for just about anything.
For Lou Bruno and 16 other hearty souls it was a morning of
sharing knowledge on the art of cycling up the hills of Long Island’s
North Shore. Far from a classroom, this was a butts-on-saddles
tour that covered some of the more challenging climbs between
Greenlawn and Oyster Bay. Lou and Sal Levy imparted some
pre-ride instruction on safety and the route we were to take, and
we were off. Riding through Huntington, the several experienced
riders, including Gonzalo Poblete, Carlos Ruiz, Karen Gellert, Scott
Gross, Arne Johnson and Jeff Erlitz, monitored the gear choices of
the other riders and imparted tips on proper gearing.
By the time we got to the bottom of Stillwell, we were ready for
our first real climb of the day. After a short presentation on climbing
technique, the group attacked the hill and made it easily up to Piccardy. Our tour through the
hilly neighborhood leading up to 25A allowed for more refinement of the groups climbing
techniques. Crossing over to Ridge Road, we made our way down to the water through some
of the most scenic overlooks in the area. We stopped at the shore for a bathroom break and a
photo op and then proceeded up to Moore’s Hill.
Our next challenge was Sagamore Hill. By now, everyone had become much more fluent in
their shifting techniques, and paced themselves beautifully up to the top. All, that is, except for
Mary, who broke her chain near the top. Now the advantage
of group riding became profound. Arne and Scott immediately
attended to the broken chain, and also discovered that the
front derailleur had been bent. After nearly an hour of toiling,
and some assistance from LaRue Hirsch, who actually had a
plier the size of a wrench in a tool bag, Mary had one gear
choice in front, but was ready to roll.
We decided to head straight back without a coffee stop to
make up some of the lost time. On the way back, it was very
satisfying to observe the vast improvement in many of the
riders’ gearing techniques.
Of course, no ride is complete without a flat tire, and Jeff provided us with that. In all, it was a
very successful instructional ride. Many thanks to Lou for his lead and teaching.
Nurse LaRue saves the day with her "bag of tricks" which included pliers and gave them to Dr. Scott who performed the
delicate chain operation.
7
Welcome to the
Official 2015
Huntington Bicycle
Club Riding Season.
2015 Huntington Bicycle Club Ride Leader Meeting
On Wednesday, March 25th a Ride Leader Orientation Meeting was held at the Panera Bread Community Room in Huntington Village .A total of 20 attendees, comprised of seven
new ride leaders and the regulars filled the room. Free coffee
was offered to all the participants, although some wondered
where the pizza was. It was a long cold winter and no one
there needed the carbs.
by John Greene
Welcome to the official 2015 Huntington
Bicycle Club riding season.
Like all of you I thought the winter was
never going to end. As I write this, the
local streets are littered with potholes,
the road shoulders contain enough sand
to fill the Sahara desert, and plowed up
plies of snow are still in places to remind
us we are not free from winter’s grip just
yet .I’m sure you will agree, one of the
worst winters in recent memory.
The official start of the season means
RIDES. Who leads these rides? It could
be you!
What is the most important position in a
bicycle club? President? Vice President?
No it’s the ride leader!
Since the #1 reason for joining a bicycle
club is to ride a bicycle, ride leaders
perform a critical function.
A full schedule of ride destinations in
command by by experienced leaders
affords those not familiar with the area
A lively discussion followed that explored the
following topics:
roads a chance to ride in a group setting
and explore unfamiliar routes and destinations. Plus, as a Huntington Bicycle Club
ride leader you are in control of the route,
destination and ride level. You go where
you want, the way you want and the pace
you advertise .You get the chance to show
others your favorite places to go. Not a
bad deal...
And as a reward for doing what you love,
you earn ride points to exchange for an
official HBC ride leader jersey or Holiday
Dinner entry.
Volunteer to be a Huntington Bicycle Club
ride leader today and become a vital part
of our organization.
See you out there,
John Greene
VP/Ride Chairman
Huntington Bicycle Club
. Huntington Bicycle Club Ride Leader Policy
. How ride leader credits are earned and the rules
governing them
. A Ride Leader Checklist
. What to do before and during and after the ride
. Tips On How To Become A Better Cyclist
. SAFETY ON THE ROAD
. Rules Of The Road
. Bicycle Safety Checklist
Outcomes of the meeting
. Free CPR Training for all new ride leaders
. The club will initiate a pilot program using flashing
Cygolites for ride sweeps to increase safety
. Stressing the importance of keeping the advertised
speed(pace)of the ride true and consistent
. The announcement of a new Mentoring Program for
prospective ride leaders
. NEW LIMITS on the number of riders on an official
club ride
. New guidelines regarding ride leads for newer riders
(shorter distances, fewer hills)
. Establishing ride clinics for new riders EX. Group Riding,
Hill Climbing ,Gear Shifting
MORE SAFETY AND ON GOING TRAINING OF
RIDE LEADERS
. The meeting adjourned with everyone energized and
excited about the Huntington Bicycle Club riding season
. Come down to the Smith Street lot in Greenlawn and see
what’s new for 2015.
John Greene
VP/Ride Chairman
Huntington Bicycle Club
8
HBC Member
Classifieds
Thule Hitch Rack
For 2" receiver, extra lock, bike bar $75
Contact Mick mmassell@gmail.com
Bike Racks
Roof Rails and Carrier for
BMW 3 Series $100
also - Roof Rails and Bike Carrier
(fits Porche Cayenne or VW Toureg
2005-2008). Asking $65. Contact
Terry 631-612-8412 or
tmortell@me.com
Saris Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack - $50
I used this rack with my Lexus sedan. Light
weight but very sturdy – fastens from top,
bottom, and sides. Now I put the bike in
the back of my Prius so I don’t need this
rack. Excellent condition. Included is a
Saris cable and lock that can be used to
lock the bikes to the rack. The rack costs
about $120 new and the cable about $25.
Contact arnej@optonline.net
Rhode Gear Bike Shuttle - $15
This is a light duty rack that goes on and
off easily. Good for transporting your bike
to Greenlawn or a remote start. I would not
use this rack for a long trip on major highways – too light. Fastens to top and bottom of trunk, not the sides.
Contact arnej@optonline.net
As a service to HBC members, we are now accepting classified ads.
To place your ad, email details, photos and contact information to Lou
@ gocycle@optonline.com
Thule Heavy Duty 4 bike hitch rack $100
This is a very heavy duty rack (weights
about 30 lbs.) that attaches to a 2” hitch receiver. The rack tilts forward so you can
get in the trunk with bikes on the rack.
There is a cable and lock built into the rack
to lock the bikes to the rack. Also included
is a Thule lock that locks the rack to the
trailer hitch. This rack is extremely well
made and very strong. You can use it for
long trips without worry. The bike support
section also folds down so you can leave it
on the car when not in use. Cost about
$300 new.
Contact arnej@optonline.net
Bontrager Race Lite wheels (700c) $150 for both front & back
These were the standard wheels on my
Trek bike, but I replaced them with other
wheels immediately, so they are ‘new’,
but have been in
the basement for several years.
The rear wheel sold new for about $400,
the front wheel for about $100.
Contact arnej@optonline.net
2014 TREK Lexa SLX 44cm WSD Road bike
for sale $800.
This is a great entry level road bike. Aluminum
frame with ISO Speed carbon fork for shock absorption. Only used one season. I loved it, but
decided to upgrade this year to full carbon.
Don’t have space to keep 2 bikes. Never
crashed, and is in excellent condition. It can
comfortably accommodate short riders from 4’11”
up to 5’3”. This bike is ready to go on the roads.
Just tuned up. Retail price last year was almost
$1600. Contact: 917 273-2371
Shifters: Shimano 105 STI, 10 speed
Front derailleur: Shimano 105
Rear derailleur:Shimano 105
Crank: Shimano Tiagra, 50/34 (compact)
Cassette: Shimano Tiagra 12-30, 10 speed
Sport 3-bike carrier with 1 1/4” hitch.
New $165, asking $75.
Contact Barry 516-349-1914 or email
woodartist@optonline.net
Bike Nashbar Rollers
hardly used. New $140, asking $75.
Contact Barry 516-349-1914 or email
woodartist@optonline.net
Minoura bike repair stand
+ bike cleaning brushes.
New $320, asking $100.
Contact Barry 516-349-1914 or email
woodartist@optonline.net
9