• September 23 - 2023 SCU Century
  • Unfortunate weather-related cancellation
  • Thank you to everyone who worked to plan for the Century 
• Member Information
  • Shimano Recalls Cranksets for Bicycles Due to Crash Hazard
  • Save the Date: Saturday, October 28, SCU Club Picinic
  • SRT Closure Information
    
• From our Friends at BCP: Fall Foliage Weekend, Oct 20-22
  
• SCU Ride Guidelines (and safety reminder)
• SCU eBike Policy
  
• Covid-19 Mitigation Measures - Updated May 13, 2021
  
• Reminder of Member Benefits
  
• Online Club Resources
• Regional Events Calendar and Mileage Log
• New Members
  
• Executive Committee Meeting Schedule (Members Welcome)
• SCU Executive Committee

Saturday, September 23, 2023

SCU 2023 Summer Century!

• Save the Date:  Saturday, October 28, SCU Club Picinic
  • More details to come as we get closer, including the need for volunteers, more information to come
• Shimano Recalls Cranksets for Bicycles Due to Crash Hazard
  • Name of Product: 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Road Cranksets
    • Hazard: The recalled bonded crank parts can separate and break, posing a crash hazard to consumers.
  • Shimano recalls 760,000 Hollowtech road cranks after receiving 4,500 incident reports
  • Shimano Hollowtech II Road Crankset Recall // What You Need to Know

• SRT Closure Information
  • From the Construction Outreach Specialist for the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), updating the biking groups in the area about an upcoming closure of the Schuylkill River Trail in the Manayunk region. Construction is currently underway for the Flat Rock Dam Betterment Project, which will restore water flow to the Manayunk Canal. This project requires a small section of the SRT to temporarily close for the rest of 2023, starting Monday, September 11.
  • PWD is working closely with Manayunk Development Corporation, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to make sure as many trail users as possible are aware of the closure. I am hoping you can spread the word to your biking audience.
    • his blog post shares all the important details about this closure: https://water.phila.gov/blog/restorative-ecological-project-brings-life-back-to-manayunk-canal/
    • Residents can learn more about the project and the closure on the project webpage: https://water.phila.gov/projects/flat-rock-dam-betterment/

• Arrive ten to 15 minutes early and Be Prepared To Leave On Time! The starting times are actual departure times
• Make sure your bike is in proper working order Before you arrive
• Carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump, water bottle, and some form of I.D. (emergency information)
• Ride in a safe manner and obey all traffic laws
• The wearing of a helmet (ANSI and/or Snell approved) is Required on all club rides
• Do not "Bike off" more than you can do. Go on rides within your ability, interest and experience
• Each rider assumes his or her own risk on all rides
• Those who ride ahead of the group are on their own ride
• Always notify the ride leader when leaving the group
• Riders should adhere to the advertised speed of the ride
• Ride leaders are not expected to be bike mechanics
• During Winter months or questionable weather conditions, please contact the ride leader
• If it is raining at the start time, then the ride is canceled unless otherwise noted by the ride leader
• Have fun riding your bike.
  

1. Please always use a red tail light - even during the day - for visibility since it does make you more visible. You need to be visible and conspicuous on the road. Especially if you have a bright red tail light of close to 100 lumens. Please see what you have and make changes if necessary. If you do not have a rear red tail light, please get one. Using a front white light helps even more with being seen.
2. While passing another rider, ALW\AYS pass on their left side and ALWAYS announce that you are passing them on their left. If - for a very rare reason - you are on a riders right side need or need to pass a rider on their right, ALWAYS announce that also. Otherwise it is not a good idea to ever pass or even ride directly on the right side of a rider in front of you. If you are on a riders' right side, stay well behind them and still let them know you are there.
3. And while we are talking about trailing a rider, please avoid "half-wheeling" the rider in front of you for any reason. Either on their left or right if they are in front of you.. This occurs when your front wheel overlaps the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. Sometimes the shoulders of roads are narrow and this will make for a dangerous situation when cars are passing.
4. When someone yells out "CAR BACK" we should all be looking to immediately form a single line of cyclists as quickly and as safely as possible and not ride two abreast in the lane the cars are in. This should be the case regardless of the width of the shoulder. The narrower the shoulder, the more we should be aware of this condition. A safe way of doing this is, if you are the rider on the right of the two-abreast, allow the rider on your left to get in front of you. that way the left side rider is not drifting back toward the oncoming and approaching car and gtets out of the way quicker..
5. When coming to a light and there is a right-hand turning lane and you are going straight, stay to the right in the lane in the direction you are travelling. Do not veer right into that lane and then jump back into the lane where you are going straight. One of the best ways to be safe it to be "Predictable" and "Conspicuous"

SCU eBike policy

Summary:

Electric bikes shall be permitted on club rides only as covered by the club's insurance policy and as consistent with local, state and Federal laws. The Treasurer shall determine the club's insurance coverage regarding electric bikes. A summary of this coverage and any changes to it shall be communicated to membership by the Digital Communications Director and directly communicated to ride leaders by the Ride Director. The ride sign-in sheet shall be revised and updated as needed to indicate this coverage.

• Only pedal assist eBikes (Classes 1 and 3) will be allowed on club rides.
• As SCU club rides cross into multiple states (PA, NJ, DE), it is critical we adhere to the regulations of all 3.
• If you have questions, please contact the SUC executive team or talk to your ride leader.

3 Classifications - eBikes

1. Allowed: A “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
2. Not Allowed: A “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
3. Allowed: A “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and is equipped with a speedometer.

When considering purchasing an eBike, it is important to understand the laws in your state and the type riding you want to do, including if bringing it on a SCU club ride (which again, we enjoy having them).

Thank you,

SCU Executive Team

SCU COVID-19 Mitigation Measures  - Updated May 13, 2021

The Covid situation has changed for the better in recent weeks. But we can't ignore the reality that the threat has not yet gone away completely. To reflect this change while remaining vigilant in protecting all members, the Executive Committee has adopted the new guidelines below. Keep in mind that your fellow riders may not have all been vaccinated, some by choice and others by circumstance. We should respect their privacy in this regard. In the absence of vaccination, social distancing and masking remain effective defenses against transmission. Therefore, we are asking all members to follow the new Guidelines to the best of their ability.

• Please stay home or ride solo if you have any Covid symptoms, have tested positive for Covid, or have been recently exposed to someone that has Covid.
  
• Bring a mask to wear when social distancing is not possible and for entry into commercial establishments at rest stops.
• Recommended maximum group size is 15, but the ride leader may restrict groups to less.
• If you develop Covid symptoms or test positive for Covid within a week of a group ride, please contact the club Ride Director (rides@suburbancyclists.org).
• Maintain social distance as appropriate. Observe any applicable local, state and federal guidelines and comply with all county Health Department regulations.

• Meetup.com: Look for the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited (SCU) Meetup page to learn about and sign up for group rides.
• Facebook: Visit the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited page to hear about the latest club news or pictures and adventures from club rides.