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Date: 3/1/2024
Subject: March Chainletter
From: SCU Communications



Vol 2024 l No 3 l March

Table of Contents
  • President's Message
  • Dues Increase Effective April 1, 2024
  • Ride Leader Training
  • College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
  • Lewisburg Spring Bike Weekend
  • Hatboro Earth Day Festival
  • In-person Quarterly EC meetings (open to all members)
  • Registration NOW OPEN: 2024 SCU Summer Century, Saturday, July 13 at Delaware Valley University
  • SCU Ride Guidelines (and safety reminder)
  • SCU eBike Policy
  • Reminder of Member Benefits
  • Online Club Resources
  • Regional Events Calendar and Mileage Log
  • New Members
  • Executive Committee Meeting Schedule (Members Welcome)
  • SCU Executive Committee

President's Message
 
March 2024
 
I am writing this while on a tour of the Big Bend region of Texas. So far, it has been a ride of extremes. One day we had steep rollers in temperatures in the mid 90's. Today we had a screaming descent in near freezing fog. We've seen spectacular mountains and desolate deserts. It has been a shared experience for the 12 riders on the tour. We are people from all over the country who are forming a bond of friendship centered on 'the agony and the ecstasy' of cycling.

Steve "Fire and Ice" Muth
SCU President 
 

Dues Increase Effective April 1, 2024
 
At its February 15 meeting, the Executive Committee voted unanimously to increase annual dues by five dollars effective April 1, 2024. This date was chosen because many long-time members are still on an annual Springtime renewal cycle that predates the current rolling join/renewal system. The new membership rates will be $30 for individuals and $40 for families.

It’s been a long time since the club last increased its membership fees (since at least 2006). A lot of change has occurred within the club since that time. Most notably, there is only one annual fund-raising event since dropping the Lake Nockamixon Century about a dozen years ago. The loss of revenue from “The Nock” has been somewhat offset by discontinuation of the printed-and-mailed newsletter and other cost saving measures. However, over the years general inflation for all goods and services seems to have caught up with us. There has also been a recent dramatic increase in the cost of insurance for all bike clubs in the region. 

The Executive Committee did some homework before making this decision. We reviewed our annual budget carefully, taking extra time to consider how future budgets will look after we are done absorbing the impact of last year’s cancellation of the Summer Century due to unsafe weather conditions. We also confirmed that we have an insurance plan that is less costly than most bike clubs’ in the region. The ultimate conclusion was that while SCU is financially sound at this point, we could not sustain our program of rides and social events at the current membership rates without eroding our ‘rainy day fund’.

Even with this increase, SCU membership still costs less than a new tire for your bike and remains one of the best bargains around. There are hundreds of weekday and weekend rides in the Philly suburbs available throughout the year plus the Round-up Ride, the Annual Picnic, Happy Hours, Member Appreciation Tailgates, and the Annual Celebration -- more ways to enjoy cycling with friends than you can shake a spoke at!

Ride Leader Training
 
Ride leaders are truly the heart and soul of a cycling club!  We are currently planning for joint in-person and online ride leader training this spring in cooperation with a couple other local cycling clubs. Details are still being developed.  Keep an eye out for a separate announcement!

College Settlement Camp Helmet Drive
(There Is Still Time to Contribute! Click Link or Scan QR Code)
 
The helmet drive for College Settlement Camp was kicked off the SCU's Annual Celebration. The Camp's Outreach Coordinator, Ariana Kalziqi, was present to explain the Camp's mission of providing an outdoor camp experience for young people in the Philly area regardless of their ability to pay. An important part of that experience is the biking program where many of them have their first opportunity to learn to ride. New helmets are needed to provide each child with a properly fitting helmet in good condition. 

The Drive goal is to raise $1,000 towards the purchase of helmets and other bicycling gear. The Kick Off raised over $300 in both cash and online donations. You can contribute online in two ways: Make a donation through SCU's website by clicking here or scanning the QR code below. Or you can buy a new helmet of your choice then drop it off at the Camp or give it to any EC member.

Lewisburg Spring Bike Weekend
in the scenic Susquehanna Valley of Central Pennsylvania
Friday to Sunday, May 17-19, 2024 (Rain-or-Shine)
Event produced by Linda McGrane
 

Complete package:

  • Friday and Saturday nights at the plush Best Western+ of Lewisburg, with heated indoor pool & gym,  spacious meeting rooms reserved for our group for the whole weekend
  • Tour packets with cue sheets & maps for a wide variety of routes
  • Scenic routes for a wide range of distances, from 15 to 80+ miles, & GROUP RIDES with LEADERS
  • Buffalo Valley Rail Trail and other off-road trails nearby
  • Friday dinner at the hotel, Saturday dinner at Front Street Station – a distinctive local restaurant
  • Round-trip bus transportation to and from Saturday dinner
  • Saturday & Sunday full/hot breakfasts, and sandwiches & snacks to take with you on rides
  • Outdoor gathering space on the patio and/or terrace
  • Bike-friendly charming towns of Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Danville, Mifflinburg, & Bloomsburg nearby
  • Montour Preserve nearby for nature walks/hikes, birding, boating
  • Scenic campus of Bucknell University nearby, for cycling and/or walking
  • Parties, snacks, SAG, music, massage therapy & more
  • Sightseeing and local attractions for non-cyclist family members, also
  • Paper (mail-in) registration form available from Leader, as well as on the website website.  On-line payment via Zelle is available.
  • “Friends & Family” VIP discount rates available for participants of previous weekend events led by Linda.
  • COST for the whole package (including hotel):
    Regular Early-Bird rate $289/person, double-occupancy from 2/1/2024 through 4/19/2024
    Late registration (after 4/19) $309/person, double-occupancy
    Please contact Linda for special occupancy fares – Single, Triple, etc.

Members of ANY/ALL bicycling or outdoor clubs are warmly welcome to participate in this fun event!  GROUP/TEAM DISCOUNT is available – please contact Linda for details.

                            
Questions?  Please contact Linda, at: 267-251-7862, or LSBGspringbikeweekend@yahoo.com

 SCU is invited to have a display table at the Hatboro Earth Day Festival. 
This event is geared (see what I did there?) primarily for bike safety for families.  SCU ride Leaders are welcome to post rides which either start/finish at the event, or else, visit the event during the ride.

In-Person Quarterly Executive Committee (EC) Meetings
(open to all SCU members!)
 
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Executive Committee has conducted regular meetings over Zoom. This year we will be conducting one meeting each quarter in-person at College Settlement Camp. The first in-person EC meeting will be on Thursday, March 28.  All members are welcome to attend EC meetings.  Look for the announcement on Meetup and please RSVP if you plan to attend.  We look forward to seeing you!

League of American Bicyclists' National Bike Summit
Tuesday - Thursday, March 19-21, 2024
Washington, DC
 
For more information, see the League's website at https://bikeleague.org/events/summit/


Registration Now Open!
2024 SCU Summer Century
Saturday, July 13
NEW LOCATION!
Delaware Valley University
Doylestown, PA


2024 Summer Century Post Card

  • Featuring:

    NEW LOCATION:
    Delaware Valley University
    Lot A, Campus Loop Road
    New Britain, Pa. 18901

  • Four beautiful routes in Bucks County, PA and the scenic horse country of Hunterdon County, NJ.
    33 Miles (+/-)
    50 Miles (+/-)
    62 Mile Metric
    100 Mile Century (+/-)

  • Pizza party at the finish
  • GPS links will be available in advance of the ride.
  • Baked goods, drinks and friendly SCU volunteers at three well-stocked rest stops
  • SAG support
  • Well-marked routes
  • Cue sheets
  • Online route maps and GPX files
  • Free PAVED parking at the start/finish
Registration Fees:
  • EarlyRegistration - $50 (before June 1, 2024)
  • Regular Registration - $55 (before June 29, 2024)
  • Late Registration - $65 (after June 29, 2024)
  • SCU Members receive a $5 registration discount!
  • Registration is limited to 500 riders.
  • 2023 event registrants will receive an e-mail with a discount code for complimentary registration.
Group and Team Discount
  • Groups of eight or more registering as a group can receive a $5 per person discount.
Tandem-Two-for-One
  • Riders on a tandem pay one registration for two riders.
Unicyclists -- half price!
For discount registration details contact:Century@suburbancyclists.org.

Doylestown is well-situated for exploring Bucks County, Pennsylvania with its covered bridges, historic barns, wineries, restaurants, antiques and so much more.

Click hereto learn more about things to do and places to stay in beautiful and Historic Buck County.
Note: Our terms of insurance do not allow for the use of Class 2 (throttled) e-bikes. If you are planning to ride the Century route on an e-bike, please check your compliance with NJ state law for e-bikes.



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

Passing along a few safety reminders and points we all need to be aware of on our group rides...
  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"
Thank you Thom McAdams for the reminder!

SCU eBike policy

More information will be explained and distributed at SCU club rides by the ride leaders, but below describes the 3 categories of e-bikes and what is allowed on club rides. As the popularity of eBikes increases both in general and in SCU, we welcome the use of them on club rides but need to be aware of limitations and what is allowed.

Summary:

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

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


As membership director, I want to welcome back all of our SCU members who have renewed their memberships and I am encouraging our non-members to join our ranks!  We are excited to have over 1,800 cyclists in our Meetup Group but we would be even more excited to have more of the group become dues-paying SCU members.  Our membership fee is one of the best bargains around!!  So what are the benefits you will receive with your SCU membership you may ask?  
 
Here are just a few:
  • Insurance coverage if an accident occurs while participating in a SCU ride
  • Access to all SCU events including the SCU picnic, awards banquet, tailgate parties and many more events that occur throughout the year
  • Discounts at designated local bike shops and SCU Century / Summer Event rides
  • Monthly newsletter
And most importantly...supporting our cycling community especially our experienced and dedicated ride leaders who work hard at providing our club members with the best and safest routes throughout the region that accommodates various rider abilities.

The SCU membership fees help to sustain our club so please consider becoming a member today!  To join our club, click https://suburbancyclists.org/.  Please feel free to reach out to me at membership@suburbancyclists.org or any of our Executive Committee if you have any questions or comments.
 
Hope to see you on the road!
 
Pat Butcher
Membership Director


Online Club Resources
 
As a reminder, there are other online resources available to you to fully enjoy your club membership:
  • Meetup.com: Look for the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited (SCU) Meetup page to learn about and sign up for group rides.
  • Facebook: Visit the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited page to hear about the latest club news or pictures and adventures from club rides.

Regional Events Calendar & Mileage Log
Regional Events Update
 

Be sure check Jack Elias' famous Calendar of Regional Events for an updated, chronological list of regional events. Jack is updating the list as information is provided.

 
This calendar is presented by Suburban Cyclists Unlimited and lists recreational bicycle events that take place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and start within approximately 150 miles of Horsham, Montgomery County, PA.
Mileage Tracker and 
Universal Mileage Logs are available
 
The universal mileage log features include:
  • A universal log that is good for any year.
  • An automatic summation of mileage and number of rides and computation of the average ride distance.
  • Displays six charts of mileage, number of rides and average distance.
  • The mileage logs can be found in the Documents Library on the SCU website.
  • Go to SCU's Documents Library and scroll down to "Ride Documents" and  “Mileage Log”.

Welcome Our New Members
  • Bradley Hearn - Doylestown, PA
  • Kevin Reilly - Ambler, PA
  • Seung Hwan No - Drexel Hill, PA
  • Kieran Ward - North Wales, PA

All Members Welcome at Executive Committee Meetings
 
For 2024, Executive Committee meetings are held every third Thursday (normally) of the month and are posted to the Meetup ride calendar. All members are invited to participate in the discussions or share thoughts and ideas. Meetings are held via Zoom. If you RSVP to the Meetup or send an email to president@suburbancyclists.org, a Zoom link and an agenda will be sent to you shortly before the meeting. If you have something specific to share, you will be put at the top of the agenda so you can be heard without waiting through the routine business. Meetings are posted in MeetUp.
 
Hope to see you there.  

SCU Executive Committee
President
Steve Muth

Secretary
Helen Muth

Treasurer
Savannah Lee
 
Signature Event Director
Open

Digital Communications Director
Kevin Olsavsky

IT Director
Jim Hill

Membership Director
Pat Butcher

Public Relations Director
Linda A. McGrane

Ride Leader Director
Curtis Schwartz


Social Director
Chrislee Butcher
 
**************************************************
Regional Calendar Editor
Jack Elias
 
Merchandise Manager
Open