New Riding Season Kicks-off with Safety in Mind.
Transcription
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. 1 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] As a service to HBC members, we are now accepting classified ads. To place your ad, email details, photos and contact information to Lou @ [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] Bike Nashbar Rollers hardly used. New $140, asking $75. Contact Barry 516-349-1914 or email [email protected] Minoura bike repair stand + bike cleaning brushes. New $320, asking $100. Contact Barry 516-349-1914 or email [email protected] 9