From the Club's Ride Director

June 30, 2023

The July 4th holiday traditionally marks the beginning of "high season" that lasts through the Labor Day Holiday at The Beach. And for the next two months our Club Group Rides Program goes into high gear with at least one Club Group Ride every day from multiple start locations - Lewes to Bethany Beach - with different average moving speeds, ride lengths and choices between road, trail or mixed surface rides. We hope that all our members looking for a group ride experience will find a ride that they feel is appropriate for them. If there are any other kinds of rides you would like to see the club offer, please let me know. 

Our program of providing safe and enjoyable riding is planned and implemented by our Club Group Rides Leadership that this year includes 38 member volunteers - 18 of whom to date have earned designation as a Club Group Ride Leader. Please provide them with any feedback you have about their ride. And a sincere thank you after the ride is always appreciated!

Let me highlight a few things that that we have incorporated in our 2023 Club Group Ride Program.

· We continue to have an on-line sign up in advance process for all our Club Group Rides and have streamlined the registration process. As in the past all registrants must agree to our Release and Waiver of Liability provisions as well as our revised Club Group Ride Rules, that includes our new club policy on the use of eBikes:  " eBikes must be safely ridden within the ride posted speed and club group ride etiquette. Pedal assisted eBikes (Class 1 and Class 3) are welcome. Throttle assisted eBikes (Class 2) may only be used on rides posted with a Target Speed of 15mph+/- or less, and only with pedal assist and without using the throttle."

· The website calendar is now color coded to differentiate Club Recurring Rides (usually weekly), Club Ad Hoc (not regularly scheduled) Rides, Non-Club "Meet Up" Rides and Special Event Rides where we participate as Team Sussex Cyclists. Additional color coding is used for our Safety Stops and Other Club Activities. 

· We have a new format to describe our ride details and no longer characterize rides with a letter designation. Instead we post rides on our website calendar by target moving speed and distance visible. If you have any questions, the Ride Leaders' contact information is there to encourage prospective riders to reach out to them before the ride. When selecting a ride, please read the ride details and start with a ride that is comfortably within your level of conditioning and ability. It's always advisable to choose a group ride that you can easily complete and enjoy rather than trying to keep up for fear that you will hold the rest of the riders back. 

· We want to broaden our program this summer to include more rides in the 10-12mph average moving speed and for 15-20mi distances.  These are ideal for those getting back into or are new to cycling and want to develop good cycling skills, learn group ride safety and etiquette and feel comfortable riding in a group on our beautiful trails and roads. 

I'm looking forward to riding with you on one of our Club Group Rides.  And as always, please contact me if you have any questions, comments or feedback.

 

Bill

Bill Gorodetzer

Text or Voice: (215) 370-2854

Email: bgorodetzer@yahoo.com