Yet another one behind us

Although it was hot some of the time, the weather cooperated most Tuesday nights this year.  Perhaps the best rides were those followed by pot luck dinners.

As you can see in the picture below, we had a great turnout for our last organized ride of the season at the West Hill Shop this week.  Thanks once again to Jim and Diny Sweitzer for the barbecue, all of our ride planners, especially the new ones, our members that joined and renewed, and to Kathy Lapan for serving as our treasurer.  
         Although our schedule has wrapped up for this season, informal show and go Tuesday night rides will continue through the fall, starting next Tuesday, September 6^th.  We will leave from the Brattleboro Common on Park Place at 5:30 p.m., weather permitting.  Once again, as the days get shorter, we will leave a bit earlier.  Please join us.       
I encouraged everyone to attend our gathering and organizational meeting at the Marina next March.  Ride safe in the interim. 

Joe Cook

                                         

We're back!

A large turnout at our planning meeting and spring celebration at the Marina earlier this month gave us a good head start on our new schedule.  I want to thank once again everyone who agreed to plan a ride this year. 

As always, Tuesday Night Rides will leave promptly this year at 5:30 p.m., so plan to arrive a few minutes early in order to receive a map and be greeted by your ride planner.  Please feel free to bring a friend, and introduce him or her to the ride planner and other riders.

            Cyclists can again choose to ride with us laggards in the “B” group, which chats along the way at a relaxed 12 to 14 miles an hour, or in the “A” group (the "hammerheads") in a pace line, which averages about 18 miles an hour.  Once again this year the “B” group will regroup periodically along our rides, so that none of us get dropped.  If it is pouring rain, the ride will be cancelled.  If the weather is questionable, the ride planner will post on our Facebook page and call the West Hill Shop to let them know whether their ride will be taking place.

            When in traffic, please remember to "ride right" in a single file on the right hand side of the road, to the right of the white line, and remind others who forget to do so.  It helps to dress in bright colors and use reflectors to increase the chance that you will be seen by motorists, especially at dusk.

           If you have not already done so, please renew your membership or join by sending your dues to Kathy Lapan at 78 Winter Street, Brattleboro, VT   05301.  Your dues enable us to promote cycling, especially with new and young riders.  Dues this year will continue to be $10 for individuals and $20 for families. Putney Bicycle Club members receive a 10% discount on cycling tops and bottoms, tires and tubes at the West Hill Shop.  A portion of your dues helps to pay for a barbeque dinner following our last ride this summer at the West Hill Shop on August 30^th.   

            If you would like to invite others to join you on a ride, publicize an event, or post cycling pictures and videos for others to enjoy, please use our Facebook page.  It continues to be popular, and we now have 214 members.  It may be found at:  

http://www.facebook.com/groups/PutneyBicycleClub/                

We welcome your questions and suggestions, and look forward to seeing you on our rides.  Ride safely!

President: Joe Cook (802) 257-0609 jfcook3@gmail.com

Treasurer: Kathy Lapan (802) 254-6547 kathylapan@comcast.net

Secretary & Webmaster Bob Immler (802) 221-4040 roamic@gmail.com

~Joe Cook

Spring Celebration and Planning Meeting at the Marina on March 15th at 6 p.m.

        After a lousy winter, this unusually balmy weather, and daylight savings time arriving this weekend, cycling is just around the corner, if it has not already arrived.  We will ask the Marina to expect us next Tuesday, March 15th at 6 p.m. for a spring celebration and to put together our schedule for the season.  The Putney Bicycle Club will provide munchies.
        This early start will give us three weeks to put together our schedule before our first ride on April 5th.  The goal is to have our schedule for the season completed before that date.  We need your help.  If everyone takes one night we'll have it covered.
       We hope that you will be able to join us at the Marina next week, and coordinate a ride.  If you are unable to attend, please e-mail me a brief description of a ride that you are willing to coordinate and a date.  I will send a draft of the schedule to all of the trip planners before we post it to our website and Facebook page.  My e-mail address is jfcook3@gmail.com
        To kick off our season the West Hill Shop will give everyone who pays their dues at our meeting a 20% off tune-up coupon.  Putney Bike Club member benefits include:  10% off tires and tubes, cycling tops and bottoms, and an invitation to our year-end barbeque and pot luck.
       We look forward to seeing many of you next Tuesday, and on the road.  Please let me know if you have any questions in the interim.
       Thanks,
       Joe