btcnj masterlink/september 2014
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masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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Contents4 President’s Message
Fun for Six Cents a Day
6 CyclingSpread Your Wings and Enjoythe Cycling in Saratoga Springs
8 ReflectionGermany or France – why not visit both?
10 NutritionHow to Avoid Bonking
14 Photo MontageRamapo Rally
This Month5 September Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 7:30pm
6
14
8
On The Cover (Top Right):Tracy Grafton suffered very serious injuries at last year’s Rally.Through lots of hard work and courage she’s back on her bike.She completed the 50-mile route during this years volunteer ride day.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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PRESIDENTRalph Monti
VICE PRESIDENTAlan Scherl
SECRETARYRhonda Pekow
RIDES CAPTAINAndres [email protected]
WEBMASTERLarry [email protected]
SPCL. EVENTS/VOL. DEVELOPMENTLeslie Felsen
TREASURERFranklin Wimer
MEMBERSHIPHarold [email protected]
RALLY CHAIRPERSONStephen [email protected]
MASTERLINKMarc Soloff
PUBLICITYBarbara Augenblick
TOURSBill Telgheder
PAST PRESIDENTEthan Brook
MasterLink Submissions:Materials for MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month for publication
in the following month’s issue. Please send articles, photos, letters, or comments to MasterLink, at our email address [email protected]. Materials may be edited by the MasterLink staff for length and clarity. Publication of materials
submitted is at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted for publication become the property of BTCNJ. Due to copyright laws, any articles, photos, cartoons,
art, etc., that have appeared in other publications may not be published in MasterLink without written consent of the copyright holder.
Photos in MasterLink may not be reused or republished without prior permission.
Protection of the Intellectual Property of BTCNJ
We welcome your creative suggestions for promotional activities using the Club’s brands, however, the Club’s name, slogans, designs and logos are its intellectualproperty, which embody the “goodwill” of the Club as developed over the yearsthrough service to its members and the community, with thanks to the volunteer efforts of countless members. In order to preserve and protect our goodwill, it is critical that all use of the Club’s intellectual property be properly regulated. Please do not reproduce or simulate the Club logo, the names “BTCNJ” or “Bicycling Touring Club of North Jersey”, or any other brands such as “Ramapo Rally”and “MasterLink” on shirts, caps, jerseys, bottles, stickers, or any other merchandisewithout authorization from our Merchandise Chair, Harold Todman.
September 2014, Volume 38, Number 08. Circulation: approx. 1,500 via electronic download.MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the official publication of the
Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey,PO Box 853, Ridgewood NJ 07451. Our website is www.btcnj.com.
©2014 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.“MasterLink”, “BTCNJ”, “BTCNJ.COM”, “Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey” (words and
logo), and “Ramapo Rally” are trademarks of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey.
Did YouKnow...• That your club has an
OUTREACH program?
• That there’s a dedicated group ofclub members who’ve offered tolend a hand, an ear, a shoulder, to visit or other assistance tomembers in need?
• That you can volunteer to join thisterrific group of people and feelreally good about doing so?
• That you too might be in need of OUTREACH one day?(We hope not, but you neverknow.)
• That offering your services is as easy as contacting one of us below.
If you become aware of any members who are ill, have had anaccident or a death in the family,please let us know by getting intouch with our contact for themonth listed below.
If you would like to joinour Outreach committee, please contact:Barbara [email protected]
Recently I was speaking withLeslie Felsen, BTCNJ’s SpecialEvents Chair, and we were
discussing all the events and funtimes that were staged this year. Asshe was recounting all the scheduledevents for 2014, it dawned on mejust what a bargain the yearly BTCNJdues are. As I turned that ideaaround in my head, I began to thinkof various things that $22 gets youtoday. Here are a few examples:
For $22 you can buytwo tickets at your localmovie theater, where thefun lasts at most twohours and thirty minutes,and that’s before buyingsoda, snacks and pop-corn.
For $22 you can buy alarge pizza, and perhapsa small salad and a cou-ple of small beverages. If you haveyour pizza delivered at home, youmore than likely will bust the $22budget. Pizza party fun lasts aboutan hour, unless you and your com-panions are really hungry and youwolf down your slices in record time.
For about $22 you can downloadthe hottest best-seller onto yourKindle, iPad or other Android tablet.Depending on how fast you read,and what your leisure time stacks upto be, your fun will last anywherefrom several days to a month.
I can continue on with more exam-ples, but you get the idea. By com-parison, when you plunk down $22to pay your BTCNJ dues, you gainentry into a year-long world of fun.And that fun is enhanced by thefriendships you make either for aday, a season, or a lifetime.
For BTCNJ’s price of admission,you gain access to more than 2,000scheduled rides led by dedicated
volunteer ride leaders, an open invitation to our annual picnic thatkicks off each cycling season, specialevents that include valuable clinicslike Bob Reich’s Maintenance Clinic,twice-yearly Bicycle Safety Clinics,special riding events like BTCNJ’sNew Member Rides Day, and ournewly created Cyclofemme Day. Andif that’s not enough we also have afull slate of multi-day tours to do-mestic and international locations.
And as a member you’re always invited to boogie the night awayduring the dead of winter at our Annual Anniversary Party in January.
In addition to all this, you’re alsowelcome to attend the BTCNJ mem-ber meetings every month, wherespeakers of all stripes, from nutri-tionists and professional bike racersto authors and workout experts,come by to speak to our club. Andwhile all our meetings have some-thing of value to offer, everyone al-ways enjoys attending the annualYear-in-Review in January, when wereminisce on cycling days past. Oh,and lest I forget, BTCNJ also has along tradition of generously cateringeach member meeting with snacksand a wide assortment of goodiesand beverages.
All this, in an era where getting amini bag of pretzels on a transconti-nental flight is cause for celebration.So the BTCNJ $22 fee sounds like a
great deal and value to me. And it’sthe price we pay for fun that lasts365 days.
Of course, BTCNJ has a huge ad-vantage over the airlines and manyother corporate entities. Our laborcosts are nil. That’s because thiswonderful club relies on the un-bounded generosity of many of itsmembers, many who volunteer theirtime, energy and expertise to makeBTCNJ the great club it is.
The bottom line isthat without the gen-erosity of our volunteerswe simply couldn’t af-ford to schedule themany exciting events westage during the year. AsFrank Wimer, BTCNJ’sTreasurer, outlined dur-ing his financial reportbefore the club at the
May member meeting, our member-ship revenue just about covers theclub’s yearly operating costs.
Moving forward, starting with theSeptember new and renewing mem-berships, BTCNJ will be reinstatingthe Family/Household member levelthat existed before BTCNJ moved toits current website. Long-standingBTCNJ members may recall that
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masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Fun for Six Cents a DayBy Ralph Monti
“However you slice it, whetheryou’re a Single or Family/HouseholdBTCNJ member, you’re still getting
a great deal and great value foryour dues investment.”
prior to the website switch someyears back, there was a two-tieredpricing system in place based on thenumber of riders per household.When the current website was installed, a single-price system wasenacted simply because the sitecould not be reconfigured to accom-modate a two–tiered price system.So for a number of years two ormore riders in a BTCNJ householdwere paying the same dues as thoseas a single member, the standard$22 per year.
As many BTCNJ members know,we’ve invested thousands of dollarsover the last two years upgradingand reprogramming the website tostay current with our member needs.We also can now reinstate BTCNJ’stwo-tiered pricing platform.
Based on our member roster, thereare a number of households with
more than one registered ride. These“multi-member households” arepaying the same dues as our singlemembers. In effect our single mem-bers are subsidizing family/house-hold members in terms of the duespaid per household and the insur-ance fees BTCNJ must pay. WhileBTCNJ is actually paying insuranceon two or more riders in a multi-member household, it receives onlysingle dues.
So in the spirit of everyone con-tributing their fair share, BTCNJhouseholds that have more than onerider per household will be asked topay the following:
• For a 1-year Family/Householdmembership: $42.
• For a 2-year Family/Householdmembership: $80.
• For a 3-year Family/Householdmembership: $115.
Of course, if you’re a single mem-ber, your dues will remain at $22, butafter September 1 you will no longerbe able to add another person toyour membership.
However you slice it, whetheryou’re a single or family/householdBTCNJ member, you’re still getting agreat deal and great value for yourdues investment. Over the last yearand a half, I’ve made it a point to benchmark our club’s activities,pricing, etc., against the many other bicycle clubs around the country.Few clubs come close to the numberof rides BTCNJ offers through theyear. And it was a rare instance whenI came across a club that provides itsmembers with such a full slate ofweekend tours, monthly membercatered meetings, and a terrific slateof workshops and clinics. A BTCNJmembership is a great deal.
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masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
SeptemberMembershipMeetingOn your last ride where someone in your grouphad a flat and took forever to change it, didyou think “I could have fixed that flat a lotfaster than that!”?
Well, on September 11 you will have the opportunity to show us what you can do. It’s the annual Tire Changing Contest at the September Membership Meeting.
The contest is open to all club members who think they have what it takes (or just want a free tube). The rules are simple. Start with an inflated front tire, let the air out, change the tube and re-inflate to 100 psiusing a pump. Contact Alan Scherl at [email protected] if you think you have the right stuff.
Also at the meeting, Dana Rubin from Ramapo Rally sponsor Rubin Opticians will the present to talk about eyewear and eye
protection specifically for cyclists. Learn how to best youreyes and still be able to see the road.
Refreshments at the September Meeting will be arrangedby Jennifer Clark.
All this takes place on September 11 at 7:30 PM at theRidgewood Public Library 125 N. Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ.
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Beautiful and biker-friendlySaratoga Springs, only 3 ½hours from Bergen County,
has become another interesting cycling destination. Once there, riders can take advantage of a widerange of cycling routes, hotel andmotel accommodations, restaurants,pubs, and entertainment venues.The cue sheet link at the end of this article starts near the center of Saratoga Springs on a flat torolling loop ride past the famousSaratoga race track, also known as“Grave of Champions.”
It was here that Man of War lost hisonly race. Secretariat lost his nextrace after winning the Triple Crown.You’ll cycle to Saratoga Lake and the Saratoga National Historic Park.The road is very scenic. You will get to see race horses in their corrals, working dairy farms, and anopportunity to visit one of the mostimportant Revolutionary War sites.Nineteenth century historians havesaid that the battle that took placein Saratoga was one of the 15 mostimportant battles fought in the history of the world.
When the American militiamen de-feated the British in Saratoga, theFrench entered the war on the sideof the Americans and changed thecourse of the war. Make sure youstop at the visitor center near theentrance to the park. A twenty-
CYCLING:
Spread Your Wings and Enjoy the Cycling in Saratoga SpringsBy Ethan Brook
Ethan Brook is a
past President of the
Bicycle Touring Club
of North Jersey.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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minute filmd i s c u s s e severythingyou need toknow aboutthis epicevent.
If you havethe energy,the 10 ½ milerolling loopride around thepark is worth theeffort. It is bothbeautiful and inter-esting. You will havean opportunity to seeone of the ironies of that bat-tle. There is actually a monument toBenedict Arnold’s leg. It seems thatbefore Benedict became a traitor, hewas a brilliant General who waswounded leading a charge atSaratoga. He was pinned under hishorse. Both he and the leg survived.
Unfortunately, he soon becameembittered, resentful and felt thathis accomplishments on the battle-field were not sufficiently recog-nized. He soon sought out Major
André of theBritish Armyand offersto becomea Britishspy. Andréis caught,tried, con-victed, and
executed inTappan. Bene-
dict Arnold es-capes. The rest
is history. Followthe cue sheet back
to downtown Sara-sota Springs.
Looking for more routes?Cycle along Beekman Street andvisit the arts and crafts galleries.Then ride through the beautiful cam-pus of Skidmore College. The cam-pus sits on the edge of town,alongside spectacular Victorianhomes and mansions. Check out thevarious posted routes in and aroundSaratoga.
For cue sheets of the route, log onto btcnj.com/cuesheets/188.html
BTCNJ is lookingfor someone to beits webmaster tooversee all online
duties for the club.
Submit YourPhotos for theYear-in-Review
Don’t wait until November or December to send your photos
in for the Year-in-Review. Send them in now while they’re
still fresh and you rememberwhere you took them.
Remember to indicate your full name, name and date of
the ride and ride level if applicable. Send them to [email protected].
Interested?Contact Larry Schwartzat [email protected]
for more info.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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We had a difficult time deciding in which bicycle-friendly country we wanted to spend our annual summer bike trip -- Germany or France. We ended up doing both. The Black Forest of Germany and theAlsace region of France are right across from eachother on the Rhine River. Both areas have somethingfor everyone. The terrain is as challenging as you wantit to be -- flat, rolling and hilly. The Black Forest of Germany is filled with beautiful villages, mountainlakes and spectacular scenery.
Some of the climbs were long and tough. However, thelong ride down into the valleys was exhilarating. Onthe French side of the Rhine there is the famous Al-sace Wine Route meandering through vineyards, beau-tiful villages, and for the real hearty souls the GrandBallon -- a Tour de France climb.
The trip began with a bus ride from the Frankfurt Airport to our hotel in Neuweier, Germany and endedin Strasbourg, France -- some two weeks and 400 plus miles later.
Neuweier is surrounded by magnificent vineyards and is only a few miles from Baden-Baden, an upscaleresort of spas and bath houses that date back 2000years to Roman times. Two different routes throughthe Black Forest brought us to the interesting town ofBaiersbronn.
Our next stop was Triberg, and the Cuckoo ClockRoute. If you are in the market for a clock, you are inluck. Not only did we cycle through beautiful villagesalong the Kinzig River, but we saw the largest cuckooclock in the world. Once in the town itself we took ashort hike up to the highest waterfalls in Germany. Weleft Triberg and climbed a bit on our way to our nextdestination, Freiburg, Germany. Starting uphill was notwhat we expected. However, the downhill ride made usforget all of the tough climbing. Cycling through theBlack Forest, it became apparent to us what inspiredthe brothers Grimm. We half feared that we wouldcome face to face with the big, bad wolf. It was also nomystery to us why Hansel and Gretel left bread crumbsto mark their route, as we were never sure we were on
Germany or France – why not visit both?
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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the right path. Butwe did finally reachFreiburg, which is auniversity city withlots to see. We werethere the night thatGermany defeatedFrance during theWorld Cup. Thescene, the crowds,and the attire aredifficult to describe.
Leaving Freiburgand crossing theRhine River into France the next day, youwouldn’t even know that there was aWorld Cup. The route was fairly flat. Wewere on our way to Thann at the foothillsof the Vosges mountain range, and thebeginning of the Al-sace Wine Route.Ten of our riderscompleted thethirty-one mileround trip GrandBallon climb, a trulyamazing accom-plishment. Onemember of ourgroup (who shall remain nameless)did the climb THREEtimes! When inThann about 20members of ourgroup took a trip toRonchamps to see the Notre Dame duHaut chapel designed by the world-renowned architect Le Corbusier. Thechapel is under the guardianship of theprivate foundation Association de l’Oeu-vre de Notre-Damedu Haut, and at-tracts more than80,000 visitors eachyear.
We left the next dayfor Colmar. Therewere many villagesand vineyards thatdotted the wineroad before wereached Colmar, abeautiful and fasci-nating medieval city.
As a side note, Auguste Bartholdi, the creator of the Statue of Liberty in NewYork, was born in Colmar, and theBartholdi Museum in Colmar keeps a resin model of the statue and otherBartholdi creations.
The ride from Colmar to Strasbourgadded another group of villages that were must sees. Several stood out.
Eguisheim was listedas one of the mostbeautiful villages ofFrance. Having veryactive storks flyingin and out of theirnests kept us mesmerized. The villages of Riquewihrand Ribeauville, andthe vineyards thatsurrounded themwere not to bemissed. Fortifiedmedieval walls, cobblestone streets,
half-timbered houses and vibrant flowersadded to the beauty of the Alsace region.
The last two days were spent in Strasbourg, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The light show outside theCathedral, the bikeride through “PetiteFrance,” and the delicious Gelato inthe center of the Old City were perfect ways to endthe trip. We havemany wonderful remembrances fromour two-week adventure spentwith our BTCNJfriends. Besides thememories of all of
the beautiful places we visited, the BTCNJcamaraderie made this trip extra specialand one we will always remember.
-Barbara Augenblick and Ethan Brook
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Nutrition before, during andafter the ride is all aboutmaking sure that your body
has the resources it needs to do theride as well as possible. This can bedifficult for intense rides or ridesthat last more than 90 minutes.What happens if you don’t getenough of the nutrients you need?What happens if you get too much?Before we look at how to go aboutgetting it right, we’ll take a look atwhat happens if you get it wrong.Not enough food: The bonk
“Bonking” is what cyclists call hypoglycemia which is the medicalterm for abnormally low levels ofblood glucose. You bonk when youhave exhausted your glycogenstores, haven’t ingested enough carbohydrate to produce moreblood glucose, and are still riding thebike. Anyone can bonk if they don’teat properly on the bike. Beginnersdo it, experienced riders do it, andthe pros do it. Depending on theseverity of the bonk, it can rangefrom unpleasant to horrible.
Bonking can be especially danger-ous for cyclists because your mus-cles aren’t the only parts of yourbody that burn glucose for fuel. Yourbrain also burns glucose. This meansthat not having enough glucose inyour blood to fuel ongoing athleticactivity has mental and emotionaleffects in addition to physical effects. If blood glucose levels droptoo low, the system will act to protect the brain and will begin to depress glucose use at the muscles. However, the muscles don’t completely shut down beforethe brain begins to be affected andthe mental and emotional conse-quences of bonking can be moredangerous to the cyclist than thephysical consequences.
When you bonk physical exertionbecomes very difficult. Your musclesdon’t have the fuel they need to op-erate effectively and forcing them towork becomes more and more diffi-cult. You feel extremely weak andlethargic. You may tremble andshake uncontrollably and sweat
profusely. You feel dizzy and lightheaded. Your sense of balance isupset. You may have heart palpita-tions. You will probably feel hungry.On the mental and emotional sideyou will probably feel nervous andanxious. You may become confusedand disoriented. You will have lowemotional control and may becomehostile, belligerent and easily irri-tated. You may experience over-whelming feelings of hopelessnessand of being defeated and unable togo on. Your awareness of what’sgoing on around you will shrink andcan arrive at an extreme form of
NUTRITION:
How to Avoid BonkingBy Kevin Murnane
WHAT’S A LEAGUE CYCLING INSTRUCTOR?League Cycling Instructors (LCIs) are certified to teach the Smart Cycling classes to children as well as adults. Their goal is to help people feel more secure about gettingon a bike, to create a mindset that bikes are treated as a vehicle, and to ensure thatpeople on bikes know how to ride safely and legally. LCIs are members of the Leagueand have completed an intense 3-day seminar training. Our certified instructors are ac-tive within the bicycling community and are covered by the League’s liability insurance.
THE LCI SEMINARThe LCI training seminar focuses on teaching and demonstration techniques used with future students both on the road and in the classroom. The seminar emphasis is on how to teach bicycle safety and skills so as toprovide increased comfort and confidence for new and returning bicyclists and youth. The Seminar does notemphasize the content or specific details of the cycling course curricula. It is primarily about teaching, andeach candidate will have opportunities during the seminar to practice facilitating parts of the Traffic Skills 101curriculum, both in the classroom and in the parking lot. The seminar is normally one evening and two fulldays. Generally, 1/3 of the time is on-bike, so students should be prepared to ride.The next LCI Seminar in the New Jersey area will be in Princeton. The seminar dates are November 14through November 16. The registration fee is $300 and the course will be conducted by LAB coach LesLeathem. Les has conducted a number of safety clinics for BTCNJ. For more information and to register, visitthe LAB page http://bikeleague.org/content/seminar-schedule
Become a League of American Bicyclists’ League Cycling Instructor!
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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tunnel vision in which the only thingyou’re aware of is the spot you’restaring at on the road in front of you.You may have difficulty speaking. Atthe extreme, hypoglycemia can pro-duce seizures and a comatose state.
What do you do if you bonk? Youneed to get your blood glucose lev-els up and you need to do it quickly.Ingest simple carbohydrates thatcan be rapidly processed into bloodglucose. The best source for thistype of carbohydrate that you’relikely to have with you on the bike isa sports drink like Gatorade. Othersources of simple carbohydrates include energy gels (make sure youdrink plenty of water with these),sugar cubes or sweet candy likegumdrops or jellybeans. Complexcarbohydrates like energy bars willtake longer to process into bloodglucose and will only provide reliefin the longer term.
If you catch the bonk early, youcan keep riding while you refuel. If you let the bonk go too far, get offthe bike until you recover. You don’twant to be riding when your senseof balance is bad, you’re disoriented,and you’re unaware of what’s goingon around you.
After you’ve bonked and begun torecover, pay careful attention to
what you eat for the rest of the rideand make sure you keep your glucose level up by regularly and frequently taking in fast absorbingcarbohydrates. Sports drinks arevery good for this.
Perhaps the hardest part of reacting to a bonk is mental. Youneed to recognize that you’re notthinking clearly and not being asaware of what’sgoing on around youas you need to be to ride safely.Forcibly arouse yourself from yourlethargy and consciously devote effort to paying extra attention towhat’s happening around you. Of course this is easier said thandone; it’s not easy to be aware thatyou’re not thinking clearly whenyou’re not thinking clearly.
Try to get in the habit of monitor-ing yourself for the early signs of a bonk. The ride beginning to feellike a chore? Getting irritable andangry? Not paying very much atten-tion to what’s happening aroundyou? Learn to recognize the symp-toms early and refuel before it getsout of hand.
If you have a regular riding partnerwhose riding abilities and demeanoron the bike are familiar to you, beaware of their condition as well. A rider who isn’t thinking clearly
is likely to misinterpret or misunder-stand what’s happening to them in the early stages of a bonk. Help them out. Be aware that youmay have to treat them carefully as they may be experiencing increased levels of irritability andhostility combined with decreasedemotional control. If you think youmight be bonking, tell your ridingpartner so they can help you.
As unpleasant and dangerous as bonking can be, the good news is that it’s easily avoided. Start yourclock as soon as you get on the bike and eat regularly throughoutthe ride and you’ll never have to experience a bonk.
Eat before you’re hungry, eat before you bonk.
Excerpted with permission
from the book, “Nutrition for
Cyclists: Eating and Drinking
Before, During and After the
Ride” by Kevin Murname.
Available as an ebook through
Amazon.com
(www.amazon.com/dp/
B00KDJAU12).
The Glen Rock Munici-pal Pool, located onDoremus Ave in GlenRock, is sporting abeautiful new bike cor-ral, thanks to our 2013Ramapo Rally volun-teers. Members my re-call that in December2013 BTCNJ set asideRally profits to fund anew bike corral for thetown of Glen Rock, atown where manyBTCNJ rides begin.
After months of site inspections
and other processes,the BTCNJ Bike Corralwas installed this pastJune. Manufactured bySaris, the company be-hind the popular vehi-cle bike racks, theBTCNJ Bike Corral ac-commodates up to 10bikes and sports boththe Glen Rock townlogo and the BTCNJlogo. The bike corral ispart of BTCNJ’s phi-losophy to give back
to the community while promotingbicycling.
BTCNJ Bike Corral Installed atGlen Rock Municipal Pool
BTCNJ’s Bylaws AreNow Available OnlineBTCNJ’s bylaws, which include two new, member-ratified amendments, (one outlining officerterm limits and the other outliningthe BTCNJ gift and gratuity policy)are now available on the BTCNJwebsite.
To download a copy, follow thesesteps: After signing in to the BTCNJ web site, click on the membership tab. You’ll note thesubmenu that appears under themembership tab. Click on theDownload tab and you will see alisting of all the downloads available, including the BTCNJ bylaws.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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Photos courtesy of Ray Nutkis
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Support Our Rally SponsorsWe had a very successful Ramapo Rally on August 17th, with about 1,100 riders, about 190
volunteers, great routes, excellent rest stops, and an exciting start site with hot-grilled food and a busy village of sponsors and health-related tents. The Rally was very successful financially,
too, and the success of our sponsorship program has helped greatly to make it so. These sponsors contributed money and/or needed supplies and we’d like them to do it again
in 2015. So please… note who they are, and if possible, patronize them and let them know thatyou’re a BTCNJ member and you appreciate their sponsorship of the Ramapo Rally.
Whole Foods. Three stores in Paramus, Edgewater, and Ridgewoodall pulled together and donated justabout all the perishable food servedat our rest stops…. breads, PB & J,melons, oranges and bananas, andmore. They’re a new sponsor, soplease shop there and let them knowwhy.
Frankie’s Grill. Reduced the price of the food so that it met our budget.Consider using them if you are catering an event.
Miller’s Ale House. Miller’s is a repeat supporter from last year, and provided hot food to supplementthe burgers, hot dogs, and salad fromFrankie’s Grill. It’s a nice place to stop for a casual meal, with severalNorth Jersey locations.
Campmor. They’ve been a sponsorfor years, both financially and withJoe B’s excellent start site tech support. But they need to know it’simportant to our members. Considerusing their bike shop for sales andservices, buy supplies and clothesthere, and use them for campinggear, clothing, and footwear as well.
VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations. VBT donated a trifecta…cash, a free trip, and a discountcoupon worth $1,000 on one of theirtrips. Many of us have traveled withthem and know how great they are!Whenever you call them let themknow where you’re from and that weappreciate their support.
Berkeley College. They’re also a newsponsor. It is a great place for careertraining, whether for yourself orsomeone you know. Numerous campuses in our area make them especially convenient.
Equinox. Again, a new sponsor. Certainly there are many health clubsto choose from but you should checkout what they have to offer, and tellthem why you’re looking at them.
Valley Health Systems. In somecases, our choice of hospital is dictated by insurance or our doctors’
affiliations, but Valley has been helping the Rally for several years,and they should be considered whenin need.
Belmar Water. Here we have a long-time sponsor. If you get water delivered at home or your business,call them.
Bridge Opticians. Another new spon-sor who displayed many interestingeyewear options especially suited forour crowd at the start site village.There are many opticians all over, butespecially if you live near the easternpart of Bergen County, talk to them.
Strictly Bicycles. Yet another newsponsor, they funded our start sitebreakfast. We all have favorite shops,but they have a great selection oftop-flight bike lines and accessories.
Landgrove Inn. This lovely inn, located in Landgrove, VT, has beenour home for winter and spring out-ings for many years. They donated a generous midweek stay, have wonderful meals, and that great NewEngland charm, and it’s an excellentchoice for a getaway, be it cycling,skiing, hiking, or leaf-peeping.
Rubin Opticians. Rubin has been along-term Rally supporter. Many of ushave trusted their service and qualityfor years. They also have greatchoices for sports glasses as well asattractive personal eyewear. They’rein Midland Park, so more convenientto those a little further west inBergen County.
Coldwell Banker. They are new sponsors…. please show them it wasworth it by contacting them whenconsidering a real estate transaction.
Trader Joe’s. They’ve supported us inthe past, this year they supplied themango-dessert tent.
Port of Call. Another new sponsor,with several restaurants in New Jer-sey. They supplied crème brûlée andother desserts, and they’re a greatplace to stop for an easy buffet meal,with a terrific variety of choices.
Modell’s made a generous financialcontribution, they have lots of loca-tions, and if you’re considering one ofother sports big-box stores, pleaseconsider them and tell them why.
Muscle Milk again donated their beverages as they have in the past.
Propel Workout Water made a largedonation of a variety of flavors.Hopefully you got to try them out atthe Rally. We know drinks are a verypersonal choice, but put them onyour radar screen.
Westy Self Storage again lent ustheir truck to transport supplies fromour storage locker to the start sitebefore the Rally.
Capital One again made a generouscontribution to the Rally.
Bank of New Jersey once againmade a generous contribution.
Mariner’s Bank did too, as they havein the past.
Columbia Bank also helped us outagain with a generous contribution.
Bestway Vending has a vending machine service company based inJersey City. They’ve been donatinghundreds of cans of soft drinks foryears and years. If you workplace has vending services, and you can influence the choice, consider them.
Shop Rite again donated energybars.
New Balance donated two gift certificates.
Fly6 donated two of their innovativebike lights, which show the path oneither side of the bike so cars cankeep their proper distance.
Plus, these bike shops provided techsupport at the start site and/or reststops: Campmor, Ridgewood Cycle,Pedal Sports, Marty’s Reliable, CycleCraft, and Wyckoff Cycle.
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masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
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Aaron WinogradAlan ChahineAlan FelsenAlan ScherlAlex Polner
Allan CandussoAmado Cabraero
Amado TuckerAmy Hass
Amy RabinowitzAndi AugenblickAndres TiribocchiAngie LaiinhartAnne Mckiernan
Art WrubelBarbara Augenblick
Barbara InfeldBarbara Mallach
Betsy LongendorferBette BigonziBev MayserBill MathisBill Mayser
Bill TelghederBob DeMair
Bruce ArmenanteCarol OxleyCarol Raff
Charles CinoChet WhiteChris James
Chuck SolomonClaudia Dukeshire
Craig SmithDan GoodmanDave HustonDave MarstonDavid Pawlyk
Dean GiovanettiDeb Ferrone
Deborah HudzikDeidre TreitlerDennis Moore
Dennis NgDiana Shikiar
Diane Doherty
Don KaplanDon SchlengerDrew Rodney
Edna BerkovitsEileen Gavin
Elaine MehnkenEllen Rader Smith
Ethan BrookFrank WimerGail GelmanGene Marsh
Geoffrey SilversteinGeralk McBride
Gideon FrydmanGlenn Barnes
Gordon BeattieGreg Gelman
Harold TodmanHarriet Einschlag
Helen WallachHowie Cohen
Ilene GreenfieldIsaac Stackwell
Israel VargasJacquire Frydman
Jane BerrenaJane PorgesJeff Kelley
Jenene HatchardJennifer ClarkJessica SmithJim FerroneJim GradyJim Kelly
Jim MurrayJoannie Brickman
Joe KirschJoe ManiconeJoel RingerJohn RedinJohn WilkesJudith LustigJudy Lauber
Justin DermanKaren Kaplan
Karen MazowieckiKarl Frank
Kathy DavenportKathy Friedman
Kathy RedinKatie CapuanoKeith Danish
Keith SchlangerKen Stahl
Larry BorowskyLarry SilvermanLaszlo BerkovitsLaura Van RiperLauren CasaleLaurie Gibney
Lawrence BaileyLen RuvoloLenore Cino
Leo ChaoLeslie FelsenLinda Krauss
Lindsey ColomboLiz Pegano
Lorraine HendersonLynn Ronan
Madeline CoronatoMarc Soloff
Margaret FontanaMargaret MontiMarianne Ansari
Mark SelzMark SwanekMartin Klie
Mary Ann BrandMary Maki
Matthew HoermannMeg BurnsMeg MorrisMicki Shilan
Michael SymeonidesMike OptekarMike Scugoza
Morgan GreenleafNancy Fezell
Nate MorgensternPam DragoshPatricia KelleyPatti RindgePaul Kellner
Paul McEvoyPaul Sisko
Pete RomanoPeter Cafaro
Peter HogendornRalph MontiRay KalafskyRenate KulnikRhonda PekowRich Fromholtz
Rich MurekRichard Fine
Rima CampanelliRita Tesar
Robert MillerRobin Ringer
Roger MazowieckiRon Aponte
Rose Lorber-TeermatRosemary PannoShari SummersSharon Hurwich
Sheila KeaneShirley Ripulone
Stan GermanSteve Felmeister
Steve FirthSteve Greenberg
Steve JacksonSue Flaxman
Susan HolmbergTerry Griffin
Tess AntonssonTim NestlerTom Conlon
Tom RochfordTom SchulerTom White
Tracy CicatelliVivian SturchioWade WegnerWendel KronisWilson PalaciosYaron Engelstein
Yisroel Arnie SpanierZeke Kilbride
Thank You Ramapo Rally VolunteersOnce again approximately more than 180 volunteers came together to make the
2014 Ramapo Rally a great success. Thank you all! This year we had roughly 1200 enthusiastic riders who registered and rode on this beautiful day. As it is very difficult to keep up with
all of you who volunteered, our apologies if your name does not on appear on this list. Just let us know and we will cover it in next month’s MasterLink. Great job! Thanks again!
-Steve Greenberg & Leslie Felsen
For information about club merchandise, contact Harold Todman at [email protected].
You do not need to be a BTCNJ member to purchaseBTCNJ merchandise. The color photos on your screen
may differ from the actual item color, due to differences in computer monitors and settings.
Bicycle Touring Club
of North Jersey
Merchandise
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PAGE 16
BTCNJ TOURS
DATE
Sept.12-14
Wait List Only
Bike the Amish Country Rolling Varied $150/personbased on dbl occupancy
Alan [email protected]
Sept.6-7
OpenMaine Lighthouse Ride Varied 25-100 Miles Self Pay Terry [email protected]
Oct. 17-19
OpenCape May Weekend Tour Flat butWind
12 -70 Miles $220-250/person based ondbl occupancy
Tina [email protected]
Sept.19-21
OpenAmagansett, NY Varied 12-107 Miles $225/personbased on dbl occupancy
Feb.16-28,2015
OpenNew Zealand’s South Island
Varied Varied $5,500 to $6,000
Harriet [email protected]
Sept.26-28
OpenSea Gull CenturySalisbury, MD
Flat toRolling
Varied Self Pay Helene [email protected]
CAPACITYTOUR TERRAIN DISTANCE PRICE CONTACT
In the table below is a summary of the upcoming tours hosted by BTCNJ.For a full description of the tours, please visit our website. You must be a BTCNJ member to participate in a tour hosted by BTCNJ.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PAGE 17
BTCNJ RIDE CATEGORIES
TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONSHilly: Numerous long and steep climbsModerately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hillsRolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downsFlat: Minimal gear shifting required
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEADERSBring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders with unsound bikes from joining the ride. Within thefirst few miles, urge riders who are unable to maintainthe advertised pace to leave the ride. Adhere to theadvertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceedingyour intended pace that they will be considered to beon their own.
RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETSTO EARN RIDE LEADER POINTS.
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RIDERSRiders must obey NJ motor vehicle laws. Bring tools:tire irons, pump, and spare tube. Bicycle must be ingood working order. Don’t ride in a category that istoo difficult for you. Advise leader if you are making anunscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rides will notgo in the following conditions (unless otherwise notedin the rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads,or temperatures under 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutesafter the published meeting time (unless otherwisenoted.) For rides longer than 15 miles, bring snacks, for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a deli stopis indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age mustbe accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on allrides. Every rider is required to wear a helmet thatmeets CPSC Performance Standards on all club rides.Headphones are not permitted on rides.
RIDE LEVEL DESCRIPTION
A Average speed 17+ mph - For strong/experienced cyclists. Stops every 30+ miles.
B* Average speed 15.0 - 16.9 mph - average speed on flats 17.0 - 18.0 mph. For strong cyclists. Stops every 20 - 25 miles
B Average speed 13.0 - 14.9 mph - average speed on flats 15.0 - 16.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C* Average speed 11.0 - 12.9 mph - average speed on flats 13.0 - 14.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.
C Average speed 9.0 - 10.9 mph - average speed on flats 11.0 - 12.0 mph. For average cyclists. Stops as needed.
D Average speed Under 9.0 mph - average speed on flats 10.0 mph. For new, inexperienced cyclists. Frequent stops.
F Family ride for families. Frequent stops, child friendly.
MTB-B Mountain Bike - Single track with challenging surfaces, rocks, roots, logs and technical terrain. Extended ascents and challenging descents.
MTB-C Mountain Bike - Single and double track trails with uneven surfaces and minimal obstacles. Gradual and moderate climbing and descents.
MTB-D Mountain Bike - Unpaved wide trails and fire roads with obstruction free riding surfaces. Small and gradual changes in elevation.
A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and written directions(cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers and assist those havingmechanical difficulty. MTB rides: the slowest participant dictates ride pace; no rider is ever left behind.
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PAGE 18
The owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in MasterLink. Show them your BTCNJ membership card for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicyclepros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that the discount may not apply to sale items and may not allow credit card payment. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items in their stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.
SUPPORT YOURLOCAL BIKE SHOP
As proof of BTCNJ membership, you will need to print your membership card through the BTCNJ website. Log onto the site, select Membership Card under the Membership tab. Printing instructions are provided.
Allendale Bike Shop.........................Allendale 201-825-0952
D.J.s’ Cycles .............................................Belmar 732-681-8228
Brookdale Cycle .............................Bloomfield 973-338-8908
Get-a-way Cycle Center........Bloomingdale 973-291-4163
Bikeland..................................................Caldwell 973-403-3330
Bikeland II.............................................Chatham 973-635-8066
Closter Cycle...........................................Closter 201-768-3086
Congers Bike Shop ....................Congers, NY 845-268-3315
Steve’s Moped & Bicycle ..................Dumont 201-384-7777
Sam’s Bicycle Repair.............Elmwood Park 201-797-5819
Bike Master......................................Englewood 201-569-3773
Strictly Bicycles...................................Fort Lee 201-944-7074
Carrera Cycles ..................................Glen Rock 201-857-0106
Marty’s Reliable ........................Hackettstown 908-852-1650
Bike Pad ............................................Hawthorne 973-427-9400
Grove Street Bicycles ..................Jersey City 201-451-2453
James Vincent................................Jersey City 201-420-5151
Ramsey Outdoor..........................Ledgewood 973-584-7798
Bicycle Tech ..................................Lincoln Park 973-694-6775
D.J.’s Cycles..................................Long Branch 732-870-2277
Peddler ..........................................Long Branch 732-229-6623
Cycle Craft ......................................Long Valley 908-876-5600
Madison Bicycle Shop.......................Madison 973-377-6616
High Gear Cyclery ...............................Millburn 973-376-0001
Diamond Cycle...................................Montclair 973-509-0233
The Bikery............................................Montclair 973-744-7252
Marty’s Reliable .............................Morristown 973-538-7773
Cycle World.................................New City, NY 845-364-2384
James Vincent...........................North Bergen 201-869-1901
Chelsea Bikes.......................................NYC, NY 646-230-7715
Gotham Bike.........................................NYC, NY 212-732-2453
Toga Bike...............................................NYC, NY 212-759-0002
Nyack Bicycle Outfitters ..............Nyack, NY 845-353-0268
Pedal Sports .........................................Oakland 201-337-9380
CampMor...............................................Paramus 201-445-5000
The Bicycle II........................................Paramus 201-632-0200
Cycle Sport Cyclery......................Park Ridge 201-391-5269
Cycle Craft .......................................Parsippany 973-227-4462
Bicycle Depot..................................Pearl River 845-735-8686
Heino’s Ski and Cycle................Pequannock 973-696-3044
Piermont Bicycle.......................Piermont, NY 845-365-0900
Cycle Center...........................Pompton Lakes 973-835-6339
Bicycle Source.......................Pompton Plains 973-835-7595
Bike & Ski Shop ....................................Ramsey 201-327-9480
Ramsey Outdoor..................................Ramsey 201-327-8141
Ultimate Cycle Shop...........................Ramsey 201-962-9000
Marty’s Reliable ....................................Randolf 973-584-7773
Cosmic Wheel ........................Ridgefield Park 201-440-6655
Ridgewood Cycle .........................Ridgewood 201-444-2553
Bikeworks....................................Rochelle Park 201-843-6409
Original Bike Shop ...................Saddle Brook 973-478-6555
Valley Cycle .........................Spring Valley, NY 845-356-3179
High Gear Cyclery................................Stiriling 908-647-2010
Bicycle Workshop .................................Tenafly 201-568-9372
Fusion Cycles..........................................Tenafly 201-266-6925
Toga Bike..............................Upper Nyack, NY 845-358-3455
Town Cycle............................West Milford, NJ 973-728-8878
Albert’s Westwood Cycle ...........Westwood 201-664-1688
Whippany Cycle ..............................Whippany 973-887-8150
Wyckoff Cycle......................................Wyckoff 201-891-5500
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PAGE 19
Present: Ralph Monti, PresidentAlan Scherl, Vice PresidentRhonda Pekow, SecretaryAndres Tiribocchi, Rides CaptainSteve Greenberg, Ramapo RallyEthan Brook, Past President Leslie Felsen, Special EventsLarry Schwartz, WebmasterMarc Soloff, Master LinkBarbara Augenblick, Public RelationsNot Present: Bill Telgheder, ToursHarold Todman, MembershipFrank Wimer, Treasurer
Call to OrderPresident Ralph Monti opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.
President:• Ralph Monti reported to the executive board that he has received several complaints from various BTCNJ
members about day rides being posted well outside of the New Jersey area. A discussion was initiated to put a policy into place with distance limitations for any day ride posted on the BTCNJ website. It was proposed that BTCNJ only award day rides that fall within a 100 mile distance from Ridgewood, New Jersey.Andres Tiribocchi, Rides Captain, has agreed to write a policy on this issue to present to the board in September 2014.
• Ralph Monti and Ethan Brook are meeting with adult education representatives from Bergen CommunityCollege to discuss the possibility of a BTCNJ Children’s Riding Clinic. They will update the board on the outcome of their next meeting on this topic at the September 2014 board meeting.
• Ralph shared with the board that all board members who are not planning to remain in their current boardposition for another term have notified him. The term for the current board will end, and the new board willbegin its tenure on December 1, 2014.
• The date of the next BTCNJ executive board meeting has been moved to September 9, 2014. The location forthe meeting will be in the auditorium.
Vice President: • Alan Scherl reported that once a ride is closed, the co-leader does not have access to go back into the ride
and edit that ride. Allowing co-leaders and leaders the same permission to edit rides was discussed withLarry Schwartz, who said he would investigate the issue.
• Alan Scherl discussed the following schedule for upcoming membership meetings. ‣ September 2014: Alan will facilitate a bike tire changing contest. H. Rubin Opticians, a sponsor for
the Ramapo Rally, will also do a presentation on eyewear and cycling.‣ October 2014: A presentation will be given on riding a tandem bike riding.‣ November 2014: Representatives from the Complete Streets Advocacy Movement are scheduled
to present to the BTCNJ membership.
Special Events: • A volunteer-of-the-month was not chosen. It was decided that the board will wait until after our Ramapo
BTCNJ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Executive Summary of Meeting MinutesAugust 5, 2014
masterlink / SEPTEMBER 2014
PAGE 20
Rally event to select a candidate as the volunteer-of-the-month. • Leslie Felsen reported that the Bike Safety 101 clinic is being planned for the fall with TransOptions. A date
for the session is being explored. • Leslie also reported that the fall New Member’s Ride is being planned. Several dates are being considered.
Rides Captain:• Andres Tiribocchi reported that a few BTCNJ members are taking advantage of the ride leader point system.
He has observed some members posting rides the well into the night before the ride. Nobody other than theride leader attends that ride, but a point is given to the ride leader. Larry said he will change the website somembers will only be able to post rides 24 hours before the ride takes place.
• Andres Tiribocchi accepted submissions for BTCNJ’s 2nd annual ride leader jersey design contest up untilJuly 31. Andres shared the nine submitted designs with the executive board to ensure that the designs areappropriate. All designs were accepted and in October 2014 membership will proceed with the votingprocess.
• Andres told the board that all of the GPS links for the Ramapo Rally are ready and will be posted on theRamapo Rally website on Monday, August 11.
MasterLink:• Marc Soloff discussed with the board that he needs more content for BTCNJ’s monthly MasterLink
newsletter. Ralph said he was submitting a nutrition article for the next issue. Barbara said she would submitan article of this year’s Europe trip that she and Ethan facilitated. It was also suggested that Marc contactCindy Steiner for possible articles related to advocacy.
• Marc explained that someone on our Facebook page suggested that he use the app “issuu” to format MasterLink and Marc said he would look into it.
Ramapo Rally:• Steve Greenberg reported that plans for the Ramapo Rally are going well. He explained that more volunteers
are still needed. Areas especially in need of volunteers are SAG drivers, people to work at the rest stops, andpeople to work designated shifts for the welcoming committee.
• Steve shared with the board that Whole Foods has been extremely generous and is donating much of the food we will be using at our rest stops. Ports of Call is providing us with dessert.
• Plans for the Ramapo Rally volunteer thank you party are in place, with Ken Stahl taking the lead. Sue Flaxman will be sending an email invitation to all Ramapo Rally volunteers with details of the party.
Webmaster:• Larry Schwartz reported that he has discussed with WEDU, BTCNJ’s web site vendor, the issues members
have had regarding emailing through the BTCNJ website. Larry explained that WEDU does not offer emailservices. He will source other email vendors through WEDU and update the board as appropriate.
• BTCNJ will be reinstating its household/family membership as of September 1, 2014. After several years of investing into upgrading its web site, BTCNJ can now again offer two levels of membership. Larry explainedthat single, individual members will no longer be able to add additional members to their membership. An email newsletter will be sent to the membership announcing the household/family level.
Public Relations:• Barbara Augenblick is preparing the next e-letter and is thus requesting topics from board members by
August 10, 2014. Some of the topics suggested for the e-letter were Year-in-Review, Master Link, and thehousehold/family membership.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Rhonda L PekowRhonda L PekowBTCNJ Board Secretary