The CRW Communications team currently has two volunteer openings. Put your skills to use while contributing to the club’s success!

Monthly WheelPeople Publisher. Collect and route content from contributors; setup, format, edit, and distribute the monthly WheelPeople (WP) email newsletter; attend monthly virtual planning meetings. Optional: Write/create content for the newsletter. Time commitment: ~4 hr/month. You can read more about this role here. 

Weekly ChainLink Email Coordinator. Prepare, edit, and schedule the weekly template-based Chain Link email from auto- and member-generated content. Time commitment: ~2 hr/month. You can read more about this role here.

Our members rely on WheelPeople and ChainLink to stay informed and engaged. If you have any interest in either (or both!) of these roles or have any questions, please email cpec@crw.org. We would love to hear from you!

 

Winter in New England can be a difficult time for bike riders. The cold temperatures and icy roads can make it difficult to stay safe and comfortable. But with the right preparation and gear, winter bike riding in New England can be an enjoyable experience.

Make sure you have the right clothing. Layering is key when it comes to winter biking, so make sure you have a base layer, an insulating layer, and a waterproof outer layer. You'll need a good pair of gloves and a warm hat or balaclava. Don't forget your feet! Wool socks, not too thick, are a good place to start. Shoe covers/booties or even plastic bags inside your shoes can help keep heat in.

Consider some additional gear choices. Some riders choose to use chemical toe and hand warmers and/or winter-specific cycling boots (or move to flat pedals with regular, warm winter boots). Bar mitts/pogies can be installed on your handlebars to augment your gloves. Although potentially expensive, battery-operated socks, shoe liners, gloves, and even vests can really help on the coldest days.

Make sure your bike is ready for winter riding. Check your brakes and tires to make sure they're in good condition, and consider investing in studded tires if you plan on riding on icy roads. You should also check your lights to make sure they're working properly, as visibility is especially important during the winter months.

Be aware of the road conditions before you ride. If it's snowing or icy, it's best to avoid riding until conditions improve. If you do decide to ride in snowy or icy conditions, take it slow and be extra cautious when turning or braking.

Stay safe. Ride with a buddy, and check in to make sure everyone is staying warm. Make clothing or route adjustments as needed. Stop for a hot drink in a warm place.

Winter bike riding in New England doesn't have to be intimidating. With the right preparation and gear, you can enjoy the cold weather on two wheels!

Share your winter weather riding tips below in the comments. Join the CRW Slack #gear chatroom for more discussions on this popular topic!

 

The CRW 2025 Tri Cycle Ride Winter Challenge has begun and the Leaderboard will be active shortly!

To be eligible, manually enter your time/distance/elevation data from your rides (indoor and outdoor) into your profile on the CRW website.

Data can be entered at whatever frequency is preferred (daily, weekly, monthly).

To enter your data:

1. Log into the website.
2. Click on your name at the top of the web page; this will open your profile. 
3. Click on Edit Profile, and scroll down until you come to your Activity Tracker. 
4. Enter your numbers here. You may enter your numbers daily, weekly, or monthly.
5. Scroll down to the Save button and hit Save. 

NOTE: Your totals will not update right away; give it a day or two.

We can’t wait to see your winter training progress!

 

***SHARE YOUR RIDE PHOTOS WITH CRW!***
Email them to: media-share@crw.org

CRW members enjoying late Fall rides/gatherings!

Bike Thursday Annual Ride/Party:

North by True West:

Women's/Nonbinary Program Halloween Ride:

Dear CRW Members,

As we enjoy the peak of our cycling season, we're excited to share the latest standings in our 2024 Ride Leader Incentive Program. Your enthusiasm and dedication continue to make our club vibrant and active!

Reminder of Contest Categories:

• Most Recurring rides led
• Most Non-recurring rides led
• Most Recurring rides co-led
• Most Non-recurring rides co-led

Top performers in each category will receive gift cards and free CRW memberships at the end of the season. Board Members are not eligible for gifts or free membership.

Get Involved!

There's still plenty of time to climb the leaderboard or start your journey as a ride leader. Every ride counts, whether it's your first or fiftieth! Check the CRW calendar for opportunities to lead or co-lead rides.

Remember:

• Rides must be listed on the CRW Ride Calendar to qualify
• Only completed rides count
• We appreciate leaders of all experience levels

Thank you to all our ride leaders for your commitment to CRW. Your efforts make every ride special for our members.

Happy cycling, and we'll see you on the roads!

The CRW Board met on October 20th to discuss several important club initiatives and updates.

Membership & Engagement

Our membership remains strong at 1,886 members. The Integrated Operations Committee is exploring ways to attract younger riders in their 20s and 30s, analyzing ride participation trends, and developing strategies to engage new cyclists. Stay tuned for upcoming "bring a buddy" events!

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Mark your calendars! The annual Volunteer and Ride Leader Appreciation Party will be held Sunday, November 10th, from 5:30-8:00 PM at the Hearth in Needham. Ride leaders will receive special commemorative water bottles, and all volunteers will get CRW stickers. Ride leaders and co-leaders can bring a guest - registration opens October 21st.

Fall Century Success

The Cranberry Harvest Century drew 465 registrants, with 303 riders checking in on event day. This year's three centuries generated over $35,000 in revenue, with the Cranberry Harvest Century contributing $18,000. The Board extends special thanks to all volunteers who made these events possible.

Winter Riding Program

Get ready for winter cycling! From December through March, CRW will offer three exciting challenges focusing on time, distance, and elevation. Winners will be crowned in each category. The popular Hanson Ride will continue through winter, and we're hoping to see the return of seasonal favorites like the Snowflake, Turkey Burner, and Pancake rides.

Looking Ahead

The Board is working on improving the club's contact system and volunteer coordination. We're implementing new tools to make it easier for members to get involved and stay connected with club activities.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for November 3rd, 2024. Members are always welcome to attend Board meetings - check the calendar for details.

By Norma Loehr

Another successful CRW Cranberry Century ride is in the books! This year we had 464 registered riders and 8 led ride groups who refueled with 100 pizzas, 15 dozen bagels and many, many bananas.

Thanks go to DCR staff, Friends of Myles Standish Forest,  East Over Reservation, and our wonderful network of volunteers. 

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by Randolph Williams
President, Charles River Wheelers

Attention CRW Members:

Your skills and passion can help make our club even better! We're currently seeking volunteers for the following roles:

VP of Rides

WheelPeople Editor

Volunteer Coordinator

VP of Finance / Treasurer

Ready to hear more? Please access our Contact Us form, select Other, and tell us which role(s) you are interested in.

Thank you for your support!

By Barbara Jacobs

Every year CRW provides monetary donations to area Non-Profits. For 2024, three local organizations have each received $1,000.

Congratulations to these very worthy organizations:

• The Bike Connector 
• Worcester Earn-A-Bike 
• Mass Bike

By John O'Dowd

It’s getting to be that time of year; the leaves have changed, the days are shorter and colder. Soon we’ll hang up our cleats for the year and go into hibernation.

Wrong! It’s time once again for the CRW winter challenge!

This year we are competing in three categories: Distance, elevation, and time. The challenge will run December 1st through March 31st. Prizes will be awarded at an event at the Mighty Squirrel on Sunday, April 6th.

Aside from the winner of each category, we will have two raffle winners in each of the three categories as well, so we will have a total of 9 winners (prizes TBD).

To be entered into the raffle riders must reach minimums in any (or all) of the following categories:

• Distance: 400 miles
• Elevation: 15,000 feet
• Time: 40 hours

Riders can compete in as many of the categories as they wish, but they may only win one prize, either as the top rider of a category, or in a raffle.

Time/distance/elevation is entered manually by riders in their profile on the club website.

To enter your stats:

1. Both real outdoor rides and virtual indoor rides are eligible to be counted.
2. Log into the website.
   
3. Click on your name at the top of the web page; this will open your profile. 
4. Click on Edit Profile, and scroll down until you come to your Activity Tracker. 
5. Enter your numbers here.
6. Scroll down to the Save button and hit Save. 

NOTE: Your totals will not update right away; give it a day or two.

Participation is limited to CRW members only. You may enter your numbers daily, weekly, or monthly.  Monitor the leader board and see where you stand.

Good luck and keep on riding!