Charles River Wheelers

WheelPeople: Your Bike Club Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the latest Charles River Wheelers news, events, and rides. Our WheelPeople newsletter is tailored for current and prospective members seeking bike-related updates, expert advice, and cycling inspiration.

WheelPeople offers club and member news as well as informational content from third parties. Views expressed in third-party content belong to the author(s) and not CRW. Consult a professional for advice on health, legal matters, or finance. CRW does not endorse linked content or products. Content published in WheelPeople is owned by Charles River Wheelers (CRW) unless otherwise stated. 

Don't miss a beat – join our vibrant community today! Access our archived issues here.

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   4   5   ...   Next >  Last >> 
  • 2025-05-19 4:22 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    As we dust off our bikes and hit the roads for another glorious season of cycling, it's the perfect time to refresh our understanding of standard group riding etiquette and skills. Whether you're a seasoned club member or joining us for the first time, these guidelines will help ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience on our group rides.

    For more information, please see CRW's Group Riding Guidelines.

    Group Riding Essentials

    On CRW rides, each rider must take responsibility for the safety of themselves and others. Here are the fundamentals:

    Before the Ride:

    • Do your homework - Review the ride description thoroughly (distance, difficulty, average speed, route characteristics, and planned stops)
    • Come prepared - Bring adequate hydration, snacks, spare tube, tools, weather-appropriate clothing, charged phone, battery pack, ID, and cash or a credit card
    • Know the route - Upload the ride map to your phone or bike computer before arriving
    • Respect the ride leader - They're volunteering their time and experience to keep the group safe and organized

    On the Road:

    Communication is Key

    Clear signals and calls help everyone stay safe. When you hear these calls, repeat them for riders ahead and/or behind you:

    • Directional calls - Signal and call out "Left turn" or "Right turn"
    • "Slowing!" - Warning that you're reducing speed
    • "Stopping!" - Preparing to come to a complete stop
    • "Rolling!" - Moving again after a stop (never call "Clear" - each rider must assess safety)
    • "On your left" - When passing another rider (never pass on the right)
    • "On your wheel" - Alerting a rider you've caught up behind them
    • "Car up" - Vehicle approaching from ahead
    • "Car back" - Vehicle approaching from behind
    • Obstacle calls - Point out and name specific hazards ("Hole!", "Glass!", "Gravel!", "Crack!")

    Proper Positioning

    • Maintain your personal space and never overlap wheels with another rider
    • Hold your line - be predictable and avoid sudden movements
    • Keep adequate following distance (1-2 bike lengths for beginners)
    • Adjust spacing based on conditions (increase on descents or wet roads)

    Passing Protocol

    When being passed:

    • Be aware of approaching riders
    • Move to single file when safe
    • Acknowledge the pass and maintain steady speed
    • Hold your line consistently

    When passing:

    • Check for traffic behind you
    • Announce "Passing on your left"
    • Allow adequate space as you pass
    • Return to line only when safely clear

    Be a Cycling Ambassador

    Remember that we represent CRW in every community we ride through. Share the road respectfully with drivers, pedestrians, and other cyclists. Don't block traffic unnecessarily, and always follow traffic laws.

    The Bottom Line

    Group riding is about community, enjoyment, and shared experiences. These guidelines have evolved to keep everyone safe while maximizing the fun. By following them, you help create the positive atmosphere that makes CRW rides special.

    See you on the roads!

  • 2025-05-19 9:44 AM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    By John Springfield


    Why bike on the back roads of Alabama? Well, mainly because I wanted to explore a new area. I expected to see a lot of farms.  But instead, I biked through lots of forests!
     
    To avoid extreme heat (and hurricanes) I started in early May. I left Pensacola, Florida, and biked north. The plan was to stop at motels every 45 miles, giving me time to explore small towns.
     
    I used my phone's map app to guide me, but would go off route at times.
    It soon became clear that the "car" directions took me on highways with rumble strips. The rumble strips were often located to the right of the right line, just where I usually bike. This forced me out into the travel lane, to the left of the right line.
     
    So, I quickly changed my map app to "bicycle" directions. This put me on a lot of back roads with hardly any cars! My 28mm touring tires were able to navigate the paved country roads. But sometimes the route abruptly changed to a dirt/gravel mixture that posed a challenge. More on that later.
     
    My biggest surprise was how quiet it was. I rode for miles, usually through forests, with no cars, dogs, or houses. The chirping birds were my companions.


    Periodically I would some across a country store. When I entered, I'm sure the local folks were taken aback with my bright yellow vest. But I was always welcomed in.  Some folks asked about my funny Michigan accent. We smiled a lot, especially when we couldn't understand the other's dialect.
     
    Several of the small towns had interesting histories. De Soto, the Spanish explorer, came through the region and claimed it for Spain. Later the French and English claimed the area.  Of course, the Choctaws were the original inhabitants.
     
    Now, back to the roads. As long as the roads were paved, I was okay.
    There were more hills than I expected, but I had a very low gear that came in handy. Even on the unpaved roads, I was usually able to stay upright. But after a nightly rain, many of the unpaved roads became soupy. Especially on the uphills, I was forced to push my bike through the slurry. But hey, I wanted an adventure, right?
     
    Once, I coasted down a paved road, came around a curve, and the pavement turned to dirt. I had no idea how long the dirt section would go.  But the road ahead looked pretty bad. So I turned around, climbed up the paved road, and found an intersection with another paved road.  I took the turnoff, hoping it would stay paved.  Luckily, it did!  But I then had to join the main highway, complete with the annoying rumble strips.  Ugh.
     
    After 6 days of riding I made it to Tuscaloosa. I was going to take a day off.
    But the weather forecast showed severe storms approaching from the west.
    Previously the same area had been ravaged by tornadoes. Now if this were 60 years ago, my 16-year-old mind would have continued the trip. But my 76-year-old body said not to risk it.
     
    It was time to go home, satisfied, with a smile on my face.
     
    For a daily journal and more photos:
    www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/North2025 

  • 2025-05-15 11:44 AM | Amy Juodawlkis (Administrator)

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

    CRW hosted a Paceline Clinic in May with assistance from our members who are also affiliated with NEBC. Here, instructors are walking through proper technique.


    Turnout was excellent for the paceline clinic. Lots of good questions were asked and answered. After talking through the principles of pacelining, attendees were able to practice what they learned in the parking lot, and then out on the road.


  • 2025-04-30 2:26 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    For volunteers looking to pitch in with an important Club event, there are several chances to help out with the upcoming North to NH Century on Sunday, May 18!

    The centuries are important events for the Club and require a tremendous amount of organization and help from volunteers.

    The Century coordinators have put together this helpful spreadsheet showing the kinds of help that they need.

    If you’d prefer to talk to someone about what’s involved before signing up, contact Jim Salvie at volunteering@crw.org and he will put you in touch with the right folks.

    And if you’d like to help out with the Century program as a whole (the Club has two more planned for this year), don’t forget that we still need a Volunteer Coordinator for the whole program.

    Contact Jim Salvie if you’re interested and you can talk to someone about what’s needed. Rest assured there’s a lot of experience and support that you’ll be able to draw on.


  • 2025-04-29 10:00 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    CRW will be hosting both online and on-bike events in May to review the basics of our club's riding and safety culture, and essentials of group riding. 

    This event is open to all members, not just newcomers.  Enjoy state-of-the-art coaching online and in person. There is something to learn from these events for any cyclist.

    Tuesday May 27, 7 PM: Introductory Webinar

    Saturday, May 31, 10 AM: In-person event
    MBTA parking lot, back end
    160 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA

    • Review proper individual and group riding techniques
    • In-parking lot exercises 
    • Short group ride

    Event leaders:

    • CRW Rides VP John O’Dowd
    • League Cycling Instructor David Wean
    • CRW Safety Coordinator John Allen 
  • 2025-04-29 9:30 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    By Barbara Jacobs


    One of the benefits of CRW membership is the CRW name tag. Attached to your helmet, saddlebag or bike it lets people know who you are.

    More importantly, it contains contact information should you be injured on a ride.

    The updated Name Tags are now available for order in the CRW Store. The tags will include member first name in large letter format and member last name in small letter format. Each Name Tag will have the member's In Case of Emergency number on them.

    Name Tags are free for CRW members!

    All members who have joined the club since January 1, 2025 will automatically receive a Name Tag.

    Members who are looking to replace their name tag may request an updated tag on the CRW Store on the website. To find the store, click on the Members tab and then click on the Store tab. You can then order your Name Tag. Please give us time to print the Name Tag and mail it to you. 

    Please make sure your information is up-to-date in your CRW Profile as this will be used to make your Name Tag.

    Information needed is:

    • Your First and Last Name.
    • Name and phone number of your emergency contact.
    • Your current mailing address (Name Tag will be mailed to you).

    If you have questions or concerns, contact us at communications@crw.org.


  • 2025-04-29 9:00 PM | Amy Juodawlkis (Administrator)

    The Charles River Wheelers launched its 2025 cycling season with an energetic Ride Leader Kickoff event hosted by John O'Dowd, VP of Rides in early April. The evening began with a lively cocktail hour where 30 dedicated ride leaders mingled, shared stories from past rides, and connected with fellow cycling enthusiasts before enjoying a delicious dinner together.

    Following the meal, John presented an impressive review of the club's 2024 achievements, highlighting a grand total of 319 rides spread across various categories. These included 204 led/show & go rides, 74 women's/non-binary rides, and specialized offerings such as gravel rides, centuries, and adventure excursions.

    John's presentation outlined CRW's organizational structure and introduced the Rides and Safety Committee members who coordinate the club's diverse ride programs. Attendees learned about exciting plans for 2025, including the Women's/Non-Binary Program with its regular rides and special themed events, the challenging DEVO Program featuring intense rides like the Monthly Mighty Squirrel Ride, and the Century Program with three major events scheduled throughout the season.

    A special highlight was the introduction by Nina Siegel of the CRW Classics Ride Series, which will showcase historic club routes that represent the "best of the best" from the club's nearly 60-year history.

    Important administrative updates included discussion of the club's new policy for maintaining ride leader status (requiring at least three led rides within a two-year period) and a recognition program rewarding the most active leaders. John provided practical tips for posting rides on the CRW website and emphasized the proper use of tags to ensure rides appear correctly on the club calendar.

    The kickoff concluded with a focus on three strategic goals for 2025:

    1. Enhancing safety through dedicated clinics and educational opportunities, with a special emphasis on pedestrian awareness
    2. Fostering greater collaboration between ride leaders to provide more options for members
    3. Building community through increased socialization at pre- and post-ride gatherings

    The evening ended with an enthusiastic Q&A session and expressions of appreciation for the volunteer ride leaders who form the backbone of the club's activities. With its combination of camaraderie, recognition, and practical information, the kickoff set a positive tone for what promises to be an exciting year of cycling with the Charles River Wheelers.

    Club members: Becoming a ride leader is a great way to give back to CRW. Contact John O'Dowd at Rides-VP@crw.org to get started!


  • 2025-04-29 8:00 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    Dear Ride Leaders,

    Your rides are the heartbeat of CRW — and we want to help you showcase them in WheelPeople! Sharing your upcoming events and ride recaps helps engage our membership, boost participation, and celebrate our vibrant cycling community.

    Why Submit Articles?

    • Promote your upcoming rides to reach interested members
    • Recognize participants and volunteers who make rides successful
    • Build excitement around your riding program
    • Share memorable moments from special routes and adventures
    • Create a lasting record of our club's activities

    It's Easier Than You Think!

    Articles don't need to be lengthy or complex. A few paragraphs with key information is all we need! To make it even simpler, we've provided outlines for two types of submissions:

    Upcoming Event Article

    • Event basics (name, date, time, meeting location)
    • Calendar link
    • Distance and difficulty details
    • Brief description of the route or special features
    • Who the ride is ideal for
    • Volunteer opportunities (e.g., event support, pace group leaders)
    • What to bring and logistical information
    • Contact details for questions

    Event Recap Article

    • Basic ride information (name, date, distance)
    • Number of participants who joined
    • Brief highlights and memorable moments
    • A quote from a participant (optional)
    • Information about the next similar ride (include link if available)
    • A photo or two to capture the experience

    Submission is Simple

    Send your articles and photos to wheelpeople-editor@crw.org by the 20th of each month to be included in the following month's issue.

    Remember, your stories help build our community and inspire others to join in the fun. We look forward to featuring your rides!



  • 2025-04-29 7:00 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    The club runs on volunteers and that includes people who will step up for ongoing “management” (using that word very loosely) positions. Here are a couple that are available now:

    Merchandise Manager — the person in this position will select, order, and manage CRW-branded products, maintain inventory, process sales, and track financial records to promote club identity. Essentially, this is the “boss” of all the “merch”! A more detailed job description is available here.

    60th Anniversary Committee Chair — next year is the club’s 60th Anniversary and we want to make it a special occasion! If you’ve got some leadership and organizing talent, this could be the position for you! This position requires a self-motivated individual who will coordinate all anniversary celebrations including events, merchandise, and promotions that honor our 60-year legacy. You’ll also help put together a team to assist. A more detailed job description can be found here.

    Unsure if either of these positions is right for you? Of course you are, and there’s no need to commit based solely on this email! If you’re interested, please reply to Jim Salvie at volunteering@crw.org and he will put you in touch with the right people to discuss it. No need to commit yet. And don’t worry — there’s a very supportive board with lots of experience to get you started in either position and answer your questions as they come up.


  • 2025-04-29 6:30 PM | Wheel People (Administrator)

    By Harold Hatch and Nina Siegel

    The CRW CLASSICS Ride Series 2025

    Building on the success of our Classics kickoff featuring Lindy King’s “Hills are Your Friends,” we’re featuring our second ride in the series, Bob Zogg’s “Brake for Beavers”, which will be run on June 1 starting in Chelmsford, MA.

    As a reminder, this ride series is meant to highlight some of the “best of the best” routes that have been created by CRW Route Developers/Ride Leaders over the club’s nearly 60-year history. Familiar to long-time club members, some routes have been running annually since 1999, while others haven’t been offered recently. This season we are focusing on rides that feature 3 or more routes. With beautiful roads, multiple speed and distance options, including a welcoming 10-12 mph pace, these routes offer something for everyone in CRW, new and long-time members alike.

    Be on the lookout for upcoming WheelPeople articles featuring the Route Developer and/or Ride Leader and what it is about their ride that makes it special to the club. You’ll find notifications in ChainLink and club social media channels when the rides are posted on the Events Calendar. Please join us as we celebrate what our Club has to offer in its long history of riding.

    AND NOW – OUR SECOND CLASSIC FEATURE!


    Harold Hatch, Nina Siegel, and John O'Dowd are leading Brake for Beavers on June 1, 2025 out of Chelmsford, MA. 

    Brake for Beavers was originally developed in 2010 by Bob Zogg who was looking for some fresh terrain while maintaining a start location that was within reasonable driving distance for most CRW members. Google Maps helped Bob a lot, along with scouting missions to see if the route was interesting, reasonably safe, and could accommodate adequate snack/watering stops. He noticed that the ride passed an old beaver lodge at one point, hence the ride’s name.

    Fast forward to 2021. Harold Hatch, a relatively new member to CRW, had spent several years exploring the roads of New England using CRW’s route library as a guide. Much like Bob, Harold was looking for new routes that might appeal to CRW members within a reasonable distance from the usual starting locations. With a bit of internet sleuthing, he found an old CRW ride posting for Brake for Beavers claiming it was voted “best new ride of 2010”. Having never seen this ride on the calendar, he was curious.

    The route follows mostly back roads, is reasonably flat with the exception of a few challenging climbs, notably the hill going into Hollis in particular will get your legs burning! As Bob mentioned, there are many good rest stop options, first in Hollis (Buckley’s is a must stop if you’ve never been) followed by the store in Market Square, which has a pretty decent slice of pizza, and the ice cream stand at the end is a must on a hot summer day.

    After rediscovering the route, Harold posted on the CRW calendar, not sure who would show up for a ride a bit far from the usual routes around the I-95 area. There was a surprisingly good turnout, with lots of great feedback on the route. One person even mentioned that years ago there was quite a beaver problem in the area and speculated that could be part of the reason for the ride’s name. However, with all the development over the years nearly all the beaver habitat along the route is now gone. Sadly, as far as we know, there have been no beaver sightings on this route in recent years.

    After the initial success, John O’Dowd joined to lead the medium route 2022, and Nina Siegel started leading the short route in 2024, and we continue to get a great turnout each year. This route inspired the idea for the CRW classic series, where we hope to continue to highlight some of the great routes that either have been long-time traditions, or like Brake for Beavers, have been rediscovered as “hidden gems”.

    ************************

    Ride a Classic route or two this season and find out exactly why they are such enduring Club rides. Explore new territory, scenic views, and the best snack stops all while riding with great people the way you like to ride.

    Some of the exciting upcoming routes include:

    • Blue Moon – Barry & Linda Nelson – July 6
    • Northern Light(house) Tour – Renee LeVerrrier & Andy Meyer (Route Developers) Nina Siegel (Ride Leader) – September 7
    • Bagels and a Witch – Melinda Lyon – October 26

    Check out the CRW Ride Calendar and choose your next ride – which will become your Classic?

    If you would like to have one of your routes featured as a CRW Classic please reach out to either Nina (ninasiegel7@gmail.com) or Harold (haroldhatch@yahoo.com).

    Let’s Ride!

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   4   5   ...   Next >  Last >> 

© Charles River Wheelers, a 501(c)3 Organization

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software