As you may know, recently the HBC Operations Committee released a member survey in order to gather input to help us assess and improve our member communications.   A total of 118 members completed the survey and we thank you for your input!  

There were 11 questions which covered the HBC Website, the HBC Facebook Page and the President's Quick Reference Guide.  The complete results of the survey can be found here.

The primary conclusion that can be drawn is that while in general, our communications are effective, we do have room for improvement.  Overall, 72% of the respondents felt that their communciations needs were being met, either always or usually.   Roughly 10% of the respondents specifically mentioned a desire to bring back a newsletter, at least in an electronic-only form.  As you may know, historically it has been challenging to sustain a newsletter primarily due to a lack of people willing to assume the newsletter editor position.  

Read more to see more specifics on the suggestions/comments and our plans. 

In 1976 Owen Moore was the master mind and founder of our Sunday Morning Sociable Ride which, at that time was called the “Has Been and Hero Ride”. Owen was the coordinator and an active leader and rider of that ride for 38 years. One of his sayings is “Every ride should end around a table". In other words the ride itself is a small part of what a bike club is about. We get to know each other on the ride but more so after the ride when we get together and socialize. This is how new ideas are generated. Every Sunday he did just that getting together with members for breakfast after his Sunday Sociable. In memory of Owen Moore, the HBC is proud to honor Owen by changing the name of our Sunday Morning Sociable to Owen's Sunday Sociable. You should see the change in name appear the beginning of 2016.

There were 6 people on the Harrisburg Bicycle Club Team: Cindy Gorski, Chris Seier, Rhonda Peck, Bonnie Iorfido, Steve Kniley and Travis Feeser.  The six of us raised over $6,000 to fight and beat MS!  Travis was diagnosed with the disease in November of last year.  This year the start was at Liberty Resort in Fairfield.  The accommodations were very nice and the whirlpool tub was wonderful to soak in after a long ride.  The weather was beautiful for the weekend which is unusual for this MS ride which is normally held in July and hot, hot, hot!  Chris, Rhonda and I rode from Monroe Township to Fairfield on Friday.  (Why drive if you can get there on a bike?)  Ellen, another HBC member rode to my house from Biglerville and led us through Gettysburg on a much flatter route than I had planned since she is familiar with that area.  Thanks Ellen!!   Travis drove in from Lancaster and kindly piled us into his car and took us to Labella Italia restaurant for dinner.  Bonnie, Steve and his wife drove in later that evening.

Fellow HBC cyclists,

As the HBC president I often receive calls from non-members about the club.  This afternoon I received a call which was quiet disturbing.   This gentleman lives in Boiling Springs.  He is very upset with groups of cyclists, especially on Thursday nights that come into the area riding 3 abreast, going the wrong way on Race St. (a one way street), not using hand signals, riding through stop signs and jumping the fence on Criswell Dr. to go through the Water Treatment Plant which is signed as no trespassing.   He was shaken by being in a near collision with a cyclist on Race St. precisely because the cyclist was going the wrong way.  This is not only affecting him but his neighbors also.  He called me as a concerned citizen.

For people who live on the west shore, (and I am sure the east shore has their particular areas) riding to Boiling Springs and stopping at Café 101 is a regular occurrence.   It is a very pleasant area to ride through and to stop at for a break.  It is up to ALL of us, not only in Boiling Springs but everywhere we ride to be courteous to ALL vehicles on the rode which we SHARE.  Cyclists like to comment about the rude motorists, and drivers not obeying the 4 foot rule as they pedal their way through a red traffic signal or stop sign.  Following the traffic laws are not just for motor vehicles, they are for cyclists, pedestrians, skate boarders and EVERYONE using the roadways which we share.  The traffic laws are there to keep everyone alive and safe by having general rules so we all know what to expect when we are out on the roadways.  Take off and race on a long straight away, have fun, enjoy your sport AND be courteous and respectful especially in neighborhoods and busy traffic areas and intersections.  It only takes one person being careless to affect the lives of many.  Don’t let that one person be you.

PLEASE set a good example for all and keep yourself and all those you ride with safe by following the laws. 

Please pass the word.

New Email ride!  Sign up for this ride through your member profile to receive the notices.

Mary's Meanderings: Saturday or Sunday "ad hoc" social rides (not EVERY week) in which we carpool/caravan to a trail/route outside the immediate metropolitan Harrisburg area or have weekend camping/biking adventures. Travel to venues will range from 45 minutes to 3 hours away. These are C/D+ rides which will have a 9-13 mph average and range from 20-45 miles.

Brand new Trek Crossrip LTD stolen out of a garage in Shiremanstown this past week.

Gloss black frame with black wheels and curved handle bars

CROSSRIP LTD 58 BK

Serial No. WTU081C3385K

Model No. CRO27986621

It was less than one month old so it is in excellent condition. When it was stolen it had a small seat bag and water bottle cage on it.

Please contact the owner if you have any information. Jason Taylor  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.