President’s Message

Happy New Year to all, and welcome to our new website. On it you will find information about our club, ride and other bike related activity calendars, resources for signing up or leading rides, bike shops, club pictures, Gold Coast information and volunteer sign ups, and the club store with HBC jerseys and other gear for sale. This list is constantly updated with current ride information (and weather!), so there’s too much to mention here.

I would like to invite everybody to join our first Club meeting of the year, via Zoom, on Tuesday, March 9^th at 7:00 PM. At this meeting, we will review the Covid-19 rules and all procedures for rides this coming year. We will also demonstrate how to navigate around the website for your optimum enjoyment. Most importantly, we just want to see everybody! (I’m sure you want to see me) I will send out via email, and post the Zoom link March 1^st.

You have to know, that since November, the Board and Officers have been meeting frequently about the procedures and activities of the club for the coming year. We have some exciting news to share, primarily that we plan on running a “Virtual” Gold Coast. Dates and details will be shared at the meeting in March.

Please plan on joining us March 9^th. In order to do this, you will need to log onto the Website, so please follow those directions. If you need assistance with that, email me or Malachy our webmaster. Our emails are on the “Contact Us” drop down on the web page.

 See you soon!

Karen Gellert, HBC President

NEW BICYCLING LEGISTRATION ENACTED

      The Suffolk County Legislature approved a bill Feb. 1, to crack down on "reckless biking," including wheelie popping and swerving into traffic, in an effort to make the roads safer. The bill, sponsored by Legis. Rudy Sunderman (R-Shirley), aims to crack down on drunken biking and trick riding to prevent accidents.

     Legislators approved the measure 13-4 after more than an hour of debate. Sunderman said. Several Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that the legislation could lead to disparate enforcement and the impounding of bicycles for minor infractions, such as cyclists not properly hand signaling. "I wish it was only about reckless bicycling, but it is broad," said Deputy Presiding Officer Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), who abstained from the vote. "It could potentially have these other consequences."

     Republicans said they were confident police would properly enforce the law. Sunderman also said the bill includes an educational component for cyclists on safe biking. "If you are bicycling safely and legally, there will be no concerns," Sunderman said.

     Some Democrats said they were open to amending the bill later. We’ll see, but for now remember the possible new legalities that could affect us all as we ride in Suffolk County.

     BIKE:OUR VEHICLE FOR CHANGE

22ND ANNUAL NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT

 FEBRUARY 28 - MARCH 3, 2021 | ONLINE

The 2021 National Bike Summit will take place online, February 28 - March 3, 2021, with daily convenings beginning at 1pm ET / 10am PT. This year’s theme is “Bikes: Our Vehicle for Change” in recognition of the power of bicycling to move us forward, even in the most challenging of times. Legislation strategies to advocate for bicycle safety will be one of the topics.

       TO REGISTER:CONTACT THE SUMMIT TEAM:    SUMMIT@BIKELEAGUE.ORG

Indoor Trainer Ideas  

               from Bicycling

Busy roads, rainy days, your own personal time constraints—all reasons why riding inside is sometimes the better, safer, or more convenient choice. If you’re looking to get a quick indoor workout—without the crowded studio, enthusiastic instructor, and blaring music that often accompanies a spin class—consider an affordable stationary bikes that allows you to boost your mood and fitness in the comfort of your own home. Read on to know what to look for. 

Proper Fit (Size!) Matters, Even on a Stationary Bike

Resistance Types: Fan vs. Flywheel

When you’re riding an outdoor bike, you’re working mostly against inertia as you pedal. In order to recreate that sensation and effort on a stationary bike, manufacturers have to simulate that resistance in some way. Most choose to use a fan or a flywheel (a weighted disc that spins as you pedal).

Flywheels work by storing inertia as they spin, smoothing out the pedal stroke to eliminate that choppy up and down motion you’d otherwise experience. For most budget spin bikes, a heavier flywheel means a smoother ride, though some bikes opt for a superlight (8-pound) flywheel that maintains its inertia by spinning four times as fast instead. And since the pedals on spin bikes are fixed to the flywheel (no coasting), the smooth-moving mechanism helps keep your pedaling consistent. These bikes will usually have a knob or lever that allows you to adjust the resistance, making it harder or easier to pedal, independent of your cadence (how fast you’re spinning the pedals).

Fan-operated resistance bikes are a bit simpler: As you pedal, the fan blades are pushing against the air around the machine. Your cadence is directly related to the amount of effort required to push the pedals, meaning these bikes don’t allow you to spin at a fast cadence with low resistance, which can be nice for warming up or cooling down.

With that, now go for the trainer that fulfills your interactive needs: the ones that integrate Bluetooth for access to Zwift and Peloton Apps.

                              Post those rides on your Strava!