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President's Message
Finally! It is here: a bit of what we used to call “normal.”
Thank you to the board members Kathryn Hanlon, Jordan Litvak, David McDivitt, Jennifer Rockwell, Ted Sunder, who joined me at the Earth Awareness Fair Saturday, April 17 at Henson Robinson Zoo. Other than about ten minutes of rain, it ended up being a beautiful day! It was projected close to 1,000 people attended. Given the pandemic and possibility of bad weather, organizers say this was a great achievement. Next year’s Earth Awareness Fair will be the 30th anniversary and is scheduled for April 23, 2022.
This e-newsletter contains a May Ride Schedule! It is appropriate we are launching rides next month as May is National Bike Month. More on the Ride Schedule is available on the website and we will post events on the SBC Facebook page.
As we are still in a pandemic, here are a few guidelines when participating in group rides:
- All SBC rides are limited to 50 riders (if a group of larger than 50 is present, ride leaders should form two groups).
- If you have a fever, STAY HOME! Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover.
- If you have labored breathing or a cough when you take a deep breath, please stay home.
- All riders should be symptom free for 14 days. Symptoms include fever, chill, fatigue, cough, upper respiratory infection symptoms, body aches, loss of smell or taste.
- Riders should wear a cloth mask when stopped for extended periods.
- If you must sneeze, cough, blow your nose, etc. drop back and ensure that no one is in your slip stream.
- Bring a handkerchief or rag to carry on the ride. Paper products do not do well when mixed with sweat.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Mind the gap. Ride side by side or more than 20 feet behind. The farther away the better. Distances of 20 feet are likely safe.
- Do not pass water bottles, food, etc.
- Bring enough food and hydration so that convenience store stops are not mandatory.
- If you do enter a convenience store, wear a mask.
The annual Ride of Silence will be held in Washington Park on Wednesday, May 19. Just before we ride in silence at 7:00 p.m. there will be a short formal program at 6:45. Have you been injured by a motorist while on a bicycle? Or, do you know of someone who has been killed on a bicycle by an automobile? If so, please email me and let me know. I would like to include you in this special program.
Details for several of our larger rides are still in the works. It is my hope that we can release information about this year’s Challenge Rides early in May. Our biggest ride, the Capital City Century, will be held on Saturday, September 11 at Centennial Park. Registration details will be coming soon.
Do you have old cycling stuff that is sitting in your closet that is not being used? In June we would like to hold a buy/sell/trade event before a ride or two. Meet-up would be in a parking lot where you could have items displayed out of your car trunk or SUV.
As always, if you have any need to reach out, I am available by email president@spfldcycling.org.
Wave to me if we meet on the road or trail.
Troy Gilmore
President, Springfield Bicycle Club
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