MasterLink/November 2014

masterlink / NOVEMBER 2014

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Contents4 President’s Message

It’s Been Fun

8 Rides Captain’s CornerThe Results Are In: Tie-Breaker Necessary

9 CyclingSpinning Away The Winter

10 Tour AnnouncementsViking Biking

This Month6 Vote For Rides Captain

Monday, November 10, 2014

11 November Membership MeetingThursday, November 13, 2014, 7:30pm

4

10

8

On The Cover:A very hilly ride to the Montauk Lighthouse during the BTCNJ Amagansett weekend tour.

Photograph by Jo Concepcion


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PRESIDENTRalph Monti

[email protected]

VICE PRESIDENTAlan Scherl

[email protected]

SECRETARYRhonda Pekow

[email protected]

RIDES CAPTAINAndres [email protected]

WEBMASTERLarry [email protected]

SPCL. EVENTS/VOL. DEVELOPMENTLeslie Felsen

[email protected]

TREASURERFranklin Wimer

[email protected]

MEMBERSHIPHarold [email protected]

RALLY CHAIRPERSONStephen [email protected]

MASTERLINKMarc Soloff

[email protected]

PUBLICITYBarbara Augenblick

[email protected]

TOURSBill Telgheder

[email protected]

PAST PRESIDENTEthan Brook

[email protected]

MasterLink Submissions:Materials for MasterLink are due the 23rd of each month for publication

in the following month’s issue. Please send articles, photos, letters, or comments to MasterLink, at our email address [email protected]. Materials may be edited by the MasterLink staff for length and clarity. Publication of materials

submitted is at the discretion of the Editor. All materials submitted for publication become the property of BTCNJ. Due to copyright laws, any articles, photos, cartoons,

art, etc., that have appeared in other publications may not be published in MasterLink without written consent of the copyright holder.

Photos in MasterLink may not be reused or republished without prior permission.

Protection of the Intellectual Property of BTCNJ

We welcome your creative suggestions for promotional activities using the Club’s brands, however, the Club’s name, slogans, designs and logos are its intellectualproperty, which embody the “goodwill” of the Club as developed over the yearsthrough service to its members and the community, with thanks to the volunteer efforts of countless members. In order to preserve and protect our goodwill, it is critical that all use of the Club’s intellectual property be properly regulated. Please do not reproduce or simulate the Club logo, the names “BTCNJ” or “Bicycling Touring Club of North Jersey”, or any other brands such as “Ramapo Rally”and “MasterLink” on shirts, caps, jerseys, bottles, stickers, or any other merchandisewithout authorization from our Merchandise Chair, Harold Todman.

November 2014, Volume 37, Number 11. Circulation: approx. 1,500 via electronic download.MasterLink is published 12 times per year as the official publication of the

Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey,PO Box 853, Ridgewood NJ 07451. Our website is www.btcnj.com.

©2014 by the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey, all rights reserved.“MasterLink”, “BTCNJ”, “BTCNJ.COM”, “Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey” (words and

logo), and “Ramapo Rally” are trademarks of the Bicycle Touring Club of North Jersey.

Did YouKnow...

• That your club has an OUTREACH program?

• That there’s a dedicated group ofclub members who’ve offered tolend a hand, an ear, a shoulder, to visit or other assistance tomembers in need?

• That you can volunteer to join thisterrific group of people and feelreally good about doing so?

• That you too might be in need of OUTREACH one day?(We hope not, but you neverknow.)

• That offering your services is as easy as contacting one of us below.

If you become aware of any members who are ill, have had anaccident or a death in the family,please let us know by getting intouch with our contact for themonth listed below.

If you would like to joinour Outreach committee, please contact:Barbara [email protected]

Over the last 24 months, I’vebeen privileged to haveworked with a wonderful

group of people, the dedicated vol-unteers who make up the BTCNJBoard of Directors. Every member ofour “team” is passionate and self-lessly dedicated to making BTCNJ abetter experience for our members.It’s been a great treat working witheach and every one of our board di-rectors, but at the end of this monththe final buzzer sounds for me, andit will be time to move on.

When we first got together back inJanuary 2013, we were a disparatebunch, most had never served onthe board, and many didn’t knoweach other. But it didn’t take verylong for a positive chemistry and agenuine esprit de corps to jell. Ourcommon denominator was our lovefor cycling and our commitment toBTCNJ’s members. The guiding prin-ciples we drew up and those that un-derpinned many of our futureactions, was to make BTCNJ moretransparent to its membershipthrough enhanced communications,and to foster an environment whereour members could play a greaterrole in the governance of our club.Based on the feedback I’ve receivedover these last two years I believewe’ve achieved those goals.

Here’s a recap of some of the ini-tiatives the 2013/14 board createdand implemented during its 2-yearterm:

• Published the minutes of ourmonthly board meetings in theensuing MasterLink. The boardmeeting minutes proved to be apopular section that’s kept mem-bers abreast of present and fu-ture board decisions andactivities.

• Instituted two new bylaw

amendments, one that imposedterm limits on boardmembers, and an-other that forbidsgifts and gratuitiesto be accepted byany volunteer. Bothamendments wereoverwhelmingly ap-proved by ourmembership.

• Created RideSafety programs thatincluded twice a year, daylongseminars including safety drillsled by certified safety instructorsfrom the League of American Bi-cyclists. We also created a $500“scholarship fund” to underwritethe costs of inviting many ofBTCNJ’s ride leaders to attendthese sessions; and we negoti-ated reduced registration feesfor our members.

• In the spirit of continuing to pro-mote safe group riding, espe-cially directed to newly joinedmembers, we expanded and en-hanced BTCNJ’s New MemberRides and New Member Dinnersto include an LAB safe group rid-ing presentation, using multi-page handouts and a PowerPointpresentation.

• So that our members can stay upto date with everything BTCNJ,we created an enhanced down-load section on our web site.Among the downloads thatmembers can view includeBTCNJ’s newly revised bylaws,the BTCNJ insurance plan, safetyguidelines for group riding, a firstaid checklist, and ride leaderguidelines, to name a few. Alongthese lines, we also created aNew Member section on BTCNJ’shome page that offers valuable

information on group riding pro-tocols and a comprehensivechecklist before starting a ride.

• In an effort to process volunteerexpense reports and vendor in-voices in a more timely fashion,BTCNJ’s financial and reportingsystems were updated and auto-mated. And while we’re on finan-cials, BTCNJ’s overall financialdata were presented and out-lined during the May monthlymember meetings in 2013 and2014. And I’m also happy to re-port the club is extremely soundfinancially as we move into theNew Year.

• In addition to an excellent varietyof topics for member meetings,we created several new meetingactivities that should have longruns. All speak to the basic re-quirements of every BTCNJmember: food and cycling. Thepopular Pot Luck Food Fest isslated for our December meet-ing, we just staged BTCNJ’s 2ndAnnual Tire Changing Contest,and the Annual BTCNJ MovieNight has been become a mem-ber favorite.

• Ride Leaders now have a voice inthe design of the Ride Leader

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:

It’s Been FunBy Ralph Monti

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Jersey they so rightly deserveand earned. The Ride Leader Jer-sey Design Contest has becomean instant success and this year’sdesign submissions, all receivedfrom our members, offers manygreat original designs. It’s a con-test that’s generated lots of en-thusiasm.

• A fun, new ride we introducedthat surely will become a tradi-tion is the pre-Mother’s day Cy-cloFemme ride that celebrateswomen and cycling aroundthe world. A group of intrepidfemale BTCNJers braved in-clement weather for thisyear’s ride. And an enterpris-ing male member scheduleda CycloDude ride on thesame day in response tothe BTCNJ ladies-only ride.

• With the help of one of ourmembers, BTCNJ formallyregistered its name andthe Ramapo Rally namewith the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office. In thisage of online and offlinemulti-media platforms,the board agreed toinitiate actions thatprotect its trademarksagainst any infringe-ments within anymedia category.

• Over the last twoyears our biggestinvestment hasbeen to update andimprove the performance of theBTCNJ web site. Most of theseenhancements were behind thescenes updates like moving thesite to a new ISP server, improv-ing the security of the site, re-coding a number of sections forimproved performance, re-designing many features thatmake up the ride schedule, in-cluding the capability of addinggps files, and making the sitefaster to load. There is still lotsmore work to be done, but wemade great strides in just twoyears.

• We were fortunate to welcome a

new board member this yearwho breathed new life into thedesign of MasterLink. The newdesign is bold and features lotsof graphics and is fun to read. Itis, by far, the gold standard as faras bike club newsletters go.

• A new wrinkle we added to theRamapo Rally was to offer a freetrial membership to non-mem-bers who rode the Rally. This has

proved to be a successful wayto attract new

members,as well as new RideLeaders. It’s a program that hasbeen adapted by other clubs in the tri-state area.

• In response to many member requests in the BTCNJ membersurveys, last year we createdmulti-year membership termsthat include a 2-year and 3-yearterm. Many members have takenadvantage of this convenience.And we recently reinstated the Family Membership level, so that we can get a better count of our membership for

insurance reasons.• And finally the board agreed to

re-orient our Ramapo Rally do-nation disbursements to includebicycle advocacy organizationsand non-profits like ambulanceEMS units who support the Rally.And as a measure to promote bi-cycling in the towns we ridethrough, while also being a goodneighbor gesture, the boardvoted to donate a bike corral toa Bergen county town. In 2014the town of Glen Rock was very

happy to receive and installa Saris 10-bike corralfor their pool complex.We just voted to haveanother one installed ina still to be determinedtown in 2015.

So without furtherado, let me mention andoffer my sincere thanks tothe amazing people whomade all the above activityhappen. They include VicePresident Alan Scherl, Sec-retary Rhonda Pekow, PastPresident Ethan Brook,Treasurer Frank Wimer, RidesCaptain Andres Tiribocchi,Special Events/Volunteer De-velopment Chair Leslie Felsen,Publicity Chair Barbara Augen-blick, Ramapo Rally Chair SteveGreenberg, Webmaster LarrySchwartz, Membership ChairHarold Todman, and MasterLinkEditor Marc Soloff. Collectivelyand individually it was an absolutejoy working with each and everyone of you. Of course, I’d also like

to acknowledge and thank Bill Tel-gheder, BTCNJ’s Tours Chair and theclub’s newly elected president. I’mso pleased Bill will be our next pres-ident, and you should be too. He’ along-time BTCNJ member and is aterrific guy who has lots of greatideas.

Thank you for all your support during my two years as president. I very much enjoyed leading thisgreat club. It was a terrific ride andan experience that will always bespecial. Happy trails!


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November is election time, not only for the US Congress and the Senate, but also for the BTCNJ Board position of Rides Captain for 2015. The candidates are Andres Tiribocchi and Karl Sarkozi. Below are some

things to know about each candidate before you cast your vote:

Look for your election ballot in your email inbox on Monday, November 10. The winner will be announced atthe November Member Meeting in Thursday, November 13. It only takes a minute a vote!

-Rhonda Pekow, Secretary

Andres Tiribocchi

Don’t Miss Your Chance toVote for Rides Captain!

Very active BTCNJ Rides Captain, who coordinates all BTCNJ rides and organizes ride leaders throughout the year. Personally leads many rides.

Coordinator of BTCNJ’s Ride Leader and Member Safety programs.

Organized Ride Leader involvement and oversaw all level rides at New Member Ridesand the annual BTCNJ picnic.

Responsible for coordinating all led rides atthe Ramapo Rally, including leading theRamapo Rally family ride. Created the GPSversion of all routes.

Wrote 21 articles for MasterLink related to riding activity, safety and club news.

Coordinated the launch of the 2013 and 2104 Ride Leader Jersey Design contest fromstart to finish.

For 2015, revise and update Ride Leaderguidelines focusing on better skills and safety. Actively participate in the Safety and Advocacy Committee.

Karl SarkoziHas led rides and obtained ride leader statusevery year since joining BTCNJ (2005).

BTCNJ Volunteer of the Month, August 2011.

Highest scoring ride leader for three consecutive years (2011, 2012, 2013).

On track for being the highest scoring rideleader for 2014.

Winner of BTCNJ’s flat tire changing competition 2013.

Propose a review of the 12-point/8-point rideleader incentive program.

For 2015, will ensure the needs and concernsof ride leaders and members are addressedthrough workshops and will ensure ride leaderaccountability.

In addition to the current leader/co-leader system, an “active-active” leader/co-leadersystem will be proposed.


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Don’t delay,

SUBMITyour photosand videos

TODAYfor the

Year in ReviewEmail them to [email protected] or upload them to:

https://dbinbox.com/BTCNJ-YIR-2014Please place multiple photos/videos in a folder and either zip or compressthe folder with your name and photo info (tour name, Ramapo Rally, etc).

December 5 will be the last day photos or videos can be accepted.

BTCNJ’s37th Anniversary Party

Music & Dancing ◆ Hors d’oeuvres ◆ Buffet Dinner ◆ Soft Drinks$40/Person ◆ Cash Bar

Saturday, January 24, 2015 ◆ 7:00 pm to 11:00 pmThe Brownstone ◆ 351 West Broadway ◆ Paterson, NJ

Music by DJ Chris AndresAndresentertainment.com

Click Here to Make Your Reservation Today!

http://btcnj.com/events.php


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The 2014 Ride Leader Jerseydesign contest had its firstround of voting in October,

and our Ride Leaders had the opportunity to pick their favoritesdesigns.

The quality and variety of the ninepieces guaranteed a tough competi-tion, and as soon as the Leaderscasted their first votes at least fourdesigns were almost tied in points.After 75% of our Leaders submitted

their votes (a record rate of partici-pation) two designs emerged as themost popular but only separated by2 points; in fact, these two designswere the choice of more than 50% ofthe Leaders.

According to the rules of the contest, these two will run a secondand definitive round of voting in thenext weeks. Therefore, in the follow-ing weeks all our Ride Leaders whoqualified for the first round, will re-

ceive an e-mail with the final instruc-tions to cast their votes. EachLeader will have the opportunity to choose only one design and thedesign with the highest number of votes will be declared the winnerof the contest, and will be announced at the BTCNJ monthlymeeting of December.

The final results of the first roundof votes are as follows (*designs goto tie-break voting):

RIDES CAPTAIN’S CORNER:

The Results Are In: Tie-Breaker NecessaryBy Andres Tiribocchi

First Place* Second Place* Third Place

Seventh Place Eighth Place Ninth Place

Fourth Place Fifth Place Sixth Place


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Indoor cycling, often known asSpinning, can be a great way toget cycling-specific training ses-

sions without the difficulties of riding in nasty weather. The key is tohave a concept, or a game plan, forwhat you want to accomplish witheach ride.

Structuring the workouts in an incremental pattern allows riders tobuild endurance and strength andbe fully prepared for outdoor riding.Sometimes referred to as “peri-odization training,” indoor rides canbe used to focus on road cyclingskills that build one upon another.

An elite athlete who might bestructuring the annual workout calendar in such a fashion wouldnormally use the winter months as a resting period, characterized bylight or low-intensity workouts, justenough to elevate the heart rate intothe lower ranges of the training zonewith very little intensity.

For the recreational athlete, thewinter period can be designedsomewhat differently. Starting in December, the first part of the train-ing program deals with what isknown as “base building.” Theseworkouts emphasize relatively com-fortable cruis-ing speedsand incre-m e n t a l l ylonger timespent in thesaddle. This is the start of buildingan aerobic base, the capacity that al-lows your blood to efficiently deliveroxygen to the muscles.

January brings endurance work-outs. Just as it sounds, time in thesaddle is extended, and drills are in-troduced that begin to challenge therider’s mind set. It can be mentallytaxing to hold a strong cadence foran extended period of time. Building

this ability in small increments con-ditions the brain to tolerate longerdistances as much as the legs, butt,and other body parts. Visualizationexercises usually complement thistype of training, such as imagining aflat road with a gentle breeze alonga sea coast.

February emphasizes strengthtraining. Ther e s i s t a n c esetting on atypical spinbike can beused to simu-

late climbing a hill. This type ofworkout builds leg strength andpower. Short steep climbs, longgradual climbs, staircase climbs, andaccelerated climbs are some of thedrills that can be used to keep the workouts challenging and build legstrength.

As the weather begins to break inMarch, interval training is intro-duced. An interval session is charac-

terized by periods of high intensityinterrupted by periods of rest. Aftera proper warm up, the class mightdo a set of acceleration drills, followed by a 3 minute rest period oflight spinning for recovery. Then another period of intensity follows,perhaps a 6- or 7-minute climb, followed by another rest period.

This type of workout trains thecardiovascular system to work hard,and to recover from hard work. It isthe perfect way to transition from in-door riding to outdoor riding. Thecyclist is now better prepared todeal with wind, real hills, and otherfactors with confidence and skill de-rived from a winter of purposefultraining.

All of us are different in terms ofphysical condition and it’s importantto know where you’re starting fromas well as where you want to end up.Always consult a physician beforestarting any type of focused work-out program.

CYCLING:

Spinning Away The WinterBy Alan Horwitz

“Indoor rides can be used tofocus on road cycling skills.”


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BTCNJ TOURS

DATE

June 26- July 12, 2015

OpenViking Biking Gentle, not Flat, NoKiller Hills

50 Miles/Day $3,000/person based on dbl occupancy, includingflights, lodging, some meals

Ethan Brook or Barbara [email protected]@gmail.com

Feb.16-28,2015

OpenNew Zealand’s South Island

Varied Varied $5,500 to $6,000

Harriet [email protected]

CAPACITYTOUR TERRAIN DISTANCE PRICE CONTACT

In the table below is a summary of the upcoming tours hosted by BTCNJ.For a full description of the tours, please visit our website. You must be a BTCNJ member to participate in a tour hosted by BTCNJ.

Denmark has been acclaimed to bethe number one cycling destina-tion in the world with morethan 12,000 kilometers (7,500miles) of sign-posted cyclingroutes. And you can ridewithout fear of nightfall asduring June/July Denmarkexperiences about 20 hoursof daylight in a 24-hour period.The country is so cycling oriented that cycling helmetshave now become a fashion accessory!

Join us as we cycle on this year’s BTCNJ fairy tale adventure through the colorful Danish towns, fjords, islands and fishing villages that dot Denmark’s shores.Our trip will begin and end in Copenhagen, and we’llvisit such sites as Odense, the home of Hans ChristianAndersen, as well as several World Heritage Sites including the Jelling Stone which dates back to theViking Age in approximately 900 AD in which thename “Denmark” first appears. Of course we wouldn’tmiss the Kronborg Castle, another World Heritage site,which served as the inspiration for Shakespeare’sHamlet. And there’s lots more.

The terrain is gentle – not flat, but no killer mountainsto climb. We anticipate that the trip will encompassabout 50 miles of riding per day. We try to plan two to

three days stay in each destination to explore the area.The riding level for this trip is strong C* or above. Theexpected cost of the trip is approximately $3,000 including air, ground transportation, hotel accommo-dations, breakfasts (yes, breakfast does include “Danish”) and some dinners. To reserve your spot senda check in the amount of $500 made out to BarbaraAugenblick, 200 Winston Drive, Apartment #2115,Cliffside Park, NJ 07010. Cancellation policy of the airline for a full refund is January 15th. Only seriousreservations, please. Questions? Contact your tourleaders Ethan Brook ([email protected]) andBarbara Augenblick ([email protected]).

Viking BikingJune 26 -July 12, 2015

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS


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For information about club merchandise, contact Harold Todman at [email protected].

You do not need to be a BTCNJ member to purchaseBTCNJ merchandise. The color photos on your screen

may differ from the actual item color, due to differences in computer monitors and settings.

Bicycle Touring Club

of North JerseyMerchandise

November Membership Meeting BTCNJ DonatesRamapo Rally ProfitsDuring its October 2014 meeting,BTCNJ’s Board of Directors votedon and approved donation dis-bursements to a variety of non-profit organizations, generatedfrom the profits of the 2014Ramapo Rally.

• $5000 to the New Jersey Bikeand Walk Coalition

• $5000 to Camp Sunshine• $1500 for a BTCNJ bicycle rack

for a to–be-determined town library, park or school

• $1000 to the Hackensack UMCEMS Volunteer Ambulance Unit(a Rally supporter)

• $1000 to the Northvale EMSVolunteer Ambulance Unit(a Rally supporter)

All of the above organizations will be invited to the Decembermembership meeting when an official donation presentation ceremony will take place.

-Ralph Monti

The November Membership Meeting presentation will feature MichaelDannemiller, an expert in complete street design and implementation.What is a complete street you ask? Well, it’s more than just some as-phalt and concrete with lines painted on it. How much more you ask?Well, an internet search might come up some information but you knowwhat they say about what you read on the internet. Better to come tothe meeting and hear it from the horse’s mouth.

Mike is one of the National Complete Streets Coalition instructors andhas been planning and designing bicycle and pedestrian accommoda-tion in projects ranging from New England to Florida to Oregon. He hasdeveloped and presented training sessions on complete streets, trafficcalming, bicycle and pedestrian planning and design, safe routes toschool and senior mobility. Mike also serves on the committees for theEast Coast Greenway in New Jersey and the 9/11 Memorial Trail.

And as always, each and every meeting features free refreshments andthe opportunity to socialize with friends. November’s post meetingfeast is presented by Bruce Dailey.

When: November 13, 2014 at 7:30PM

Where: Ridgewood Public Library, 125 N Maple Ave, Ridgewood, NJ07450

Directions to the Library can be found at: www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/directions.htm


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The owners of all these shops support BTCNJ. Please tell them you saw their shop in MasterLink. Show them your BTCNJ membership card for a 10% discount off accessories and parts. They are skilled bicyclepros, and we urge you to use their services. Please note that the discount may not apply to sale items and may not allow credit card payment. Please note that the individual shop owners have sole discretion over the definition of “accessories and parts” and of the items in their stock to which any BTCNJ-related discount applies.

SUPPORT YOURLOCAL BIKE SHOP

Allendale Bike Shop.........................Allendale 201-825-0952

D.J.s’ Cycles .............................................Belmar 732-681-8228

Brookdale Cycle .............................Bloomfield 973-338-8908

Get-a-way Cycle Center........Bloomingdale 973-291-4163

Bikeland..................................................Caldwell 973-403-3330

Bikeland II.............................................Chatham 973-635-8066

Closter Cycle...........................................Closter 201-768-3086

Congers Bike Shop ....................Congers, NY 845-268-3315

Steve’s Moped & Bicycle ..................Dumont 201-384-7777

Sam’s Bicycle Repair.............Elmwood Park 201-797-5819

Bike Master......................................Englewood 201-569-3773

Strictly Bicycles...................................Fort Lee 201-944-7074

Carrera Cycles ..................................Glen Rock 201-857-0106

Marty’s Reliable ........................Hackettstown 908-852-1650

Bike Pad ............................................Hawthorne 973-427-9400

Grove Street Bicycles ..................Jersey City 201-451-2453

James Vincent................................Jersey City 201-420-5151

Ramsey Outdoor..........................Ledgewood 973-584-7798

Bicycle Tech ..................................Lincoln Park 973-694-6775

D.J.’s Cycles..................................Long Branch 732-870-2277

Peddler ..........................................Long Branch 732-229-6623

Cycle Craft ......................................Long Valley 908-876-5600

Madison Bicycle Shop.......................Madison 973-377-6616

High Gear Cyclery ...............................Millburn 973-376-0001

Diamond Cycle...................................Montclair 973-509-0233

The Bikery............................................Montclair 973-744-7252

Marty’s Reliable .............................Morristown 973-538-7773

Cycle World.................................New City, NY 845-364-2384

James Vincent...........................North Bergen 201-869-1901

Chelsea Bikes.......................................NYC, NY 646-230-7715

Gotham Bike.........................................NYC, NY 212-732-2453

Toga Bike...............................................NYC, NY 212-759-0002

Nyack Bicycle Outfitters ..............Nyack, NY 845-353-0268

Pedal Sports .........................................Oakland 201-337-9380

CampMor...............................................Paramus 201-445-5000

The Bicycle II........................................Paramus 201-632-0200

Cycle Sport Cyclery......................Park Ridge 201-391-5269

Cycle Craft .......................................Parsippany 973-227-4462

Bicycle Depot..................................Pearl River 845-735-8686

Heino’s Ski and Cycle................Pequannock 973-696-3044

Piermont Bicycle.......................Piermont, NY 845-365-0900

Cycle Center...........................Pompton Lakes 973-835-6339

Bicycle Source.......................Pompton Plains 973-835-7595

Bike & Ski Shop ....................................Ramsey 201-327-9480

Ramsey Outdoor..................................Ramsey 201-327-8141

Ultimate Cycle Shop...........................Ramsey 201-962-9000

Marty’s Reliable ....................................Randolf 973-584-7773

Cosmic Wheel ........................Ridgefield Park 201-440-6655

Fit Werx....................................Ridgefield Park 201-440-2025

Ridgewood Cycle .........................Ridgewood 201-444-2553

Bikeworks....................................Rochelle Park 201-843-6409

Original Bike Shop ...................Saddle Brook 973-478-6555

Valley Cycle .........................Spring Valley, NY 845-356-3179

High Gear Cyclery................................Stiriling 908-647-2010

Bicycle Workshop .................................Tenafly 201-568-9372

Fusion Cycles..........................................Tenafly 201-266-6925

Toga Bike..............................Upper Nyack, NY 845-358-3455

Town Cycle............................West Milford, NJ 973-728-8878

Albert’s Westwood Cycle ...........Westwood 201-664-1688

Whippany Cycle ..............................Whippany 973-887-8150

Wyckoff Cycle......................................Wyckoff 201-891-5500

As proof of BTCNJ membership, you will need to print your membership card through the BTCNJ website. Log onto the site, select Membership Card under the Membership tab. Printing instructions are provided.


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BTCNJ RIDE CATEGORIES

TERRAIN DESCRIPTIONSHilly: Numerous long and steep climbsModerately Hilly: Numerous climbs, with no “killer” hillsRolling: Some small hills, farmland ups and downsFlat: Minimal gear shifting required

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR LEADERSBring maps and/or cue sheets. Discourage riders with unsound bikes from joining the ride. Within thefirst few miles, urge riders who are unable to maintainthe advertised pace to leave the ride. Adhere to theadvertised speed of the ride. Advise riders exceedingyour intended pace that they will be considered to beon their own.

RIDE LEADERS MUST SUBMIT THEIR SIGN-IN SHEETSTO EARN RIDE LEADER POINTS.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR RIDERSRiders must obey NJ motor vehicle laws. Bring tools:tire irons, pump, and spare tube. Bicycle must be ingood working order. Don’t ride in a category that istoo difficult for you. Advise leader if you are making anunscheduled stop or leaving the group. Rides will notgo in the following conditions (unless otherwise notedin the rides description): rain, snow, wet or icy roads,or temperatures under 32°. Rides will leave 15 minutesafter the published meeting time (unless otherwisenoted.) For rides longer than 15 miles, bring snacks, for rides over 30 miles, bring lunch (unless a deli stopis indicated). Note: anyone under 18 years of age mustbe accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on allrides. Every rider is required to wear a helmet thatmeets CPSC Performance Standards on all club rides.Headphones are not permitted on rides.

RIDE LEVEL DESCRIPTION

A Average speed 17+ mph - For strong/experienced cyclists. Stops every 30+ miles.

B* Average speed 15.0 - 16.9 mph - average speed on flats 17.0 - 18.0 mph. For strong cyclists. Stops every 20 - 25 miles

B Average speed 13.0 - 14.9 mph - average speed on flats 15.0 - 16.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.

C* Average speed 11.0 - 12.9 mph - average speed on flats 13.0 - 14.0 mph. For solid cyclists. Stops every 15 - 20 miles.

C Average speed 9.0 - 10.9 mph - average speed on flats 11.0 - 12.0 mph. For average cyclists. Stops as needed.

D Average speed Under 9.0 mph - average speed on flats 10.0 mph. For new, inexperienced cyclists. Frequent stops.

F Family ride for families. Frequent stops, child friendly.

MTB-B Mountain Bike - Single track with challenging surfaces, rocks, roots, logs and technical terrain. Extended ascents and challenging descents.

MTB-C Mountain Bike - Single and double track trails with uneven surfaces and minimal obstacles. Gradual and moderate climbing and descents.

MTB-D Mountain Bike - Unpaved wide trails and fire roads with obstruction free riding surfaces. Small and gradual changes in elevation.

A, B*, B Categories: No obligation to wait for stragglers if advertised pace is kept and written directions(cue sheets, maps) are issued. C*, C, D Categories: Group will wait for stragglers and assist those havingmechanical difficulty. MTB rides: the slowest participant dictates ride pace; no rider is ever left behind.


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Present: Ralph Monti, PresidentAlan Scherl, Vice PresidentRhonda Pekow, SecretaryAndres Tiribocchi, Rides CaptainSteve Greenberg, Ramapo RallyEthan Brook, Past President Leslie Felsen, Special EventsLarry Schwartz, WebmasterMarc Soloff, MasterLinkBarbara Augenblick, Public RelationsHarold Todman, MembershipFrank Wimer, Treasurer Not Present: Bill Telgheder, Tours

Call to OrderPresident Ralph Monti opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m.

President:• Ralph reported of the board transition for 2015. Board members who will be leaving the board are Rhonda

Pekow, Secretary, and Steve Greenberg, Chairperson of the Ramapo Rally. New members joining the executive board are Harriet Einschlag as the Secretary, Don Schlenger as the Chairperson of Tours, and Tom Conlon as the Chairperson of the Advocacy and Safety Committee. Ethan Brook is slated for the position of Chairperson of the Ramapo Rally. Bill Telgheder is slated to be the next President of BTCNJ.Ralph Monti will remain on the board as past president.

‣ Advocacy and Safety Committee:Tom Conlon attended this month’s board meeting to discuss the new board position he will be assuming, Chairperson of the Advocacy and Safety committee. Tom explained that he hopes the committee will make an impact, or a visible difference, regarding safety issues. Committee membersare John Daugherty, Andres Tiribocchi, Ray Nutkis and himself. Tom spoke about “lost rider days” dueto safety related bike accidents. A decline in the number of lost riding days due to safety is somethingthe committee wants to focus on.

• Ralph Monti proposed the following donations for the Ramapo Rally disbursement of funds:‣ $5000 to the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition‣ $5000 to Camp Sunshine‣ $1000 to the Hackensack UMC EMS Volunteer Ambulance Unit (a Rally supporter)‣ $1000 to the Northvale EMS Volunteer Ambulance Unit (a Rally Supporter)‣ $1500 for a town bike rack – Last year BTCNJ donated a bike rack to the Glen Rock Pool Complex.

Several locations for this year’s bike rack donation were discussed. A final determination will be madeat the November board meeting.

• After discussion, the board agreed to the Rally disbursement proposal.

Vice President: • Alan Scherl discussed the following schedule for upcoming membership meetings.

‣ October 2014: A presentation will be given on tandem bicycle riding.‣ November 2014: Representatives from the Complete Streets Advocacy Movement are scheduled to

present to the BTCNJ membership.

BTCNJ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:

Executive Summary of Meeting MinutesOctober 7, 2014


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‣ December 2014: Pot Luck Food Fest Dinner‣ January 2015: Year in Review‣ A Meeting in the Spring of 2015 – NY Times Reporter Bruce Webber will present his book,

“Life is a Wheel”

Treasurer: • BTCNJ Treasurer Frank Wimer reviewed the statement of income and expenses dated Sept 30, 2014.

Our membership revenue year to date exceeds budget, primarily due to $3400 in future year dues collected from our new multi-year memberships. On the other side of the ledger, our expenses currently exceed plan due to the one time extra insurance costs of international tours. However, we have now booked all the significant expenses for the year, and membership will hit its target of breaking even for the year.

• Frank then presented the financial results of the Ramapo Rally. In addition to being a critical success, the Rally was a financial success again this year. Income from riders was a little ahead of last year and sponsorship income was only slightly lower despite two major sponsors dropping out late. On the expenseside, volunteers did a great job. Barbara Augenblick reduced promotional expenses by $7,000 and yet attracted about the same number of riders as in 2013. Additionally, we purchased bike racks for the Rallywhen we discovered we could no longer borrow them from another club. The bottom line is that, thanks tothe efforts of over 180 volunteers, the Rally made an $18,000+ profit. This enables BTCNJ to donate morethan $13,000 to bicycle advocacy organizations and charitable and town organizations.

Rides Captain:• Andres Tiribocchi gave the board an update on the ride leader jersey contest for this year. A list of

qualifying ride leaders has been prepared. An email will be sent to members eligible to vote for the rideleader jersey. The email will explain voting procedures.

• Andres Tiribocchi announced the new member ride is scheduled for October 11, 2014, with a rain date of October 18, 2014.

Special Events: • Leslie Felsen reported that a thank you to all volunteers for the Ramapo Rally has been placed in the

MasterLink.• Leslie Felsen reported that she will place an article for the Master Link and the next e-letter about the

Anniversary party scheduled for January 24, 2015.

Membership:• Harold Todman reported that trial memberships from the Ramapo Rally will be expiring at the end of

November.• Harold Todman announced that the new member dinner will be held on November 7, 2014.

MasterLink:• Marc Soloff reported that he needs members to send him pictures for the Year-in-Review.

He is currently collecting pictures from the BTCNJ 2014 tours. • Marc Soloff reported that he still needs quality pictures for the MasterLink cover.

Ramapo Rally:• Ethan Brook reported that he has already spoken to potential volunteers for the 2015 Ramapo Rally.

Ethan received a call from Whole Foods and they may be a sponsor for the 2015 Ramapo Rally. Whole Food has requested a bicycle to use as a display in one of their stores.

Public Relations:• Barbara Augenblick is preparing the next e-letter and requested topics from board members by

October 15, 2014.• Barbara Augenblick reported that we currently have forms from the Ramapo Rally, which are signed waivers

that we should keep. We will keep these forms for two years in our storage room. • Barbara Augenblick reported that someone found $64 in cash on the day of the Ramapo Rally, in the parking

lot. Barbara will return the money to the person who turned it in.


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Webmaster:• Larry Schwartz reported that the Ramapo Rally web site page needs updating and has asked for help with

that task. Presently we are using a Wordpress template for the Ramapo Rally website.• Larry Schwartz reported that Sue Flaxman knows HTML and has volunteered to help on the web site. • Larry Schwartz discussed support for the function of sending e-mails through the BTCNJ website. It was

agreed upon that BTCNJ will search for an email vendor that works with our current web site platform.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rhonda L PekowRhonda L PekowBTCNJ Board Secretary

Documents

MasterLink/November 2014