The Prez Sez...

Greetings Club members and fellow bicyclists! 

MAY IS (WAS) BIKE MONTH

   Another “National May Is Bike Month" has come and gone. This year’s riding was epic. Thanks to several groups that really encouraged riders to get out and ride. As of May 30th, the winning team was the Fresno Cycling Club Killer Bees, with nearly 30,000 miles, followed by the Stevens Bicycles Team (17,000 miles) and Sunnyside Bicycles with (over 9,000 miles). Of the top 10 teams, 5 were teams of the Fresno Cycling Club. It was great to see that 33 Teams registered for CVBM.  It makes for a fun competition, and it shows the Valley that there are a lot of bicyclists riding on the roadways of our community. 

   Although that seems like a lot of teams, I can think of many more that could have been involved and hopefully we can get them involved next year. For the month, CVBM riders recorded over 80,000 miles. Great riding everyone. The Central Valley has a lot of bicycling going on.  Imagine if everyone participated how many miles we could log. 

   Keep up the riding.  Although May is Bike month, I imagine that there will much more riding to come as summer is just beginning.

   If you want to see the latest tally, click on the link below.

http://cvbikemonth.com/challenges_club.php

CLIMB TO KAISER

Okay, now it’s on to June! It’s Climb to Kaiser month. 

DATE:  June 22, 2019

   I would say without a doubt this is the Fresno Cycling Club’s Premiere event of the year. At least it is the most well-known world-wide. The fact that it is such a challenging ride is likely the reason why it only attracts 200 to 300 riders each year. Bicycling magazine has called it one of the Top 10 most difficult rides in the United States, and just last year Granfondo.com remarked that it was in the Top 10 most beautiful rides as well. 

   Other factors that may limit attendance may be not enough advertising as well as a lot of competing events in the June time frame. Another factor is how few members step up to help in the planning stages. In the past three years, the Ride Directorship has ended up on the shoulders of the Club President as no one has been willing to take it on. It is hopeful that someone will come forward next year to help coordinate this great event.  

   There is a lot of preparation that goes into making a successful cycling event. Venues to secure, permits to obtain, clothing to design, fliers and posters to create and distribute. Routes to create or modify depending on road status (what Mother Nature does to the terrain). Over the past several seasons (since we have had the ride in June), we have had to deal with washed out roadways, late snow, event conflicts resulting in date changes, all of which have an impact on the event planning. This year is no different. The washout on Huntington Lake road near Big Creek resulted in the road closure requiring us to change the C2K route to go up Tamarack to Kaiser.  

UPCOMING MEETINGS

FCC Board Meeting:  June 5th.  6:00 PM.  Me N Ed's Victory Grill, 4010 Cedar Ave.

Climb to Kaiser Volunteer Meeting: June 12.  6:00P.  Me N Ed's Victory Grill, 4010 Cedar Ave.

VOLUNTEERS  

   We're having a great response for volunteers to work the C2K, but there are still positions to fill. We will have the C2K volunteers meeting on Wednesday June 12, 2019 from 6 - 8 pm at the Victory Grill Me N Eds on Cedar north of Dakota. There will be an orientation for Rest Stop leaders and a chance to fill in positions that haven’t been filled. If you want to volunteer and haven’t signed up, please come. You can still sign up at https://volunteersignup.org/Q34B9. 

TEAM FRESNO CYCLING CLUB

   Now that May is Bike Month is over, let’s not stop riding. Our riding season is just now getting in gear. Our evening rides are going strong on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Of course there will also be rides on Saturdays and Sundays.  Ride leaders, please step up and put your rides on the calendar. 

   I love it that we generally have so many choices that it is hard to decide which ride to do. But find a group that you enjoy riding with and get out and have fun. remember that all Club-led rides are covered by our injury insurance for the riders and liability insurance for the ride leader and Club. 

TOUR DE LAKES RIDE

   Another great ride sponsored by the Club (free for Club members), is the Annual Tour de Lakes ride which will be on Saturday July 27th, 2019. It is a multi-level (B,C,D) ride. It has two start locations, Shaver Lake and Dinkey Creek. One starts at 0800 and the other starts at 0900. There is a fully stocked Rest Stop at McKinley Grove and two minimal (water & snacks) stops at Courtwright Reservoir and Wishon Dam. We are still looking for a Ride Coordinator for this ride. if you can do it, please contact the Prez or the VP Diana Millhollin. 

RIDE SAFETY

   Remember when you are riding in groups that it is of utmost importance that you be alert and pay attention to what you and the riders ahead and behind are doing. It happens to often where cyclists get lax while riding and they either hit a wheel in front of them or cause the rider behind them to hit them, and usually it is the rider in the rear who falls. When a bicyclist falls it is inevitable that they will suffer injury, you don’t have to be going fast to suffer serious injuries. Bicycles are not yet fitted with air bags like vehicles so we have to make every effort not to fall or cause someone else to fall. It is fun and efficient riding in a pace line, but it also comes with big responsibilities, staying alert, maintaining the proper speed, signal any slow downs, point out objects in the road, and keeping a watchful eye on what the group is doing.  

That’s all for now. 

See you at Climb to Kaiser, either as a rider or volunteer.!

Be safe and remember to ride legal. 

The Prez,  Dennis Ball 

THE FCC THURSDAY NITE TACO RIDE

   Now that the weather and sunlight are cooperating, the Thursday night rides from Enzo’s Table is becoming a very popular ride.

   We meet at 5:45 pm and roll at 6 PM. There are currently 2 ride offerings; from Enzo’s to Friant and back; or from Enzo’s riding the Circuit CCW.

   The start location was changed as there is less traffic to deal with and there is ample parking. 

DEVIN'S SHOP TALK BLOG

    Devin Bovee has added to his blog, talking about Stewardship.  Find out the scoop in Devin's Latest Blogpost.

PAY-TO-RIDE EVENTS

There are some great paid events coming our way. 

• Climb to Kaiser will be June 22,
• The Grizzly Century will be on Sept 14, 
• The Bass Lake Double Century on Oct 12,  
• The Hammer Ride will be Oct 19th. 
  

  There are a lot of rides to choose from and those are just the local rides. The Wildflower Century will be April 27th, and the Light House Century will be on Sept 28th. 

  Find us on the web at www.fresnocycling.com or find us Facebook and get plugged into one of the ride groups.  Start your training for the big events! 

That’s all I have for now. See you on the road!

The Prez, aka Dennis Ball  

LOCAL BIKE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS

 For many of us, eating and riding are the two major things in life.  We all rely on and support our local bike shops.  These are the people dedicated to making sure that we can all safely enjoy what we do.  A few local restaurants go out of their way to accomodate cyclists.  Please be sure to support these folks, and tell them you are an FCC Member!

• List of Bicycle Shops and other Supporters.
  

OTHER ITEMS

Click Link Below, or go to www.fresnocycling.com

• Ride Codes
• Rules of the Road
• Bicyclist Code of Conduct
• Membership Application
• Board Member List

   The Fresno Cycling Club is a group of some 800+ cyclists who enjoy bicycling as recreation and sport. As a club we seek to offer cycling events and activities that span a spectrum of cycling interests. Club rides are scheduled year round and range from novice level to 200-mile expert rides. We protect the rights of cyclists by following local, state, and national affairs as they concern cycling. Club members receive a monthly newsletter listing ride schedules and other information of interest to cyclists.  Don't wait another minute! Join now! Welcome to the Fresno Cycling Club.

Questions or Comments on this newsletter?  Let us know! editor@fresnocycling.com 

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