Greeting fellow Baltimore Bicycling Club members,

Website:At the January 7, 2020 meeting regarding increasing rider participation, the topic that generated the most interest/feedback was improving the BBC Website.  One recommendation was to have a Website Manager, whose duties include reviewing and editing submissions as needed, declining non-relevant or inappropriate material and forwarding submissions to the Web Designer for publication.

Our first Website Manager is Alice Smith, whom many of you know as a 13-15mph rider.  All website submissions for the front page should now be submitted to: websitemanager@baltobikeclub.org.

Member Benefits:One benefit of BBC membership is access to our cue sheet library on the BBC website.  Cue sheets are also available on our club Ride with GPS account.  There are many rides of varying distances and start locations to choose from.  Although club rides have been suspended, you can peruse the online library for a suitable ride.  

Extending Memberships:  As was previously announced, BBC memberships will be extended to compensate for the period during which we were shutdown.  All memberships will be extended for the duration of the BBC shutdown, from March 28 until group rides are restarted.  The membership expiration date for everyone who had an active membership on March 28 will be moved out by the length of time that has elapsed when group rides are restarted.  If you are uncertain whether your membership was active on March 28, you can contact John Issacs at treasurer@baltobikeclub.org.

Your Board is working on guidelines for group rides:Your Board of Directors is discussing the criteria for restarting club rides and how this will be implemented.     We are taking into consideration the actions of several other bike clubs on the eastern seaboard and our state and local governments to create guidelines to restart rides and we are learning from those few who have restarted.  Guidelines will include:

·        Group size: “groups” of no more than 10 riders.  If 15 people show up for a ride, 2 groups leave 10-15 minutes apart;

·        Practice social distancing at the ride start and while riding;

·        Bring a mask and wear it at the ride start when signing in; ride with one if you want, and be sure to wear it in a convenience store;

·        print out your own cue sheet. 

The guidelines will change over time, as needed. 

 We do not know yet when we can start group rides.  We will monitor our government’s guidelines and notify members when we can start posting rides on the calendar.

Civil War Century (CWC) is cancelled:By now you have heard the CWC is cancelled.  Many thanks to Larry Kenney and Cindy Wyatt for their tireless efforts in organizing this event.  We are all looking forward to the 2021 Civil War Century. 

Finally, I would like to express my thanks to the event coordinators who worked hard to plan events which were scheduled earlier this year; Gloria Epstein - Spring Social and Season Opening ride; Bob Carson - Kent County Spring Fling; Phil Manger - Greencastle Great Escape; Ken Philhower and Cindy Wyatt - Flatlands Tour; Bill Blankenship - Picnic ride. All these events were cancelled  this year.

Take care and stay safe

Patrick Lapensee

-- President of the Baltimore Bicycling Club

The Baltimore Bicycling Club and COVID-19

Dear Baltimore Bicycling Club members,

As you know, the entire world is engulfed in the COVID-19 outbreak which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a pandemic. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the WHO have provided guidance on how to best combat the virus that causes COVID-19. This guidance includes avoiding crowds and practicing “Social Distancing,” where we stay 6 feet from other people. These actions will help slow the spread of the virus.

To this end, the Baltimore Bicycling Club (BBC) Board of Directors is cancelling all BBC rides effective immediately until further notice. All BBC rides currently posted on the BBC website are cancelled. The Instructional Cycling Series, including the orientation, will not go forward as scheduled. Depending on circumstances, we will attempt to conduct the instructional program later in the season, possibly in the fall.

Cancelling our rides, and thus limiting our exposure to others, is something we must do to help slow the spread of COVID-19. We understand this is disappointing, as our season is just getting underway and our calendar is filling up with rides. But the safety of our bicycling community, as well as our friends and families, is paramount.

The BBC Board of Directors will alert all members of our club when circumstances allow us to continue normal operations. In the meantime, be safe, practice good hygiene and distancing. We look forward to everyone participating in BBC rides in the future.

President of the Baltimore Bicycling Club,

Patrick Lapensee