Lead From the Back:

Special Rides in the Summer

by Dave Stauffer

LBC Members and Friends:

I hope you had a terrific Tour de Red Rose experience; I did, while having a blast seeing all the different people who were out riding. This event is a main reason why July has become my favorite month for riding with the club. Though the actual TdRR registration numbers were down, we experienced very high participation on the rides. Consider that registration was required only to earn awards, while our core existence as a club is riding. The more options we provide to ride, the better, since more enthusiasm is created, and more riders come out.

As August begins, some of you may be experiencing TdRR post-event withdrawal symptoms: anticipation of the everyday ride, navigation of start times, the hurt so good soreness in your legs that reminds you of how much exercise you are getting, and the anticipation of the weather call and the relief/disappointment when it is made. At the end, too, you should curb the extra food and beverage that you once included because of the exercise.

Remember that club rides do continue, and you can follow the schedule through August, September, and into October in usually decent temperatures. Other ways to keep up with regular riding are to commute to work if possible, lead impromptu rides for the club, ride with a friend, or create a ride of your own and invite others through Meetup.

An impromptu ride posted to Meetup that results in four or more riders during the ride can count towards a Ride Hero award, provided a properly completed and filed Ride Waiver is submitted. Impromptu rides may be scheduled on Meetup only by those members who have been granted Event Organizer status. Contact Rich Brown to be given “Event Organizer” status on Meetup and review the Ride Leader page of our website for more details. For those wishing to lead but not sure how, we have a Ride Leader in Training program where you will be mentored through three ride leads and receive Ride Hero credits. Contact Rich if interested.

Covered Bridge Classic

36 Covered Bridge Classic volunteer spots are still open as of writing this article. Go to the volunteering menu at https://lancasterbikeclub.net/ Some of these openings are before the event. The Covered Bridge Classic, on August 18, is how we give back to the community. We host over 2000 riders. Please help to keep this tradition alive.

Come and see me at the SAG tent. Let me know your thoughts on how we can better serve our club members or drop me an email.

See you on the road, Dave Stauffer