April 2009 1

P.O. Box 156 Swarthmore, PA, 19081 April 2009 www.dvbc.org Help Complete the Schuylkill River Trail by Dom Zuppo

Alex Doty, executive director of to fix what's broken in Manayunk will match every dollar donated the Bicycle Coalition of Greater and extend the trail down to with one of his own, up to a total Philadelphia, attended the Bartram's Garden and beyond. It is of $5,000. Living near the National Bike Summit in time that Federal transportation Schuylkill River Trail, this anony- , DC in March along funds be used to complete mous donor understands the with twenty volunteers and BCGP the region's first green transporta- importance of completing the staff. They met with 16 tion corridor. We have begun the Valley's first green Congressional offices in support advocacy that will complete the transportation corridor. Gifts must trail. Last week in DC we took be made before April 15. Please another important step towards go to the BCGP website at securing the $22 million needed www.bicyclecoalition.org for to complete construction of the information or to make your Schuylkill River Trail. But it is donation.. going to take many more months Times may be tough, but every of work, many more meetings dollar counts. If every member of with officials and partners, and the DVBC made just a $10 more research to find local funds donation, with the matching gift to supply the required match of we could contribute over $4,000 federal dollars.” to this project! In order to complete the Schuylkill River Trail, to build SAVE THE DATES! the needed coalition of community groups and individual Bonkers Metric Tour supporters like you, the Coalition Sunday, May 17 of traditional and pedes- needs to raise $10,000 before April Details online at www.dvbc.org trian projects and one in particu- 15. They have a foundation grant to lar: the campaign to complete the pay many of the campaign expenses Schuylkill River Trail. but need support from you—past, Clean up your streams! As Alex explains: “It is time for present, and future users of the Help fellow DVBC Members Philadelphia to fill the gaps in the Trail—to put them over the top. at two creek clean-up days. Schuylkill River Trail. It is time To help the Coalition meet their April 25: Darby Creek that the premiere trail in our campaign goal of $10,000, one of (See Ride Calendar region not require you to know their members is challenging all of for details ) secret map coordinates in order to us in the cycling community to con- May 2: Ridley Creek get in and out of the city. It is time tribute as generously as we can. He (Details in May newsletter) Delaware2 Valley Thanks to Our Board of April Directors 2009 Bicycle Club and Staff Supporters!

P.O. Box 156 Swarthmore, PA 19081 Craftech Computer Solutions Drew Knox , President www.dvbc.org 13 State Rd., Media and Brandywine Tour Coordinator (610) 566-0980 [email protected] Membership in DVBC is www.craftech.com encouraged, but non-members Cycle Sport Debbie Chaga , Vice President 801 N. Providence Rd., Media 610.494.3033 or [email protected] are welcome at all our rides and events. Except for the Bonkers (610) 565-9535 Frank Jackson , Secretary Metric, Brandywine Tour, Club www.cyclesportmedia.com [email protected] Banquet and Bonkers Picnic, all Cycle Fit club events are free. Board 320 S. Chester Rd., Wallingford Mike Broennle , Treasurer [email protected] meetings, held the first Monday (610) 876-9450 cyclefitonline.com of the month, are open to all. Larry Green , [email protected] Action Wheels DVBC welcomes articles, 1066 Route 45, Deptford, NJ Peter Schmidt , photographs, and ride reports for (856) 468-5115 [email protected] the newsletter. Please submit actionwheels.com Nancy Ness , [email protected] materials to the Editor before the Drexel Hill Cyclery

th 15 of each month. Please note 703 Burmont Rd., Drexel Hill Jake Ludwinski , [email protected] that the views expressed in this (610) 626-4477 publication are not necessarily the 320 Produce Market & Deli Doug Bower , [email protected] views of the DVBC, nor do we 733 S. Chester Rd. Swarthmore endorse products or services (610) 328-7211 Antonio Rocha , Web Page & Listserve advertised. Custom Bagels 484.802.8374 or [email protected] Contents © 2009 by DVBC 15 S. Olive St., Media Dominick Zuppo & Jo Ann Fahey , (610) 891-6761 Ride Coordinators Club Affiliations 484.483.7456 or [email protected] Linvilla Orchards 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media League of American Bicyclists Adam Levine , Newsletter Editor Bicycle Coalition of Greater (610) 876-7116 610.891.0780 or [email protected] Philadelphia www.linvilla.com

Ride Guidelines

1. Arrive early and be ready to leave on time . 2. Make sure your bike is in proper working order before you arrive. Ride leaders are not expected to be bike mechanics. 3. A helmet is mandatory for all DVBC rides . 4. Carry a spare tube, patch kit, and water bottle. 5. All Club rides are rated according to the degree of difficulty. Do not “bike off” more than you can do. Go on rides within your ability, interest and experience. If you’re in doubt about your ability, try out a ride one class below the one you’re unsure of and work your way up. 6. Practice safety and obey all traffic laws. 7. Each rider assumes his/her own risk on all rides. 8. Those who ride ahead of the group are on their own ride. 9. Always notify the ride leader before leaving the group. 10. Ride leaders should adhere to the advertised speed of the ride. RIDE CLASSIFICATIONS Class D: For new, inexperienced riders or families: 7-9 mph average moving speed with frequent stops and as few hills as possible. The group will wait for all riders. The ride lengths are usually less than 10 miles, but longer distances are permissible. Class C-: For average riders: 10-11 mph average moving speed with rest stops as needed. The group will wait for stragglers. The recommended distance is 10-30 miles. Class C+: Also for average riders: 12-13 mph average moving speed with rest stops every 45-60 minutes. No obligation to wait for stragglers if cue sheets or maps are provided. Class B-: For more experienced riders: 14-15 mph average moving speed with rest stops at the discretion of the ride leader. No obligation to wait for stragglers if cue sheets or maps are provided. Class B+: For strong riders: 16-18 mph average moving speed with rest stops at the discretion of the ride leader. No obligation to wait for stragglers if cue sheets or maps are provided. Class A: For very strong riders: 18+ mph average moving speed with rest stops at the discretion of the ride leader. No obligation to wait for stragglers if cue sheets or maps are provided. CANCELLATIONS In the case of questionable weather or road conditions, events may be canceled. Call the ride leader if in doubt. April 2009 3 APRIL 2009 Ride Calendar

April showers bring May flowers—so when the weather is iffy, it’s important to CONTACT THE RIDE LEADER IN ADVANCE to make sure the ride is still on. You can also check the club listserve (find it at www.dvbc.org) for up-to- the-minute ride information, as well as for unscheduled “ad-hoc” rides posted from time to time. Sat Apr 4 9:00 am Start behind the old Wawa at Rte 1 and Creek Road. We'll see if the baby ducks and geese Miles:55 Class:C+ have hatched on the main branch of the Brandywine, then we'll crisscross the West Branch Creeking Along working our way up some rolling hills past Brandywine Outfitters to Gilliam Deli for a quick snack. The route then roughly follows the Reverse Brandywine, with lunch at the Sunshine Cafe in West Groove, but with an easier ride to the finish. Contact Drew Knox at 267-421-2657 or [email protected] Sun Apr 5 9:30 am Today is the Fightins’ home opener. Let’s honor the Phillies with a fun Northbrook Market- Miles:44 Class:C+ place loop. Expect some hills. Optional stop at local batting cages (Maplezone). Wear red if World Bleeping possible. Start and end at Planet Fitness (Rt. 452 in Aston). Champions Contact Dan Dillon at 610-494-4949 or [email protected] Tues Apr 7 6:00 pm Spring is here! Dust cobwebs off both the bike and the rider and join me for a C level ride Miles:TBD Class:C around the Swarthmore, Ridley, and Wallingford areas of Delaware Co. Speed and distance 320 Produce will depend on the group. We will wait for stragglers. Meet at 320 Produce, Swarthmorewood Shopping Center, S Chester Road (Rt. 320), Swarthmore PA. Contact Betsy Ffrench at 610-324-8207 or [email protected] Wed Apr 8 10:00 am Various routes from Swarthmore. Ride leaves from the 320 Market Café parking lot. Probably Miles:35-50 Class:B- a lunch stop. Temperatures below 45 degrees F will cancel ride. Doc's Ride Contact Larry Green at 610-544-5799 or [email protected] Sat Apr 11 9:00 am Start at Kingsway H.S. for a century-prep ride that goes south to Alltheway for a brief water Miles:75 Class:B stop, past Parvins Parsimonious State Park, and on to Beautiful Downtown Buena for lunch at The Big Apple the Big Apple Cafe. Contact me if you're uncertain about the weather. Contact Drew Knox at 267-421-2657 or [email protected] Sat Apr 11 9:00 am Join me for a jaunt from Villanova University to Valley Forge and back. We’ll meet in the park- Miles:20-22 Class:C+ ing lot on Lancaster Ave. across from the old field house and head through local neighbor- V to V with DZ hoods to our destination. While the ride will be easy-paced, I’ve added the “+” for the climb back from Valley Forge. Contact Dom Zuppo at 484-483-7456 or [email protected] Sun Apr 12 8:00 am We will search for hills until it hurts. Expect 5,000 foot of climb. Start PROMPTLY at 7:55 AM Miles:60 Class:B from the R5 Wayne Train Station. NOTE THE NEW START TIME. Easter Ache Hunt Contact Brian Wade at 610-254-9485 or [email protected] Tues Apr 14 6:00 pm Spring is here! Dust cobwebs off both the bike and the rider and join me for a C level ride Miles:TBD Class:C around the Swarthmore, Ridley, and Wallingford areas of Delaware Co. Speed and distance 320 Produce will depend on the group. We will wait for stragglers. Meet at 320 Produce, Swarthmorewood Shopping Center, S Chester Road (Rt. 320), Swarthmore PA. Contact Betsy Ffrench at 610-324-8207 or [email protected] Wed Apr 15 10:00 am Various routes from Swarthmore. Ride leaves from the 320 Market Café parking lot. Probably Miles:35-50 Class:B- a lunch stop. Temperatures below 45 degrees F will cancel ride. Doc's Ride Contact Larry Green at 610-544-5799 or [email protected] Thurs Apr 16 5:15 pm Join the Aston Hill Climbing Society for hill repeaters and get in a quick hour or so of training. Miles:14 Class:All We'll burn off the frustration from doing our taxes. All are welcome since we do the hills at our My Stinking Taxes R own pace. Rain cancels ride. Meet at Planet Fitness, Pennell & Marionville Rds, Aston PA. Done Contact Debbie Chaga at 610-494-3033 or [email protected] 4 April 2009 Sat Apr 18 8:00 am Start at Kingsway for a fun, full day in the saddle pedaling through Buena, Head On The Miles:105 Class:B River, and beautiful downtown Maurice. This will not be a fast pace, but you should have Three Wawas to the some foundation miles (several 60 and 70-milers) before attempting. There will be several Wind long stretches for faster riders to move ahead. Contact Drew Knox at 267-421-2657 or [email protected]

Sat Apr 18 9:00 am Meet at Rose Tree Park in Media for a ride to the Country Butcher in Kennett Square. Bring Miles:62 Class:C+ $ for food stop. Inclement weather cancels. Kennett Square Metric Contact Mary Huis at 610-627-0766 or [email protected]

Sun Apr 19 8:00 am The usual route with a few new hills. Starts PROMPTLY at 7:55 AM at the R5 Wayne Train Miles:60 Class:B Station. Expect nonstop climbing for two hours. Northbrook Run Contact Brian Wade at 610-254-9485 or [email protected]

Sun Apr 19 8:30 am Come out for an easy C pace ride to our favorite NJ breakfast place, the Kountry Kitchen. Miles:35 +/- C