Table of Contents
- President's Message
- Bike Fleet Maintenance Session at College Settlement Camp
- March Safe Cycling Tip - Checking Those Tires!
- REGISTRATION OPEN THIS WEEK - 2026 SCU Best of Bucks Metric!
Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Welcome Our New Members!
- General Club Reference & Resources
- The SCU Ride Guide (and Safety Reminders)
- Member Benefits
- Online Club Resources
- Regional Events Calendar & Mileage Log
- SCU Executive Committee
- Connect with SCU on Social Media!
| Image credit:
Copilot prompted with, Please give the recumbent cyclist including his bicycle a Springtime background. | President's Message
March 2026
Holy Vernal Equinox, Batman! Spring is almost here! The snow is rapidly melting and soon the last of the salt will be washed away. Daylight savings time begins March 8, opening up weekday evening riding even before SCU's "official" riding season begins in April. It's time to tune-up your bike and maybe even get a set of fresh tires. A lot of us haven't done much riding in this Winter, so we may need to tune-up our legs and lungs as well. Best of all, we'll get to renew our friendships with our riding buddies that make the joy of cycling even more meaningful.
Registration for this year's Best of Bucks Metric is now open! Once again it's the Saturday before Mother's Day, May 9, at Delaware Valley University. Our routemaster Charlie Brant (Chuck Wagon on RWGPS), has made new enhancements to our routes of 33, 50 and 62 miles through scenic Bucks County. Go to the BoB webpage for more information about riding these great routes or volunteering to make this event the best early season event in the region. Either way, you are supporting our club's riding and social activities as well as the local cycling community.
There is also a Spring time activity to help our non-profit friends at College Settlement Camp maintain their fleet of bicycles. The Camp provides outdoor summer camp for kids regardless of their financial position. SCU directly supports their youth cycling program. More details below.
See you out there soon. Maybe even in shorts instead of tights!
Steve "In like a lion, out like a lamb" Muth
SCU President
PS: At the February 17 meeting the Executive Committee decided to continue using Meetup for our ride calendar. Thank you to all those that provided input to this decision.
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Bike Fleet Maintenance Session at College Settlement Camp
Do you enjoy being your own bike mechanic? Is working on your bike almost as much fun as riding it? Here’s an opportunity to have fun putting those skills to use for a good cause.
College Settlement Camp’s youth cycling program is sponsored by SCU through an annual donation. This is a unique program where many children often learn to ride for the first time. (In exchange, they let us park our gear shed on their campus and use their facilities for social events such as our annual picnic.)
Of course, the fleet of kids’ bikes see a lot of hard use and often need some TLC before the next season. This is where you can play a role. We’ll be meeting at their Alumni Hall to adjust brakes, reset handlebars, repair flats, etc. So, if you have a set of tools, and hopefully a repair stand, please join us for an evening of wrenching and socializing.
We will meet on Wednesday, April 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. You can arrive at the start or later if your schedule dictates. Pizza and soft drinks will be provided!
Please RSVP on Meetup so we know how much pizza to order.
| March Safe Cycling Tip
Checking Those Tires!
Inspect your tires now! Who needs to start the riding season healing from a blowout induced crash? Murphy's Law indicates that said blowout will happen while cornering on a fast downhill, resulting in maximum pain and injury. Check for wear by looking to see if the tread is missing in the center. Tires without tread often have a wear indicator dimple in the wearing surface. Check the manufacturer's website for more specifics on your tire. Check for cuts and scrapes too. If the cords are visible or there is bulging, the structural integrity of the casing has been compromised. Please send your worn out tires to that great century ride in the sky for a well deserved rest from potholes and broken bottles.
| Worn Out Tread vs. New Tread
| Tread Wear Indicator Dimple
| REGISTRATION OPEN THIS WEEK - 2026 SCU BEST OF BUCKS METRIC!
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Mark your calendar! The 2026 Best of Bucks Metric will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 starting from Delaware Valley University! Registration will open THIS WEEK - please keep an eye out for a separate announcement and check the SCU website. We can't wait!!!! | |
John Cunningham - Dresher, PA
Greg Miller - Oreland, PA
Shelly Strobaugh
| | |  | | | | |  | The SCU Ride Guide (and Safety Reminders)
- Arrive ten to 15 minutes early and Be Prepared To Leave On Time! The starting times are actual departure times
- Make sure your bike is in proper working order Before you arrive
- Carry a spare tube, patch kit, pump, water bottle, and some form of I.D. (emergency information)
- Ride in a safe manner and obey all traffic laws
- The wearing of a helmet (ANSI and/or Snell approved) is Required on all club rides
- Do not "Bike off" more than you can do. Go on rides within your ability, interest and experience
- Each rider assumes his or her own risk on all rides
- Those who ride ahead of the group are on their own ride
- Always notify the ride leader when leaving the group
- Riders should adhere to the advertised speed of the ride
- Ride leaders are not expected to be bike mechanics
- During Winter months or questionable weather conditions, please contact the ride leader
- If it is raining at the start time, then the ride is canceled unless otherwise noted by the ride leader
- Have fun riding your bike.
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Hello SCU Riders !!!
Passing along a few safety reminders and points we all need to be aware of on our group rides...
- Please always use a red tail light - even during the day - for visibility since it does make you more visible. You need to be visible and conspicuous on the road. Especially if you have a bright red tail light of close to 100 lumens. Please see what you have and make changes if necessary. If you do not have a rear red tail light, please get one. Using a front white light helps even more with being seen.
- While passing another rider, ALW\AYS pass on their left side and ALWAYS announce that you are passing them on their left. If - for a very rare reason - you are on a riders right side need or need to pass a rider on their right, ALWAYS announce that also. Otherwise it is not a good idea to ever pass or even ride directly on the right side of a rider in front of you. If you are on a riders' right side, stay well behind them and still let them know you are there.
- And while we are talking about trailing a rider, please avoid "half-wheeling" the rider in front of you for any reason. Either on their left or right if they are in front of you.. This occurs when your front wheel overlaps the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. Sometimes the shoulders of roads are narrow and this will make for a dangerous situation when cars are passing.
- When someone yells out "CAR BACK" we should all be looking to immediately form a SINGLE LINE of cyclists as quickly and as safely as possible and NOT ride two abreast in the lane the cars are in. This should be the case regardless of the width of the shoulder. The narrower the shoulder, the more we should be aware of this condition. A safe way of doing this is, if you are the rider on the right of the two-abreast, allow the rider on your left to get in front of you. that way the left side rider is not drifting back toward the oncoming and approaching car and gtets out of the way quicker..
- When coming to a light and there is a right-hand turning lane and you are going straight, stay to the right in the lane in the direction you are travelling. Do not veer right into that lane and then jump back into the lane where you are going straight. One of the best ways to be safe it to be "Predictable" and "Conspicuous".
- At intersections, do not call "Clear" for other riders. Conditions can change quickly with incorrect and potentially dangerous assumptions by other riders. Each rider should satisfy themself that it is safe to proceed. Do always call out approaching vehicles and other hazards, though.
Thank you Thom McAdams for the reminders!
|  | Interested in Leading Rides?
Our ride leaders truly make it happen for SCU! They are the reason we have such a vibrant club with so many choices of rides across all levels.
If you would like to try leading rides for SCU, please contact the Ride Leader Coordinator, Steve Baxter, at rides@suburbancyclists.org and he can provide more information to start you on your way!
| SCU eBike Policy
More information will be explained and distributed at SCU club rides by the ride leaders, but below describes the 3 categories of e-bikes and what is allowed on club rides. As the popularity of eBikes increases both in general and in SCU, we welcome the use of them on club rides but need to be aware of limitations and what is allowed.
Summary:
Electric bikes shall be permitted on club rides only as covered by the club's insurance policy and as consistent with local, state and Federal laws. The Treasurer shall determine the club's insurance coverage regarding electric bikes. A summary of this coverage and any changes to it shall be communicated to membership by the Digital Communications Director and directly communicated to ride leaders by the Ride Director. The ride sign-in sheet shall be revised and updated as needed to indicate this coverage.
- Only pedal assist eBikes (Classes 1 and 3) will be allowed on club rides.
- As SCU club rides cross into multiple states (PA, NJ, DE), it is critical we adhere to the regulations of all 3.
- If you have questions, please contact the SCU executive team or talk to your ride leader.
3 Classifications - eBikes
- Allowed: A “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Not Allowed: A “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
- Allowed: A “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and is equipped with a speedometer.
When considering purchasing an eBike, it is important to understand the laws in your state and the type riding you want to do, including if bringing it on a SCU club ride (which again, we enjoy having them).
Thank you,
SCU Executive Committee |  | As membership director, I want to welcome back all of our SCU members who have renewed their memberships and I am encouraging our non-members to join our ranks! We are excited to have over 1,800 cyclists in our Meetup Group but we would be even more excited to have more of the group become dues-paying SCU members. Our membership fee is one of the best bargains around!! So what are the benefits you will receive with your SCU membership you may ask?
Here are just a few:
- Insurance coverage if an accident occurs while participating in a SCU ride
- Access to all SCU events including the SCU picnic, awards banquet, tailgate parties and many more events that occur throughout the year
- Discounts at designated local bike shops and SCU Century / Summer Event rides
- Monthly newsletter
And most importantly...supporting our cycling community especially our experienced and dedicated ride leaders who work hard at providing our club members with the best and safest routes throughout the region that accommodates various rider abilities.
The SCU membership fees help to sustain our club so please consider becoming a member today! To join our club, click https://suburbancyclists.org/. Please feel free to reach out to me at membership@suburbancyclists.org or any of our Executive Committee if you have any questions or comments.
Hope to see you on the road!
Pat Butcher
Membership Director | Online Club Resources
As a reminder, there are other online resources available to you to fully enjoy your club membership:
- Meetup.com: Look for the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited (SCU) Meetup page to learn about and sign up for group rides.
- Facebook: Visit the Suburban Cyclists Unlimited page to hear about the latest club news or pictures and adventures from club rides.
- Instagram: Check SCU on Instagram for images and news from the club and our cycling community.
| Regional Events Calendar & Mileage Log | | Regional Events Update
Be sure check Jack Elias' famous Calendar of Regional Events for an updated, chronological list of regional events. Jack is updating the list as information is provided.
This calendar is presented by Suburban Cyclists Unlimited and lists recreational bicycle events that take place in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, and start within approximately 150 miles of Horsham, Montgomery County, PA.
| | Mileage Tracker and
Universal Mileage Logs are available
The universal mileage log features include:
- A universal log that is good for any year.
- An automatic summation of mileage and number of rides and computation of the average ride distance.
- Displays six charts of mileage, number of rides and average distance.
- The mileage logs can be found in the Documents Library on the SCU website.
- Go to SCU's Documents Library and scroll down to "Ride Documents" and “Mileage Log”.
| | | All Members Welcome at Executive Committee Meetings!
For 2025, Executive Committee meetings are held every third Thursday (normally) of the month and are posted to the Meetup ride calendar. All members are invited to participate in the discussions or share thoughts and ideas. Meetings are held via Zoom. If you RSVP to the Meetup or send an email to president@suburbancyclists.org, a Zoom link and an agenda will be sent to you shortly before the meeting. If you have something specific to share, you will be put at the top of the agenda so you can be heard without waiting through the routine business. Meetings are posted in MeetUp.
Hope to see you there! | President
Steve Muth
Secretary
Larry Kohout
Treasurer
Savannah Lee
Digital Communications Director
Kevin Olsavsky
Membership Director
Pat Butcher
Public Relations Director
Linda A. McGrane
Ride Leader Director
Steve Baxter
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Regional Calendar Editor
Jack Elias
Merchandise Manager
Open | CONNECT WITH SCU ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow SCU on Facebook and Instagram for news and images from the club and our growing cycling community!
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