Make sure you have the correct dates in your calendar!

North to New Hampshire: May 31 (backup date May 24)
Travel from Wakefield, MA to scenic New Hampshire and back on our beautiful spring century ride.

Climb to the Clouds: Aug 16
Push yourself to the uppermost limit and climb Mount Wachusett on this intense summer century ride.

Cranberry Harvest: Oct 18
This autumn century ride will take you past the gorgeous cranberry bogs in Plymouth, Rochester, Wareham, Carver, and Acushnet.

One of the benefits of CRW membership is the CRW name tag. Attached to your helmet, saddlebag or bike it lets people know who you are.

More importantly, it contains contact information should you be injured on a ride.

The updated name tags are now available for order in the CRW Store. The tags include member first name in large letter format and member last name in small letter format. Each name tag will have the member's In Case of Emergency number on them.

Name tags are free for CRW members!

All members who have joined the club since January 1, 2026 will automatically receive a name tag.

Renewing members who are looking to order or replace their name tag may request an updated tag in the CRW Store on the website. To find the store, click on the Members tab and then click on the Store tab. You can then order your name tag. Please give us time to print the name tag and mail it to you. 

Please make sure your information is up-to-date in your CRW Profile as this will be used to make your name tag.

Information needed is:

If you have questions or concerns, contact us at member-benefits@crw.org.

Thanks to all of the people who competed in this year's Winter Challenge! Below are the tabulated results.

The objective of this year's Winter Challenge was to ride as much as possible. There were four winners: David Wilson and Renee Whynes with 70 rides each, and Barry Nelson and Linda Nelson with 60 rides each.

Three additional winners were selected at random: Doug Cornelius, Joe Costa, and Micheal Weintraub.

All winners got the ROCKBROS Mini Electric Bike Tire Pump Portable 100 PSI with Type-C Charging.

Congratulations to all!

Volunteer signup for CRW's North to New Hampshire Spring Century (N2NH) is open.

To volunteer, click on this web link: https://volunteersignup.org/TTWWC (or copy it into your web browser) to access the signup sheet, and follow the instructions on the page. Information on the 2026 century series plus the volunteer signup link is also available on the CRW website: Charles River Wheelers - Centuries 

CRW Member Benefit: Volunteer for N2NH, ride N2NH OR another 2026 century free of charge! Here's how:

• Commit to a volunteer position by signing up.
• Contact Mark Nardone (mark.nardone@crw.org) for a volunteer registration code. For N2NH, you'll receive a N2NH volunteer registration code. If you want to apply this benefit to another 2026 CRW century, contact Mark before registering for that event.
• Attend a virtual volunteer meeting a week or so prior to the event (1 hour). Date and time are TBD.
• The benefit is not transferable to other riders.
• The benefit applies to 2026 centuries only.

We're getting ready for a great event! Please let me know if you have questions.

Doug Cornelius on his tour of Massachusetts.

1. Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Brockton, went to law school in Boston and now live in Newton.

2. When did you start cycling, and what got you into it?
I biked around my neighborhood as a kid. I remember my cool Huffy and skidding to stops. Before kids I was mountain biking and adventure racing. Then I switched to road biking when my friend’s mom got cancer and I biked my first Pan-Mass Challenge in 2005.

3. When did you join CRW, and what brought you to the club?
I first joined the CRW in 2005 when I was training for the PMC. There was a regular ride out of Nahanton Park in Newton on Saturday mornings. That got me ready for my first PMC.

4. Do you volunteer for CRW, and if so, in what way(s)?
I’ve been a ride leader for several years. I ran for the board a few years ago, but that was a contentious election year, so let’s not talk about it.

5. What type of cycling do you enjoy the most?
Looking at my Strava stats (it doesn’t count if it’s not on Strava), my riding miles are mostly split between bike commuting and road biking. Some gravel riding. Some fat biking. I’m a year-round bike commuter. Riding in the cold of winter makes you appreciate those warm summer days. Even in the cold, there is no better way to start your day than by riding your bike. Even if it’s just to your office.

6. What’s your favorite ride or route?
I love the midnight marathon bike ride that covers the marathon route in the middle of the night on Sunday before the race. I lead that CRW ride from Newton City Hall out to Hopkinton and back to the finish line. (Sign up and join me.)

7. What has been your favorite moment or experience with CRW?
We had a great X-Mass in July adventure ride in 2022. We rode from Mt. Wachusett to Mt. Greylock. Stayed overnight at Bascom Lodge. Then down Greylock and back to Boston Harbor. We bonded over the craziness of that ride weekend:  Riccardo, Ryan, Guillermo, Bryan, Alex, Eric, Martin and Ramon.

8. What advice would you give a new CRW member?
Make sure you say hi to people at the start of a ride. Everyone is willing to talk. That might be the person pulling you across the finish.

9. What’s a fun fact about you (cycling or non-cycling)?
In 2025 I biked to all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. I’m the chair of the board of MassBike, the state-wide cycling advocacy and education group. I realized that despite living most of my life in Massachusetts, there were many parts of Massachusetts I had never been to, nevermind on a bike. I started in Abington on January 1. I spent my weekends throughout the year mapping out rides to towns in the Commonwealth that I knew very little about. I ended up finishing that quest on Nantucket in early November.

10. What do you enjoy most about being part of CRW?
CRW has a great variety of rides. There is opportunity for almost any type of ride and type of rider.

11. Anything else you'd like the club to know?
I’m a fierce cycling advocate. You can be one too. Reach out to your municipal officials. Show up for meetings and ask for safer roads for biking. Feel free to drop me a note and I can get you in touch with our council of advocates at MassBike.

By John Allen, CRW Safety Coordinator

This article is especially for ride leaders.  It describes a problem which you may encounter as you plan a ride, and potential solutions.

Many traffic lights are triggered to turn green by metal detectors buried in the roadway. These do not reliably sense bicycles. In another article, I showed how you can try to make these work when riding alone.

As you vet a ride, you need to check whether the metal detectors work. If you are riding alone, the testing can unfortunately place you in a scenario where you must either 

• wait for a car to roll up behind you and trigger the signal, 

• or cross lanes of traffic to the side of the street and push a pedestrian beg button (if there is any)

• or cross the intersection against a red light. 

The problem is most troubling if you are away from the right side of the street – going straight where there is a right-turn lane to your right, or turning left from a dedicated left-turn lane. 

The video below shows my own experience of this problem. I positioned my wheels directly over the wire cuts visible on the road surface, the best place to trigger the detector, but I waited till the third time traffic from my direction got the green light before a car came up behind me and I got a green left-turn arrow. 

When riding in a group, two or more bicyclists can position themselves to strengthen the signal at the metal detector. So, I recommend riding with a friend to check this out as you vet your ride. 

The detectors which are most likely to cause problems have the wires in the pavement in simple rectangles, like those in my video. Bicyclists who approach the detector double file and place their wheels over the wires on both sides will almost always trigger the detector. To the detector, they look like one bigger vehicle. It may help to reach across and hold hands with your companion. 

For this strategy to work during the ride, participants need to understand it, and to arrive at an intersection two or more at a time. Instruction can be in the pre-ride talk, Ride with GPS cue, or ride information online. Teamwork works best with a led group, where the leader can direct participants where to wait at each intersection. It is tougher on a show and go ride and hardest of all on an invitational ride such as a CRW Century, where many participants are not club members. 

If the detector has a wire cut down the middle as well as one at either edge, it works best to place the wheels directly over the middle wire. This will usually work for a single bicycle. 

Carbon-fiber wheels with folding tires (no metal) will not trigger a detector, sorry! I have suggested that carbon-fiber rims should have a thin loop of wire running all the way round. You could arrange this yourself, if you care too. It has to be a complete loop, connected into a circle. Maybe someday someone will sell conductive rim tape, but I’m not holding my breath. 

You might also route your ride to avoid the problem. It will rarely occur with right turns, as right turn on red is usually legal. It is less likely when approaching an intersection on a busy street than a quiet one, because a car is more likely to trigger the detector.  But CRW rides are more usually on a quiet road crossing a busy one. We like those quiet, scenic rural roads!

Left—a detector loop with a center wire cut. Upper right: a video detector. Lower right: marking sometimes seen to indicate where to wait – though not always correctly placed. Image credit: cyclingsavvy.org.

Increasing numbers of intersections are being equipped with video cameras for vehicle detection, and you will recognize them looking down toward you from overhead signal masts. These are generally reliable to detect bicycles, except that you may need to tilt your bicycle and aim the headlight up at the camera at night. CRW generally does not run rides at night, but I might as well tell you anyway.

By John Springfield

The February snow storms had me in a funk.
I needed some sunshine!
Checking out the weather maps for "no ice and snow", I headed to Florida.
I decided to ride down western Florida using a mix of rail trails and main roads.
 
I eventually used parts of these rail trails:

• Tallahassee - St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail

• Nature Coast State Trail

• Withlacoochee State Trail

• Suncoast Trail

• Upper Tampa Bay Trail

Otherwise I rode main highway 98.
 
Leaving the Tallahassee airport, I picked up the St. Marks Trail in a few miles.
Then it was smooth sailing for 15 miles on a very pretty (shaded) trail to St. Marks.
My body was out of shape. I had not ridden in three months.
So this short flat route was exactly what I needed.
AND NO SNOW.  Perfect 60-degree weather!
 
On the second day I rode Route 98 for most of the day.
It started out okay with a mild misty rain.
But by mile 15 I was seeking shelter from the steady rain.
There's not much out there on Route 98.
Just as I was giving up hope, Big Red's appeared.
It was a small store/gas station.
As I approached I noticed two hikers huddling under the overhang.
To our surprise, the owner stuck his head outside and invited us in.
We were treated to breakfast sandwiches made on a tiny grill.
Food was delicious!
 
One of the hikers told me he started in Key West, 600 miles south!
I was very impressed.  Of course he was half my age, but still impressive.
 
The next few days I stayed on Route 98.
The traffic was fast, but it had a good-enough paved shoulder.
Some people may not like main roads, but they don't bother me.
When I started bike touring in 1964, using main roads was the only option.
 
However, I also enjoyed several of Florida's rail trails.
They were all wide and paved.
And, did I mention, NO SNOW?
 
On the  last day toward Tampa I rode the Sun Coast Trail.
It paralleled the Sun Coast Highway.
Scenery was sparse (it was only about 100 feet from the noisy highway).
But it was a super highway for bicyclists.
Many packs of cyclists used it for their workouts.
 
I met few touring cyclists.
But one young 66-year-old caught up to me to chat about cycling trips.
Last year he completed the 4200-mile Trans America Trail alone.
I mentioned that I had crossed the country twice (also solo).
We acknowledged our respective treks, and then he sped off on a 100-miler.
 
The trip was only 7 days, but the sunshine was exactly what I needed.
I should do this every winter!

For photos and my daily journal: https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/FLA2026

Reflecting on Member Feedback

Before our March Board meeting, the Board and Senior Leadership Team gathered for a working off-site focused on the 2026 member survey. We reviewed your feedback and discussed ideas to better align our programs, events, and overall member experience with what matters most to you. This work will continue to shape our priorities for the season ahead.

Preparing for the Season

At the March 8 Board meeting, we focused on maintaining strong momentum as we head into the riding season. We heard updates across club programs, including ride leader training, volunteer recruitment, winter activities, and upcoming workshops.

Key Initiatives in Progress

Planning for this year’s Century ride is underway, with continued work on routes and logistics.

We also continued discussions on club gear, with further evaluation of vendor options and a focus on improving flexibility and availability for members.

Looking Ahead to Our 60th Anniversary

As part of our 60th anniversary, we began exploring updated branding concepts. Members will have an opportunity to provide input before any decisions are made.

Moving Forward

Overall, the meeting reflected a consistent theme: listening to members, strengthening our programs, and continuing to evolve CRW for the future.

Thank you to everyone who contributed feedback and supports the club through volunteering and participation—we’re looking forward to a great season ahead.

—Amy Juodawlkis

RIDES are the heart and soul of CRW, and RIDE LEADERS are its backbone. Our ride leaders are at the core of what makes CRW an outstanding bike club. 

Have you ever thought about leading a ride with CRW? Do you have questions about what is involved? We are offering Ride Leader Training on April 16th from 7:00 - 8:30 PM for anyone who wishes to learn more about what it takes to lead a club ride.

There are a lot of reasons to consider leading rides:

• You’re the boss!  Leading rides means you get to do the kind of ride you like, including start location, pace, distance, destination, theme, social activities, etc. 
• You can choose to lead a group at a specific pace or have people ride on their own.
• Pick a great spot for lunch, arrange for ice cream or other treats at the finish, and find other creative ways to make your ride interesting. 
• Leading rides is also a great way to give back to the club.  We’ve all benefited from others who are willing to organize, post to the calendar and lead rides for us.
• Leading rides is a fun way to meet and make friends in the club.

Anyone who would like to lead any ride for CRW this season is required to attend this year’s ride leader training and complete subsequent ride leader training tasks. A recording of the Zoom session will be made available. 

Oh, and did we mention that leading rides comes with benefits? You get to join century rides for free, there are great parties for ride leaders, and the seasonal thank you gifts are amazing!

Limited offer! The first 25 CRW members to register will get a custom CRW water bottle. All who become ride leaders this year will also get an official CRW ride leader Halo head band.

Come join our family of ride leaders and make CRW an even better club!

Register HERE.

This event is for CRW members only

The CRW Board met on February 1 to review member engagement initiatives, financial strategy, ride planning, and safety updates as the club enters its 60th anniversary season.

Member Survey

An update was provided on a concise member survey designed to better understand member experiences and preferences. The goal is to align member feedback with CRW’s operational priorities. Board members were encouraged to test the survey prior to distribution and discussed establishing a consistent framework to guide future survey efforts.

Memorial Ride & Ride Leader Updates

The Board discussed planning for an upcoming memorial ride for Eli Post, emphasizing the need to finalize event dates and establish a media coordination timeline. Promotional support through regional cycling organizations is being explored. 

A proposed update to the Privacy Policy was also reviewed, to better reflect the information the organization manages.

Financial Update & Investment Strategy

The Board reviewed the club’s financial position. Revenue projections for the fall century event were discussed, with a plan to revisit assumptions later in the year.

A proposed investment strategy was presented and discussed. The Board discussed market risks and confirmed that sufficient cash reserves would be maintained.

Ride & Event Planning

Updates were shared on revisions to ride leader training and upcoming safety initiatives for the season. Venue selection for a late-summer celebration and ride commemorating the club's 60th anniversary was discussed, with alternative options being explored to accommodate club needs.

As CRW celebrates 60 years, the Board remains focused on strengthening member engagement, maintaining financial stewardship, and delivering strong cycling programs for the season ahead.