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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Attention CRW Members!

The CRW Board invites you to help shape our club's future by participating in the CRW 2026 Membership Survey. 

We Want to Hear from You: We encourage you to take a few minutes to give us your feedback. Your opinions and suggestions are crucial for enhancing our club's activities, events, and community engagement.

Survey Quick Facts:

• Link to Survey: sent to your email in early February.

• Estimated Time: about 10 minutes to complete.

Your Impact:

• Influence Decisions: Your insights help us understand member needs, shaping our decisions.

• Drive Positive Change: Your feedback is key to improving our club.

• Strengthen Our Community: Your input helps us foster a more vibrant and inclusive environment.

Thank you for your time and for being an essential part of CRW. We're eager to hear your thoughts!

Best regards,

The Board
Charles River Wheelers

Longtime CRW member Nick Linsky shares his thoughts.

1. Where are you from originally?
I was born in Seattle (a long, long time ago :), but grew up in NH.

2. When did you start cycling, and what got you into it?
Geez I had a bike when I was a kid, but got more into it in college as a way to get from class to class.

3. When did you join CRW, and what brought you to the club?
Well, according to my profile on crw.org, I joined in 2015, but it seems like a lot longer than that. Yup just checked—the first WheelPeople I received is from 2010.

4. Do you volunteer for CRW, and if so, in what way(s)?
I actually don't—I did train once as a co-leader, but didn't pursue it - I am already on the boards of two non-profits, Dance New England and New England Cycling Coalition for Diversity (https://neccd.bike)

5. What type of cycling do you enjoy the most?
Road biking I would say.

6. What’s your favorite ride or route?
Mighty Squirrel to Harvard General Store!

7. What has been your favorite moment or experience with CRW?
Probably one of the centuries—I think CRW really does a nice job on centuries.

8. What advice would you give a new CRW member?
Go on rides—find other people your pace and hang out with them for the ride.

9. What’s a fun fact about you (cycling or non-cycling)?
I bike all year around—last year I rode 12,604 miles.

10. What do you enjoy most about being part of CRW?
Having access to all of the current and past rides.

By Terry Gleason

This month, instead of the usual advocacy topic or two, we will begin a series of articles on an on-going road project of interest to many CRW riders. It will also be an examination of the 'process' that should help anyone committed to making bicycling accessible to more people in their community.

Willson Park Intersection Project, Bedford

The Town of Bedford is considering a major redo of its busiest, most complicated, and most dangerous intersection. It's near Town Center where State highways 62, 4, and 225 merge/split. "Willson Park" denotes the intersection as well as the small, historic green space there.

Google Map Street View of Willson Park

In an attempt to address all road users' concerns, the Town has posted a one page (5 minute) survey and assembled a 10-person advisory committee of residents with various perspectives and concerns.

A quick look at the CRW 'Routes' web page shows there are dozens of established CRW rides that route through this challenging intersection.

If you bike and/or drive through this intersection, please share your concerns, especially safety ones in the survey. If you have experienced 'close calls', report them with as much detail as possible.

The Willson Park Committee includes Bike and Pedestrian Committee representatives, but the challenges for a safer intersection design are many. In an preliminary matrix of priorities filled in by each committee member, we see a preference for (increased) traffic flow over bicycle safety.

Next month, we will report on the impact of your survey comments (your participation is important!), discuss when and how to bring in help from State organizations, and review what criteria are now available to evaluate intersections vs the old standard of maximizing vehicles per hour.

CRW has invited Terry Gleason to contribute articles to WheelPeople from his perspective on cycling community advocacy. We hope that these articles will serve to educate CRW members on local, regional, and national issues that directly affect their safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Comments, suggestions, and alternate opinions are always welcomed. Click on “Add Comment” below to share your thoughts and get a public conversation going. Feel free to contact Terry directly via email (BedfordBike@gmail.com [include "CRW" in the Subject]) if you are an active bicyclist advocate and/or wish to do more in your community,