Here we are, in the middle of winter! And we’re in the middle of an arctic blast, no less! A great excuse to crash on the couch and binge watch our favorite shows.

Wrong! It’s time once again for the CRW winter challenge!

This year we are competing in three categories:

• Distance
• Elevation
• Time

The challenge runs December 1 through March 31. Prizes will be awarded at an event at the Mighty Squirrel on Sunday, April 6.

Aside from the winner of each category, we will have two raffle winners in each of the three categories as well, so we will have a total of nine winners (prizes TBD).

To be entered into the raffle, riders must reach minimums in any of the following categories:

• Distance: 400 miles
• Elevation: 15,000'
• Time: 40 hours

Riders can compete in as many of the categories as they wish, but they can only win in one category, either as the top rider of that category, or in the raffle.

Time/distance/elevation are entered manually by riders in their profile on the club website. Both real outdoor rides and virtual indoor rides are counted.

To enter your numbers:

• Log into the website. 
• At the top of the screen you will see your name. Clicking on it brings you to your profile. 

• Click on Edit Profile, then scroll down until you come to your Activity Tracker.

• Enter your numbers here, then scroll down to the Save button.

NOTE: Your totals will not update right away, give it a day or two. You can enter your numbers daily, weekly, or monthly.

Leaderboard

Monitor the leaderboard and see where you stand. To access the leaderboard, go to the website home page and click on Members > Leaderboards > Winter Riding Contest

Note there are two leaderboards; one specific to the Winter Challenge, the other is the club general rider leaderboard that tracks numbers entered by riders in their activity tracker.

All ride data entered on your activity tracker dating back to December 1, 2024 has been applied to the Winter Challenge leaderboard. The general club rider leaderboard is specific to 2025.

Participation is limited to CRW members only. Winners will be notified via email the week of April 1.

Good luck and keep riding!

The Charles River Wheelers (CRW) Board met on December 8, with the meeting called to order at 5:35 PM and adjourned at 6:30 PM. Barbara Jacobs served as the minutes taker. Below is a summary of the key discussions and decisions.

Attendance and Quorum

The meeting achieved quorum, with five Board members present. Attendees included Eli Post, Randolph Williams, Amy Juodawlkis, Norma Loehr, and Barbara Jacobs. Non-Board members Nina Siegel and Bernard Pemstein also participated.

Consent Agenda

The board approved the November meeting minutes with one abstention.

2025 Planning and Role Changes

Several role changes were confirmed:

• Barbara Jacobs will vacate her role as Publisher of WheelPeople and ChainLink.
• Katerina Trizlova was appointed as Assistant Treasurer.
• Eliot Morra will become VP of Finance.

These changes were unanimously approved.

Offsite Planning Meeting

An offsite planning session for the Board is scheduled for February.

Key Updates and Discussions

Financials (Amy Juodawlkis)

• Amy reviewed the financial reports, highlighting concerns over high costs for the Ride Leader and Volunteer Party. Follow-up with Eliot Morra will address specific line items.

“Contact Us” Form Redesign (Randolph Williams)

• Over 300 people used the club’s “Contact Us” form this year. A redesigned form will include FAQ links for better self-service, topic-oriented queries, and streamlined notifications to specific email addresses (e.g., RASC, Membership). A tracking spreadsheet will be implemented.

CPEC and WheelPeople Publisher Search (Norma Loehr)

• The club urgently needs a new publisher for WheelPeople and ChainLink. This will be discussed further at the next CPEC meeting.

RASC Update (Barbara Jacobs)

• Ride Leaders have been asked to submit budget suggestions, with plans to meet Eliot Morra soon for a financial review.

Additional Notes

• Partnership Policy Renewal: Deferred to January or the next Board meeting.
• Name Tags: A design is in progress.

Upcoming Meetings

The January Board meeting date is TBD. The February offsite meeting will focus on strategic planning.

Stay tuned for updates on these initiatives, and thank you to all Board members and volunteers for their dedication to advancing CRW's mission.

Warming up at Fern's in Carlisle.

Watch the CRW calendar (and Slack) for outdoor riding opportunities throughout the winter months!

CRW is looking for members with communications skills to help get the word out about our rides, events, and news. Heading into 2025, we are seeking individuals with expertise and interest in the following projects/areas:

• Develop and oversee communications strategies
• Manage CRW’s brand, messaging, and public image
• Oversee and/or create content for the website, social media, and publications
• Handle media relations and external communications
• Support fundraising, events, and marketing
• Chair the Club Promotion and Events Committee

If any of these sound like YOU, Contact Us and select Volunteer Opportunities to get the ball rolling!

CRW in the news!

CRW club President, Randolph Williams, was recently interviewed by the New England Endurance podcast, and the episode has just dropped.

The podcast episode titled "Charles River Wheelers (CRW): Building Community Through Cycling" features an engaging conversation with Randolph. The hosts, Art Trapotsis and Eric Schenker, delve into the history and mission of CRW, noting that it is one of the largest and oldest cycling clubs in New England. Randolph shares his personal journey into endurance sports, his leadership role in CRW, and the club's efforts to promote diversity and community engagement in cycling. The episode highlights CRW's various programs, events, and the importance of fostering connections within the cycling community.

The New England Endurance podcast launched in January 2024 with a mission  to "passionately showcase and celebrate the vibrant endurance sports culture thriving in New England." Art and Eric have produced 28 episodes over the past year, covering topics ranging from back country skiing to endurance running, to the Bike Education Institute for Pirates.

 If you want to dive deeper into the episode, you can listen to it here.

By Randolph Williams and John Allen

At Charles River Wheelers (CRW), safety is our top priority. Whether you’re riding on city streets, suburban roads, or multi-use paths, one of the most common interactions you’ll have is with pedestrians. Here are some simple guidelines to help keep everyone—cyclists and pedestrians alike—safe and comfortable.

1.  Be Alert and Anticipate
Pedestrians can be unpredictable. They might suddenly step into a crosswalk, veer off the sidewalk, or fail to hear your approach if they’re wearing headphones. Train yourself to stay alert:

• Scan ahead for people walking, jogging, or standing.
• Slow down when you see pedestrians up ahead, especially in congested areas.
• Communicate early by calling out or using a bell well before passing.
• Inform other riders of the approaching hazard.
• Maintain enough spacing from other cyclists so you can look ahead and brake as needed. Reserve paceline riding for roads where complicated encounters are unlikely.

2.  Respect Crosswalks & Right of Way
You are required to yield right of way to, pedestrians in marked (and sometimes unmarked) crosswalks, and must always exercise due care. As a cyclist:

• Come to a full stop if a pedestrian is already crossing or about to cross.
• Watch for visual cues—sometimes pedestrians hesitate or are unsure you’ve noticed them.
• Yield even if it seems they’re pausing for you; better to err on the side of caution.

3.  Pass with Care
When you do need to pass a pedestrian:

• Alert other riders with a loud “Walker up!” (add a pointing hand signal if safe to do so)
• Announce your presence with a friendly “Behind you!” and/or a bell ring.
• Give them space—leave at least a few feet if the road or path width allows.
• A group should pass behind rather than ahead of a pedestrian who is crossing the street.
• Pass slowly if pedestrians are clustered or if children or pets are involved. Crowded space (ride starts, rest stops, farmer’s markets, etc…)  is pedestrian space. “Scooter’ your bicycle or walk.

4. Ride Predictably
Just as you want pedestrians to be predictable, they need you to be predictable, too:

• Do not “edge ride” where a pedestrian could walk out from concealment by a parked vehicle or other sight obstruction. Maintain enough clearance that you and the pedestrian would see each other in time to avoid a collision.
• Maintain a steady line rather than weaving.
• Use clear signals if you need to turn or slow down suddenly.
• Make sure that a crossing pedestrian is looking in your direction before you pass. This helps everyone navigate safely.

5. Observe Good Path Etiquette
On a path, bicyclists are the fastest users and must take special care with pedestrians.

• Keep right and pass on the left with plenty of clearance.  (Note: Rhode Island is unique in requiring pedestrians to walk on the left on paths, so be extra alert in Rhode Island.).
• Moderate your speed so that you can avoid pedestrians who unexpectedly change direction. Be aware that a child or dog may be concealed ahead of a pedestrian you are about to pass.
• Pass only once a pedestrian has responded to your bell or voice, or with plenty of clearance so that the pedestrian could not turn and collide with you. If a pedestrian is wearing headphones, you may have to get close before your bell or voice is noticed.
• Be alert to oncoming path traffic and wait until you have safe passing distance. You may have to slow to walking pace and follow a pedestrian until it becomes safe.
• Get the attention of oncoming pedestrians holding a conversation or looking at their phones – make sure that they have noticed you.
• Be especially cautious around children, who can be erratic.

6. Stay Courteous
A courteous attitude goes a long way.

• Smile or offer a simple “Thank you!” if pedestrians step aside to let you pass.
• Remember, we’re all out there to enjoy public spaces. Mutual respect keeps paths and roads welcoming.

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. By staying aware, signaling your intentions, and respecting right-of-way rules, we can all enjoy a safer, friendlier cycling experience. Share these tips with fellow riders or new club members, and let’s continue to keep CRW rides safe and enjoyable for everyone.

At our November 3rd Board meeting, we reviewed several important updates about our club's activities and future plans.

Membership and ride participation remain strong, with 440 new members bringing our total membership to 1,889. Event registrations are matching or exceeding 2023 levels, and October 2024 saw more rides than the same period last year. We're especially pleased to welcome 13 new ride leaders who joined our ranks this year.

Looking ahead to winter, we're excited to announce that Elen Gugel will be leading rides every other week. Winter Ride Challenges will begin December 1st, offering opportunities to stay active during the colder months.

The Communications team is seeking volunteers to help publish WheelPeople and ChainLink. We're currently evaluating various options to ensure consistent and effective communication with our members.

Plans are underway for our annual Volunteer/Ride Leader appreciation event. The Board voted to open this celebration to all ride leaders, recognizing their vital contribution to our club's success.

The Board also began discussions about developing a formal partnership strategy to help grow our membership and enhance our community presence. We'll be continuing these discussions at our next meeting.

Our next Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for December 8, 2024. As always, members are welcome to attend as observers.

Randolph Williams

President, Charles River Wheelers

By John O'Dowd

CRW is excited to announce it’s winter Zwift ride series. These virtual rides will mostly take place Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM.

While advertised on the club calendar, these rides will be Zwift meetups, meaning you will receive invitations to the ride on your Zwift Companion phone app. You must follow whoever the ride leader is on Zwift to get the invitations. Contact the ride leader if you did not get an invitation.

You must sign up on Zwift before the ride begins. Registering on the club calendar is optional.

The rides will be no drop, meaning the Zwift “rubber band” feature will be on. This allows everyone to stay together regardless of what pace they are doing.

We will use the club Discord account to talk with each other during the ride. To use Discord you must install it on a device that you will have with you during the ride (a phone, a tablet, etc).

To get onto the CRW Discord account:

1. Go to your Zwift companion app
2. Go to Clubs
3. Select (or search for) Charles River Wheelers
4. Scroll to the bottom and click on Discord

We hope you choose to join us for a challenging and fun ride from the comfort of your Zwift trainer this winter!

By John Allen

What do bicyclists learn from their bicycles?

Yes, the bicycle teaches the rider. And muscle memory does not fade!

A child may develop habits that work less well on a grownup bike and these habits may last a lifetime unless consciously reversed. One very typical example is with children who start out on a BMX bicycle with a low saddle and coaster brake.

Because the pedals can’t turn backwards with a coaster brake, the forward foot (the one which has to initiate pedaling) steps down to keep the bicycle upright at a stop. Both feet must be down to switch feet and restart. Whole nations – Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark -- have traditionally ridden coaster-brake bicycles – though that is changing -- and the resulting awkwardness of stopping and restarting has shaped their style of riding and their infrastructure choices.

Coaster brakes are common on children’s bikes in the USA. These brakes are relatively trouble-free and intuitive to use, but it can take some work to accustom a growing child, or an adult with decades of ingrained habit, to a bicycle with handbrakes.  These cyclists often prefer the saddle low, reducing pedaling efficiency. For the sake of safety – the ability to restart briskly – and to ride longer distances and come back for more CRW rides – it is prudent to learn efficient stopping and restarting. I therefore encourage the club to hold clinics where newcomers can be introduced to the power pedal start.

Here is video of several cyclists being awkward!

When stopping, most CRW members slide forward off the saddle and put one foot down, then bring up the other pedal for a power-pedal start. With clipless pedals, there is no need even to hook a foot under a pedal to pull it up. But a little experiment will show the power of habit: practice restarting with the opposite foot. (This practice can actually be useful if a pedal won’t release, or when tandeming with someone who learned to start with the other foot.)

Habits which the bicycle teaches aren’t only from childhood. The bicycle teaches the rider how to keep the system stable – staying upright and riding straight. But different bicycles provide different forces through the handlebars and react differently to steering.

Switching between bicycles with different frame geometry loading and handlebar shapes is like switching between musical instruments of the same family – soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, or violin and viola. I’m recalling my first time riding my longtail cargo bike, when my reflexes from riding other bicycles led me to overcorrect steering and weave at low speeds. After a few rides, I adapted to the cargo bike’s handling. The lesson here is to be cautious when setting out on a new (to you) bicycle, especially at the extremes of performance – high speeds, very low speeds, hard braking, cornering. You may need to adapt – to “tune in.”

A bicycle can teach the rider efficient pedaling, or not. A bicycle without low gears will teach the rider to stand when accelerating and climbing. Insufficiently low gears for climbing will teach a new rider that bicycling is difficult. I have been happy to spin up Mt. Wachusett on the Climb to the Clouds ride at hardly more than walking speed and to have my legs still feel good for the many miles ahead. OK, I know a CRW member who did the entire Climb to the Clouds on a fixed-gear bicycle. He is extraordinary, most of us are less so! One of the modern pie-plate size sprocket clusters along with double chainrings and a front derailleur should not be out of the question if climbing is an issue!

Brakes again: The hollow steel rims usual on all but high-end bicycles up through the 1960s were slippery against the brake shoes when wet. Pothole damage would push out the sidewalls of these rims, so a bicycle lurched when braking. I switched to aluminum rims in the early 1970s, but their wedge-like cross section taught me not to trust the brakes until I learned some very precise wheelbuilding.  Today’s rims have parallel sidewalls, or your bicycle has disk brakes. Consider yourself fortunate because they do not teach you to avoid braking hard when you might need to!

Overcoming lingering habits may require changing some equipment on the bike, or only a conscious effort to relearn. Efficient stopping and restarting, steering, braking, and use of the gears make for a more pleasant and safer ride.

CRW could not exist without its superb Ride Leaders. At the close of each riding season, the club formally recognizes our Ride Leaders at a Thank You party.

This year, our Century volunteers were also feted at the same occasion. On November 11, approximately 65 ride leaders, volunteers, and their guests attended a dinner celebration at Hearth Pizzeria in Needham.

The venue was bright and just the right size. Attendees mingled and caught up with each other. A band played while some great food and drink was enjoyed.

Amy Juodawlkis, our Executive VP, handed out this year’s Ride Leader gift, a Travel Kuppe insulated water bottle, along with a custom CRW Ride Leader sticker designed by club member Nina Siegel. 

A short presentation was given by our president, Randolph Williams, and VP of Rides John O’Dowd. New Ride Leaders were welcomed and congratulated. Afterwards, prizes were awarded to those who led or co-led the most rides. This new initiative serves to recognize our most dedicated Ride Leaders.

Prizes were awarded in four categories:

• Most led recurring rides
• Most co-led recurring rides
• Most led non-recurring rides
• Most co-led non-recurring rides

The winners were:

Recurring rides:

• Mike Togo: 18
• Alan Cooney: 17
• Andy Brand: 17

Non-recurring rides:

• Gene Ho: 6
• André Wolff: 6
• Melissa Quirk: 5

Most Recurring Co-leads:

• Sylvia Stoddart: 33
• Barb Taylor: 22
• Julie Stephenson: 15

Most Non-Recurring Co-leads:

• Nina Siegel: 5
• Tsachi Avrahami: 3
• Keren Hamel: 3

Finally, Century coordinator Erik D'Entremont presented some statistics regarding the three supported centuries he organized along with Mark Nardone. Erik thanked the volunteers that made these events a success. Volunteers also received special club stickers.

Ride Leaders: Make sure your rides and co-led rides count towards next year’s contest. Remember to use the latest ride template to create your rides, and to register yourself as the ride leader or the co-lead for your rides.

Club Members: Please consider becoming a Ride Leader! Spread your cycling passion and expertise while meeting great people on awesome rides! Contact our VP of Rides at rides-vp@crw.org to learn more.

Thank you, CRW Ride Leaders and Century volunteers for a great 2024 cycling season!