Announcements

General PPTC announcements are listed here.

Berryville Ride and Pancake Breakfast - May 17, 2008

Richard Rau, an avid cyclist, was killed while riding his bicycle in May, 2005. The Town of Berryville with whom he was employed sponsored the Rich Rau Memorial Bike Tour in his memory.

Have some pancakes and enjoy this year's ride on Saturday, May 17, 2008 in the town of Berryville. See attachment for more information.

All funds from this event will be used for safety programs sponsored by the Town of Berryville and the Berryville Police Department.

New Website Feature: Persistent Login

The PPTC web site now lets you stay logged in. If you close your browser, you will still be logged in next time you come back.

We've been meaning to do this for a while. Fortunately someone else did the dirty coding work. All we had to do was install the necessary software.

Next time you log in, you'll see a “Remember me” checkbox below your name and password. Select it, then don't log out when you end your session. You will still be logged in next time you point your browser to our web site.

You should know about a few security-related details.

  1. It's per computer, of course. Just because you logged in at work doesn't mean it'll remember you at home.
  2. It only lasts for 15 days. If you don't log in within that period, you'll be signed out.
  3. If you deliberately log off (by clicking the “log out” menu item), you'll need to log in again.
  4. You must log in to edit your PPTC account (what you get by following the “my account” menu item).

New Year's Resolution

Make a New Year's RESOLUTION to join PPTC today (click here)! If you've been riding with us for some time, now is the time to JOIN! Remember the club needs your dues to keep going and to support its activities.

PPTC Century

PPTCs Century is off to a late start due to an issue with the previous organizer. We still have time to put on a quality PPTC event. To do so we need volunteers in the following areas, so please consider helping out if you have time. The club and its events are great because of the wonderful volunteers we have.

Thanks and remember: volunteers ride for free

PPTC Century date: 21 Sept 2008 and location: Clarke County High School, Berryville, VA. Online registration coming soon.

Volunteer tasks:
To volunteer for a task, click on the task to send an email to the organizer (please leave the subject heading as is).

Pre- and post-ride tasks


Pre-registration
Collect the electronic forms (via email) and create registration list. Computer automation helps but is not required (200-400 registrations over next 2 months).

Registration
4 or more volunteers needed the morning of the Century to check riders in and handle on-site registration (6:30-9am)

Advertising
List event on biking related website and distribute brochures to bike shops, etc.

Route Marking
4 or more volunteers to mark the route the week before the Century (Sept 14-20).

Parking crew
4+ volunteers needed to direct arriving riders to parking spaces.

T-shirts
Design and coordinate T-shirts with shop in Berryville (Dale @ Logo Apparel)

Cleanup crew
The most desired job!

Event tasks


WhitePost rest stop coordinator
Manage volunteers at rest stop

Burwell-Mill rest stop coordinator
Manage volunteers at rest stop

Clarke County High School rest stop coordinator
Manage volunteers at rest stop

Rest stop volunteers
12+ volunteers needed to stock food and drinks at rest stop

SAG
Drive support vehicle around route. Vehicle must be capable of carrying one or two bikes and passengers. Bike repair skills a plus.

PPTC is a 501(c)(3)

Please consider adding the Potomac Pedalers to your annual list of charities. Click here to make a donation.

And don’t forget your employer, especially those public corporations and professional firms which are keenly interested in the community involvement of their employees and principals. What better way to fulfill your corporate obligations than to combine it with the sport you love and an organization that helps keep you and others in the saddle. Some employers will fund volunteer efforts or match cash contributions 100%!

Our goals include funding the good works of our members and those of other, similar organizations which make grant applications. We are striving to make the club self-sustaining while keeping dues increases to a minimum. The club needs your support to ensure that another generation will enjoy good riding with the wind at its back.

St Michaels Update

We have filled all allotted 62 rooms and have a total of 159 participants registered already. We can get 4 additional smoking rooms if some of you are willing to put up with the odor. We also may get 10 additional rooms that are reserved for another party, but we won't know until April 8, 2008. Total capacity is 200 participants. You can still register and get on the waiting list for a room at the Best Western. If you don't need a room and are willing to stay somewhere else, register on line for non lodging. ($25/per person/weekend if you are a member of PPTC).

In addition to the current program, we have organized environmental tours and an optional lunch during the Saturday ride at a private estate on the waterfront, plus the advertised tours of the Pickering and Sheehan/Dupont Wildlife Preserves and Blackwater Wildlife Refuge.

Questions or comments, contact:

Summer 2008 Cycling Skills & Bicycle Maintenance Classes

Three Northern Virginia adult education programs are separately sponsoring five cycling skills and bicycle maintenance courses taught by Allen Muchnick, a nationally certified League of American Bicyclists (LAB) Cycling Instructor. All classes meet on weekday evenings from 6:30-9:30 PM.

The five courses are (see longer descriptions, fees, dates, and locations below):

* Bicycling 101, a 3-hour discussion of bicycling basics for new and intermediate riders.

* Cycling with Confidence (LAB Road-1), the essential, comprehensive, and very practical 9-hour cycling skills course for *all* bicyclists;

* Proficient Cycling (LAB Road-2), 9 hours of advanced cycling and mechanical skills for Road-1 graduates;

* Bicycle Maintenance & Repair, a 3-hour lecture and demonstration; and

* Bicycle Mechanics Workshop, a 3-hour hands-on sequel to any course listed above.

TO REGISTER, contact the local course sponsor at least one week IN ADVANCE:

* Alexandria Recreation and Parks (703-838-4969 [or 703-519-2166] or go to [http://tinyurl.com/23kxr2] , sign in with the "guest" button, and select "sports" under "activity").

* Arlington Adult Education (703-228-7200 or [http://www.arlingtonadulted.org] . To view all bicycle classes, go to [http://tinyurl.com/2dv57s] .

* Fairfax County Adult & Community Education (703-658-1201 [or 703-658-1225] or [http://www.aceclasses.org] . Search "bicycle" and "cycling" to find all classes, or go to [http://tinyurl.com/2kmm4g] .

For questions about the instruction, contact the instructor, Allen Muchnick, at <allenmuchnick@yahoo.com> or 703-271-0895.

* * *

BICYCLING 101. Performance, equipment, safety, and maintenance basics for new and intermediate riders: comfort and improvement tips, self-sufficiency, use of gearing, and street cycling fundamentals. No riding. One three-hour session.

Alexandria Recreation and Parks Session, $25/$50 non-residents
* 140302-01: Tu, Jul 16, Nannie J Lee Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

* * *

CYCLING WITH CONFIDENCE (LAB ROAD-I). Learn the craft of cycling with on-bike and classroom instruction in key cycling skills for roads, paths, and groups: equipment use and care, breakdown repairs, efficient pedalling, bike handling, training, vehicular (street) cycling, and crash prevention. Bike and helmet REQUIRED at all sessions. Three 3-hr sessions (9 hrs).

Fairfax County Course, $109 ($69.40 for resident seniors):
* TI05302-20: M, June 16, 23, & 30, Pimmit Hills Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Alexandria Course, $70 residents/$95 non-residents:
* 140305-01: 3W, Jul 23, Jul 30, & Aug 6, Nannie J Lee Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

* * *

PROFICENT CYCLING (LAB Road-2). Advanced cycling and mechanical skills for Road-1 graduates: ride hills, rural roads, urban arterials, and freeway merges; discuss endurance training and hot, cold, wet, and dark conditions; observe common maintenance procedures. Bike and helmet REQUIRED at all sessions. Three 3-hr sessions (9 hrs).

Alexandria Course, $70 residents/$95 non-residents:
* 140306-01: 3W, Aug 13, 20, & 27, Nannie J Lee Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

* * *

BICYCLE MAINTENANCE & REPAIR. Lecture/demonstration on bike fit, breakdown repairs, and the inspection, adjustment, lubrication, and renovation of diverse components. Bike not required. One 3-hour session.

Arlington County Sessions, $39 residents/$50 non-residents, seniors $29/$39:
* GI-813B: W, June 18, Arlington Career Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM
* GI-813C: Tu, July 29, Arlington Career Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Fairfax County Session, $32 ($19.20 for resident seniors), plus $17 for optional "$25" textbook:
* TI05300-21: Tu, July 8, Pimmit Hills Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Alexandria Recreation and Parks Session, $25/$50 non-residents
* 140303-01: Tu, Aug 19, Nannie J Lee Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

* * *

BICYCLE MECHANICS WORKSHOP. This self-directed, hands-on sequel to any other bicycle class lets you tune up, fix, or modify your bicycle or practice inspection, maintenance, or repair procedures. Bring bike(s), supplies, and inspiration. One 3-hour session.

Arlington County Sessions, $39 residents/$50 non-residents, seniors $29/$39:
* GI-814B: W, June 25, Arlington Career Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM
* GI-814C: Tu, Aug 5, Arlington Career Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Fairfax County Session, $39 ($23.40 for resident seniors):
* TI05301-20: Tu, July 15, Pimmit Hills Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Alexandria Recreation and Parks Session, $25 residents/$50 non-residents:
* 140304-01: Tu, Aug 26, Nannie J Lee Ctr, 6:30-9:30 PM

Volunteers needed

PPTC is at its best because of the great volunteers we have. Currently, we are looking for volunteers in the following areas. If you are interested please contact us.

Volunteers needed in the following areas:

Thanks in advance

-marc

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Website Update Complete

The website's software has been upgraded. This was a major upgrade and will allow us to implement the online ride scheduling system (which is nearing completion). Please let us know if there is something missing or misbehaving. Thanks for your patience.