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A Message From the President
It's been a busy month, with lots of rides going out from our home starting points and many remote points. The good news is that there have not been any major accidents and the weather has been fairly conducive to riding. The bad news is the Delta Variant, and the positive breakthrough cases of Covid, have concerned many members about safety, even if they are vaccinated. Before we return to in-person meetings, we will need to wait until it's safe to share food and drink again. Because of that, both the Tour of the Hamptons and the Blooming Metric were cancelled.
Some housekeeping for sign-up procedures:
Please, please, please-if you need to cancel your participation in a ride, CANCEL it. It is very easy to do, and truly opens up a spot for another rider and also prevents the ride leader from waiting for you if you don't plan on attending.
Double check your bicycle-basic mechanics, tires, spare tubes, water bottles, before joining a ride. Many rides have been delayed because of this oversight. Check your equipment regularly, please.
- Now looking ahead, it looks like we will be postponing our winter party until we have had significant income from a successful Gold Coast.
- We will be awarding Ride Leader Jerseys and Gift Cards at the end of the riding season, which is November 30.
- Take a minute to review the LAB position on insurance coverage and the HBC rules for EBikes on club rides, just below this message.
Coming up, in October (20th) we will have Tom Gernon from Trek Bikes in Plainview showing his inventory off.
fyi: they are looking for staffing at many Trek stores, so go to their link here if you're interested:
In October, we will take nominations for 2 Board positions and all Officers, in anticipation of the November elections.
For our Club meeting on September 9th, we are very excited to have Martin Buchman, the owner of the Stony Brookside Bed & Bike Inn, and a huge Bicycle safety advocate. He will update us on what's been going on in the legislative branches as far as advocacy, and the creation of the Robert Moses bike lane to connect with Jones Beach.
I hope to see you all at the meeting, Sept. 9th at 7 PM. The Zoom link will be on the events page.
Be safe and enjoy!
Karen
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The League of American Bicyclists (the League), through which the HBC and almost all bicycle clubs get their insurance, has provided the following important information:
“There has been some confusion relative to how the League’s liability insurance program applies to the use of electric bicycles during club activities. The purpose of this correspondence is to clarify the intent of the liability policy. It is important to note that coverage for electric bicycles for club activities has not changed, but there seems to be a need for clarification.
For the purposes of this communication, the definition of electric bicycle is consistent with the CPSC definition and the League’s position on electric bicycles:
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- Class 1 electric bicycle shall mean an electric 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.
- Class 2 electric bicycle shall mean an electric 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.
- Class 3 electric bicycle shall mean an electric 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.
| | | Based on the language from the insurance policy, losses arising from the use of a Class 2 electric bicycle would not be covered under the League’s club insurance program”.
In consideration of the information provided above, it has been decided that Class 2 electric bicycles are not permitted on HBC rides at this time.
Please refer to the Classifications above when considering buying an E-bike to use on HBC Club activities.
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| The League of American Bicyclists Launches Campaign to Reach 1 Million Miles of Bike Trips |
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Back in May, the League and our partners at Love to Ride kicked off the National Bike Challenge. We asked you to rack up the miles and go for a ride, bike, pedal, cycle—well, you get the idea.
Now, we have a new challenge for you! Starting tomorrow, we’re asking you to put down the car keys and put on a helmet to take part in our “Drive Less, Bike More” campaign. Make your next trip to the coffee shop, convenience store, or corner market by bike and join tens of thousands of others in making1 million bike trips for transportation by the end of 2021.
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In the United States, nearly 50 percent of trips taken by car areless than three miles long.That’s about a 20-minute bike ride! Help us show that more trips are “bike possible” this fall by logging your miles with the League and Love to Ride.
Already, people like you have logged more than 200,000 miles of bike trips for transportation since we began the National Bike Challenge in May. Be part of getting us to the 1 million mile mark with any type of bike trip for transportation: from commuting to work or school, running errands around town, getting coffee with a friend, and even picking up groceries. Trips like these are often shorter—andmore fun—by bike.
Here’s How You Join:
- Sign up through Love to Ride. (Already signed up? Then make sure you’re logging your trips!)
- Complete a survey on your current transportation habits.
- Begin logging bike rides!
It’s that easy! On the Love to Ride platform, you can earn badges for bike trips, connect with others, and see how you’re contributing to our 1 million mile goal. As you log rides, either manually or by connecting an app like Strava, be sure to mark your transportation trips in Love to Ride to earn credit (and potentially win prizes!)
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|  | | "A" riders at Cupsogue Beach |  | A new Bagel Shop in Lake Grove
Stuff them in! | | |
Volunteer opportunities for the
Cow Harbor Race in Northport.
In the past, Cow Harbor runners have helped us out at the Gold Coast.
The 2021 Great Cow Harbor 10K is officially ON! The race will be taking place on Saturday, September 18th.
This info is from Coordinator, Sharon
We are in great need of volunteers for this year's event.
We need volunteers for various jobs Friday evening and Saturday Race Day.
You can sign up for any task by following the links on the left side of this webpage or via the links at the end of this email. Please keep in mind that you can sign up for more than one event.
Please forward these links to anyone that you know who would like to volunteer. We will sign community service forms for anyone needing hours. (your paroll officer?) See Sharon
Hang Banners in Gazebo & Park: https://helptime.com/Event/48178
Saturday - Finishline Set-up: https://helptime.com/Event/48179
Saturday - Finishline Take Down: https://helptime.com/Event/48180
Saturday – Bib Number Pick-Up (GYM): https://helptime.com/Event/48181
Saturday – Goodie Bag Pick-Up(Cafeteria): https://helptime.com/Event/48182
Saturday - Handing out stuff at the end: https://helptime.com/Event/48183
Saturday Results Posting: https://helptime.com/Event/48184
Saturday-Time Keeper/Caller: https://helptime.com/Event/48185
Saturday - Help with UPS Bags: https://helptime.com/Event/48186
Thursday – Sunday - Airport Drivers for Elite Runners: https://helptime.com/Event/48187
| | As the Taliban Retakes Afghanistan, Women Cyclists Fear For Their Lives
“WE CANNOT THEN JUST ABANDON THEM WHEN WE CELEBRATED THEM, AND FETED THEM, AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO DREAM BIG—WHICH THEY DID AT GREAT RISK.”
BY JESSICA COULON
Aug 20, 2021
The women cyclists of Afghanistan are fearing for their lives.
Following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after a 20-year-long campaign, the Taliban have again taken control of the country and most recently the capital of Kabul on August 15. That includes the main airport, and consequently one of the main modes of evacuation for the countless Afghans now looking to escape the country and the Taliban’s persecution.
Shannon Galpin is an American activist who has worked extensively in promoting women’s rights in Afghanistan since 2008 and supporting the women’s national cycling team there since 2013. Galpin has stayed in contact with a “large number” of the women she’s worked with, and she says that all of the cyclists and other athletes that she’s communicated with during this crisis are looking to evacuate as soon as possible, many with family in tow.
“They know they are targeted. Some are in hiding and under imminent threat. They’re all requesting immediate evacuation,” Galpin said.
Galpin’s had direct confirmation from multiple people in Kabul that the Taliban are going door to door looking for people. And she shared a message from one of the women cyclists in an Instagram post:
“Yes, the airport has become very dangerous, only the sound of shooting. People do not move at the airport. And the Taliban check every 10 meters. I do not know how to get to the plane. I hid in my friend’s house. And I burned all my bicycle accessories and bicycle clothes.”
The women are burning more than just their bike gear, too. They’re burning diplomas—the universities themselves even burning records—any evidence that would go against the Taliban’s misogynistic beliefs. When they do, hopefully, set about rebuilding their lives, they’ll have no physical proof of their past accomplishments.
“What I see are Afghan women literally burning their futures,” Galpin told Bicycling. “And they’re willing to burn it, because that will keep them alive.”
| | Galpin says that all women athletes in Afghanistan—cyclists, climbers, skiers, basketball players, and more—are now targets of retaliation from the Taliban, whether it’s in the form of death or some other horror. In truth, that’s the case for many Afghan women, but especially those who have defied the Taliban’s strict gender norms by participating in sports, going to school, or getting a job. When the international community looks the other way, anything could happen, Galpin says.
But the women cyclists in particular have been especially high-profile. And the cycling community and bike industry have played a role in that publicization.
“We cannot then just abandon them when we celebrated them, and feted them, and encouraged them to dream big—which they did at great risk,” she said, and that we need to “stand in solidarity through actions, not just through words.”
The immediate goal for these women cyclists and their families is evacuation. Then they’ll need a home, and then they’ll need a bike—“because that’s their identity,” Galpin said. From what she has witnessed, Afghan refugees with bikes, like those from the women’s national team, are better integrated into their new communities because of the sport as compared to other refugees.
In order to do that, it’ll take extended dedication from the cycling community (and international community at large).
Here’s how you can help.
How You Can Help Afghan Refugees
Donate
Galpin has set up a fund to raise money to help evacuate and resettle the cyclists.
Another activist, “Quentin Quarantino,” has set up a GoFundMe to raise money to charter humanitarian evacuation flights out of Afghanistan for high-risk refugees. The average cost of these evacuation flights is $1,500 per person in U.S. dollars.
Call your state representatives and senators
Find out if your government is deporting Afghans back to Afghanistan. Tell them that your country needs to accept Afghan refugees.
“Understand that this is apolitical at this point. Pointing fingers at who did what isn’t going to help refugees. Our goal needs to be, as a country, to show compassion and live up to humanitarian values,” Galpin said.
Volunteer your time and skill sets
There are a variety of ways you can volunteer your time to help Afghans during this crisis, such as through sponsoring Afghan families and helping them get resettled in your community. Immigration and human rights lawyers are especially needed right now; if that’s you, volunteer to work pro bono. Mental health professionals are also greatly needed to help these refugees cope with the trauma they’ve experienced—and will likely continue to experience.
Amplify Afghan voices
Share stories about and from Afghans across social media.
Learn more about how to advocate for and help Afghan women here.
| | |  | | "C" Riders at Stuff a Bagel
in Farmingdale |  | On the new Bike path
Cuomo Bridge, B+ Riders | | |
 | | New York State Line |  | "A" riders on top of Bear Mt | | |
Common Bicycling Repairs You Can Master at Home
TIME SPENT HAULING YOUR BIKE TO THE SHOP IS TIME SPENT AWAY FROM RIDING. HERE’S HOW TO SOLVE SOME BASIC ISSUES YOURSELF.
BY LINDSAY J. WESTLEY
Aug 18, 2021
When you have a trusted bike shop in your area, that usually means you also have a trusted bike mechanic to help you out when you need certain bicycling repairs.
But even if that’s the case, any time you have to take your ride in for a repair means less time actually riding—and it will likely cost you a fee. So learning some basic repair skills that you can do at home can save you time and money.
It’s totally okay to take your bike to the shop if you’re not sure you can do the job yourself. Here are two situations in which you should go to the shop first.
- Head to the mechanic you’re seeking a fix for a problem you’ve never seen before. Be sure to ask the mechanic what caused the problem and ask them to explain it again if you don’t understand. You’ll be better suited to make a fix the next time around.
- Go back to the shop after riding 20 to 50 miles on a new bike. Components settle and shift during these first few rides, and you’ll want a pro to readjust them for you.
We know, it’s no fun hauling your bike to the shop for something minor. That’s why we reached out to bike mechanics to see what questions they face all the time. Here’s how you can solve these basic bicycle repairs yourself.
DEGREASING YOUR CHAIN
Problem: My chain isn’t shifting correctly, and it skips a lot.
What Happened: You may be an uber luber, and the excess sticky stuff is attracting grime to the chain and cassette.
Clean, rinse, and dry your chain and cassette (the gears in the back). You can buy bike-specific degreasers and chain-cleaning gizmos, but dish soap and a toothbrush work just as well. Next, carefully apply one drop (more is not better in this situation) of lube onto each roller as you turn the cranks backward for two or three rotations. Finally, take a clean rag and gently grip the chain’s outer plates as you spin the cranks for one more rotation. Keep going until you've wiped off all the excess lube—it should be mostly inside the chain on the rollers, not on the outside where it can attract dirt.
ALIGNING YOUR WHEEL
Problem: I fixed a flat. Now the tire is rubbing one of the brake pads.
What Happened: You reinstalled your wheel crooked.
If you slid the skewer all the way out to remove your wheel, you might have dropped one of the two skewer springs—which help keep your wheel centered—or reinstalled them backward. Check to be sure the narrow side of the spring is next to your hub; otherwise, it could increase the axle diameter and affect fit.
Tip: You don’t have to remove the skewer completely to take off a wheel. Just open the quick-release lever and spin the nut on the other side to loosen, then gently dislodge it from the dropouts (slots in the frame and fork where each skewer rests). When tightening, keep the bike on the ground to help the wheel sit properly.
Problem: I keep getting flat tires. Are my tubes defective?
What Happened: You’re underinflating your tubes, there’s debris inside the tire, or you’re not installing them correctly.
Low tire pressure can cause a tube to be pinched against the rim and result in what’s called a pinch flat. Look on the side of your tire to find the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) range. Inflate the tube to at least the lower number. If you’re a heavier rider (more than 225 pounds including your bike), fill it to the maximum number. When changing a tire, run your finger along the inside to check for foreign objects (such as a tiny piece of gravel or glass) that could cause another flat. Before you inflate a new tube, check to make sure it isn’t caught between the rim and the tire.
ADJUSTING YOUR SHIFTER
Problem: My chain keeps popping off. Can you adjust my shifter?
What Happened: You didn’t soft pedal when shifting between chainrings.
When you pedal hard while shifting, especially on hills, the chain has to work harder to move since it’s already under heavy resistance. Try easing off as you shift gears. You won’t lose momentum, but by avoiding a last-minute, panicked shift, your chain should move exactly where you want it to go.
If you are soft pedaling but still dropping your chain, you may need a professional to adjust the limit screws on your front derailleur (the part that moves the chain between rings). These screws allow you to make precise adjustments, but even a small turn can cause damage if you're not sure what you're doing.
CLEANING YOUR CHAIN
Problem: My chain is making a grinding noise. Can you make it quieter?
What Happened: You’re cross-chaining or not cleaning and lubing your chain often enough.
If your chain is grating or rasping when you’re in your big chainring in front and your biggest sprocket in back (or vice versa), you’re increasing wear and tear on your components—which will cost you money in the long run. Try clicking down two or three gears in the back and/or shifting into your smaller chainring.
If that isn’t the problem, it may be time to clean and lube your chain. Aim to do it at least every few weeks, and after any wet or muddy ride. If neither of these solutions works, you may want to consult with a mechanic. Your chain may be worn (and you’ll need a new one) or your derailleurs need to be adjusted.
|  | | Usual preparations
at the lot,
Smith Street
|  | By the Ferry
cross the Mersey? | | |
GEAR: DEAR BIKE INDUSTRY, STOP RUINING OLD BIKES
On August 10, a little piece I wrote titled “Dead: Aluminum Road Bikes with Mechanical Shifting and Rim Brakes” went up. It was, by the standards we use to measure these things, a hit. And while it does feel good to write something that can be called a success, writing pieces like this doesn’t make me happy.
Corny as it sounds, I just want every cyclist to enjoy cycling. I want people to think about riding their bikes and just smile. I don’t want riders to think about their bicycles and be frustrated or overcome by dread.
But we’re living through an era of major change in our bicycles. On the road side there’s the concurrent disc brake/electronic shifting/12-speed/aerodynamics/carbon fiber/wider tires/tubeless/integrated-parts evolution that seemed to happen all at once. Mountain bikes have been on a rapid evolutionary arc since the late 1970s—but even so, the 1x drivetrain/29er/lower, longer, slacker geometry/dropper post/short stem, wide bar/wide rims thing seemed to happen overnight, too. Then there’s gravel. And bikepacking.
And e-bikes… oh god, e-bikes.
If you’re the sort of person who buys a new bike occasionally—like every decade or so—it must be mind-warping to walk into a shop and see what the new bikes look like. Despite my love of new technology, I think cyclists should be commended for making their equipment last. I have a 10-year-old steel bike—with a 1-1/8″ head tube, Campagnolo mechanical shifting, quick releases, rim brakes, and tubes in the tires—that I still ride, and still love. For all that’s “new,” a bicycle is still a bicycle: You push the pedals and it takes you places. Electronic shifting doesn’t make the wind in your face fresher, and disc brakes don’t make the views more beautiful.
The problem for cyclists who hold onto their equipment for a long time is that their future purchasing decisions are largely made by people who buy new equipment often. If you only buy a bike every 10 years, you’re at the mercy of riders who buy a new bike every two years. Although I don’t have any science to back it up, I believe most riders who buy new bikes more often do so because they like the latest and greatest. And that, in part, is where the constant drive to make the new-new comes from—because the brands are rewarded more for that than for making the same thing year after year.
But the constant evolution of bikes and parts makes servicing an otherwise good bike harder and harder. I keep in close touch with the service department of my favorite local bike shop because I want to know what they’re seeing—which new technologies are working, which are problematic—and what they’re hearing from their customers. And the one thing that makes people angrier than anything else is when they bring an otherwise good bike in for service because something is worn from use, and they’re told that the ONE part the bike needs—say, a shifter—is no longer available, and the only way to “fix” the bike is to replace the whole drivetrain.
Despite the cynical view that shops love this because it’s more money for them, they actually hate it—at least the ones with empathy. They don’t like making their customers unhappy, and it’s wasteful. The mechanics in particular hate it because the customers often take out their frustrations on them. (Pro tip: Don’t do that.)
I saw an early Merlin road bike the other day that was still in great shape and still being ridden. But I wondered how much longer it would be on the road. It was provisioned for mechanical shifting and rim brakes with a 1-inch threaded steerer and accompanying fork. What happens when that bike needs a new fork? At the moment, Wound Up still makes a compatible fork, but for how much longer? And as laid out in the article I referenced at the top, mechanical shift drivetrains and rim brakes are on their way out, too.
Sure, the frame could be sent somewhere to have the head tube cut off and a tapered-steerer-compatible 44 head tube welded in place. And yes, SRAM does offer rim brake versions of its wireless drivetrains that can be installed on a bike built well before eTap ever was a glimmer in SRAM’s eye. For now, at least. But while you can hang that SRAM Force AXS rim brake group on that Merlin, it’ll also need a new rear wheel because of the XDR cassette mounting format. At what point does the Merlin’s rider cut their losses and cast aside this wonderful frame made from a “forever” material and just buy a new bike because it’s way easier—and maybe even cheaper—than keeping the old bike running?
Hell, 11-speed SRAM Red eTap was introduced in 2015, and six years later, replacement parts are already extremely hard to find. Need to replace your damaged 11-speed Red eTap front derailleur? Guess what: You might need a whole new drivetrain. I have a bike with 11-speed Red eTap that I still ride, and it still functions perfectly. But if one little thing goes wrong with the shifters or derailleurs, if I still want to ride this bike, I’m upgrading to 12-speed eTap AXS.
That’s one reason I appreciate Campagnolo. Campy has shown some dedication to making its components rebuildable and offering service parts for its older components. And that’s why I encourage riders to support the company. Buy Campagnolo, ride Campagnolo. Because at the moment, it looks like the only component brand that’s keeping mechanical shifting, rim brakes, and the whole concept of serviceable parts alive.
Sorry I’m so ranty today, but it’s easy for me to get my rant on when it comes to bicycle equipment. Look, the new bikes are amazing, and much of the new technology is wonderful. A new Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 with SRAM eTap AXS is absolutely better—lighter, smoother, faster, shifts quicker, brakes better—than my steel Rock Lobster with mechanical shifting and rim brakes. But just because the Tarmac is better, that doesn’t make the Rock Lobster bad. And the bike you have is always better than the bike you don’t.
Sure, it’s in my best interests, careerwise, for companies to keep rolling out the newest of the new. I love new technologies and new ideas. But the bike I appreciated most is the one that makes its rider happy above all else, no matter its age, cost, or brand name. It makes me sick that so many great bikes get a death sentence for no other reason than that they’re a bit old and can’t be easily repaired.
So, bicycle industry, make all the great new bikes you want, but please also do all you can to keep great old bikes rolling, too.
—Matt Phillips is a senior test editor at Bicycling.
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