More Rides, More Leaders

After a challenging year, where we had to make COVID-19-sensitive adjustments to our ride schedule, we are hopeful to get back to a normal ride schedule (or at least closer to one). This year, we have some exciting plans including a weekly club ride starting at the same time and location. This ride will have multiple routes and pace options with the goal of starting and ending together and an optional post-ride social at a local eatery. We also plan to feature two new series: a Culinary Vuelta a Rockland with an emphasis on casual routes and tasty stops; as well as, a Tour de Rockland Hills where we will conquer the lovely, iconic climbs of our county. Learn about our marquee events in Rob Panzera's article, Three Fun 2021 Events From The RBC. 

We are working to develop more ride leaders in each ride category to increase offerings and better serve our membership and will be scheduling virtual ride leader training seminars followed by on-road development skills. Have you ever been curious and/or interested in becoming a ride leader? Let me share some of the benefits based on my personal experience.

 As a ride leader, you choose the route, start location and time, and tone of your ride (casual and friendly, fast and fun, challenging, etc.). You get to choose your preferred ride and enjoy the advantage of riding with some friends. Leading rides makes you a better and safer cyclist; I had been riding all my life, always comfortable in traffic, but leading rides taught me more about the rules of the road and how to stay safe and thereby enjoy rides much more. I gained greater confidence on the road, learned how to control traffic, and have become a stronger rider. Who wouldn't want these benefits?

 I look forward to riding with you this year and hope that many members will explore our call for ride leaders. (Not a member? Join here.) If you in are terested, please reach out to me (my email and phone number can be found on the RBC website). Regardless of your ride leader interest, I invite you to attend a virtual seminar and learn more about road safety; you never know, you might find, as I have, that you get much more out of leading rides than you put in.

Happy trails!