[Amc-wm-cyclists] AMC Western Mass. Chapter (formerly Berkshire Chapter) Cyclists Update

[AMC WM Bicycling]

Hey AMC Western Mass Chapter cyclists!

 

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy during this ongoing pandemic,
and finding ways this winter to maintain your cycling fitness. Spring
arrives in about a month, and we'll be enjoying outdoor rides again very
soon. Read on for some important news and updates!

 

1 - WE'RE CHANGING OUR NAME!

 

Our chapter has a new name, the Western Massachusetts Chapter (formerly the
Berkshire Chapter). We're still the same outdoor recreation and conservation
organization you know and love, so don't be alarmed.

 

Last summer the chapter's volunteer leadership team began reaching out to
our community to explore a new name for the chapter. We were concerned that
our chapter's name -- the Berkshire chapter -- did not fully welcome all
members of the many communities our chapter serves. Did you know that the
chapter serves Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties, as well as
Berkshire? It also turns out that at least three quarters of our chapter's
volunteer-led activities happen in the three counties comprising the Pioneer
Valley!

 

We collected lots of data, both formally through a member survey and
informally through conversations with trip leaders and participants. The
overwhelming majority supported changing the chapter name to the Western
Massachusetts chapter. So that's what we're doing. It's going to take us
some time to change the old name everywhere it appears. We're working on a
new website, but for now you can still find us on the web at
amcberkshire.org/bicycling.

 

2 - 2021 RIDE EXPECTATIONS

 

Our 2021 ride calendar is still under development as we monitor the
continuing pandemic. At this time we anticipate that all AMC-led bicycling
trips in 2021 will follow the same AMC COVID 19 protocol as last year.
Specifically, rides will still be capped at ten participants including
leaders, and face masks will be required in all situations where riders
cannot reliably maintain a COVID-safe distance from others.

 

With trips limited to ten people, we expect trips to fill up fast as they
did last year. Advance registration online will be required for all trips,
and we will operate a wait list as needed. All trips will be posted on AMC's
official site outdoors.org [
<https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm?type=1&grp=1> Appalachian
Mountain Club - Event Listings (outdoors.org)]. You're receiving this
message because you are on our email alert list. We'll send announcements to
this list whenever we post new trips, and also keep our calendar updated at
<http://www.amcberkshire.org/bicycling> www.amcberkshire.org/bicycling.  

 

Our first ride of the season is tentatively scheduled for May 1st (though it
isn't posted yet). We hope to have our May rides up on our website by early
April. Throughout the season, we will continue to add more rides to the
calendar.  We will do our best to keep our web page up to date and email you
with any significant changes.

 

We know that one side effect of the pandemic is that lots of people have
bought bikes and started riding for the first time. This year we're going to
offer a beginner-level ride series that will include basic instruction to
help new cyclists become comfortable on group rides. If you know anyone who
is new to cycling, refer them to us! For the more serious riders in our
community, don't worry - we'll still be offering challenging rides in the
Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires, including old favorites and some new
adventures.

 

3 - BECOME A TRIP LEADER!

 

Our chapter in general, and the Bicycling Committee in particular, are
always looking for new people interested in becoming trip leaders. We
provide training and mentoring to help you learn how to take groups safely
out on trips. Starting on April 7, our chapter is hosting a four-part online
series designed to train new or refresh existing leaders. Sessions will be
on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm, via Zoom. Participants are welcome to join
for a single session or the full series - anyone who completes the full
series will be provided registration for additional in-person training to be
scheduled in May. Successful completion of both the online and in-person
training will lead to a certificate of completion. Learn more and register
here:

 <https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/124092>
https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/124092 

 

We guarantee that becoming a bicycling trip leader will make you happier,
healthier, better looking, more respected, deeply loved, and also you'll be
able to climb hills quickly and effortlessly.

 

4 - RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR CYCLISTS

 

There are two terrific bicycling advocacy organizations we recommend you
consider connecting with: Mass Bike [https://www.massbike.org/], and the
League of American Bicyclists [https://www.bikeleague.org/].  Many of their
resources are free or low cost.

 

 <https://www.massbike.org/webinars> Webinars - Massachusetts Bicycle
Coalition (massbike.org)

 

*	Has a list of upcoming and pre-recorded free webinars that are
educational and/or informative.

 

 <https://bikeleague.org/summit> National Bike Summit | League of American
Bicyclists (bikeleague.org)

 

*	Annual virtual bicycle conference with a fee. 

 

That's all for now! If you no longer want to be getting these messages, you
can unsubscribe yourself on this page:

 <http://lists.amc-wma.org/listinfo.cgi/amc-wm-cyclists-amc-wma.org>
http://lists.amc-wma.org/listinfo.cgi/amc-wm-cyclists-amc-wma.org 

 

Or just email your request to us at  <mailto:bicycling at amc-wma.org>
bicycling at amc-wma.org and we'll take you off the list.

 

See you (eventually) on the road,

 

 

Janine Papesh

Chair, AMC Western Mass. Chapter Bicycling

 

 

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.amc-wma.org/pipermail/amc-wm-cyclists-amc-wma.org/attachments/20210222/3ec377b4/attachment-0002.html>