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- *Members
About the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club
The purpose of Arlington Heights Bicycle Club is --
- To enjoy bicycling with friends and to meet other bicyclists
- To promote cycling safety programs and to acquaint others with proper traffic regulations
- To advance and improve public facilities and services for cyclists
- To encourage bicycling for its contribution to individual health and the environment.
- To share information about bicycling with individuals and/or organizations
- To foster good will and friendship between residents and cyclists
- To cooperate with Village Officials and other organizations for the general welfare of all cyclists.
The legal name of the club is Arlington Heights Bicycle Club although we sometimes commonly refer to ourselves as the Arlington Heights Bike Club
To join or renew your membership in AHBC, click here
| Club Officers | Elected Officers and Appointed Board Members | board@cyclearlington.com |
| President (Elected Club Officer) | Pete Schmelzer | president@cyclearlington.com |
| Vice President (Elected Club Officer) | Paula Matzek | vicepresident@cyclearlington.com |
| Secretary (Elected Club Officer) | Kim Heuer | secretary@cyclearlington.com |
| Treasurer (Elected Club Officer) | Bill Kragh | treasurer@cyclearlington.com |
| Membership (Appointed Board Member) | Bill Kragh & Gary Gilbert | membership@cyclearlington.com |
| Ride Chair (Appointed Board Member) | Mitch Polonsky | ride@cyclearlington.com |
| Arlington 500 (Appointed Board Member) | Kim Heuer and Mike Paulson | 500@cyclearlington.com |
| Newsletter (Volunteer, not board member) | Paula Matzek and Brian Larson | newsletter@cyclearlington.com |
| Ride of Silence (Volunteer, not board member) | Pete Schmelzer | rideofsilence@cyclearlington.com |
| Ride with GPS Coordinator (Volunteer, not board member) | Rebecca Frank | ridewithgps@cyclearlington.com |
| Web Site (Volunteer, not board member) | Kim Heuer | web@cyclearlington.com |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Membership
1.
What are the benefits of club
membership?
a.
First and foremost, your membership means
you are part of a social club which advocates safe cycling through a
variety of programs and activities.
b.
You will have the opportunity to meet and
ride with others who share our passion for cycling.
c.
You will learn new cycling routes and
cycling tips.
d.
You will have the opportunity to
participate in various club activities such as informational meetings,
rides and social events.
2.
How are club dues used by the
club?
Club dues and money raised from other activities is
used for a variety of purposes including: subsidizing the cost of club
rides and social events; support of bicycling advocacy groups; support
for local community projects and education; subsidizing of club jerseys;
and other expenditures as suggested by members and approved by the club
Board.
3.
Does the club make donations to
charitable organizations?
a.
The club will make donations (usually
annually) to not-for-profit organizations that support or advocate
bicyclists and certain community organizations, e.g. park district, with
Board approval.
Donation amounts are determined each year when sufficient money is
available. Donations made
are announced at regular club membership meetings and noted in Board
meeting minutes.
b.
To stay true to the club by-laws, the
club does not make donations to charitable organizations unless they
have a bicycling related charter.
c.
Also in fairness to all members, the club
cannot sponsor "individual" fund raising efforts.
4.
How do I get information about
club activities?
Information about club activities is available in a
number of ways but the primary methods include:
a.
The club email list (on Yahoo groups)
which members should "subscribe to" at no cost.
Once subscribed, you will begin receiving emails beginning with [ahbccyclists]
in the subject line.
b.
The club website located at
www.cyclearlington.com
c.
Club membership meetings which are
generally held on the 4th Wednesday evening of the month except June,
July, August, November and December.
d.
Annual mailing (usually in February) of
the annual schedule of events and membership renewal form
e.
Finally, there is a club Facebook page.
Look for Arlington Heights Bicycle Club.
5.
How do I get on the club Yahoo
groups email list?
For new members, your email address will be added
automatically using the address you provided on your membership form.
If that didn't happen or if your email address changes, the
easiest way is to simply type your email address into the Yahoo groups
link at the bottom of the www.cyclearlington.com homepage.
6.
How do I post to the club Yahoo
groups email list?
Emails sent to "ahbccyclists@yahoogroups.com" will
automatically be sent to all subscribers.
7.
What are the rules for posting
to the email list?
There are no hard and fast rules, just guidelines:
a.
In general, posts should be cycling or
club related.
b.
Don't post anything that you wouldn't
want to see from others
c.
Posts may be used for organizing non-club
related social activities as long as they are not excessive and do not
exclude anyone.
d.
Because anyone can send emails to the
list, the club cannot assume responsibility for postings made to the
email list.
8.
Can members solicit
contributions for charitable giving on the email list?
While the club encourages charitable giving, we do
not want requests to become obtrusive.
For this reason, members may solicit charitable contributions
one (1) time for cycling related events that they personally
participate in.
9.
Who can I contact if I have any
questions?
Contact any Board member in person or by email.
Email addresses for key Board members can be found on
www.cyclearlington.com from
the About Us page.
10.
Where can I get AHBC apparel?
The Club designs and purchases jerseys and other
apparel every 2-5 years depending on demand.
Because the jerseys and other apparel are custom made, there is
usually a minimum order size.
When apparel is ordered, all members will be offered the
opportunity to place orders.
In most cases, the Board will vote to partially subsidize the
cost of the apparel as a member benefit and to make purchase more
appealing to the membership.
Any member can initiate a request to the Board for club apparel.
Rides
1.
What types of rides are there?
There are several different types of rides:
a.
Regular scheduled rides on
www.cyclearlington.com, e.g.
weekend rides, evening rides, bakery rides and weekday rides
b.
Ad hoc “posted” rides which are announced
by email via the Yahoo groups email list.
Ad hoc rides must be posted at least 24-hours in advance to be
eligible for Club mileage.
c.
Show and Go rides – These are informal
rides where the destination, pace (usually intermediate pace) and
distance is decided by those who show up to ride).
Cue sheets are usually not provided for Show and Go rides.
d.
Special multi-day, weeklong or other
rides, usually listed on the Club annual schedule of events
e.
Zero mile rides – During the winter when
it is too cold (for some) to ride, many club members get together for
breakfast (or lunch or dinner).
No riding...just eating and socializing, two of our favorite club
activities. When Zero Mile
rides are announced, all members are encouraged to come out and
socialize.
f.
Trail rides – during the summer,
Wednesday trail rides may be announced via the Yahoo groups email list.
2.
Where do I get ride information?
a.
The club email list (on Yahoo groups)
which members should "subscribe to" at no cost.
Once subscribed, you will begin receiving emails beginning with [ahbccyclists]
in the subject line.
b.
The club website located at
www.cyclearlington.com.
Go to the Rides page.
The website is generally updated monthly during the regular ride
season (late March through October)
c.
Club membership meetings which are
generally held on the 4th Wednesday evening of the month except June,
July, August, November and December.
3.
Do you ride during the winter?
Several members do ride during the winter months
when the roads are free of snow and ice.
Options include:
a.
Show and Go Rides - On Saturdays
mornings, there is usually a Show and Go ride.
Check the website for starting time and place.
b.
Bakery Rides – On Tuesday and Thursday
mornings, there is usually a Bakery Ride from Willow Stream Park.
Check the website for more information and starting times.
c.
Leisure Rides – A group of very hardy
individuals usually ride every day when weather and road conditions
allow. These rides are
generally announced in advance via the Yahoo groups email list.
d.
Ad hoc “posted” rides which are announced
by email via the Yahoo groups email list.
4.
Why does the club keep track of
mileage?
This is a fun and modest competition within the
club. Some members take
their mileage very seriously while others are happy just to ride.
a.
The club keeps track of mileage ridden
with the club for you based on sign-in sheets.
Individual totals are announced at the annual holiday banquet.
Totals are kept by year (November 1 through October 31).
Make sure you legibly sign your name on the ride sign-in sheets
if you want your mileage to be counted!
b.
Beginning in 2012, members are also
encouraged to keep track of how many miles they ride their bicycles on
non-club rides for the period November 1 through October 31).
This is voluntary and just for fun.
Members must keep track of these
miles on their own. Certain
members may be subject to polygraph testingJ.
Totals will be collected and
displayed at the holiday banquet.
5.
What are the rules for counting
club ride mileage?
a.
The rides must be a scheduled ride or be
posted on the Yahoo group email site at least 24-hours in advance.
b.
For rides in-state rides, at least 2-club
members need to ride; for out of state rides, at least 3-club members
need to ride.
c.
A completed sign-in sheet must be turned
in for each ride to the Ride Chairperson in a timely manner.
6.
What if I have mechanical
difficulties or a flat during a ride?
Members are responsible for their bikes during
rides and it is recommended that members carry basic tools, a pump,
spare tube(s) and/or patches whenever they ride.
It is also recommended that
members know how to perform basic repairs and or carry a cell phone to
call for help if needed. That
said, many members are very willing to help others with minor bike and
flat repairs if they know how but they are not obligated to do so.
7.
What should I bring on a ride?
Members should use common sense and bring what they
feel is appropriate for the type and length of ride.
Recommended items include:
a.
Identification, wallet, money and cell
phone in case emergencies occur
b.
Water, nutrition and snacks as
appropriate
c.
Helmet – All riders are very strongly
encouraged to wear a helmet when riding
d.
Basic tools, a pump, spare tube(s) and or
patches – even if you do not know how to use them.
e.
Lights, reflectors and reflective
clothing.
f.
Lock – for rides with lunch and other
stops.
g.
Sun screen, lip balm and bandaids
No Drop means that we try to stay together as a
group so that nobody is left behind alone.
If someone gets a flat, the entire group will generally stay with
that person until the flat is repaired and the group can go on together.
All AHBC rides are considered “no drop” unless specified
otherwise. Riders should make
every effort to select rides which they are capable of doing.
9.
How do I become a ride leader?
We want to encourage more members to become ride
leaders. This will add
variety while benefiting all members.
Here are the basic ride leader responsibilities:
a.
Provide a AHBC ride sign-in sheet
(available from
//www.cyclearlington.com from the Ride page)
b.
Pre-ride the route if possible to verify
roads are safe, e.g. not under construction)
c.
Introduce themselves to all riders
d.
Lead the ride at the specified pace
e.
Announce any particular challenges before
the ride starts and
f.
Appoint a sweep if necessary (generally
for groups larger than 8 riders)
Contact the Ride Chairperson(s) for tips on leading
rides, for cue sheets of for training regarding how to be a ride leader.
Any member is eligible to be a ride leader.
Contact the Ride Chairperson about a ride leader “class” and more
information. Also, see
Question 11.
10.
Can any member can lead a ride
or post a ride on the Yahoo groups email list?
Yes, we encourage it but ride leaders must be
familiar with and follow the general ride leader responsibilities.
See How do I become a ride leader?
11.
What is a sweep?
A “sweep” is a member who agrees to ride at the
back of the group to keep everyone together so that nobody gets
separated. The sweep should
generally know the route or be provided with a route sheet in case the
group gets separated.
12.
Where can I get cue sheets?
a.
For most scheduled rides, the ride leader
will provide cue sheets to riders which provide turn-by-turn directions.
b.
A small library of cue sheets to various
locations can be downloaded from //www.cyclearlington.com at the
bottom of the Rides page.
The club makes every effort to keep these updated but road changes and
errors sometimes occur.
c.
The Ride Chairperson(s) maintains a
library of cue sheets. Just
ask them for a distance or destination and they will be happy to share
or even suggest routes!
13.
If I want to post a ride, are
start times flexible?
Yes, start times are flexible and would be welcome
based on feedback from our recent membership survey.
Discuss your ideas with the Ride Chairperson(s) if you have any
questions or concerns.
14.
Does the club have family or
trail rides?
To date, members have not expressed much interest
in family rides. If you
have an interest in starting/leading family rides, please discuss with
any Board member.
15.
What type of bicycle is
recommended for club rides?
The type of bike a person would use is based on
individual comfort and personal choice.
While most members ride road bikes or hybrids, we also have
members who ride recumbents, tandems and a few mountain bikes and trikes.
In general, you should select a bike based on the type of riding
and distances you ride. We
suggest members talk with their local bike shop or other members for
their suggestions.
Ride Speed
We describe ride speeds as average sustained
rolling speeds. For
example, the intermediate pace means that rides may include prolonged
speeds between 13 and 15 miles per hour.
a.
Leisure Pace- average
sustained rolling speed between 10 and 12 miles per hour.
Ride distances are usually between 10 and 30 miles long.
b.
Intermediate Pace -
average sustained rolling speed between 13 and 15 miles per hour.
Ride distances are usually between 30 and 75 miles long.
c.
Advanced Pace- average
sustained rolling speed between 16 and 18 miles per hour.
Ride distances are usually between 30 and 100 miles long.
d.
Others as announced – On
occasion, slower or faster rides may be announced, e.g. Sub-Leisure Pace
or Advanced Training Pace.
Speed and distance will be included as part of these announcements.
2.
How do I get ready for a faster
group and how do I know when to move to the next group?
The easiest way is to talk to ride leaders and get
their opinion. They may be
able to suggest specific rides for you to try.
Ride Etiquette (Ride Rules)
1.
What is required of riders?
a.
All riders MUST sign the ride sign-in
sheet before the ride starts.
b.
All riders are strongly encouraged to
ride with a helmet.
c.
Riders are expected to share the road,
ride single file on busy roads and obey traffic lights.
d.
Riders should notify the ride leader if
they choose to leave the ride before it ends.
2.
What is the purpose of the ride
sign-in sheet?
The sign-in
sheet serves three purposes:
a.
First, it tells the ride leader who is
riding and how many riders are present;
b.
Second, the sheet is used by the club to
track the number of miles each member rides with the club; and
c.
Finally, the sign-in sheet is a reminder
that members accept all responsibility/liability for their safety when
riding with the club.
3.
How old (age) do riders have to
be?
All riders must be over 18 unless accompanied by a
guardian who can sign in for them and ride with them.
The club cannot assume responsibility for any rider, regardless
of age.
4.
Are visitors allowed to ride
with the club?
Visitors are welcome to
ride with the club provided they sign-in and agree to follow ride rules.
Note: the club reserves the right to restrict some rides and
sponsored events to members only.
Member Responsibilities
1.
When are membership dues paid?
Club membership dues are to be paid by March 1st of
each year to be considered a member in good standing.
New members are welcome and encouraged to join at
any time. If members join
after October 1st, their membership is considered paid for the following
year.
3.
What is expected of members
during the year?
The list is
simple: pay your dues; support your club by volunteering when you can;
follow good ride etiquette (ride rules); and have fun!
4.
What can members do to support
the club?
This club cannot exist without member participation
and support. We
encourage all members to actively participate and support the club to
the extent they feel comfortable.
Many volunteers are especially needed to run our two main
fundraising events.
Opportunities include:
·
Bicycle Swap in late April – this is both
a community service and club fundraiser
·
Arlington 500 Bicycle Ride in May –
another community service and club fundraiser
·
Board member
·
Ride Leader
·
Event coordinator or host, e.g. club
picnic, progressive dinner, etc.
·
Special committees, e.g. banquet, Bike
Swap planning, Arlington 500 planning, jersey, etc.
When our members volunteer, everyone benefits!
5.
What are the rules for riding
with the club? (see
Ride Etiquette)
Version 1.1, May 20, 2012
AHBC Bylaws