Rockland Bicycling Club
About Rockland Bicycling Club
Who We Are
The Rockland Bicycling Club is a group of cyclists in and around Rockland County, New York. The Club is open to any and all cyclists and to anyone interested in learning more about cycling and bicycle advocacy.
The Club is a Not-For-Profit volunteer based organization dedicated to furthering cycling in and around Rockland County, and to having a really good time riding bikes. Might sound a bit simplistic but we like bikes, we like riding them, and we like riding them with other people. We think that riding bikes is good for the individual and good for the environment.
It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned rider, a recreational cyclist or a complete beginner, the club has activities for you.
What We Do
Club Rides
We hold regular rides all year long and work hard to provide cycling experiences that suit all levels. We have a "casual" ride series during the season that's open to cyclist of all levels, and frequently ends with a round of drinks or dinner at a nearby restaurant.
We have road rides at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels that span the county and neighboring regions. We have rides on the "rail-to-trails", and we have all-out mountain bike rides. We run training clinics (hill climbing days, endurance, etc.) and during the "off-season" (the coldest parts of the year) we have indoor cycling sessions at local sports facilities and health clubs. And when the snow piles up we head to the mountains to ski, and the hills for a hike.
As a general rule, we run both weeknight and weekend rides from late March until the first heavy snows in December. Every season we run a weekly "casual all levels" ride weeknights at Rockland Lake that's designed to be a fun ride for all cyclists.
Club leaders offer "training rides" designed to help riders sharpen their skills, seminars that cover topics such as hill climbing, group riding and more.
Some of our favorite rides include a 50 mph fast ride down to Central Park and back, and a slower 20 mile jaunt into New Jersey for lunch at one of the smaller towns. We also reguarly ride the North County Trailway in Westchester, do rides from Piermont to Rockland Lake, pedal the areas around Suffern and grit our teeth as we climb 9W toward Bear Mountain and beyond.
Club members are also encouraged to become ride leaders and to share their local cycling experience with other riders. (You can view images from our rides in our gallery or check out postings from our rides on our Message Boards.)
Cycling Advocacy
The Rockland Bicycling Club is heavily invested in local, regional and national cycling advocacy programs. Part of our charter is to help influence decisions and shape changes that improve bicycle and pedestrian use of roads and facilities, and to broaden support for alternative transportation projects. We work with town, country and State DOT officials as well as legislators and other government officials to help change our world for the better.
Local Rider Support
We support all forms of bicycle transportation and recreation including (but not limited to) road riding, mountain biking, cyclocross, BMX, tandeming, recumbent riding, handcycling, and so on. The club is open to all. From absolute beginners to professional racers, all are welcome to join the club and participate in events.
Monthly Meetings
We have a monthly meeting that's open to all, where we discuss the Club's activities, have a clinic (first aid, maintenance, tire changing, etc.), and have our famous members-only raffles. Previous meetings have included discussions with regional transportation planning officials, presentations about adventure travel and more. We also have several club parties a year and throw a great pot-luck supper.
Organized Cycling Events
The Rockland Bicycling Club has also produced local organized rides including the 2005 Good Sam Ice Cream Ride -n- Stride, in conjunction with Good Samaritan Hospital.
Local Charitable Programs
Since its inception the Rockland Bicycling Club has worked with People to People, a local community support and outreach organization that provieds services and a food pantry to families in need in the county. Each year we provide bicycles for their Santa Letters program during the Christmas Holiday season. People to People helps provide holiday presents for children who would otherwise go without them, with each child in the program writing a letter to "santa' that local benifactors fulfil. In the 2006-2007 season, we'll continue our weekly club rides, and we'll also coordinate rides and activities with the surrounding bike clubs, and develop a travel program so members can ride in ideal locations all at a discount.
And we'll continue working with the State Department of Transportation as well as the Rockland County DOT to further the development of cycling routes in the area and to enhance the ones that already exist. We'll work with towns and villages on beefing up cycling access on the streets and in the parks.
It's all part of our charter, our greater mission, to improve cycling conditions in and around Rockland, one pedal stroke at a time.
Joining The Club Is A Great Way To Meet People, Too!
Of course we're not just about bikes, we're about people too. Joining the Rockland Bicycling Club is a great way to meet people in the area with similar interests and hobbies. We like to hang out after rides and when we're not on our bikes as well. And in our first few years as a club we've helped establish dozens of friendships.