Categories
Uncategorized

Working with the New York Veterans Affairs Hospital’s “Pedals of Honor”

For the past four years I’ve had the privilege of working with the New York Veterans Affairs hospitals, helping to put wounded vets on recumbent trikes.  For the past three years, in May, New York City Recumbent Supply has volunteered at the “Pedals of Honor” event, which the VA hosts in conjunction with Achilles International.  As an event volunteer, I help set up bikes and trikes, provide maintenance and repairs, fit participants onto trikes and bikes, and support the massive group ride around the park.  It’s a thrill to work with these guys and I look forward to it every year.  Neile Weissman, president of the New York Cycle Club, also helps.

I’m consistently impressed by the staff from the VA, who seem to truly love their work.  This year, I was additionally pleased to meet Dick Traum, the founder of the Achilles Track Club, now known as Achilles International.  I admire what Mr. Traum has done for disabled athletes.  CNN produced a video about Mr. Traum that you can watch here.

Have fun, stay healthy, and look for someone you can help,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2015 Robert Matson

Categories
Uncategorized

Just chatting about the weather.

Warmer weather is here. I like it. But I also like skiing and this marks the tailing of the remotely-local cross-country ski season…and the tailing of my slow season.

A manufacturer in Finland, Mirage Bikes (www.miragebikes.com/en), wrote me that their x-c ski season is coming to an end as well, but he (the writer) hopes to complete 1000 km (!) of skiing — apx. 620 miles — before then. I’m envious.

Nomad Red
Mirage Bikes’ Nomad.

I’m settling for one more weekend of skiing in the Adirondacks and then we’re in the backpack and pannier season. Today was the first day in ages to ride withOUT studded winter tires and WITH the sunshine, both. How nice.

Bike trips planned? There’s the 10-day 2014 Prince Edward Island bike trip I’m co-leading for the Appalachian Mountain Club, but that’s ages away. Sooner than that, if I can get away for a week, I may schedule an AMC trip in the Daks, VT, or Catskills. What’s with the idle chatter? I’m supposed to use the world’s most pervasive media outlet — FB — for marketing right? Or improving the world?

Okay, how’s this: HP Velotechnik’s new Scorpion fs 26 came in the other week. Unbelievably nice trike. Get your demos here.

HP Velotechnik’s Scorpion fs 26

Have fun, stay healthy, and go like “New York City Recumbent Supply” on Facebook,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2013 Robert Matson

Categories
Uncategorized

Bike Clubs in the New York Metro Area that Recumbent Riders May Enjoy.

A note about riding with groups and clubs:

Bent riders need to be particularly attentive and careful on group rides.  Recumbents handle differently than standard frames (SF), with different turning radiuses and different speeds on the hills, making your riding behavior hard to predict by SF riders.  This has created a perception that bent-riders may be prone to cause accidents on group rides.  Also, from the low position, speaking personally, I find it hard to see beyond the riders around me.  I generally recommend bents stay either a few bike lengths ahead of any pack, or a few lengths behind.  Bent riders shouldn’t request or expect special treatment just because we’re riding a recumbent; like any other participant on the ride, we need to be able to join in the conversation, keep up with the group and complete the ride.

If you’re unsure if you have the skills or strength for a group ride that interests you, call or write and speak with the ride leader in advance.  And then, if you show up (or if you ride for a while and aren’t fitting in well with the group) and the leader asks you not to participate on the ride, be nice and cooperative.  It may be a frustrating experience to be sent off on your own, but the time to change club or leader policies is not on the day of the ride.  More likely the time for that is at a club meeting.  Better yet, volunteer to be a leader and begin leading your own bent rides.

Please post or e-mail me with any clubs or list-servs you believe should be added.

MARS (Metro Area Recumbent Society)
The home page is stale, but the e-mail list is active and worth joining.  MARS members arrange rides on a casual basis, when someone feels like leading.  Pioneers of human powered vehicle design are on the e-mail list, so it’s an interesting group.

Meet-up Group: New York City Recumbent Riders
Rides are organized a few times a year, sometimes in conjunction with the Appalachian Mountain Club.  Last-minute rides are posted when there’s interest.  This is a new meet-up with a small, but growing membership.

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)
Robert Matson (hi) leads bike trips for the AMC from time to time.  His trips range from one to twelve days and recumbents are welcome.  Riders must be strong, have bikes in good condition, and bring all their own food and gear.  Routes are chosen for beauty and destination and not for easy riding.  There are a range of AMC rides with other leaders at varying levels of difficulty.  Leaders are volunteers; the AMC is a non-profit.

Five Borough Bicycle Club
“New York City’s friendliest bike club” is bent-friendly as well.
On their website they write: “Whether you are new to cycling, a commuter seeking new adventures, or an avid cyclist, we have rides for you. Quite simply, when you ride with the 5BBC, you ride with friends.”
Better yet, they offer training to those interested in becoming a 5BBC ride leader.

New York Cycle Club

New York’s hard core bike club. Historically, NYCC has discouraged bent riders on almost all group rides.  However, if — and that’s a big if — you’re a highly skilled and strong rider with group riding experience, there are opportunities.  Mainly, their appeal to bent riders is they have the area’s greatest ride library, they are active in cycling advocacy and they host excellent events.  There are usually bents on their big public rides like Escape from New York.  I’m a member and I support them because they are a world-class cycle club.  I ride with them a few times a year.

Westchester Cycle Club
“Open to everyone.”

Randonneurs USA

From the website: “Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie, not competition, is the hallmark of randonneuring.”
Self-explanatory.

PA Randonneurs

PA refers to Pennsylvania.  The website summarizes their mission: “Organizing long distance, endurance bicycle events in the Eastern Pennsylvania Region.”


Have fun, ride far, ride with friends,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson
Categories
Uncategorized

Escape New York Registration Now Open!

Very possibly the next generation of recumbent riders shown here after a past year’s Escape New York.

The registration for New York Cycle Club’s “Escape New York” ride is now open!

Sign up, ride, and have a blast.

http://nycc.org/eny

Have fun and stay healthy,
Robert
————
Robert Matson
New York City Recumbent Supply
The Innovation Works, Inc.
copyright 2012 Robert Matson