Do I have to be a member to go on a ride with the club? No, not at all. We welcome everyone to ride along with us. If you enjoy the company and our laid-back style, If you are passionate about New England scenery and have an interest in supporting safe cycling and multi-use recreational bike paths, you may decide to become a member and join us on our regular rides. If you like ice cream, that helps too.If I can ride with you any time anyway, why should I become a member? We welcome your company whether you decide to join or not. The advantages to becoming a member are that you are covered by our club insurance policy, you are eligible for discounts at participating area bike shops, and you get a free jar of John's awesome "Rail Trail Red" Wild Concord Grape Jelly, made from grapes picked along the trail. See, I told you we were laid back. If I ride with you, do I have to wear those skinny spandex bike clothes? No, definitely not. We don't care what you wear as long as you're safe and comfortable. Many of our members prefer blue jeans or shorts, and sweatshirts or Tee's. Nothing loose or dangling though, that might get caught in a bike chain or cause other safety issues. Bright colors are encouraged for visibility by traffic, and closed toe shoes or sneakers are a good idea. Helmets are required, by everyone. So why do you see so many bikers in those skinny bike shorts? They have special padding in the "seat contact area", and are designed to wick sweat away from your skin to keep you more comfortable. Want to know more about bike apparel and technical clothing? Come talk to us. We answer in plain English, not techno-speak. And we can talk for a long time. |