Bicycle
The Bicycle Committee embraces all the missions of the Appalachian Mountain Club: education, recreation, conservation. It sponsors rides on all type of bikes (road, hybrid, mountain, eBikes) and varying terrain (roads, gravel, rail trails, single track, mountain trails). Helmets are required for all rides, as are gloves unless deemed optional by the ride leader.
Our priorities are safety first, fun second, and achieving our goals third — and of course, we always want to learn something. Before a ride, check your equipment: tires should be properly inflated, brakes tested, shifting crisp, seat height comfortable and efficient, and broken spokes causing misalignment should be fixed. Besides being prepared with ample food and beverages, provide for contingencies: clothes for a change in weather (especially a windbreaker) and spare tube.
Check the ride description
Every bicycle ride will have a detailed description of its mileage, type of terrain, elevation gain, and so forth. In addition, the trip write-up will note which difficulty the ride falls into based on the AMC’s Activity Difficulty Rating System.
| Activity Level | Moving Time (Up to___Hours) | Distance (Up to __Miles) | Average Moving Speed (__ miles per hour) | Elevation (Up to ___feet) | Rise (__Feet per Mile) |
| Relaxed | 3 | 25 | 8.3 | 1000 | 40 |
| Easy | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 2000 | 57 |
| Moderate | 4 | 45 | 11.3 | 3000 | 67 |
| Vigorous | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 4500 | 75 |
| Strenuous | 6 | 80 | 13.0 | 7000 | 88 |
Education
Basic bicycle maintenance: covers chain lubrication, flat tire replacement, and components of the pre-ride (A-E) check list.
Mountain biking fundamentals: skills and drills in learning to ride a mountain bike.
Bike touring: preparation and gear for trekking regional multi-day rides: Erie Canalway, Empire State Trail, Hudson River Valley circuit
Transportation
Bikes are permitted on trains and subways. Check with MetroNorth and MTA for limitations: for example, non-rush hour and number of bikes allowed on each car. Amtrak requires reservations. Bicycles and public transportation are more than means to recreation: they are fundamental to conservation.
Becoming a Ride Leader
New leaders and routes are always welcome. Both day trips and overnights are encouraged. Contact Skip Doyle at SkipNewYork@Yahoo.com.
1. Take the AMC Leadership Training course.
2. Co-lead an existing ride with an AMC Bicycling leader.
3. Scout and plan a ride on your own. With the Bicycle chair, submit a ride to the club’s database of activities, called Outdoors Connector. With an AMC Bicycling leader in attendance, conduct the trip according to the AMC Leadership Requirements and Guidelines, the Outdoor Leader Handbook, the Code of Conduct, and all other club rules.
4. Bicycle chair registers candidate as a Bicycle leader.
Helpful Links
New York Bicycling Coalition. Ride preparation, technique, gear and guidelines.
The Bicycle chair is available to answer any questions about biking: gear, attire, venues: SkipNewYork@Yahoo.com