Saddling Up
Madison
Area Bicycle Club
has had a long ride since its founding
New
riders being sought
to revive the club’s membership
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
(May 2012) – Ann Wineland had never considered joining
a bicycle club until she learned about a local group through a community
project she worked on for her job at a nursing home. When she realized
just how much fun it could be, she and her husband, Jon, got involved
in an activity that has countless benefits.
In 2000, Wineland’s employer partnered with the Madison Area Bicycle
Club to promote the Madison Meander, a ride held the fourth Saturday
in August. This ride is open to the public and contains three different
course levels.
“My husband helped with the job, and we both got involved,”
she said.
The club’s main focus right now is on cycling advocacy and education,
said Wineland, who resides in Carrollton, Ky.
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Photo
courtesy of Tom Pritchard Jon
and Ann Wineland take |
The current chapter was established in 1995, but the
club has existed in Madison since the 1890s when “a group of locals
who enjoyed riding decided to band together,” Wineland said.
The club has about 35 members and meets every third Tuesday of the month
at 6 p.m. at the Hong Kong Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant in Madison.
Men, women and children of all ages are encouraged to join.
“Many rides are held seasonally,” Wineland said, with three
national events held annually in which members can participate. One
of these is the Stream Cliff Ride, held the third Saturday in May. Wineland
described it as “a 50-mile spring tune-up ride.”
May is also National Bike Month. For the past 55 years, it has been
a time to nationally promote cycling and safe bicycling. The League
of American Bicyclists is the national sponsor of Bike Month. A national
Bike to School Day is scheduled for May 9, and Bike to Work Day is scheduled
for Friday, May 18.
Members of the Madison Area Bicycle Club participate in yearly rides
ranging from a few 100 miles a year to more than 5,000 miles per year.
Basic fitness rides are scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays from 5 p.m.
to 6 p.m. and begin at a fixed point. A socially active group, the club
offers weekend rides at least once a month.
Members range in age from 16 (excluding children of members) to the
oldest who is over 70, said Wineland. Tom Pritchard, 60, of Madison
joined the club in the mid-1990s. “I liked the idea of having a
bike club,” he said. “It brought together people that had
a common interest. One of my biggest hobbies is bike riding.”
He commutes back and forth to work on his bike most days. “I ride
almost every day if I can.”
From January through April 2012, Pritchard has logged nearly 400 miles
in club rides. “It’s fun to do, relaxing, healthy and a good
way to get exercise,” he said. Pritchard’s goal is to ride
cross-country on a bike.
Camaraderie is one of the main reasons he stays active with the club.
“It’s a reason to ride,” said Pritchard, who is also
vice president of the club.
Pritchard owns three bikes: a Schwinn Voyageur, a Trek 2100 road bike
and a Schwinn Frontier mountain terrain bike. He uses the latter bike
to commute to work and will also use it on a camping ride scheduled
for June. Pritchard often participates in long-distance touring, many
times riding from state park to state park.
In 2005 and 2006, Pritchard rode long-distance through Indiana and Ohio
with the Winelands. He said the club’s “membership is lower
now. I’d like to see previous members rekindle attendance and new
people that are interested join.”
Members are planning a Welcome Event for Saturday, June 2, beginning
at 9 a.m. The club will partner with a local gym, Mad City CrossFit,
a fitness center located inside the Venture Out Business Center, 975
Industrial Dr., on the Madison hilltop. The event is free and open to
all ages and will present various workshops on bicycling and include
a ride.
“Basic bike education will be stressed,” said Wineland.
• To learn more about National Bike Month visit http://www.BikeLeague.org. To learn more about the Madison Area Bicycle Club, visit www.MadisonBicycleClub.org or contact Ann Wineland at: info@MadisonBicycleClub.org.