In the Fall of 2019, we decided to no longer create the LWA Newsletter known as “Quick Release.”

We made this decision based on our ability to use a more modern communication tool, which is our LWA News/Blog located on our LWA website at: https://lehighwheelmen.org/index.php/latest-news

Since the beginning of our 2021 season, we have posted 34 New/Blogs to this site, which generates notification emails to everyone who has “subscribed.”

As the year has proceeded, I have been asked about “what’s new” with LWA and I refer to these many News/Blog posts that I and others have entered.

I also recently learned from Dave Drummer, our Website Manager, that a relatively low number of LWA members have subscribed to the LWA/Blog notification emails.

I hope everyone is having a good and safe summer.

I know of one member who had a significant accident while cycling.  Steve Kelly was injured while on a Fitness Central ride a few weeks ago.  I ask that you wish him and Dina a quick recovery.

We have had many rides this summer and I will let Kathy Crampton, our VP of Touring, update you on the number of rides, but I have heard that some of our recent News/Blogs posts may not have gone out with email alerts so be sure to catch up on some of our new Ride Leaders on these following posts from Kathy:

Here is continuation of our series to let you know about our newest LWA Ride Leaders.

The LWA has had nine members become Ride Leaders since the Spring. You may have already met some of them on a recent ride. All have filled out a questionnaire as part of the process, and here we share some of their answers (some edited) with our cyclists.

Meet....Andy Samuels:

I rode bicycles as a means of transportation here in the Lehigh Valley as a teenager. As an adult, I got back into cycling in 2006. I am a member of RUSA and like randonneuring. My favorite type of cycling is climbing although I am quite slow. 

When I plan routes, I like to stay as far away from automobile traffic as I can get. In the past few years I have been riding on trails more often.

Here is continuation of our series to let you know about our newest LWA Ride Leaders.

The LWA has had nine members become Ride Leaders since the Spring. You may have already met some of them on a recent ride. All have filled out a questionnaire as part of the process, and here we share some of their answers (some edited) with our cyclists.

Meet.... Karl Peters:

The LWA has had nine members become Ride Leaders since the Spring. You may or may have met some of them already. All have filled out quesionnaires as part of the process, and I would like to share some of their answers with our cyclists. (Some edited)

First to meet..... Kathie Zapotoki:

The main purpose of the Lehigh Wheelmen is to promote the general interest in cycling in all its phases.

To fulfill this purpose, the LWA with Lehigh County installed and dedicated a bike repair station just beyond the entrance to Rodale Fitness Park entrance for use by all who cycle and use the park.

The dedication occurred on July 10 with over 40 members and quests in attendance and was proceeded by:

• An organized ride for those new to cycling.
• A Flat Repair Clinic led by Fitness Central.
• A session on how to use the new Bike Repair Station.

Link to Photos relating to Bike Repair Stand Dedication

We dedicated the bike repair station to all who enjoy cycling and to the memory of 3 of our long-time ride leaders:

The main purpose of the Lehigh Wheelmen is to promote the general interest in cycling in all its phases.

To fulfill this purpose, the LWA with Lehigh County has installed a bike repair station just beyond the entrance to Rodale Fitness Park entrance for use by all who cycle and use the park.

A LWA member is looking for a used, 56 cm road bike.  Another member has a Cannondale road bike for sale, but it is a 48 cm frame.  If you have the former, or are interested in the latter, please respond to lehighwheelmen@gmail.com, and I will put you in touch with them.

Dave Drummer

LWA website manager

The LWA is bringing back the spirit of the “Grill and Chill” ... in small doses.

We are starting with leaders offering a "Tailgate" option to rides starting on Monday, June 14. 

Ultimately, the “tailgate” is defined by the ride leader, who designates which “area” of the Velo parking lot that their ride will meet after the end of the ride for a LWA Tailgate where all participants are asked to bring food and beverages for themselves and maybe something to share.

Check out the posted rides for Monday!

On June 2 there was a ride from Bowers to Daniel Boone Homestead (https://www.thedanielboonehomestead.org/)  that most riders agreed was very nice.  This route is now included in the LWA RWGPS route library.  It is called Bowers to Daniel Boone. The route is 37.6 miles with 1841 feet of climbing based on the RWGPS map and data.  Be aware that there are no services at Daniel Boone so be sure to have food and fluids if you ride this route.  The visitor center was closed the day we rode (Wednesday June 2) and the restrooms were locked as well.

Pennsylvania will lift all Covid-19 restrictions, except for the order to wear a mask in public, on Memorial Day, May 31.

The LWA Board has decided that ride participant numbers will no longer be limited to 12. However, it is strongly recommended that the practice be continued, and that additional ride leaders and separate groups be provided when the number reaches 12+. 

Rider total will be posted at the Ride Leader's discretion/comfort level.

Remember -- The virus has not disappeared. Not all are able or wish to be vaccinated. With that in mind:

• Continue to bring a mask to wear for entry into commercial establishments at rest stops, and to protect the unvaccinated when not social distancing.
• Please stay home or ride solo if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been recently exposed to someone that has COVID-19.
• If you develop symptoms or test positive within a week of a group ride, please contact a Board member for contact tracing efforts.

At our LWA Monthly meeting on May 26, we will have a special presentation by two of our LWA members as follows:

"A Pain in the Neck"
How to decrease your chances of having one, and other tips for injury avoidance in cycling
Led by Dr. Timothy Salkauskas MD, with by introduction by Dave Drummer

Please join us for this valuable session and our regular LWA Monthly meeting agenda items that will follow.

See Meetup for details:

Monthly Club Meeting..All Welcome, Wed, May 26, 2021, 7:00 PM | Meetup

Thanks to the efforts of Jack Helffrich, the LWA has installed a Bike Repair & Pump Station at Rodale Park, Trexlertown.

There are many road crews out there, and tar and chip is occurring as well. We ask that you respect "Road Closed" signs as best as you can.

In words sent to me by one of our valuable Ride Leaders, "Just because it is possible to ride through it doesn’t mean that we should. I’ve been on a number of rides where the group just blasted through anyway, and that is not a way for us to make friends with the road crews, whose job is tough enough without us in the mix."

Know your routes, approach slowly and ask permission if necessary, then be prepared to take detours. 

Thank you, ride on.

Kathy Crampton, LWA VP Touring

LWA Board member Rev. Larry Pickens perfomed a Blessing of the Bikes at Ziegels Church on May 1, 2021. God was asked to hear our prayers covering all aspects of cycling -- for the bikes and their many parts, for the safety and fitness of the humans that ride them, for protection from the winds and sunrays that all encounter, and more. 

At our LWA Monthly meeting on April 28, we presented some important information on LWA Rides and Events and other benefits of membership.

Here is a summary of what we presented:

At our LWA Monthly meeting on April 28, we will present some important topics on LWA Rides and Events.

As we begin the busy ride season, please join us to learn more about these important topics as follows:

1.     LWA Rides/Events vs. Non LWA Events – Rich Ferrera

2.     Posting on Meetup & Ride Leader Credit – Kathy Crampton

3.     USAC SafeSport – Roberta Kates

The importance of the policy requiring riders to sign the waiver (sign in sheet) was demonstrated recently. It is also important that the information written is legible! 

After a recent ride there was a non-emergency need to contact one of the participants for a reason that will remain known only to those present.  The ride leader got out the ride sign in sheet, which has places for both an emergency contact number and the riders cell number.  Both these were completed.  Unfortunately the last digit of the rider's cell number was open for debate, was it a 4? , a 9?  maybe a 5? or some other digit?   So the leader tried the numbers that seemed most likely, eventually connecting to a voice mail which did not identify the recipient, just repeated the number dialed.  Was this the rider we needed to contact?  The leader then called the emergency contact number and got a recording again not identifying the person.  A message was left, but everyone was concerned because the rider would certainly need to know the reason for the call.  Fortunately the situtation resolved itself soon after as the rider returned to the start.

Riders, when you sign the waiver, please take the few extra seconds to make certain what you write is clear.  

Community Bike Works is open for bike donations! Have you found a bike during your spring cleaning that you don't use anymore? We'd be happy to repurpose that bike for our programs! Bike donations are accepted by appointment only, M-F 12-4 PM.   Donate a bike: Downtown Allentown:  Adonis Cannon, 610.434.1140 East Allentown: Hana Cannon, 610.820.9927   More information at CBW website.

On June 1, 2021, the state of Pennsylvania will begin to enforce a new law requiring all bicycles used on public property to be licensed according to type.  Each bicycle must have a 4X6" license plate mounted behind the seat.  These plates will be color-coded according to the type of bicycle.