About Sound Cyclists
Our Mission
Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club is a community of cyclists that provides a safe, fun, social environment for riders of all levels to improve fitness and riding skills. The club advocates safe cycling practices and supports cycling-related initiatives.
The club is dedicated to offering well-organized rides, promoting the general interest of cycling, to promote a cycling-related social forum and to encourage safe bicycling.
The Bloomin' Metric® – Our Premier Bike Event
In late May or early June, Sound Cyclists hosts the Bloomin' Metric® Bicycle Tour, the largest and most popular bicycle tour in Connecticut, which annually attracts almost 3,000 cyclists. This is a 'Rain or Shine' event. Once you register a spot is reserved for you. There are no refunds or transfers of registrations.Detailed information about the Bloomin' Metric® can be found on its very own website at www.bloominmetric.com. You can click on any of these green links or the large logo on the left to access it.
The Bloomin' Metric® offers cyclists a choice of a 15-mile, 25-mile, 75-kilometer and 100-kilometer route. For an entry fee, riders receive a map and cue sheet, follow a route marked by arrows, and stop for cookies, fresh fruit, and sandwiches at food stops, where they can also drink water and energy beverages.
Routes are patrolled by "sag wagons," driven by experienced cyclists who can offer assistance with mechanical difficulty or give a ride to a tired cyclist.
The Bloomin' Metric® takes place during the height of the dogwood and azalea blooming season in the spring. This is where the event's name was derived. It leads riders along the shorelines and beaches and through the tree-lined watersheds of Fairfield County. A portion of the proceeds are usually donated to a charity.
Rides
Riders have different objectives for cycling and the club offers all kinds of rides to cover the spectrum. Our faster rides offer something for the more competitive, disciplined rider and may include pacelining or training rides.Our moderately paced rides offer great exercise along with a social element. The slower rides are a great place to start for the up-and-coming cyclists or for those who chose to just tour around. Then there are the rides that go off road and on the trail that offer a combination of challenge and fun. See the full description or our types of rides and how it all works by going to the Rides page.
Ride Scheduling System
Sound Cyclists continuously schedules rides throughout the year, with a more extensive schedule in spring, summer and autumn. Ride leaders enter their rides in our Ride Scheduling System where members can see the schedule and register for rides.
Picnics, Weekends and Special Events
The club sponsors picnics that are preceded by a variety of rides for all ability levels. Picnics offer members an opportunity to relax and socialize after a ride. A nominal fee covers the cost of hot and cold food, as well as non-alcoholic beverages.The club sponsors weekend trips to scenic regions in surrounding states. Club members may also join together to complete "century" rides of 100 miles offered by other clubs. Particular favorites are The Flattest Century in the East, starting from Tiverton, R.I. and run by the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen, the Tri-State Seacoast Century, starting from Hampton Beach, N.H., run by the Granite State Wheelmen, and the Golden Apple Century, hosted by the Westchester Cycling Club.
Other favorites among Sound Cyclists are special events in which a bicycle trip is combined with another attraction. Popular special club events include the Shelter Island ride, Block Island ride and the weekly concerts at the Levitt Pavilion in Westport.
Communications
The club has a number of ways in which it communicates to its members and the public at-large. Each serves a specific purpose: Website, Ride News, E-mail and Facebook.
Website
The Web site has two areas: general and member-only. The general area has information on the club, special events and news, safety information, ride categories, and much more. We invite you to look around the site to learn more.The Member Login area is set aside for members only. Access to this area requires a user name and password. The log-in information is member created when you apply for membership. The Members Only area is where the Ride Scheduling System is located, along with other member-specific documents. Contact Web Support if you have any difficulties accessing the members only section of the web site.
Ride News
Ride News is a membership only communication system. It is used by ride leaders to post urgent messages about changes to planned rides - such as weather related cancellation or delays. Members are invited, and strongly recommended, to join this group on joining the club. The use of this system is monitored to ensure its purpose is not abused. If you are not a member of Ride News for some reason Contact Web Support
We recognize that people rather not be inundated with E-mail, and we have provided options for members to manage the types of messages that you will receive from the club. The club has a standing policy not to provide its E-mail list to any third party.The club will send by E-mail formal club announcements notifying members of club events.
- The club will distribute an E-mail every Thursday with the ride schedule for the forthcoming 10 days (covering two weekends). Members will be able to choose the ride levels highlighted in the E-mail. All forthcoming rides are included in the E-mail.
- The club will send E-mails, occasionally, with information about sales, promotions and events at bicycle shops that offer discounts to members. Members will be able to opt out of these E-mails.
- The club will send E-mails, occasionally, with information on rides organized by other clubs, charities and 3rd parties. Members will have the option of opting in to receive these E-mails.
The club has a Sound Cyclists Facebook Page. It should be used to post general cycling communications, (many of which were previously sent through Ride News). There is also a member Sound Cyclists Swap Shop Page for offering used cycling related items.Members may post messages and articles of cycling related topics that they want to share with other members. Examples are items of local news about cycling or cyclists, or regional rides. Members are encouraged to use this medium to join up with other members on non-club rides, or request information about club or other rides. Members should not use this medium for solicitations of any kind. The page is monitored and should not be used for inappropriate communications. Members who abuse the use of this page may lose their entitlement to post to this page.
Rider Training
During the season, SCBC holds clinics on GROUP RIDING SKILLS. Clinic subjects have included such areas as:
- Riding on the road
- Riding in a group in traffic and intersections
- Pedaling technique/cadence
- Shifting
- Drinking while riding
- Riding in straight line - and much more!
Volunteers
The club depends on volunteer members to plan and run all events. These tasks range from the scheduling and leading of rides, organizing the Bloomin' Metric or helping out at club picnics. We encourage all members to volunteer, which is also an ideal way to make friends.The club sponsors two events to thank the volunteers who make the club possible. The Ride Leader Appreciation Dinner usually takes place in February or March and thanks all the members who lead or sweep rides during the year. The Volunteer Appreciation Party usually takes place in June and honors the efforts of all volunteers, particularly those who run the Bloomin' Metric® and members involved with the day-to-day running of the club.
Affiliations
Sound Cyclists is affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists, the largest and oldest national bicycling organization in the United States. The league was established to protect the rights and interests of bicyclists and to serve as a nationwide network of affiliated bicycle clubs. Contact the league at www.bikeleague.org
Sound Cyclists is also a member of the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition, a statewide bicycling advocacy organization involved in public education, legislation, and the promotion of the sport of cycling within Connecticut.
