Memberships
Ride Information
Spokes, Sunshine, and Smiles in Chestertown
Eager bicyclists gathered in Chestertown, Maryland for a wonderful, long weekend of cycling, entertainment, food, and lots of socializing. Let’s talk about the riding! The level-to-rolling terrain, lightly trafficked roads, wide shoulders, beautiful farmland, picturesque small towns, and lovely water views all made for great cycling.
BBC Season Opener
Breezy - with Bicycles and Bagels
A breezy day, with Northwest winds, didn’t deter the hearty group of BBC cyclists. All were eager to ride on this Spring Sunday in Taneytown. There was a lot to draw people to this annual BBC event to enjoy the quiet country roads of Maryland and southern PA. Two routes of 46 and 41 miles went to Thurmont, and two routes of 38 and 27 miles went to Littlestown.
After the ride, the riders enjoyed a much-welcomed lunch of delicious bagels with many toppings, fruit, and a variety of big cookies for dessert.
Events like this don’t happen without dedicated volunteers! We’d like to extend a big thank you to ride leaders Adriana Pukalski, John McCauley, Bob Rohlfing, and Gene Young. Ellen Hochman and Steve Zeldin also helped to make the event a success. Thanks Volunteers!
Lots of socializing, good food, and wonderful early-season riding add up to a fun day. Hope you can make the most of the warmer days to get out on some club rides. See you at the BBC Picnic on July 20 in Taneytown for more great riding, socializing, and post-ride food!
John & Jane Cole, Gloria Epstein - Event Leaders
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Let Us Not Forget!
Baltimore Bicycling Club
5th ANNUAL SEASON OPENER
SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2025
TANEYTOWN MEMORIAL PARK
Mark your calendars for this club event to usher in the 2025 season.
Four scenic, low traffic, mostly rolling terrain rides will be available.
Choice of 27, 38, 41, or 46 mile routes with leaders!
See the BBC Calendar for Ride Details!
RSVP by April 10th for Post-ride social (bagels, matzah, condiments & fruits). FREE for BBC Members. Please let Gloria Epstein know if you plan to stay after the ride: carlglo@verizon.net; (h) 410-665-3012; (c) 410-236-2129.
Posted by: BBC President
Proposed eBike Title/Registration Bill
In case you aren’t aware, there is a Maryland bill that will be heard on January 22nd that will require ebikes have a certificate of title, registration, and insurance.
Please contact your local Maryland State Senator and State Delegate and ask that they oppose this bill. You can also submit written testimony why you oppose the passage of this legislation.
You can read more about the bill here.
Here is a link to the actual text of the bill.
“Requires an electric bicycle to be titled and registered by the Motor Vehicle Administration; requiring an application for a certificate of title and registration for an electric bicycle to be submitted electronically; requiring an owner of an electric bicycle to maintain certain security; authorizing an insurer to exclude certain benefits from a policy for electric bicycles; and generally relating to the titling and registration of, and insurance for, electric bicycles”
Nigel Samaroo, Advocacy Committee Chair
Happy Holidays!
The BBC Executive Board
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Celebrating the BBC and Those Who Give Back
A good time was had by all one hundred plus cyclists who attended the Baltimore Bicycling Club’s Annual End of Year Celebration on November 9, 2024 at Oregon Ridge. Some members started the day with a bike ride to Hampstead on a beautiful sunny day. A delicious lunch was catered by Andy Nelson’s. The tasty menu of barbecue, brisket, veggie burgers, and many sides was sufficient to satisfy even the hungriest cyclist.
Nabil Ali, club president, presided over the annual business meeting and election of next year’s Board officers via a voice vote. They include: Nabil Ali, president; Adriana Pukalski, vice-president; Steve Zeldin, secretary; Dave Schallich, treasurer; Frank Blatt, Gloria Epstein, Rich Burns, Marge Ewertz, members at large; Pat Lapensee, past president.
We also heard informative reports from the following current officers: Steve Zeldin, secretary; Dave Schallich, treasurer; Eugene Bayer, membership; Nigel Samaroo, advocacy; Adriana Pukalski, instructional series.
Special awards were presented to the following BBC members: John and Jane Cole, Hall of Fame; Barbara Park Award, Adriana Pukalski; Wayne Rodgers Award, John McCauley. Congratulations to these outstanding members for their service to the club.
Also listed in the program were the number of rides led by members including such super ride leaders as: Eugene Bayer, 101 rides; Steve Zeldin, 78 rides; Gary Kelly, 52 rides; Mark Tabb, 48 rides; Gloria Epstein, 47 rides; Renee Faison, 32 rides, Gene Young, 31 rides; John McCauley, 30 rides and Greg Fromme, 26 rides. A very big thank you to all ride leaders—you are the engine that drives the Baltimore Bicycling Club!!
President Nabil Ali ended with a surprise award—The Human Dynamo Award—to Road Captain, Gloria Epstein, who coordinated this wonderful event and the BBC Opener—among the many things she gives back to the BBC each and every year [Gloria received a standing ovation for her recognition]. Gloria works tirelessly behind the scenes giving her all to make the bike club the best it can be. Thanks Gloria!
Two beautiful and delicious sheet cakes from Graul’s Market topped off the meal. It was a very special Saturday afternoon with much laughter and goodwill among cycling friends, new and old. Having been to every Annual Awards Celebration since 1988, I can indeed say this one ranks among the very best! Get out there and ride and volunteer—see you next year.
Michael Reinsel
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Chestertown Weekend Event Coordinator/Leader Needed!
We need you! Please consider leading the BBC’s 2025 Chestertown Weekend, formerly the Kent County Spring Fling. This fantastic cycling event has taken place at Washington College in Chestertown, MD—every Memorial Day Weekend—for the past 40 years. It has many devoted followers, all of whom love riding on the quiet roads of the Eastern Shore, the wonderful Chestertown Tea Party, and the excellent all-you-can-eat meals! Both 3 and 4-day options have been available and are reasonably priced. It is very hard to find a better cycling weekend!
We need a coordinator/leader to keep the BBC’s signature weekend alive! Last year’s coordinators/leaders are available to help you with the details. Please contact BBC president Nabil Ali at president@baltobikeclub.org as soon as possible.
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BBC Volunteers…You Are Very Special!
Once again, members of the Baltimore Bicycling Club have shown their true grit and their sacrificial nature by volunteering to make a signature event—the Civil War Century—a great success!
On a cold day which started cloudy and dry, that went to a 2-hour deluge soaking everyone, with the sun finally shining in the afternoon, this event has affirmed again its popularity among cyclists from this region and beyond, as 70% attendees out of the total of 1019 registrants have shown up—even though bad weather was in the forecast—and without any hesitation proceeded with their intended routes whether it was a full century or other distances that were offered.
There were people of all ages, families, groups of friends, teams, many have been loyal returning cyclists who have enjoyed this event for several years before. Whether completed their intended goal for the day, or not, all of whom returned to the finish line with a smile on their faces!
An event such as this—to be successful—demands a great amount of organization and work. The event organizers Larry Kenney and Cindy Wyatt are credited with their highly skilled managerial capacities, without which such an event could not turn out as it did a year after year, and still attracts so many cyclists, and be a magnet to club members to volunteer in such an impressive way.
These devoted souls do so without any personal gain, and show up in the very early and dark hours of the day to direct traffic to parking areas, check-in registrants, staff and stock rest stops, drive supply trucks, drive SAG vehicles, map the routes, direct cycling route traffic, provide lunch, carry chairs and tables, carry heavy boxes and items, ensure everyone’s safety and comfort, answer questions, hand out CWC socks & musettes, and so many other tasks, too numerous to even try to list here.
At times, with all the challenges we are facing as a society, it is indeed heartwarming to witness such exemplary demonstration of the spirit of volunteering and service to others.
A BIG LOUD THANK YOU, BBC VOLUNTEERS!
Nabil Ali, BBC President
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