RIDE LEADER STATUS

To maintain your ride leader status, you need to lead at least one ride from Oct 1 to Sept 30.  If you did not lead a ride since 10/1/2022 and still want to maintain your status as a ride leader, just contact me by email.  We need you.  Thanks, Manny

TOMORROW’S TREK RIDES

Just a reminder Trek will supply bagels, coffee and juice and we will also have bananas and clementines.  Trek will also have door prizes. Trek is offering free safety bike inspections but you can skip the inspections.  However, you need the inspection for the special service package.  There will be a delay in the start of the rides so please be patient and don’t start your ride until all inspections are completed for your group.

See you tomorrow, Manny

TREK STIRLING EVENT

Trek Stirling was contacted, and they are looking forward to this club event and will be fully engaged with their top three mechanics.   They will have an outdoor fire pit and are providing bagels, cream cheese, juices and coffee. We will provide bananas and oranges.  Back in June when we did this event with Trek I was told they took 2 bikes offline due to serious safety issues that the riders were not aware of.  Not to worry since Trek offered the riders bikes that they could use for the ride.  Manny

RIDE COORDINATOR REPORT

TREK C+ RIDE-I cancelled the C+ ride because I could not get a ride leader to lead the ride.  If anyone wants to lead that ride I can repost the ride.  I have 2 riders who want to do the ride and I told them to do the C ride.  Looking for your help on this club event.

BATHROOMS-Heated bathrooms for the winter are available at Duke Island Park, Colonial Park Lot C, and White Oak Park.  Bathrooms at Art Building at Bed 1 are closed for the winter.  Not sure of the bathrooms at Loantaka but I assume they are open for the winter.

LAKE ROAD AT FAR HILLS-I road Lake Road along Ravine Lake and the bad sections were repaved but not all of the road.

Manny

TREK RIDES THIS SATURDAY

Weather looks great for riding so let’s not miss this opportunity.  In addition, Trek has offered to do free safety inspections of your bike and I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to make sure you are riding a safe bike.  Trek has also offered a special discounted service package to correct any deficiencies as outlined in the ride description.  Trek is offering coffee and bagels, and we will have other snacks like bananas and oranges before and after the rides.  There will be slight delays in the start times to allow the safety inspections of your bikes, so I ask your understanding and patience.  Please sign up by Friday afternoon so we can better plan this club event.

Thanks, Manny

Bon Ton Roulet 7/20/24 to 7/27/24

Registration for the Bon Ton Roulet will open 1/2/2024.  Seven of us from MAFW did it this past year and had a great time.  Involves 7 days of cycling/camping thru the Finger Lakes of New York.  Attached below is the web site for this event.  I plan on doing this event again and if you have any questions feel free to contact me.  I will add this event to the MAFW schedule so that you sign on as a rider after you register with Bon Ton.

Manny

Bon Ton Roulet | Auburn YMCA

MAFW December 2023 January 2024 Newsletter Available

Hi Freewheelers,

Watch the website to see information on upcoming events, communication from our club president and ride coordinator, and ride guidelines.

Our Social Coordinator, John Storey, is always in need of your help for a number of our activities. Please email if you are interested: social@mafw.org

MAFW has 2 main guidelines or mottos that riders and ride leaders should follow:

  1. Nobody rides alone including the ride leader
  2. Ride leader sweeps for all rides except B and faster

Just a reminder that the December 2023 January 2024 edition of our NL is online. To read click: https://mafw.org/newsletter/

What’s in this issue:

  1. Seasons Greetings
  2. CPR Course Status Update – Rob Greenberg
  3. Connect with the MAF Bike Club on Social Media – Tracy Brown
  4. Welcome New Members
  5. Ride Coordinator Update
  6. President Update
  7. Revolutionary Ramble Saturday June 8, 2024
  8. The First A.I. Application For Our Club – Jay Marowitz
  9. How To Choose The Right Crank Length For Your Bike – Tony Marchand
  10. Photo Gallery
  11. Nostalgia
  12. Inspiration
  13. Poet’s Corner by John J. Burns
  14. Scenic Trails to Explore in New Jersey, One for Each Month of the Year
  15. MAF Bike Adventures 2024 See website for more detail
  16. Cycling Guides by Mark Jay
  17. People Cycling
  18. Safety by Paul Malinowski
  19. Club Sponsors
  20. Club Officers

Enjoying your E-bike, trike, gravel bike? Let’s hear about your experience.

Folks, many of you have taken some interesting trips this year or in the past. So why not share your stories & photos with fellow club members?

We welcome any articles that you feel would be of interest. WHEN YOU HAVE A SPARE MOMENT, PLEASE SEND ME A STORY AND PICTURES OF YOUR BICYCLING ADVENTURES. Submit any information by the 24th of the preceding month at the following email address: newsletter@mafw.org

If you have any issues with your login credentials, please contact Membership Coordinator Betsy Eastwood at the following email address: membership@mafw.org

Periodically Rob Greenberg will be instructing a no-cost CPR course sponsored by the Morris Area Freewheelers Foundation. For those interested, you can contact Rob by phone at 973-334-0125 or by email at robdg01@aol.com for the next available session and more information.

Good Reading. Thanks,

Patricia Kipp
Editor

Crank Length

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CRANK LENGTH FOR YOUR BIKE

Choosing the length of the bike crank has always been an interesting topic. In fact, the correct crank length can improve both the biomechanical performance of the pedal stroke and reduce the risk of injury.

The Crank Length

The crank length represents the distance between the center of the bottom bracket and the center of the pedal axis. The most common lengths are 170, 172.5 and 175 mm, but it is possible to find crank between 150 and 180 mm in the market.

The goal when choosing crank length is to find the best possible balance and various factors must be taken into account when evaluating. In the past, anthropometric values (measurement of anatomic body parts) were the only useful reference in choosing the crank length. Recently, thanks to the availability of power meters and laboratory studies, it has been possible to carry out more in-depth assessments for making a proper choice.

Main Differences

A short crank reduces the circumference that the foot must travel to make a complete pedal stroke. The result is that, with the same ratio and force exerted on the pedal, it favors a higher cadence. Meanwhile, a longer crank allows a rider to push/pull harder ratios but makes it more difficult to maintain a high cadence.

So the shorter cranks are recommended for those who engage in competitions with numerous changes of pace and for those who naturally pedal with a higher cadence. Long cranks, on the other hand, are more suitable for constant efforts, like the time trials and also to those who prefer face many climbs at a constant pace, typical of a Gran Fondo.

That said, personal feelings and pedaling style cannot be overlooked. Those who prefer a pedal stroke of strength, at rather low cadences, could be better with a long crank; those who always travel at high cadences will have a more natural ride with a short crank.

Conclusions

There isn’t a universal rule since each rider responds differently to the change of crank size.

For an amateur, the advice is to avoid extreme choices in length and to refer to a table with anthropometric values (values based on height, inseam, rider weight).(1) However, if you are at the limit between two lengths, the most recent scientific analysis recommends taking the shorter measure since several advantages can be obtained at a biomechanical and postural level:

  • reduced risk of a knee injury as well as decrease stress on lower back (especially for those experienc-ing lower back pain or problems).
  • higher cadence at the same gear and power;
  • greater flexion of the torso and therefore improvement of the aerodynamic position;
  • improvement of breathing and reduction of pressure on the femoral arteries thanks to a more open hip-femur angle.

References:

  1. Crank Arm Length, Scott Mills, Bicycle Fit Specialist
  2. What is the Best Crank Arm Length, BikeRadar, Simon Von Bromley, 2021
  3. What is the Optimal Crank Arm Length For You, Best Bike Advice, Professional Online Advice

TREK RIDES DEC 9

Weather looks great this coming Sat for a ride so hold off putting your bike away for the winter.  We have 5 rides scheduled for this Sat from Trek Stirling and we will have breakfast supplied.  Parking will be in the store lot, the day care next door, Main Street and the Stirling Train station. Trek is offering free safety inspections as indicated in Joe Reo’s earlier email.  These safety inspections helps you have a safer ride.  There will be delays from the actual start times to allow the inspections to take place, but we will do our best to minimize delays.  Please sign up as soon as you can so we can better plan this event and know how many bagels to buy.  If you are a ride leader please let me know which ride you want to lead.  I need ride leaders for the C and C+ rides.

Thanks, Manny

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