Sussex Cyclists has the perfect ride for you

Feel like a nice, quiet ride on your bicycle through the back roads of Sussex County or a fast-paced or endurance rides, Sussex Cyclists is the place for you.

With the prime riding season just beginning on Delmarva, the nonprofit bicycling group promotes bicycle safety and coordinates rides throughout coastal Sussex County.

Last week, the group held its 13th  Ride of Silence  in memory of those who have been killed or injured while riding on public roadways.

Ride Chair Tom Kinsella talks about the group’s activities and how you can join in.

Is this an advanced cycling club or open to all levels?

We are available to every fitness level. We offer a variation of rides from some that are local, through the community and all the way up to a 100-mile fast ride and everything in between. Basically, the duration of rides can be anywhere from 10 miles to 80 or 100 miles.

What is the difference between the categories of the rides you offer?

We have five carefully designed ride categories from A through E and each category defines how fast and how long the ride will be. A is usually the fastest and maybe even the longest type of ride with a 20-22 mph pace average. Then it decreases in speed per category – 18-20 mph, 14-16 mph, 10-12 mph and a slower, leisurely pace. 

Where does the cycling club ride out from?

We have many start points in the areas of Rehoboth, Lewes, Millsboro, Bethany Beach and Ocean View. Ride leaders will organize each ride. 

This is prime riding season right now so we have group rides almost every day through September. We try to do our rides away from the crowds and along the roads near the farm land as much as possible. 

The club also participates in non-competitive rides such as Ocean to Bay tour in addition to other fun events throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware and even New York. We have about 150 rides scheduled. 

If someone is unable to keep up with the pace, what is the protocol?

We have a no-drop policy. That means we wait for everyone. No one ever gets left behind. We all can have off days; it happens. 

Do you have to be a member to join a ride?

Anyone is welcome to drop in and join us. We have a lot of vacationers who are here for a week or two and join us; there is no fee involved. If you would like to join the club, there is an “exorbitant” annual fee of $20. We currently have 125 paying members. 

All we ask of riders is for a positive attitude, to have the appropriate equipment (most importantly a helmet), and to sign a club waiver with an emergency contact. Our membership ranges in the ages between 30 and 85. 

How are the club members involved with the community?

Many members meet with legislators to promote cycling safety and advocacy.  They also do outreach programs at libraries, local schools and other locations to not only get youth involved in cycling, but to do it safely. 

We partner with DelDOT to do safety stops – we do about a dozen of them per year.  We literally will set up alongside the road and as bicyclists go by we offer them minor repairs, provide educational information, helmets, bicycle lights; you name it. 

We particularly aim to help the foreign exchange students working here during the summer since riding a bike is their main mode of transportation; we educate them on the rules  of the road, make sure their bikes are in working order and that they also have lights because so many of them ride at night.  

One of our members, Advocacy Chair Michael Tyler, organizes the Ride of Silence to memorialize cyclists who have died or have been injured in cycling accidents with motor vehicles. 

Safety is a main priority for our club and one of the reasons we enjoy riding as a group is because there is safety in numbers.

In addition, we team with DelTech on Tour de Sussex – this is our fourth year – it is a charity event for DelTech to be able to provide additional job training and adult education classes.

Either during a ride or at the end of a ride, do you all take time to gather and hang out?

Absolutely we do. Every ride has rest stops. Even on a short 15-mile ride, we will stop even if it just for 10 minutes to have a drink and to get off the bike. Depending on the length of the ride, we will have multiple rest stops. 

Our destination might be a break at Royal Farms or sometimes a diner or a restaurant to have lunch or ice cream; hey, we are riding and burning calories, why not! 

If someone is only in town for vacation, and would like to join a ride, how do they get in contact?

They can go to our website,www.sussexcyclists.org and look at the calendar. Each ride leader will have their contact information. As a courtesy we ask that you let the ride leader know you are going to show up just so we have an idea how many will be in the group that day. 

There is a link to sign up for email blasts as well so you know what is going on whether it is a bike or non-bike related event during the on and off season. If you are shy and want to try it, we have at least one casual ride per week that is on the trails or back roads to get you acquainted. 

If you want exercise and some laughs, come out to see us; we are a fun, welcoming group.