Spring City Cycling Club promotes safe and fun cycling
MADISON – On any given day, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, the roadways of the Tennessee Valley will feature cyclists riding the area with a breeze bouncing off their helmets and the asphalt zipping by their pedals as they roll for an exhilarating exercise all while enjoying the social benefits of the comradery. Most of those riders are members of the Spring City Cycling Club, a 300-member strong organization developing and maintaining a cycling community in North Alabama.
“When I first moved to Huntsville, I found a ride group with a similar ride profile to mine and I started riding more frequently and farther,” said Terry Price, an avid rider and director of community affairs for the Spring City Cycling Club. “Riding the countryside and exploring new areas is my primary joy of the sport.”
The Spring City Cycling Club is one of the oldest in the country being formed in 1892. There was a big push for cycling in this area in the 1980’s and 90’s with the influx of thousands of new residents to the area, many of whom came from locales across the country that had marvelous cycling opportunities. The Club’s purpose is to promote and develop cycling for sport, recreation, transportation and safety education.
“For me, when I first began cycling I was surprised at how welcoming the cycle community was,” said Fred McMurry of Madison, 67, who took up cycling in 2012. “Our club, primarily made up of older men age 50-plus, is looking for young riders. Our women members are a big part of the club. In my opinion, the women give us a sort of elegance and charm.”
“Bicycle riders can get more ride time, find new routes and make new friends as a member of the Spring City Cycling Club and we have members who ride a variety of types of bicycles and who have a range of skills and speeds,” said Price.
Riding is fun when it is safe. The club has rules for its rides. Riders must wear a helmet and have back lights. Each organized ride has a leader who post rides along with the RideWithGPS route. Ride leaders also help new riders learn the rules of the road and what to do in case of mechanical problems. Having competent riders and a no-rideleft- behind policy is the safety each rider gains by riding with the club.
Cycling is a year-round activity and the Spring City Cycling Club supports an array of cycling events including on-road and trail biking.
“We ride for fun, and we ride with our friends,” added Price. “In fact, the club has several social events and rides during the year. Those include the Spring Tune-Up weekend in April, an Easter Bunny Ride, and rides to the strawberry farm and the pumpkin patch. We have an early summer picnic and a late summer pool party. On Halloween, the club hosts the ride to Sewanee, Tenn., (a 120-mile round-trip) and of course we also have a Christmas Party for club members.”
One of the biggest and most popular events on the schedule of the Spring City Cycling Club is the annual Century Ride and All You Can Eat where proceeds go directly to education and support cycling promotion. The special event ride has brought in hundreds of riders from at least a dozen states.
“We have monthly social meetings to share stories about travels and rides, safety policies and, of course, focus on rides,” said Price. “You don’t have to be a member of the club to ride with our groups, but membership has advantages that can help make the riding more secure, safe and most of all social.”
Local bike shops are huge supporters of the club and those include the Madison Cove, Bicycle Cove, Southern Carnage, Sunset Cycles and Trailhead.
“You read a lot about the importance of social relationships in healthy aging and there’s usually a lot of chatter among the group during the rides with people catching up with friends,” said McMurry. “It’s a very welcoming community and truly strangers become acquaintances and eventually friends.”
The Spring City Cycling Club is available on its website www. springcity.org and on Facebook.
