March Newsletter
March Online Member Meeting
Monday, March 8, 2021, 6:00 p.m. on Facebook Live!
Join us on Facebook Live for our March member meeting. First up, a presentation by the Central Iowa Trail Association (CITA). Take a (walk, ride, hike, snowshoe, run) in the woods on the multi-use trails maintained by CITA. Then, the information we've all been waiting for: details on DMCC's transitional program, "Let's Roll!" Find out how to register!
We will also discuss a COVID-19 policy that the Board of Directors is planning to adopt to guide us as we deal with changing conditions with the ongoing pandemic.
Go to DMCC Facebook Page for the Live event.
Tour the Raccoon - On or Off for 2021?
The overnight camping and riding excursion DMCC typically holds in June was canceled in 2020 along with other in-person activities. What is the status for 2021? Currently, we are not planning to hold the ride in June. However, we haven't completely ruled out trying it in the fall, depending on conditions with the COVID-19 pandemic at that time.
The last time we held the ride in 2019, we had a fantastic time riding from Waukee on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and camping or moteling in Jefferson. If you were on the ride, you remember some of the highlights: a scavenger hunt in Perry, a rest stop with selfies and snacks in Herndon, and the challenge of getting around the washed-out bridge just before Jefferson! We discovered how many POTPers can fit in the Big Red Chair in Dallas Center and how many bikes could be jammed into Bob and Sandy Kordick's camper to skip the highway and gravel detour.
What are your memories from previous Tours? We will stay hopeful that we can create new memories in 2021.
March is Women's History Month
Imagine trying to ride a bicycle wearing a tight corset, a voluminous bustle, a giant hat, and high-heeled button-up boots. That didn't stop the ladies who were the pioneers of cycling and even led to more reasonable styles and freedom in all aspects of women's lives. Here are some great articles that chart the impact of bicycling on women's history.
"Although it seems very unlikely, bicycles had a revolutionary impact on the women’s movement of the early 20th century. Bicycles promised freedom to women long accustomed to relying on men for transportation. Suddenly, the relatively inexpensive and readily accessible technological innovation gave women more control over where they went and when." (read more)
"'To men," an editorial from 1896, quoted in the excellent cycling book Wheels Of Change, noted, "the bicycle in the beginning was merely a new toy, another machine added to the long list of devices they knew in their work and play. To women, it was a steed on which they rode into a new world.'" (read more)
"In celebration of Women’s History Month, let’s take a look back at three incredible women that shaped the world on two wheels." (read more)
April Online Member Meeting
When: Monday, April 12, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Facebook Live from the Des Moines Cycle Club FB page
What: You may be ready to ride in April, but is your bicycle? Learn about how to get your bicycle ride-ready for spring and how to maintain it throughout the year. We'll offer easy to use tips that anyone can follow to have a smooth-operating machine!
