Potomac Pedalers
Potomac Pedalers
Potomac Pedalers Touring Club (PPTC) is a non-profit educational, recreational and social organization for bicycling enthusiasts. We are one of the largest bicycle clubs in the United States, and the largest in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. area. PPTC is affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists.
Our energies are directed primarily toward providing a weekend ride schedule to accommodate the experience and ability of each member, whether novice or veteran.
Saturday and Sunday rides number more than 1,000 each year, comprehensively covering the variable terrain of the National Capital metropolitan area and the surrounding countryside. Distances typically range from 10 to 70 miles and average speeds range from 8 to more than 20 miles per hour.
After-work rides are offered each weekday evening during the summer, and on or or two weekday evenings during the off-season. We also sponsor several overnight, out-of-town special weekend events and an annual Century (with ride distances up to 100 miles).
The purpose and organization of PPTC are described in our Bylaws. The Club is governed by an Executive Committee. Its nine members are elected to one- or two-year terms at the Annual Meeting, held each January. The Executive Committee meets monthly at the time and place published in each issue of our newsletter, the Pedal Patter. Members are welcome to attend these meetings.
Potomac Pedalers Website
Potomac Pedalers has an incredible website with ride information, cycling tips and more.
Here is a brief rundown of just some of the features which members enjoy –
- Interactive Ride Listing - Our ride schedule can be viewed in an interactive calendar, which will permit you to search for and view, only the rides that match your criteria; such as "B" rides, "Virginia" rides or "Saturday" rides
- Dynamic Ride Schedule - We have the ability to add rides to the schedule any time during the month, which will result in a more enhanced ride schedule
- iPhone and Mobile Phone - You'll be able to browse our ride schedule with an iPhone app. or on our "Windows Mobile" site with any web-capable cell phone
- Membership Profiles - Maintain your own member profile; update your address; reset and retrieve lost passwords
- Membership Groups - Join groups of cyclists with common interests amongst our membership, such as Tandem, Fixed-Gear or "A" riders. We also have groups for each local county such as Montgomery and Fairfax.
- Member Discounts - Automatically receive member discounts on items purchased from our online store, and you'll also receive discounts when you register for Potomac Pedalers events
- It's Blazing Fast - For all of you techies; we're on an OC48 Fiber backbone with redundant servers mirrored in multiple data centers. For all of you non-techies; there is no more finger-tapping while waiting for pages to load!
- You can tag pages as “Favorites” so that they’re only a single click away
- You can upload photos and create your own photo gallery to share with members
- You can upload files in your own file library so that you can distribute cue sheets to members
- You can create your own personal web pages with full HTML editing capabilities
- You can message other members to their inbox hosted on our website
- All of your account history is accessible to you; including your membership expiration date, invoice copies from previous dues payments, invoice copies of online store purchases and more
- Your Twitter feed can display on our website under your personal profile page
- You can link your Facebook account to our website, so that any postings you make on Potomac Pedalers site, will simultaneously post on your Facebook page
- You can subscribe to Blogs and Forums so that you receive an e-mail notification when a new item is posted on that thread
- You’ll receive regularly scheduled e-mail newsletters summarizing postings from any Blog or Forum that you’ve subscribed to
- There’s lots of informational content online such as an FAQ page, how to choose a ride, how to read a cue sheet, etc.
Go to www.PotomacPedalers.org to see for yourself and enjoy our website!
Benefits of Membership
PPTC offers numerous rides each year in a wide variety of cycling abilities. More than one thousand Saturday and Sunday rides are offered each year, comprehensively covering the variable terrain of the Washington DC area and the surrounding suburbs and countryside. Distances range from 10 miles to 600 kilometers and speeds range from eight to more than 20 miles per hour. Weekday rides are also offered, usually in the evening. The club sponsors several overnight, out-of-town special weekend events as well as a well-supported annual Century ride (The Back Roads Century) and several club events that include all ride classes.
So to summarize some of the membership benefits:
- Thousands of rides each year
- encompassing all skill levels
- all around the Washington DC region
- on weekdays and weekends
- Pedal Patter, our monthly newspaper
- Discounts at local bike shops
- Bicycle travel box rental
- Cycling video rental
- Website features (e.g., Cycling Forums)
- Special events
- Weekend getaway rides
- Club's Century - Back Roads Century
- Multi-class rides (e.g. New Member Rides)
- Cycling camaraderie
- Cue sheet library
Other Information About Our Club
- Volunteers
- Volunteers also participate in bicycle education, safety instruction, and advocacy. We sponsor a Community Services Program that provides funding to public agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals for bicycle-related community programs. In keeping with PPTC's charter, the program focuses on bicycle education, public safety, the development of facilities that benefit cyclists, and the promotion of bicycling as a positive, healthy activity. Applications are screened and awards are based on merit. Since 1992, PPTC has distributed over $75,000 for more than 70 projects in the Washington area.
- Pedal Patter
- The Club publishes a monthly newsletter, the Pedal Patter, whose primary purpose is to announce Club rides and events. Pedal Patter provides an open forum for members to communicate about cycling-related activities, a lively column of tales from the road, and a listing of regional events. Submissions to the newspaper are welcome and encouraged. If you have an item of interest, opinion, idea, or photograph, send it to the Managing Editor listed on page two.
Receiving Pedal Patter: Your mailing label indicates the month when your Club membership expires. Renewal and changes of address are to be sent to: PPTC Business Office, 10378 Democracy Lane, Suite A, Fairfax, VA 22030. To replace a missing issue of Pedal Patter, call 202.363.TOUR.
First Class Mail Option: Pedal Patter is mailed third class (bulk mail). To ensure a more timely delivery, you may choose the First Class postage option, which costs an additional $10.00 per year. Please note: the Post Office does not forward third class mail, so if you move, and your Pedal Patter is delivered via third class mail, you must tell the Business Office of your new address via email or 703.691.8733.- Telephone Committee
- The Telephone Committee gives the public a means to contact us and learn more about the Club. The Committee responds to all questions about membership and other Club information. The telephone number is 202.363.TOUR (202.363.8687). Committee members also respond to general email inquiries to the PPTC web site.
- Government Affairs Committee
- The Government Affairs Committee serves as our liaison to state and local governments. This committee is always seeking interested volunteers to help with advocacy efforts. To get involved, please call the contact for your area listed in on page two of Pedal Patter.
- PPTC Business Office
- Since 2001, PPTC's membership services, financial records and Pedal Patter mailings are supported by Core Association Services, Inc. in Fairfax, VA. Sherri Core is our primary contact.
PPTC c/o Core Association Services, Inc.
10378 Democracy Lane, Suite A
Fairfax, VA 22030