The club Pactimo store is open so riders can get their MHBC jerseys, shorts, and other gear for the summer riding season. The store will be open for two weeks—through Sunday, May 3. All the club colors (black, orange, pink, and bright yellow) will be available PLUS a new white jersey has been added to the line up: Link for Pactimo store information.

Submitted by PaulaWard

Join us for our annual Spring Fling multilevel ride starting at the Dutchess Farm and Home Center in Millbrook.  There a choice of 4 rides followed by a catered lunch. If possible, please bring a salad or dessert to share. There are no refrigerators available so pack any food that needs to be kept cold in a cooler.  

Sign up is on the club calendar and the TeamUp app.  Please sign up for the ride level you are currently comfortable with!!. If you are bringing a salad or dessert include this information in the comment section.  

We will also have a raffle for two "Cabin Challenge" tickets and a swap meet!  Rain cancels and moves to Sunday.  Be our guest for your first ride with the club.  For subsequent rides please complete the membership registration.

We are excited to announce that MHBC is putting together a gravel cycling event called Dirty Dutchess Gravel which is happening on May 9th, 2026 in Salt Point, NY. Plan for a really fun day of riding as we raise money for The Angels of Light Charity.

We are very eager about growing gravel cycling. The event will be open for all levels of gravel riders while we  build something special with the community.

To encourage everyone to come out, verified and active MHBC members can receive a discount by texting or emailing Matthew (contact info is below). 

Ride descriptions:

20 mile/1200ft 

• New to Gravel? Want to learn ? Want a no drop leader led ride that stops and waits for everyone? Must be able to maintain 10mph rail trail speed, have a proper gravel bike/road bike with appropriate tires.

40 Mile/2500ft

• Gravel ride through a route staying on the western side of the Taconic State Parkway. Rolling hills take you past beautiful horse farms, country lakes and a brewery.

66 Mile/5300ft 

• Ride the beautiful eastern side of the Taconic Parkway, passing many of the county’s oldest farms, some killer climbs and pass more than a few homes of the elite rich and movie stars.

Submitted by:

Matthew Mahoney

856-981-2828

Mahoney.mahoney40@gmail.com

We are happy to announce we have set up a free informational bicycle maintenance/repair class at TRT Bicycles in Rosendale Wednesday May 13th at 5:30 pm. We have had requests from many of you that want to go over things like changing a flat, cleaning the drivetrain, etc. so we have been able to make this happen. Christian Favata, owner of TRT, will spend time going over basic bike maintenance and repair and answer any questions you may have. It should be a great evening with important information shared. Please sign up for the evening on the calendar so we have an idea of how many will be attending. Also, when signing up, in the comments section leave us some other requests of things you would like to dive into and we will do out best to cover them. Here's to an awesome, safe riding season!

Submitted by Jeff Saffir

Spring is here and with the calendar getting filled up with rides, some new and many favorites, the ride leaders are reminding our riders that the following makes for better riding.  

While it is common practice for ride participants to pump up tires at the start, some things to do before leaving the house:

1.  Make sure that your replacement tube (s) are in good shape and that THE VALVE STEM IS LONG ENOUGH TO WORK WITH YOUR RIM.  

2. Have a good patch kit with a item to work as a repair boot. A dollar bill will work but we have had a Band-Aid used over the patch.

3.  Have tire levers that can get the tire off the rim (Tubeless ready rim/tire combinations can be tough to work with).

4.  Be sure to bring helmet/gloves/eyewear/shoes/water bottle.

5.  Sunscreen applied

6.  Charge cellphone and GPS head unit with route loaded.

We also recommend using "Road ID" as a form of identification.  You can have emergency contact numbers plus blood type and any allergies listed.

HELMETS ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3-5  YEARS!!! We don't think about it, but depending on time spent riding and in hot cars, the plastic does degrade over time. If the helmet has been in a crash, even if it doesn't look damaged it needs to be replaced!  DO NOT TRUST IT!!!

 One of the best sources for helmet information is Virginia Tech.  Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings

Submitted by Jason Klock

Bivo is offering MHBC Free Shipping on water bottles again this year!

Why drink out of plastic when you don’t have to?

Years ago, while out nordic skiing in Oregon, the founders of Bivo realized that the only time they were drinking out of plastic was when exercising. Typical plastic sport bottles often get moldy quickly, taste gross, and are treated as disposable.

Plastic that tastes bad can’t be good for you. When skiing or biking hard, do you really want to taste plastic in your bottle? Robby and Carina didn’t. And that’s why they started Bivo: they wanted to drink out of less plastic and make a product that lasted longer.

Cleaner taste and a healthier ride

Bivo bottles are made from recycled stainless steel to keep your water tasting exclusively like water. Or your favorite drink mix. Easy to clean and dishwasher safe, Bivo's insulated and non-insulated bottles are made to last a lifetime.

To take advantage, go to https://drinkbivo.com/ and enter the free Shipping code: Mid-Hudson-Valley-BC26

Submitted by Karen Weis