History    Bylaws    What We Do    Advocacy    Calendar of Events    New Members    CBBC Stuff    Photo Gallery    Affiliations    Bike Shops    Grant Program    Membership Form    Sample Newsletter    Newsletter archive    Mail List    Meetings    Charity Rides    Schedule    Ride Log    Categories    Start Locations    Cue Sheets    Guidelines    Riding Safely    Laws    Waiver    Registration    Directions    Lodging    The Bridges    History    Volunteers    Principles    MTB Areas    Links    Ride Coordinators    Officers

HISTORY

Central Bucks Bicycle Club - it's about more than just cycling!

The Central Bucks Bicycle Club (CBBC) was established in 1975 to promote the sport of recreational cycling and long distance bicycle touring in Bucks County, PA. The Club is comprised of men and women of all ages, from singles to couples to families, and is managed by a dedicated group of volunteers.

Through the past 27 years the Club has grown significantly in membership and activities and CBBC now has more than 450 members. Regular activities include: evening and weekend bicycle rides (both road and mountain) throughout the year, overnight bicycle trips, and week-long excursions as well as monthly "tailgate" rides (all-category rides which conclude with food, drink, and social activities). Other events include monthly membership meetings, an annual picnic, annual banquet, annual holiday party, the "No-Name Century" ride, and the fall Covered Bridges Ride which hosted over 2800 riders in 2004.

There is considerable history to explore in Bucks County. Bucks had its origins not just in the land grants of William Penn, but more importantly in the rich history of Native American tribes such as the Lenni Lenape who respected nature and the earth and believed that it belonged to all people. European concepts of the purchase and ownership of land were not part of their culture. They believed that a man could have as much land as he could walk in a day and a half - as evidenced by the Indian Walking Purchase monument on Route 413 in Wrightstown.

The paved roads that we ride today had their origins as footpaths cut by native Americans through the dense and verdant forests that once covered this area; later these footpaths became crude roads for horses and wagons, long before being paved over. Meanwhile the towns and villages that sprung up on them were centered on the inns and taverns that served weary travelers. CBBC bike rides through this historic area often feature these villages and some beautiful covered bridges, leaving you to ponder the history and by-gone days of this scenic countryside.

CBBC is also dedicated to community outreach. In 2000, the Club received a Letter of Commendation from the Bucks County Board of County Commissioners recognizing its involvement in many community and charity events. Examples include:

• In 1995 the Club formed a Challenge Team for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's MS-150 City-to-Shore Bike Tour and through the past six years has raised more than $100,000 to help find the cause and cure of Multiple Sclerosis. Members of our club also participate in the Cancer Society Rides, the Tour De Cure for Diabetes, the Anchor House Ride, and several other charity rides - raising tens of thousands of dollars each year for these worthy causes.
   
• Every year, a portion of each ticket sold to our Covered Bridges Ride is donated to worthy local and national non-profit organizations. Recent recipients of the Covered Bridges Ride's fund raising include: the Northeast Greenway, the League of American Bicyclists, the Bucks County Department of Public Works (to help maintain the historic covered bridges), and a fund to aid victims of the September 11th attacks.
   
• Each December CBBC conducts a Holiday Gift Ride in which volunteers ride their bikes to a local youth center to host a holiday party for and distribute gifts to the center's residents. Recipients of these gifts have included the residents of Westmeade in Warwick, PA, and Bethana Center in Southampton, PA.
   
• The Club is a also a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's "Adopt-a-Highway Program". Each quarter, club volunteers clear litter from a section of Central Bucks roadways. Club members also teach community courses on bicycling safety at the Bucks County 4H Center.
   

CBBC, a not-for-profit organization, is an affiliated member of Bicycle Coalition of Greater Phildelphia, Bicycle Access Council, and the League of American Bicyclists -- an organization that is involved in many local and national efforts to promote bicycling advocacy programs.

HISTORY OF CBBC's WEB

The first site was launched by Bob Ruddy and Michael Hoehne in 1997. Bob coded the site and ride calendar with a Michael's design original rolling road design. The site was hosted on Bob's "cycle.org" domain with the "cbbc" prefix, cbbc.cycle.org. Later when Bob sold his hosting company the site was moved to servers managed by Michael Hoehne and Angela Werner who assisted the club in acquiring their own domain name that is used today. Michael and Angela maintained the content during these years. This site survived pretty much intact through December 31, 2002 and is pictured below!