October 2026 HBC President’s Letter

Dear Members,

As summer transitions into autumn, it is time to shift toward cool-weather activities. We hope to continue biking as long as possible—even through the winter—alongside our upcoming winter walks and Smart Cycling sessions.

Here are a few important updates from the club:

HBC Annual Meeting
The HBC Annual Meeting will be held in November. We will share the exact date as soon as it is confirmed. Additionally, three board positions are opening up as current terms end. If you are interested in helping guide the club forward, please reach out to Nancy Claycomb, who is coordinating the search, or contact any board member.

Winter Walks
Autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy the crisp air and fall foliage. Walks are now posted on the Ride Calendar. If you would like to lead a walk but are not currently a ride leader, please reach out to Haggith or another ride leader to have it posted.

Smart Cycling Talks (January – March)
We are looking for presentation ideas for our upcoming Smart Cycling talks. Topics can cover anything bike-related, such as local bike charities, e-bikes, or a travelogue from a recent bike trip. If you have an idea, please contact me to discuss it. Once approved by the board, you will coordinate with the speaker to schedule the event.

Birthday Bash Updates
Thank you to everyone who attended the October Birthday Bash last Friday—it was one of our highest turnouts yet! The next Birthday Bash will take place on November 6th at Peoples Organic in Southdale Mall. You can find more details on the Ride Calendar and the website homepage. We will continue rotating venues, so please let the board know if you have a restaurant recommendation.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Soldat

HBC Board President

HBC September 2026 President’s Letter

The 2026 Ride Hiawatha is moving into history, and its planners have reported that HBC made a nice net profit.  Some of this will be donated to FB4K and some will be earmarked for future donations.  Some will be applied to an All-Volunteer Party, scheduled on October 10^th 2026.  If you have donated your time and talents to anything within the HBC community in 2026, this party is for YOU!  HBC would not survive without its volunteers.  You are appreciated.  Details for the party can be found on the HBC website and Ride Calendar.  Please register on the Ride Calendar to RSVP by September 30^th, so we can make sure we have enough food and drink to make this a proper celebration.

Another big fall tradition is coming up in September—the ALS Ride, hosted by Rita Wilczek and Alan Wichman.  You will find information on this event on the HBC website, and registration is as usual on the Ride Calendar.

And, since you are checking out these 2 events on the website, take a moment to review our brand-new look.  We now have a webmaster who is making it a priority to keep news and events current.  We are interested in feedback on the new look, and any suggestions for improvement.

September Birthday Bash will be on September 11^th, at Malcolm Yards again.  We met here in August, and the pros mostly outweighed the cons for this venue.  We feel it is worth a try again, but also plan to rotate venues until we find an ideal fit.  Have a venue in mind?  Go and talk to them, find out what it takes to reserve space and to bring in our own birthday cake.  All efforts appreciated—there’s so many interesting venues in the Twin Cities to consider!

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Soldat

HBC Board President

Great news!  For the third year, Ride Hiawatha was a big success!  Thanks again to Alan Wichman, the RH Committee, and all of the volunteers for their hours and hours of time spent putting it together.  Luce Line Brewing was a great host.  Hans and The Percolators made the celebration complete.  A new feature this year was to collect bikes for donation to Free Bikes 4 Kidz.  Twenty-six bikes were donated.

The August Birthday Bash will be held next Friday, August 7, at The Market at Malcolm Yards.  This is the first time we will meet there, and we are excited to check it out.  There is a nice variety of food and beer options, good parking, and access to bike routes.  Please plan to attend.  We need feedback on whether this will continue to be a good place to hold our monthly bashes.  We are still looking for additional suggestions about other good venues.  Let the board know if you have ideas.

The HBC website rejuvenation is almost complete.  We have hired a webmaster to help keep content up to date.  The board plans to make website maintenance a regular agenda item, and we want your feedback for guidance.  If you have suggestions for additional or revised content, please send me an email (lisasoldat@gmail.com). 

There have been the usual hot days this summer, making it important to ensure we ride safely in such conditions.  The Board would like to remind you to not only increase your water consumption during rides, but also before you take off on the ride. 

Respectfully submitted

Lisa Soldat

HBC Board President

June 2026 HBC President’s Letter

The HBC Board of Directors met on May 29th, and I would like to share several updates regarding our ongoing activities.

Website Update
Our website rejuvenation is nearing completion. We plan to hire an outside webmaster to coordinate with the club members who have been volunteering their IT expertise to maintain our digital presence.

Ride Hiawatha
Ride Hiawatha is now just one month away. Thanks to the planning team led by Alan Wichman, details are falling into place. We are especially grateful to the many volunteers who have once again committed their time and energy to our signature club event.

Birthday Bash Locations
The Board continues to seek input for new Birthday Bash venues. We intend to try a variety of locations that offer diverse geographical appeal, interesting food and drink options, and the flexibility to bring in Edie’s famous birthday cakes. Proximity to biking routes is also a significant plus. While Davanni’s in Edina has been a successful host, please stay tuned for the announcement of a new location for our August gathering.

Safety Reminder: Helmet Inspections
I want to emphasize the critical importance of inspecting bike helmets following a crash. Recently, an HBC member experienced a concussion and a cracked helmet during a club ride.

Around that same time, during a recent mountain biking trip I was taking in Croatia, a fellow rider crashed.  Her injuries included a fractured scapula, upper arm and 2 ribs.  She did not have head pain or loss of consciousness, but her helmet was cracked and dented. The ER doctor was not planning to evaluate her for brain injury, until we showed him the helmet. It completely changed her evaluation and diagnosis. 

In both cases, the helmets performed their vital role. This is why we require all participants to wear helmets on our rides.  You understand that.  But, please also remember: always send an injured rider’s helmet with them to the ER, regardless of visible damage or immediate symptoms. Last but not least, remember to replace your helmet every few years as materials wear out and technology improves.  You need your head!

Safe riding,

Lisa Soldat

July 2026 HBC President’s Letter

Ride Hiawatha is now only days away. I want to extend another thank you to Alan Wichman, the planning team, and all of our volunteers for their hard work. I will share a full post-ride update in my next President’s Letter, and I will highlight a few other items today.

First, a reminder that this month’s Birthday Bash is on July 10th at Davanni’s in Edina. In August, we will move the event to Malcolm Yards to try out a new venue. While we won't have a reserved space, there are plenty of areas for us to gather and enjoy the wide variety of food and beer available. Please let the Board know what you think of the new location. We are still looking for other restaurant suggestions for future gatherings. I appreciate those of you who have already provided alternatives.

Second, our website renovation is nearly complete, and the Board invites you to share your feedback on the new look and layout. We have hired an outside webmaster, Anne, who specializes in nonprofit websites. Our goal is to ensure all information remains current and accessible. Additionally, if you have information you would like to see added to the site, please contact the Board for review.

Lastly, the Board has decided to keep the jersey store open year-round rather than using limited-time windows. Ordering information will be available on the website. Please note that Borah requires a minimum of five orders before moving into production, so there may be a delay in receiving your merchandise. Please factor this into your timing when placing an order.

Respectfully,

Lisa Soldat
HBC Board President

I’m happy to report that our club is back in full swing with rides and activities.  We’ve even enjoyed a few walking opportunities now that the subzero temperatures are long gone.

In this letter to members, I would like to focus on the monthly Birthday Bash.  It is one of the longest traditions of HBC.  It began when some of the earliest members of the club would meet to socialize at D’Amico’s after rides.  It led to collaboration with them to create our annual Tour D’Amico, fostering camaraderie within the club and offering enjoyment for many nonmembers.  Following Covid, and the end of TDA, we still enjoyed D’Amico’s for Birthday Bashes until they closed in March.

The Twin Cities offers many possibilities, and we are searching for a location that provides the amenities we valued at D’Amico’s:

- Friendly, supportive management willing to host a variable number of people on the first Friday of the month (with no room fee).

- The convenience of counter ordering with food delivered to tables.

- Alcohol options.

- Permission to bring our own birthday cake.

- Proximity to cycling routes.

While several members have already begun searching, we encourage every member to help. If you have a suggestion, please visit the venue to speak with the staff, and then share your findings with the Board. We are open to rotating through several options until we find the perfect fit.

See you biking!
Lisa Soldat

HBC President

HBC President’s Letter

March 2026

Dear HBC Members,

The HBC Board held a productive meeting on March 6th, and I would like to share several important updates with you.

Website Rejuvenation

You may have noticed that the HBC website looks different. It is currently under construction, and the version you see now is not yet finalized. While we always welcome your suggestions, it may be best to wait until the final version is officially announced before sending feedback.  We’ll let you know when the time comes.

Ride Calendar

Rides are already being scheduled on our Ride Calendar. Please take a look and join us to take advantage of the early spring weather.

Notable upcoming events include:

• Smart Cycling (March 20th): Physical therapist Kent Malcomson will present essential tips for the upcoming biking season.
• Ride Leader Refresher (May 3rd): Led by Doug Claycomb, this annual event is required for all current and prospective ride leaders.
• Spring Kickoff (Tentatively May 10th): Stay tuned for more details.
• 3rd Annual Ride Hiawatha (July 6th): Alan Wichman and his team are already preparing for this premier event. As always, volunteers are greatly appreciated.

Member Jersey Discount

In appreciation of your loyalty to the club, the board is pleased to offer a 20% member discount on HBC jerseys. This discount will apply to purchases made when the jersey store opens this spring. You will receive an email soon with the specific dates the store will be open.

Next Meeting

The next HBC Board meeting is scheduled for April 9th, 2026, at 7:00 PM.

Respectfully,

Lisa Soldat
HBC President

HBC President’s Letter

January/February 2026

Despite the cold weather, there is plenty of news to share from the HBC Board meeting held on January 29th.

Smart Cycling Events

A Smart Cycling event took place on January 16th. While initially focused on e-bikes, the discussion expanded to include the global bicycle manufacturing industry. Thank you to Ann Bodensteiner for organizing such an engaging session.

The series will continue on February 20th, hosted by Alan Wichman and Rita Wilczek, and again on March 20th, hosted by Kent Malcomson. Both events will be held at Davanni’s in Edina. You will receive more details regarding their specific topics soon.

Website Update

The rejuvenation of the HBC website is well underway. Several members have met with our consultant and are pleased with the progress. Our goal is to make the site more navigable for current members and more appealing to potential new members.

Mountain Bike Rides

The Board discussed insurance coverage for mountain bike rides in 2026. Our carrier defines these as riding off-road over rough terrain, which does not include gravel trails. This topic will be discussed further at the upcoming Ride Leader Refresher (date TBD) to determine interest among leaders. If you are not a Ride Leader but would like to see these rides offered, please let the Board know.

Club Jerseys

We are also considering a new club jersey design. If you have an opinion on a design or would like to submit one of your own, please contact the Board.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for March 5th, 2026.

Best regards,

Lisa Soldat, HBC President

HBC President’s Letter

December 2025

The HBC Annual Meeting has come and gone; a new HBC Board of Directors was elected.  If you were at the Annual Meeting, you already know that the 2026 Board will have the same members as the 2025 Board.  I guess we all like working together and share a common desire to follow through with projects begun in 2025.

Your new board:

President: Lisa Soldat (that’s me)

Vice-President: Sharon Berlin

Secretary: Nanette Malcomson

Treasurer: Connie Dickson

Members-at-Large: Nancy Claycomb, Barry Cole and Mark Kleczewski

There is a lot going on in December for a bike club.  Here are some highlights:

The need for volunteers never ends in a club like ours.  Perhaps the MOST IMPORTANT group we need is for the 3^rd Annual Ride Hiawatha committee, including a new chair.  Nancy Ellis and her committee did a great job for the first 2 years, and they have created efficient guidelines to carry the torch forward.  Nancy says she will gladly mentor the next chair.

If no chair is identified before the end of March, there will be no 3rd Annual Ride Hiawatha.  No one wants to see that happen. 

Now that recreational walks are included under our liability insurance, they can be scheduled and treated like bike rides.  You will be getting a more detailed email from me in the near future with the Board’s guidelines for leading and attending walks.

Smart Cycling will be kicking off its season on January 14^th.  Hosted by Ann Bodensteiner, this will be a talk held by John Brown (Brown’s Cyclery) about e-bikes.  Save the date; details are forthcoming.

Have a Smart Cycling topic you’d like to host?  Let me know.  March is taken but February is available.

The BLS/CPR class held before the Annual Meeting was well-attended.  A second class can be scheduled if there is further interest (we hope so!).  Contact Barry Cole to sign up.

Website rejuvenation: a consultant has been selected; further details to come as things move forward.

The online 2026 Jersey Store will likely open at the Spring Kick-off event.  There is some thought being given to creating a new jersey design.  Thoughts?  Let us know…there are a lot of you creative types with ideas to share out there.

The next HBC Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 29^th at 7 pm.  Location: Olin Crossings Condos.  All members are welcome to attend.

Respectfully,

Lisa Soldat