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