Sharon Bochman, president of the Peninsula Bicycling Association, did not start out biking with the intention of joining a club, much less heading it. The Poquoson resident started out just running errands on her 1999 Huffy around town.
“Poquoson is very bike friendly. I toiled around with my kids sometimes. I enjoyed smelling the honey suckle in bloom and listening to the birds sing,” she says.
When Bochman joined the PBA, there were only 170 members; now there are 350.
“It has just blossomed,” she says.
Bochman credits social media for allowing members to easily organize and post a group ride.
“There will be a nice day and someone will post ‘anyone want to ride this afternoon?’ And then they will post the time and meeting location. They may have 10 or 20 people show up,” she says.
Group riders have an advantage because motorists can better see a large group.
“It is easier to see 20 riders than just one,” says Bochman.
In addition to riding for enjoyment, the PBA raises money for local and national charities. Recently, because many group rides take place in Isle of Wight County, there was a ride to raise money for the Smithfield Volunteer Rescue Squad.
The club also advocates with local governments to create safer shared roads. For instance, a law was recently passed that allows cars to cross a double yellow line to pass a rider in order to give the mandatory three-feet between car and rider.
Most avid riders, Bochman says, enjoy riding on country roads.
“We’ve seen flocks of wild turkeys, groundhogs and deer running beside us,” she says. Adding, “horses will run right up to the fence to check us out.”
Bike riding is good exercise, for those who might have joint problems and cannot handle the pounding of walking or running.
She credits riding in helping her to recover from her recent fight with breast cancer.
“I bounced back from chemotherapy and my doctor attributes that to me staying active. I got sick, but I still managed to stay active. I got a lot of support from club members,” she says.
When asked what most riders would like motorists to know when sharing the road, Bochman says, “Don’t honk your horn when approaching a bike rider. We have rear-view mirrors on our helmets, so we are aware that you are behind us.”
“And don’t hit the gas while passing us, just go the speed limit. Many people think they are doing us a favor to get around us quickly, but it’s actually more dangerous,” she says.
For those interested in beginning to ride, Bochman recommends starting out slow and inexpensive.
“Get a bike from Craigslist and work your way up to the advanced, expensive bikes,” she says.