T H E M T . LE B A N O N
Cycling and Caffeine Club
You might say that the Mt. Lebanon Cycling and Caffeine Club
has a bit of a sense of humor about themselves – but they take
their cycling quite seriously.
BY PAMELA PALONGUE
T
his loosely formed group has no bylaws, no
meetings and no secret handshake. They
have only one rule and it’s really more of
a common-sense safety practice than anything:
you must wear your helmet when cycling. In
fact, if someone doesn’t wear a helmet the other
members mercilessly ridicule the rider until
he/she recovers from the lapse in judgment.
Generally, only one “humorous hazing” is all
that’s required to get members to willingly
comply with the safety requirement.
There’s a definite emphasis on fun and fitness
with the group, rather than a laundry list of
requirements for membership. The founder, Dave
Bodnar, and a buddy of his, Dan Carroll, planned
it that way.
Both Dan and Dave were serious runners, who
ran not only for the enjoyment of being outdoors,
but also for the massive number of health benefits
associated with a cardiovascular workout.
But in 1988 after 12 years of running, Dave
was beginning to learn the painful lesson that
joints don’t last forever. After knee replacement
surgery, he and Dan (who was also beginning
to “feel the burn” and not in a good way) began
to look for alternative forms of exercise that
would still have the same benefits, but with
much less strain on the body. Cycling seemed a
natural choice – a great workout that affords an
excellent opportunity to simultaneously enjoy
the outdoors.
The club really grew organically, because at
first it was just Dan and Dave. They would go out
riding on the weekends and were not able to go
very far. “I think we rode into downtown and I
thought it was going to kill me,” says Dave, who
started his cycling with just a simple 10-speed
bicycle. But over time their endurance increased
and friends began to ask if they could ride
along with them on their outings. Soon, there
was a whole group of men riding their bikes on
Saturdays and riding during the week as well.
Twenty-eight years later, the group has about
40 active members, with approximately 15 to
20 showing up for a weekend ride. They ride
year‑round, regardless of the temperature. Snow
and ice, however, stop the bikes in their tracks.
Safety is always most important. Despite this,
there is one humorous photo taken of Dave with
icicles dangling from his cap and face, after riding
for over two hours in subzero weather.
“We’re very consistent,” explains Dave. “You
don’t have to call and check to see if we’ll be
riding, or worry about the rain. We always
ride.” The riders are careful though to plan
for plummeting temperatures, or conversely,
extremely hot days for which lots of hydration is
required.
One jaunt that the group takes is a scenic ride
through Cecil and McDonald, which is a 36‑mile
round trip. Another regular route is from The
Coffee Tree Roasters in Mt. Lebanon to the
Pittsburgh Zoo in Highland Park. In fact, it was at
The Coffee Tree that the group got its nickname,
“Mostly Old Guys in Tight Pants.” A patron at the
coffee shop saw them and after paying for his own
coffee, gave the clerk some extra cash and said,
“And this is for coffee for the old guys in tight
pants.” The phrase just kind of stuck and reflects
the good-natured humor that the group has about
itself, despite the lengthy rides that require a
certain level of fitness to participate.
Some of the members are triathletes and race
competitively, while others just participate for
the fun and fitness aspects. Though most of
the members are from Mt. Lebanon, there is a
doctor from Squirrel Hill who rides along and
one gentleman who comes all the way from
California, Pa., to ride on the weekends.
If you are interested in participating, it’s best to
contact Mt. Lebanon Cycling and Caffeine Club
first via mtlccc.org — to make sure that you will
be able to keep up on the long rides. Other than
fitness level limitations, Dave says that anyone
is welcome to join the group. Although there
are not too many female members at this point,
there are a few who participate and women are
certainly welcomed.
Dave sums up the experience of cycling with
the club by saying, “It’s easier on your body, there
are no fees and the sunrises are gorgeous.”
To learn more about the club, visit the website
and also YouTube.com, which has several videos
of club rides. n
Mt. Lebanon | Spring 2016 | icmags.com 45