Shepherdstown, WV – Over the weekend, Shepherdstown’s cycling enthusiasts gathered at the Shepherdstown Public Library patio for the Panhandle Pedalers Cycling Club’s (PPCC) Second Annual Bicycle Swap Meet. The event provided an opportunity for community members to exchange unused bicycles, gear, and apparel, promoting sustainability and community engagement.
The PPCC, headquartered in Shepherdstown but drawing members from across the region, offers weekly rides catering to all skill levels and hosts special activities like the bike swap and community clean-up initiatives. Marianne McDonald, a dedicated PPCC member and organizer, highlighted the event’s purpose: “The bike swap encourages folks to clear out unused items from their basements that others can benefit from. It’s a chance to connect with new people and share information about our club.”
Items remaining at the end of the swap meet were generously donated to Bikes For the World, a nonprofit dedicated to redistributing bikes to communities in need globally. Marianne McDonald shared her enthusiasm for the cause, explaining, “Bikes For the World has a massive warehouse near our other home in Rockville. They collect and ship bikes to those who need them worldwide. We’ll be dropping off our donations there soon.”
For Marianne and her husband Rob McDonald, Vice President of PPCC, involvement in the club has fostered a close-knit community of friends, particularly since purchasing a vacation home along the Opequon Creek a decade ago. “Most of our friends are now from the bike club,” Marianne emphasized. “It’s a community that’s hard to find elsewhere if you’re not part of certain groups. Cycling has been our gateway to friendship!”
Jonathan Moss, President of PPCC, echoed this sentiment, noting the club’s significant growth to around 80 members. Moss, who joined the club in 2021 during the pandemic, shared his joy in seeing the impact of last year’s bike swap, recalling a touching moment when a young girl received her first bike. This year, Moss was thrilled that the event could support a local teacher planning to start a bike club at her middle school in Martinsburg. “She was able to gather materials here for her school’s bike club,” Moss proudly stated.
The bike swap was organized by Moss and PPCC Treasurer Jennifer Bean, who is also a member of the Friends of the Shepherdstown Library. Bean proposed the library patio as a venue for the event, emphasizing its central location and potential to attract more visitors to the library.
The success of the Second Annual Bicycle Swap Meet not only benefited local cyclists but also exemplified the PPCC’s commitment to fostering community connections and promoting cycling for all ages and abilities.