Monday, June 28, 2010
Gears Girls Update for the Week of Monday, June 28th
It was an interesting week weatherwise I must say! As I mentioned in my previous email, I'm sorry I cancelled the Tuesday and Wednesday evening rides as the sun start shining promptly at 6:30pm both nights. Worried that I would strike out a third time, I chose NOT to cancel the Saturday ride even though there were definite signs of rain!
11 brave souls showed up to ride on Saturday - much better turnout than I thought given the grey skies and rain drops. Overall the ride was great...one wise group did about 35kms and probably missed the rain; the other did around 85km. The 85km ride ended in pouring rain...but all in all, a great ride. Well, at least until my wee crash - but those that turn out to the rides this week will get to hear all the exciting details! Special thanks to Dai for taking the time to come out in the middle of his shift at Gears to pick me, Lisa and Tania up. Yay to Dai!
Here's what's happening this week:
Tuesday, June 29th - Beginner's/Recovery Ride
All are welcome! Starts at 6:30pm from Gears. Ride will be approximately 1.5 hours in duration.
Wednesday, June 30th - Brisk pace Ride
Starts at 6:30pm from Gears. Ride will be approximately 2.0 hours in duration.
Saturday, July 3rd - Multiple pace groups
I had originally said there would be NO ride on Saturdays of long weekends but a couple of you have asked about riding this weekend. As there seems to be some amount of interest in riding on Saturday, I think we'll go ahead and do a ride this Saturday. Ride will start at 9am from Gears - same route/distance options as this Saturday with furthest distance being approximately 85kms. Perhaps drop me a quick line to let me know if you plan on riding this Saturday!
Looking forward to seeing all of you throughout the week!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Friday, June 25, 2010
Gears Girls Saturday Ride - weather update
First off, I want to apologize for cancelling both the Tuesday and Wednesday rides this week. Same issue both nights...weather was terrible, forecast was terrible, I cancel the ride, by 6:30pm it's beautiful and sunny! I must admit I felt a bit foolish both nights and kicked myself for cancelling, but alas, a weather forecaster I am not!
Sadly, the weather tomorrow morning is not looking great: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/on-79_metric_e.html but I think once again, we'll play it by ear. I'm pleased to announce that I can now send a group email AND update the blog - regardless of my location (I was just being a lazy Blackberrier and hadn't created a group distribution list - I've done that now so can send an email to everyone without internet access).
Weather permitting, we'll ride as usual tomorrow morning from Gears at 9am. My plan was to offer an overall route of 75km with a couple turn around points offering routes of 35kms and 50kms.
If we have to cancel the ride, I'll send out an email and update the blog by 7:30am at the latest. Depending on the weather though I may chance it and not cancel the ride - hard to tell what it's doing in Port Credit from Carlisle...where I am on the weekends. If people show up and the weather changes for the worse, we can always go for breakfast and/or coffee! If the weather is lousy where you are, don't feel obligated to ride or show up - do whatever you feel comfortable and safe doing.
Hope to see you tomorrow morning!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Thursday, June 24, 2010
Beginner Skills Improvement Workshop
My chums at the Oakville Cycling Club are offering a one day skills improvement workshop on Saturday, July 10th. The workshop is aimed at beginner riders looking to improve their bike handling skills, increase confidence and ride in challenging traffic situations. Please note, this course is intended for beginner level riders and is NOT a "learn to race" workshop.
Topics covered include:
Equipment check
Basic maintenance
Bike Handling skills
Group riding skills
The workshop will conclude with a group ride of 1.5 - 2 hours
Cost of the course: $25 for members, $50 for non-members (All are welcome!)
If you have any additional questions, or if you would like to register, please send an email to Bent Fink-Jensen at bjensen@cogeco.ca and/or mail a cheque for the appropriate amount to Bent at the address below. Also, check out the OCC website at: http://www.oakvillecc.com/.
Bent Fink-Jensen
Secretary & Membership
Oakville Cycling Club
1202 Owen Court
Oakville, ON L6H 1V3
905-842-8861
Ride with you soon!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Gears Girls Ride Cancelled - Again! Due to weather
Sorry to cancel the ride YET AGAIN but the rain has started in both Oakville and Mississauga and not looking to let up soon. A bunch of you have already emailed to tell me you won't be riding - so, better to be safe than sorry....the Gears Girls ride for Wednesday, June 23rd is officially cancelled :(
Let's hope for better weather Saturday morning!!!!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Weather Update - Who's planning on riding?
Hi Girls.
Once again, the weather is calling for RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN. But now I'm nervous about cancelling because last night I cancelled the ride at the last minute (sorry to the 4 of you that showed up...heard you had a good ride though) and it turned out to be beautiful. If you were planning on riding tonight, can you drop me a quick line and let me know what you think.
It's supposed to start raining any minute and not stop all night :(. Looks ominious, but not raining. Yet, anyway. I'll wait until 5pm to make the final call I guess.
Sorry about being wishy washy!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Tuesday, June 22, 2010
GG Ride cancelled tonight!
Mel
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.
Tuesday GG ride - weather update
A couple of you have emailed me about whether or not the ride will be cancelled tonight due to the rain. As of right now, it's not raining...but it does look like it could start once again. One never knows these days!
It's 4pm - ride is for 6:30pm. I'll leave it up to all of you to decide if you want to ride tonight - if you're nervous about riding in the rain, don't feel obligated to show up! I'll be at Gears ready to go for 6:30pm. If the weather turns rotten I may have to cancel the ride for safety reasons but hopefully, it will hold out and we can go for our ride as planned!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Monday, June 21, 2010
Route Map for Saturday ride to Moffat
Gears Girls Update for the week of Monday, June 21st
Great turnout to the rides this week ladies – even with the threat of bad weather! There were 14 women out to the ride on Saturday...the weather folks called for thunderstorms Saturday but the weather turned out to be great and we all got to eat a buttertart (or two). For those interested, I'll post the route map to Moffat either tonight or tomorrow on the blog.
Read on for updates about the upcoming week and other important Gears Girls news:
GENERAL INFORMATION:
2010 Membership Update:
Due to the overwhelming popularity of Gears Girls, we're no longer able to guarantee membership for the 2010 season. If you have friends hoping to join Gears Girls who are advanced/experienced cyclists interested in assisting on club rides on a regular basis, please ask them to drop me a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
Weather Updates:
In case of bad weather, and if you're unsure whether the ride will go out as planned, please check the Gears Girls blog at http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/. While I do always try to send an email advising re inclement weather and ride cancellations, it's not always possible; so please be sure to check the blog regularly!
Group Ride Basics:
For the most part, our rides have been great. But there are still things we need to work on as a group in order to ensure that our rides are safe, efficient and fun.
All Gears Girls rides will stress group riding skills and the necessity of working together as a team; important aspects of any good group ride. I've attached a great article written by Tom Kellogg. The article is a bit lengthy but pretty much outlines the elements involved in a perfect group ride! Please take the time to read the attached article before your next Gears Girls ride.
Here are a few basic things to keep in mind on each Gears Girls ride:
Pace - Pace will be determined early on in the ride and will be adjusted as the ride progresses. Members are asked to respect the pace set by the ride leaders. Gears Girls rides are NOT training rides and pace should therefore not be dictated by one or two overzealous riders. Please do not pass the lead rider at any time unless you've been asked to take a turn at the front! It's the lead rider(s)' responsibility to establish a comfortable, smooth pace for the entire group – if you find yourself at the front of the line please maintain a consistent pace, consistent cadence and smooth, predictable riding patterns.
Communication - Communication is key! We'll cover important communication aspects over the next couple of rides, but suffice it to say that a good group ride isn't any good if no one is communicating!
Drafting – Riding in a group is all about efficiency and safety; but only if you stay together as a group! Depending on location, we'll either ride in a single or double paceline. Please ride within one bike length of the rider in front of you (closer is preferable in order to take advantage of the drafting effect). Everyone did an awesome job on the Saturday ride – we even managed to stay together on all the hills…both on the ascent and the descent. The group communicated well, didn't pass other riders on the hills (up or down) and adjusted accordingly for terrain. Well done everyone!
Braking – One of the key mistakes people make in a group ride setting is to go too heavy on the brakes. Always remember that there are people behind and in front of you, so rather than slamming on the brakes, learn to anticipate what the riders ahead of you are going to do. Rather than braking full out, choose to feather your brakes lightly, soft pedal or switch to an easier gear. Tuesday and Wednesday night rides are perfect opportunities to work on braking techniques and other group ride skills.
Safety - Just because someone up the line yells "clear" doesn't mean the road will still be clear for you! Be responsible for yourself and for the riders behind you! Do not pull out of the line without checking for approaching vehicles, cyclists, runners, etc. Be aware of what's going on around you – both on the bike and on the road. A couple other important safety basics: if you have aero bars on your bike, please do not ride in them during any Gears Girls ride. Please do not wear headphones/listen to music while on a Gears Girls ride. Please ensure your bike is in good working order before each ride and that your tires are properly inflated and that you have equipment necessary for changing a flat (spare tube, CO2 cartridge, tire levers).
INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO THE WEEK OF MONDAY, JUNE 21ST:
Tuesday Beginner/Recovery Ride: Tuesday, June 22nd, 6:30pm
Last week marked the beginning of our Tuesday night beginner rides! We had about 8 women out for the ride and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves! My hope is that these rides will mimic the Wednesday night faster paced group rides but at a slower pace – perfect for those new to cycling or anyone looking for an easier recovery ride. During the Tuesday night rides we'll work on group ride basics and skills necessary to ride safely and efficiently in either a single or double paceline. We'll also work on cycling basics such as hill climbing, cornering, gear selection, etc. All are welcome to the Tuesday night rides!
Wednesday Night Faster Pace Ride: Wednesday, June 23rd, 6:30pm
Our Wednesday night ride last week was awesome! Pace was around 26km/ hour…everyone rode together like a pro peloton…all agreed the ride was great. If you're looking for a bit of a faster, tighter group ride then feel free to join us Wednesday nights. If you're not comfortable riding at faster speeds or in a close group, please ride with the Tuesday night group – at least until you're comfortable with drafting, single and double paceline basics.
Saturday Ride: Saturday, June 26th, 9am
Meet at Gears at 8:45am, ride at 9am. All members are welcome to attend! Lots of options in terms of distance and turn around points. The route (a version of the Bike 4 Betty ride) is approximately 75kms in total with lots of good options in terms of hills and rollers at about the 40km mark! I'm envisioning three turn around points allowing for rides of approximately 35, 50 and 75kms.
Looking forward to seeing all of you this week! Drop me a line if you have any questions re the above.
Ride with you soon!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Saturday, June 19, 2010
Weather Update - Saturday, June 19th - GG ride
As of right now, the weather looks okay - so the ride is still on! I'll leave it up to you to decide if you want to ride or not. But I'll be there...and I've heard from others that will be too.
Let's hope for the best :)
See you soon!
Mel
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.
Friday, June 18, 2010
IN CASE OF RAIN TOMORROW - GG ride update
I checked the weather forecast for tomorrow morning and once again (sigh...) it's not looking great: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/on-79_metric_e.html Chance of thunderstorms and rain overnight and into the morning - not supposed to end until tomorrow afternoon.
So, let's keep our fingers crossed (cause I'm REALLY looking forward to buttertarts!) that all is okay in the morning. But just in case, PLEASE CHECK THE GEARS GIRLS BLOG http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/ IN THE MORNING TO SEE IF THE RIDE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. I WILL NOT BE ABLE SEND OUT AN EMAIL RE THE WEATHER BUT WILL BE ABLE TO UPDATE THE BLOG. IF THE RIDE IS CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER, I'LL POST SOMETHING BY 7:30AM.
If you're unable to access the blog, send me an email at gearsgirls@hotmail.com and I can let you know if the ride is a go or not.
Hope to see you in the morning!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Thursday, June 17, 2010
GG Saturday ride to Moffat - Start locations/times
As I mentioned in my weekly update, we'll be riding to Moffat on Saturday. I'm providing two ride options - one approximately 60km and one approximately 100kms. The 100km group will start at an earlier time and will meet up with the 60km group so we'll all end up riding together! Read on for information regarding meeting locations and times:
100km group:
Leave at 9am from River Oaks Community Centre (2400 Sixth Line, Oakville - just south of Dundas) - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2400+Sixth+Line,+Oakville,+ON&sll=35.101934,-50.712891&sspn=49.651929,113.994141&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2400+6+Line,+Oakville,+Halton+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario+L6H+6J9,+Canada&ll=43.471398,-79.722944&spn=0.005474,0.013915&t=h&z=17.
Park towards the side of the community centre - I don't want the staff getting mad at us :)
60km group:
Leave between 9:45am and 10am from Hornby Field (Steeles and Sixth Line - southeast corner) - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hornby,+ontario&sll=43.471398,-79.722944&sspn=0.005474,0.013915&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Hornby,+Halton+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario,+Canada&t=h&z=14. Park in the lot closest to Sixth Line. There are washrooms there if needed. There's no washrooms in Moffat (and don't even think about asking in the bakery cause you'll get an earful from the owner and shown the field across the road) so take advantage while you can!!!!
The 100km group will meet up with the 60km group and then we'll all ride together. Please wait for the 100km group before heading out on the road! I suspect we'll be there before 9:45am, but just in case I'm leaving that window of time.
What to bring:
- Spare tube (or two) and CO2 canister (or two). It's going to be hot Saturday - tires tend to blow more in hot, hot weather!!!!
- Money - we'll be stopping at Dar's Delight in Moffat. World's best buttertarts!!!!
- Two full water bottles - with a high quality electrolyte powder in at least one of them. It's going to be hot and humid Saturday - be sure to hydrate well before the ride (tomorrow) and during.
- A gel or two and/or some on-bike nourishment such as a bar or energy chews.
- NB: make sure to eat a good breakfast (oatmeal, smoothy, eggs, etc.) before the ride, especially if you're doing the 100km ride!
Important notes:
While the ride to Moffat is not technically difficult, there are a fair number of rollers and a few longer steep-ish hills. Please ride within your limits and choose the most appropriate group. We will have numerous other rides like this over the summer, so if you want to work up to a further distance, you'll have that opportunity!
There are a couple women that have asked about riding a distance shorter than 60km. If you would like to do this, please plan on starting with the 60km group. You can head out with us as far as you would like, then turn back. The route is very straightforward and well travelled by cyclists - so no worry about getting lost. Let me know if you are interested in riding a shorter distance so that I can figure out if there is going to be a group that would ride together.
If for any reason the weather changes and the ride has to be cancelled, please check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com. If I need to cancel the ride due to inclement weather, I'll post something to the blog by 7am.
Hope to see lots of you Saturday!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
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Monday, June 14, 2010
Gears Girls - Update for the Week of Monday, June 14th
Going forward, I'll start sending out a regular Sunday evening or Monday email letting everyone know about what's going on Gear Girls-wise during the week. This information will also be posted to the blog: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/.
WEATHER UPDATES:
In case of rain or inclement weather, please check the Gears Girls blog to see if the ride has been cancelled: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com. I will try to send out an email if a ride is going to be cancelled, but because I don't always have internet access, I can't promise that I can do so. That being the case, I am able to post to the blog via my Blackberry so best to check that if you're unsure whether the ride is a go or not!
Tuesday, June 15th: TUESDAY NIGHT BEGINNER RIDE - MEET AT GEARS FOR 6:15PM RIDE AT 6:30PM
This Tuesday will be the first of our newly introduced Tuesday night beginner/skills improvement rides. Meet at Gears for 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm. Tuesday night rides will focus on improving bike-handling skills (such as gear selection, hill climbing, cornering, etc.), improving efficiency on the bike and improving group riding skills. Members that are new to cycling, new to group riding or just looking to improve upon their existing cycling skills are encouraged to attend!
Wednesday, June 16th: WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED RIDE - MEET AT GEARS FOR 6:15PM RIDE AT 6:30PM
With the addition of the Tuesday night beginner rides, Wednesday night rides will become a faster pace 1.5 to 2 hour ride. If you are new to cycling or are uncomfortable riding in a group or at higher speeds, please try to attend the Tuesday night rides...at least for a few sessions before attending the Wednesday night rides. If you are unsure about which evening ride would be best suited to you, drop me a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
Saturday, June 19th: RIDE TO MOFFAT
This Saturday will be our first group ride that starts at a location other than Gears! Members may choose to ride either 100km or 60kms. Please note that while the route to Moffat is not technically demanding, there are a fair number of hills - some rolling, some on the steeper side. Please ride within your limits!
There will be a rest stop in Moffat - around the 25 or 50km mark (depending on where you started). Bring some money as there are great buttertarts and muffins for purchase at "Dar's Delights"...which pretty much constitutes downtown Moffat! If you're not sure where Moffat is, check out the attached map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=moffat+ontario+canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=48.555061,113.994141&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Moffat,+Halton+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario,+Canada&t=h&z=14
I will send out information towards the middle of the week regarding start locations. If you would like to ride from Gears (I believe the total distance will be approximately 130km) please let me know and we can figure out meeting/departure times.
Please drop me a quick line so that I know how many people to expect on the Saturday ride!
Looking forward to seeing you all at some point this week!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com
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Friday, June 11, 2010
In Case of Rain!
I don't have access to the GG membership list and only have limited email access. So...if it's raining tomorrow (Saturday), presume the ride is off :(.
As of now - friday at 7pm - it's calling for thunderstorms through the night into the morning.
Email me if you have any questions! Gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
Mel
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Update Re Saturday Morning Ride - Meeting is Off/Ride is On!!!
About 30 women showed up last night so I don't think it's necessary to hold a 2nd meeting on Saturday. So, with that in mind, there will be a ride (rather than a meeting) this Saturday, June 12th starting from Gears Bike Shop at 9am. Because a large number of members will be participating in Ride to Conquer Cancer this weekend, we'll reschedule the flat clinic to another day in the very near future. I'll keep you all posted with regards to the date for the clinic.
I'll send out meeting notes early to mid next week. In the interim, here are a couple noteworthy items to review:
Saturday Morning Rides:
1) Members will break into two or three groups in order to accommodate various levels of riders based on experience level and pace (provided there is a large enough turnout - if numbers are low we will ride together as one group);
2) Ride captains and sweeps will be assigned to each group at the start of each ride. Members will know who is leading, who is sweeping and who can be sought out for assistance;
3) Pace will be determined early on in the ride and will be respected by all members of the group;
4) Good communication and group riding etiquette will be stressed on all rides!
Tuesday Night Beginner/Skills Improvement Rides - NEW!!!!
Gears Girls will now be offering Tuesday night beginner/skills improvement rides. Meet at Gears for 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm. Tuesday night rides will focus on improving bike-handling skills (such as gear selection, hill climbing, cornering, etc.), improving efficiency on the bike and improving group riding skills. Members that are new to cycling, new to group riding or just looking to improve upon their existing cycling skills are encouraged to attend!
Wednesday Night Rides:
With the addition of the Tuesday night beginner rides, Wednesday night rides will become a faster pace 1.5 to 2 hour ride. If you are new to cycling or are uncomfortable riding in a group or at higher speeds, please try to attend the Tuesday night rides...at least for a few sessions before attending the Wednesday night rides.
If you are unsure about which evening ride would be best suited to you, drop me a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
Thanks again to everyone for their ongoing support of the club! Hope to see lots of you Saturday morning!
Mel
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Gears Girls ride cancelled tonight - calling for thunderstorms!
Sorry for the short notice, but I think in light of the wet weather that's sure to come our way, we'll cancel the Gears Girls ride tonight (Wednesday). Let's hope for better weather for the Saturday morning ride!
If you do choose to ride on your own tonight, ride safe!
Mel
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Pictures from the Bike 4 Betty ride - Sunday, May 31st
Reminder re Wednesday and Saturday rides
Also, Saturday rides have now moved back to 9am. This Saturday's ride - and all future Saturday rides (unless otherwise specified) - will start at 9am!
Hope to see a bunch of you this Wednesday!
Mel