Final Gears Girls Update for the 2011 Season - week of August 29th

Hi Girls.

 

This will be my final update for the 2011 Gears Girls season!

 

Come out to one of our final rides of the season - Monday, Tuesday and Thursday rides will all leave from Gears as usual at 6:30pm.  To mark the end of the season, we'll do a slightly shorter ride on Monday and Thursday and, provided the weather is good and people are interested, we'll end the ride at ICE CREAM!

 

For those interested, a group of us will continue riding Tuesdays in September. We'll leave from Gears as usual but will try to depart at 6:15pm as we'll only have limited light.  Pace and distance will be comparable to the current Tuesday night rides. Please bring front and rear lights. Let me know if you're interested.

 

Thanks to everyone for another amazing season. Some great friendships have been formed and some memorable adventures have been made. Thanks again to all of you for your support, enthusiasm and commitment to the club.

 

BTW, if you're looking for some winter training options don't hesitate to drop me a line. Remember that Gears offers spin classes 7 days a week or check out the selection of bike trainers for sale at either of the Gears locations.  Winter is (sadly) almost upon us so it's time to start thinking about how you're going to stay in shape for the 2012 ride season!

 

See you out there!

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls Update for the Week of August 22nd

Hey Girls.

 Second last week of the official Gears Girls season! Come out and ride while you can! All rides will proceed as normal this week. As always, check the blog for updates regarding weather cancellations.

The final 2011 Gears Girls ride will be on Thursday, September 1st. There will not be an organized Saturday ride on Saturday, September 3rd because of the long weekend.

For those interested, there will be Tuesday night rides continuing into September. Because of the lack of evening light, we'll leave from Gears at 6:15pm rather than 6:30pm starting Tuesday, September 6th. Pace and distance will be the same as the current Tuesday rides.

For those looking to ride alternate evenings, post something to the GG Facebook page as that will remain active into the Fall and Winter.

BTW, if you're looking to watch the Vuelta, you can find it on Sportsnet One - Stage 2 is re-broadcast tonight from 7 to 9pm.

See you out there!

Mel

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Monday Gears Girls Ride Cancelled due to rain

Hey Girls.
 
It's pouring here in Oakville - not sure what it's doing elsewhere. I checked the weather forecast and it's calling for chance of rain and thunderstorms on and off this evening. In light of that - and the fact that it's currently pouring - I'm going to have to cancel tonight's GG ride. If you're hardcore and looking to ride in the rain post something to FB to see if you can find other hardcore types :).
 
Let's hope for better weather tomorrow night!
 
Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update for the week of August 15, 2011

Hi Girls.
 
Hope you all had a great weekend!
 
All is a go as usual for this week - rides will proceed as normal tonight, tomorrow, Thursday and Saturday. Weather looks a bit iffy for the week so be sure to check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for updates and possible ride cancellations due to inclement weather.
 
The Gears Girls season will soon be over so be sure to get your riding in with the club while you can!
 
See you out there!
 
Mel 

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update - Week of August 1st, 2011

Hi Girls.

 

Sorry about the delay in getting out the weekly update...hope everyone remembered that there was no ride yesterday .

 

Rides will go on as usual tonight and Thursday. We may get another early start on Saturday (7am or 7:30am) depending on the weather forecast - starting at 7am has worked well as we've been avoiding a lot of the heat and getting back to Gears in time to miss the hottest part of the day. I'll confirm start time (and possibly location) later in the week depending on the weekend forecast. 

 

Keep in mind that the final Gears Girls ride of the season will be Tuesday, August 31st. Depending on group interest we may offer one weeknight ride through to the end of September but that will be dependant on leader availability and group interest. As always though, members are encouraged to post to the Gears Girls Facebook page if you're looking for other women to ride with.

 

Remember - if you ordered a sleeveless jersey and haven't yet picked it up don't forget they are available for pick up at Gears!

 

See you out there.

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Tonight's Gears Girls Ride - weather update

Hi girls.
 
A number of you have emailed to ask if tonight's ride is still on. It's not raining in Oakville but it looks very overcast and like it may start raining soon - doesn't call for rain tonight but who knows. I'm not going to cancel tonight's ride because it may turn out just fine but we may have to make a last minute call on the ride or turn around early.
 
I'm leaving work so will no longer have access to a computer in case the weather changes. I'm heading to Gears so may see you guys out there. If nothing else, I'm dropping off the newly arrived sleeveless jerseys - which look great!
 
I'll leave it up to everyone to decide re the weather. One never knows these days.
 
Remember - no rides Saturday or Monday because of the long weekend! Have a great long weekend everyone!
 
Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update for the week of July 25th

Hi Girls.

 

All rides will proceed as planned this week - check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for weather updates if necessary. Remember, there are no longer organized GG rides on Wednesday evenings - all other evening rides will proceed as normal. 

 

With the approaching long weekend, there will NOT be organized rides on Saturday, July 30th or Monday, August 1st - if you would like to ride on either of those days and are looking for other interested members post something to the Gears Girls Facebook page.

 

Looks like the week ahead may bring slightly cooler temperatures - let's hope anyway .

 

See you out there!

 

Mel

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls - update re Thursday's GG ride

Hi Girls.

 

Further to my weekly update, I have not been able to find anyone to lead the Thursday GG ride.  As I mentioned in my update, I will not be cancelling the ride - anyone that wants to ride should plan on showing up at Gears as usual for 6:30pm and enjoy a "leaderless" ride . Alternately, post a message to the Gears Girls FB page to see who will be riding.

 

Hope you had a great ride last night!

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls Update for the Week of July 18th

Hey Girls.

 

Hope everyone is well and getting some good rides in. With the hot weather we've been having remember how important it is to stay well hydrated - before, during and after the ride!

 

Tim and I will be out for the ride tomorrow (Monday), but won't be around Tuesday or Thursday as we're both on vacation. I still need a couple people willing to help out with both the Tuesday and Thursday rides. If you are able to commit to helping with either (or both) of the nights, please let me know as soon as possible. Michaela has kindly offered to help on Tuesday - if I could get one more person to assist that would be great. Same with Thursday. If I'm unable to get people to help lead rides this week, then the rides will still go on as planned but without ride leaders - I know you're all fine to ride without me or without a ride leader .

 

Gears Girls Sleeveless Jerseys

 

I know you would have all liked to have had your sleeveless jerseys this weekend but all good things come to those who wait. Jerseys should be available for pick up for those who ordered them on Saturday from Gears. I'll send an email out towards the end of the week confirming that they're at Gears and ready for pick up!

 

Team RACE/Tour 4 Kids Fundraiser

 

If you're looking for a great time think about joining Team RACE on Wednesday, July 20th from 6pm to 10pm at The Oakville Club (www.oakvilleclub.com) for a Surf & Turf Dinner to raise funds and awareness for  kids living with and beyond cancer through support of Tour for Kids. Only 150 ticket are available; funds raised go towards the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation (www.ctcacf.org) and Tour for Kids (www.tourforkids.com).  For tickets and additional information, check out the Team RACE website at http://www.teamrace.com/

See you out there!

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls Update for the Week of July 11th

Hi girls.
 
Hope you're all well and taking advantage of the good (but hot) weather and getting out there on your bikes.
 
When it's this hot and humid I can't stress how important it is to hydrate well both during the day in anticipation of riding as well as during the ride. When it's this hot, you should have 2 full water bottles for evening rides - be sure to use a high quality electrolyte powder in at least one of the bottles. Good, high quality options include e-Load, Nuun (both are available at Gears) and my personal favourite Vega Sport Performance Optimizer Pre-Workout Beverage (An all-natural, plant-based electrolyte powder available from most health food stores, Organic Garage, Planet Organic, some Loblaws', etc.). Gatorade and other similar products taste good but are full of sugar and are apt to lead to stomach upset in many people...and even worse, the sugar contained in the powder makes an awful mess of bike frames, derailleurs, cables, etc!
 
EVENING RIDES
 
With the exception of Wednesdays, all other evening rides have been extremely well attended. Mondays will remain the "slowest" of the three nights - average pace is approximately 25kms/hr; distance is between 40 and 45kms. Tuesdays and Thursdays - based on who's been coming out regularly, will continue to have an average pace of approximately 26-28kms/hr; distance is between 40 and 50kms.  If you have not yet ridden with the group, or if you have not been riding regularly and are not comfortable riding in a single and double paceline, with the pace, or with the general skill level, definitely check out one of the clinics starting next week at Gears: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/Clinic.html 
 
WEDNESDAY EVENING RIDES - Important!
 
Wednesday evening rides were always intended for the more advanced, faster members looking for an opportunity to ride fast and hard and continue to see advancement.  The intention has always been that members riding Wednesdays be consistent so that the group could advance together in both pace and skill level. The season started well but unfortunately turnout to Wednesday rides has been extremely poor - there have been several occasions when it has been me plus one other member (the rides have been lovely but when there's only two of you it's not really a group ride) - there has also been a Wednesday ride or two in which no one but me has shown up! I have spoken to most of the women who have in the past ridden on Wednesdays and for the most part, all seem happy to ride on other nights. If Wednesday night riders want to email me suggestions regarding the Wednesday rides I'm happy to review them, but otherwise, as of now, I am cancelling Wednesday night rides due to extremely low turnout. With three other evening rides to choose from, it does not make sense for the club to offer a ride that no one shows up to.  People wanting to ride on Wednesdays are, as always, encouraged to post a message to Facebook - as advanced level cyclists you certainly don't need me there to lead the ride. Alternately, if somone else would like to commit to leading a ride every Wednesday for the advanced group please let me know as soon as possible.  I apologize if this inconveniences anyone...please definitely join us for one of the other three weeknight rides.
 
TOUR 4 KIDS/TEAM RACE FUNDRAISER
 
As many of you know, members of Team Race (the club that Tim and several other spouses ride with) have been extremely supportive of Gears Girls over the past three years. Team Race members have assisted with many, many of our rides - I don't know how many flats they've changed over the years, how many GG members they've pushed up hills, how many intersections they've cleared, etc. but suffice it to say, they've been awesome. Now we have a chance to help their club out! Team Race has been instrumental in the creation of the Coast to Coast Foundation and Tour for Kids - please consider attending their event on Wednesday, July 20th to help raise funds for Tour 4 Kids and the Coast to Coast Foundation:
 

Surf'n Turf at the Oakville Club
This event is in full swing. We have a great night planned, live music, great food and auction items. If there is something you or your company could perhaps contribute for the auction let Mark Thompson or Freddy know about it (or Mel Crosby).
Buy your ticket for single, couple or booking of ten here https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?eventid=74043 or at teamrace.com home page. Hope to see you and your gang there!

Location: Oakville Club, 56 Water St. Oakville
Date: Wednesday July 20, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 10ish

 
See you out there!
 
Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update for the Week of July 4, 2011

Hi Girls.
 
Sorry about the delay in this week's update! Tim and I were on vacation all week and we only just got back. Rode pretty much every day. Found some awesome new routes. Ate and drank too much. Now back to work I suppose!
 
All rides will proceed as normal this week. As always, check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for updates regarding ride cancellations due to rain or inclement weather. Distance for all rides except Saturday will be approximately 40 to 45kms. Pace will be consistent with previous weeks and will be dependant on who shows up at the rides. I'll send Saturday ride details out in the next day or two.
 
We're now officially half way through the Gears Girls season. We've gotten loads of rides in (even with the rain at the start of the season) and there's been a huge improvement in terms of skill level, pace and comfort of the group as a whole. If you have not yet ridden with the club or if you have not been coming out on a regular basis, and if you feel that the pace and/or skill level of the various ride nights are too fast or too advanced for you, consider signing up for the one of the upcoming Gears clinics: the beginner clinic,  which covers skills such as starting and stopping, cornering, shifting, shoulder checking, road rules, equipment choices, etc. begins Thursday, July 14th at 6:30pm.  The advanced/master's clinic, which covers skills such as how to climb efficiently, emergency maneuvers, riding comfortably in a group environment, shoulder checking without swerving, etc. begins Saturday, July 16th at 8am. For additional information about the clinics check the Gears website at http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/index.html or send an email to clinics@gearsbikeshop.com.  
 
Drop me a line if you have any questions re the above. Otherwise, I'll see you out there!
 
Mel
 


http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update - Week of June 27th

Hey Girls.

 

For those of you who did Tour of Waterloo today, hope it went well. Weather is/was great so it looks like you had ideal riding conditions. Yesterday turned out to be a great day weather-wise as well - looked like rain in the morning but with the exception of a bit of wind the weather turned out to be great. We did a really nice 100km ride up Snake Road hitting a few good hills on the ride back east. Awesome ride girls! And congrats Katherine for hitting the 100km mark and still looking fresh at the end of the ride .

 

With the long weekend approaching and ride leader availability, there will be a couple changes to the rides this week, please review the details below carefully:

 

Monday - regular Monday night ride - approximate distance: 40 to 45kms; approximate pace: 26-28kms/hr - Tuesday and Wednesday riders are encouraged to attend as there won't be any organized rides on those nights

Tuesday - no organized ride - anyone wanting to ride on Tuesday is encouraged to post a message to the Gears Girls FB page

Wednesday - no organized ride - anyone wanting to ride on Wednesday is encouraged to post a message to the Gears Girls FB page

Thursday - regular Thursday night ride - approximate distance: 40 to 45kms; approximate pace: 26-28kms/hr. Alice and her husband Joe will be leading the Thursday ride. Thanks to both of you!

Saturday - no organized ride due to the long weekend - Saturday riders are encouraged to either email one another or post something to the Gears Girls FB page if they want to ride.

 

Drop me a line if you have any questions regarding the above. Otherwise, hope to see some of you on Monday.

 

Mel

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Tonight's Gears Girls Ride Cancelled due to rain

Hi Girls.
 
In light of the current weather (don't know what it's doing around you but it was just pouring in south Oakville...and isn't looking like it's getting any better) tonight's Gears Girls ride is cancelled :(
 
See you soon!
 
Mel
 


http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Gears Girls Ride

Hey Girls.

 

For those of you riding tomorrow night (Wednesday) - neither Tim nor myself will be at the ride because of work commitments. I know you'll be fine without me . Take care of one another, ride safe and have a great ride. As of right now the weather doesn't look promising for the next couple of days; as usual, I will update the blog (and try to send an email) if the ride is cancelled due to rain.

 

See you all soon!

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Important Gears Girls Safety Information - Please read!

Hi Girls.
 
I was just told by one of the Gears staff members that last week one of the staff at Gears witnessed a cyclist in a Gears Girls kit running several stop lights while on her bike. Please note that this is totally unacceptable behaviour and is not condoned by the club or by Gears Bike Shop.  It's hard enough to get drivers to take road cyclists seriously and treat them with respect while on the road...it doesn't help having our own club members disregarding the rules of the road and further aggravating a large group of already aggravated drivers.  This also reflects very badly on the club and on Gears Bike Shop. Remember...you're highly visible on the road when wearing a Gears Girls kit and you're representing not only the club but also Gears Bike Shop.
 
Myself, along with all of the Gears staff and club supporters make safety the number one priority on ALL Gears Girls and Gears club rides. Members that continue to blatantly disregard the rules of the road may be asked to leave the club.

If you have any questions regarding road safetly, rules of the road, etc. please don't hesitate to ask me, the other ride leaders or any of the Gears Bike Shop staff.
 
Thanks for your attention.
 
Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update - Week of June 20th

Hey Girls.
 
Another great week of riding!
 
All rides are a go this week unless of course there are rain cancellations - as usual, check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for updates.
 
A couple things to note and consider:
 
Gears Girls Jerseys and Jackets:
 
There are still a few remaining jerseys and jackets that need to be picked up from Gears. Drop by Gears anytime during business hours to pick your clothing up.
 
Gears Girls Sleeveless Jerseys:
Per my email end of last week, Gears Girls sleeveless jerseys are available for purchase for $60 including HST. Fit will be comparable to the new Gears Girls jerseys. Available sizes are XXS through to XL. The sleeveless jerseys are great - same fabric and design as the new Gears Girls jerseys and three pockets in the back...something you don't always find on women's sleeveless jerseys! Orders and payment must be received no later than end of day Friday, June 24th. I apologize for the quick time frame but in order to get the jerseys back to us by mid-July we need to place the order quickly. See attached for a jpg of the jersey as well as the order form. How to pay: bring your completed order form and payment in to Gears before end of day Friday, June 24th OR if you are unable to get into Gears by the 24th, you can send me an online bank transfer using this email address: m.crosby@sympatico.ca. Please make the answer to the security question gearsgirls. Please indicate in the message section your full name and size.

 

Tour de Waterloo:

I know that a number of you are thinking about doing the Tour de Waterloo this weekend: http://www.tourdewaterloo.com/. Not sure how many or who will be there but if you're interested, post something to the Gears Girls FB page to see if you can hook up with other GG members. Sounds like a great, hilly route! I won't be there but it sounds like there could be a good sized group of girls riding.

 

Canadian Road Nationals:

We're fortunate to have the Canadian Road Championships in our own backyard this year - events will be taking place in Burlington, Georgetown and Waterdown from June 23rd through to July 3rd...some cool opportunities to watch some really challenging races. Clara Hughes will be racing...can't wait to see a Canadian icon in action! Here's a link to the schedule of events: http://www.midweekclub.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=87&Itemid=18. Hope you can make it out to watch a couple of the races!

 

See you guys out on the road. Drop me a line if you have any questions.

 

Mel

 

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Sleeveless Jerseys - place your order quickly!

Hey Girls.

Many of you have asked about sleeveless Gears Girls jerseys. Well, here they are. My friends at Niko Apparel as usual did a great job with the designs - thanks go out to Joe, Claudia, Ching and Brandon for getting the designs done so quickly! I have attached a picture of the jerseys along with an order form.  Price is $60 each including HST. Fit will be comparable to the new Gears Girls jerseys. Available sizes are XXS through to XL. The sleeveless jerseys are great - same fabric and design as the new Gears Girls jerseys and three pockets in the back...something you don't always find on women's sleeveless jerseys!

Orders and payment must be received no later than end of day Friday, June 24th. I apologize for the quick time frame but in order to get the jerseys back to us by mid-July we need to place the order quickly.

How to pay: bring your completed order form and payment in to Gears before end of day Friday, June 24th OR if you are unable to get into Gears by the 24th, you can send me an online bank transfer using this email address: m.crosby@sympatico.ca. Please make the answer to the security question gearsgirls. Please indicate in the message section your full name and size.

If you have any questions let me know.

Mel

Tonight's GG ride

Hi Girls.
 
It's overcast but not raining (yet). I'll wait until 5:30 to make a weather call but as of right now consider the ride a go. I won't have computer access once I leave work in about 5 minutes so please check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for ride cancellations. NB, I'll only update the blog if the ride is cancelled.
 
Hope to see you soon!
 
Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update - Week of June 13th

Hi Girls.

 

Another great week of riding! Pace and skill levels of all groups continue to improve week by week - awesome work ladies!

 

All rides will proceed as normal this week. Average distance for all rides this week will be between 40 and 45kms. Average pace has increased significantly since the beginning of the season and is more or less dictated by the pace and comfort of the majority of the group: average pace Mondays and Thursdays (depending on which group you ride with either of the nights) is typically between 24 and 27kms/hr. Tuesdays are also dictated by the pace and comfort of the majority of the group and has been between 26 and 28kms/hr.  Wednesdays and Saturdays depend largely on who comes out, distance and terrain but pace is typically around 27 or 28kms/hr.  If you are riding consistently and regularly each week you will find that your pace and skills naturally improve.  If you are unable to keep up with the group, don't be discouraged but do know that regular and consistent saddle time is the only way a new or less experienced cyclist will see improvement. For that matter, even experienced cyclists will quickly lose fitness if they're not on their bikes on a regular and consistent basis.   Don't forget that you can also post messages to the Gears Girls Facebook page looking for other members to ride with over and above the regular club rides!

 

Weather looks good this week and next so hopefully lots of opportunities for you to get out on your bikes.

 

See you out there!

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Saturday Gears Girls Ride

Hi Girls.
 
Due to a last minute work committment I won't be at the ride tomorrow (Saturday) morning. If you normally ride on Saturday's and were planning on riding tomorrow, I would recommend posting something to the Gears Girls FB page to see who else is riding. Alternately, if you were planning on riding tomorrow feel free to drop me a line and I'll put you in touch with anyone else who has told me the would be riding. The regular Saturday riders know the usual route and are more than capable to lead the ride without me there - although I'm sure you'll all miss me :).  Pace and distance will be similar to previous Saturdays.
 
Weather tomorrow is supposed to be wet and rainy all day. I will send out an email and update the blog tomorrow morning by 7am if the ride is cancelled.
 
See you all next week!
 
Mel
 
 
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls update - week of June 6th

Hey Girls.

Some great rides this week! I'm really impressed how much the pace and general skill level has picked up just in the past month. Kudos to those of you who have been coming out regularly and working hard!

All groups will continue to ride at a pace that is comfortable for the majority of riders. While we have been splitting the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday groups up (due to size), even the slower pace groups (within the Monday and Thursday groups) have been averaging around 24kms/hr and the faster pace groups around 26 or 27kms/hr. Please remember that these rides are meant to challenge you; if you find the pace too slow or two fast don't feel obligated to remain with the group for the remainder of the ride. If, after heading out with the group you would like to ride on your own or with another member, please let one of the ride leaders know you are heading back or riding on your own. We ride a similar route most weeknights so all members should have a good sense of where in Mississauga or Oakville we are.

All rides will proceed as planned this week. Check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for weather updates and ride cancellations.

For those of you interested in the Saturday Midweek ladies only ride, the ride organizer - Michelle Payne - has informed me that the cost for the season is $50. Check the GG blog for details as I posted information earlier this week or send me an email and I'll put you in touch with Michelle.

See you put there!

Mel

Midweek Cycling Club's Ladies Ride - Saturday, June 4

Hi Girls.
 
See below re Michelle Payne of Midweek Cycling Club's "ladies only ride" taking place tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:30am. Michelle's ride sounds like a great option for women looking for a shorter distance ride and a more relaxed pace.  For additional information, contact Michelle at michip@sympatico.ca.
 
Mel
 
Good Morning Ladies!
 
I will be guiding our "Ladies only" club ride tomorrow, rain or shine.  We will be departing the RONA parking lot (NE corner of Winston Churchill & Eglington Ave) at 8:30, please arrive with plenty of time to gear up prior to the departure time.  We will ber riding for approximately 50kms at an easy pace.  This is a ride for the joy of riding, not killing ourselves out there.  No one gets dropped.  Please be sure to bring your water, food, gels and whatever accessories you will need for the ride.
 
Melina, please forward this message onto your Gears Girls.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Next Saturday June 11th, I will NOT be guiding the ride due to participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
 
See you all tomorrow morning!

 
Michelle Payne
Midweek Cycling Club


 
 

Gears Girls Update for the week of May 30th

Hi Girls.

Great job by everyone who participated in Bike 4 Betty yesterday! Lots of Gears Girls kits visible on the route...and lots of money raised for a great cause! Lisa uploaded the 75km route to the GG Facebook page - check it out if you're interested.

Gears Girls Jerseys and Jackets

If you ordered a jersey and/or jacket - they're ready for pick up from Gears. I can't wait to see everyone out sporting their Gears Girls colors!

Ride Information

 

Rides will take place as usual this week. Check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for updates regarding cancellations due to rain or bad weather.

 
Important Information
 
Please remember to arrive on time and prepared for all rides. Many of you are arriving last minute to rides without having set up your bikes, pumped tires, filled water bottles, etc. Please be considerate of your fellow riders. If you don't own a floor pump with an easy to read pressure gauge I recommend investing in one - everyone who owns a road bike should also own a floor pump! Please also be sure to bring one (or ideally two) spare tube and one (or ideally two) C02 cartridge on every ride - if you do get a flat you'll need the tube and cartridge.
 
With the temperatures rising this week, it's very important to bring two full water bottles to each ride - one should be filled with a high-quality electrolyte powder. You should also bring some form of on-bike nourishment, such as a bar, gel or energy block; if you're riding longer than an hour it's a good idea to have a bite of something mid-way through a ride.  It's also very important that you pump you tires - with a floor pump - to the approrpriate psi prior to each ride. Air escapes from road tires (especially in warmer weather) at a surprisingly fast rate - if you ride 5 times a week, you should be filling your tires 5 times a week! It's quite likely that you'll get a flat if your tires are improperly inflated.
 
Also important to note - if you leave your bike inside your vehicle (or on the roof) during a warm/hot day (ie. if you bring your bike to work and then drive directly to Gears for a ride), empty some of the air out of the tires in the morning and then pump them back up just before the ride. In hot conditions, air expands inside a tube (think of how warm it gets inside a locked car or van) and could potentially cause the tube to blow while the bike is sitting inside the vehicle.

Forecast is calling for nice all week. I think we'll finally get to see the sun!

Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Saturday Gears Girls ride cancelled

Hi girls.

Because the weather is not improving and because I only heard from 2 people re today I'm going to cancel the ride that was moved to 9:15. The fog is still thick and roads still quite wet. Might improve in a couple hours so you still may get a late day ride in!

Let's hope for better weather next week!

Mel

Gears Girls - Attn all Saturday riders - change of start time!

Hey Girls.

 

If you were planning on riding today - Saturday: the weather is currently damp, wet and foggy. Roads are quite wet. I'm not going to cancel the ride but am going to move the start time to 9:15am to allow time for the weather to improve and roads to dry. Weather forecast shows that wet weather is done as of 9am. Can you please email me to let me know if you'll be riding today - just so I know I'm not the only one heading over to Gears and have a sense of numbers.

 

Mel

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls - Club Clothing and Bike 4 Betty

Hi Girls.
 
Just a quick update:
 
Gears Girls Jerseys and Jackets
 
If you ordered a Gears Girls jersey and/or jacket...both will be available for pick up from Gears Bike Shop as of Sunday morning. If you are doing Bike 4 Betty and would like your jersey for the event, please let me know as soon as possible and I can see about having it ready for pick up tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.
 
NB: the order was placed based on your individual size requests (per the sample sizes) - there was no overstock ordered. If you're jersey or jacket is too small or too large there's unfortunately no ability to exchange them. My suggestion, if you do want a different size, is to post something to the GG Facebook page and see if someone wants to swap. You never know :)
 
Bike 4 Betty
 
Bike 4 Betty takes place this Sunday, May 29th. The event starts and finishes at Memorial Park in Port Credit (http://www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=737). Start times are dependant on the distance you are riding.
 
If you are participating and would like to meet up with other Gears Girls members in advance of the event, I would suggest meeting by the check in/registration tent about 15 minutes prior to the start time . The 100km group leaves at 7am; the 75km group leaves at 8am; the 30km group leaves at 9am. I know there are members planning on riding all distances, so chances are you'll see other girls at the start or en route. Please wear your Gears Girls jersey for easy visibility! If you are participating and would like to know if anyone else is riding a specific distance either send me an email or post something to the GG FB page!
 
I believe you can still register if you do want to participate - check out the Bike 4 Betty website for details:  http://www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=695
 
Enjoy the weekend. Hope to see lots of you out for Bike 4 Betty!
 
Mel 


http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Tonight - Thursday GG ride and rain

Hey Thursday riders.

I'm at gears and it just started raining. It may stop so I'm not yet going to cancel the ride. Like last night it will be a last minute call if the rain gets heavier. Sorry if you're already en route and didn't get this message in time. Use your discretion if you're nervous about riding in the rain!

Attn Wednesday riders!

Hey girls.

Just arrived at Gears - it's raining a bit but certainly not pouring. My phone is about to die so not sure I'll get another chance to email. So, i won't make the call (to ride or not to ride) until just before 6:30. It doesn't look too bad out - but who knows these days. I'm hoping for the best weather-wise!

Not sure who will be out tonight. Maybe just me....:)

Mel

Gears Girls Update - Week of May 23rd

Hi Girls.

Let's hope this week isn't quite as wet as last week! We got a couple rides in but still a couple cancellations.  If you are unsure about ride cancellations due to weather, please refer to the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/ for updates.

Rides this week will proceed as normal (weather dependant of course):

Monday: no ride due to holiday

Tuesday: Intermediate level/moderate pace/paceline and drafting techniques - 24-25km/hr average; 2 hour duration; approximately 45kms in distance; members choosing to ride Tuesdays should have at least one full season of road cycling (on a road bike) experience.

Wednesday: Advanced level/fast pace - 27-29km/hr average; 2 hour duration; approximately 50kms in distance; members choosing to ride Wednesdays must have ridden previously with another experienced road group and have strong paceline and drafting skills.

Thursday: Beginner level/touring pace - 21-23kms/hr average; 2 hour duration; approximately 40kms in distance.

Saturday: Advanced level/long distance ride - 26 to 29kms/hr average (dependant on terrain); 4+ hours duration; approximately 100kms in distance; members choosing to ride Wednesdays must have ridden previously with another experienced road group and have strong paceline and drafting skills.

Notes about rides:

Please arrive on time and ready to ride. Meet at Gears for 6:15pm and ride at 6:30pm for all evening rides; meet at 8:15am and ride at 8:30am for Saturday rides. Please come prepared for all rides: tires need to be pumped (should be pumped to the appropriate psi before every ride) and bike set up and ready to go for 6:30pm; please bring two full water bottles, a cell phone, an energy bar and/or gel, a spare tube, a C02 cartridge and an adapter.  Please ensure that you eat and hydrate appropriately prior to each ride - as temperature, distance, pace and intensity increases this will become even more important!

If you find the pace or distance too fast and/or too far on any ride please ensure that you know where you are and how to safely return to Gears in case you lose sight of the group and need to return to Gears on your own or with another member.

Other points of interest:

Jerseys and Jackets:

The order is due to arrive middle of the week. I will send an email with details once jerseys and/or jackets are ready for pick up.

Bike 4 Betty:

Bike 4 Betty takes place this Sunday, May 29th. This is a great charity event and has a distance for everyone. Check out the Bike 4 Betty website for details or to register: http://www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=695. Feel free to join the Gears Girls team - the team will not necessarily ride together as some members will be doing the 30km, 75km or 100km route (at different paces) but there are loads of people on the course so lots of people to ride with! This is a fun and very worthwhile event!

Other opportunities to ride:

Looking for other opportunities to ride? The more cycling you do the stronger you'll get! The following clubs and club rides are all great options for Gears Girls members:

1) Oakville Cycling Club: http://www.oakvillecc.com/

2) Brampton Cycling Club: http://bramptoncyclingclub.com/

3) Midweek Cycling Club/Saturday "ladies ride": http://www.midweekclub.ca/

Hope to see lots of you out this week!

Mel

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Midweek Cycling Club Women's Rides

Hey Girls! 

Looking for another great opportunity to ride on Saturdays? Michelle from Midweek Cycling Club has started a "ladies club ride" on Saturdays. You have to be a member of Midweek to join the ride, but still another great opportunity. Midweek also offers an awesome "learn to ride", "learn to race" and criterium series that you might want to check out. See below for details about the midweek ladies ride, pace, distance, club website, etc. 

Hello everyone!
 
Our "Ladies" ride will be leavingtomorrow morning, rain or shine, at 8:30 am from the Rona parking lot at the Northeast corner of Winston Churchill and Eglinton Ave.  Please arrive early enough to get yourself geared up so that we can depart rightat 8:30.  Please ensure that you have water to drink and food to eat during the ride so that you don't bonk out and get tired.  If anyone wants to join, please go to the website www.midweekclub.ca and click on the join link, fill it out, print it off and bring it with you tomorrow.  Especially the insurance waivers.  If you have any questions re: what you have to pay, please contact Craig Fagan at cfagan@sympatico.ca and he'll advise you.  We will be riding for approximately 3 to 3 1/2 hours and probably travelling at 20 - 25 kms/hour.  Whatever is a comfortable speed for us all.  
 
NOTE:  Saturday May 28th I will not be there to guide you.  You may ride as a group on your own if you wish.  That is up to you all.  My team for The Ride to Conquer Cancer is holding a large garage sale to raise money for our fundraising goals.  You're welcome to attend that as well!  There will be furniature, tv's, sterios, and all sorts of other goodies. 341 Dickson Park Cres. (Hwy 10/QEW) Come on by and support Cancer rearch!
 
Also, you please don't feel obligated to call me to let me know you won't be able to attend the ride. If you can come out, great!  If not, absolutely no worries!  I won't be taking attendance!!  It's all just for fun and for the love of riding!  If I don't see you tomorrow, please have a wonderful long weekend and remember..."rubber side down"!
 
Cheers!

 
Michelle Payne
Midweek Cycling Club

No GG ride on holiday Monday

Hey Girls.

I forgot to include this in the weekly GG update - there will not be a GG ride Monday night (May 23) because of the holiday. Enjoy the long weekend!

BTW, great ride tonight! Finally some sun!

Mel

Wednesday Gears Girls Ride - ride update/cancellation

Hey Girls.
 
Unless I hear differently from enough Tempo 2 women wanting to ride tonight (those who usually ride Wednesdays), I'm cancelling tonights ride. Miserable forecast + wind + chance of thunderstorms = no one terribly intent on riding. Drop me a line if you still want to brave the elements and I'll hook you up with the other brave souls. Or, even better, post something to the GG FB page and see if you can find web-footed friends to ride with.
 
Let's hope for better weather tomorrow evening (sadly, not looking likely though).
 
Mel


http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Gears Girls ride - yet more rain!

Hi Girls!

The weather again is wet and miserable so for safety (and enjoyment) reasons I'm going to have to cancel the ride. If you're hardcore and really, really wanting to ride you can either do a spin class at Gears (Darren's Tuesday night classes are great!) or send me an email and I can let you know if any other hardcore Tuesday riders are thinking about heading out!

Hopefully all this rain will end in time for the long weekend!

Stay dry!

Mel

Monday GG ride weather update

Hi Girls.

Another cold, damp and miserable evening! I am in port credit and it's raining and miserable and not looking like it's improving. Because most of you coming out tonight are beginners, and because most of you don't have wet weather gear or experience riding in the rain, I'm going to cancel the ride.

If you were planning on riding regardless of weather send me an email and let me know. I am at gears getting a bike fit so MAY be convinced to ride in the rain - maybe. Please though, if you are a new rider, nervous about riding in the rain or lacking warm/wet weather clothing please don't come out - I don't want anyone getting sick or injured! Lots of time to ride this season in warm and dry weather!

Let's hope for better weather tomorrow!

Mel

Gears Girls Update for the week of May 16th

Hi Girls.

 

Another great week - with only two rides cancelled due to rain! Not sure what the coming week has in store for us weather wise...let's hope for the best though.

 

Gears Girls Membership Update

 

Because of the overwhelming success of Gears Girls and due to present membership numbers, we'll no longer be accepting new members this season. What this means for all of you is that as a group we'll be able to work on improving skills, pace and fitness as the season progresses. Regardless of what night you ride on, provided you come out regularly, you will see improvement in both your own fitness and skills levels as well as within the group you're riding with. 

 

What's coming up this week (besides more rain in the forecast)

 

Starting this week, we're going to start teaching the Monday and Thursday groups basic group riding techniques.  Each ride for the next couple of Mondays and Thursdays (weather permitting) will start with "skills and drills" - either in a parking lot or in a park - and will end with a ride to practice what was just taught. Because the Monday and Thursday rides are so well attended, it's very important - from a safety, support and efficiency perspective - that we get everyone riding together in either a single or double paceline.  Over the coming weeks, we'll work on skills that will help keep the group together (such as proper starting, stopping and braking techniques used within a group) as well as skills that will allow you to ride not only behind another cyclist but also next to another cyclist. If you still need to work on more basic techniques such as clipping in and out of pedals and shifting and selecting gears, check out the clinics being offered by Gears Bike Shop: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/.  The Tuesday night group is a a faster and tighter/closer version of the Monday and Thursday rides and will continue working on intermediate level group riding skills in the coming weeks.

 

If you have not yet come out to a Gears Girls ride, and if you are not currently riding with another experienced road group ( such as Chain Reaction or Brampton Cycling Club), I would ask that you ride on either Monday or Thursday. If you are an intermediate road cyclist (minimum experience required is one full season of road cycling on a road bike) and would like to ride on Tuesdays, please drop me a quick email and we can chat about your current road experience and skill level. Please email me prior to your first Tuesday evening ride.

 

Jerseys and Jackets

 

For those of you waiting for jerseys and/or jackets: both should be in the week of May 20th. I will send out an email once everything has arrived and you can pick your jersey and/or jacket up from Gears.

 

In case of rain

 

As with previous rides, I will send out an email and/or update the blog if we do need to cancel a ride due to rain at least one hour before the start of the ride.

 

If you can't ride outside, why not ride inside?

 

If the weather is such that rides are cancelled this week, consider attending a spin class at Gears! Gears offers spin classes 7 nights a week at various times throughout the day. Check out the schedule for details: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/PDF/PC-IndoorCycling.pdf. Another great indoor cycling option is a trainer or rollers - super easy to take your bike on or off either a trainer or rollers. And no more excuses that you don't have time to get to the gym or a spin class! If you're hardcore and not afraid of a little (or a lot) of rain, post something to the Gears Girls FB group to see if there are other hardcore types looking for a wet ride.

 

Check the blog for updates about rain cancellations or if you are looking for last weeks Gears Girls rides - which I've uploaded to Mapmyride and posted to the blog.

 

Let's hope for great weather this week!

 

Mel

 

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Saturday Gears Girls Ride Cancelled

Hi Girls.

 

Due to the current foggy conditions and the wet, rainy forecast for the rest of the day, for safety reasons I'm going to have to cancel today's ride (Saturday, May 14). If you're hardcore and looking to ride, post something to the GG Facebook Group to see if there are other fog and rain lovers out there. Please use caution if riding on wet, slick roads or in fog!

 

Here's hoping for better weather this coming week!

 

Mel

 

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls ride cancelled tonight due to rain

Hi Girls.

In light of the current weather (raining fairly steadily in Oakville) I'm canceling tonight's ride (Thursday May 12). If the weather improves and you're keen to ride without the group, post something to the GG Facebook site to see if anyone else is interested in riding.

Let's hope for better weather next week!

Mel

Correction re OCC/Gears Girls Invitation date - Sunday, May 15th

Hi Girls.

My apologies - it was pointed out to me yesterday that the date of the OCC/Gears Girls invitational (see details below) was wrong in my email below. The correct date is Sunday, May 15th. All other details remain the same.

If you would like to attend, please send me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers know to expect you.

Thanks!

Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

---

Hi Gears Girls!

The first official week of Gears Girls is behind us. With the exception of the Tuesday night ride (which was cancelled due to rain) weather (and of course the company) was great.

Please carefully review the email  below as it contains important information and updates about the club as well this weeks' Gears Girls rides. Please pay particular notice if you are are a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday rider.
Monday and Thursday rides:
We have had a chance to assess skills and fitness levels of most members that will be coming out to Monday and Thursday rides. The vast majority of members appear to be high beginners through to intermediate level cyclists this year. As our rides are designed to suit the majority of the members coming out, we will be making the following slight adjustments to the Monday and Thursday rides:

Pace:  Pace on all rides will be approximately 21 to 23kms/hr. I believe this was the average most members were very comfortable riding at last week. As the season progresses and fitness levels rise this average will naturally increase.

For safety and support reasons (and for the enjoyment and progression of the group as a whole) we will not be splitting the group up during any of the rides. If the pace is too fast for you - you are welcome to continue riding the same route as the group, please though ensure that you know where you are (in case you lose sight of the group) and how to safely get back to Gears on your own (or with another member) if necessary. If you do not want to continue riding the same route as the group, please ensure that you safely make your way back to Gears either on your own or with a group of other members.  Please ensure that you have a cell phone and flat repair kit on you at all times. Please try to let one of the members helping with the ride know that you are turning back.

Skill level requirements:  It appears that the majority of the women coming out for Monday and Thursday rides already have fairly strong beginner to intermediate level road skills. We will thus be planning our rides presuming that the group is already comfortable clipping in, shifting and selecting gears, riding close to one another, signaling, etc. For safety and advancement reasons of the group we will start teaching and enforcing single and double paceline techniques over the coming weeks as many members appear eager to want to learn this very important and necessary cycling technique.

Gears Girls is first and foremost a road cycling club. While we do certainly work with members to improve upon existing skills and techniques, we are not a replacement for great  learning opportunities such as the Gears Bike Shop cycling clinics. If you are a brand new road cyclist that is not yet comfortable with the abovementioned skills or if you are a slower rider who just needs a boost of confidence, please consider taking one of the learn to ride/cycling 101 clinics offered by Gears Bike Shop. If you are currently enrolled in one of the clinics, please consider finishing the clinic prior to riding with the club as your pace, skill level and comfort on the bike will be more in sync with the rest of the group after the clinic. If you are taking one of the clinics and are unsure if you should also be concurrently riding with Gears Girls, please talk to one of the clinic leaders or to myself at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.

If you are a slower paced rider unable to keep up with the group please do not be discouraged!  As in any sport, only time and effort will make you faster, stronger and more confident. Because skill and fitness levels vary within all groups, it is not always possible to accommodate every single rider.  Keep in mind that the only way to get stronger and faster is to ride regularly and consistently either by yourself or with other cyclists. Even if you can only keep up with the Monday or Thursday Gears Girls groups for 1 or 2 kms - aim for 3 kms the following week, 4kms the week after that, etc. As the season progresses, provided you are riding on your own or with others regularly and consistently, you will find that your own fitness levels and pace will naturally improve. I have started posting the routes to the Gears Girls blog; please feel free to follow them whenever you wish! Please also take advantage of the Gears Girls Facebook Group - we have started the group so that members can communicate with one another and look for other members to ride with over and above the posted Gears Girls rides.

NB: Gears Bike Shop is looking into offering a slower paced ride once a week but details and dates are not yet finalized. I will keep you posted of details once they are known.

Tuesday night rides:Because we have such a large and strong group of intermediate level members this year, please note the pace of the Tuesday night rides will also be adjusted accordingly.

Who should come out: Tempo 1 and/or Tempo 2 women looking for a recovery ride

Members wishing to ride Tuesday nights must be intermediate level riders and must have already mastered gear selection, riding with one hand, clipping in and out, etc. It is recommended that you have already been road cycling for at least one full season if you would like to ride Tuesday nights.

Tuesday riders need to be able to ride comfortably at a minimum pace of 23kms per hour over a distance of approximately 40kms, and be comfortable riding close to other cyclists. Drafting, single and double paceline techniques will be taught and enforced on all Tuesday rides. These rides will be faster than Monday and Thursday rides so please come prepared to work hard!

Wednesday and Saturday rides:

Wednesday and Saturday rides will remain unchanged. Women wishing to ride Wednesdays and Saturdays must be advanced level cyclists that have been riding with another experienced road group for at least one year. Single and double pacelines are enforced on all rides. Pace will depend on the group but will average 27-29kms/hr Wednesday nights (45kms to 55kms) and 26+ kms/hr on Saturday's depending on distance and terrain (typically 75 to 100+kms).

Sunday, May 5th - Oakville Cycling Club Invitational RideThe Oakville Cycling Club (OCC) has generously offered to host a Sunday ride open to all OCC and Gears Girls members. Pace and distance will be suited to Monday and Thursday riders. See below for details:

Date: Sunday, May 5, 2011

Start time: 9 am

Start location: Boyne Community Centre (Britannia Road and Bronte) (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2287+Britannia+Rd.+At+Regional+Road+25,+milton&aq=&sll=49.95122,-97.119141&sspn=21.582688,86.220703&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2287+Britannia+Rd+W,+Milton,+Ontario+L9T+2X5&z=15)

Distance: 35 to 45kms depending on which of the two pace groups you choose to ride with.

If you would like to attend, please drop me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers at OCC know approximate numbers.

The OCC is another great ride opportunity - particularly for women riding looking for additional opportunities to ride. In addition to a touring group that is suited to most of our Monday and Thursday riders, there is also a group with a pace slightly slower than our touring group that rides Tuesdays and Sundays - a great way for our slower riders to get more saddle time! Check out their website for details: http://www.oakvillecc.com/.

Looking forward to another great week on the road with everyone!

Mel

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

Gears Girls Update for the Week of May 9th

Hi Gears Girls!

The first official week of Gears Girls is behind us. With the exception of the Tuesday night ride (which was cancelled due to rain) weather (and of course the company) was great.

Please carefully review the email  below as it contains important information and updates about the club as well this weeks' Gears Girls rides. Please pay particular notice if you are are a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday rider.

Monday and Thursday rides:

We have had a chance to assess skills and fitness levels of most members that will be coming out to Monday and Thursday rides. The vast majority of members appear to be high beginners through to intermediate level cyclists this year. As our rides are designed to suit the majority of the members coming out, we will be making the following slight adjustments to the Monday and Thursday rides:

Pace:  Pace on all rides will be approximately 21 to 23kms/hr. I believe this was the average most members were very comfortable riding at last week. As the season progresses and fitness levels rise this average will naturally increase. 

For safety and support reasons (and for the enjoyment and progression of the group as a whole) we will not be splitting the group up during any of the rides. If the pace is too fast for you - you are welcome to continue riding the same route as the group, please though ensure that you know where you are (in case you lose sight of the group) and how to safely get back to Gears on your own (or with another member) if necessary. If you do not want to continue riding the same route as the group, please ensure that you safely make your way back to Gears either on your own or with a group of other members.  Please ensure that you have a cell phone and flat repair kit on you at all times. Please try to let one of the members helping with the ride know that you are turning back.

Skill level requirements:  It appears that the majority of the women coming out for Monday and Thursday rides already have fairly strong beginner to intermediate level road skills. We will thus be planning our rides presuming that the group is already comfortable clipping in, shifting and selecting gears, riding close to one another, signaling, etc. For safety and advancement reasons of the group we will start teaching and enforcing single and double paceline techniques over the coming weeks as many members appear eager to want to learn this very important and necessary cycling technique.

Gears Girls is first and foremost a road cycling club. While we do certainly work with members to improve upon existing skills and techniques, we are not a replacement for great  learning opportunities such as the Gears Bike Shop cycling clinics. If you are a brand new road cyclist that is not yet comfortable with the abovementioned skills or if you are a slower rider who just needs a boost of confidence, please consider taking one of the learn to ride/cycling 101 clinics offered by Gears Bike Shop. If you are currently enrolled in one of the clinics, please consider finishing the clinic prior to riding with the club as your pace, skill level and comfort on the bike will be more in sync with the rest of the group after the clinic. If you are taking one of the clinics and are unsure if you should also be concurrently riding with Gears Girls, please talk to one of the clinic leaders or to myself at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.

If you are a slower paced rider unable to keep up with the group please do not be discouraged!  As in any sport, only time and effort will make you faster, stronger and more confident. Because skill and fitness levels vary within all groups, it is not always possible to accommodate every single rider.  Keep in mind that the only way to get stronger and faster is to ride regularly and consistently either by yourself or with other cyclists. Even if you can only keep up with the Monday or Thursday Gears Girls groups for 1 or 2 kms - aim for 3 kms the following week, 4kms the week after that, etc. As the season progresses, provided you are riding on your own or with others regularly and consistently, you will find that your own fitness levels and pace will naturally improve. I have started posting the routes to the Gears Girls blog; please feel free to follow them whenever you wish! Please also take advantage of the Gears Girls Facebook Group - we have started the group so that members can communicate with one another and look for other members to ride with over and above the posted Gears Girls rides.

NB: Gears Bike Shop is looking into offering a slower paced ride once a week but details and dates are not yet finalized. I will keep you posted of details once they are known.

Tuesday night rides:

Because we have such a large and strong group of intermediate level members this year, please note the pace of the Tuesday night rides will also be adjusted accordingly.

Who should come out: Tempo 1 and/or Tempo 2 women looking for a recovery ride

Members wishing to ride Tuesday nights must be intermediate level riders and must have already mastered gear selection, riding with one hand, clipping in and out, etc. It is recommended that you have already been road cycling for at least one full season if you would like to ride Tuesday nights.

Tuesday riders need to be able to ride comfortably at a minimum pace of 23kms per hour over a distance of approximately 40kms, and be comfortable riding close to other cyclists. Drafting, single and double paceline techniques will be taught and enforced on all Tuesday rides. These rides will be faster than Monday and Thursday rides so please come prepared to work hard!

Wednesday and Saturday rides:

 

Wednesday and Saturday rides will remain unchanged. Women wishing to ride Wednesdays and Saturdays must be advanced level cyclists that have been riding with another experienced road group for at least one year. Single and double pacelines are enforced on all rides. Pace will depend on the group but will average 27-29kms/hr Wednesday nights (45kms to 55kms) and 26+ kms/hr on Saturday's depending on distance and terrain (typically 75 to 100+kms).

Sunday, May 5th - Oakville Cycling Club Invitational Ride

The Oakville Cycling Club (OCC) has generously offered to host a Sunday ride open to all OCC and Gears Girls members. Pace and distance will be suited to Monday and Thursday riders. See below for details:

Date: Sunday, May 5, 2011

 

Start time: 9 am

Start location: Boyne Community Centre (Britannia Road and Bronte) (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2287+Britannia+Rd.+At+Regional+Road+25,+milton&aq=&sll=49.95122,-97.119141&sspn=21.582688,86.220703&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2287+Britannia+Rd+W,+Milton,+Ontario+L9T+2X5&z=15)

Distance: 35 to 45kms depending on which of the two pace groups you choose to ride with.

If you would like to attend, please drop me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers at OCC know approximate numbers.

The OCC is another great ride opportunity - particularly for women riding looking for additional opportunities to ride. In addition to a touring group that is suited to most of our Monday and Thursday riders, there is also a group with a pace slightly slower than our touring group that rides Tuesdays and Sundays - a great way for our slower riders to get more saddle time! Check out their website for details: http://www.oakvillecc.com/.

 

Looking forward to another great week on the road with everyone!

 

Mel

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Sunday in May Gears Girls Rides - important information

Hi Girls.

 

My apologies (I must be the worst daughter in the world) but I completely forget that this Sunday was Mother's Day! As such, the training ride that I had originally announced has been cancelled. My apologies.

 

For the remaining Sundays in May - at this present time - I have been unable to secure ride leaders to assist with the two rides.  As the Sunday in May rides are not part of the "official" Gears Girls ride days, I'm going to have to cancel them...unless of course I am able to come up with committed ride leaders. I will keep everyone posted but at this point please consider the Sunday, May 15th and Sunday, May 22nd rides cancelled. Bike 4 Betty is the last Sunday in May - I encourage all of you to participate and ride whatever distance you feel comfortable riding. Check out the Bike 4 Betty website for details and to register.

 

If you would still like to ride this Sunday (or any day for that matter) and you are looking for women to ride with, I encourage all of you to post a message on the Gears Girls Facebook Group - please include details such as distance, pace, meeting location, type of ride, etc. so that others can gauge accordingly.

 

Thanks for your understanding.

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Thursday, Saturday and Sunday GG ride updates

Hi girls.

 

Awesome ride tonight! So great to finally get some nice (although windy) weather.

 

I won't always be sending out emails prior to rides - just this week and next to get everyone familiar with the ride nights and days. Going forward, I'll be sending out a weekly update only. If you are looking for additional information about the rides or group descriptions, please refer to the Gears Girls blog: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com. If you are a new member that only recently joined, please review the blog postings for details about the club.  Here are the details for the Gears Girls rides taking place Thursday, Saturday and Sunday:

 

Thursday, May 5th

Recreational/Touring Ride

Who should attend: All members welcome (Touring 1 and 2; Tempo 1 and 2)

Focus on: Beginner to intermediate level road cycling skills

Skills required to ride Thursday nights: While all members are welcome to ride, at minimum members should be able to clip in and out of pedals and be familiar with braking, gearing and basic gear selection. If you are a brand new road rider and are unfamiliar with basic road cycling skills, please consider attending one of the Gears Bike Shop clinics: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/Clinic.html prior to coming out on your first Gears Girls ride.

Start time: Meet at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm

Approximate Distance: 30kms

Approximate Pace: 20 to 23kms/hr

Approximate Duration: 1.5 hours

What to bring: 2 water bottles (one with water, one with water plus an electrolyte powder), a bar or gel, lights for your bike (if you have them) and appropriate cycling clothing. Please be sure to pump your tires either before the ride or when you arrive at Gears.

 

Saturday, May 7th

Faster pace, long distance ride

Who should attend: Tempo 2 women only

Skills required to ride Saturday mornings: Members must be experienced group cyclists and proficient riding in single and double pacelines. It is expected that members riding Wednesdays or Saturdays have ridden with another road group prior to Gears Girls and be familiar with drafting and paceline techniques. 

Start time: Meet at 8:15am, ride at 8:30am

Approximate Distance: 70 to 100kms

Approximate Pace: 26+kms/hr

Approximate Duration: 3.5 to 5.0 hours depending on length of the ride (includes time to stop for coffee mid-ride)

 

Sunday, May 8th

Sundays in May only, we'll be offering training rides for women participating in Bike 4 Betty and/or Ride to Conquer Cancer - if you're not participating in either of those events but would like to ride on Sundays, please send me a quick email at gearsgirls@hotmail.com to confirm your attendance

Who should attend: Touring 2, Tempo 1 and Tempo 2 women only

Skills required to ride Sunday mornings in May: Members should be intermediate level cyclists who are comfortable on their bikes and with intermediate road cycling skills.

Start time: Meet at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am

Approximate Distance: 55 to 60kms

Approximate Pace: 23-24kms/hr

Approximate Duration: 3.5 hours (includes a coffee and snack stop mid-ride)

What to bring: 2 water bottles (one with water, one with water plus an electrolyte powder), a bar or gel, lights for your bike (if you have them) and appropriate cycling clothing. Please be sure to pump your tires either before the ride or when you arrive at Gears. Please also bring a cell phone (particularly if you plan on turning back early) and some money as we will stop mid-ride for coffee and a snack.

 

IN CASE OF RAIN

Please always check the blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com for updates about ride cancellations due to inclement weather. I do try to also send an email but can't always guarantee that I have access to a computer. In case of rain, I will post something to the blog at least one hour (sometimes more) prior to the start of the ride.

 

Gears Girls Facebook Group

If you haven't yet joined the Gears Girls Facebook group, please join! The group is a closed group and it does sometimes take sometime for the approval to go through - best to submit your request to join the group as soon as possible! If you're looking for other members to ride with during the week or on weekends outside of posted Gears Girls rides, the Facebook group is the place to post a message looking for other members to ride with.

 

Let's hope for good weather over the next 4 days!

 

Mel

 

Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com