What is Gears Girls?
Gears Girls is a women’s road cycling group and is one of the few female-friendly pelotons in Ontario outside of the race circuit! If you’re looking for a women’s road group that offers a non-competitive, safe and social environment, then Gears Girls is the club for you. Read on to learn more about Gears Girls!
What type of cycling do you do in Gears Girls?
New this season we will be offering two different types of rides: Touring and Tempo rides. Touring rides will appeal to newer road riders as well as experienced women looking for a more relaxed and recreational pace.
Tempo rides will appeal to the more experienced rider looking to take their cycling skills to the next level or to advanced level cyclists who are already comfortable riding in a paceline. Drafting and paceline techniques are enforced on all Tempo rides – if you’re an intermediate level road cyclist looking to learn the skills necessary to ride in a paceline we can teach you! Because of the safety, nuances and etiquette that is unique to Tempo rides, we do require that women choosing to ride with this group commit to riding regularly and consistently.
If you are new to cycling and looking to gain basic or beginner bike handling skills it is recommended that you take a learn to ride clinic before riding with the club. Gears Bike Shop offers some great clinics; check out the Gears website at www.gearsbikeshop.com for additional information about the clinic.
When in the season should I begin riding?
Definitely begin riding as soon as the season begins! Our rides will begin the first week of May – ideally, you will have already ridden a number of times on your own before then in order to get your legs moving and the blood pumping! As the season progresses, distances (particularly on Saturdays) will increase and pace will pick up. If you begin riding consistently with the group at the beginning of the season, you will have no problem increasing your own distance and pace – provided of course you ride regularly and consistently with the group. If you are a new or beginner road cyclist it is recommended that you begin riding with the group at the beginning of the season. Please keep in mind that pace and fitness levels increase considerably as the season progresses.
2011 Annual Membership Fee
Annual membership is $135 for new 2011 members. The membership fee for returning 2010 members is $50. Membership fees for new members include Ontario Cycling Association (OCA) insurance as well as an awesome custom designed Gears Girls cycling jersey. Membership fees for returning members include OCA insurance only. All members have the option to purchase additional kit items – see the membership application or visit Gears Bike Shop for additional details.
When does the Gears Girls 2011 season start?
Weather dependant, the first official Gears Girls ride will be the first Monday evening in May
Do I need a road bike to ride with the Gears Girls?
Yes! Sorry ladies…road bikes only – no TT, hybrid or mountain bikes.
What types of rides do you offer?
Check out the Group Descriptions/Club Structure page for specific information about our various groups and ride options for the 2011 season.
What nights/days do you ride?
Check out the Ride days and descriptions page for information about what day we ride on and which rides are most suitable to which levels.
What else do I need in order to ride with the Gears Girls?
Members must wear a CSA approved cycling helmet, and carry a spare tube and CO2 cartridge or pump. Members should also carry cell phones and a small amount of money. Please ensure your bike is in good working order prior to heading out on your first ride. Prior to participating in any group rides, members must have completed all appropriate waivers and applications.
How do I get updates about the club, rides, etc.?
Check out our blog http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/.
Interested in joining?
We offer 5 rides a week - all geared towards different experience levels:
Mondays and Thursdays - 6:30pm - Touring pace rides - Beginner to Intermediate level - easy pace
Tuesdays - 6:30PM - Paceline and drafting techniques - Intermediate to advanced level - moderate pace
Wednesdays - 6:30pm - Tempo ride - Advanced level - fast pace
Saturdays - 8:30am - Long distance - Advanced level only - fast pace
Once the ride season begins on May 1st, rides (including pace, distance and skill level) may be adjusted to suite the majority of members. If you are interested in joining after May 1st, 2011, please drop us a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com and provide us with the following information. Please note that only road bikes with dropped handlebars will be permitted:
1) Would you rate yourself a beginner (0 to 1 season experience), intermediate (1 to 2 seasons experience) or advanced (3+ seasons) level road cyclist;
2) If you are a beginner road cyclist, when did you purchase your bike? How much (if any) road cycling have you done? What is your average pace and distance (if known)? Are you comfortable with beginner skills such as clipping in and out of pedals, shifting and selecting gears, braking, etc?
3) If you are an intermediate level road cyclist, how long ago did you begin road cycling? What is your average pace and distance? Have you ever ridden with a road group before? If so, which one(s)?
4) If you are an advanced level road cyclist, what other road groups have you ridden with previously? Are you comfortable riding in a single and double paceline? What is your average pace and distance?
Once we know the above information, we will be able to better determine if there is still space available for you as well as recommend which ride nights or days would suite your experience level.
If you are interested in joining after May 1st, 2011, please drop us a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com and provide us with the above information.
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