Prior to selecting your ride day(s), and in order to ensure that you have the most enjoyable, educational and safe riding experience, please review the Group Description/Club Structure page to determine what type and level rider you are and which ride day(s) would be most appropriate for your skill, comfort and interest level.
MONDAY NIGHTS
Recreational/touring ride – Fitness pace
Who should attend: All members
Description: Monday night rides are a great, safe and social ride option that allows members to improve upon road cycling skills and enjoy the social atmosphere of Gears Girls. Members that are beginner to intermediate cyclists or members who are experienced and looking for a relaxed atmosphere in which to ride should join the Monday night touring rides.
Members should expect to…socialize, ride, stop for a coffee and not even realize they’re burning calories and getting fit!
Start time: Meet at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm.
Meeting location: Gears Bike Shop, Port Credit location
Approximate Duration: 2.0 hours
Approximate Distance: 35 to 45kms
Minimum fitness requirements: Pace will average between 22 and 24 kms/hr. Members wishing to ride on Monday nights should be able to ride at a minimum pace of 22kms/hr and ride at least 30kms in distance. Please note that as the season progresses pace will increase; pace will thus be determined by the comfort level of the majority of the group.
Skill level requirements: Members MUST be able to ride a road bike, and must be comfortable clipping in and out of pedals, braking and shifting and selecting gears. As the season progresses, these and other skills will be emphasized.
Commitment level requirement: Occasional attendance is permitted for women wishing to ride on Thursday nights. In order to see improvement in fitness and skill levels it is recommended that members ride at least once a week with the club.
TUESDAY NIGHTS
Tempo ride - Drafting and paceline techniques – Moderate pace
Who should attend: Tempo 1 members or Tempo 2 members looking for a recovery ride.
Aimed at: Intermediate level members who have been road cycling (on road bikes) for at least one full season. Members wishing to ride Tuesday nights must already be proficient with beginner road skills and must be comfortable riding at slightly faster speeds and close to other cyclists.
Focus on: Drafting and paceline skills.
Description: Tuesday night rides are a great way for members new to pacelines to gain and improve on the skills needed for safe and efficient group riding. Tuesday night rides are also ideal for members looking for the opportunity to improve on existing paceline skills. Note that Tuesday evening rides will stress drafting and paceline work – if you are looking for a more relaxed and casual recreational ride option, please review the description for Monday and Thursday evenings.
Members should expect to…learn the skills, etiquette and confidence necessary to safely ride in a single and double paceline.
Start time: Meet at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm.
Meeting location: Gears Bike Shop, Port Credit location
Approximate Duration: 2.0 hours
Approximate Distance: 40 to 50kms
Minimum fitness level requirements: Pace will average between 24 and 25kms/hr. Pace and distance will increase as the season progresses and as members become more proficient group riders; it is recommended that you start riding as early in the season as possible.
Skill level requirements: Members must be intermediate level road cyclists and must be proficient at clipping in to pedals, braking, shifting and selecting gears, riding with one hand and eating and drinking while riding. It is recommended that you have at least one season of road riding behind you before joining the Tuesday night group.
Commitment level requirement: For the safety, efficiency and enjoyment of the individual rider and for the group as a whole, members that wish to ride on Tuesday nights should commit to riding on Tuesday nights on a regular and consistent basis.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
Tempo/interval workout – Fast pace
Who should attend: Tempo 2 women only
Focus on: Advanced group riding skills/ faster paced tempo ride
Description: Wednesday night rides are faster paced “tempo” rides in which all members exert a constant, consistent effort. Tempo rides are not hammer rides - sprinting, riding off the front, etc. is not permitted. Members are however expected to work hard and progressively challenge themselves as the season progresses. Once the group settles in and feels comfortable with one another, these rides will get progressively faster, intervals will be added, and individual riders will notice improvement in both pace, fitness and bike-handling skills. Note that Wednesday evening rides stress drafting and paceline work – if you are looking for a more relaxed and casual recreational ride option, please review the description for Monday and Thursday evenings.
Member should expect to…work hard and go home tired!
Start time: Meet at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm
Meeting location: Gears Bike Shop, Port Credit location
Duration: Approximately 2.0 hours
Approximate Distance: 50 to 60kms
Minimum fitness level requirements: Pace will start at approximately 26 kms/hr at the beginning of the season and will increase to approximately 29/30kms/hr over the season.
Skill level requirements: Members must be comfortable riding in a tight group and must be proficient riding in both single and double pacelines. All members should expect to take turns at both the front and the back of the pack and should be comfortable switching off the front. Members new to the club that do not have group riding experience – but who would like to learn paceline basics - must attend the Tuesday night drafting and paceline basics ride until they are comfortable and able to ride in a group at higher speeds. It is recommended that you have at least one season of riding with an established, experienced road group prior to joining the Wednesday night ride.
Commitment level requirement: For the safety, efficiency and enjoyment of the individual rider and for the group as a whole, members that wish to ride on Wednesday nights should commit to riding with the group on a regular and consistent basis. In order to ensure the advancement and progression of the Wednesday group, and because of the hazards and nuances associated with drafting and pacelines, members that do not commit to riding regularly on Wednesday nights may be asked to ride with on a different night.
THURSDAY NIGHTS
Recreational/touring ride – Fitness pace
Who should attend: All members
Description: Thursday night rides are a great, safe and social ride option that allows members to improve upon road cycling skills and enjoy the social atmosphere of Gears Girls. Members that are beginner to intermediate cyclists or members who are experienced and looking for a relaxed atmosphere in which to ride should join the Thursday night touring rides.
Members should expect to…socialize, ride, stop for a coffee and not even realize they’re burning calories and getting fit!
Start time: Meet at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm.
Meeting location: Gears Bike Shop, Port Credit location
Approximate Duration: 2.0 hours
Approximate Distance: 35 to 45kms
Minimum fitness requirements: Pace will average between 22 and 24 kms/hr. Members wishing to ride on Monday nights should be able to ride at a minimum pace of 22kms/hr and ride at least 30kms in distance. Please note that as the season progresses pace will increase; pace will thus be determined by the comfort level of the majority of the group.
Skill level requirements: Members MUST be able to ride a road bike, and must be comfortable clipping in and out of pedals, braking and shifting and selecting gears. As the season progresses, these and other skills will be emphasized.
Commitment level requirement: Occasional attendance is permitted for women wishing to ride on Monday nights. In order to see improvement in fitness and skill levels it is recommended that members ride at least once a week with the club.
SATURDAY MORNINGS
Faster Pace/Tempo Ride - Long distance ride
Aimed at: Tempo 2 women only
Focus on: Long distance group ride
Description: Come out. Ride hard. Go home tired. Repeat the following Saturday! For those Tempo 2 women that want to further challenge themselves, a program will be developed to allow women wanting to complete a full Century (160kms) by the end of the season to progressively work up to that distance.
Member should expect to…ride hard and challenge themselves.
Start time: Meet at 8:15am, ride at 8:30am
Meeting location: Gears Bike Shop, Port Credit location
Duration: 4 to 6 hours (possibly more if riding more than 125kms)
Approximate Distance: 100kms to 125kms (160km option as the season progresses)
Minimum fitness level requirements: Pace will start at approximately 25 kms/hr at the beginning of the season and will increase over the season. Members wanting to ride the complete distance should be able to ride at least 85kms. Members that choose not to ride the full distance should be comfortable riding on their own in order to make their way back to the starting point.
Skill level requirements: Members must be comfortable riding in a group and must be proficient riding in both single and double pacelines. All members should expect to take turns at both the front and the back of the pack and should be comfortable switching off the front. Members new to the club that do not have group riding experience should attend the Tuesday night drafting and paceline basics ride until they are comfortable and able to ride in a group at higher speeds. For members that would like to ride on Saturdays but not ride the full distance - there is no organized, earlier turn around point but members are welcome to turn around at any point. Members that choose not to ride the complete distance with the group should be comfortable riding on their own (if necessary) and should be able to change a flat tire (if necessary). It is recommended that you have at least one season of experience riding with an established road group prior to joining the Saturday ride and that you are able to ride a minimum of 85kms.
Commitment level requirement: For the safety, efficiency and enjoyment of the individual rider and for the group as a whole, members that wish to ride with on Saturdays must commit to riding with the Tempo 2 group on a regular and consistent basis. In order to ensure the advancement and progression of the Tempo 2 group, and because of the hazards and nuances associated with drafting and pacelines, members that do not commit to riding regularly on Saturdays may be asked to ride with a different group.
QUESTIONS?
If you are unsure about which night to select, please review the Group Description/Club Structure page and/or send an email to gearsgirls@hotmail.com for assistance and additional information.
.
