An important addition to Gears Girls for 2011 is the introduction of the Touring and Tempo ride groups. Please carefully review the descriptions below before selecting a group to ride with. Be realistic and considerate of your fellow rider – know your limit and ride within it!
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH GROUP IS RIGHT FOR ME? TOURING OR TEMPO?
1. Carefully review the details below and identify which group – touring or tempo – is most appropriate for you based on your comfort, ability, fitness and commitment levels. Women that are looking for a more recreational and social environment will most likely be comfortable in one of the touring group. Women that are looking for a more traditional and faster-paced paceline/group ride, will most likely be interested in one of the two tempo groups. The two groups are very different so be sure to carefully review the details.
2. Be realistic about the group(s) you choose to ride with. Review items such as average pace, average distance and average duration for each of the groups. The lower number (for example pace) is typically the average overall pace for the entire ride at the beginning of the season. As the season progresses, things like pace, distance and duration will increase. If for example, you have never ridden further than 25kms at an average pace of 20kms/hr, don’t expect to start in a group that rides 45kms at an average pace of 23kms/hr.
3. Know your commitment level to the group. The touring group does not require regular and consistent riding; members are free to ride with the two touring group whenever they want. Keep in mind though that as the season progresses, pace and distance will increase. It is thus recommended that you ride consistently with the touring group at least once a week.Members wanting to ride with either of the two tempo groups – particularly tempo 2 – should commit to riding regularly and consistently with the group. This is for safety reasons as much as it is for group progression reasons.
4. Don’t choose a ride night just because it is convenient for you. Choose your ride(s) based on things like your comfort, skill and commitment levels. Each ride is designed with a certain group in mind with a pace, distance and ride-style specific to that group. Monday night rides and Wednesday night rides are very different!
5. Know your limit and ride within it. Be considerate of your fellow members and choose the group you ride with accordingly.
6. If you're still unsure about which group to ride with, drop us a line at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
TOURING GROUP
Looking for a safe, fun and recreational opportunity to ride? The touring group emphasizes the social and fitness side of Gears Girls – all while ensuring that members are improving upon beginner to intermediate riding skills, staying fit and enjoying the company of other female cyclists.
Experience/Comfort level – Touring Group
TOURING GROUP FITNESS/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
Average pace: 22 to 24km/hr (pace will increase as the season progresses and will be dictated by the comfort level of the majority of the group)
Focus on: Beginner to intermediate level road cyclists
Skill level required: Beginner road cyclists welcome but must be able to ride to ride a road bike and must be comfortable clipping in to pedals, braking and shifting gears
Average distance of rides: 35 to 45kms
Average duration of rides: 2.0 hours
Commitment level required: Occasional riding okay but once per week is preferred in order to see improvement
Commitment Level/Ride Frequency – Touring Group
While we encourage regular and consistent riding in order to see advancement in both fitness and skill levels, we do allow members to ride with the Touring groups on an occasional basis. If you are unable to commit to riding with Gears Girls on a weekly, consistent basis, please select one of the Touring group rides. Please note however that the pace and distance of the rides will increase as the season progresses; it is thus recommended that you ride with the group on a regular and consistent basis.TEMPO GROUP
Do you watch the Tour de France and get a shudder of excitement when you see the riders shoulder to shoulder and wheel-to-wheel riding the course? Do you think a peloton moving as one well-oiled machine is a thing of beauty? Then the Tempo Group may be the group for you! While safety, education and fitness are still a large part of the Tempo group rides, riders that join this group must be proficient single and double paceline cyclists or must be willing to learn drafting and paceline techniques. If you are not comfortable riding close to other riders and if you don’t want the stress or anxiety that many women associate with this style of riding, then please consider riding with the Touring group, where a more relaxed and social approach to cycling is taken.
TEMPO 1 DESCRIPTION
Because of the safety issues associated with this style or riding, members that want to learn the skills necessary to ride with the Tempo 1 group should have at least one season of road cycling behind them and should be comfortable clipping in to pedals, shifting gears, cornering, braking, and riding one-handed.
TEMPO 1 FITNESS/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
Average pace: 24 to 25kms/hr (pace will increase as the season progresses)
Skill level required: intermediate level road cyclists with at least one season of road cycling behind them.
Average distance of rides: 45 to 55kms
Average duration of rides: 2.0 hours
Commitment level required: Regular riding required in order to see improvement and for the safety and advancement of the group as a whole. Because we believe that safety comes first on all rides, and because of the skill level, safety and nuances associated with the Tempo 1 style of riding, members wanting to ride with the Tempo 1 group should commit to riding on a regular and consistent basis. Women riding with the Tempo 1 group should commit to riding regularly on Tuesday nights.
TEMPO 2 DESCRIPTION
Because of the safety issues associated with this style of riding, members wanting to ride with the Tempo 2 group should have at least two seasons of road cycling behind them (one of which was spent riding in a similar type of group environment) and be extremely comfortable riding in a tight group in either a single or double paceline at higher speeds.
TEMPO 2 FITNESS/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
Average pace: 26 to 29kms/hr (pace will increase as the season progresses)
Skill level required: Road cyclists with at least two seasons of road cycling behind them - one of which was spent riding in a similar type of group environment
Average distance of rides: Weeknights: 50 to 60kms; Weekends: 100 to 125+kms
Average duration of rides: Weeknights: 2.0 hours; Weekends: 4 to 6+ hours
Commitment level required: Regular riding required in order to see improvement and for the safety and advancement of the group as a whole. Because we believe that safety comes first on all rides, and because of the skill level, safety and nuances associated with the Tempo 2 style of riding, members wanting to ride with the Tempo 2 group must commit to riding on a regular and consistent basis. Women riding with the Tempo 2 group must commit to riding regularly on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings.
Commitment Level/Ride Frequency – Tempo Group – Levels 1 and 2
Because we believe that safety comes first on all rides, and because of the skill level, safety and nuances associated with the Tempo 1 and Tempo 2 style of riding, members wanting to ride with either the Tempo 1 or Tempo 2 group should commit to riding on a regular and consistent basis. Women riding with the Tempo 1 group should commit to riding regularly on Tuesday nights. Women riding with the Tempo 2 group should commit to riding regularly on Wednesday nights and/or Saturday mornings. Because we believe that safety comes first on all rides, and because of the skill level, safety and nuances associated with the Tempo 1 and Tempo 2 style of riding, we do enforce this recommendation. For the safety, enjoyment, advancement and efficiency of the individual rider and for the group as a whole, the ride leader reserves the right to ask women riding above their skill or comfort level to either turn back or ride on a different, more appropriate day.
