In case of rain tonight!

Hi Girls.

They're calling for thunderstorms and rain starting at about 5pm today. If necessary, I'll cancel the ride tonight - but we'll play it by ear until then.

I'll send out an email and update the blog by 5:30pm if the ride is cancelled.

If you're not working today I might suggest getting your ride in this morning....just in case :)

Fingers crossed for good weather tonight.

Mel

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com

Gears Girls Update for the Week of Monday, July 12th

Hi Girls.
 
Great riding this week! Even with the heat and humidity, everyone that came out to the rides did amazing.
 
I have to say, I'm so impressed by how well the group is progressing - regardless of if you're a new or experienced rider - the group is advancing on every ride and is riding together just as a great road group should. Keep up the good work!
 
Some of you have asked me why I decided to stop accepting new members. While a lot has to do with safety reasons, a lot of it also has to do with how the group grows and advances. A big part of group riding is trusting and knowing the people you're riding with. Considering how closely you have to ride with the other members, it's important you feel comfortable with those around you. Every time a new rider joins the group - or someone that doesn't attend regularly - it makes it tough for the group to gel...and to anticipate the ride style and abilities of the other riders.
 
So, that being said, seeing as we're a good way into the summer and with the above in mind, I thought I'd put the following points out there:
 
1) If you are a new rider, if you are uncomfortable riding in a paceline and/or at faster speeds, or if you are a member that does not ride regularly, please ride on Tuesday nights. I started the Tuesday night rides to give newer riders or anyone not yet comfortable riding in a group, the chance to ride in a less intense, less intimidating environment. Everyone that regularly attends the Tuesday night rides is doing great and is advancing amazingly well. We'll still be practicing group riding skills, promoting proper group riding etiquette, and offering progressively more challenging rides on Tuesdays, just at a more relaxed pace.
 
2) The Wednesday night rides have been very well attended and will continue getting faster and more challenging as the weeks progress. Please respect your fellow riders and only choose to ride on Wednesday nights if you are comfortable riding at faster speeds and in a tight group. Please keep in mind that we do not always have a sweep riding on the Wednesday rides as the women that choose to ride with the faster group feel comfortable dropping off the back and/or making their way back to Gears on their own if need be. 
 
3) I think since we started offering various distance and pace options, Saturday rides have been very successful. For the most part, we'll continue riding the same, or similar route so that members know where they are at all times and are able to find their way back to Gears if need be. Again, please be respectful of your fellow riders and ride within your limits and within your comfort zone.  There are generally 3 distances/paces to choose from so everyone should be able to ride quite comfortably. Keep in mind, that as the distances progess so do the speeds, so you can and should plan your ride accordingly.  If you would like to do a slightly longer ride within your chosen group, there's no reason why you can't add on some additional mileage either with the group or one your own. Just be sure to ride safe!
 
Again, great work everyone! Keeping in mind the above information, here's what's happening this week:
 
Tuesday, July 13th: Recovery/relaxed pace ride 
 
New riders, riders looking to improve/work on group riding skills, riders that don't attend regularly, or anyone looking for a more relaxed environment to ride in are welcome to attend this ride. Group riding and basic ride skills are covered during this 1.5 to 2.0 hour ride.
 
Leaves from Gears at 6:30pm sharp.
 
Wednesday, July 14th: Faster paced ride
 
Leave from Gears at 6:30pm sharp.
 
Please only ride with the Wednesday night group if you are comfortable riding at faster speeds and in a tighter group. Ride duration is between 1.5 and 2.0 hours.
 
Saturday, July 16th - Saturday ride. All are welcome!
 
Ride leaves from Gears at 9am. Various distances (depending on who attends - usually distances of 35, 50 or 70+kms) and paces. Pace progresses as distances progress.  
 
Drop me a line if you have any questions. Otherwise, will look forward to seeing everyone throughout the week!
 
Mel
 

http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/

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Sunday ride to Moffat

Hi All.

For all of you planning to do the ride to Moffat tomorrow: ride leaves from Gears at 8:30am. Distance is approximately 120km with a stop at the half-way point for buttertarts. Remember to bring some money!

I just checked the weather and it looks like there's a possibility of rain...but I think that's not until the evening. If the weather is such that we do need to cancel the ride, I'll send out an email and update the blog (http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com) by 7:15am. If no email, then the ride is on!

Andrew - can you please forward this info on to your group and to anyone from Gears that may be joining us.

Drop me a line if you have any questions. Otherwise will see everyone tomorrow morning at Gears!

Mel

Sunday ride to Moffat

Hi Girls.

For those of you doing the ride to Moffat on Sunday...we'll be leaving from Gears at 8:30am. Distance is approximately 115km. Pace will be around 25 to 27km/hr. Bring some money as we'll be stopping in Moffat for buttertarts!

Just so I'll have an idea about numbers, please drop me a quick note to let me know if you'll be joining us Sunday.

Mel

Remember to hydrate!

Hi girls.

One thing I neglected to mention in my weekly update was the importance of hydration. With this heat, if you plan on riding (or doing anything outside) you need to focus on hydrating well before, during and after your rides. If you're riding tonight or tomorrow night be sure to bring two full water bottles - at least one of which contains a high quality electrolyte powder such as eLoad (you can buy this by the serving or by the container at Gears). Also be sure to hydrate well before the ride and after. Again, a good recovery drink will help ensure you're ready to go the next day!

I made the mistake of heading out for a ride yesterday at noon - well over 30 degrees with humidity. I didn't really prepare for the ride and only drank coffee, toast and a protein shake. Needless to say, I was only 10 km in to the ride and at the foot of a not-so-steep hill before I had to get off my bike and lay down in the grass in order to keep from doing myself in altogether. I used a gel, drank a bottle of water with electrolyte powder and ate something. And this was only after about 10 km! I got back on my bike and felt only marginally better. I rode another 20 km and then called it a day. This was definitely because I hadn't drank enough or eaten enough before the ride! Moral of the story - just because you're going on a short, easy ride - if it's hot and humid outside...don't neglect proper hydration and nutrition!

Be sure to prepare well - nutrition and hydration wise - for all the rides this week. I suspect the heat will be with us for all our rides this week!

See you on the road,

Mel

Gears Girls update for the week of Monday, July 5, 2010

Hi girls.

Hope you all had a great Canada Day and got some good rides in over the weekend. Here's what's going on this week:

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 - beginner/recovery ride

Ride at 6:30pm from Gears. Ride will be between 1.5 and 2 hours. NB: this is a slower paced ride than Wednesday. All are welcome!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 - fast paced ride

Ride at 6:30pm from Gears. Ride will be about 2 hours in duration. NB: this is a faster paced ride with little to no regrouping. If you're not comfortable riding in a tight group or at faster speeds, please select the Tuesday or Saturday ride options.

Saturday, July 10, 2010 - Saturday ride

All are welcome on the Saturday ride. Depending on the turnout, there will be distance options of 35km, 50km, and 95+km. Starts from Gears at 9am.

Sunday, July 11, 2010 - Tour for Tarts with Mel and Andrew - start time to be determined

Join Mel and Gears' Andrew Blair on this 115km ride from Gears to Moffat. Of course there will be a stop at Dar's for buttertarts so be sure to bring some money! Please note there will not be a shorter distance option on this ride - total distance will be between 115km and 125km. Please let me know if you plan on joining Andrew and I on this ride! I'll forward start time details within the next couple of days...will be sometime between 8am and 9am.

Hope to see lots of you out this week! Drop me a line with any questions.

Mel

Gears Girls Saturday ride - reminder

Hey girls.

Hope you all had a great Canada Day!

A number of you have emailed to see if there's a ride tomorrow. Yup - we're riding! Saturday, July 3rd, 9am from Gears. Depending on who's there, we'll have a couple distance options.

See you tomorrow!

Mel