Hi Girls!
That was a great ride on Saturday - good turnout, great weather, beautiful route. And of course everyone looked so pro in their new kits :)
A couple important points to consider:
Please let me know asap if you will be joining us for the Niagara-on-the-Lake Gears Girls weekend October 3 to 4. I would like to get an idea about numbers so that I can make dinner reservations for Saturday evening (Oct 3). If you have any preferences regarding restaurants let me know (otherwise you'll just have to trust me :) Please also let me know if you have any preferences for rides on the Sunday - some of you mentioned wanting to do more of a "wine tour ride"...which I think would take a bit more planning (and I might have to practice carrying drunken individuals and their bikes on the back of my bike). I'm not sure about room availability at the Hilton Garden Inn (in NOTL) - I suspect they might now be booked for that weekend. I booked three rooms (two of which are spoken for) - if you would like to join us but can't get a room at the hotel please let me know as soon as possible and I'll give you my remaining room. For more information about the NOTL weekend, please see the blog: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/2009/08/niagara-on-lake-gears-girls-fall.html
NB: After this week we will only be riding Saturday mornings! This will be the final Wednesday pm and Friday am ride of the season!
Here's the update for this week:
Wednesday, September 16, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 6pm, ride at 6:15pm. This will be our final Wednesday evening ride of the season.
Friday, September 18, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am. This will be our final Friday morning ride of the season.
Saturday, September 19, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 8am, ride at 8:15am.
Hope to see lots of you out for the rides this week!
Ride safe!
Mel
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Saturday's Gears Girls Ride...and other Cool Stuff!
Hey Girls.
The ride this Saturday (Saturday, September 12th) will start and end at Dundas and Walkers Line at 8:30am. We'll meet in the Longo's Plaza on the southwest corner of Dundas and Walkers Line in Burlington (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dundas+and+walkers+line+burlington+ontario&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=41.711424,113.994141&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A). Meet in the parking lot behind Tim Horton's/in front of Longo's at 8:30am. The ride is approximately 60km but can be extended depending on the what the group feels like doing. This is a nice ride - a few challenging sections but nothing you can't all handle - on quiet, rolling, rural roads out towards the escarpment. Brunch/lunch at Sunset Grill or Cora's following the ride if anyone is interested. Nothing better than pancakes and bacon after a ride in the country :)
Other exciting news: check us out on Canadian Cyclist 4 Women: http://www.canadiancyclist.com/cycling4women_features.php?id=17476. What a cool article about Gears Girls!! Thanks to all those that contributed quotes to the article; reading them brought tears to my eyes (tears of joy of course!).
For those of you that were on the Wednesday night ride that Tim filmed with the helmet cam - you can view the footage (to hipster music no less) on the RaceDayRush.com website: http://www.racedayrush.com/train/. You need to sign up for an account, but it's free...and pretty cool! Once you log in, go to the road bike section (left hand menu) - there you'll find our ride labelled "Brisk Urban Ride with the Ladies".
Hope to see a lot of you out for the Saturday ride. Feel free to bring husbands/partners along...just warn them that they might not be able to keep up!!! :)
Ride with you all soon,
Mel
gearsgirls@hotmail.com
The ride this Saturday (Saturday, September 12th) will start and end at Dundas and Walkers Line at 8:30am. We'll meet in the Longo's Plaza on the southwest corner of Dundas and Walkers Line in Burlington (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dundas+and+walkers+line+burlington+ontario&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=41.711424,113.994141&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A). Meet in the parking lot behind Tim Horton's/in front of Longo's at 8:30am. The ride is approximately 60km but can be extended depending on the what the group feels like doing. This is a nice ride - a few challenging sections but nothing you can't all handle - on quiet, rolling, rural roads out towards the escarpment. Brunch/lunch at Sunset Grill or Cora's following the ride if anyone is interested. Nothing better than pancakes and bacon after a ride in the country :)
Other exciting news: check us out on Canadian Cyclist 4 Women: http://www.canadiancyclist.com/cycling4women_features.php?id=17476. What a cool article about Gears Girls!! Thanks to all those that contributed quotes to the article; reading them brought tears to my eyes (tears of joy of course!).
For those of you that were on the Wednesday night ride that Tim filmed with the helmet cam - you can view the footage (to hipster music no less) on the RaceDayRush.com website: http://www.racedayrush.com/train/. You need to sign up for an account, but it's free...and pretty cool! Once you log in, go to the road bike section (left hand menu) - there you'll find our ride labelled "Brisk Urban Ride with the Ladies".
Hope to see a lot of you out for the Saturday ride. Feel free to bring husbands/partners along...just warn them that they might not be able to keep up!!! :)
Ride with you all soon,
Mel
gearsgirls@hotmail.com
Monday, August 31, 2009
Gears Girls Update - August 31 to September 5
Hey Girls.
Glad so many of you could make it out to pick up your kits. They look awesome!
Gears Girls Kit Information:
There are about 10 kits that still need to be picked up. For those of you who couldn't make it out, you can pick them up at Gears whenever it's convenient. Vests are still available for $90. Additional kit items can be purchased for the following prices:
Evolution Custom Jersey $110
Evolution Custom Shorts $100
Matrix Custom Arm Warmers $45
Matrix Custom Knee Warmers $45
Shift Vest $90
NOTL Trip - October 3-4:
For those of you who are interested in the October 3 - 4 Niagara on the Falls trip (refer to the blog for details: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/2009/08/niagara-on-lake-gears-girls-fall.html) - be sure to book your hotel rooms early. Rooms can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance so better to book now in order to avoid disappointment. Hotel information is available on the blog.
Spinning:
With daylight becoming a premium, it's time to start thinking about how to stay fit over the coming winter months. If you're thinking about spinning, Gears has offered one free class to all Gears Girls members who purchase a multiple class spin card.
Here's the update for the upcoming week:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm. NB: we're losing evening light quickly. We can either start meeting earlier at 6pm, or for those interested, Neil teaches a great spin class on Wednesday's from 7pm to 8pm.
Friday, September 4, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am.
Saturday, September 5, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 8am, ride at 8:15am. As it's the long weekend, I'm wondering if many of you will be out-of-town. If you plan on riding on Saturday, send me an email so I know how many to expect. For those interested, I'm proposing coffee and/or breakfast after the ride...a nice way to start the long weekend!
Hope to see some of you out for the ride on Wednesday!
Ride with you all soon!!!
Mel
Glad so many of you could make it out to pick up your kits. They look awesome!
Gears Girls Kit Information:
There are about 10 kits that still need to be picked up. For those of you who couldn't make it out, you can pick them up at Gears whenever it's convenient. Vests are still available for $90. Additional kit items can be purchased for the following prices:
Evolution Custom Jersey $110
Evolution Custom Shorts $100
Matrix Custom Arm Warmers $45
Matrix Custom Knee Warmers $45
Shift Vest $90
NOTL Trip - October 3-4:
For those of you who are interested in the October 3 - 4 Niagara on the Falls trip (refer to the blog for details: http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/2009/08/niagara-on-lake-gears-girls-fall.html) - be sure to book your hotel rooms early. Rooms can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance so better to book now in order to avoid disappointment. Hotel information is available on the blog.
Spinning:
With daylight becoming a premium, it's time to start thinking about how to stay fit over the coming winter months. If you're thinking about spinning, Gears has offered one free class to all Gears Girls members who purchase a multiple class spin card.
Here's the update for the upcoming week:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm. NB: we're losing evening light quickly. We can either start meeting earlier at 6pm, or for those interested, Neil teaches a great spin class on Wednesday's from 7pm to 8pm.
Friday, September 4, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am.
Saturday, September 5, 2009:
Meet at Gears at 8am, ride at 8:15am. As it's the long weekend, I'm wondering if many of you will be out-of-town. If you plan on riding on Saturday, send me an email so I know how many to expect. For those interested, I'm proposing coffee and/or breakfast after the ride...a nice way to start the long weekend!
Hope to see some of you out for the ride on Wednesday!
Ride with you all soon!!!
Mel
Monday, August 24, 2009
Gears Girls Kit pick-up information
Hey Girls.
The Gears Girls kits are here and they look awesome!!! Check out the posting below!
Your kit includes a customized Gears Girls jersey, shorts, arm warmers, and leg/knee warmers. We have also ordered a limited number of vests (great for the Fall - there's a couple pics of the vest on the blog) that can be purchased at Gears for $90.
Kits can be picked up Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th - between 6pm and 8pm both nights. If you are unable to pick up your kits on either of those days, alternate dates and times will be available once we see how many kits are remaining after the 27th - I will keep you posted with details.
Many, many thanks to Lucinda Wallace and Anne Guzman for designing the kits and to Ira for organizing absolutely everything with Sugoi (and of course for putting up with me - never an easy task) - we couldn't have done it without you guys .
Can't wait to see everyone out riding in their new kits!
Ride with you soon!!
Mel
The Gears Girls kits are here and they look awesome!!! Check out the posting below!
Your kit includes a customized Gears Girls jersey, shorts, arm warmers, and leg/knee warmers. We have also ordered a limited number of vests (great for the Fall - there's a couple pics of the vest on the blog) that can be purchased at Gears for $90.
Kits can be picked up Wednesday, August 26th and Thursday, August 27th - between 6pm and 8pm both nights. If you are unable to pick up your kits on either of those days, alternate dates and times will be available once we see how many kits are remaining after the 27th - I will keep you posted with details.
Many, many thanks to Lucinda Wallace and Anne Guzman for designing the kits and to Ira for organizing absolutely everything with Sugoi (and of course for putting up with me - never an easy task) - we couldn't have done it without you guys .
Can't wait to see everyone out riding in their new kits!
Ride with you soon!!
Mel
Kits are here!!!! Check them out!
Jersey and Shorts - view from the back
Jersey and Shorts - side view
Jersey and Shorts - front view
Full kit with vest - side view
Full kit with vest - side view
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Friday, August 21, 2009
Niagara-on-the-Lake Gears Girls Fall Getaway October 3-4
Hi Girls!
Lots of you have emailed or told me that you're interested in the Niagara on the Lake trip I proposed for the Fall so I went ahead and made some initial inquiries. The majority of you seem to be available the weekend of October 3rd, so with that in mind, here's some information to consider:
Where: Niagara on the Lake
When: Saturday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 4th
Who: All Gears Girls members, spouses, partners, and Gears staff are invited!
What: Fun times with the Gears Girls in Niagara on the Lake! Arrive in Niagara on the Lake (time to be decided) on Saturday October 3rd. Ride from the hotel to downtown NOTL to the Falls (approx. 75km return) Saturday. Dinner and drinks somewhere in NOTL Saturday night. Breakfast at the hotel (good pre-cycing buffet breakfast!) Sunday morning. Ride around wine country, Jordan, Welland Canal, etc. (route to be determined) Sunday. NB: I've ridden from NOTL to Port Credit/Gears - it's approximately 120km (but truthfully, not the most exciting route). If some of the guys (Mark, Eric, Tim...you know who you are!) come out that weekend, I suspect they might want to do the ride back - that would work too.
Hotel info: Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake: http://www.hiltongardenniagara.com/ - Toll Free: 1-866-777-9877. Rates compared to all the other Niagara on the Lake hotels are very reasonable. Rooms with two queens or 1 king are generally $150 to $160 - I booked a room for $159 but you might be able to get something cheaper online or with certain memberships. The hotel is located directly off the QEW (across from the White Oaks Resort) - lots of free parking, easy access to cycling routes, pool, hot tub, etc. Plus you can bring your bikes to your room!
If you're interested (or even thinking about it), I would suggest booking your room now - you can cancel up until 24 hours prior to arrival. If you're a Hilton Honors member you'll get free breakfast included with the room - if you're not a member, let them know when you book the room that you would like the bed and breakfast deal and I believe they'll add an $8 charge on to your room.
Let me know if you'll be joining us and whether or not you've booked a room at the hotel. We can finalize arrangements and itinerary as it gets closer to October 3rd. I think this will be a lot of fun!
Mel
Lots of you have emailed or told me that you're interested in the Niagara on the Lake trip I proposed for the Fall so I went ahead and made some initial inquiries. The majority of you seem to be available the weekend of October 3rd, so with that in mind, here's some information to consider:
Where: Niagara on the Lake
When: Saturday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 4th
Who: All Gears Girls members, spouses, partners, and Gears staff are invited!
What: Fun times with the Gears Girls in Niagara on the Lake! Arrive in Niagara on the Lake (time to be decided) on Saturday October 3rd. Ride from the hotel to downtown NOTL to the Falls (approx. 75km return) Saturday. Dinner and drinks somewhere in NOTL Saturday night. Breakfast at the hotel (good pre-cycing buffet breakfast!) Sunday morning. Ride around wine country, Jordan, Welland Canal, etc. (route to be determined) Sunday. NB: I've ridden from NOTL to Port Credit/Gears - it's approximately 120km (but truthfully, not the most exciting route). If some of the guys (Mark, Eric, Tim...you know who you are!) come out that weekend, I suspect they might want to do the ride back - that would work too.
Hotel info: Hilton Garden Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake: http://www.hiltongardenniagara.com/ - Toll Free: 1-866-777-9877. Rates compared to all the other Niagara on the Lake hotels are very reasonable. Rooms with two queens or 1 king are generally $150 to $160 - I booked a room for $159 but you might be able to get something cheaper online or with certain memberships. The hotel is located directly off the QEW (across from the White Oaks Resort) - lots of free parking, easy access to cycling routes, pool, hot tub, etc. Plus you can bring your bikes to your room!
If you're interested (or even thinking about it), I would suggest booking your room now - you can cancel up until 24 hours prior to arrival. If you're a Hilton Honors member you'll get free breakfast included with the room - if you're not a member, let them know when you book the room that you would like the bed and breakfast deal and I believe they'll add an $8 charge on to your room.
Let me know if you'll be joining us and whether or not you've booked a room at the hotel. We can finalize arrangements and itinerary as it gets closer to October 3rd. I think this will be a lot of fun!
Mel
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Gears Girls Update - Week of August 17th to August 22nd
Hi Girls.
Hope you're all well and getting some good riding in!
Here's the update for this week. I've added a note at the bottom with regards to a weekend trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake I'm proposing for the Fall. Let me know what you all think!
Keep in mind that this week is going to be hot and humid so be sure to bring two bottles of water on every ride - preferably with a good quality electrolyte powder in one of them. Also be sure to pack a high energy snack or gel - you definitely need extra fluids in this type of heat!
Wednesday, August 19th:
Meet at Gears for 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm.
Friday, August 21st:
Meet at Gears at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am.
Saturday, August 22nd:
This ride will start and end at Dundas and Walkers Line in Burlington. Meet at the Longo's Plaza (southwest corner of Dundas and Walkers Line - park behind Tim Horton's, in front of Longo's) for 8:30am.
Here's a link to google maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Dundas+St+%26+Walkers+Line,+Burlington,+Halton+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.37814,113.994141&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FWEclgIdAPw9-w&split=0&ll=43.392949,-79.818914&spn=0.011382,0.027831&z=16&iwloc=A
The ride will be approximately 60km - we can increase the distance depending on what the group would like to do and what the weather is like. The route we're planning is towards the Escarpment so will be challenging, but nice - I think you'll all enjoy it! We'll see about making a stop in Carlisle for coffee or a cold drink so be sure to bring some money. As with all rides, bring two bottles of water, a high energy snack, a spare tube, and a CO2 cartridge. Let me know if you're going to join us on Saturday or if you'd like more info.
Trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake:
Would anyone be interested in doing an overnight trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the Fall? I'm thinking late September, early to mid October. Arrive Saturday early afternoon - do a ride somewhere in the area, go for dinner, spend the night (very reasonable rates at the Hilton Garden Inn, just off the QEW), then do another ride on Sunday.
Spouses/partners/friends/Gears staff are more than welcome - they can ride with us and/or just enjoy the area. If the group is interested, I'll start investigating group rates at various hotels, and maybe even a trip to a winery or two :). Let me know what you all think!!!
Ride with you soon!
Mel
Hope you're all well and getting some good riding in!
Here's the update for this week. I've added a note at the bottom with regards to a weekend trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake I'm proposing for the Fall. Let me know what you all think!
Keep in mind that this week is going to be hot and humid so be sure to bring two bottles of water on every ride - preferably with a good quality electrolyte powder in one of them. Also be sure to pack a high energy snack or gel - you definitely need extra fluids in this type of heat!
Wednesday, August 19th:
Meet at Gears for 6:15pm, ride at 6:30pm.
Friday, August 21st:
Meet at Gears at 9:15am, ride at 9:30am.
Saturday, August 22nd:
This ride will start and end at Dundas and Walkers Line in Burlington. Meet at the Longo's Plaza (southwest corner of Dundas and Walkers Line - park behind Tim Horton's, in front of Longo's) for 8:30am.
Here's a link to google maps: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Dundas+St+%26+Walkers+Line,+Burlington,+Halton+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=50.37814,113.994141&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FWEclgIdAPw9-w&split=0&ll=43.392949,-79.818914&spn=0.011382,0.027831&z=16&iwloc=A
The ride will be approximately 60km - we can increase the distance depending on what the group would like to do and what the weather is like. The route we're planning is towards the Escarpment so will be challenging, but nice - I think you'll all enjoy it! We'll see about making a stop in Carlisle for coffee or a cold drink so be sure to bring some money. As with all rides, bring two bottles of water, a high energy snack, a spare tube, and a CO2 cartridge. Let me know if you're going to join us on Saturday or if you'd like more info.
Trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake:
Would anyone be interested in doing an overnight trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake in the Fall? I'm thinking late September, early to mid October. Arrive Saturday early afternoon - do a ride somewhere in the area, go for dinner, spend the night (very reasonable rates at the Hilton Garden Inn, just off the QEW), then do another ride on Sunday.
Spouses/partners/friends/Gears staff are more than welcome - they can ride with us and/or just enjoy the area. If the group is interested, I'll start investigating group rates at various hotels, and maybe even a trip to a winery or two :). Let me know what you all think!!!
Ride with you soon!
Mel
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