My apologies - it was pointed out to me yesterday that the date of the OCC/Gears Girls invitational (see details below) was wrong in my email below. The correct date is Sunday, May 15th. All other details remain the same.
If you would like to attend, please send me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers know to expect you.
Thanks!
Mel
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
Hi Gears Girls!
The first official week of Gears Girls is behind us. With the exception of the Tuesday night ride (which was cancelled due to rain) weather (and of course the company) was great.
Please carefully review the email below as it contains important information and updates about the club as well this weeks' Gears Girls rides. Please pay particular notice if you are are a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday rider.
Monday and Thursday rides:
We have had a chance to assess skills and fitness levels of most members that will be coming out to Monday and Thursday rides. The vast majority of members appear to be high beginners through to intermediate level cyclists this year. As our rides are designed to suit the majority of the members coming out, we will be making the following slight adjustments to the Monday and Thursday rides:
Pace: Pace on all rides will be approximately 21 to 23kms/hr. I believe this was the average most members were very comfortable riding at last week. As the season progresses and fitness levels rise this average will naturally increase.
For safety and support reasons (and for the enjoyment and progression of the group as a whole) we will not be splitting the group up during any of the rides. If the pace is too fast for you - you are welcome to continue riding the same route as the group, please though ensure that you know where you are (in case you lose sight of the group) and how to safely get back to Gears on your own (or with another member) if necessary. If you do not want to continue riding the same route as the group, please ensure that you safely make your way back to Gears either on your own or with a group of other members. Please ensure that you have a cell phone and flat repair kit on you at all times. Please try to let one of the members helping with the ride know that you are turning back.
Skill level requirements: It appears that the majority of the women coming out for Monday and Thursday rides already have fairly strong beginner to intermediate level road skills. We will thus be planning our rides presuming that the group is already comfortable clipping in, shifting and selecting gears, riding close to one another, signaling, etc. For safety and advancement reasons of the group we will start teaching and enforcing single and double paceline techniques over the coming weeks as many members appear eager to want to learn this very important and necessary cycling technique.
Gears Girls is first and foremost a road cycling club. While we do certainly work with members to improve upon existing skills and techniques, we are not a replacement for great learning opportunities such as the Gears Bike Shop cycling clinics. If you are a brand new road cyclist that is not yet comfortable with the abovementioned skills or if you are a slower rider who just needs a boost of confidence, please consider taking one of the learn to ride/cycling 101 clinics offered by Gears Bike Shop. If you are currently enrolled in one of the clinics, please consider finishing the clinic prior to riding with the club as your pace, skill level and comfort on the bike will be more in sync with the rest of the group after the clinic. If you are taking one of the clinics and are unsure if you should also be concurrently riding with Gears Girls, please talk to one of the clinic leaders or to myself at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
If you are a slower paced rider unable to keep up with the group please do not be discouraged! As in any sport, only time and effort will make you faster, stronger and more confident. Because skill and fitness levels vary within all groups, it is not always possible to accommodate every single rider. Keep in mind that the only way to get stronger and faster is to ride regularly and consistently either by yourself or with other cyclists. Even if you can only keep up with the Monday or Thursday Gears Girls groups for 1 or 2 kms - aim for 3 kms the following week, 4kms the week after that, etc. As the season progresses, provided you are riding on your own or with others regularly and consistently, you will find that your own fitness levels and pace will naturally improve. I have started posting the routes to the Gears Girls blog; please feel free to follow them whenever you wish! Please also take advantage of the Gears Girls Facebook Group - we have started the group so that members can communicate with one another and look for other members to ride with over and above the posted Gears Girls rides.
NB: Gears Bike Shop is looking into offering a slower paced ride once a week but details and dates are not yet finalized. I will keep you posted of details once they are known.
Tuesday night rides:Because we have such a large and strong group of intermediate level members this year, please note the pace of the Tuesday night rides will also be adjusted accordingly.
Who should come out: Tempo 1 and/or Tempo 2 women looking for a recovery ride
Members wishing to ride Tuesday nights must be intermediate level riders and must have already mastered gear selection, riding with one hand, clipping in and out, etc. It is recommended that you have already been road cycling for at least one full season if you would like to ride Tuesday nights.
Tuesday riders need to be able to ride comfortably at a minimum pace of 23kms per hour over a distance of approximately 40kms, and be comfortable riding close to other cyclists. Drafting, single and double paceline techniques will be taught and enforced on all Tuesday rides. These rides will be faster than Monday and Thursday rides so please come prepared to work hard!
Wednesday and Saturday rides:
The first official week of Gears Girls is behind us. With the exception of the Tuesday night ride (which was cancelled due to rain) weather (and of course the company) was great.
Please carefully review the email below as it contains important information and updates about the club as well this weeks' Gears Girls rides. Please pay particular notice if you are are a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday rider.
Monday and Thursday rides:
We have had a chance to assess skills and fitness levels of most members that will be coming out to Monday and Thursday rides. The vast majority of members appear to be high beginners through to intermediate level cyclists this year. As our rides are designed to suit the majority of the members coming out, we will be making the following slight adjustments to the Monday and Thursday rides:
Pace: Pace on all rides will be approximately 21 to 23kms/hr. I believe this was the average most members were very comfortable riding at last week. As the season progresses and fitness levels rise this average will naturally increase.
For safety and support reasons (and for the enjoyment and progression of the group as a whole) we will not be splitting the group up during any of the rides. If the pace is too fast for you - you are welcome to continue riding the same route as the group, please though ensure that you know where you are (in case you lose sight of the group) and how to safely get back to Gears on your own (or with another member) if necessary. If you do not want to continue riding the same route as the group, please ensure that you safely make your way back to Gears either on your own or with a group of other members. Please ensure that you have a cell phone and flat repair kit on you at all times. Please try to let one of the members helping with the ride know that you are turning back.
Skill level requirements: It appears that the majority of the women coming out for Monday and Thursday rides already have fairly strong beginner to intermediate level road skills. We will thus be planning our rides presuming that the group is already comfortable clipping in, shifting and selecting gears, riding close to one another, signaling, etc. For safety and advancement reasons of the group we will start teaching and enforcing single and double paceline techniques over the coming weeks as many members appear eager to want to learn this very important and necessary cycling technique.
Gears Girls is first and foremost a road cycling club. While we do certainly work with members to improve upon existing skills and techniques, we are not a replacement for great learning opportunities such as the Gears Bike Shop cycling clinics. If you are a brand new road cyclist that is not yet comfortable with the abovementioned skills or if you are a slower rider who just needs a boost of confidence, please consider taking one of the learn to ride/cycling 101 clinics offered by Gears Bike Shop. If you are currently enrolled in one of the clinics, please consider finishing the clinic prior to riding with the club as your pace, skill level and comfort on the bike will be more in sync with the rest of the group after the clinic. If you are taking one of the clinics and are unsure if you should also be concurrently riding with Gears Girls, please talk to one of the clinic leaders or to myself at gearsgirls@hotmail.com.
If you are a slower paced rider unable to keep up with the group please do not be discouraged! As in any sport, only time and effort will make you faster, stronger and more confident. Because skill and fitness levels vary within all groups, it is not always possible to accommodate every single rider. Keep in mind that the only way to get stronger and faster is to ride regularly and consistently either by yourself or with other cyclists. Even if you can only keep up with the Monday or Thursday Gears Girls groups for 1 or 2 kms - aim for 3 kms the following week, 4kms the week after that, etc. As the season progresses, provided you are riding on your own or with others regularly and consistently, you will find that your own fitness levels and pace will naturally improve. I have started posting the routes to the Gears Girls blog; please feel free to follow them whenever you wish! Please also take advantage of the Gears Girls Facebook Group - we have started the group so that members can communicate with one another and look for other members to ride with over and above the posted Gears Girls rides.
NB: Gears Bike Shop is looking into offering a slower paced ride once a week but details and dates are not yet finalized. I will keep you posted of details once they are known.
Tuesday night rides:Because we have such a large and strong group of intermediate level members this year, please note the pace of the Tuesday night rides will also be adjusted accordingly.
Who should come out: Tempo 1 and/or Tempo 2 women looking for a recovery ride
Members wishing to ride Tuesday nights must be intermediate level riders and must have already mastered gear selection, riding with one hand, clipping in and out, etc. It is recommended that you have already been road cycling for at least one full season if you would like to ride Tuesday nights.
Tuesday riders need to be able to ride comfortably at a minimum pace of 23kms per hour over a distance of approximately 40kms, and be comfortable riding close to other cyclists. Drafting, single and double paceline techniques will be taught and enforced on all Tuesday rides. These rides will be faster than Monday and Thursday rides so please come prepared to work hard!
Wednesday and Saturday rides:
Wednesday and Saturday rides will remain unchanged. Women wishing to ride Wednesdays and Saturdays must be advanced level cyclists that have been riding with another experienced road group for at least one year. Single and double pacelines are enforced on all rides. Pace will depend on the group but will average 27-29kms/hr Wednesday nights (45kms to 55kms) and 26+ kms/hr on Saturday's depending on distance and terrain (typically 75 to 100+kms).
Sunday, May 5th - Oakville Cycling Club Invitational RideThe Oakville Cycling Club (OCC) has generously offered to host a Sunday ride open to all OCC and Gears Girls members. Pace and distance will be suited to Monday and Thursday riders. See below for details:
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2011
Sunday, May 5th - Oakville Cycling Club Invitational RideThe Oakville Cycling Club (OCC) has generously offered to host a Sunday ride open to all OCC and Gears Girls members. Pace and distance will be suited to Monday and Thursday riders. See below for details:
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2011
Start time: 9 am
Start location: Boyne Community Centre (Britannia Road and Bronte) (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2287+Britannia+Rd.+At+Regional+Road+25,+milton&aq=&sll=49.95122,-97.119141&sspn=21.582688,86.220703&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2287+Britannia+Rd+W,+Milton,+Ontario+L9T+2X5&z=15)
Distance: 35 to 45kms depending on which of the two pace groups you choose to ride with.
If you would like to attend, please drop me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers at OCC know approximate numbers.
The OCC is another great ride opportunity - particularly for women riding looking for additional opportunities to ride. In addition to a touring group that is suited to most of our Monday and Thursday riders, there is also a group with a pace slightly slower than our touring group that rides Tuesdays and Sundays - a great way for our slower riders to get more saddle time! Check out their website for details: http://www.oakvillecc.com/.
Start location: Boyne Community Centre (Britannia Road and Bronte) (http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2287+Britannia+Rd.+At+Regional+Road+25,+milton&aq=&sll=49.95122,-97.119141&sspn=21.582688,86.220703&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2287+Britannia+Rd+W,+Milton,+Ontario+L9T+2X5&z=15)
Distance: 35 to 45kms depending on which of the two pace groups you choose to ride with.
If you would like to attend, please drop me a quick email so that I can let the ride organizers at OCC know approximate numbers.
The OCC is another great ride opportunity - particularly for women riding looking for additional opportunities to ride. In addition to a touring group that is suited to most of our Monday and Thursday riders, there is also a group with a pace slightly slower than our touring group that rides Tuesdays and Sundays - a great way for our slower riders to get more saddle time! Check out their website for details: http://www.oakvillecc.com/.
Looking forward to another great week on the road with everyone!
Mel
Mel Crosby
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
Gears Girls Women's Road Cycling Group
http://gearsgirls.blogspot.com/
