Hi Girls.
Another great week - with only two rides cancelled due to rain! Not sure what the coming week has in store for us weather wise...let's hope for the best though.
Gears Girls Membership Update
Because of the overwhelming success of Gears Girls and due to present membership numbers, we'll no longer be accepting new members this season. What this means for all of you is that as a group we'll be able to work on improving skills, pace and fitness as the season progresses. Regardless of what night you ride on, provided you come out regularly, you will see improvement in both your own fitness and skills levels as well as within the group you're riding with.
What's coming up this week (besides more rain in the forecast)
Starting this week, we're going to start teaching the Monday and Thursday groups basic group riding techniques. Each ride for the next couple of Mondays and Thursdays (weather permitting) will start with "skills and drills" - either in a parking lot or in a park - and will end with a ride to practice what was just taught. Because the Monday and Thursday rides are so well attended, it's very important - from a safety, support and efficiency perspective - that we get everyone riding together in either a single or double paceline. Over the coming weeks, we'll work on skills that will help keep the group together (such as proper starting, stopping and braking techniques used within a group) as well as skills that will allow you to ride not only behind another cyclist but also next to another cyclist. If you still need to work on more basic techniques such as clipping in and out of pedals and shifting and selecting gears, check out the clinics being offered by Gears Bike Shop: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/. The Tuesday night group is a a faster and tighter/closer version of the Monday and Thursday rides and will continue working on intermediate level group riding skills in the coming weeks.
If you have not yet come out to a Gears Girls ride, and if you are not currently riding with another experienced road group ( such as Chain Reaction or Brampton Cycling Club), I would ask that you ride on either Monday or Thursday. If you are an intermediate road cyclist (minimum experience required is one full season of road cycling on a road bike) and would like to ride on Tuesdays, please drop me a quick email and we can chat about your current road experience and skill level. Please email me prior to your first Tuesday evening ride.
Jerseys and Jackets
For those of you waiting for jerseys and/or jackets: both should be in the week of May 20th. I will send out an email once everything has arrived and you can pick your jersey and/or jacket up from Gears.
In case of rain
As with previous rides, I will send out an email and/or update the blog if we do need to cancel a ride due to rain at least one hour before the start of the ride.
If you can't ride outside, why not ride inside?
If the weather is such that rides are cancelled this week, consider attending a spin class at Gears! Gears offers spin classes 7 nights a week at various times throughout the day. Check out the schedule for details: http://www.gearsbikeshop.com/PDF/PC-IndoorCycling.pdf. Another great indoor cycling option is a trainer or rollers - super easy to take your bike on or off either a trainer or rollers. And no more excuses that you don't have time to get to the gym or a spin class! If you're hardcore and not afraid of a little (or a lot) of rain, post something to the Gears Girls FB group to see if there are other hardcore types looking for a wet ride.
Check the blog for updates about rain cancellations or if you are looking for last weeks Gears Girls rides - which I've uploaded to Mapmyride and posted to the blog.
Let's hope for great weather this week!
Mel
