Category: Uncategorized

The first Wednesday ride of the year. We'll do a short and simple loop, as we still don't have a ton of sunlight. Feel free to bring front/back lights just in case. Note the 6pm start time.

Please be sure to look over the Group Ride Information, especially the section on how we rotate. Also please bring your club membership card. We are meeting at the Guelph Public Library on Starwood Drive, the new start location for all club rides.

Added, from Jim:

New-to-the-club riders and anyone wanting a refresher should arrive at least 30 minutes early (5:30) for Pack Riding 101. An instructor will take you through bike and personal safety, pack riding skills and responsibilities, introduce the new Social Paceline system, and more. We will do some drills along the route, and join the ride after it arrives.

Its time! First outing of the year we'll head to the re-grouping friendly Guelph Lake interval route. 

We'll do 3-4 loops, first loop together to warm up and let everyone get to know the loop, then depending on numbers break into two groups for each stand-alone lap – a faster A group heading off first and a follow up B group that can collect any riders falling off the A group. 

Groups will be self selected, and the regrouping point is the bottom left corner of the square. 

Library, 6pm!

The first SRCC ride of the year! Please note the later start time of 11am for Sunday rides in April. The forecast looks a bit chilly, but definitely rideable. Make sure you bring your 2014 club membership card, and have had a look at the new group rotation format.

All club rides now start from the Guelph Public Library on Starwood Drive, so if you see somebody looking lost at Planet Bean, please let them know.

There will be an option to turn off just north of Guelph Lake, which will trim 20k off of the ride.

Let the season begin! (Please note that the previous route had something to do with April Fool's, nobody really wants to do repeats of Rattlesnake).

The Speed River Cycling Club offers four weekly rides throughout the season, which runs from April to October. NEW for 2014, all rides will start from the Guelph Public Library. Watch the Home/News page and the calendar on the right for regular updates.

Ride Descriptions

How We Rotate

Group Riding Skills 101

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Ride Descriptions:

Mid-week rides begin at 6:30 p.m. (6 p.m. in the spring and fall) while the Sunday ride starts at 9 a.m. 
(11 a.m. in the spring and fall).

Each ride is aimed at specific group of cyclists, from recreational riders to competitive racers. Here are the rides we offer, along with some information on what to expect.

————————————–

TUESDAY – The Hammerfest

Level: Very fast
Distance: 55 to 75km
Pace: 35 to 40 km/h average with extended stretches in excess in 40 km/h
Drop or No Drop: Drop

Details: This is our fastest ride and is the only one without a designated ride leader (board member Bayden Pritchard, who races on the Ontario Cup circuit, is their guiding force.)

How do I know if I’m ready?: You’re an experienced bike racer or can handle our slower-paced Thursday ride without difficulty.

————————————–

WEDNESDAY LEARN-TO-RIDE (LTR)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ALL RIDERS NEW TO THE CLUB.

For 30 minutes prior to the Wednesday ride, an instructor will cover the basics of bike safety,

pack riding, paceline mechanics, personal safety and pack etiquette. Every club has its own

“culture”, etiquette and policies, so even experienced riders coming from other clubs will find

something to learn in LTR.

Details: The emphasis is on learning club ride culture and policies, and on building fundamental

pack riding skills at a pace appropriate to the rider, to help ensure the safety and enjoyment of

the rider and the pack.

1. READ Group Riding Skills 101 before your first ride with the club.

2. ARRIVE 40 MINUTES BEFORE the Wednesday ride start time. An instructor will

provide one-on-one training on a quiet stretch of road. Following that, the instructor

will take the LTR group along the Wednesday course for one-on-one drills and practice.

When the Wednesday ride arrives on the course, the LTR group will join the pack for

additional supervised practice in a real world environment.

————————————–

WEDNESDAY – The Social Ride

Level: Recreational
Distance: 30 to 50 km
Pace: Maximum average of 28 km/h
Drop or No Drop: No drop

Details: Our least-challenging ride of the week, Wednesday’s feature a club-appointed ride leader to control the pace as well as a “sweep” to help ensure safety and group cohesion. This is a perfect ride for those new to group cycling or faster cyclists looking for a recovery ride. The emphasis is on participation, fun and social interaction

How do I know if I’m ready?: You can ride for two hours non stop at a pace that averages 25 km/h or greater.

We recommend Wednesday’s for all new club members.

————————————–

THURSDAY – Intermediate and Social Ride

Level: Fast
Distance: 40 to 70 km
Pace: ‘B’ group – averages between 30 km/h and 32+ km/h
          ‘A’ group – highly variable, up to 35km/hr with extended stretches in excess of 35 km/h
Drop or No Drop: The ‘B’ group makes an effort to remain together following the pace guidelines above. Participants are expected to be able to maintain the described minimum speed in a group. Riders who are unable to keep up with the pack should communicate with the ride leader.

Details: Our most popular ride of the week, Thursday’s caters to the experienced recreational cyclist looking for a challenge. The ride features a ride leader in the ‘B’ group to provide route direction and help ensure safety. The emphasis is on enhancing fitness and improving pack riding skills.

How do I know if I’m ready?: You’re an experienced recreational cyclist, have ridden our Wednesday ride without difficulty and can ride for two hours non-stop at a pace that averages 28 km/h or greater.

————————————–

SUNDAY – The long ride

Level: Moderate to fast
Distance: 80 to 130 km
Pace: Usually between 28 km/h and 32 km/h an hour with extended stretches in excess of 35 km/h
Drop or No Drop: Those that are struggling will be encouraged to head back on their own.

Details:This ride is aimed at competitive riders looking for a longer effort and advanced recreational cyclists in need of a challenge. This ride often features occasional stops for mid-ride refuelling.

How do I know if I’m ready?: You’re a regular on the Tuesday and/or Thursday circuit and can handle four-plus hours in the saddle.

SUNDAY – The long (ish) ride 

Level: Recreational

Distance: 60 to 80 km
Pace: Maximum average of 28 km/h
Drop or No Drop: No drop

Details: This ride is aimed at recreational riders looking to build endurance with a longer effort at a moderate pace. The emphasis is on participation, fun and social interaction with a potential refuelling stop. 

How do I know if I’m ready?: You can ride for two hours non stop at a pace that averages 25 km/h or greater.

Note: We are running these rides for May and June to gauge interest. If the ride is well supported, we’ll look to continue through the remainder of the summer. 

————————————–

WEDNESDAY NIGHT Time Trial:

Level: Open to club members of all abilities
Distance: 17 km
Details: Our four event Individual Time Trial series is held on the third Wednesday of each month from May through August this series allows members to test their fitness against the clock. And since the same course is used for each TT, it’s a great way to measure training progression throughout the season.

Results from each event are scored and awards will be given at the end of the season. A handicapping system will help ensure a level playing field.

The course is a 17km long out-and-back route on the rolling hills of Fourth Line East just north of County Road 51 (road to Ariss). View the map here.

————————————–

Important information that applies to all rides:

• all rides depart promptly at the designated start time, and are cancelled in case of rain or snow. Information on cancellations will be posted on the main page of the website 30 minutes for the scheduled start time.

• club membership cards must be presented at the beginning of each club ride.
• due to insurance restrictions we cannot allow non-members to join our rides.
• bicycles must be in good mechanical order.
• a certified helmet must be worn at all times.
• members are responsible for bringing enough food, water, tools, and supplies to last for the entire ride.
• all participants must abide by the SRCC Risk Management Plan and the Highway Traffic Act.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

How We Rotate: The Social Paceline

Our rides will by default assume the two abreast formation, except in the rare instances where this unduly impedes traffic, as this compared to single file pacelines is generally safer for the group and allows traffic to pass a group in much less time, therefore better for all invovled.

When double file, we will use the social paceline to rotate. The social paceline is similar the well known rotating paceline, with a few important distinctions.

Instead of continuously rotating, the social paceline has riders on the front align, take a pull, then rotate the formation by one rider after 30s-3min on the front. Here’s how it works. See the diagram below as well. 

1. Riders on the front align front wheels side by side, ~3 feet between shoulders, and pull for a period of time until the rider on the front right says to the rider on the left, ‘go ahead’, at which point..

2. The rider on the right slows down very slightly, while the rider on the left pulls the left column forward one bike length,

3. The left rider moves over to cover the rider on the right, while the last rider in the rotation on the right moves left.

4. After the switch, the new front riders re-align, do their pull, and repeat.

The social paceline allows groups to better maintain a ‘tight and to the right’ formation at all times, and eliminates dangerous periods of riding four-abreast if both front riders were to pull off the sides and drift back at the end of a pull.

This formation will be adopted at all times unless obstructing traffic, or on Tuesdays where the group often splits into smaller, single file pacelines.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Group riding 101

Speed River Cycling Club Basic Road Cycling Skills and Safety 2013

Check your bikes mechanical safety BEFORE LEAVING HOME

• Handlebars and headset. Lock front brake and rock the bike back and forth to check headset is tight. Hold front wheel with your knees and try to rotate handlebars right and left. It shouldn’t move.

• Tires. Rotate slowly and inspect for cuts, embedded glass, torn sidewalls

• Brakes. Ride forward slowly. Check back and front brakes for smooth, effective stopping.

• Shifting. Run through all gears on level road to check shifting.

• Aerobars. NOT to be used during pack rides due to unstable steering and forward position when braking

• Anything loose, tight or “just not right”? That’s what the experienced mechanics at your local bike shop are for.

Why a paceline?

• Drafting reduces effort by 25 to 40% over a rider “in the wind”. The rider(s) at the front work hard for a short time, “pulling” the riders behind, then “rotate” to the back for reduced effort

• A clean, disciplined paceline contributes to safer riding

  • Rider in front takes all following riders smoothly around hazards

  • An “under control” paceline contributes to driver respect for cyclists and makes passing predictable.

  • Gives everybody a good workout. Hard effort, then recovery, repeated, is the fastest way to fitness.

GROUP RIDING FOR SAFETY

• Riders are individually responsible for their own safety.

• Riding in a group, you have additional responsibility to avoid creating danger for other riders.

• Cyclists, singly or in groups, may legally occupy any part of a lane needed to be safe. Riding on a narrow shoulder to the right of the white line is NOT safe. It is usually more broken than the lane, has more glass and debris, and encourages cars to pass at full speed without slowing and giving you a metre of space.

• Double pacelines are legal except where it is posted that you must ride in single file

• Ride behind and 1-2 tire widths to one side of the rider ahead, giving you a bit more stopping space in emergencies.

• Glance AHEAD of the cyclist that you are following. Anticipate, just as in driving a car

• NEVER cross the yellow line.

• COMMUNICATE. Be sure that others know what is about to happen

• Use hand signals to warn of road hazards AND steer SMOOTHLY around them in advance

• If possible, do not brake suddenly. If someone drops a bottle for example, steer smoothly around it. If there is a sudden deceleration ahead of you, avoid sudden sharp braking, though this is not always possible.

• Steer straight lines, and make any moves smooth by relaxing your neck, shoulders and arms

• Keep hands near brakes BUT relax, trust the riders around you, and trust your instincts

• STOP at stop signs. Make eye contact with car drivers and watch car wheels for movement.

• Best place to eat and drink is while at the back of the pack. Same goes for clearing mucus.

• If you are last rider, when a rider is dropping back to the rear of the paceline, say “Last Rider”.

GROUP RIDING FOR EFFICIENCY

• Maximum draft is within 25cm of the wheel ahead of you, but there is some effect within a wheel length.

• NEVER allow your wheel to overlap the wheel ahead of you.

• In double pacelines, maintain less than one rider width shoulder-to- shoulder

• Fill in gaps that open in the paceline to maintain efficiency and predictability

• If the pace is too fast for you, check BEHIND and around you for cars and other riders, then move safely out of the paceline and “sit on” at the back until you recover.

SKILLS TO PRACTICE WHILE ON YOUR OWN

• Looking back. While riding alone, practice maintaining a smooth straight line while glancing over each shoulder. Best done with hands on the tops or on the hoods, not in the drops.

• Drinking. Move your strong hand near the stem on the bar tops, take your bottle with your weak hand.

• Clipping and unclipping. On quiet residential streets, start and stop over and over until it’s a reflex.

EFFORT

• Get to know your own stages of effort. For example, gasping means that you will soon have to reduce effort.

• Tense arms and shoulders, being out of the saddle, pedaling “squares” or “hammering” increase effort.

• If breathing is okay but your legs are burning, try lighter gears (faster cadence)at the same road speed

HILLS

• It’s good strategy to start long hills at a steady pace in lighter gears and below your maximum power, then Increase your effort near the top, rather than going all out at the bottom and fading near the top.

• Keep effort high until you are really past the top

• Climbing seated is more efficient than climbing out of the saddle. Watch the pros!

  • Climbing out of the saddle at lower cadence is necessary sometimes.

  • Anticipate the climbing rider ahead of you rising out of the saddle, as their bike may “go backwards”

  • Rise out of the saddle on a strong downstroke to keep from suddenly slowing down and endangering the rider behind you

• When riding small hills in a pack, maintain speed and stay with the riders ahead of you.

CADENCE

• Try to maintain the cadence that is comfortable for you by shifting when speed and grades change.

• Most cyclists are comfortable and efficient between 70 and 90rpm. While alone on a flat road at a fast steady speed for you , experiment two minutes at a time with gearing to find the cadence that maintains that speed with minimum leg- burning , fatigue and gasping. It will take a few weeks to “know”

• If you are always below 50rpm when climbing hills, try a gear cluster that gives you lighter gears.

COMFORT

• Do you need a professional bike fit? If you are not comfortable on your bike after extended rides, you are limiting your endurance, efficiency and enjoyment. Some quick things to check.

• After a longer ride, what hurts most?

  • Neck? Relax (drop) your shoulders, keep your elbows soft and slightly bent

  • Buttocks? It takes some hours in the saddle to get comfortable in a new saddle. Be sure that your “sit-bones” are on the wide, flat part of the saddle.

  • Knees- your patella should not be ahead of your pedal spindle, nor too far back. IMPORTANT!!

  • Lower back- aim for a slight, 25-30 degree bend in your knee at full extension

  • If all your gradual, one-at-a-time adjustments do not improve your comfort, have a local bike shop do a fitting.

Please review these videos as well.

Top

Please note that the indoor spinning sessions are finished for 2014, thanks to those that came out for the 10 weeks of late-evening pain!

Club rides *should* officially start on Sunday April 6th, depending on weather. Keep an eye on the front page for updates.

The new club kit should also be here any day now, so stay tuned!

Club cards are now available at the shop for members who have already signed up here. These cards are proof of membership and members are required carry them at all club rides.

The first club ride is Sunday, April 6th. Be ready for another great year!

Back by popular demand, we have added a discussion forum to the website (see the tab at the top right?)

It does come with a few unsightly advertisements which can be blocked if desired. Adblock for Chrome, Firefox, or even Internet Explorer (if that's what you're into) is an excellent tool for blocking all sorts of advertising on the internet.

Setting up an account is easy, so get started discussing training, local and pro events, or even complaining about the winter. The classifieds section has also been moved there as well.

– The SRCC Exec

Club clothing

Update May 2014: 2014 club clothing is now available for purchase – limited quantities remain

If you missed out on the pre-order for club clothing, it’s now available through our online store.

There’s limited inventory and items will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. All items are final sale.



Once a purchase is made, print the receipt and take it to Speed River Bicycle at 135 Wyndham Street North for pick up.

Please note: all purchases must be made through the online site. â€¨â€¨Visit the online store here.

New Year, new club kit, new you. You can find all of the details for joining the club HERE.

Here is a list of cycling events in the region that club members may be attending. For a full list of events in the Ontario Cycling Association’s competitive racing series, please check out the OCA website.

To have an event added to this list, please email the club’s event director Cory Darling at corydarling@hotmail.com

Mar 23, 2014 – Steaming Nostril  

April 6, 2014 – Tour of Bronte

April 13, 2014 – Hell of the North

April 27, 2014 – Paris to Ancaster (note new date) 

May 19, 2014 – New York Gran Fondo 

May 23, 2014 – Spin the Lakes Cycle Tour

June 7-8, 2014 – Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour Registration is now open, this usually books up.

June 8, 2014 – Tour De Grand

June 22, 2014 – Tour de Waterloo 

June 22, 2014 – Centurion Horseshoe Valley

July 19, 2014 – GrandFondo Ottawa

August 4, 2014 – Tour De Terra Cotta

Sept 7, 2014 – Epic Tour Halton

Sept 12-14, 2014 – Centurion Blue Mountain

To submit a classified, send an email to Drew Edwards at drew@guelphcyclingclub.ca or Gabhan Chalmers at gabhan@guelphcyclingclub.ca and your ad will be posted within 24 hours. Be sure to include:

• an accurate description of the item or items or sale (multiple items should be included in the same ad.)

• the asking price.

• up to three photos of the item (optional.)

• contact information.

Be sure to send a follow up email if and when the item is sold. Ads will be automatically deleted after two months.

———————————————-

No items available.

Membership in the Speed River Cycling Club is $71 per year, which includes club dues ($32 and unchanged the last two years) as well as the mandatory Ontario Cycling Assocation (OCA) insurance fee ($39.)

Here’s how you join:

1. Register online at CCN bikes (full description of how to do that is below.)

2. Download and read this risk management plan.

3. Download, print and sign this waiver (or this one is you’re under-18.)

4. Bring the signed and dated waiver to Speed River Bicycle at 135 Wyndham Street.

5. Get a cool Speed River Cycling Club membership card and bring it to all rides.

6. Ride.

The fine print:

• You are eligible for an OCA insurance fee deduction ($39) with a valid UCI/CCA race license, OCA citizens permit, or current membership in another OCA-affiliated club, and may indicate so during the registration process and avoid being charged the OCA insurance fee.

If you obtain a race license or citizens permit after paying the full club membership fee, we will assist you in obtaining a refund of the OCA insurance fee portion of the dues from the OCA.

• By joining the SRCC you must understand that while we take steps to make the rides and other events as good as we can, there are always risks. Please be sure to read the risk management plan and understand the application form and waivers.

• The SRCC cannot allow non-members to join our rides. You can, however, sign up for the OCA’s ‘try-a-ride’ program, which enables you to try out any club ride (we would encourage a Wednesday ride) for one ride, maximum, per year. 

How the CCN registration process works:

1. Click here to be taken to the club’s registration page on the CCN website.

2. Click on the REGISTER NOW button to initiate the registration process.

3. Log in to the CCN website. New CCN users are required to create a CCN account while returning CCN users will be asked to enter their CCN account details. Please note that the Club does not have access to your CCN account information.

4 Follow the registration process. Select the appropriate membership type, adult or youth (under 18), and indicate if you have a UCI race licence, OCA Citizen Permit, or membership in another OCA-affiliated club. If you have not yet received your licence number from the OCA, enter “0” when prompted.

5. Complete the registration process by providing payment information. A confirmation email will be sent to you.
 

Here is a list of common routes that the SRCC uses. Sort by length to choose a route that’s right for you.

SRCC Ride with GPS Database

The Speed River Cycling Club is a Guelph-based cycling club aimed at providing fun and safe environment for recreational road cyclists to enjoy group riding. Established in 2004, the club had over 90 members in 2012.

We offer four weekly group rides – more about that in the rides section – for riders of varying abilities as well as various club events throughout the year, including special rides, social events, and travel to area races and Gran Fondos.

The club is open to all recreational and competitive road cyclists. For information on how to become a member, please see our How to Join section.

The club is run by a volunteer executive. They are:

Gabhan Chalmers â€“ president and ride coordinator
Bayden Pritchard â€“ vice president
Steve Head â€“ secretary and treasurer
Rob Nespolo â€“ sponsorship director
James Stewart â€“ communications director
Cory Darling â€“ director at large
Adam Woods â€“ director at large
Michael Dennis â€“ director at large
Curtis Donnahee â€“ director at large
Andy Mill â€“ director at large

For more information on the Speed River Cycling Club, please email James Stewart, director of club communications at jstewart@guelphcyclingclub.ca

Group ride info