Whether you are an old pro at winter cycling or a newbie, here are some useful tips from our Nov 21 Newsletter
Keen to Ride This Winter? Sign up for EBTC’s ‘Ad Hoc’ Winter Rides!
They’re everywhere and they’re multiplying. No, not viruses but just as resilient: Winter Riders!
EBTC members, who proved our resilience in the summer’s heat, can now enjoy this fun winter activity with the Club. Since weather and riding conditions can change quickly in winter, rides will be ‘ad hoc’. This means they’ll be offered close to the ride date and, unlike summer rides, won’t be posted in the calendar on the EBTC website.
So, how will this work? Two simple steps:
First, you need to be on the ‘EBTC Winter Riders 2021-22’ list. If you’re interested in winter riding, register for this List using the Karelo Link below.
Second, once you are on the list, you will then receive an e-mail notification whenever a ride is offered. When a ride leader plans an ‘ad hoc’ winter ride, they will send an e-mail to members on the EBTC Winter Riders list. That e-mail will have the link in Karelo to register and the ride description, including the meeting location and time. There are no RWGPS routes as winter rides are mainly off-road, and riders stay together to follow the leader.
We’ll use this first season of EBTC winter rides to gain experience. There will be a limited number of ride leaders and many fewer rides than in summer. Also, the nature of winter riding requires that ride leaders set low caps on the number of registrants for their rides. Karelo registration, however, is the same process as in summer: you can sign up for the waitlist if a ride is full; you can cancel your registration for the EBTC Winter Riders list and/or for a specific ride if you so choose.
We all look forward to future Newsletters with super pictures and reports of EBTC members’ winter ride adventures. Let it snow!
While the summer cycling season is winding down, it isn’t over yet! Day rides are planned to Dog Rump Creek (Sept. 11) and Chickakoo (Sept. 26), in addition to the Tour of the Falling Leaves (Sept. 19). Several weekly rides continue, notably the Mon. Recreational Ride, Thurs. City Trail Ride, and Fri. Quiet Roads Ride. Register and enjoy more cycling this month.
Another milestone has been reached with Stage 2 of Alberta’s Covid 19 ‘Open for Summer Plan’ coming into effect . Among other changes, it states:
- Youth and adult sports – resume with no restrictions, indoors and outdoors
- Outdoor social gatherings – up to 20 people with distancing (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)
- Distancing and masking requirements remain in effect
With the easing of restrictions, especially for adult sports, the EBTC Board is thrilled to advise you of the following welcome changes to the 2021 cycling program, effective immediately:
- Masking at ride start locations is no longer required – The Club’s masking protocol, instituted for member safety and comfort in joining group rides, went beyond the public health restrictions, and was well received.
Of course, members still have the option to wear a mask, and are expected to comply with the ongoing public health restriction for masking indoors (e.g., in the Ardrossan Recreation Centre).
- Distancing continues to be encouraged – This applies before, during and after a ride, and extends to not sharing food or beverages (same household excepted). For more detail, see the Cub’s Covid 19 Protocol (but note that masking has been rescinded).
- Ride registration will continue in 2021 for all EBTC rides – Readily adopted by members, Karelo ride registration has advantages beyond capping the number of ride participants as per public health restrictions.
Here are a few benefits of participant lists created on-line by Karelo: no messy and hard to manage paper sign-up sheets at rides; ride leaders can contact registrants before a ride about such changes as weather related cancellations; proof for the Club’s insurance that all riders were EBTC members should an accident occur; useful data to plan an interesting ride program; contact tracing if required.
- A cap on the number of ride participants is at the discretion of the ride leader – If a ride is capped, it will be noted on Karelo during the registration process.
As communicated at the AGM in February, ride leaders are in the position to know whether a cap is warranted based on their ride characteristics, the mix of riders and their own preferences in leading.
- Ride with GPS (RWGPS) remains EBTC’s navigational tool –Paper maps will not be handed out at the start of rides. Member adoption of RWGPS has been excellent, and a free Club RWGSP account allows access to the Collections of 2021 rides on the website.
- EBTC social events are not yet being planned – While the EBTC Board recognizes the value of fun social events, it is still considered premature to commence planning, given current restrictions on outdoor social gatherings, and the need to move to Stage 3 and gain more experience without restrictions.
Please take advantage of the great rides planned for 2021 to fully enjoy the remainder of spring, the summer ahead, and the fall too.
A Message from EBTC President, June MacGregor
A light is appearing at the end of the pandemic tunnel!
We’re happy to let you know that EBTC rides will resume with a maximum of 10 cyclists on Tuesday, June 1, per the Alberta government’s Stage 1 reopening. Welcome the good news by registering for one or more EBTC rides! We hope to see you out on your bikes – road, mountain, e-bike – in the brilliant green of spring.
The EBTC Covid-19 Protocols remain in effect, including wearing a mask in parking lots and remaining distant from others before, during and after a ride.
The Alberta government’s announcement also referred to Stage 2 reopening as early as mid-June, depending on the percentage of the population vaccinated and number of hospitalizations. The EBTC Board will keep you posted on what this means for EBTC rides.
Also, please register for the Virtual Sunday Evening Show ‘E-Bike Special’ happening at 19:00 on May 30, 2021 – if you are considering an e-bike now or in the future, or if you are interested in learning more about this growing mode of cycling.
Click Here for Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan
Click Here for the Ride Registration Calendar
May 5, 2021 message from the EBTC President, June MacGregor
Dear EBTC’ers. As you may have heard, the provincial government has implemented new public health restrictions for the province as a whole and for hot spot areas including the metro-Edmonton region. These additional restrictions will be in effect for three weeks or until the relative rate of infections has declined.
Given the reduced number of participants allowed for outdoor activities and a restriction on source households, EBTC is placing the 2021 cycling season on hiatus effective May 5th. All rides are now cancelled. The Club is hopeful that rides can resume in late May.
EBTC members, however, have the opportunity to cycle privately, in keeping with the new public health restrictions. With your free RidewithGPS account through EBTC, you can access more than 400 cycling routes under Organization Routes and Collections. If you don’t yet have an account, click on the link below for step-by-step instructions on how to get and start using your account. The rides in Collections have been ridden recently as part of the planning for the 2021 EBTC riding season and are highly recommended.
The EBTC Board will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate with members via the newsletter, website, FaceBook, and the Sunday Evening Cycling Show.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and support for the Club during this very challenging time. I hope to see you on the road and at Club events in the not too distant future!
This series of rides is a preview of the Wednesday Outbacks Ride.
Time: Meet 6:45PM, wheels rolling 7PM, finish about 8PM tired but happy
Location: Olympiette Centre, Ceretzke Rd just east of RR 224 and North of TWP 520
Ride Leaders: Scott Keast, Phil Davidson
Skill level/distance/appropriate bike: Open to all; time focus not distance; road bike
Description: This short series leads into The Outbacks and is designed to help you get started with your spring training. These training rides are suitable for all levels. You can start to build strength, power and speed to add to the endurance you get from other longer rides plus get a good cardio workout. Like a spin class but out on the roads of Strathcona County in the fresh air. After a short warm-up ride, you will ride hard for 30 minutes, recover ride for 10 minutes, ride hard another 30 minutes and cool down ride for 10 minutes.
Not a group ride: each of us rides at our own pace for the specified time, not distance. You go as far as you can in the specified time and watch your distance increase in the same time from week to week. Work in some shorter, repetitive interval training if you wish.
In the past few weeks I have experienced a number of situations that in normal times would be unheard of. They all involve one key reality with respect to bike parts – inventories are critically low. The entire supply chain from the minerals in the ground to the shelves of your local dealer have been affected by the pandemic.
A few of examples:
*I wanted to get a pair of Look Keo cleats – on back-order since last June!
*12 speed chains, virtually impossible to find now – in May they likely won’t exist anywhere!
*Dealers are buying up patch kits because there are critical shortages on some tube sizes.
Ironically, the newer your drive-line the tighter the supply line. So, if you are running the newer 11, 12 and 13 speed cassettes/chains – the fewer service parts there are. What components are available, are going into new bike production. Cycling has become super popular and that means lots of bikes flying off the pegs.
My suggestion to all club members is to stock up on consumables (chains, cassettes, tubes and tires). If your bike needs service, get it in to your dealer asap. Procrastinating now could mean that you will be sitting on the sidelines this summer, thanks to something as simple as a broken chain.
Scott Keast
Safety and Education Coordinator