April 14, 2021 by Sandy McDonald

The Outbacks Appetizer, April 21- May 5

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.

March 1, 2021 by Sandy McDonald

Bike Service and Parts Bottlenecks

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

February 23, 2021 by Sandy McDonald

EBTC AGM

Please join us for the EBTC-AGM via Zoom on Sunday February 28, 2021 at 7PM. Regrettably, you will need to provide your own pizza, cake and beverage!

The Agenda will include presentations from the President and Treasurer, and the Election of Officers for 2021. At the 2019 AGM (in 2020) we had a question “what are we going to do with the club funds we have been investing since the glory days of the Tour de l’ Alberta”? There will be a report on this also.

And then the fun part: The Ride Coordinators will release the details of the 2021 Ride Program! 285 rides for your enjoyment! Followed by a draw for a $100 Gift Card courtesy of Cranky’s Bike Shop!

All related documents can be found here

February 8, 2021 by Sandy McDonald

Reasons to Become a Member

Thanks for your interest in rides to be offered by Edmonton Bike and Touring Club in 2021. Our complete program will be unveiled on Feb 28/21 (day of AGM; members get to see it first!) and posted on this website with full details including a full calendar of rides from April 1-Sept 19 (286 rides). We will offer a wide range of rides every day of the week including city trails and country roads with varying distances that are suitable for all types of bikes and rider skill levels. For example, if you ride a hybrid or e-bike and have not ridden with a group before, we will present an introductory program to help you become comfortable riding in a group (come out one time or more; your choice).
Do you want to build stamina and ability to ride greater distances? We will have a Stamina Builder series starting from Ardrossan, West End, Spruce Grove, Beaumont and St. Albert. You can select the series that is right for you with goals of achieving 60km, 100km or 160km.
Wanting an outing on your mountain bike? Try Thursday Evening Trail Rides or Blackfoot Trails in May or Elk Island Trails in August. Looking for a fun day checking out bakeries? You can join Calmar Bakery Run in August. And for something really different, how about bird watching on your bike? Bikes & Birds happens May 22. And there’s lots more!
So if you think joining a bike club of recreational, social riders of all ages is a good idea for you, get your membership now so you can get out on rides that fit your needs and goals.

January 25, 2021 by Sandy McDonald

EBTC’s 2021 Season is On! 200+ Rides Planned!

Now is the Time to Join EBTC

If you took out a 2020 membership, you have already received an email with special instructions to extend your membership to December 31, 2021.

For previous EBTC members who were not members last year, here is the link to join the Club this year………

By joining now, you will be able to sign up for on-line events such as the (zoom) AGM on February 28, 2021 where you will hear more about the riding season and can vote for the members of your EBTC Board (more to come in the next Newsletter).

2021 Planning is Rolling Ahead

We previously reported that planning for the riding season is underway with two objectives:

to offer road and trail rides that spark the interest of a wide range of riders – from beginners to advanced; from those seeking more relaxed rides to those wanting to train hard; for those who like to mix it up, and
to keep members safe, abiding by Alberta’s Public Mandatory Measures and Guidelines for Covid 19 – in the parking lot at ride start/end, on the road and at rest stops.

Plans for the riding season alreadycontainover 200 weekend, evening and weekday rides. More are in the works, and others may be suggested by members and added later. When rides are finalized and posted in the Calendar of Events, every EBTC member should find a broad choice of interesting rides.

Rides will be rated as to distance, difficulty and level of support. Some will be more social through our scenic regional countryside; others will have a training component, including progressive rides which build to Club events with different distance goals later in the season. Ride start locations will provide, to the extent possible, convenient parking and member access (e.g., popular weekend west end and east end rides).

For riding during the pandemic before immunizations are fully rolled out, EBTC has been testing an on-line event pre-registration service. The Club will be able to set a cap on the number of riders, and may consider staggered start times for popular rides, each with a cap. Unlike large clubs with on-line services, EBTC did not have an effective capability to respond to the pandemic and offer rides last year.

EBTC is using Karelo for pre-registration, the service for Membership registration – but with a simpler on-line form for day rides. Members will access the form by clicking the link with their ride of choice in the Calendar of Events on the website.

There is more to come on the riding program and pre-registration in upcoming Newsletters, on www.BikeClub.ca and with the February 28, 2021 AGM!

March 21, 2020 by Sandy McDonald

Riding Season Suspended

Dear EBTC members,

Please note that the EBTC 2020 riding season is suspended immediately. All club events are cancelled including socials, rides, walks, etc. The club has taken this decision so as to be compliant with directions from health and civil authorities. If you would like to ride on your own and have a current EBTC membership you can access the EBTC Ride With GPS maps.

Very best wishes to you and your family during a trying time.

Anne-Marie Adachi, President

February 4, 2020 by Sandy McDonald

Congratulations Ed Weymouth!

At the EBTC Annual General Meeting (AGM) on February 2, the 2019 Long-Term Service Award went deservedly to Ed Weymouth. Ed has served on the EBTC Executive, been a ride leader, taught ride leader courses, created a ride leader manual, and organized many a great overnight trip … Logan’s Pass and Selkirk Mountains come to mind as more recent examples. Ed is known by many fellow riders as ‘Steady Eddy’ … a great nickname for someone who has been a positively ‘steady’ role model on and off the roads. Congrats and thank you, Ed!

February 2, 2020 by Terry Fannon

2020 Cycling Calendar

The 2020 Cycling Calendar was announced at the Annual General Meeting on February 2nd. Thanks to the many volunteers who have made this exciting list of new as well as long time favourite rides a reality. All of these rides will be posted into the calendar of events on the website.

EBTC-2020-Ride-Calendar Download

January 27, 2020 by Charles World

Upcoming 2020 Season to be Presented at AGM February 2

EBTC offers cycling programs for member riders who range widely in cycling skills & needs and preferred bikes. Our 2020 program will be announced soon (at the Annual General Meeting at Capilano Hall on February 2). For a very modest membership fee you can enjoy primarily free riding in various locations in the company of nice folks who share your interest in cycling for health and fitness. If you are interested in volunteering on the EBTC Executive or as a Ride Leader, please contact Anne-Marie for more information. Need inspiration? Click on the photo below.

January 26, 2020 by EBTC

Thank you Sandy and Jim!

Edmonton Bike and Touring Club (EBTC) exists because of our volunteers. They dedicate significant amounts of time and energy to help EBTC members enjoy a diverse range of cycling experiences. Each year, the EBTC Executive honours a volunteer who has added value to our cycling community. For the 2019 season, a couple, husband and wife team Sandy McDonald and Jim Lochhead, were named Volunteers of the 2019 Year. Although they are fairly new members to EBTC, they jumped right in and have contributed greatly. They started by subbing in for ride leaders and then took leadership of the weekly Sunday Afternoon Ardrossan rides. Sandy and Jim are also heavily involved in the new winter rides and have influenced others to not only join in but to share in the leadership of these unofficial club rides. Thank you Jim and Sandy and to all the volunteers!