Final Monday Sept 7 Ride is gonna be in the dirt....

Greetings all, seeing that it is the long weekend I think doing a day time ride is in order. We are going to go and ride Prairie View / Jewel Pass. Meet in the parking lot of Barrier Lake at 10AM Monday morning. If you are interested in car pooling send me an email and we will try to get something going based on where everyone lives.

cya Monday

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Second last Monday night on Aug 31 is good to go......

Looks like fantastic weather to help us close out the season. We may cut the distance on tonights ride depending on the light situation. Seeing that next Monday is a holiday, I am thinking of shaking things up a bit and finishing our Monday rides with an AM MTB ride in K Country some where, details to follow.....

Once again much THANKS to everyone who has been coming out all season. I believe everyone has had a great time starting their week off with group ride.

cya tonight....

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Monday Aug 24th is a GO!!!

Greetings, the forecast for this evening looks FANTASTIC!!!! Sounds like we have a number of people scheduled to come out for a nice little spin out to Cochrane.

To ride with us, you MUST sign a waiver and either have an ABA Membership/License or pay us $35 for your General Alberta Bicycle Association Membership. Without an ABA Membership you can't come on our ride. I will try to be out by the service entrance around 6pm if you need help filling out the forms and paying your $$$$.

As per usual, leaving the shop at 6:30pm.

CYA

BRENT

Monday Aug 17th is GO!!!

my apologies for not posting last week, was busy with family stuff and totally forgot. Sounds like we have a bunch of people coming out tonight. Same time, same place (6:30,shop side entrance) probably just an easy spin out to Cochrane to allow the people who raced yesterday sometime to rest.

cya

BRENT

NO Ride on Monday Aug 3 - due to Le Tour Du Bowness

Monday July 27th ride, YEAH for sunshine!!!!!

can we make it 2 weeks in a row without any rain?.?.?.?. Oh well I have jinxed it now ;)

See everyone at 6:30, maybe in prep for Le Tour De Bowness we will head up COP and over to Lower Springbank. Please remember to sign your waiver and pay the General Membership fee if you have not already.

THANKS

BRENT

July 20th Ride is a Go....Obviously....

The forecast for this evening calls for sunshine and lite winds...what more could we ask for. Leaving for the usual side entrance meeting spot at 6:30. If you have not paid for your General ABA Membership plus signed the waiver, please arrive early to do so.

Thinking we will head up thru Tuscany and Church Ranches then west to Cochrane and back.

cya tonight

BRENT

Anyone for tubing?????

um ya, streets lights on at 1pm is never a good sign. By my office here on Deerfoot, it is starting to look like a lake out there. I believe it is safe to say tonight's ride is a NO GO :(

sorry everyone, the bike weather gods are definitely not in our favour this season.

cya next week, or at the crits tomorrow.

BRENT

Monday July 13th ride.....

huh, the weather forecast is looking pretty doubtful. Stay tuned to the blog for updates later tomorrow afternoon. Sadly the monday weather last week did not cooperate as well. Stupid Monday weather...... If anyone is interested in trying to ride even if the weather is looking sketchy please email me at brentt@bowcycle.com and I will do my best to be there even if the weather is bad. I am thinking that if it pouring at 4 pm the ride will be canceled.

cya
BRENT

Monday July 6 ride.....

greetings all, I am unable to join you this Monday, however Mark F from the shop will be leading the ride out. I would recommend paying attention to the weather forecast, as you all know how the last couple of days have played out. Hope your all enjoying the TDF.

cya

BRENT

June 29 Ride - no whammies...oops I mean rain

Greetings all, another monday, another small chance of showers, good thing we are not made of sugar.... Either way looks like the temp tonight should be good, I am really tired of cold feet in June.

Here's the route for tonight:



cya at 6:30

BRENT

Monay June 22 ride is a go......

looks like bringing your umbrella may be in order. See everyone at the shop for our normal 6:30pm departure time. Not sure where we are going as of yet.

cya

BRENT

Monday June 15th.....

wait....could it be a nice warm night to ride......I can't believe it. Possible thunderstorms...blah!!! what ever, we are still a go. Maybe just a nice soft spin out to the bottom of the Glen Eagles hill and return back to the shop.

Cya at 6:30 by the service entrance at Bow.

BRENT

June 8th, 3pm, +9 degrees, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

well at least it isn't snowing (yet). Make sure to dress for the conditions tonight. Cya at 6:30

BRENT

Monday June 8th Ride Is A Go......

So far the forecast for Monday night is looking reasonable. Looks like it will be cool out again so be prepared for dropping temperatures as the ride goes on. Leaving the shop at 6:30 pm like usual.

See everyone then.

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Dress Warmly...for tonights ride

looks like its gonna be a cool one.

cya at 6:30

BRENT

Monday June 1 Ride Is A Go

As per usual leaving the shop at 6:30pm, tomorrow's route is yet to be determined.....

Thanks to everyone who came out last week and ended up getting soaked. Hopefully tomorrows ride is a little gentler in the weather department.

cya

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Monday May 25th Ride is a GO!!!!!!!

Can you believe it, a Monday with weather that is co-operating :)
If you are new to our group please arrive early to pay for your ABA General Membership and sign the membership and waiver forms. Please find our route posted below. We will once again try to leave the shop right at 6:30pm. If you have any questions about tomorrow's ride or our group, please feel free to email me at brentt@bowcycle.com.

CYA tomorrow

BRENT

Umm ya, Mother Nature kicks our butts again.....

Well I think the weather pretty much speaks for itself. Blah! Yuck! Craptastic! etc etc etc. Sorry to have to cancel today's ride, such is life with cycling in Alberta in May. Stay tuned, forecast is looking up in the weeks to come, I hope :)

cya next week.

BRENT

Holiday Monday May 18th ride.....

greetings, sounds like everyone had a good ride this past Monday, sorry I missed it. Sounds like the weather this Monday may be a bit sketchy. Thinking it will be a last minute call for riding this Monday night. If people are interested and the weather is supportive we should give it a go. I have found in the past group rides around holidays can be tough. If you are interested in heading out for a quick loop Monday night (weather permitting) please post a comment. You can leave a post Anonymously so you do not need to setup any sort of account.

The shop is closed Monday, so we could always meet up at say Royal Oak Co-Op or something.

Cya Soon

BRENT

Monday May 10th ride is a go...

hey everybody, many thanks to all who have come out and cruised around on our first couple rides. So far so good on the weather forecast for this Monday nights ride.

Sadly I will not be able to join you this week. However Mark Fed. our awesome Parts Boss at Bow will be leading out the ride.

If the weather starts to look crazy later Monday afternoon I will update the blog again with the status of the ride.

have a great time

BRENT

Monday May 4th Ride is a go.....

So far so good, looks like the weather is going to cooperate. Drop by the shop a little before the ride to register at the Front Cash desk. We are doing our best to leave the shop promptly at 6:30pm, meet up just outside the Service Entrance.

cya tonight

BRENT

Monday May 4 is looking good...

Greetings

hopefully everyone will have sometime to spend riding in the sun this weekend. So far the forecast for Monday is looking good. I think we will do another nice little spin out to Cochrane. If you have not already registered and signed the waiver, please arrive early Monday night. Once again we will try to leave from the shop at 6:30pm sharp.

cya then

BRENT

Today's ride, Monday April 27th is CANCELED!!!

Sadly from my office window it looks relatively normal outside. However as I gaze into the InterWeb the weather network tells me otherwise. I believe the best course of action today is to bail out on riding outside.

The forecast for next week is looking GREAT, so stay tuned for the details of next Monday's ride.

If anyone has any question regarding these rides please feel free to email me at brentt@bowcycle.com

cya soon

BRENT

This Monday's Ride (April 27th) More Than Likely Canceled.........

greetings all, thanks to everyone who came out this past week and enjoyed the quick little ride out to Cochrane. Looks like the weather is not willing to co-operate this week. I will update the blog early Monday afternoon to say whether the ride this week will be a yeah or a nay. If the current forecast holds true it will definitely be a nay.

cya ya soon

BRENT

The first Bownesians No Drop ride is tonight...

Greetings all, looking forward to taking a bunch of people out for a spin. Remember to come down to the shop early to get your waiver signed and fees paid. Also take into consideration that the warm temps from this afternoon will not last too far into the evening. As the sun gets lower temps drop quickly this time of year. The wind may not be our friend this evening, so having a light jacket/vest and arms warmers are never a bad thing to have handy in the early season.

See ya at the shop, the plan is to leave at 6:30pm.

Our first group ride, Monday April 20 @ 6:30pm

Just a nice, easy, spin out to Cochrane and back. Take a look at the map below to view the route. This one will be around 48km round trip. The ride LEAVES AT 6:30pm. Meet just outside the service entrance of Bow on the grassy patch. Please remember to come out early to fill out the waiver/registration form and pay your fees. We will not have access to the store when we return so please bring only what you need because you will have to leave extra items in your locked vehicle.




cya Monday

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Things To Bring On The Ride

For some this will be old news, but for those of you who are new to riding out on the highway there are a number of items you should bring:

- Water bottles
- Tire levers
- Spare tube (or two)
- Hand pump, or CO2 cartridges
- Multi tool
- A jacket or vest, arm/knee warmers in case the weather changes.
- Some snacks for energy
- Cell phone

Group Riding Rules And Etiquette

check out this link:

http://www.bamacyclist.com/articles/groupridetech.html

Ride with Safety and Courtesy as your guide

Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear - Since those in front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility of the riders in back to inform the others by saying "Car back". This warns leading riders to maintain position and the potential of a passing car. Use discretion on the car back warning: on busy roads with continuous passing traffic, the call out of car back tends to lose it's significance. Use the warning "Car up" on narrow road to warn following riders of approaching traffic

Leave A Gap for Cars - When riding up hills or on narrow roads where you are impeding faster traffic, leave a gap for cars between every three or four bicycles. This way motorist can take advantage of shorter passing intervals and eventually move piecemeal around the entire group.

Wait At Turns - If the group becomes at all separated, even by a few dozen meters, someone should wait at the turn until the next rider arrives at the intersection, and so on until all riders have made the turn.

Move Off the Road When You Stop - Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic. It is usually best for the lead rider to pull forward in the stopping area and for other riders to pull in behind the rider in front of them. As a courtesy, during regroups the last cyclist in controls when the group will restart.

Riding Two Abreast - Ride single file or double file as appropriate to the roadway and traffic conditions and where allowed by law. Even where riding double is legal, set a good example and be an ambassador for cycling. Courtesy dictates that you single up when cars are trying to pass you if the lane is wide enough for them to safely do so.

Basic Guidelines for Group Rides

Be Punctual - Arrive at the ride start with your gear and equipment ready to ride. Accidents and equipment failures happen, so plan to arrive early enough to repair a flat or perform minor adjustments. Check your gear the night before so you your fellow riders won't have to wait while you hunt the missing glove or sock.

Be Predictable - Group riding requires even more attention to predictability than riding alone. Other riders expect you to ride straight, at a constant speed, unless you indicate differently:
Change Positions Correctly - Generally, slow traffic stays right, so you should try to pass others on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. DO NOT PASS ON THE RIGHT. In many cases a cyclist may not hear or be aware of you approaching them from behind. An unexpected noise may cause that cyclist to swerve in your direction when you pass. If approaching a lone cyclist, the offer of "good morning" or "nice day for a bike ride" lets the cyclist know your position and intent to pass.

Watch Out At Intersections - When approaching intersections requiring vehicles to yield or stop, signal your intention with hand and verbal signals. Call out "slowing" or "stopping" to alert those behind to the change in speed. In the event the leading cyclist calls "CLEAR" remember each cyclist is responsible for verifying that there is no approaching traffic before entering the intersection.

Communicate with the group - Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic.

Hand Signals - Hand signals for turning and stopping are as follows: Left arm straight out to signal a left turn. Left arm out and down with you palm to the rear to signal slowing or stopping. And, for a right turn, put your right arm straight out (in areas where this is legal) or put your left arm out and bent up.

Verbal Warnings - Along with hand signals, verbally warn cyclists behind you of your changes in direction or speed. The lead rider should call out "left turn," "right turn," "slowing," stopping," etc. Announce a turn well in advance of the intersection, so that members of the group have time to position themselves properly.

Announce Hazards - When riding in a tight group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, gravel, grates, and other hazards. Indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right, and by shouting "hole," "bump," etc., where required for safety. Everyone in a group should be made aware of hazards. However, not everyone needs to announce them.

Sign Up Info

Hey everyone,

As our Monday nights rides are a Bow Cycle Club event, everyone on the ride MUST be insured by the Alberta Bicycle Association (ABA). Please arrive at Bow Cycle at 6:00pm to fill out the waiver and pay your $35.00. This money will be sent to the ABA and you will be issued a General Membership with all the associated rights and privileges. If you are already a licensed or general member of the ABA you are still required to complete the waiver, and provide us with proof of membership to another club or team.

C u soon

BRENT
brentt@bowcycle.com

Welcome

Greetings one and all! Welcome to everything you need to know about the new Monday Night No Drop Rides at Bow Cycle. I am Brent Topilko, part Bow Staff Member, part computer tech, part always wishing I was riding my bike when I am not. The goal of these rides is to familiarize everyone with riding in a group, improving fitness, and having a great overall time out on the road. Please stay tuned to this blog space for details of our up and coming rides. We are hoping to have the first ride on Monday April 20.

Cya soon

BRENT

brentt@bowcycle.com