Tuesday Speed

here are A, B & C Rides:

The A ride is a no holds barred, go as fast as you can general sufferfest. If you get dropped from this ride no one is going to slow down and wait for you. However, if someone gets a flat or a mechanical, the ride usually stops until the problem is solved. The B and C rides are “no-drop rides” (i.e. nobody will be left behind).

A and B Route: thru Uplands/Terrace Rd then left on Cadboro Bay Road to ride the “Box”: South on Cadboro Bay Road, Right onto Landsdowne, Right onto Henderson, Right onto Cedar Hill X Road. Repeat four times. There is a sprint laps two and four.

The C-group will rides the University’s Ring Road, usually in a pace-line keeping everyone together with a sprint on the last lap. The C ride is always at the pace of the slowest rider, making this a great ride for an introduction to group riding.

Following the last lap of the Box, we go left on Cadboro Bay road and hard right onto Beach Drive through the Uplands gates. Carry on along the waterfront to Beacon Hill Park where, depending on the group, several laps are completed with a sprint on the final lap. The A-group usually does 5 laps of Beacon at full speed, the B-group does 4 laps, and the C-group does 2 laps.

Safety Tips:

*New riders should always make sure the rider next to them points out all turns. Identify any new riders in your group, and keep them informed of upcoming turns and hazards.

*Form a single file line on Landsdowne to facilitate a tight right turn onto Henderson. Swing wide before your turn so you come out on the right side of Henderson, as the turn is blind and cars can appear suddenly coming down Henderson.

*Lead riders turning onto Henderson should not drop back until after the yield sign where Foul Bay and Henderson merge. Lower Henderson is very narrow and oncoming traffic or cyclists passing from behind need room to maneuver.

*Be prepared to yield on short notice at the corner of Henderson and Cedar Hill X. Proceed with great caution if busses are in the right lane of Henderson waiting for the light as they block views of oncoming traffic.

*The stop sign at Cedar Hill X and Caddy Bay must be treated as a foot down full stop for the front riders in all groups on all laps of the box. Riders behind them can follow the front riders when a “clear” signal is given. If you’re in a chasing group, your lead riders must also make a foot-down stop before proceeding through this intersection.

*At the intersection of Caddy Bay and Lansdowne, be prepared to yield on short notice for left turners onto Lansdowne and for through traffic on Lansdowne. Watch the light and anticipate.

*If sprinting makes you nervous, sit out the sprint by simply holding your line (i.e., don’t swerve) and letting other riders move around you to contest the sprint. If you maintain your pre-sprint pace, you will catch the sprinters as they slow down and regroup after the sprint.