THE ROAR – Weekly Bulletin – April 10, 2017
April 10, 2017
Dear Fellow Cyclists:
In this issue:
1. UPCOMING RIDES – Sunday April 23, 2017; 8:00 am; FIRST RIDE
2. WHAT TO EXPECT ON DAY 1 (repeat for the benefit of new members)
3. 2017 MEMBERSHIPS NOW ON SALE – 143 Memberships to date
4. MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING – Tuesday April 11 at 8:00 pm
5. RIDE LEADERS WANTED
6. CLUB WEAR ON SALE – Order Today; Don’t Ride Naked
7. RIDE TO ITALY – Let us know if you’re interested
8. PICTURES OF THE WEEK
1. UPCOMING RIDES – Sunday April 23, 2017; 8:00 am; FIRST RIDE
2. WHAT TO EXPECT ON DAY 1 – we’re repeating this for the new members
We went into our first Training Session with 132 members and we came out with 124. 8 people asked for refunds after the Ride Capo’s (Fausto Rossetto) presentation. By and large, they said that they had never ridden in a group before and they felt intimidated. Some cited the number of rules, others the fact that Fausto said that we ride with a 6″ gap some were afraid that they wouldn’t be able to keep up. Only one person spoke of a perceived personality conflict between themselves and Fausto. “Welcome to the club,” was my answer and we settled that one.
For the benefit of all the new members (which is a little over 40 people right now), let me describe what happens on Day 1 and why you should not be FREAKING OUT.
You will be arriving at least 15 minutes early. I recommend 30 minutes. You will park in the south lots (south is on your right side as you come up the drive). You will prep your gear and your bike and make your way to the Phoenix – the yellow building. On the way to the Phoenix, you will high-five or fist pump anyone that offers a sign of welcome for surely, you are welcome.
You will fill your water bottle unless you have already done so.
You will gather on the grassy knoll at the appointed time and listen to the inspirational address of our president, Rick Marchesan. You will applaud whenever he pauses for more than just a breath. He too needs to be inspired.
Then you will break out into your groups and here is where the fun begins and the anxiety starts to mount. Normally you will have already signed into a group on our sign-up calendar. The calendar gives you basic info about who the ride leader is, the average speed of the ride and a brief course description. But today you’re still finding your way around.
I strongly recommend that you join the GREEN GROUP if you are new to group riding even if you believe yourself to be a strong rider. The GREEN GROUP is a bit slower in speed, but we are the place where future greatness is incubated and it is the place where mistakes can be made in a safe environment. For the first couple of weeks, we’ll have a faster GREEN GROUP for the more experienced non-group riders.
On DAY 1, we’ll take a few minutes to review our ride rules and practices and then we’ll practice the rules.
Forget about Fausto’s 6″ gap. He’s never ridden in anything as tight as a 6″ gap – he’s dreaming. I like to ride one wheel length from the person in front of me and we’ll let you ride wherever it is that you feel comfortable. It takes time to get used to picking up on a rider’s body language. As well, when you settle into a group, you’ll get to know your fellow riders and you will begin to close the gap.
In the GREEN GROUP, we concentrate on good riding form. You will start as a group of riders and you will finish as a rider in a group. You will learn that you, as an individual are not important – the unit is what is important and you ride FOR the unit a much as you ride in a unit. We like to see you matching your partner shoulder to shoulder (much more important than the gap); we will concentrate on starting as a group and stopping as a group. Maybe we’ll try a rotation or two – maybe not. The group members have to ride as pairs and come to a safe and controlled stop before we begin to dance with rotations.
At the end, when we get back, we’ll sit down to a nice lunch and get to know one another. There’s no reason to feel intimidated – we all started as novices at one point or another. Furthermore, there is no shame in sticking with the GREENS (tie one over from Saturday night and tell me if the REDS are any fun on Sunday morning). Likewise, you will not hurt anyone’s feelings if you move to another group. Our goal is to move you up the ladder, but we like to send up people that have been taught some of the finer points of riding as a unit and that feel comfortable with group riding.
3. 143 MEMBERS REGISTERED SO FAR FOR 2017 – sign up before it’s too late
Right now, we have filled up 143 of the 160 membership spots. That leaves 17 more spots. Sign up now and don’t get left out in the cold.
In order to register, you will have to log into the CCN BIKES website www.ccnbikes.com . Click “LOGIN” in the far-right corner. You can use last year’s username and password or create a new account. Once you have logged in, you will be brought through 2 different areas: Insurance and Membership.
Once you have logged in, click on “FIND” in menu bar; then click “CLUBS” and do a search for “Veneto”. Once on our page, you can start the registration process. At a certain point, you will be prompted to purchase a Membership or License with the OCA. Here you will purchase an “Affiliate Club Membership” for $40. Go through all the process and in the end, it will kick you back to the Veneto Cycling Club membership purchase for $85. You will have 2 items to pay for at check-out: the OCA Membership (really your insurance premium) for $40 and the VCC Membership for $85. That’s a total of $125.
You will also be prompted to fill out an on-line waiver form. This means that the club is only responsible for scraping you off the road in case of an accident – THAT’S IT. Use your $40 insurance or your personal vehicle insurance (if applicable – your bike is your personal vehicle) for the rest. In case you do not understand the meaning of “THAT’S IT”, we get you to sign a paper version on Day 1 as well.
Have fun.
4. MANDATORY SAFETY TRAINING – Tuesday April 11 at 8:00 pm
A second chance at redemption
Of the 132 members that signed up, 105 came out on April 2 for the first Safety Training Session. Thank you, it’s important to us.
As for the 25 that could not make it (and to those that will join in the coming days), you have a chance to get your training on Tuesday April 11 at 8:00pm at the Phoenix Room (yellow building) at the Veneto Centre.
Now, don’t give up on yourselves and don’t let me down. You’ve been given a second chance at redemption – take it. You’re in the batter’s box and they’ve already thrown 1 strike at you. Now you’ve got a second chance to hit the ball or get a second strike. In that case, you’ll be playing with a full count and have but one more chance.
You can prepare by reviewing the following documents found on our website: Group Riding Techniques and VCC Ride Guide
MEMBERSHIP CARDS WILL ONLY BE ISSUED AFTER YOU ATTEND THE SAFETY TRAINING SESSION – No Exceptions
In order to ride, you will have to present your membership card.
Don’t strike out and don’t let me down. More importantly, don’t let yourself down and don’t let your team down.
5. ORDER YOUR VCC® CLUB WEAR
Order your VCC® Club Wear from our virtual store by following this link: http://venetocentre.com/site/venetocycling/shop/
If you enter the site from the landing page, you will find the “SHOP” tab in the “MEMBERSHIP” pull-down menu.
If you want to know what size to order, take a trip to CyclePath at 70 Winges Rd, Woodbridge and ask Sam to size you up. But don’t wait too long or you’ll miss the first order. Then you’ll have to wait for the second order and probably August until you see the goods.
Don’t get caught like this guy.
6. ITALIAN TRIP – We’re on our way
On April 5 about 35 members met at an info night for the trip to Italy being organized for September.
35 members: That’s good enough for me. We’re good to go.
If you would like to get on board, just send us an e-mail and ask to be placed on the Italy Trip mailing list and details will come your way.
7. VCC PICTURES OF THE WEEK
In order to make it into the VCC Bulletin, you need to do 3 things:
1. Wear a VCC Jersey or stand next to someone wearing a VCC Jersey, and
2. Take a picture or have one taken of you
3. Forward it to me
Sorry, none this week.
Ciao for now,
Sandro
