New Gear Works group ride descriptions

These will be the new ride catagories for the upcoming group ride season. Read and heed:

GEARWORKS RIDE CATEGORIES AND PACE DESCRIPTIONS: Our groups are growing especially on Tuesday nights and with that come more variety in ability and fitness levels. To attempt to serve that end and hopefully have some solution to some of the problems of large groups with too many ability levels within, we have new category system for our Tuesday night rides and for our Saturday morning rides.

NOTE: When description states "ability to maintain" a particular speed, this indicates ability to remain at that speed for a reasonable and steady amount of time -- it does not refer to "average" pace for entire ride. Also some rides say they have no or little speed control, but riders are still expected to obey any and all traffic laws.


NEW RIDE CATEGORIES AND PACE DESCRIPTIONS FOR TUESDAY NIGHTS:
Fast A Ride - Riders must have the ability to maintain 22-24 MPH; High endurance with very little speed control.
Fast Road: This is it!! Be ready for anything, and prepared to ride 45 to 60 miles with the ability to maintain a speed of 22-24 miles per hour. There might be a little waiting for those that fall behind, or maybe no waiting. These rides are wholly self supported. Riders need to be comfortable working with other riders in a pace line, and be willing to take hard pulls. Wear your helmet and buckle your seat belt.
Intermediate B+ Ride - Riders must have the ability to maintain 20-22 MPH; Moderate/hard endurance for experienced riders with some speed control by the ride leader, Darren.

Intermediate B Ride - Riders must have ability to maintain 18-19 MPH; Low to Moderate endurance for experienced riders with moderate to strict speed control by the ride leader, Charlie or Peter.

Two Intermediate Road Rides B+ and B: These two intermediate rides make up the core of the GWC led rides. There will be a few short stops, and someone will wait at turns. Rides will be from 30 to 50 miles long, with the ability to maintain 20-22 miles per hour for the B+ group and around 18-19 miles per hour for the B group. Bring water, stuff to fix a flat, energy food, and don’t forget your helmet! Road bikes only, please. A GWC staff member will accompany this ride to help work with riders on group form and pace line etiquette. Our goal is to help you become a better rider, learn new routes, and get you acquainted with other riders so you can schedule your own rides. These rides generally leave every Tuesday night at 6pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00am. Feel free to call Friday night to verify that there will be a ride. You can also request that your name and e-mail is added to the GWC Road Ride List. This will enable you to receive an informative email Friday night.





NEW RIDE CATEGORIES AND PACE DESCRIPTIONS FOR SATURDAY MORNINGS:
Intermediate B+ Ride - Riders must have the ability to maintain 20-22 MPH; Moderate/hard endurance for experienced riders with some speed control by the ride leader, Darren.

Intermediate B Ride - Riders must have ability to maintain 18-19 MPH; Low to Moderate endurance for experienced riders with moderate to strict speed control by the ride leader, Charlie or Peter.


Two Intermediate Road Rides B+ and B: These two intermediate rides make up the core of the GWC led rides. There will be a few short stops, and someone will wait at turns. Rides will be from 30 to 50 miles long, with the ability to maintain 20-22 miles per hour for the B+ group and around 18-19 miles per hour for the B group. Bring water, stuff to fix a flat, energy food, and don’t forget your helmet! Road bikes only, please. A GWC staff member will accompany this ride to help work with riders on group form and pace line etiquette. Our goal is to help you become a better rider, learn new routes, and get you acquainted with other riders so you can schedule your own rides. These rides generally leave every Tuesday night at 6pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00am. Feel free to call Friday night to verify that there will be a ride. You can also request that your name and e-mail is added to the GWC Road Ride List. This will enable you to receive an informative email Friday night.

Beginner C Ride- Riders must be able to maintain 12-14 MPH; Lowest endurance for least experienced riders with the strictest speed control.

Beginner Road:
Occasionally these rides are slower paced, but usually average around 14 miles per hour. The goal of this ride is to either teach or reinforce pace line riding, bicycle handling skills and group ride etiquette There will be stops, and waiting for those that fall behind. You should bring plenty of water, and the means to fix a flat (pump, tube, tools etc...). You also must have a helmet. A GWC staff member leads the beginner rides on Sat. mornings at 8:00am. Feel free to call Friday evening to verify that there will be a ride. You can also request that your name and email be added to the GWC Road Ride list. You will receive an informative e-mail every Friday night. Please, road bikes only.