ride up for Jan 1

I am not on a cruise but i look just like this lady and been sick since last Friday with the stomach virus or i would be riding on January 1

Frank has up a club ride, no fast riders for 12 noon,  29 miles, I really really wanted to do this ride but i can still barely hold my head up.

So if any of you got winter gear for Christmas, put it on and go biking.

libby

SPINNING at ACAC

We HAVE come a long ways LADIES

Spinning class is ON, Jan 12 noon

wear biking clothes and bring bathing suit to use the pools afterwards

private showers, steam room and sauna, ENJOY

25 folks have signed up, still room for some friends or spouses

EMAIL me if bringing extra folks.

Looking forward to a fun day.

can't make the SRT today

hopefully some of you chicks will still go and ride, but i cannot make it today, sorry

Carol and Libby Frozen to the core

Man, it was waaaaaaaaayyyyy colder this morning than I thought it would be. Carol showed up to ride, so we bundled up and took off. We managed 20 miles but we froze almost the entire time.

Our feetsies and handsies froze solid. But despite this, we had a good time. Nothing like braving the elements and laying down some miles.

I will be at the Betzwood Bridge Park entrance of the Schuylkill River Trail on December 15, Monday morning, start at 10:00 am SHARP

Supposed to be near 60, HOPEFULLY!!

shorter ride for Saturday

22 mile ride, too cold, forecast for low 30s and windy

so ride will be shorter and a quick pace

libby

IT'S FREEEEEEEEE

NOW I GOT YOUR ATTENTION

Now if a free spinning class does not get you off your butt, i do not know what will

Jan 11 Sunday 12 noon, refreshments also provided by ACAC

http://westchester.acac.com/directions.html

two instructors, wild and crazzzzzy Diane and her equally fitness obsessed husband

now, if yu are sitting on your backside, saying, i cant do spinning, i am afraid, everyone is better than me

yada  yada yada

you can come and simply sit on the bike, put it at the lowest tension and just spin, NO pressure to set any Lance Armstrong records

NO ONE cares, just get yourself out of the house this January and try something new

many many of you on this list have never showed up for any rides, this class is a chance to try biking and meet some folks

WHAT do you have to lose, nothing except some sweat!

ACAC also has a nice shower facility, hot tub, bring your bathing suit, sauna and steam rooms,

sauna and steam rooms for each separate sex

no sitting next to some fat guy leering at you

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER, you will sign in and have to sign a waiver saying you will not sue the club if you actually strain something

no special shoes or clothes required, if you have the mountain bike shoes they work on the spinning bikes

EMAIL and reserve your spot

first come first served

Ride up for Saturday Dec 13

Meet at Hot Foot at 930 am

Weather is supposed to be mid 40s, a regular heat wave!!

Let's see some chicks come out for a great ride, cue # 145

Get off the couch and enjoy a great ride.

NO EXCUSES

Free spinning class at ACAC

Chicks

A spinning and water exercise instructor at ACAC asked me if i would be interested in having a free complimentary spinning class at ACAC for the Biker Chicks.

If interested email me at my gmail address on the sidebar of the blog. Most likely times for this class would be an evening or a weekend day.

another fabo ride

Biker Chicks or I should say chick, just me, had a great ride. I followed Frank's group for about 6 miles and then i turned off to do a shorter ride. He was doing 33 miles and I was not sure about this cold and that many miles.

I saw a fox and a deer on the ride, the other day i saw a beautiful grey heron in flight. Roads are quiet and peaceful. I do highly recommend good winter gear. The Gore Windstopper Jacket is a must.

Anyone who wants to try cold weather biking, just email me. I went out 4x this week.

SRT new extension now open, ride up for Saturday

This is the Schuylkill River Trail heading west from Betzwood. You now have two extensions to bike on heading west. The Phoenixville extension from its beginning to the parking lot in Mt Clare is 2 miles, you can bike even further by biking along the canal and turning around at Produce Junction at the intersection of RT 29 and the canal road.

I then did the Perkiomen extension and by the time I got back to Betzwood I had biked 18 miles. So there is lots of new biking on the trail. I then biked to the edge of Norristown and my total miles were 28 and I never had to go past Norristown nor Conshocken.

Ride up for Saturday Dec 6, meet at Hot Foot, 18 or 24 miles depending on how cold it is.

YOU MUST have thick heavy gloves, skull cap and ear covers, thick tights, shoes covers and a windstopping jacket.  Check the comments section on the last post. My sister gave a good recommendation for shoe and hand warmers.

Biking in the winter is just as fun as biking in the summer. Plus NO ONE is on the Schuylkill River Trail. So you have it to yourself.

FABO ride today

ladies

If you have the right gear, winter biking is as fun as summer biking. I will be riding at least 2-3 times a week as long as the sun shines and it hits 35 or above, email me if you want to ride. I will post rides as well, so check this blog and or the WCCC ride page.

here is a list of what you need;

1. skull cap AND ear covers OR a balaclava, again, look on the Net for bargains

2. heavy winter biking socks

3. shoe covers

4. heavy winter gloves

5. eyewear or your eyes will tear up

6. good winter tights

7. a Gore Windstopper bright yellow jacket- use the Internet to search for one, I saw one at nashbar.com for $70 and I also found a coupon on the Net and got another 20% knocked off

use the Internet and do a good search, cheap bike clothes can be found on sale if you are willing to spend some time looking, also, do a search for Coupons, you would be surprised what you can find

Biker Chick Ride up for Saturday Nov 29

9:30 am, meet at Hot Foot

nice flat ride, no cue made yet, but we will head out Sconneltown and work our way over to N Creek, cross rt 162, cross 322 and head out N Creek to the tunnel near Downingtown, turn around there and head back on Sunset Hollow, cross rt 100 and work our way over to Old Phoenixville Pike and home, around 24 miles, if folks want to do more, we can go through the tunnel and ride a little in Downingtown

I did this ride yesterday and it was great, no climb back into the borough, so hills are a minimum

suggest long pants and ear covers, but weather looks good

hope to see some chicks,

if not, I will be out on the roads anyhow, I have brand new wheels and an upgraded derailleur and it works sooooo well, my new wheels are also super duper

if this doesn't motivate you, NOTHING WILL

Next time you're scared to do something, think of these baby ducks. Look at these little warriors. My favorite part is that they flap their wings the whole time they're falling. Honestly, they have no chance of flying with those little wings. But, they hop right out of the nest, flap their wings like they're bald eagles, and fall like rocks all the way to the ground.

It's the time of the offseason when many triathletes are looking to plan out 2009's race schedule. Should you take the leap and sign up for that ironman, or marathon, or century, or open water swim? Are you scared? Flap your wings! Maybe you'll fall like a rock... But, you can always bounce off the ground like the little ducks and keep trying.

found this at http://freybird.blogspot.com/

Christmas Wish list for cyclists

Garmin  Edge® 605  https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=10884

Road ID     http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

Sidi road shoes     http://www.sidiusa.com/gen6.6carbwmn_S08.html

Bell Bike Helmets    http://www.bellbikehelmets.com/productDetail.asp?prodID=2

Cool bike pack for snacks     http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23200&subcategory_ID=2310

Bike Pump  http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=18238&item=40-1871&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

Good eyewear  http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23052&subcategory_ID=2510

Road Rage Chain Lube http://www.pedros.com/products_bikecare.htm

Nice midweight jacket http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=25474&subcategory_ID=1230&estore_ID=1056

The Best bike gloves EVER  http://www.rei.com/product/765712

Excellent  bike tires for Chester County roads Continental Gator Skins  http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=22301&item=50-3306&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

Planet Bike Super Flash light   http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-eXtreme-Bicycle/dp/B000KBEH1W

Good Bike Saddle  http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/product.html?idc=db08912e8e&c=Saddles

Happy Thanksgiving to All

No matter what the holiday, the chicks are always in the kitchen!!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends. Some day warm weather will come back and we can bike again.

ok what happened??

Now we have SNOW? what happened to Fall and all the biking we did last year at this time??

I like snow, just not in November!

well the rain left

but now we got cold, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!  No rides posted until weather changes, has to get at least into the 40s..

Bike Clinic was a huge success last Sunday. Lots of folks and lots of information. Frank and Viktor are a great pair and know sooooo much about bikes.

rain rain go away

i will not be leading the saturday ride, if by some chance, the roads dry and some of you want to ride, meet at Hot Foot at 930 and go where ever you want to bike

I just got new wheels and derailleur and i do not want to get my bike all gunked up in the mud and wet stuff covering the roads.

Bike clinic is ON for Sunday, 3:00 pm

see you then

Biker Chick goals for next season

Ladies

We have had one fine first seaon of biking. We had lots of ladies at the beginning of the season and then lost many over the summer. Some gals bought new bikes, some did not.  I noticed throughout the summer that the good biking folks show up often and bike often. Biking becomes a priority for them. 

For next season, that is the Biker Chick Goal - Make biking a priority. You have all winter to look for a bike and get some bike clothing. Put it on your Christmas list or birthday list.

How to make biking a priority:

1. put in on your big family calendar each week

2. make it part of your exercise plan

3. get some nifty bike clothing

4. come to a bike clinic even if you do not have a bike, just come and watch

5. decide you want to be fitter and biking is the way to do it

6. go to one of the area sponsored rides, sooooo much fun

7. join the WCCC bike club and get a jersey, orders are now being taken for a spring delivery of items

8. get a friend to come bike with you and the chicks

9. buy a GPS, Ellen did! and she loves it

10. Ellen is a good example of a chick who went from casual biking to making it a proirity and she had a great season

LOOK for rides to continue all through the winter, January 1 is a big WCCC ride and lots of fun.

Put it on your calendar, REMEMBER, chicks who ride often get BETTER. You cannot just show up once or twice a season and ride. YOU need to get out and bike and get better. Get your new bike or whatever gear you need to improve.

Valley Forge ride and Clinic update

I did this ride yesterday in the car, it looks like a doable ride but not this time of the year. I will try this ride next summer, it would be best to do it very early on a Sunday in August. Traffic is lighter. Found some nice back roads to VF. Another possibility is to start the ride at Chesterbrook Shopping Center.

I have no rides up for weekdays as my bike is getting new wheels and derailleur this week. Hopefully I will have it back for Saturday Nov 15.

Clinic is on for Nov 16,  changing the start time to 3 pm for tire changing and 3:30 for chain and cable work. It gets dark so early, my garage will be too dark to see well.

Tea Party soooooo much fun

Tea Party today at the Lincoln Room was sooooooo much fun today. We had 7 ladies and enjoyed high tea with small sandwiches and teas and an assortment of wonderful sweets.

thanks to Mary Jane for getting this together. 

If you have never been to the Lincoln Room

  (http://www.lincolnroomwestchester.com/)

take some time and visit this charming little tea room. 

saturday ride, nov 8 cancelled

sitting here missing biking

ladies

still sitting here on Saturday morning waiting out the rain, have you ever seen such a long stretch of wet weather!!!

anyhooooo..................

planning a big bike ride, very very exciting, mark your calendar, Nov 16, the same day of the clinic, have a great day, ride all morning, then come fix and maintain your bike,

leave at 8 am from my house 206 E Virginia Ave WC  or meet in Malvern as the start place

planning on biking from West Chester to Betzwood Bridge Schuylkill River Trail, approx 20 miles, ride the trail  to Conshohocken, 15 miles, eat lunch somewhere and then bike home.

Probably going to be around 70 miles, but remember, a good chunk will be on the SRT and that will be flat and easy.

Suggest having a backup plan in case  you cannot make it all the way back. A good pick up might be in Paoli.

IS ANYONE BRAVE enough to try this ride??? email me if you are!!

i will drive the route to Betzwood today and check it out and see if it is too hilly.

not sure

it is 7:30 and raining

will wait and see what it might be like at 9:30

but from the looks of things, roads are wet and covered in leaves

the ride i have is doable even in these conditions, so i will wait and see

Bike Clinic rescheduled

November 16, Sunday 4 pm

if you need tire changing skills come at 3 pm

clinic at 4 will focus on chain repair and cable repair

if you want to actually change your cable, make sure to go buy one that fits your bike

Viktor also recommends:

1)       Chain tool (normal one or in a pinch the mini-tool ones)

2)       A master link or a chain pin (master link is much preferred)

3)       Patience

Make a free ID to carry on bike

http://www.medids.com/free-id.php

Follow the above link and make and print a nice wallet size ID card that you should carry in your bike bag. Accidents can and do happen and having important contact information and medical history on a small card may prove helpful.

Great great ride today

Seriously, riding a bike is a better alternative to dieting!!!

Had a nice group of riders, we did 40 miles and enjoyed a bootiful ride. One newbie,  Mary Pat, only on her 2nd ride, has improved already. She was flying around southern Chester County.

I am offering an Election Day Ride, 68 degrees, vote early then go out for a nice ride. Meet at my house, 206 E Virginia Ave, WC boro at 10:30 am. We will do between 25-30 miles depending on who shows up.

Thursday Nov 6,  meet at 9:30 am, would love to take some chicks to the Schuylkill River Trail. I have a large car and can take 3 ladies with me if interested.

Saturday Nov 8- 30 miles cue# 165, 9:30 am Hot Foot , out to Downingtown, Eagleview and back on Rt 842, easy ride and few hills except rt 842.

tea party change

Tea party is Nov 8 not Nov 11

sorry

It's a Tea Party

Biker Chicks Tea (bring a friend)
Saturday November 11
2:00
Lincoln Tea Room, 28 W. Market St, West Chester (between Church and High St)
RSVP by 11/5 to maryjane.rogan@gmail.com

If we have 10 or more we will do a traditional tea. Otherwise we can order from the menu. See link below.

http://www.lincolnroomwestchester.com/index.php

Two rides up for this week

Come on ladies, sunshine is SUPPOSED to come back for later in the week, right now this weather sucks.

thursday oct 30, 10 am, meet at Shaws bridge, 25 miles, easy

saturday nov 1, 9:30 am NEW TIME, meet at Hot Foot, cue 161 38 miles, gorgeous ride, should be delightful with warmer temps

got sick

hey ladies

coming down with something, headache and sore throat, so I cannot make the ride tomorrow

maybe someone else can try and get a group together

sorry

hope the weather clears and we can get some rides in next week

libby

Ride up for Sunday Oct 26

ladies

will run a 30 mile ride tomorrow at 1 pm, start at Hot Foot, will come home the short cut way and avoid RT 842 

nice route and fairly flat

so if around, join me

NO ride saturday Oct 25

ride cancelled due to weather

If it is raining

if it is raining and or predicting rain, RIDE will not go

check blog early, will get a post up by 7 am unless it is raining, if so turn over and go back to sleep 

so far forecast is gloomy, Fall has certainly turned cold toooo soon

BIKE CLINIC Sunday Oct 26

BIKE CLINIC, you must email me if you are comimg, if no emails, NO clinic!

October 26 at my house 206 E Virginia Ave WC boro

If you want to learn to change a tire, come at 4:30 pm SHARP with your bike. I will teach you how to change a tire and how to clean your chain. Bring old Tshirts for cleaning chain.

If you want to learn how to fix a cable and or chain, come at 5:30 sharp and viktor of WCCC will give us lessons.

Posted below is what you need for chain and cable repair.

(If you buy a cable, make sure to tell the store the brand name of your derailleur. )

Here’s what anyone would need for chain repair, this is from Viktor:

 

1)       Chain tool (normal one or in a pinch the mini-tool ones)

2)       A master link or a chain pin (master link is much preferred)

3)       Patience

 

Here’s what you need for a cable repair:

 

1)       New cable (derailleur or brake – they are NOT the same, but all derailleur cables work for all derailleurs – front, back or brand and ditto for all brake cables work with all brakes (front/back or brand) to my knowledge.

2)       Hex key that fits the items you are fixing. I don’t recall the size – 5mm, most likely – to hold the cable in place

3)       Some knowledge of how to run the cable and then adjust what you are dealing with – derailleur/brake…

4)       More patience.

Safety First

Chicks

One of the B riders in the West Chester Cycling Club had an accident while riding, he is fine now, broken collarbone and bruises. He did say that he can now see the importance of carrying a cell phone.

SO LET ME AGAIN remind chicks what you should carry BEFORE riding.

1. charged cell phone with a contact called ICE (in case of emergency) and have a number in there of someone who will answer the phone when called while you are riding!!

2. ROAD ID, type that into google, buy a good road ID bracelet or ankle band

3. Carry your driver's license and or insurance card in you bike bag

4. Speaking of bike bags, GET ONE and put 2 spare tubes in it, get an inflation system that you can use, carry money as well in bag

5. Two water bottle holders and two water bottles. Always carry more than you think you will need, carry some type of snack as well.

6. Good pack for snacks, click here

7. Attend a bike clinic and learn how to change a tire.

Upcoming Events for Chicks

1. Wednesday Oct 22 7:00 pm Hot Foot Cycles is doing a professional bike fitting for Viktor Ohnjec, he is inviting any and all to come watch it and get some ideas about how your own bike fits  you. If you are riding and get lower back pain, shoulder pain or knee pain, you probably have a bike that does not fit you well. This clinic is YOUR ANSWER to that problem. It is FREE. Just go and watch and learn.

2. Bike Maintenance Clinic- date and time to be announced, clinic will focus on 3 things and have 3 stations, tire changing, chain maintenance at one station, chain repair at another and how to fix a broken cable at another. More details to come. We were out yesterday and had a chick suffer a broken cable, and I have been out riding and had someone have a broken chain. So we need to raise the bar in our ability to take care of oursevles on the road.

3. Saturday morning Biker Chick Ride, October 26, meet at Betzwood Bridge Parking lot at 8:30 am. We will bike all they way around the Art Museum. This ride is very fun, MLK Drive and Kelly Drive are closed to cars, so it is fun fun fun to bike on the roads and not have to worry about cars. Only road biking with cars will be in Manyunk. WILL STOP on the way back at the Couch Tomato for rest and snacks. This ride is taking the place of the usual Saturday morning ride from Hot Foot.

Directions to Betzwood, take Rt 202 north to the RT 422 west exit, take rt 422 to the Trooper Exit, bear left and keep going left even though it looks like you cannot go left.

Follow the road around to the parking lot, you will see lots of parked cars, so GET there EARLY or we will leave without you. Meet at the bathroom. Red brick building. Leave at 8:45 am SHARP.

Get  your fanny out of bed next saturday and come bike. FIND the time. Get a babysitter if you have too, get hubby to take the kids, whatever it takes, COME BIKE.

Ride start times

All rides on Saturday morning with the West Chester Cycling Club take off at 8:40 am, if you are not a club member, get there earlier as you have to sign a waiver form kept at Hot Foot Cycles.

SOON though start times will change as it gets colder and colder. So always check WCCC ride page or this blog for ride time updates.

what to wear in the in between weather

ladies

biking in this inbetween weather can be tricky

suggest good arm warmers and leg warmers

suggest wearing several layers of a good base layer

long pants are also nice, I went out this morning and had 3 tops on, windstopper arm warmers and long pants

it was a perfect outfit, never cold and never too hot

so come out tomorrow, two good options for ALL LEVELS

slower easier 30 mile ride

or faster longer 44 mile ride

cannot say that there is not something for everyone

libby

this is what biking means to me

Cyclists are often accused of taking the sport too seriously, expensive equipment, heart rate monitors,  cadence monitors and the list goes on and on, 

I took this right off my son's blog....

Have fun with your triathlon training and racing and biking!

At the 2008 AVDA 5K run/walk in Delray Beach on October 11, 2008, there was a mixture of weekend warriors, dedicated athletes, and high school kids. The high school kids appeared to be part of a fund raising activity... maybe something through their school to raise money for the ADVA.

It was cool to see the kids run the race. They did a few things that I noticed.

They ran in groups and talked with eachother.

They laughed and joked during the race.

Jokingly, they trash talked one another.

They encouraged their friends to run faster.

They smiled!

What a stark contrast to many of the overly serious local triathletes that show up to these races. While I certainly encourage approaching your training with seriousness, I really dislike triathletes that take themselves too seriously.

These are the guys and ladies who don't wave when they pass you on the bike. The people that run with an ipod, GPS monitor, watch, and heart rate monitor, and they check them every 5 seconds. The triathletes that ride with their $2000 Zipp wheels for a saturday recovery ride. The triathletes that wear a full body racing suit and facemask style goggles to the masters swim practice. Basically, the triathletes who race with their face crumpled into a grimace instead of shining with a smile.

Have fun! Talk with your buddies during a race. Trash talk them, laugh, run in a group. You're slow anyway, so why not run the race with your buddy who's coming in 30 seconds slower than you?

Saturday Ride and Sunday Ride

Saturday

TWO OPTIONS

1. cue #31 Ellen Zadoff will lead this ride, 44 miles, moderately hilly to rolling. Beautiful cue, pace at 12.5

2. Ride with Libby, NEWBIE RIDE, CUE #140, it does the same first 20 miles as cue #31, but this cue will come down RT 926, turn left on Tanguy and head home on Westtown Road into the boro. Total miles=30. Pace determined by who shows up. So any one looking to ride on Tar and Chip FREE roads, come on out. There is a WaWa at mile 10 if anyone needs to stop and rest.

Sunday

Ride the Schuylkill River Trail, meet at Betzwood at 9 am. If anyone is going to this ride, EMAIL ME as I need a ride to the trail. I have no car this Sunday. I can take both wheels off my bike to squeze into a SUV.

Sunday's ride will include a food stop in Manyunk at the Couch Tomato.

This ride is about 32 miles

Wednesday morning ride Oct 15

Ellen and I are doing  an approx 40 mile ride leaving at 9:30 am, pace will be 12.5 mph average

For road bikes only, email me if interested in joining us. Doing the 25 mile course of the Dog Daze ride but since we will leave from Ellen's house in the boro it will add about 12 or so miles to the course.

So if looking for a little challenge, come on out.

Libby

Great ride

Saturday's ride was terrific, the weather was sooooo nice. Two newbie chicks paired up and rode together and the rest of us ran a rather fast paced ride about 38  miles. Even with the change in the cue, I still clocked in 38 miles.

Embedded a cool video made by Steve P of WCCC. He wore a helmet cam.

Such fun, I got to get a helmet cam!!

WCCC Sunday Show-n-Go from Steve Petchon on Vimeo.

Fabo ride this morning

Ladies

Had a brand new Biker Chick this morning, Cassandra, a great lady and good rider.She recently did the Live Strong ride in honor of her sister who is right now undergoing cancer treatment.

She said biking has kept her sane.  We did 23 miles and it was beeeaaaauuuutiful today. Saw lots of riders on the road as well.

So hats off to our new Chick, not only did she get on her bike and ride, but she did very well.

Lets get you ladies off of your duffs and come biking this Saturday morning. The ride is about 34 miles from the boro or 24 from Shaws Bridge.

So what is your excuse??

thursday morning ride

i will head down this morning, but if the roads are wet, NO biking, cuz wet roads always mean a flat tire for me, and i just got these new tires,

but i will be there at 10 am and will check out the roads, now if it starts raining prior to 10, i will not be there

libby

Saturday's ride

cue #161

There is some type of road construction on Mortonville Rd, we will change the cue slightly to accommodate this obstacle. Stay on Strasburg at mile 21 we will stay on Strasburg and then turn left at Brandywine Creek Road.

This will shorten the ride as well. Hope to see some new chicks out, as the pace will be easy too.

New bike tires by Continental

I got several flat tires this summer  and had numerous holes in my tires like the one above.

I got a flat on the Seagull Century as well. Someone recommended the Continental  Ultra Gator Skins, found them on Performance's website and they were on sale for $34 each and got $5 knocked off with a coupon on the website.

Just wanted to add as well, one of the reasons I have gotten so many flats is that I AM RIDING!!!! If  you  have never gotten a flat, you should be riding more. Or else you got the best tires ever.

Who knows but I spent a while getting those new tires on my bike. It took 8 hands to stretch them over my rims, had to get my dogs to help!

Woof woof, we did it.

SUNDAY October 19 9:00 am

Ride the Schyulkill River Trail with Biker Chicks, meet at Betzwood Bridge Park entrance, ride to Manyunk, lunch or snack at the Couch Tomato and head home. We will not use the Tow Path in Manyunk but bike on the roads. Tow Path is a sure fire flat tire. We will meet at the bathrooms at the Betzwood Park.

This ride is about 32 miles. Heavy mountain bikes are not recommended. Either a cross bike or road bike is best. If you are serious about riding you will need to think about getting a good bike. Biker Chicks is not just a recreational biking group but women looking to improve their biking. Goal is to ride road bikes and to do lots of riding.

This is the 3rd newbie ride posted this month, so I want to see some new faces. 

WE MADE IT, newbie rides at bottom of post

Ladies

Ellen and I and Eileen and her hubby Ron all completed the 100 miles and came in by 4:30 pm. We started at 7 am and took every rest stop which were placed at every 20 miles.

The day was beyond beautiful, no wind and cool. Over 6000 riders were all on the roads and having fun. I saw riders of all types and ages. Lots of ladies on the road as well. All riders were courteous and obeyed good riding rules.

Unfortunately I have few pics as my camera got so dirty you cannot see what I was photographing. Got a few pics and Eileen sent me some from her phone. My hands got quite dirty as I had a flat and then stepped onto a Power Bar and had to get it out of my cleat. So my hands were sticky and black.

So my camera lens was covered in gunk! oh well

But we had a blast, I AM DEFINITELY planning on doing this ride again next  year. So I am throwing down the challenge now. I would love to see lots of chicks at this ride. It is beyond fun and not that hard to do. It is as flat as a pancake. There are rest stops every 20 miles. We just biked 20 miles, then stopped. Biked another 20 miles and stopped. So that made the ride very doable. This was Ellen's mindset and trust me, it helped greatly.

The food at the rest stops was not so good.  Will be better prepared next year.There is a place to buy lunch at the lunch stop but Ellen and I did not find it. Ron and Eileen did. Again, live and learn.

But for two newbies to  century riding, Ellen and I, did spectacular. We averaged near 14 mph for the 100 miles.

Not sure how Ellen is this Sunday morning, but I woke and felt fine and took my dogs for an hour walk. I did make a critical mistake at the ride and did not drink enough water. Will not make that mistake again.

SO LADIES, join me next year. It is really fun. Make it a goal for your cycling season next year. All you ladies sitting at home afraid to bike, all I got to say is  " why"??

Why are you afraid to bike. I am an old lady, nearing 60. If I can do it, anyone can. There are tons of ladies out there in Chester County, afraid to join the Biker Chicks, afraid we are too fast, afraid they cannot do it. If  you never bike with us, you are missing one fine time.

Thanks Ellen and Eileen and Ron for joining  me on this fun event. 

Thursday morning ride, Oct 9 10 am, posted below is for NEWBIES as well as a recovery ride for me. Meet at Shaws Bridge, get your fanny on your bike and come. We will do about 25 miles or less depending on who shows up and how I feel on Thursday.

Saturday's ride October 11 8:40 am is also changed. We will do cue# 161

This ride is 38 miles and we can pick up folks at Shaws Bridge and then the ride is about 28 miles.  Please come out. Please try to ride your bike.

Rides for week of Oct 5

Recovery ride - Thursday Oct 9, meet at Shaws Bridge Park at 10 am 25 miles, very slow and easy, this would be a good chance for newbies to come out and ride. So if you have been delaying trying to ride with the Chicks, thinking we are too fast for you, COME ON OUT NOW! NO MORE EXCUSES.

Saturday morning ride, 8:40 am This ride is changed, see post above.  Leave a comment in the comment section if you are planning on being at Shaws Bridge Park (this is a live link, click it for directions to Shaws Bridge).

USE the comment link below to let me know if you will be waiting at Shaws Bridge Park.

to leave messages for other chicks

to leave messages for chicks, you must use the comments section at the end of the posts, if you hit reply to the email message alerting you to  a new post

only I get the email, 

so use the comments section if you wish to talk to other chicks,

thanks

lib

3 chicks make the 75 mile MS ride to the shore

Charlene Underwood, Alexis Swinehart and Carol Woolford all biked at least 75 miles in one day to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. A job well done and we are all proud of these ladies.

Hats off to a job well done!

Make plans now to bike through the winter

Yes, I said bike through the winter. Now I will not bike in snow or wet conditions but cold weather should not stop you from biking.

Why sit on a spinning bike during the winter PRETENDING you are biking??

What do you need to bike in cold weather? Get winter gear and have a great winter sport. Skiing too expensive?? you can assemble a winter outfit for  $200  or so if you look for sales.

1. Good gloves- approx $20

2. Shoe covers- I just got a nice pair at Terry Cycles, $30

3. Thick socks- got mine at Performance, I have one pair $10

4. Head band to cover ears and a helmet liner-also got these at Performance, I have one head band and one head cover $20

5. Long pants- I have two pairs, one for temps from 45 - 60 degrees and one pair for under 40 degrees - one pair around $60

6. Undergarments - I have one long sleeve and one sleeveless polypropylene top, easy found at Target or Wall Mart $30

7. Gore Windstopper Outer shell jacket, in a bright color, I also got this at Performance on sale for $50, shop around, Performance always has something on sale  

Shadows and light are different in the winter, wear bright yellow or orange or lime green jackets or tops, make sure to have a good light on bike, both red back light and white front light.

I have posted many options for you to choose from. Look for sales on the Net for  your gear. 

Seagull Century

Ellen Z and I are off on Friday to head to Salisbury MD for our first century ride. We hope to start our ride at 7 am and have to be finished by 5 pm.

Got my bike bag packed and I am very excited for our ride. Whether we make all 100 miles or not we are still out there giving it our all.

Got my spare tubes and have cleaned the chain and lubed it as well.

Check back for photos and updates on our ride.

ride cancelled

BIKER CHICK ride CANCELLED for saturday sept 27

Hey I was riding the Schuylkill trail last wednesday and got a flat, nice to be prepared and able to change it myself.

Remember, if you inflate with CO2, deflate the tire when you get home and pump it up with a regular pump.

Check blog or ride page for any changes for Saturday morning.

ride update info and vulture sighting

Last night Charlot and I rode out S New Street. Charlot spotted about 30 turkey vultures sitting on a fence and several more in the field. Then we spotted the dead dear. But those buzzards, spooky, looked like a Hitchcock movie!!

Rain is being predicted for Saturday. If it rains, I will plan a ride on the Schuylkill River Trail for Sunday if it has stopped. Leave Betzwood at 9:30 am, ride to the Art Museum and stop in Manyunk at the Couch Tomato for a snack.

There is an event scheduled on the Martin Luther King Drive from 8 am -10 am, so hopefully the road is open. If not, we can just turn around and head back.

put fresh batteries in your bike lights for tues eve ride

i got the word from the ride director of WCCC, he suggests lights for the ride, make sure you have a good back light, something bright and blinkie

love my Super Flash light http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-eXtreme-Bicycle/dp/B000KBEH1W

can attach it to the bike or attach it to your clothes

a great light and practical

11 days to the Century

It is not too late to join Ellen and me on this fun ride. The more the merrier. Maybe we can make a pace line!! tee hee

Don't forget the ride tomorrow night, let's get a lot of chicks out.

Show our forces.

Rides for week of Sept 21

Sept 23, Tues eve ride, WCCC is making this the official last evening ride, meet at Hot Foot at 5:00 pm, we will do approx 25 miles

Sept 27 8:40 am, Saturday morning,  changing this cue 

I rode on rt 282 today in the car and felt that this road is too narrow and too dangerous to ride. Will post a new cue # later in the week.

CUE for 9/27 will be #170, we will head out to Malvern and Radnor Hunt, a nice change of pace and hopefully some smooth roads. 38 miles and we do not have to climb Rt 842 into the boro, we come in from S Concord

See you out, the week of Oct 4, Ellen and I will be down in Salisbury MD doing the Seagull Century, if this ride is still open, PLEASE JOIN US!

Fabo ride today

Ladies

If you are not out biking during this beautiful fall season, you are missing one the best activities of Chester County. We  had a great group today, men and women, newbies and oldies. Everyone did fantastic. Charlene Underwood had her personal best today. She has improved so much. She is on a heavy bike and is still keeping up with all of us.

Charlene is a perfect example of a lady unwilling to give up. Her hard work has made her a great rider. 

Today we were out on Rt 82 and then we turned onto Dupont Road and WOW, the scenery today was spectacular.  We went through a gorgeous covered bridge,  and just simply enjoyed the beauty of the day.

Biking is such a great activity. I have seen lots of ladies take to the sport and excel this summer season. Such a great effort by so many ladies.

It is not too late to bike. Fall is the best time ever to bike. Just wait till the leaves start turning.

WCCC last evening ride 5:00 pm 9/23

September 23, the WCCClub is planning a final evening ride with a celebration afterwards.

I am calling all Chicks to come out for this last ride, we will not ride with the fast men but we can celebrate afterwards OR NOT. If the group wants to ride together, we can certainly try. I guess it all depends on who shows up.

You are under no obligation to head to Iron Hill afterwards.

But let's all come out and enjoy the last evening ride with the Chicks.

If we do not ride with the club members, we will do the S New Street Ride, out S New, and back around on Rt 100, over to rt 162, over to rt 322 and into the borough.

Saturday Ride September 20

Cue # 161

38 miles, we will be passing Shaws Bridge Park at 9:00 am if you want to meet us there

if you do this, email me in case any ride plans get changed Saturday morning

Come on out and have a nice ride in beautiful weather. Soon we will have fall foliage to view as we ride.

Print up the cue and bring it with you.

Ride meet ups

Start places for Biker Chicks Rides

1. HOTFOOT Cycles -319 W Gay Street WC PA

2. SHAWS BRIDGE PARK - 1/4 mile south of the intersection of rt 842 and S Creek Road,this intersection is about 5 miles south of the boro of West Chester.

http://maps.google.com/maps

/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=105354976586112336420.0004538003c599fcf030c&z=14

3. BETZWOOD BRIDGE- for rides on the SRT- take rt 422 west, exit at Trooper, bear left on exit ramp, continue left and follow road to the Betzwood Park. You will see a parking lot and the Schuylkill River.

Use GOOGLE MAPS and get directions from your house to the above addresses. 

No weekday rides this week

Look for a ride to be posted for next Saturday morning, hopefully we can combine with the C group if few folks show up.

I am doing the SRT this week but have invited a family of homeschooling kids to go with me, we are going to have lunch at the Couch Tomato in Manyunk.

May offer rides Sunday afternoons later in the fall. Football Insanity Rides.

Check back for details.

Great Ride today

but NO CHICKS, luckily men come out each week cuz otherwise it would have been me and the road. I have been tracking my miles since July 1, I hit the 1000 mile marker today. 10 weeks -1000 miles. I feel great about that.

Cue #127 is a phenomenal  ride. Mostly flat, mostly country and mostly great.

I looked around today and counted maybe total 5-7 women riders, most in the B groups. There were at least 50 men.

Wish I knew what to do to get women out on bikes??  But it seems to be a low priority with many women except the few fast ladies.

I see the same  women faces week in and week out in the B groups. But men come out in droves.

Saturday ride is ON

will meet at 8:40 am at Hot Foot

make sure to carry extra spare tubes and inflation

see you there

Saturday rides

please check blog and WCCC ride page for updates for saturday

rain and or wet roads can cancel a ride

CUE changed to #127 for saturday 38 miles to Coatesville, fairly flat and nice

if roads are very wet with lots of wet leaves, ride may be cancelled

libby

Rides for week of September 8

I will be going up to the SRT on wednesday morning, very brisk pace if anyone wants to join me. Meet at Betzwood at 9:30 am

Saturday morning ride, September 13, 8:40 am cue # 213 

47 miles, fairly flat course, here is the map, should be a fun ride and push us in mileage and speed, HOPEFULLY!!

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/213-wilson-rt842-rt841-FrogHollow

this ride will be a faster pace, if on a cross bike or mountain bike, make sure to bring the cue sheet and be prepared to use it, if enough folks come, we can split into two groups

Sunday September 21

I am signing up for the Bike Fresh Bike Local

ride options include 25 , 50, 75

may try the 50 miles, I think these rides head up north, so they may be hilly, probably decide that morning which ride I will do.

Come join me

All Saturday rides have been cancelled

all rides have been cancelled for saturday, too dangerous

Biker Chicks will do cue 127 tomorrow at noon and the Newbie Ride at 300 pm is ON

see you tomorrow

libby

saturday ride

at this point, i am undecided about riding this morning as wet roads bring flat tires, Ed of the C group has a ride up

if i do not show, join his group, if i show i will be doing cue #127

it is shorter

so head on up if inclined to ride and you can surely find a group to join if Biker Chicks are not there

Libby

for saturday

cue #213

47 miles for Saturday

if it rains, we will meet at noon on sunday

Cue for sunday #127 38 miles

print them up or take a look at a map so you have some idea where these cues go

Libby

NEWBIES

HOT FOOT cycles is located at 319 W Gay Street in West Chester

use google maps and get directions to the lot from your house

Shaws Bridge Park is 1/4 mile south of the Rt 842 and S Creek intersection, easily found on any map

libby

Saturday's ride

ladies

gonna work on making a cue this afternoon for saturday, if it RAINS

ride will move to sunday at 12 noon, meet at Hot Foot

thinking of about 40 miles for the cue, check back later for map and or Cue #

NEWBIE ride still on for Sunday at 3 pm

libby

Schuylkill River Trail - SRT

Ladies

I did the SRT today with some folks and I am posting that I will be doing this trail ride most Wednesday mornings through the Fall if anyone wants to join me.

I took to the trail today at 9:45 am and it was a good time.

Almost no one is on the trail so it makes for a nice ride. Sometime late October, the Phoenixville extension is supposed to be all paved, this would make the trail west of Betzwood go all the way to Phoenixville. This trail extension comes out in the Mont Clare park that abutts the canal in Phoenixville.

The Cross County extension goes to IKEA. I did part of that today as well.

So any time any of you wants to join me on a morning ride on the SRT, just send me an email at libby.maxim@gmail.com

Rides for week of September 1

Ellen and Elaine and I did the Brandywine Tour this past Sunday and rode the 50 mile course. Now Ellen and Elaine did not mind all the hills on this ride but I thought it was a tough ride. But while on this ride we saw a cyclist with an awesome blinkie light.

Here is the link to the light above.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Blinky-eXtreme-Bicycle/dp/B000KBEH1W

RIDES FOR THE WEEK


Thursday eve at 5:00 pm

18 miles to Malvern and back. Meet at HotFoot Lot, this is the LAST evening ride of the season.

Saturday 8:40 am, leave from Hot Foot, I have not yet picked a cue but this ride will be at least 40 miles and maybe more. Check back for cue #

Sunday afternoon (dependent on weather) 3:00 pm, check back to blog for updates for this ride.

THIS IS A NEWBIE RIDE

this ride will take off from Hot Foot Lot in the boro, route will be decided by the ladies that show up for this ride. Make sure your tires are well inflated and that you carry an extra tube. Helmet required and water bottles on bike.

Reminder

Brandywine Tour Ride this Sunday, come on out, lots of rides to choose from and the food is supposed to be very very good.

Chicks will gather near the sign in table. Look for each other


Libby

cannot make tonight,Wed 8/27

can anyone step in for me tonight??

otherwise, i cannot make it,

something came up

sorry

Rides for week of Aug 24

Sunday Aug 24, Ice Cream ride cancelled but Ellen and I are meeting at Betzwood at 7:30 am for a fast paced ride on the Schuylkill River Trail. IF interested, be there at 7:20 or so as we take off at 7:30 am

We will go all the way around the Art Museum with few stops and a fast pace.

ONLY ONE RIDE during the week. Wednesday Evening at Hot Foot. This ride will be for folks on big slow bikes or mountain bikes etc. We will do 18 miles, out to Malvern and back. Bring LOTS of fluids, 2 water bottles. Meet at Hot Foot at 530 pm. If you are a fast rider and would like to come as well, keep in mind, we will not go your speed but the speed will be geared to NEWBIES.

The ride to Malvern has a few hills but it is not too bad. This is your chance to try riding with the Biker Chicks if you have been afraid to do so in the past.

NO RIDE Saturday. I am biking Sunday morning in the Brandywine Tour. I signed up for 50 miles and hope to bike to the ride. It is starting at Pocopson Elem School. If you would like to bike to the ride with me, meet at my house at 6:40 am. We will head down rt 842, Rt 100 and then onto rt 926.

206 E Virginia Ave
WC PA

google address for directions