WCCC Bike Donation and Rodeo

Ladies, if interested in donating to this event, log into the WCCC webpage, click on shop and scroll down to find the donation $$ that suits your budget.
I do not think you have to be a club member to create an account. Ellen, correct me if I am wrong. thanks

All

Our 2009 Bike Donation program is scheduled for Saturday May 16 at 1:30 PM at St. Agnes Parish on W. Gay Street West Chester. As in the 2 previous years of our program, we're hoping to distribute about 40 bikes to needy kids!

This year, Fuji has generously offered to help sponsor the program by providing bikes at a discount. Imagine how excited the kids will be to have brand new bikes!

To make this happen, we need your support. If you would like to help buy a bike for a kid, you can do it by filling out the attached form and mailing in a check, or just go to the West Chester Cycling Club website, log in, and click on "shop" to charge your donation.

We hope that we'll raise enough money to buy new bikes for all the kids, but in the event that we don't, or if more kids are identified, we're also asking for donations of used bikes in good condition. If you have a bike you'd like to donate, you can respond to this email.

And finally, if you would like to help raise funds, you can use the attached solicitation letter to do that.

With your help, we can introduce a lot of kids to the joy of cycling and a life of physical fitness!!!

Ellen Z

Ride up for March 14, Saturday

So far weather looks good for Saturday and Sunday, I am going out both days for rides. Saturday's ride will not be for newbies, Sunday's ride WILL be.

Saturday's ride will be around 20 miles. Head out Sconnelltown and work our way over to Sunset Hollow. Not a hard ride and involves some country roads and some busy roads.

It is not easy to do 20 miles from West Chester and not bike on some busy roads. Map of ride is on My Bikely. Follow link below.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/25-mile-route-on-outskirts-of-West-Chester

I will leave on Saturday at 1 pm from my house and the Sunday ride leaves at 1:00 from Betzwood Bridge park. Link for map is in previous posts. Scroll down.

Bike Fit Informative Talk on March 29

Even if you have no interest in the clinic, this bike fit talk should be very worthwhile. The talk will focus on just what kind of bike you should own. This is based on how much biking and what type of biking you do.

Bike Fit Lecture runs from 5 pm till 6 on Sunday March 29. Some bikes will be on display as well for you to look at it.

First Biker Chick GOAL - JOIN ME

click here for details

Chicks

Let's get serious about fitness and make it more than just something we talk about or wish for. So here is our first goal.

I am calling it 10-20-50 by June 14.

So what is 10-20-50 by June 14. Simple, on June 14, one of the best local area rides takes place just a few mile away. It is called the French Creek Iron Tour. Click on link above for ride details. I would love to take a big bunch of ladies to this ride. This ride starts in Kimberton, just up rt 422.

What does the 10 stand for??

Let's trim 10 lbs by June 14.

What does the 20 stand for?

This is one of the choices for the miles you can do on this ride.

What does the 50 stand for??

This is one of the choices for the miles you can do on this ride.

What AM I DOING??

I am going for the 10- 50 goal for this ride. How about you? Join me in helping to make Biker Chicks the premier cycling group in our area.


SIGN THE COMMENT section and publicly make your commitment.

Now if you do not need to lose any weight, good for you, make cycling the 50 miles your goal.

But sign and make the commitment, no matter what your goal. Maybe you want to bike more. Whatever, sign and share your goal with the others.

Stretch yourself in other ways in cycling. Or add a weight lifting program to your exercise routine.

See you on June 14, ready to ride

Rubber Mallet Fest

Ladies,

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, the men of WCCC meet at 5:30 pm for what they call the Hammer Fest. They are good riders and go out and just speed around the county on their bikes as fast as humanly possible. Why, I have no clue. Must be a guy thing.

Anyhhooooo, Biker Chicks will also meet for what I call the Rubber Mallet Fest, not quite a hammer but a good ride. These rides will work up to a good pace as the season wears on. I do not race around the county, but will do a decent pace around 12-14 mph average. Again, we will build to this. THESE rides will NOT start till after Easter. Check blog for ride updates.

First rides will be a slower pace until we ALL feel like we can go faster. Now once the weather hits 90 degrees +, pace will be a safe pace for the conditions.

Always bring 2 water bottles filled with good stuff.

These rides TAKE off at 5:30 not 5:45. Remember, it gets dark and we will be doing 20 miles.

But it is kinda funny, cuz we all meet up with the men at Hot Foot and we can watch them prance around like proud roosters with their slick bikes and no body fat bodies. It always makes me smile.

April 4, Saturday morning ride

This ride will leave from Hot Foot Cycles on W Gay Street at 9:30 am. The cue sheet for this ride is at this link - Malvern 14.

The map is located at this link - Malvern 14 map

Print this cue sheet and bring it to the clinic, PLEASE.

Ride up for March 15, Sunday 1 pm

Meet at Betzwood Bridge River Park to bike on the Schuylkill River Trail. We will meet at 1 at the park and do around 20 miles. Nice and flat and easy. Bring 2 water bottles and food snacks. Read posts below on what type of bike bags to carry.

Click the link above for a google map. Park is a left turn off Rt 422, take the Trooper Exit, get in the left lane. GO left and follow road, look for river and park on your right.

THIS RIDE IS WEATHER DEPENDENT, check blog Sunday morning after 9 am for updates.

Helmet, Eye Wear and Rear View Mirror

Get a good helmet, eyewear and a rear view mirror. Click here for information on the mirror.

Just because we are women and new to cycling DOES not mean we are not good cyclists. The goal of this group is to become a good cyclists. We had two young ladies last year come to a one of my evening rides. They are pictured above. They showed up on clunky hybrids with no water bottles and struggled. Next time they came, they both had good road bikes and gear. Third time they came they were already better than most of us. Why?? They started riding during the week on their own time.

These girls are now in tri-athlons and riding like the wind. They took to the hobby the right way. THEY BIKED often. No secret. You must ride to get better.

Bike Riding Information

Chicks,

We had a fabulous ride today. Lots of new faces, hope they come back and keep riding. Only way to improve is TO RIDE. During the week, take short frequent rides at least 2-3 times. Each short ride helps to improve your longer ride.

Actually one long per week is about all you should do. During the week, shorter rides are a good way to help yourself get better. Too many longs rides does not necessarily contribute to being a good rider. On the short rides you can vary your intensity and what not.

BIKE CLINIC - click on clinic icon to the right of this column for details. If you are coming EMAIL me and let me know. NEWBIES to riding are to come at 2:30 instead of 3 pm. That way we can go over some stuff that some of the veteran riders already know.


What you need to know about biking. Read these previous posts linked at the end of this post. It is all there for you.

Get TWO bike water bottles and the necessary cages if you want to ride with the Chicks. One water bottle is not enough. Fill the bottle with Gatorade or Propel, not just plain water.CARRY a snack. Any thing will do, even a candy bar. You do not have to spend money on snacks. Get some cheapo breakfast bars and carry 2x what you think you will need.

I am strict about equipment as when you ride with me I am responsible for you. Having the right equipment makes the ride more fun. I have published many posts on equipment that you need when biking on the road.

Necessary Bike Gear

Where to Buy Bike Stuff

Two Bike Bags I use

Bike shoes and Cleats

YOU must use the blog for all last minute information

Chicks, Sunday ride is ON unless it starts to rain, 1:00 pm from my house, 1 hour ride.

Please get in the habit of checking the blog for ride updates, last minute rides, meet ups and times. Only rides on the WCCC page will be the Saturday morning rides and other scheduled rides that I want to post to all WCCC members. USE THE BLOG archive on the right to easily locate a post. My blog stacks the last 12 posts, so that should cover about a week.

Some rides I post will be for Biker Chicks only and those rides will post on the blog. This Sunday ride was posted on March 5 of this week.

In the future, I will not use email to post rides. So check the BLOG first, scroll down through the posts to find the latest information. I tend to put a post up each day so the blog changes quickly.

Try not to call me as I rarely answer my phone. Sorry about that but I just do not use the phone. I do carry my cell on bike rides though and will answer it.

Notes from a ride and other stuff

Ladies, look to the right column of the blog, sign up to receive the blog posts via your email program. I tend to post like crazy and you can miss rides if you do not check blog regularly.

I did the April 4 ride today by myself. It is a very good beginner ride. But things I noticed are:

1. lots of gravel on the roads

2. can be some wet spots as well

3. cars are still whizzing by rather fast

Some suggestions for your first ride:

1. Get your water bottle and water cages ON your bike

2. Found a very good drink alternative to Gatorade, called Propel. I found the little powder packets in Giant. The drink is not as sweet but still gives you some good stuff.

3. Get a rear view mirror for your glasses. Scroll down the blog for the link.

3. Get a rear blinkie light for your bike NOW.

4. Wear bright colors if you have them.

ONE FINAL NOTE, ride post times reflect the time we TAKE off. If you need to inflate tires and change clothes, get to ride early. I will leave at posted times.

Keep a journal of all your rides

http://www.bikejournal.com/

Sign up at Bike Journal and start logging all of your miles. Let's see which chick tops 1000 miles first!!!

I already have a start, my 10 mile ride a few weeks back. Let's GO.