What great weather and rides we've had this last week! Let's keep enjoying it and watching out for each other :) It's getting hotter every week now, so remember the sunscreen and hydrate like crazy (as much as a bottle an hour). Cruisin' the Conejo is almost here (you are signed up, right, right, right, right?), so keep up the training and invitations for your friends to join us (route options for everyone)! This Saturday we've got routes heading up Mulholland, with options for easy return though Calabasas, a little Piuma, or the challenging drop over Stunt and Fernwood to PCH and back up Latigo. Sunday you can ride to Dos Vientos and return "the easy way or the hard way", or take a nice spin through Thousand Oaks to Wildwood Park. The Tuesday Night Race Ride continues with two groups leaving the Landing at different times, so everyone can enjoy the fast-paced Rock Store loop. Please watch your speed coming down Decker (those "cantering away" corners are hazardous)! Midweek rides are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, including mountain biking on Thursday afternoon and the return of the Tuesday morning cruise ride with Sheila. Our variable routes and "out" options are working well. If you do have a mechanical issue out on the road, please ask at least one other rider to assist you, if we don't assign someone immediately. Please wear your CVC jersey when riding with the club. We are easier to identify on the road as a group and look great in our matching kits. Continue to communicate all road hazards and your intentions while riding ("left turn, slowing, rolling"). Lots of pine cones out there too. Watch and call them out. Let me know if I can help with anything ride-related. I always have extra Clif bars and my toolbox, pump, etc. Updates for this week include: Cruisin' the Conejo Friday, May 6th & Saturday, May 7th Volunteers needing in many areas. Schedules to meet your needs. Thank you in advance! Volunteer Spot is running. We need a ton of volunteers as you will see. Please, think outside the box, and sign up for something different as we need coverage everywhere. Look at the times, which is how this is laid out and organized. Volunteer Spot is a website that will NOT send SPAM emails. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps: 1) Click this link to see our Sign-up on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/UfgRL5 2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like. 3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on VolunteerSpot. Safety Reminders As the weather heats up, remember to hydrate. It is recommended to drink as much as a full bottle for each hour of riding! It's cool in the mornings but very hot in the afternoons now, so dress accordingly (layers to strip off). If you notice another member with a full bottle, a little reminder can help out there too. Debris in the roads continues to be a huge hazard. Keep your head on a swivel and call out everything. One by One, Two by Two when it's appropriate (narrowing lane single, bike lane and appropriate vehicle lane double)! If there is a marked bike lane, cyclists may ride shoulder to shoulder. Single file otherwise. There is no three or four abreast at any time while moving. Please remember that when you are out there riding you are a cycling ambassador. And, if you are wearing a CVC kit, you represent the club, so please be sure to follow the rule of the road. Below are some reminders... Your agreement when riding with CVC: All members will: Wear a helmet and ensure my bike is in good working order. Ride to the right, pass on the left. Ride in the bike lane (where available) and signal when moving into another lane. Ride no more than two abreast in the bike lane, single file on narrow roads, and avoid “swarming”. Call out and point if I see a traffic hazard. Respect ALL traffic laws and the rights of all autos, bicycles, and pedestrians. Ride predictably and remind others to be safe. Be a bicycling ambassador Upcoming Events Saturday, May 7th: Cruisin' the Conejo SIGN UP, SIGN UP, SIGN UP Wednesday, May 18th: Ride of Silence REGULAR CLUB RIDES Saturday: 8:30am at The Landing, Westlake Village Red Ride - Leader Bart Ziegler Route Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13220762 Orange Ride - Leader Gary Silver Route Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6088904 Gold Ride - Leader Phil Callan Route Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2665880 Purple Ride: This is an RSVP Ride and follows the Gold route* Sunday: 9am at The Landing Red Ride - Leader Bart Gudmundson Route Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/1019760 G.O. Ride (combines both the Gold and Orange difficulty routes) - Leader Dale Smith Route link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/8034953 Social Ride - Leader Bart Ziegler Route link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13353991 Tuesday: Morning Ride - Leader Sheila Levine-Sherwyn 9am at The Landing parking lot Route to be determined at the start, 25-40 miles Evening Ride - Leader Jonathan Woodbury The fast paced Rock Store ride continues on Tuesday at 5:30 pm PDT sharp. And for those who would like to get out and ride these routes at more of an orange pace, a group also leaves at 5:15 PM. The faster group usually catches up at the regroup point at the Mullholland/Encinal Split on top. Both rides leave from the Landing's parking lot. RWGPS route with Mulholland return (without Upper E) 26 + miles with 1,900' of climbing. RWGPS Mulholland return <http://ridewithgps.com/routes/142021> RWGPS route for the entire route including Upper Encinal: 29 miles 2,400' of climbingRWGPS with Upper Encinal Extension <http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4160220> Wednesday: Ride Leader - Sheri Leiken 3:45pm at The Landing parking lot Please join us for a Mid Week ride Wednesday afternoon. Route to be determined at start. This is a Gold+ pace ride of approx. 20-25 miles. Thursday: Morning Ride - Leader Sheila Levine-Sherwyn 9am at The Landing parking lot Route to be determined at the start, 25-40 miles CVC Fun in the Dirt MTB ride. Location to be determined each week. Look for Kent's announcement on Tuesdays -------------------------------------------------------- Please remember when parking at The Landing for any weekend morning rides to park and congregate towards the far end of the lot away from the street and use the middle row. Do not park next to the homes. Please note the inclement weather policy below. The Purple ride is considered a no drop. Having said that, please note that if you are falling behind or slower than the average pace, you may be dropped. All rides not asterisked are considered a "drop ride" so please understand the route before you start (and how to get back). If you get to a regrouping spot and no one is there, consider yourself dropped. As always we will try to stick together and have a fun, safe ride. We will regroup regularly to allow everyone a chance to ride together. If for any reason you leave a group ride, please pass along the information to the ride leader. It is mandatory to have & wear a helmet. It is the rider's responsibility to ensure that the helmet is in good condition (check expiration on helmet inner tag) and that your bike is in working condition as well. If you have any questions about your bike, please feel free to ask be before the rides, or contact me directly before we hit the road. Let's ride! Bart Ziegler Ride Coordinator Conejo Valley Cyclists Inclement weather policy: In the interest of safety, whenever it is either actively raining or the ride route has wet roads, it is our club policy to cancel a club ride. Club members may still choose to meet and ride in these conditions; however, the ride will not be considered an official club ride.
