Updated May 4, 2010

MINIMUM WEATHER STANDARDS Outdoor rides run all year, except when: air temperature is below -5C, or rain/snow is on roads or falling at start time

Crankmasters has various training and social rides during the week.  The Saturday ride is designated a club social ride and is a great place for new members to meet the club.  The other training rides usually focus on specific aspects of cycling fitness such as hill climbs, paceline work or steady-state cycling.  In addition, there are several “special event” rides during the summer.

At our discretion members of other ABA clubs may join the ride.

Please read our Cycling Etiquette and Safety Guide

Club Safety Summary:

• If you are the front rider in a paceline, point out road hazards to riders behind you
• Helmets and gloves are mandatory
• Always ride in a group - no rider should be dropped alone
• Each group should carry a cell phone in case of emergencies
• Each person in the group should carry identification and an emergency contacts list
• Pass within a paceline only when it is safe to do so

Monday/Wednesday:

Monday Recovery Ride: This is an easy pace ride and great for new club members.  It is also a good way to make sure your legs still function after a tough weekend of riding and racing.  The ride leaves at 6:30 pm from the 12 Mile Coulee parking lot.  The length depends on the amount of daylight available.

New Members Ride: This ride is a good way to get to know other club members.  It runs the first Monday of the month from April to August.  The details are the same as the Monday Recovery Ride.  We will ride in groups at a leisurely to moderate pace.

Ron’s Hammerfest: This ride is for those who have remaining energy from racing or riding on the weekend.  The pace is medium to fairly intense.  The ride is held on Wednesday evenings in the spring and changes to Mondays when the Wednesday Night Race Series is running.  It changes back to Wednesday when the WNS ends.  The ride leaves at 6:30 pm from the 12 Mile Coulee Co-op parking lot.

NOTE: WE ARE REVIEWING THE STARTING LOCATION FOR THE ABOVE 3 RIDES.  CHECK THE MESSAGE BOARD FOR UPDATES

Saturday:

• The Saturday ride is designated as a social ride, and is a great way for new members to meet the club. Please note that there is a new start location for this year (see map). Start location is Park and Ride at West Side Rec Centre at 17th Ave SW and 69th St SW (please park at the Calgary Transit Park and Ride lot on the NE side of the Rec. Centre - see parking map). This ride is year-round, weather permitting. Note that the start time is at 10:00 AM starting with the second Sunday of March and switches to 11:00 AM starting with the first Sunday of November
  As of May 20th - Due to LRT construction around Westside Rec Center we are forced to change the starting point of our Saturday ride. The new location is the parking lot of Kings Westside Church on 69th Street SW just North of Glenmore Trail (Highway 8). This is approximately 2.5 km directly south on 69th Street of our previous start point at Westside Rec. Centre  Map
  
  
  These rides are generally 80 km. Out via 17th Ave to Springbank Road to Highway 22 to Bragg Creek and back (route map) at a moderate pace around 27-31 km/h.
  
  We are going to have two alternate starting points (map) for those who want a shorter ride  Route Map.
  
  Option 1 (51km return)
  Park at Springbank School and Recreation Complex. The ride re-groups around 10:20 AM at the intersection of Springbank Road and Range Road 32 (across from the big chicken sign).
  
  Option 2 (31km return)
  Park on the west side of Highway 22 at the junction of Springbank Road on the gravel road. The ride leaves here at approximately 10:45 AM
  
  You must be on your bike and ready to ride when the groups rides by. The shorter options are new this year and some riders may not be aware others will be joining the ride part way so may not stop.
  
  Note: the last Saturday of the month the ride goes to Cochrane and does not go by either alternate meeting spot.
  
  
  The last ride of each month will be to Cochrane. Ride up the hill on Hwy 1A, down through Glen Eagles and stop at Starbucks for a break. Fast or energetic riders are welcome to ride the hill as many times as they like to allow those behind to catch up.
  
  Due to traffic congestion around the start location the Saturday ride procedure is as follows:
• Start out in small groups (less than 15 riders per group), organized by speed with the fast group going first followed by the slower groups to avoid group passing situations on highway.
• Ride single pace line in a safe manner and in accordance with the Traffic Safety Act.
• The designated safety officer will ride with the slowest group to and from Bragg Creek to ensure that no one is left out on the road alone.
• Riders in each group may choose to break into smaller groups riding at varying speeds and regroup at Bragg Creek.
• When leaving Bragg Creek we can leave in smaller groups that can ride at varying speeds, but once these groups get onto Lower Springbank Road or the hilly section of highway 8 around the Elbow River they must ride in a single pace line.
• Be extra attentive at intersections, especially ones where you have to stop. They are all busy, and the old adage of looking twice is very important here. Don't take any chances with traffic as the loser is the cyclist. If the group cannot all get through an intersection at the same time, it is common courtesy to wait for the remaining riders.
• The majority of accidents occur when one rider has come in contact with part of another riders bike causing one or both to fall and possibly taking more riders with them. Probably the first rule when riding in a pace line is to be predictable and then secondly never to overlap wheels to avoid this type of accident. The speed of the group has to be steady and the action of each of the group riders has to be steady so that each rider may ride closer to the one in front and get maximum advantage of the draft. Small things such as standing up in a pace line or reaching for a water bottle while in a pace line can cause changes in speed and direction leading to a chain reaction for those following. If you must stand or take a drink, wait until you are at the back of the line to do so.

Sunday:

These rides are typically longer than the Saturday rides, with more emphasis on training and fitness.

Please note that this ride will not be held when a Crankmasters club race is being held.  See the Race Schedule for the list of Crankmasters club races.

May 2 - Bragg Creek to end of Highway 66. Start time 10:00AM
Park at the Bragg Creek Centre (23 White Ave.).
The Ride will follow White Ave through Bragg Creek Provincial Park and West on Highway 66. The road is closed to vehicle traffic at Elbow Falls. Return the same way. Note: If it is a warm day, take an extra bottle of water as there are no placed to fill up on the route. Approx. 60km return. Meeting place map   Ride map

May 9 - New Members Ride (Approx. 36 Km). Start time 10:00 AM  Ride Map
This ride is also open to existing club members but we encourage those participating to ride with the rest of the group . Park in the large lot on the SE corner of the intersection of Highway 22 & 22x (Marquis of Lorne Trail SW). The route is South on Highway 22, West on Highway 549 and regroup in Millarville, North on 240st, East on Plummers Rd and return back to the start North on Highway 22. (map)

Note, there are no services at the meeting spot. We will try to go for Coffee in Priddis after the ride

May 23 – Bow Valley Parkway from Mule Shoe Parking lot (5 km after highway 1A turnoff west of Banff...note there is a small parking lot 3km from the turn off but that’s not it...keep going along the 1A for another 2km) to Lake Louise and back. 90 km return. Starting time 10:00 AM.

June 6 – Meet in Longview.  Ride West on Highway 40 towards Highwood Junction and return the same way (the majority of the highway is closed to motor vehicles from gates) 10:00 AM start.  Check back for additional details.  Meet here to carpool or  Park here   Ride route

June 13 – Meet at the snow gates on Highway 40 at the King Creek parking area.  Ride South on Highway 40 over Highwood Pass and return (the entire road is closed to motor vehicles) 10:00 AM start.  Check back for additional details.

June 20 – “Summer Solstice Ride”.   (100km loop)   Route Map
This ride has some of the best scenery around Calgary.
Park in the large lot on the SE corner of the intersection of Highway 22 & 22x (Marquis of Lorne Trail SW). The route is South on Highway 22 towards Millarville, continue on highway 22 to Turner Valley and Black Diamond. In Black Diamond continue East on Highway 7 to Okotoks. In Okotoks take Highway 549 West. Continue West on 549 to Highway 773. Take 773 (Road to Nepal) North to Highway 22x at Red Deer Lake School. Take Highway 22x West back to the start location.

There is a 77km alternative loop
Just West of Black Diamond turn North (left) on 402 Ave. This turns into 176 St W and 192 St W. Take Highway 549 East (Right) (just past Millarville race track). Continue to Highway 773 (Road to Nepal) and turn North to Highway 22x at Red Deer Lake School. Take Highway 22x West back to the start location.
 

July 11 - Stampede Sampler club ride.  Preview the Stampede Classic Race course as part of a club ride.  Previously we have run this as a club race but have now designated it as a club ride.  Details are still on the Racing page.

July 25 –  Bow Valley Parkway to Bow Summit from Mule Shoe parking lot. 160 km 10:00 AM start.

August 8 – Special Event: Highwood Pass from Ribbon Creek day use parking area (on Kananaskis Village Road) at Kananaskis Village. 90 km return. Starting time 10:00 AM. Bring food for Barbecue to follow.

August 29 - Masters Provincial Preview club ride. Preview the Masters Provincial Road Race course on a club ride.  We have previously run this as a club race but have now designated it as a club ride.  Details are still on the Racing page.

September 19 – Special Event: CENTURY – Canmore to Lake Louise. 100 miles (160 km) . Meet at Visitor Centre in Canmore for 10:00 AM departure. Plan for dinner at a restaurant in Canmore after.

January 1, 2011 - New Year’s Day Ride - North Glenmore Park. Start 11:00 AM