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Riding

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 or those interested in joining our club may join the ride.  You must, however, print and sign a waiver form.

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 .

Sunday Crankmissus Ride

A new ride for women only.  This social ride is an opportunity for women to ride together, improve their abilities, skills, confidence and perhaps target some goals and events in a testosterone-free environment.  This isn’t a beginners ride but the pace will be more moderate than the regular group rides.  If you are a female cyclist and looking for group, come and join us!

Monday Night Rides (MNR Rules):
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 leaves at 6:30 pm from the NW Farmers Market near 12 Mile Coulee Co-op. The length depends on the amount of daylight available. 

Saturday Morning Ride:
The Saturday ride is designated as a social ride, and is a great way for new members to meet the club. This ride starts at the beginning of April and ends at the end of September. The starting points of our Saturday rides vary, and details can be found on the Race/Ride Calendar by clicking on the applicable ride. Note that the start time is at 10:00 AM (11 AM Before May 1). Interested in riding before April 1 or after September 30? Please use the Crankmasters forum (Cranky Comments) to solicit interest from other riders.

New this year will be a strictly zone 2, aerobic paced ride lead by Richard Hijnen.  This moderately paced steady state ride will be approximately 20-25 km/hr and will be the same route as the regular club ride.  It is a no-drop ride.

Most rides are approximately 80 km at a moderate pace around 27-31 km/h. 
Saturday rides alternate between the Northwest, South and the Westside.

Northwest ride: 50-80km, 10 AM Start (map) (11 AM Start Before May 1)
Our Northwest ride Starts from Lions Club (Farmers Market) at 25240 Nagway Road just off Crowchild Trail (Highway 1A). The ride will go west towards Cochrane and will continue on highway 1A towards Horse Creek Road. There will be a stop for Coffee in Cochrane.

South Ride: 80 km, 10 AM Start (map) (11 AM Start Before May 1)
Note: NEW START LOCATION in deep south on 22x and 53rd St at Third Academy Calgary South parking lot.
From parking, 22x east to 37th south. Turn right, 37th street to T intersection at 226 ave. Turn Right on 226 ave. then follow this road continuing straight (do not turn at the next left!)  continue along this road, up the long climb as it changes to Range Rd 21A / 274 ave, then Range Rd 22A. Descend to 4 way stop at Range Rd 30 / 192nd Str W.  Turn left at 4 way heading south on Range Rd 30 / 192nd Str (you are now heading south, parallel to Hwy 22, on the right), to Hwy 549. Cross Hwy 549, pass Millarville market and continue to Hwy 7. Turn right at Hwy 7 to Turner Valley.  From Turner Valley, Hwy 22 north to 274th Ave. Turn right continue 900m to 4 way stop. Turn left on Range Rd 30 / 192nd Str. Continue north to 22x. Right on 22x, continue east to parking.

Westside ride: 80 km, 10 AM Start (map) (11 AM Start Before May 1)
The starting point of our Southwest Saturday ride is the parking lot of Eden Brook Funeral Home & Cemetery, 

These rides are via Lower Springbank/Springbank Road to Highway 22 to Bragg Creek and back at a moderate pace around 27-31 km/h. We also use the same starting area to ride to Cochrane.

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.
  • 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/Special Rides:
These rides are typically longer than the Saturday rides, with more emphasis on training and fitness. The Sunday/Special Rides are noted in the Race/Ride Calendar. However, several members wanted to see the "full list" in an easy to view format. Suggestions on alternate routes, concerns with the rides, or general feedback can be directed to any of the exec listed on the "Club Info" tab.

Highwood Ride from the South100km-Sunday June 1, 10 AM:
A good portion of the road is closed to motor vehicles and the rest has a wide shoulder, good pavement and very little traffic. It also has some of the best scenery of any ride close to the city. The route has a short climb after the gate and then doesn't climb again until a few kms before the top of the pass. If you miss this weekend, the road will be open to cars in a couple of weeks.
The ride starts at Greenford Provincial Recreation Area 24km West of Longview on Highway 541/40 (next to the Highwood River Inn).

Highwood Pass from the North (King Creek) 80km-Sunday June 8, 10 AM:
Start from King Creek Parking lot, just before gates on highway 40
From the King Creek parking lot ride past the West gates that closes the road to cars and ride to the summit of Highwood Pass.Back the same way. The entire route is closed to motor vehicles. This is the last weekend before the road opens.

Bow Valley Parkway to Bow Summit from Mule Shoe parking lot. 160 km-Sunday July 27, 10 AM:
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 Bow Summit and back.

Water Valley 140 km-Sunday Sept. 7, 10 AM: (map)
Start from the Sobey's in Airdrie (the far side of the parking lot) at the corner of First Avenue NW and 8th Street SW.
Meet for at the Good Earth for a pre-ride coffee & snack The Sobeys should be open also.

Waiver