Will the 3rd time be a charm? Our weekend rides have been rained-out for 2 weeks in a row. And this weekend, the forecast still looks unsettled. It’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day/Weekend!
We even need to start watching the Air Quality warnings now. The ABA mandates we cancel when AQHI readings reach 8+. Our club policy is to cut rides short and ride easy if the AQHI is 7 and cancel if it’s anything higher. Here’s the link to our policy: VCC Air Quality Policy
Check for ride cancellation announcements on the club website. A yellow announcement bar will be prominently displayed at the top for all notices.
I will be away for the next 2 weeks, hopefully finding some sun and dry roads in the Okanagan Valley. For our weekend rides, club VP Arneil Delasan should hopefully be out to lead the faster A group. B group will need their own leader. We have a few long-time members, like Ed Heacock and Dave Watson, who could lead those riders. Nonetheless, keep your groups small (10 riders or less is best), know the route and don’t leave riders behind.
Saturday Ride
We’ll try again to ride to Fort Saskatchewan. Meet at 9am at the Olympiette Centre for our 105km route.
Sunday Ride
Our shorter weekend ride will attempt the route west of St. Albert. Meet at the St. Albert Enjoy Centre for the 60km loop with a 9am departure.
Sunday Gravel Ride
If the sun has dried-out the gravel, Allan Plesniarski suggests our gravel enthusiasts should recon the new Afterburner Gravel route in Beaver County. Meet at 10am in the gravel lot at the end of Range Road 195a near Islet Lake. One lap of the course is about 39km.
VCC Track Sessions
The AVA has now issued electronic member cards. You’ll need to download yours to your phone wallet and use it to scan-in at the front desk. If you haven’t found your card yet, navigate to your Member Account and you’ll find the downloadable version of your card. Here’s the login link for your account: AVA Client Portal
As I mentioned at the top, I’ll be away for the next 2 club track sessions. Your track time will run in an Open Track format. The track monitor will be responsible to unlock the rental bikes and watch for safe riding habits.
You all should know the Open Track etiquette by now:
- Hard efforts in the Sprinter’s lane
- Endurance and easier efforts up above the blue Stayers line
- Keep shoulder checking whenever you move right or left on the track
- Over-takers call out “STICK” as you pass up and over on the right.
Feel free to self-organize yourselves into some 10- or 5-miler pacelines if you like. A strong-paced 10-miler takes just under 30 minutes, and 5-milers of course around 15 minutes. If you’re counting laps, 10 miles is 16 km, which is 64 laps.
Thursday Hill Circuit
Join our hill circuit on Thursday evening at 6:30pm. Meet up in the north parking lot of Hawrelak Park.
Thursday, July 2, Track League
Tonight’s Track League features Sprinter events. If you aren’t riding this evening, come watch some of Edmonton’s fastest riders in action!
- Flying 200m
- Match Sprint (2 rounds)
- Team Sprint – make up teams of 3
Register before 6pm on race night:
Youth Summer Camps at the Velodrome!
Youth Summer Camps registrations are open on an on-going basis now.
If your family or friends have kids ages 11-15 who already know how to ride, check out what these day camps have to offer!
- Introduction to track cycling (but it’s not all about track riding)
- Dynamic mobility and movement skills
- Court sports and team games
- Athletic development and physical literacy
- Confidence-building challenges and activities
The camp should gives kids a head start in sports and life. The program is built on trusted Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) frameworks, ensuring youth build essential skills, hit key developmental milestones, and establish healthy, active habits that last a lifetime.
All the details are on the Alberta Velodrome’s Booking Portal:
Ride with iGregari at Strawberry Creek Raceway
Remember, our friends in iGregari still have a few more dates booked at the Strawberry Creek Raceway (2042 Township Road 504, Thorsby, AB). Cost is $20/rider.
The riding times will be 6pm to dusk (nothing later than 10pm) on the following dates:
- Saturday, July 4
- Wednesday, July 15
- Saturday, July 25
If there are any updates or changes to their plans, check out their Instagram feed @igregaricyclingclub.
Velocity BMX Rider Shows Extreme Skills!
On Canada Day, the Full Send Bicycle Stunt Show ran in Spruce Grove’s Jubilee Park. Velocity’s talented BMX rider Parks Surrey showed off some remarkable skills!
See for yourself in these videos: