Only a few jerseys left...

Jerseys are only $60 and all proceeds from jersey sales will go toward supporting the competitive pursuits of MCA female athletes. I only have a few sizes left so email me to find out how to get yours today!

2011 Schedule

How to Register: Call 233-4701 or email info@velodonnas.com

Workshop fees:
$10 (all proceeds will go to support MCA female riders)

Cash or cheque (payable to "Velodonnas")

All riders must have a General Membership ($40) with the Manitoba Cycling Association.

SPRING/SUMMER SCHEDULE:
Subject to change. Please email so that your address will be added to a contact list. If there is enough interest more skill clinics will be added!

INTRO TO VELODONNAS RIDE
Date: FRIDAY MAY 13, 2011
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Assiniboine Park, Zoo parking lot.

Bike: Road or MTB - bring whatever bike you want.

OPEN TO EVERYONE - FREE OF CHARGE. Come out and meet some new riding partners! Find out what Velodonnas is all about. We'll go over some basic bike handling skills and what to expect when riding in a group.

ROAD RIDING - GROUP RIDE BASICS (Skill Clinic)
Date: SUNDAY June 5, 2011
Time: 9:00am - 11:00pm *NOTE - new start time
Location: Assiniboine Park, Zoo parking lot.
Skills: We'll cover some necessary bike handling skills particular to road (group) riding such as close contact riding, passing, touching wheels, mentality of riding in large groups etc.

MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS (Skill Clinic)
Date: Saturday July 23, 2011
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Whittier Park

Bike: MTB
Skills: We'll use some props and obstacles to practice slow speed technique, wheel lifts (over logs etc.), basic manuals/drops, riding skinnies & teeter totters.

WHAT TO BRING:

• A bike in good working order
• A spare tube, pump & patch kit
• Bottle or hydration pack with H2O or other fluid replacement
• An energy bar (or 2)
• Spare change
• Small laminated card with name, address, emergency contact, medical # etc...

WHAT TO WEAR:

• Helmet is mandatory on all rides...no exceptions
• Cycling shorts
• Cycling jersey/top
• Sunglasses
• Cycling gloves
• Sunscreen
  

Women's Cycling website launched!

Canadian Cyclist.com has launched a new website section dedicated to women's cycling. Check out the link to Cycling 4 Women and the Velodonnas piece written by Erin's former National team cycling mate, Leigh Hargrove.

The Orioles Bike Cage (bikecage.ca) is planning to start up a monthly womens night...

If you're unfamiliar with the Cage, it's a community run bicycle repair shop where cyclists of all abilities can go and learn how to repair their bike using recycled parts. There's no cost (except for the odd new part you may need) and it's open to everyone.

I personally am trying to get this up and running but we're having some trouble getting one or two women who know how to repair bikes who are willing to come out once a month to help others. We will get there, but the more women we can let know hopefully the more who are able to help out!

Thanks,

Katherine

Summer Workshop & Ride Schedule

Check out the 2009 Workshops page for our summer schedule!

Weekly rides continue on Sundays (road) and Mondays (mtb). See the Club Rides page for details.

Jerseys have arrived!

They look terrific. Will go for a ride tomorrow afternoon just to try one out! We didn't order a whole lot so there are only 11 more available. Get your membership in today so you don't have to wait until fall to wear the best looking jersey in the city! ;-)

Cycling workshops, MTB rides and private lessons

Only 2 more cycling workshops left in June! Check out the 2009 Workshops for full details on this and other upcoming events.

Weekly MTB skill rides will start mid-June.

Looking for a one on one riding lesson? Contact us to arrange a private or semi private ride ($5 for Velodonnas members, $15 for non members).

MTB Rides May 9th & May 10th!

Sat May 9th

1:00 PM

Bur Oak trail parking lot - Lot #7, South Drive, Birds Hill Park

We'll explore the trails created and maintained by the Olympia Cycling Club for the Wednesday Night Race series.

Everyone welcome. Make sure to bring spare tube, pump etc. Helmet, of course, and MCA General Membership is mandatory.

Email: info@velodonnas.com to let me know you're coming and for more info if needed.

Sun May 10th

Mother's Day MTB ride at Grand Beach!

9:00 AM sharp! (i.e. be ready to ride at 9am)

I know that's terribly early for a Sunday but we need to be off the trails by 11:00AM as there is a race that day.

Meet: Grand Beach xc ski, hiking and mtb trailhead. "B" indicates the turnoff to the trailhead. Basically take East Beach entrance to the park and take your first right - follow the signs to the xc ski/hiking trails.

Email: info@velodonnas.com for more info.

"All Comers" Time Trial - May 3rd

Ladies, Gentlemen,

 

If you have club members or clients or friends who are

- getting the cyclilng bug and looking for a bit of a challenge, and/or

- have thought a little about road racing, but aren't confident about racing in a group or where they fit in or whether they are fast enough and/or

- aren't sure about forking out for a race licence

the May 3rd time trial is open to all riders, no licence and no MCA membership required.

 

We are absorbing the substantial cost of the additional event insurance so there will be no additional fees for non-licenced riders.

 

I realize a time trial is not everybody's thing, but it may be just the thing to pique their interest in a safe, non-threatening, and inexpensive manner. This may be the only such opportunity this year (If it is successful, we will do the same on Aug 29). If someone comes to mind, please pass this along. Brief info below. Full info on MCA website.

 

Gary Sewell

 

 

- Sunday May 3rd at Chickadee Parking lot in Birds Hill Park

- 11:00 a.m. race start. Non-licensed riders first, then citizen licence, cat 5, cat 4, cat 1-3.
- 1 or 2 laps for non-licensed, 1 or 2 laps for citizen, 2 laps for cat 1 to 5
- In keeping with FOG tradition all profits will be returned to racers in prizes (mostly draw prizes)

- $11 entry each for everyone. $2 race levy for cup races already included. And no extra charges for non-licensed racers.

 

* Helmets are mandatory

* All bikes welcome. Special time trial equipment is not needed. Traditional road bikes will meet UCI guidelines. Some triathlon bikes and old school time trial specific bikes may not meet UCI guidelines and will be ranked separately. Exception: commissaire’s have the discretion to disallow the use of any equipment they consider unsafe.

 

Kyotoplus Climate Change Bike Relay

Hi!

I am writing Velodonnas to ask if anyone would be interested in participating in a bike relay this August from Regina to Winnipeg in support of the Kyotoplus Climate Change Campaign.

THe Kyotoplus web site can be found here: www.kyotoplus.ca

This is an invitation to Veladonnas to participate in the KYOTOplus initiative for federal government inaction on climate change this year.

KYOTOplus is a petition-centred campaign spearheaded by several prominent civil society organizations including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace Canada, Oxfam Canada, Sierra Club Canada, as well as the two main networks working on climate change issues in Canada - Climate Action Network Canada (60 groups) and the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (11 groups).

It uses the Climate Action Now! Petition and the Pledge for Canadian Politicians (both attached) to build broad public support on two decisions facing the federal government in 2009. The first is whether Canada improves and strengthens its national plan to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions prior to 2020. This is the period identified by United Nations scientists as the critical window of opportunity for stopping and reversing emissions growth, and preventing climate change disaster scenarios. The second is whether Canada will go along with other countries in signing a robust, science-based global climate change agreement covering the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol. This agreement is being negotiated now and will be tabled for signatures this December at a landmark United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. (www.en.cop15.dk).

These two actions are essential if Canada intends to take economic advantage of the worldwide shift toward known solutions and do its fair share to help lower global levels of greenhouse gas pollution.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Kelly Whelan-Enns

Kyotoplus Campaign Organiser

Manitoba

kelly@manitobawildlands.org

RIDES START APRIL 26th!

Are you ready to ride? Sunday morning ROAD rides start Sunday April 26th 9:00AM. Show up early to sign in. Click here for a map to our meeting place.

Monday night MTB rides will start as soon as the trails start to dry (or we finally build some technical structures - that project is just getting started).

Check out our NEWS page for posts on impromptu road or mtb rides during the week or weekends. And keep an eye on our FACEBOOK group for similar postings and to network with cyclists in your neighbourhood/club.

Velodonnas team jersey

Jerseys have been ordered. Members will be notified as soon as they arrive!

WELCOME TO VELODONNAS

What do you think our new "website"?! We are very new and inexperienced in the blogisphere but we're having fun and waiting anxiously for the snow to melt finally so we can bring our bikes out of hibernation!

Check out the 2009 Workshops post and mark your calendars for the Velodonnas Orientation ride - Sat. May 2nd 10:00AM Assiniboine Park Zoo!