Paul Martin, Author at Velocity Cycling Club

Chain Reaction bike demand update

Chain Reaction Updates on Bike Demand

Seasons Greetings fellow VCC members.

Well it has been a heck of a season for everyone in the Bike business.

From global supply chain and inventory shortages to a increased demand of about 300%, the bicycle world has been turned upside down. Although many stores here in Ontario were slow to place their bicycle orders for the coming 2021 season, and may not receive many of these bikes, we were quite proactive and secured our allotments very early.

We have had many 2021 Road, Mountain and Gravel Bikes arrive and sold very quickly and we estimate about 75% of all 2021’s will be pre-sold by mid winter.

We would like to extend to VCC members the first opportunity for a one on one consultation in our private showroom on the 2nd floor (formerly the Training Studio and with appropriate COVID protocols) should anyone be looking to add a bike.

Please feel free to call or email me at your earliest convenience and we will help you find your new Dream Ride.

Yours in Pedaling

Bill Greene
Chain Reaction Bicycles
crbicycles@yahoo.ca
416-234-5300

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2020 season winding down

2020 Season Winding Down

It’s been a challenging year in many ways, one which we all have experienced. Cycling has proven to be safe, with proper social distancing practices, and not just a physical release but a mental health release and that is why we all love this sport.

VCC will now wind down it’s formal ride schedule but will continue to monitor the weather forecasts and may announce individual rides periodically throughout the remainder of this year. We will continue, at least for the next few weeks, the early bird version of Lumen’eers departing at 5:30pm from the parking lot to the east of the Old Mill.

Despite the challenges of COVID we feel the club, with the support of its membership, has maximized its ride schedule opportunities. It all started with the April thru August monthly challenges, a derivation of the cancelled TFK ride in support of Camp Ooch with the inaugural Tour d’Abernethy ride, the Steve Hancock Memorial Ride and finishing up in October from Albion Hills with Tanya’s Ride in support of BIST.

So we ticked all the boxes : Ride.Give.Live

Looks like our typical year end get together may be in jeopardy but we will be reaching out to all of you on this one in December.

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Fall Ride Schedule

Fall Ride Schedule / Tanya's Ride

Late season ride schedule

We are working to extend the club cycling season with the following three ride offerings. The gravel option and Lumen’eers will start after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend:

Saturday morning

Danish Pastry Ride (or similar route) will continue
Gravel ride (out of town start with location advised several days before)

Wednesday evening

Lumen’eers returns so bring your front night light

Clips and Tips and our regular Wednesday evening rides are now closed for the season.

All rides are subject to ride captain availability and of course weather dependent.

Please be reminded that reservations close based on the following times:
– for morning rides, sign up will close 12 hours before (night before)
– for evening rides, sign up will close 3 hours before

Tanya’s Ride For Brain Injury – $24,000 raised and still counting

What a great day on October 3rd. The weather cooperated, we had 45 riders participating in four separate road rides (114 km, two rides of 80 km and one at 58 km) plus a gravel ride. Albion Hills Conservation Area proved to be the perfect spot for great ride routes and appropriate social distancing.

Care to still make a donation, please use this link : BIST donation

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Tanya’s Ride Sold Out

Tanya's Ride Sold Out and more

Tanya’s Ride For Brain Injury October 3rd – Sold Out

We are pleased to see the interest for Tanya’s charity ride in support of the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (“BIST”) as all 45 available spots have now been filled. For those signed up we will be providing our COVID Compliance Plan as soon as we complete our discussions with the OCA. We wish we could offer more spots but the provincial restriction on gatherings does not permit this.

Great news, just under $16,000 has been raised to this point. Thanks to the Luder family for their leading role in generating donations.

Late season club ride update

We continue to adjust the start times of our rides to accommodate cooler temperatures and lessening daylight so make sure you check the calendar start time when RSVPing. Any material changes will be circulated to the entire club.

We are also making the following RSVP deadline changes:
– for morning rides, sign up will close 12 hours before
– for evening rides, sign up will close 3 hours before

Club members can decide to ride after these deadlines but at their own risk of availability.

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Tanya’s Ride 2020 – details confirmed

Tanya's Ride 2020 in support of BIST

Tanya’s Ride For Brain Injury October 3rd – Details All Firmed Up

Tanya’s charity ride in support of the Brain Injury Society of Toronto (“BIST”) is being held this year at Albion Hills on Saturday October 3rd. There will be three challenging routes in the beautiful rolling hills of Caledon including a gravel option for those who like to get dirty. The ride will be followed by a tasty light meal.

For those of you who didn’t know Tanya, she was an enthusiastic member of VCC and a leading fundraiser for the Tour for Kids. Tragically, Tanya passed away last year after struggling with a serious brain injury incurred in a cycling accident in 2014.

With all the cancelled rides this year due to COVID we are optimistic there will be a strong turn out and support for BIST.

VCC will be covering the costs for this event but it is a fundraising event for a very important and unfortunately high risk area for the sport that we all love. As with prior years we are setting the minimum donation at $100 with 100% of the funds going to BIST. To assist in the ease of the event BIST has set up a Race Roster registration site which will include all the choices you need to make. As such we will move away from our usual VCC calendar feature.

Sign up here – https://raceroster.com/events/2020/34775/tanyas-ride-for-brain-injury

We also have an initial club fund raising matching challenge that has been tabled. A lead donor will match all VCC donations up to $2000 so let’s make this donor pay!

The main points are as follows:

the first ride start time at 10am to accommodate a potentially cooler morning.
- If the forecast shows promising closer to ride day we may advise on slightly earlier start times
To manage food choices we would like commitments to this event by September 24. We should be able to accommodate some late additions but meal choices will not be guaranteed.
Base camp – Albion Hills, 16500 Highway 50, Caledon, ON – Lakeview 1 picnic site. The permit does restrict us to 50 people (riders and support personnel). Please note that there is a roughly $7 fee to enter the park.
- the site has a covered area, picnic tables, portable washrooms and a fire pit
Ride choices (15 riders per group):
- Road – +/- 120 km starting at 10am (30-32km avg)
- Road – +/- 70 km starting at 11am (27-29km avg)
- Gravel – +/- 70 km starting at 11am (gravel paced 😊)
- Mechanical support and sag wagon

Please note that the permit does not allow us to offer a mountain bike option. Yes, those are the facts.

Catering will be supplied by Fire It Up BBQ. As no onsite cooking is permitted at Albion Hills, we will be offering a selection of two choices (one vegetarian) which will be pre-ordered and delivered at a pre-set time. We will have additional sundry items including water, additional snacks etc.

Going forward we will be posting the actual routes (we tested the gravel option this morning). We must also be cognizant of any changes that the Ontario Government may make on social gatherings due to COVID. Our event has been set at 50 which is already half the maximum size currently permitted under Phase 3.

Further updates will be forthcoming as we get closer.

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Steve Hancock Memorial Ride

Steve Hancock Memorial Ride 2020 - completed

Thanks to all 26 riders who participated in the SHMR this morning. We had great weather and eventually we split into three groups to accommodate all levels of ride participants. Group 1 had the unfortunate experience of 6 flat tires but otherwise the rides all went without incident covering 105 km to 108 km.

All groups stopped at the ghost bike to pay their respects, fondly remember his Olympic and work achievements, his great character and commitment to family.

Safety on the road was also discussed including the need to be vigilant while biking at all times. While we can’t control all factors around us while cycling, it is essential to focus on the ones we can control and to do this throughout the duration of a ride.

Looking forward to a larger group of participants in 2021.