Welcome to the
FEATHER PEDALS
RIDING GROUP |
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The Feather Pedals (FP) is a no cost cycling group within the Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Club (VSBC) that organizes group ride opportunities for women. Men are welcome to join the rides too! FP is a group guided by the fundamental values of achievement, encouragement, and leisure cycling. The name "Feather Pedals" was created to describe a "lighter" or slower-to-moderate speed casual riding group for all levels of riders.
PLEASE NOTE: Online signup is required for each ride. Go to www.valleyspokesmen.org/ridecalendar, click on the appropriate ride and register. Registration is open to both members and non-members. All communications and information will be integrated into the Valley Spokesmen web site, to Valley Spokesmen Club members who have "Subscribed" to the VS email list, and on the Feather Pedals Facebook page.
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Feather Pedals 2023 ANNOUNCEMENT Cinderella Conditioning Rides are scheduled to start January 14th, 2023. We are proud to announce 2023 plans for the Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Club (VSBC aka VS) Feather Pedals (FP) referred to as VS FP. This will FP’s 14th year of offering Cinderella conditioning and monthly social rides. Details at www.valleyspokesmen.org We are doing our best to continue to keep to our original mission of being a volunteer social cycling group within the VS Club guided by the fundamental values of achievement, encouragement, and leisure cycling. The name “Feather Pedals” was created to describe a “lighter” or slower-to-moderate speed casual riding group. All levels of riders from beginner to experienced, women and men, and all ages are welcomed. Helmets are required for all riders. We are not a training program or a competitive riding group although we do offer opportunities to condition together for the Cinderella event, learn riding skills, and ride socially each month. KEY DATES Before 1/14/23: Get prepared - schedule your bike tuned up, practice tire changing, etc. Saturdays, 1/14/23-4/8/23: FP Conditioning Rides Rides – Dates, Start Times, Staging Locations: See VSBC Ride Calendar for ride details
CINDERELLA EVENT Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Club 47th Cinderella Classic / Challenge / Shorter Route, Saturday 4/15/23 The 47th Cinderella Classic is on Saturday, 4/15/23. It’s a recreational bicycle ride (not a race) for women/girls only. The Classic route is a metric century (62 miles/101km) and is mostly flat with a few moderate hills. The Challenge route is for experienced and extra-conditioned riders only. It includes an additional 38 miles (for approximately 100 miles/160km) with almost 4,600 feet of climbing. Due to popular demand from last year, Cinderella Short Route is a relatively flat 30 miles/50km route is being offered again in 2023. Males do not ride Cinderella – they do the organization, support, rest stops, and SAGs for the Cinderella riders. However, males are welcomed and encouraged to ride with us for the VS FP Cinderella Conditioning rides each week. Cinderella event details are located at www.valleyspokesmen.org CINDERELLA CONDITIONING RIDES Cinderella Conditioning Rides The 13 VS FP Cinderella Conditioning rides are geared towards conditioning for the Classic route. The rides begin Saturday 1/14/23 and progress in miles each week for 13 weeks until 4/8/22. Ride 1 will be an easy ~20 mile orientation ride with each following week gradually progressing in miles. Ride 13 is the last ride before Cinderella so it’s our time to celebrate with a social graduation ride that is ~25 miles. The location and start times are different for rides 1-6, 7-12, and 13 to allow for variety in routes as well as a later start time during the colder weather and earlier times for the longer distances. Ride details will be announced in each of the pre-ride eMails sent the Wednesday before each ride. Online signup is required for each ride. Go to www.valleyspokesmen.org/calendar, click on the appropriate ride and register. Registration is open to both members and non-members. CONDITIONING & SUPPORT Conditioning The routes will be a moderate progression of miles each week to help condition riders for the Cinderella “Classic” route. Experienced riders who want to add more miles and/or climbing for an additional challenge or to prepare themselves for the Cinderella Challenge have the option to modify the routes themselves and be fully self-supported. General Ride Support Although there are other riders who may be willing to help their fellow riders in need, it is recommended that all riders be prepared to be self-supported and have someone to call to be picked up if needed because the is no SAG (a person in a vehicle that rescues a rider, the bike, and gear). Some rides will have a Sweep when available for the Classic route only to help ensure no rider is left behind. Ride Groups & New Riders Support When riders depart at the start time of the ride, they proceed through the traffic lights in waves and along the route riders split off into smaller ride groups of varying speeds so there are multiple opportunities to ride with others either at your pace, slower, or faster. The New Riders Group is for riders who are new to outdoor riding, new to group riding, or returning riders. It provides an opportunity to receive extra attention from the FP volunteers and some coaching from experienced riders. If you would like to ride with this group, please get positioned with this group and be ready to go with your bike after signing in. ROUTE SHEETS Route Sheets Links to all the Cinderella Conditioning routes will be listed on VS Ride Calendar and the Monthly Rides will be added before the rides begin. Also, the links will be included in all pre-ride announcement eMails to VS members who subscribe to receive eMails and posted to the FP Facebook page. Print/Download Your Own Route Sheet Please print/download the routes after the pre-ride announcement is sent on the Wednesday before each ride to ensure you have the finalized route. Sometimes the posted routes are revised due to road conditions, etc. All routes will have a link to ridewithGPS which provides route details -- easy to read cue sheet, map of route, elevation, etc.-- that can be printed or displayed on your Smartphone. ridewithGPS has for fee membership options providing route navigation with turn-by-turn guidance with voice prompts. See www.ridewithgps.com for details. STAGING LOCATIONS & TIMES Staging Locations We will continue to stage in two locations for rides 1-12 to provide more route variety and to allow riders to have more opportunity to practice riding the Cinderella route. Ride 13 staging location to be announced. There are NO restrooms. There are multiple establishments nearby and/or on the routes so please plan accordingly and remember to patronize the establishments utilized. Rides 1-6 - Sycamore Park & Ride in Danville or Alamo Trek Store in Alamo Stage at the Sycamore Park and Ride lot located at the Northeast corner of I-680/Sycamore Valley Road (exit 40) interchange in Danville. The Alamo Trek store is located at 180 Alamo Plaza in Alamo. Please use GPS / navigation system to find the location if you are not familiar with the area. Rides 7-12 – BART in Pleasanton or Mike's Bikes in Pleasanton Stage from BART in Pleasanton in the left Southwest corner parking lot. Directions: 1-580 East, Hopyard exit towards Dougherty Road, Right onto Hopyard towards Pleasanton, Left on Owens Drive, Left on Pleasanton Parking Lot (Willow Road is on right). Park in the Left Southwest corner of parking lot – near the intersection of Owens Drive & Willow Road. Some rides will stage from Mike's Bikes located at 6754 Bernal Ave #710, Pleasanton, CA 94566. Park in the south side of the parking lot between CVS and Safeway close to Dupont Drive. Ride 13 – April 8 @ 10:00a – Graduation Ride and Celebration at Beebs Restaurant (Las Positas Golf Course Livermore) Details To Be Announced Suggested Arrival is 30 Minutes Before Start Time Arrive early to allow time to sign in, get positioned with a ride group, join the skills sessions, etc. We have limited support resources so will not wait for late arrivals. You are welcome to ride the route on your own or catch up with the group at a regroup location. If you ride with the group, please remember to sign in with the Ride Host. CANCELLATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS Cancellations Ride Host will announce any possible ride cancellations due to weather conditions by 7:00p the evening before the ride and confirm by 7:30a of the ride if the ride is cancelled or a go. The Host’s decision to cancel a ride depends on multiple factors including how dry the roads will be for the estimated duration and locations of the ride. Communications Stay informed either via FP Facebook or VS eMail. For FP Facebook, join the FP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Feather-Pedals-Riding-Club-188690581149894/ To receive VS eMails, riders must be a current VS member, subscribe to the vslist, and must renew the membership by February or will be removed from the VS email list. eMails will also provide alerts to additional club rides, ride changes, road issues, socials, what’s for sale, etc. VS eMails is the recommended option. From the VS website home page: 1. To become a member go to “Grab Bag” at the top of page then “Join Us” 2. To subscribe to eMails, go to the bottom left of the front page of the VS website under “Keep in Touch with the VS List” and “subscribe to vslist” 3. Each year ensure your membership is current/renewed by February or you will be removed from the vslist. BECOME A VALLEY SPOKESMEN MEMBER Requesting All Riders Become VS Members We request riders to become VS members after 3 rides with VS FP to help support the VS Club. Club Memberships are for a period of 1-year from 1/1-12/31. The annual cost for an individual is $25.00 and for a family it’s $40.00. For membership details and to join go to http://www.valleyspokesmen.org/Join MONTHLY RIDES Monthly Rides Monthly rides are the 3rd Saturday of each month from April to December (weather permitting). Monthly rides will be ~25-30 miles. Routes will be posted to the VS Ride Calendar before the monthly rides begin. Staging locations and times: April – Sycamore Park and Ride in Danville @ 9:00a May - Sycamore Park and Ride in Danville @ 9:00a June-August “Beat the Heat” - Sycamore Park and Ride in Danville @ 8:30a September-December - BART in Pleasanton @ 9:00a FP APPAREL FP Apparel FP continues to become recognized and complimented on the roads for our custom cycling apparel. FP riding apparel is available for purchase year-round. Please direct any questions to Rebecca Wood at rcwood@sbcglobal.net The Feather Pedals volunteer team is happy to announce that the beautiful Feather Pedals kit is ready to order through Jakroo! Just click on the link below to place your order!https://designlab.jakroo.com/store-front?storeId=HJjebBiAK It is highly recommended that you select and complete the form for the Size Recommendation Service, and if your apparel does not fit, you can mail it back at your expense and get a new size shipped to you free of charge! Be sure to order your distinctive Feather Pedal cycling kit now and you will have it in plenty of time for the Cinderella! Jakroo Director, 800-485-7067 | Jakroo is located at 5673 W. Las Positas Blvd. #201, Pleasanton, CA 94588. BIKE BASICS / BIKE CLINICS Bike Basics / Bike Clinics All riders will be asked to change their own flat tires on our rides. This means having the tools and skills. There are multiple ways to learn how to change a flat tire i.e. contact your local bike shop about clinics offered, uTube videos, etc. We suggest taking time to learn how to change a tire ‘before’ you ride on a VS ride. Reminder: It’s recommended that all riders have a bike tune up at a local bike shop before starting the ride series. LET’S CELEBRATE! Let’s Celebrate! We have a great opportunity to celebrate our Cinderella conditioning success – at the Graduation ride #13. This is a no host event at Beeb's Restaurant (Las Positas Golf Course Livermore). Guests are welcomed. Details to be announced. Graduation Ride Celebration - Saturday, April 8 RULES OF THE ROAD http://bikeleague.org/content/rules-road-0 and see below. Be sure to know and demonstrate these rules on all rides. Be a Rules of the Road leader by helping others demonstrate these rules too. The League’s five “Rules of the Road” are the core of the Smart Cycling program and will prepare you for a safe and fun bike commute no matter where you are riding. Follow the Law Your safety and image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and duties as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going. Be Predictable Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well before turning or changing lanes. Be Conspicuous Ride where people can see you and wear bright clothing. Use a front white light, red rear light and reflectors when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with others and don’t ride on sidewalks. Think Ahead Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at right angles. Ride Ready Check that your tires have sufficient air, brakes are working, chain runs smoothly, and quick release levers are closed. Carry tools and supplies that are appropriate for your ride. Wear a helmet. GENERAL QUESTIONS General Questions For additional questions that are not addressed in this Announcement, contact Rebecca Wood at rcwood@sbcglobal.net ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ From your FP Volunteers…. Keep Riding for the Fun of It! Ride On…Ride Safe!
The Feather Pedals Volunteer Team ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |
