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In case anyone doesn't know, this Saturday's "Old Barns Loop" 48 km ride starts in Brookfield. To get there take Exit 12 from the 102 highway. It is about a 50 minute drive (assuming no road construction) from the Dartmouth side of the MacKay Bridge (just choosing a random reference point). For each of us the drive will take a longer or shorter except for anyone that lives in one of the toll booths. The ride is all on paved roads (relatively quiet except for the beginning 11.5 km highway no. 2 segment which can be a bit busier) and is a classic with some very scenic views. One thing riders may not have as much experience with as they used to, now that there are fewer railways in the province, is that caution is required when crossing railway tracks. We will be crossing railway tracks three times on this ride (approximately 11.2 km mark, 44.3 km mark and 46.7 km mark). To cross safely the railway tracks must be crossed perpendicularly which can necessitate moving out into the road away from the usual line of travel. But of course before moving out one needs to check for traffic, ensure that it is safe to do so and signal. The railway crossing at the 44.3 km mark is particularly dangerous because of the torn up pavement around the tracks and at times can be hard to fine a place to cross that one safely even perpendicularly. As with any railway crossing if there is any doubt about being able to cross safely it can be a better idea to signal a stop and walk the bike the few feet it takes to get across the tracks.
As Bob mentioned we will be taking our lunches which we usually eat near the cemetery (we used to say at the second church but that was recently removed I think) at the 22.6 km mark. Prior to lunch we can make a very quick pit stop if necessary at Tims at the 11.5 km mark and then for a water refill at the spring at the 16.6 km mark. Director Fred is one of our hardcore touring cyclists. He will be leading "loaded" camping tours. The first starts on July 1st from the Armdale roundabout and consists of the Chester / Windsor loop; one will cycle about 75ks a day, and camp over 2 nights. The second loaded tour starts Aug 21st from Graham's Grove and will be the Porter's Lake and Dollar Lake loop. If you wish more information or plan to attend, please contact EC Fred at fredoutside@gmail.com We recognize not many of our members do loaded touring, however; as Fred leads a great tour, we like to make many offerings to our diverse and growing membership. Last year those attending Fred's camping tour all raved about the great time they had!  Ramblers gathered on the East Chezzetcook wharf on march 20th, 2010. Click the picture for a large size version and then click again for the full blow up.
The NS Ramblers Bicycle Club welcomes all new (adult) members. Many of our new members join to partake in a healthy pastime in a very social setting. (Please read "my first ride" on our web site). Did you know if one cycles 1 ½ hours a week, it reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%? Also, cycling is a great way to either reduce or control weight as one usually bikes in the "fat burning zone - ie 60 - 70% of maximum heart rate. In my case, I usually burn over 600 calories an hour, so on a 3 hour tour that amounts to over 1,800 calories! By joining the NS Ramblers, which has grown to become the second largest bicycle club in Eastern Canada, you can expect to meet new friends who share like minded values - having fun and in a healthy environment. Below are some of the benefits of belonging to the Ramblers:
On behalf of the executive and general membership, I welcome you to "test drive" the Ramblers for a day ride before you make up your mind to join. It is our belief cycling is a wonderful activity and belonging to a club is a very important component. Cheers and Tailwinds! Bob White, President, Nova Scotia Ramblers Bicycle Club
The ramblers have an email list server that you can join if you wish. I won't put the live link here in order to avoid spam bots harvesting it but it is list-at-nsramblers.ca Just replace -at- with @. An email sent to that address will be forwarded to everyone who has subscribed. You can use the list say to contact other members if you are planning an off schedule ride through the week or are looking to car pool to an event or for other relevant topics. The way it works is that the email sent to the list shows up to the recipient as coming from you via the list server. Other email addresses won't be revealed. When 'Reply' is selected it will go back only to the sender. When 'Reply all' is selected the it will go to all on the list. To subscribe you can use the contact form or send an email to the list with 'subscribe' in the subject field. You can unsubscribe the same way by entering 'unsubscribe'. (Right click for full screen option) Traffic Enforcement for Bicyclist Safety from Chicago Bicycle Program on Vimeo. You can post your photos to the members photo gallery by setting up an account and uploading from your computer. Start by clicking the Member Photos link in the menu bar to the left and register by clicking the link at the upper right of the new page that comes up. Use the contact form in the main web site if you run into problems and need help. A copy of the form comes to me. Have fun. John H. The Ride Event Coordinator (EC) list has been linked at the top right of the ride schedule. The Ramblers do not normally ride in the rain (sometimes we are caught in the rain and then look to finish, even if the ride is shortened). In the even you arrive at the start of the ride and it is raining, or if for some reason the EC of the tour is not at hand, then the ride becomes a "show n go" as agreed to by the participants on hand. To determine the EC of the day, go to the schedule and at the upper right hand side click on "EC". If you click on the blue globe you will get Google Map of the tour. | ||
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