From May to October, the Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club biking group meets each Tuesday and Thursday at a predetermined location for rides in Edmonton and surrounding areas. This is an excellent way to keep those skiing muscles in shape and to socialize with other club members! Members simply show up on days they would like
to participate. We start the season with short easy rides and increase the length and difficulty as summer progresses. Depending on your biking experience, fitness level or your energy level that day, we offer green, blue and black routes each time. All routes include a stop somewhere for refreshments. How do the groups differ from one another, you ask?
- Bikers in the Black Group usually go the fastest and seldom stop to smell the roses. Often they go the furthest. They look for hills and work as many hills as possible into their ride. By the end of May the Black Group often does 30-35 km each ride.
- Bikers in the Blue Group often travel at nearly the same average speed as the ones in the Black Group. However, bikers in the Blue Group like to stop every now and then to smell the roses, admire the scenery, take a drink of water, visit, etc. These bikers willingly do hills when a hill is between where they are and where they want to go, but they do not search out hills to do. By the end of May the Blue Group often does 20-25 km each ride. Occasionally, on a flat ride, the group may go somewhat further.
- The Green Group is usually composed of riders who have not biked for a while, those who want to polish their skills, and those who just prefer a more leisurely ride. New bikers should begin riding with the Club during the first few weeks of May, when more seasoned riders will be available to provide instructions, leadership and encouragement. Routes are easy and generally flat. Members of the Green Group will be asked to take turns leading the green ride once they are comfortable with the routes.
Helmets are mandatory! A good, well maintained bike, adds to the enjoyment. Many bikers start with an old, but well maintained, bike. After they see how much fun the group can be, they often invest in a better bike. We begin our rides at 10:00 a.m. and finish between 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Bikers are asked to be at the meeting place by 9:40 a.m. We will occasionally lunch together (picnic) and will conclude the season with a group lunch.
Biking routes include a number of trails in the North Saskatchewan River valley and the Sturgeon River valley. We also occasionally ride in other areas of Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert, and Leduc. Members take turns leading the rides.
The Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club has put together a Biking Manual which provides more detail on rides, rider/leader responsibilities, and equipment. You can download the manual by following this link:
(If you want to print it, set your printer to duplex or booklet printing.)
The City of Edmonton has produced a bike safety video on their website (Sep 20, 2011). Click here to view it.
We have also produced guidelines for biking group leaders. Click here for those.
Please note that we do not publish biking routes and meeting place locations on this website. Only registered bikers get this information and it is provided via email.
For more information on the summer biking activities, contact Bob Holzer (activities@seniorsski.com).
