Local Intermediate / Advanced MTB Ride (lights are now mandatory)

Lights: Now mandatory for each ride as days are getting shorter. Lights should be bright enough to adequately light up the trail for riding in the dark at a fast pace. If you need lights, the team in the shop would be happy to help you.

Location: Local Dundas Valley ride

Meeting Place: Freewheel Cycle (back parking lot), 9 King St W, Dundas, ON L9H 1T5 (map)

Freewheel's Thursday MTB group rides are for intermediate to advanced riders (not ideal for beginners) looking to explore and enjoy our local trails with other mountain bikers. We prefer to keep these rides fun and social and encourage everyone to get to know each other. This is not a race so riding alone defeats the purpose of a group ride.

Each ride will be split into groups depending on the number of riders who show up that week. Each group will have an official Freewheel leader and sweep so no one will be dropped or left alone at the back. We will encourage one another, celebrate the wins, and help each other out when needed.

Through the season, ride locations will change from week to week so that we can explore all the amazing trail networks in the area. All information on When & Where to meet (or cancelation due to weather) will be communicated to attendees via email.

The weather does not always play nice so we will keep an eye on it each week and provide updates as best we can. In a perfect season, we do not have to cancel any rides but it may happen from time to time. We also encourage responsible trail usage so we will not host group rides when the trails are too muddy. In some cases, the weather may cause us to change locations last minute so that we can look for dry trails. We will let you know of changes as early as possible.

Sign up / in

Please register well in advance of each ride. Signing up in the parking lot holds things up as we wait. This year we are asking everyone to check into each ride by having their ticket ready to be scanned. Look for the registration table/person at each ride.

As a participant, you are expected to:

• Be ready to roll at 6:00 sharp (6:30 for destination rides).
• Arrive early enough for your pre-ride preparations. It is not cool to hold up the whole group while you scramble to get ready.
• Wear a cycling-specific helmet less than 5 years old
• Dress appropriately for the activity and weather conditions.
• Have an appropriate trail bike in good working order. No department store bikes (for your own safety). Our service technicians will not be available to do last-minute fixes on your bike.
• Bring water and nutrition. Staying hydrated is important and snacks will keep your energy up. Bonking is not fun.
• Have a good level of fitness. This is a physical activity that will include hills and an intermediate/advanced pace. It is not ideal for people looking to get back into fitness starting from scratch. (ie; not Day 1 off the couch)
• Be self-sufficient. Mechanical issues happen and while our guides are happy to help as best they can, each rider should carry a mini-pump, spare tube, and a quick link suited for their own bike.
• Bug spray and/or sunblock is also recommended.
• Be considerate and supportive of others. Encourage each other as we push the edges of our comfort zones and try new things.
• Remember that this is not a race! It's a social ride with like-minded riders.

We look forward to having you join us on Thursdays to ride bikes! Mountain bikes that is :)

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