Autumn Cycling Skills Workshops for Women

Cycling skills workshops for new or returning road riders, the primary focus will be to encourage women to feel safer on our roads. Run by volunteers for the Macedon Ranges Cycling Club (MRCC)

The 8 week program will run be run again in Autumn 2019.  Woodend Children’s Park, Nicholson St, Woodend.

Workshops will include skill building activities, rides, information sessions, demonstrations, coffee and fun.  Riding safely and confidently with friends on our local roads is the goal. We will be learning new skills and enjoying the landscape together.

Women of all ages and abilities are welcome , experienced cyclists will be there to assist. We are all about encouraging cycling and having fun.

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Information

1. Bike safety checklist

A bike in roadworthy condition. ABCAir in tyres, Brakes work, Chain oiled.
If you need help with your bike, we recommend local bike mechanic:
Mark Horner – “Faded Ano” Ph. 0437 354 318
or visit your local bike shop.

2. Equipment checklist

  • Helmet – AS/NZS 2063 adjusted to fit.
  • Footwear, firm, flat soles with laces tucked away.
  • Clothing, close fitting, lightweight.
  • Water bottle, can be used with one hand
  • A spare tube (check with Mark or your local bike shop for the right sort of tube.
  • Money for coffee
  • Phone, for Strava (or emergencies)
  • Small snacks for energy

3. Cost – Free

The workshops are free.  However, all participants must be insured.  Cycling Victoria offer a 3 month membership which you can take out just before the workshops start to cover you for the duration. It’s pretty clunky to get there, so if you go to http://membership.cycling.org.au/ , JOIN NOW , then for State: CYCLING VICTORIA and Club search for MACEDON RANGES CC , click on ‘3 month membership’ and fill in your remaining details.

If you want to remain insured past the date of the workshop finish you can either rejoin RIDE + , or you can join RIDE + to start with to get a full year membership.

We do not require you to become a member of Macedon Ranges Cycling Club but we would love to see you riding with us so please feel free to join. We try very hard to cater to a wide range of fitness levels and hope that at the end of the Autumn Cycling Skills Workshop you will be confident to join one of our three different ride groups.

Workshop Program 

  • Week 1 –  Road cycling
    Sat  9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • Bike, clothing & equipment – what do you actually need?
    • Short ride 15 km – 1 hour!
    • Coffee – ‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend.
  • Week 2 – We are a diverse group
    Sat  9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • Find your tribe. Different bikes, different gear and different reasons to cycle.
    • Learn your capabilities, select your best fit; routes, speed & distance.
    • 22.5 km ride – 1.5 hr
    • Coffee -‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend.
  • Week 3 – Secret language of cyclists
    Sat  9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • ‘Gilet, Hubbard, KOM – Breaking the code
    • Hand signals for safe road communication
    • 22.5 km ride – 1.5 hr
    • Coffee – ‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend
  • Week 4 – Fuel on the go, pitstops.
    Sat  9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • Ride food and hydration
    • Newham loop – 22.5 km 1.5 hr ride
    • Coffee – ‘Newham General Store, Newham
    • Kyneton loop – 35 km 2 hour
    • Coffee – ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’ Kyneton
  • Week 5 –  Ascent & descent
    Sat    9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • Gears, brakes.
    • 28.2 km 1.45 hr ride including gentle ascents/descents
    • Coffee – ‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend
  • Week 6 – Hazards & accidents
    Sat  9.00 am – 11.00 am
    • What to do if you are involved in an accident
    • How to avoid hazards / accidents
    • Coffee – ‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend
  • Week 7 – Distance challenge Sat  9.00  am – 11.30 am
    • Lets cruise!
    • What is bunch riding, drafting, holding a wheel…?
    • 33.3 km ride 2 hours!
    • Coffee – ‘The Fox in the Chamber’ Woodend
  • Week 8 –  The Works and Celebration
    Sunday 9.00 am – 11.30 am
    • Combining all skills for a long ride
    beginning with a mountain climb
    • 40 km ride 2 hours, equivalent to MRCC medium ride
    • Meet and ride with cyclists from the Macedon Ranges Cycling Club
  • Celebrate with a whole club gathering at Hanging Rock

 Note: the program is subject to change due to weather conditions, feedback etc.