|
| |
The NFBC is a cycling club founded in 1969. As our slogan says, "We
Ride Every Day!".
There are a few caveats to "Every Day"...
- The club officially has rides from mid-March through the end of October.
There are weekday rides in both the morning and evening. On the
weekends we schedule one or two rides each day, throughout Western New York.
- If the ride leader considers the weather too dangerous, the ride will be
cancelled.
What does it take to ride with us?
- A helmet
- A bicycle that you can safely ride at least 20 miles.
- A helmet
- An enjoyment of cycling
Some FAQ:
- How do I join?
Check the schedule and come out to a ride.
If you enjoy yourself, fill out an application and pay your dues.
- Is it really that easy? What about maps?
Make the
first ride easy:
Arrive at the ride start 15-20 minutes before the ride's
scheduled to start.
Make sure your bike's ready to ride. (fully inflated tires
are necessary)
Find the ride leader and introduce yourself. (They're
the person handing out cue sheets.)
The cue sheet has turn-by turn directions and on weekends
includes a map.
(If you can't follow directions, ride fast enough
to keep up with someone who can.)
Bring a spare inner-tube and the means to change it.
(Someone may help you, but we don't
have a formal support system.)
You may want to bring a cool beverage to enjoy in the parking lot after
the ride.
- I'm new to cycling, can I join?
Sure; we welcome new members. To
enjoy riding with us, you need to be able to ride at least ten miles
without stopping for a rest. On most weekend rides we stop every
10-20 miles for a brief rest and regroup. You should think that
riding a bike for 2-4 hours in a day is one of the best things you could
be doing.
- How fast do you ride?
On a flat route, under 50 miles, we average anywhere from
15-25mph. If the
course is hilly, or long, the average drops.
(This is a rough estimate.
Weather, especially wind can affect these
numbers significantly.)
- How long are your rides?
Weekday rides are typically 20-25 miles
long.
Weekend rides are 30-100 miles long. Most are 40-65 miles long.
Spring rides are usually shorter.
- What do the ride ratings mean?
Our rating system isn't very
scientific. If you have a question about a specific ride, ask the
ride leader for more information.
| Easy |
Short flat rides. No steep or long hills, good for
beginners. |
| Mod |
You will work up a sweat on these. Usually longer than
Easy, and/or contains a hill |
| MD |
Didn't quite rate difficult. Usually a Mod ride with a
few extra hills |
| Diff |
Difficult. Expect to shift gears a bit on these.
Expect to mutter curses under your breath. Expect short steep hills or long miles with rolling terrain. |
| XD |
Be warned, these rides always have a steep hill or
two, or they're very long and hilly.
They don't quite rate "XXX", or they're the shortened version of
an "XXX" ride. |
| XXX |
These are the rides that you tell a non-cyclist about and
their first comment is,
"You did this for fun?" Then they ask to see the scars.
Expect steep hills (15% - 20% grade). Expect a long ride.
Expect to climb for more than a mile. Expect some of the
greatest scenery Western New York has to offer. |
- Can I read your Constitution to learn more the NFBC?
Sure! Here's a copy
NFBC
Constitution
|
