We had seven intrepid souls plus me at last week’s skills clinic at Gale Center. Next up: a gravel clinic with Paul W. on June 21^st !

Last time I wrote about using weight transfer to steer at speed. It seems like a good time to expand on that theme and talk about weight transfer in general. The more you can get off your saddle and move around on your bike, the better able you are to do a whole bunch of skills: accelerating, braking, cornering, dodging things, climbing, hopping…everything!

Go ride around a flat space like a parking lot. Get up to 15 kph or so, then stand on your pedals with the cranks parallel to the ground (3 and 9 o’clock, if you still have a hands clock). Knees flexed, elbows flexed, head up: this is called “ready position”. It’s the quickest position from which to do all the things I listed just above. Emergency braking: from ready position, extend arms, butt back over back of saddle, squeeze brakes. Going over bumps and train tracks- ready position. Hard acceleration, like a sprint- starts by getting off the saddle, that is, ready position, at least as you transition to sprinting. Need to bunny hop? Start in ready position. Descending on single track (dirt or gravel), you’ll stay in ready position the whole way down. 

Now, from ready position, try moving your weight around. Coast at 10-15 kph…how far back can you get your butt? How close to your front wheel can you get your face? Not too close, though. Side to side? Can you hang off the side of the bike, with your butt lower than the saddle? (Hint: sit on the top tube.) Try picking things up as you coast. A water bottle? I’ve seen guys pick up coins while coasting. I can’t. Impressive. 

One thing you notice when slaloming or dodging in ready position is you can keep your body upright while moving the bike around the obstacle. Or you can keep the bike upright and transfer your weight to move your body. Try both ways. Technically, you’re keeping your center of mass, which is around your hips (sorry) within your base of support, which is a line between your front and rear wheel contact points. This becomes really important on loose or slippery surfaces, like a steep gravel climb or descent. 

Anyway, all this isn’t to get you ready for the circus, it’s to help you react more quickly and move out of danger more effectively while riding. Leading clinics for, shall we say, more mature riders I’ve met many who actually feel uneasy or fearful standing on the pedals or trying ready position. I’m not judging, we all start somewhere, but realize if that’s you then you may not be able to react as quickly to avoid an accident on the road. Improving skill means knowing what you would like to do, but can’t do yet, and then working on it. Not knowing what you can’t do can be dangerous. So get out and try it!

Paul Jurbala 

We are into June and our riders who like the nicer weather have NO EXCUSES!  We have had some beautiful blue sky days. 

What have you missed?  Gravel away weekends, gravel trail rides, Skills session, after ride social, discovering new coffee stops, making new friends...Yes, all this has happened and there is more to come! See you soon?

• Our B group rode 75K and stopped for coffee in Port Dalhousie. 
• Our C group rode 70K with a coffee stop in Welland
• Our Rec group rode 40K to NOTL for their break 

Here's what to expect during the season:

In case of rain, check our Calendar.  If we change or cancel a ride, we will update our calendar 1 hour before the ride.

Arrive 15 min before the ride start time.  Rides are for registered Members or those that have already submitted a "Trial rider" request:  Trial Rider

Our calendar indicates our Ride Leader.  Ride Leaders are encouraged to create a route (either turn by turn OR just a description) which will be available the day before the ride.  This can be found in the "Routes" section:  Routes. 

Our Ride Leaders are volunteers.   We may not always create a route.  The Member Area contains a list of Members. Feel free to contact the Ride Leader for the ride you are joining if you have questions.

When building up your resilience to start the season, remember, we all are.  We get stronger and faster together! 

If you want alerts for cancellations, consider joining "Remind"  Stay Connected

Check your “Welcome Member Email” for the Store Log in Number

 IT’S NOT MANDATORY but you may ride better in a new kit! :-)

 Our kit is uniquely designed every 2-3 years.  Our partner for 2025-2026 is Verge.

 We offer jerseys, in relaxed (Prime) and Race (Strike) Fits as well as bib shorts and vests.

How to Order:

           Follow the link below to the TEAM STORE  (you will need to contact us for the Store Log in)

•           Check the sizing chart to make sure you are ordering the right size.  No returns
•           Put the item in your cart and “check out” and PAY. You can only pay using a PayPal account
•           The default “store location” will be populated.  Do not change
•           Enter your billing address (must match your credit card)
•           Once your payment is confirmed, you will be returned to the store to confirm successful payment
•           Note your Team Store Order
•           You will receive a confirmation email

 Once we have 20 pieces of KIT ordered, a production run will start. Kit takes 4-6 weeks to arrive and we will distribute on arrival.

Team Store:    Amici Team Store

Club Discount Pricing:

HST will be applied at CHECKOUT

AMICIS LOVE to TRAVEL AND RIDE their bikes!  Come and join us!

We have two trips we are currently planning;  Kingston in August and Montreal in Septmeber.

Come back here frequently as we build out all the plans.  

Summer Away Weekend

• What:                 3 days of cycling and socializing
• When:                Friday, August 21 – Sunday, August 23
• Where:              Kingston, Ontario
• Who:                  Amici Members and Family

Enjoy Kingston and the Thousand Islands Parkway.

Kingston offers excellent cycling with the scenic 180-km K&P Trail, the 1000 Islands Parkway, and a 8-km waterfront pathway. Popular routes follow urban bike lanes, head to Wolfe Island for a loop or cover rural roads suitable for all levels. There may even be a ferry ride!

Non-cycling members will enjoy spending time in Kingston and the 1000 Islands.

Cycling plans:

• Friday welcome ride:  25-30km
• Saturday long ride with lunch stop: 50-90km (multiple levels)
• Sunday farewell ride:  30km

Dining:

• Your room rate includes breakfast
• Potluck Friday night
• BBQ Saturday night

 Hotel information:

 Super 8 by Wyndham Kingston

• 794 Hwy 2, Kingston
• Kingston is ~390  km from Firemen’s Park and a 4-1/2 h drive
• Check-in 2:00 pm Friday, check-out 11am Sunday
• Rate:  $269 for 2 Queen beds OR $289 for 2 Queen beds in a Suite (with a couch). All with min-fridge.  Per night, plus taxes
• Pool on site 

20 rooms are reserved under AMICI

Access the special rate by following this link

Wyndham Hotel Reservation

OR Email info@super8kingston.ca

Or 1-800-454-2313

BOOK your room before June 20

Cancel 7 days prior to arrival by 3pm to avoid a 1 night plus applicable tax charge

****

MONTREAL UCI Championships

when:  Sept 25-27

Stay at Novotel Hotel

MORE DETAILS to come!

Amici Members want to know what is going on!  Here’s some tips on how to make sure you never miss out.

Check our Calendar

Our Calendar (on our website) is updated frequently and always represents “What’s happening”.

Find ride start locations, pace, leaders and sometimes details about your ride.

In case of inclement weather, rides will be updated to reflect a ride cancellation.

HINT:  *Add the APLVNCC calendar to your google calendar for easy viewing on your mobile phone (instructions below)

***

Join Remind to be alerted to cancellations or changes

Remind is an APP used by Schools to facilitate communications.  If you join Remind, you can expect to receive a DAY OF instant notifications of ride cancellations.

Here’s How:

•           Download the remind app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
•           Create an account
•           Tap the +Join a Class Button and input “@aplvncc” as the class

       You can also navigate to remind.com/join from your computer browser and follow the steps above

Notifications: Once you join, you can customize how you receive alerts (app push, text, or email) in your Notification preferences.

 ***

*Adding the APLVNCC + Google calendar (this one is tricky, so go grab your laptop and a coffee)

1. On a computer, open Google Calendar.
• Note: You can only add the APLVNCC Calendar to your Google account from a computer. Once you add the calendar on your computer, you'll see it in the Google Calendar app on your device(s). The APLVNCC Calendar cannot be added directly on a device. These steps cannot be performed within the Google Calendar app itself.
2. You will need to sign in with your Google account.
• To see if you already have an account, click here for instructions.
• A Google account is free. To create an account, click here.
3. On the left side, find "Other calendars" and click the down arrow .
4. Select Add by URL.
5. Enter the following address in the field:
   Calendar
6. Click Add calendar. The calendar will appear on the left side under "Other calendars."

Note: It might take up to 12 hours for changes to show in your Google Calendar.

Download the Google Calendar app and sign-in with your Google account. All APLVNCC Events will populate automatically. The Google Calendar app is available for free for iPad and iPhones from the App Store and Android devices in the Google Play Store. For more information on the Google Calendar app, visit the following page.

 Amici Membership is more than just “Riding Together as Friends”

Check out these Member Discounts and come back to this blog post often for more special offers!

Safety First:

 When you are out on the road, whether alone or in a group, make it easy for others to know your emergency information.

 We recommend “ROAD ID”

 Shop on line and take advantage of a 20% off CLUB DISCOUNT:

Amici Road ID Club Discount

Bike Shop Discounts:

Amici Members may receive a 10% discount by mentioning "Amici Cycling Club" at the following Niagara retailers:

• Front Row Sports, Thorold

Whether you are interested in pounding the pedals to build your endurance or interested in pounding the gelato and espresso, APLVCC (Amici Per La Vita) has everything you will need in a cycling club. On our rides, we cycling as 3-5 different groups with others looking to extend their endurance over distance and others more focused on strong social interaction with less distance and ample time for quality refreshments.  The club rides operate on a no-drop policy.  You will never be left stranded. We depart as one and we return home safely as one. The paces for the different groups are on our website, are clearly communicated and our ride leaders are responsible for keeping the group at the advertised pace.

Here are the main benefits to join our Club

1. The "Predictable" Peloton

Riders prioritize safety protocols over ego. New members benefit from a group that uses clear hand signals, calls out hazards consistently, and maintains a steady pace. This "predictable" environment significantly reduces the risk of accidents compared to solo riding or more aggressive "drop" rides. 

2. Mentorship and "Tribal Knowledge"

Our membership is a goldmine of experience. Whether it is mechanical fixes, nutrition advice, or route planning, seasoned riders often act as informal mentors. This helps less experienced members flatten their learning curve without the intimidation factor. 

3. Social Connection without the Burnout

Our club often strikes the perfect balance between physical challenge and social engagement. The focus is on the "coffee stop" as much as the "climb." We provide a consistent social outlet with people who share similar values regarding health, discipline, and mutual respect. 

4. Group Accountability and Consistency

It is much harder to hit the "snooze" button when you know a disciplined group is waiting for you. The structured schedule of a reputable club helps members maintain fitness longevity, ensuring you will stay active and healthy for a long time.

5. Access to "Vetted" Routes

Benefit from years of collective scouting!   We know the quietest backroads, the safest intersections, and the best-surfaced paths that avoid heavy traffic—information that is hard to find on a generic GPS app. 

6. Advocacy and Community Respect

Amicis are ambassadors for the sport. Join a group that is respected by local motorists and authorities, contributing to a culture where cyclists and drivers coexist safely. 

7. An Active Social Calendar

In addition to the regular full weekly ride schedule, there will be various organized rides with different start locations. Look forward to some planned weekends away cycling and potluck and social only events, like our Year End Banquet.

8.  Insurance.

All APLVCC members on APLVCC organized rides are covered with liability insurance for peace of mind. 

Frank Hayes, Amici Member, Author and Road Safety Advocate