Velo et Cafe Riding Group

Group Captain: Kathy Benton

Group Speed: 14-16
Group Distance: 30-62

Ride Leaders

  Bill Roberts

Velo et Cafe is a friendly, welcoming group for riders who want to ride on unpaved/gravel roads,(avg speed 11-12.5 mph,) and paved trails (avg speed 14-16 mph,) Our goal is safe, fun rides, usually followed by refueling at a great local coffee or lunch place. Velo et Cafe has evolved over the years to typically ride Paved Trails on Thursday mornings, Gravel/Mixed Surface rides on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, as well as on some Sunday mornings. We are also venturing into BIKEPACKING, and sometimes do group event rides that involve road trips on the weekends.

We usually ride a single pace line on paved trails and when we are on paved roads, with a voluntary rotation. (It's easy to learn this. Just let me know if you aren't experienced in pace line riding so we can go over some pointers.) Riders who are new to riding or to pace line riding are welcome to join us if you are able to keep up with our average speed for the posted distance.

Safe riding is our first priority.

GCC members- To join, sign in to the "Members Area," go to the "Ride" page, and click on "Join A Group" just under the "Group Membership" heading. Please read and agree to the safety rules listed below, and you will receive a welcome letter and email updates on posted Velo rides. You can also start receiving a monthly newsletter with info about upcoming event rides and social events at the beginning of each month.

NEXT RIDE

The numbers below each group name are the typical cruising speeds of the group. Most groups will pick up speed at the end of a ride, and average speeds are generally on the lower end of the range presented.
A gray backgound denotes a tentative ride that has not been confirmed.
A yellow background denotes a group that you are a member of.
Current as of Saturday, December 13, 1:20 am.

When you join this group, you will be asked to agree to the following:

Many thanks to Roger Pierce for sharing these excellent safety parameters that you will be asked to agree to before joining the Velo group.
We strive to observe these rules whenever we ride.

When you join this group, you will be asked to agree to the following:

On paved roads and paved trail rides, I will ride in a straight line at a constant speed whenever possible.

I will call out hazards at road crossings, such as "Car Right!" or "Car Left!"

I WILL NOT add potential confusion by calling out, "Clear!"

I will strive to always be predictable, signaling with hand signals, and by calling out loudly when I am "Slowing!" and "Stopping!"

I will not allow my front wheel to overlap the rear wheel of the rider in front of me in a pace line.

I will maintain a following distance of at least one foot to the rider in front of me, (and generally, no more than four feet.)

When yielding the lead from a pace line, I will signal, and move clear of the line BEFORE slowing down.

I will not ride more than two abreast on a paved road.

On paved roads and trails, I will call out to riders I am about to pass: "On Your Left!" I will never pass on the right.

I will point out obstacles and hazards to following riders, and when possible steer the line around them.

If I stop for any reason, I will get completely off the road.

I will wear my helmet at all times while on my bike.

I will run a 50 lumen or brighter blinking tail light and will use a bar, helmet, or eyeglass mirror on all road rides and gravel rides.

I will loudly pass forward and to the back any verbal warnings when riding in a pace line, so that everyone in the pace line is aware of all potential hazards.

Wearing a RoadID or similar identification is strongly encouraged, (but not required.) This little $30 piece of gear will expedite notification of your loved one(s)in an emergency, and make EMS and the hospital aware of any health issues you have if you are wearing it in the event of a bad crash.
You can get one at: www.roadID.com
If you choose not to wear one, you are acknowledging that you are aware that prompt notification of your loved one(s) may be significantly delayed, and that EMS and the hospital may not be aware of your allergies and vital health info.

Group membership is open to all Gainesville Cycling Club members. To join, sign in to the Members Area, go to the Ride page, and click on "Join A Group" just under the "Group Membership" heading.