Groups
The Gainesville Cycling Club has riding and interest groups with designated Group Captains. Each group will have its own riding protocol, which will include where and when it will meet, how far and how fast the group will go, how often it will stop, and how the group will interact while on rides. The Group Captain acts as the spokesperson for the group, talking to prospective group members to give them a better idea as to how the group operates.
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" (below the Ride Schedule). You are not limited to one group; join any that you ride with; if you find you are not riding with a group, you can leave the group.
SCROLL DOWN! There are a LOT of groups.
Road Riding Groups: A Riders |Cruisers |EZ Riders |GCX |Gliders |Middle Bees |Saddle Tramps |Velo et Cafe | Service Groups: Bikes 4 Vets |Millhopper Crew |Trailkeepers | Interest Groups: Commuters |GCC Women |GHT - Micanopy Rail Trail |Independent Trail Riders |
A Riders
Group Captain: Jayson O'MahoneyGroup Speed: 20-35 Group Distance: 50-100A group that strives to maintain a very high level of fitness and endurance. The average speed of the rides generally falls between 19 and 21 miles per hour, which means at times our cruising speed may reach up to 23-26 miles per hour (with a tailwind, etc).
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Cruisers
Group Captain: Roger PierceGroup Speed: 17-21 Group Distance: 30-65A group for experienced pace-line riders that due to age or fitness are not comfortable, or capable of, riding with faster pace-line groups. Group speed will generally range between 17 and 21 mph.
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EZ Riders
Group Captain: Joyce MilesGroup Speed: 8-12 Group Distance: 15-25Beginner rides for adults.
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GCX
Group Captain: Jayson O'MahoneyGroup Speed: 18-25 Group Distance: 25-75The GCX group traverses the unpaved roadways of north central Florida using primarily cyclocross equipment to maintain a moderate-high intensity training pace. Group activities include winter weeknite rides (Nov-Mar) and longer weekend rides year round. Group members a have a mixture of road and mtb backgrounds which mix happily, whether on dusty washboard limerock or sticky rain-soaked sugar sand. GCX riders participate in cyclocross races, gravel grinders, and ultra-CX races - but for some the primary goal is training for road/mtb events and enjoying all that rural Florida offers when pavement does not interfere.
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Gliders
Group Captain: George BowenGroup Speed: 20-24 Group Distance: 30-70The Gliders are a group that strives to maintain high training speeds over moderate distances and maintain the integrity of the group. The average speed of our Saturday rides generally will fall between 19 and 21 mph, which means our cruising speed will range between 19 and 24 mph. Rides will normally be around 60 miles, but can range between 27 and 75. We will usually stop at a store about half way through rides of over 50 miles.
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Middle Bees
Group Captain: Charles CourtneyGroup Speed: 16-19 Group Distance: 30-45This Tuesday/Sunday ride group provides a moderately paced (16-19 mph cruising speeds) ride, typically for 30-45 miles. In addition this group serves as a recovery ride for faster riders following their more strenuous Saturday rides.
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Saddle Tramps
Group Captain: Juliane StruveGroup Speed: 12-15 Group Distance: 25-50The Saddle Tramps are a spin-off of the Pedalers, riding between 12 and 15 miles per hour, emphasizing longer routes between 25 and 50 miles in length. This group will include hill work and preparation for longer rides such as the Ride to Remember, MS-150 and the GCC cycling weekend rides of 50 plus miles. These longer rides can also be preparation for bicycle touring, including information on getting started touring, optimal gear, bicycle friendly routes, and other resources. We are a friendly, no-drop group, who welcome Newbies, who like to visit natural settings, enjoy being outdoors on bikes, who usually ride low traffic roads, and occasionally stop and take pictures.
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Velo et Cafe
Group Captain: Kathy BentonGroup Speed: 15-16 Group Distance: 30-62Velo et Cafe is a friendly, welcoming group for riders who want to ride on unpaved/gravel roads,(avg speed 11-12.5 mph,) on off-road/MTB trails, (avg speed 8-9 mph,) and occasionally on paved roads and paved trails (avg speed 15-16 mph,)
Our goal is safe, fun rides with refueling and team building afterwards.
If there was a "hybrid" category under "Group Type," Velo would definitely qualify.
Velo et Cafe has evolved over the years to offer a range of different, interesting routes and ride start points, ride leaders, and different types of rides every week.
We typically ride Paved Trails and a few Paved Road rides on Thursday mornings, Gravel/Unpaved Roads on Tuesday mornings and most Saturday mornings, and MTB trails on some Sunday mornings.
I try to post an Asphalt Trail ride with either a MTB or Gravel ride, starting at the same location at least once a month, usually at Santos or the Nature Coast Trail's Trenton or Fanning Springs Trailhead.
We are also venturing into BIKEPACKING....
Velo members sometimes do group event rides that involve road trips on the weekends.
Typically, we finish our rides at a great local cafe, where we share friendly conversation while we relax and refuel with great coffee and pastry or a beer and lunch, depending on the finish time.
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Bikes 4 Vets
Group Captain: Diann DimitriAs many of you know, I have been working with vets who lack transportation. With the help of many of you I have been able to donate about 500 bikes to this project. In addition I have been able to purchase a bike repair stand, a 12x12 popup tent, some tools, bike parts and safety equipment. At this point in the project, the vets are able to fix and repair almost any bikes that are donated. The ownership by the vets of this project has been immensely satisfying and has lead to talk of expanding this project.
Support Bikes For Vets.
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Millhopper Crew
Group Captain: Sue BowersThe mission of the Millhopper Crew is to keep the bike lanes on Millhopper Road free of significant obstacles. To do this, we ride the road, removing stuff from the bike lanes as we go.
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Trailkeepers
Group Captain: Fairlie BagleyThose of you who ride the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail know that it needs help. Sometimes there are too many leaves and branches on the Trail. In places there are bumps caused by tree roots. Obviously, the Florida Park Service needs help in keeping the Trail clear and clean, and in
repairing aging pavement. To this end, a small group of us have banded together as the TRAILKEEPERS, to help the Trail.
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Commuters
Group Captain: Stephen PerzWe are a group of cyclists who enjoy using bicycles as transportation (and recreation). Our purpose is to socialize with folks of similar interests, and to facilitate and encourage our and others using cycling as a means of safe, communal, and green transportation.
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GCC Women
Group Captain: Jo'An MinerWomen ride bikes because it's fun and social. On a bike we can get stuff done, hang out with our friends and enjoy time with our family at the same time staying healthy and active. This group puts us in contact with other women who like bikes too.
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GHT - Micanopy Rail Trail
Group Captain: Aaron WeberWe are a group of cyclists working to connect the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail (GHT) to Micanopy
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Independent Trail Riders
Group Captain: Richard ColbertPersons who ride independently on local Rail Trails.
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