Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada

Yes. For all sanctioned rides within the club, we require membership as this provides us with insurance from Bicycle Nova Scotia. There are also many "club-organized" rides that are not official so therefore anyone can join in.

That depends what type of riding you want to do. Most of us prefer to ride on the roads, so generally we have chosen to ride road bikes (otherwise known as racing bikes), but in effect, any roadworthy bike can be used to ride on the road. Any bike must be in good mechanical condition and it's a good idea to have mudguards fitted in the winter and lights for road riding. Mountain bikes (also known as MTBs or ATBs) are the choice for people who want to ride off-road, and there are plenty of people in the club who do that too. For safety reasons, mountain bikes are not permitted on club road rides. The handlebars are wide and may increase the risk of crashing when riding in a group.

Yes, no problem, although they are usually heavier than a road bike, so a little slower in general. You will find the ride improved by fitting slick (road) tires on your mountain bike however. Another area that would benefit you is to buy some pedals that you clip in to. We can offer advice here if need be. Mountain bikes are not permitted in our club road rides for safety reasons. The handlebars are wider and increase the risk of crashing while riding in a group.

More expensive bikes benefit from being lighter, which means they are easier to ride uphill, but ultimately it doesn't matter how expensive a bike is, as long as it's well maintained. A well maintained bike will run smoother, have fewer mechanical problems, and will be more fun to ride. Make sure that you always carry a spare inner tube or puncture repair kit, tire levers and a pump and that you are able to repair a punctured tire if you have to.

Yes! It is the law in Nova Scotia for all cyclists to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, on or off-road.

Neither do we. Generally, we try to keep our routes on quieter roads with ample shoulders for safety. Some rides are chosen for other reasons, like scenery, but if you ask anyone in the club, they'll tell you where their favorite ride locations are. It takes some time to get used to riding with traffic, we've all been there. The best way is to ride with people you're comfortable with and take your time.

Try riding as far as you can on a flat road at 25 kmph. If you can ride about 30 kilometers in a little over an hour in varied terrain then you're probably fit enough. Remember that it is always easier when you are in a group and if you start to struggle, don't worry, we've all been there; someone will ride with you to ensure you are ok. We won't leave you behind!

At first it might seem very daunting, but if you'd never ridden in a group, we'd start by placing you at the back of the group where you'd not have to worry about people around you. From there we could teach you the basics and soon get you riding within the group as your confidence increased. This riding in a single-file formation is called a "Paceline."

You'll see! Riding 'on someone's wheel' as it's called gives you the benefit of slipstream. Pacelining can save you as much as 15-40% of your energy, depending on the speed and size of the group.

Lycra can be a bit 'revealing', but we dress like that for reasons of comfort. The shorts have a synthetic chamois pad which helps keep your bum comfortable. The materials used in all the clothing tend to breathe well, reducing discomfort from sweating, and they don't flap around in the wind. Some people are more comfortable riding in jogging bottoms. Basic rules for a beginner are ride in whatever you're comfortable, and remember to keep warm, especially in the winter months. It is better to be too warm than too cold.

Some of us do, some of us don't; it's not a rule! Generally it's people who race who shave their legs, and the main reasons are not for wind resistance. Shaven legs are easier to massage, or bandage after an injury.

Road: You'll need a reasonable level of fitness to be able to do a 'club run' (club run being a social Saturday ride, usually with a café stop afterwards). By reasonable level of fitness, we'd suggest that you should be able to ride at about 25kmph on the flat for a distance of about 30 kilometres. If you wanted to ride a club time trial (an event where you ride a set distance against the clock), then you are testing yourself, so there is no minimum speed.

Mountain: We assume you've ridden your bike off-road before, so you've got the basics. The rides go as fast as the slowest rider, and most don't stay at the back of the pack too long! We have a lead rider and a sweep rider to make sure no one gets lost or left behind. These are classified as "No-Drop" rides.

If you believe that you're not fit enough yet to come out with us, then hopefully Bicycles Plus Cycling Club can still offer you something. As we've said, we all started somewhere. For example, on a club run the group goes to a café afterwards, and if you wanted, you could make your own way there at your own pace, meeting us for a snack and a coffee. Just let someone know that you'll be there so we can look out for you. Don't forget the regular time trials throughout the summer too, where you simply ride as quickly as you can against the clock over a predetermined distance.
We will also be doing some introductory rides supervised by some of our senior members and coaches. Keep an eye on the Events page for more details throughout the season.

Club rides are a social ride where we aim to generally keep the group together. It may split on hills but regroup on the other side. If there are several riders of similar ability, you are more than welcome to ride at a faster pace with that group, or take a longer route to the end point. For large groups, we break up the riders into smaller groups of no more than 6 riders. That way cars can pass and Paceline rotation is shorter.

Not at all. You do as much or as little as you like. You may find that racing is infectious, especially time trials which are done entirely at your own speed. In a time trial you are racing against your previous personal best times, always trying to better them. Our club hosts at least one road race and one MTB race per year, as well as numerous time trials and other events.

We are predominantly a road club, but we do have a large number of members who ride Mountain Bikes as well or exclusively. We have a weekly Wednesday evening MTB ride that is suitable for all levels of rider. We also announce other MTB rides in our club forum (Membership required).

Membership to Bicycles Plus Cycling Club is currently $35 CDN per year (No tax). This fee gets you membership to the club from January 1st to December 31st of the calendar year.

$25 of this fee is for Bicycle Nova Scotia - Club affiliation and ride insurance
$10 of this fee is for the BPCC for administrative purposes

You can bring your membership form fee to Bicycles Plus in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Cash or cheques accepted (Made payable to the Bicycles Plus Cycling Club). membership form can be found in our Documents section or at the shop.

Please feel free to call Bicycles Plus at (902) 832-1700 for more information. The staff at the shop are happy to help.