The B STS team is putting together our annual Spring Training Series for 2010. If you think the B STS is for you and if you would like to participate in the series, please read the following.

What is the B STS?

The B STS is a weekly series of progressive Saturday rides that will commence on Saturday, March 6, 2010. The goal of the series is to increase your riding stamina in a group riding environment, to make new friends and to reacquaint with old friends, and to have fun doing it. Safety has always been, and will remain, the primary objective. It is not an instructional ride series. All participants are expected to be proficient in group riding etiquette, including single and double pace lining skills, to have a familiarity with most common NYCC routes in Bergen and Westchester counties, to know basic bicycle maintenance, and to have a willingness (and responsibility) to take turns leading rides and/or taking turns pulling during the rides. In short, all B STS participants should be graduates of the B SIG or experienced B level riders.

The Basics

The B STS is reserved for current, dues-paying members of the NYCC. Rides will be held on Saturdays. In the case of inclement weather, we will ride on Sunday. The series will be a minimum of 10 weeks (though it may be prolonged right up to the week before the Memorial Day weekend). Registration for the B STS will begin on Wednesday, February 10th. On that day we will have an email address set up for you to contact us to reserve your spot. There is no need to do anything before then. Space will be limited, so mark your calendar! We expect we will have to limit the number of participants at some point. Sadly, this is only because of the overwhelming demand in past years, and the paucity of ride leaders.

Once registered, all riders will be expected, as in past years, to attend all the rides. Of course, everyone has to miss a ride here and there, that's understood. However, if you miss three rides, then your name will be removed from the list. This is an important element in the series that ensures the integrity of the group.

Registration

To register please send an email to bsts2010@gmail.com with your full name, riding background and expected cycling level, e-mail address, cell phone number, mailing address, and appropriate emergency (ICE) contact.

What to Expect

I assume a lot of us (yours truly included) are not in tip-top form in early March. We expect to accommodate a wide variety of skill and ability levels. We anticipate having three groups, a B-16, a B-17 and a B-18. At first we will ride together. We would urge you to find your niche after Week 3, and stay within that group. This will enable you to be comfortable with your partners, and to develop cohesiveness within your group, which is the goal of the series.

Riders will be notified via email of the start time and the starting point a few days before the ride. The details of the ride will not appear in the NYCC weekly ride listings. This is not to impart an air of exclusivity; it is only to keep our group intact. (Who really wants 6 or 8 riders showing up for the first time in Week 5?)

The Rides

The B STS team is in the process of creating the schedule. We will start off easy, than gradually progress in mileage and degree of difficulty. We will incorporate some of the classic NYCC rides (Bear Mountain, Harriman State Park, Little Tor). You will be required to obtain a Metro North bicycle permit as some of the May rides will require us to take the train. Rest stops will be kept to a minimum, in both number of stops and their duration. In lieu of stopping at a diner for a sit-down lunch, quick deli stops will be the norm. In this regard, the rides in this year's STS will more closely resemble A Rides in spirit.

I cannot say unequivocally that we will have a "No Drop" policy. I know that nobody likes to be dropped on any ride. (Believe me, I speak from experience here.) However, it is sometimes inconsiderate to expect a large group to have to wait often for a single cyclist who is having a bad day. That said, please be deliberate in choosing the sub-group within the B STS that you will be riding with.

The Leaders

The B STS team is actively and urgently recruiting Co-Captains. In past years the B STS has had to cut off registration due to overwhelming demand. It is unreasonable (not to mention dangerous) to expect 2 or 3 leaders to manage more than 50 cyclists It is hoped that 2 or 3 leaders, each managing 20 or so cyclists (the aforementioned B-16, B-17 & B-18 sub-groups) can manage the B STS safely and effectively. Anyone who is interested in being a Co-Captain can email John Pinto, NYCC B Rides Coordinator at b-ridesnycc@nyc.rr.com.

We're looking forward to a great B STS in 2010, we hope to see you on the road on March 6th!

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