January 2024 Newsletter
January 2024 Membership Meeting
Mark your calendar! Our January 2024 membership meeting is scheduled:
Date and Time: Tuesday January 30th 2024, 7:00-8:30 PM (arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 for socializing and dinner)
Location: CB & Potts Restaurant and Brewery clubhouse meeting room, 1441 E. Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins
Agenda will be announced a week prior to the event. Generally we will be discussing upcoming Club events and plans to address member highlighted issues and ideas. Kathy Collier will be speaking to the group about this year's slate of classic organized rides around Colorado including locations, dates, and registration info.
Winter Bike To Work (Or Wherever) Day
Fort Collins Cycling Club will once again be hosting an aid station on the CSU campus Oval on February 9th between the hours of 7am to 9:30am. Particulars are still being worked out with the City of Fort Collins and CSU. More details will be made available on a future announcement, but we will be looking for volunteers to operate the aid station as well as ideas for items to distribute to hungry (and possibly cold) cyclists making their way to work.
Montana Bike Tour June 22-28 2024
At the November club meeting, Doug Whitman shared his experiences with past versions of this tour. If you are interested in this event, you can reach out to Doug via his Facebook post on the FCCC group page. The tour web site is https://montanatour.org.
Estes Park Camping and Ride 2024
In recent years the club has done a weekend camping trip, highlighted by adventure rides in Rocky Mountain National Park. It's a great opportunity to meet and hang out with fellow FCCC members too! We're planning on doing it again this year. Details are still being worked out, but keep an eye out for more announcements regarding this fun event
Winter and Spring Ride Schedule
We enjoyed an unseasonably warm December and managed to get in a lot of great club rides! As usual, we will continue to schedule club rides through the winter months weather permitting. Currently we are scheduling Saturday rides generally starting at Obstacle Brewing, and Wednesday rides starting at 3pm from rotating locations. Keep an eye on the event website for the latest information.
https://www.fccycleclub.org/events
Note that weekday rides will move to 5pm departures with the return of daylight savings time. With the beginning of Spring we'll move back to Tuesday rides from Harmony Market Shopping Center and Thursday rides starting from rotating locations.
We are also tentatively planning our Spring Century Ride for May 25th. Unlike most of the centuries around here, this one is free! Mark your calendars.
Finally, keep an eye out for Ad Hoc club member ride announcements on Band and Facebook! And if the day is nice and you are looking for friends to ride with, by all means use those resources to create Ad Hoc ride announcements of your own!
Social Events - Call for Volunteer Hosts
Just because it's winter doesn't mean we all have to go into social hibernation. In December we had the downtown Holiday lights ride thanks to volunteer hosts Amy/Gary, Tracy, and Dorsi. All we need to have more are host volunteers. Social events can be accompanied by rides, or not. If you are interested in hosting a social event, please reach out to the board for more information: board@fccycleclub.org
Upcoming Ride Event Info
The number of organized events available to Northern Colorado cyclists can be daunting. As a service to members, we have compiled a list which is on the club web site at the link below. Feel free to reach out to other club members via the Facebook page or Band to ask questions, find training buddies, or organize transportation. (Note that we're updating the info and will re-post the link shortly.)
Winter Riding Tips
Being warm is essential. Being dry is a luxury! By wearing breathable clothing you can be both, even on a cold day. But those rain jackets do help hold warmth and if you don't mind being a bit damp, they can really help. And of course they are essential in rain or snow. And don't forget that a fender for your rear tire will keep the dreaded wet racing stripe off your back. (Fenders that clip to your seat post are available at REI and many bike shops.)
Remember, if it's shiny, it's slippery. Be sure to ride a little slower, allow extra space between yourself and other cyclists/cars/fixed objects, and avoid sudden braking or turns.
All that sand, grit, road salt, and water can really wreak havoc with your bike. Especially the drivetrain, bottom bracket, wheel bearings, headset, and braking surfaces. Be sure to clean your precious steed as often as possible, with special attention to chain, cassette, chainrings, and braking surfaces. Muc-Off or similar products with a clean water rinse (followed by application of your favorite chain lubricant) will prolong the life of your drivetrain by many miles.
Ride On!
Your FCCC Board of Directors
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