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The MURA Cycling Group

Usually on Tuesdays from May until October, members of the MURA Cycling Group get out our bikes and head off to explore diverse cycling routes in different parts of the island of Montreal as well as farther afield to the South Shore, the Eastern Townships and the Laurentians. The routes vary from very urban to very rural and are usually 18-40 kms of generally flat terrain.

There are usually between 8 and 15 riders on our outings, ranging in age from our 60s into our 80s; we take the ride at a leisurely pace – no racers with us!

Join Us!

We currently have about 40 people on our email list. If you are interested in joining us and are not already on our list, please contact Susan Kojima, susan.kojima [at] mcgill.ca (subject: MURA%20Cycling%20Group) , to have your name added.

Here’s more information

The MURA Cycling Group was created in 2016 by Joan Wolforth.  It was led and run for many years by Joan Wolforth and Joan Barrett. The 2023 Planning Team consists of Joan Barrett, Gregg Blachford, Simon Fulleringer, Susan Kojima, Debbie Mercier, Hugh Ray, and Jacques Richer.

All MURA Full and Associate Members are welcome on our outings. Full members are also welcome to invite up to two guests who are not MURA members to join us.

Registering for a Ride

  • A week before the scheduled date of a ride, you will receive an invitation which gives details of the ride along with instructions on how to register
  • If you intend to come on the ride, please register and include any guests who may be accompanying you. This will guarantee that you will be notified by email if the event is cancelled or postponed. It will also guarantee that, if you are late, we will wait for you at the Meeting Place and/or try to contact you.
  • If you register but cannot attend at the last moment, please contact the Ride Leader to let him/her know not to expect you.

The Rides

  • Each ride has a leader who has planned the route and who keeps track of us all. Please bring your cell phone in case you need to call the leader if you are going to be late or if you happen to get separated from others.
  • We rely on members to lead trips and we hope that, over time, you may feel confident to lead a route yourself and introduce the rest of us to some of your favourite rides
  • We try to offer a variety of rides: some rides are in urban areas, others in rural areas; some rides are more sightseeing oriented whereas others are more keeping on the move; some rides are circular while others go back and forth on the same route; some are longer while others are shorter.
  • Most routes are quite level and, if there are going to be hills on a particular route, we will alert you ahead of time.
  • Where possible, we stick to dedicated bicycle trails separated from traffic.
  • We usually meet at 10:30 am, although we may meet a bit earlier in hot weather and a bit later in cold weather. We usually finish by ~2:30 pm in order to allow us to get back home before the afternoon traffic jams start.
  • If a ride is cancelled because of inclement weather, registered riders will receive a cancellation email at the latest by 7:30 am of the day of the ride. Typically at that point you will learn what the alternative day for the ride will be during that week; however it is possible that the ride for that week will be cancelled outright.
  • We arrange our own transportation to the meeting place. While car pooling has been avoided during the pandemic, this will, we hope, be an option in the near future.
  • Each trip also has a “sweeper” at the back of our group, so no one is left behind
  • We usually stop to eat at around the halfway point, and we bring our own lunches. You should bring your own cutlery, food and drinks and you may wish to bring something to sit on (such as a pad or small blanket).

What to bring on each trip

  • Lunch & snacks like energy bars
  • Plenty of water and remember to keep well hydrated during the ride whether you feel thirsty or not
  • Your medications
  • Credit card and cash
  • Cell phone
  • We are lucky to have members with us who are usually able to repair flat tires and make minor repairs, but it helps if you can bring the following:

Safety

  • We take your safety very seriously - and so should you; please ensure that you and your bike are fit and ready for our rides.
  • We bring a First Aid kit with us on rides.
  • You will need to sign a form that releases MURA and the Cycling Group from any liability for participating in this activity.
  • Did you know that if you are a CAA member, then you can call CAA to help you if you have a problem with your bike? But they can only meet you on routes that are accessible to cars.
  • Don’t forget to bring your medications with you, if possible, on the routes in case you have an accident.

Make sure that your bike is tuned up and used before going on any trips with us

Most bike shops can prepare your bike for the new season, but if you want to do it yourself, here’s a useful list:

  • Check gears and derailleurs for damage and alignment
  • Clean any dirt, oil and old grease off your bike
  • Check drive chain for stretching or kinking
  • Inspect brakes for wear and grip
  • Check tires for wear, cracks or swellings
  • Make any tension adjustments required to the various cables
  • Check wheel and frame alignments
  • Check and tighten wheel spokes if needed
  • Check seating poles for unwanted movement
  • Tighten every nut and bolt to ensure that the bike is stable while riding.
  • Apply appropriate oils and greases to moving parts where required
  • Here’s a link to a YouTube video that goes into detail on bike maintenance.
Tags: 
cycling
MURA
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