Penticton Bike Camp

Speed Theory Cycling Penticton Bike Camp 2012: Overview

Step 1 – Memberships and Insurance

Purchase your Speed Theory team membership and/or Alberta Bicycling Association membership. You need to have insurance through either of these two organizations to attend the camp.

If you don’t want to purchase either of these two memberships and want to ride with us in Penticton, we will set up a link where you can purchase insurance just for the week. Look for the link in early May on the Speed Theory team blog.
If you are a member of another cycling team, you can still join us; just make sure to have your ABA membership.

Step 2 – Book Vacation

Tell your boss you will not be in the office during the week of May 14.
Day 1 of the camp is Sunday, May 13, and Day 7 is Saturday, May 20.
You can come to as many or as little days of riding you wish; e.g. the full week, first half, second half, odd days, even days, etc.
Sign up and run the Penticton Bare Bones Duathlon on Saturday, May 12. Do it.

Step 3 – Book Accommodation

There are eight nights for the full week of riding: booking vacation properties/condos with a bunch of people and hotel weekly rates are cheaper.
Make sure you have a kitchen at your disposal.
If you live the week with minimal perks, the total cost for you should come in around $1,000.

For example, last year we rented a condo for 8 nights/four people at $270/person for the week. Including gas, food, booze and bike supplies, we came in around $800.

If you want roommates, let folks know you are coming to the camp in the comments section of this Blog Post. People can then see who needs a roommate and get in contact accordingly.

Step 4 – Ride

The weather in Calgary is good and you want to enjoy your week in Penticton, so get out and ride and get your legs warmed up and ready.

Over...

Here are some things to think about for the camp:

Two rides will be scheduled each day: one longer and one shorter. Feel free to choose either one. The shorter rides will range from 60km to 160km while the long rides will range from 70km to 230km:

Both rides will stick together for at least the first 60-80km and then the two rides may split off, depending on the route

If you are not comfortable riding alone, bring someone with you who will fall back with you or hammer off the front with you if the group’s pace is not to your fancy. We do our best to keep the group together, but expect 20-40km stretches before the next stop when the IPod may be your only company. There will be a wide variety of skill level and speed.
Know how to change a flat tire.
You don’t have to do all the rides and you don’t have to ride the whole ride once you start.
It’s a pretty independent camp, but we try our best to take care of each other.
If you want to take a day off (or two , or three, ...), go for it or show up mid week .
It’s not a coached camp:

Approach it as a week of riding in Penticton with some friends, or a cycling vacation.

If you come to this camp, don’t expect great results at the Pigeon Lake RR because your legs will be pretty beat up after seven days of riding.
Here are some standard items to bring for the week:

Tubes and equipment to change a flat tire; i.e., what you bring on a ride when you ride to Cochrane, Elbow Falls or Millerville.
Tools in case you want to clean your bike or if you may need to fix more than a flat tire.
The Bike Barn is the local shop and they do have great service but it may not be timely and it will cost $$.
Cycling clothes for warm (+30), cold (+10) or rainy weather; remember we’re riding for seven days.
Food and drink: energy bars, energy drink (more than just water), real food like sandwiches; there will be lots of places to stop, but come prepared to ride 60-80km without stopping for food as we may not want to stop in every town.

If you want to stay in Penticton and ride longer through the long weekend, go for it.