2011 was a year of growth. Our Club grew larger, with the highest membership since it’s first year. Our youth race was larger than the year before, and went off without a hitch. Our cyclocross race nearly doubled in size, but also went off without a hitch. Thanks in large part to our friends from the City of Barrie. Our Monday night MTB rides had a lot more participants than in 2010 as well.

One thing we would have liked to see grow some more, is the club TT series, organized, and hosted by Mike & Judy Doble. Year over year numbers were pretty flat, though hosting our first Interclub TT on the new Ingram Rd. course did push our numbers higher than in years past.

Tuesday nights continue to be the most popular ride of the week, the dual start locations worked well this year, and our downtown ride leaders, Brad & Barb Watts worked all season to ensure that everyone enjoyed their time riding. Our learn to ride program was well attended, and a great success judging by the number of club rides attended by it’s graduates. Much thanks to Marc Brouillette for his time to lead the course.

The Club continues to be involved locally, participating as a member of Barrie’s Active Transportation Working Group. Recently planning has begun for Cycling Safety Week 2012. Plans will include a car free day downtown, and possibly the City will host a bike summit, lead by Share the Road Coalition leader, Eleanor McMahon.

The Club has also forged a partnership with the Town of Innisfil, and the Innisfil Rotary Club, and are helping to create and build a ‘Rotary Trail’ at the Innisfil Recreation Complex. It will include a multi-use trail, with XC MTB trails cut into some treed land at the complex.

In 2012, the Club will be offering expanded Learn to Ride programming, to be offered in the City of Barrie’s Spring/Summer leisure guide. We’ll be offering both learn to road, and learn to MTB programs, for youth & adults. In the spring, the Club cleaned and adopted a stretch of Ridge Road through the town of Shanty Bay. Following our clean-up, the County put a sign up, letting everyone know the Barrie Cycling Club is helping to keep the area clean. We look forward to the support of everyone, when it’s time to clean up again next spring. It took all of 2 hours to get it done this year.

Our interclub series with the Eagles, Mountainview and Owen Sound continues to be a great introduction to racing for many people. Next year we, along with Newmarket will work to add in a youth component for younger racers, who might like to become involved. The OCA is adding a skills component to the youth race series, it might be fun to add a skills component to one of the interclub races as well. This is something we’ll investigate and share with the club as details become available from the OCA.

One thing that never materialized in 2011, was a Club clothing order. We tried to get this off the ground a couple of times, but hadn’t seen enough interest to cover the minimum orders required by Sugoi. Some of you have placed an order, and left a deposit with me, I apologize it’s taken so long, but tonight I would like to Club to vote on whether they support the club investing some if it’s own money to ensure we meet Sugoi’s minimums. Provided that there is support, we’d like to place an order for January 2, 2012.

Looking towards next year, some things that I’d like to see us focus on are, expanding our Time Trial series. Perhaps partnering with the Barrie Baydogs Tri club, could see us have a TT each week, and share the burden of organizing and hosting amongst other people. As with most club events, we have a core group of volunteers that enable these events to happen, we need to see more members offer to help, and volunteer through the year, in order to ensure we can continue to provide all the events and rides that we do.

I’d like to see the club support a women’s only weekly ride, lead and organized by women. I have heard many times this year from women, who would simply prefer to ride with other women, and no men. We have tried these in the past with mixed success, but I believe if we can provide a regular ride, and get the word out, it will be successful in 2012.

We’ve recently sat at a table with the man behind Centurion Cycling, and the Subaru Ironman Series. They have a long term goal of creating an all women’s ride, that would start & finish in Barrie, and have at least 1500 participants. We’d like to work collaboratively with them to see this become a reality.

We’ve also been working to develop a proper, five year strategic plan for the club, that covers all aspects of what we could, or would like to see accomplished in that time. It’s something that has been underway for several months, and we should have something to show everyone early in January. This represents a big step forward in the growth and development of the Barrie Cycling Club.

I’d also like to see us continue to grow our weekly MTB rides, and of course the more people riding on Tuesday nights, the better. Next year may see us realize the addition of a third ride, catering to more recreational riders, who just want to get out for a cruise with some friends. Definitely let us hear your thoughts on these things tonight through the course of our meeting.

The Club has already submitted an expression of interest form to the OCA for our youth race, which will hopefully be held on Saturday, May 21. We’ll also be submitting an expression of interest form to host another Ontario Cup Cyclocross race as well.

Thank you to all of you. Our members, and executive, who have made 2011 such a great year of growth. Now let’s get into the discussion of how we can make 2012 an even bigger, and better season!

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Barrie Cycling Club
Annual General Meeting
Dec 6, 2011 – 7:00 PM
Location: Liberty North Barrie

AGENDA
Welcome & approval of agenda

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Attended:
Copeland Stewardship Stakeholders Meeting
City of Barrie Active Transportation Working Group

Reviewed:
Active Transportation Master Strategy – City of Barrie (preparing a response on behalf of BCC)

Actioned:
City of Barrie Learn to Ride Programming
Youth Race Expression of interest
Rotary Trail Construction in Innisfil with Town & Rotary
Bike week 2012, last week of May in Barrie. Will include car free day, possible Bike Summit with Eleanor McMahon

TREASURER’S REPORT

2011 Financial Statement

RACE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

2011 Race/Event Summary

 NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Weekly Rides: How to grow the MTB ride? How to grow the Sunday touring rides? Add a Saturday touring ride?
TT Series: Should we connect with the Baydogs, and collaboratively run them? Possibility of an Inter-Club Time Trial series? Newmarket, Barrie & Mountainview to host 1 each at their home course?
Interclubs: Add a youth component, possible skills competition?
Women’s only ride: Can the BCC facilitate and support a regular weekly ride lead & organized by women in the club/community?
Clothing order: Spend club money to place an order on Jan 2? Vote.
Membership fees: Proposing an increase of $5/yr, to cope with rising insurance costs. Vote.
Youth Race: How to ensure we have enough volunteers for a safe race?
Leisure Guide Programs: Club to hire part-time coaching staff to facilitate this courses. Vote.
Initial Discussions with Centurion Cycling: Goal of a 1500 all female ride starting and finishing in Barrie. Looking to support youth programming and masters racing with the club.
HSF Spark Grant: BCC Submitting for funding to help develop ‘safe routes to schools’ and walking school bus programming within the City of Barrie.
Canada Summer Games: Enter a team from Barrie Cycling

Possible Grant opportunities:

Ontario Trillium Foundation – Possible Submission, March 2012
$5000 TD Friends of the Environment – investigating for next submission date.
Home Depot Canada Foundation (up to 5K for neighborhood improvements)
MEC – Up to $15,000 funding for community projects

ELECTIONS:

President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director, Race Director & Youth Development Director

NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: November 13, 2012

cheers,
robb

Hey everyone,

Tonight’s family ride is being cancelled due to the uncertain weather forecast, and also the fact there is a car show at the Heritage Park meeting place. Next week, we will return with a new meeting point, and the ride will be deemed a ‘club trial ride’ meaning that anyone is free to join us, all that will be required is that you first sign a waiver before participating!

Tomorrow night, we Christen our brand new Time Trial location on Ingram Rd.
This course is a full 7.5km in length, and features entirely brand new asphalt, just laid down this summer. It promises to be a very fast course. Don’t miss the opening event tomorrow, beginning at 7pm.

Some additional information from our Time Trial Coordinator, Mike Doble:
The start is on Ingram Road 1.5km east of Hwy 93, north of Craighurst. The TT goes east to turn at 7.5km and return to starting point. Parking will be on the eastbound shoulder of Ingram Road.

The course length has been independantly verified as correct to 15km by Jack Sasseville and Andrew Watson. Jack said he took a good 20sec off his best 15/16 time when he did a test last week.

Anyone riding to the start is best to go north on 93. The distance from Georgian Drive and Hwy 93 is 18.6km, which is just about 3km longer than to the 15/16 start.

Anyone driving from Barrie is best to go north on Hwy 400 and take the south bound exit at Hwy 93, then turn left approx. 200m south of the interchange.

As usual, sign on will open at 6.30pm, with first rider off at 7.01pm.

One final point to make; we would like to thank everyone who came out and participated in our spring road clean up day on Ridge Rd. this past Sunday. We have adopted the stretch of Ridge Road from Range Rd, to the 3rd line of Oro. Look for our signs the next time you’re riding out that way!!

See you on the road!

cheers,
robb

Welcome to the 2010 AGM, and this year’s version of the President’s report.

Thank you for being a part of the club, it’s been a really great season.

2010 was a year of firsts. Our first youth cup race, our first weekly club MTB rides, our first weekly learn to ride program, our first attempt at 2 Tuesday night rides with differing start points, and our first baseball cross race!

One event we had committed to take part in, a charity ride for the local MS Society, was put off until 2011, as a result of our contact at the MS Society getting married. Hopefully we can see this ride through to fruition next summer.

In 2010, the club also became political. Becoming involved and taking part in several committees focussed on road safety, and active transportation. Through these initiatives, Barrie held it’s first ever cycling safety week. A tradition which we hope to make yearly. The opening event featured almost 40 riders of all types cruising down the lakeshore together. Good times. We’re also part of the City of Barrie’s active transportation committee, adding input, and keeping up to date on local policy and potential infrastructure improvements.

The club grew it’s membership in 2010, for the first time in a couple of years. this is encouraging, even more so, is the number of youth members who joined. We would like to make youth participation a priority in 2011, potentially beginning by creating a youth development director tonight. Our 1st annual youth race was a huge success, with 55 riders, and their parents in attendance. The town of Oro, and the OPP were key players in helping us to promote a safe event, it’s great to have community partners so willing to work with us.

Speaking of community partners, the level of support, and encouragement from City Staff involved with the recent Baseball Cross held at the Barrie Sports Complex are truly second to none. The City moved dirt, rocks & fences to make a better race course, and they’ve already expressed interest in helping make it even better for next year! I will let Andrew Watson comment on this year’s event in his recap, but suffice to say we put on a great event, one that the racers, and spectators truly seemed to enjoy.

Our Time Trial series saw many riders out, but the numbers are down a bit from the year before. I am sure that Mike Doble will express some thoughts of his own, but we are looking at pairing up with the Barrie TC Baydogs for a joint time trial series that would run every week next summer, at a location that’s closer to town. Hopefully this is enough to see some more people come out to challenge themselves. I know for me personally, not being able to TT all summer was probably the worst punishment to take. I look forward to having more opportunity to ride them next season.

Our first attempt at splitting up the Tuesday night group ride seems to have really been enjoyed by most everyone. The hammerheads got to enjoy ripping each others’ legs off each week from Sunnidale park, and those less concerned with paceline riding got to enjoy a wonderful social ride each week from Fred Grant Square. We look forward to continuing this new tradition next year, it’s important that we keep a Tuesday night ride that is open and accessible to both newer, and or younger riders, encouraging them to come back each week. This is essential to ensure the club keeps growing, and people feel comfortable coming out. Brad & Barb Watts have offered to be the leaders for the downtown social ride in 2011, which I am very thankful for!

For those riders who were so new to cycling that the Tuesday night ride was too intimidating we launched our first learn to ride program in the spring. We introduced several new people to group riding via these sessions. Most everyone went on to enjoy a Sunday cruise, or a Tuesday night ride with the rest of the club. For next season, we really want to ramp this program up. Marc B. has already offered to lead a 6 to 8 week learn to group ride course, beginning in May. I’m really excited that we can offer this, and hope that it can lead to some more rider development initiatives by club.

Our participation in the Interclub Road Race series remained strong this season, with BCC members making up a substantial portion of the series. This year Mountainview Cycling Club from Midland joined the series, and special provisions were made with the OCA to keep Owen Sound’s riders involved also. This year brought some new, and great race courses to the calendar, that were enjoyed by all. The interclub races are a great way for people to get introduced to road bike racing in an environment that’s not terrifying like an O-Cup race. I hope that we continue to participate in this series through 2011 & beyond.

We did not make a clothing order in 2010, but our supplies are virtually non-existent, so tonight we will begin preliminary discussions, with the intention of making an order by Jan 10, 2011. I expect we will order from Sugoi again, as our last order from them seems to have been well received by everyone. Perhaps this year we’ll look at getting Jackets, or leg/arm warmers made for the first time if there’s enough interest.

For 2011, the Barrie Cycling Club intends to file expression of interest forms for a Youth Cup Road race, and a Southern Ontario Cup Cyclocross race, these will be submitted tomorrow morning.

Thanks again for making 2010 the Barrie Cycling Club’s best yet, now’s your chance to have input into what we do for 2011!
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I’d like to thank Steve Homenuk for unexpectedly deciding to return to the executive next year. He will return as Secretary, but will also serve as our Director of Club Communications & Volunteers.

New to the executive, I’d like to welcome Shane Hollingshead to the role of Treasurer, replacing Orrin Bowser.

In some newly created executive positions, I’d like to first welcome Cliff Lilley, as our Director of Racing Events, he’ll help ensure that next year’s Youth Cup, and Cyclocross race are even better than the ones held this year. Additionally Cliff will help ensure our interclub continues in the safe fashion it’s always been run.

We are also welcoming Brad Watts to the executive for 2011, Brad will be our Director of Social Rides. He’ll be taking on the downtown Tuesday night rides all year, along with his wife Barb. Together they will ensure the Tuesday ride remains welcoming to newer riders, and still enjoyable for the advanced recreational riders among us. They will also help to see the club provide a monthly long touring ride, from 100-180km from May-Sept.

Finally, we welcome Andrew Watson to the executive as Director of Youth Development. We are really excited to have an athlete of Andrew’s calibre as a club member, and now he’s going to help shape the future direction of our young rider development efforts from a grassroots, community level, but also the experience of competing at a World Cup level. I personally am thrilled to have Andrew aboard as we seek new directions to grow the sport and share our passion in 2011.

Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting tonight, and thanks to everyone who rode with us in 2010. 2011 is going to be even better!

cheers,
robb

Tonight’s Monday night MTB ride is being cancelled due to the extreme heat & humidity today. We will return next week at 6:30pm.

Look for updated TT results to be posted later today, and a note that there is a TT this week, Thursday night at 7pm, please arrive at the Oro Fairgrounds by 6.30 to get signed in. Big thanks to Mike & Judy Doble as always for keeping the series running like a swiss watch!

In other news, I rode my bike yesterday, first time in three weeks since breaking my leg, and 2 weeks since having surgery on it. Hope to see you all out on a group ride next week!

Wow, Thursday already? Really? Ok, well, we had a fantastic Monday night MTB ride this week, 6 riders out, looking forward to more next week. We’ve made the decision to move the Monday night rides to 6:30pm, to make it easier for people to get there.
In addition to this, in a couple of weeks, we’re going to move the ride out to the 7th & Bass Lake Sideroad. The trails out there are even more beginner friendly than in Midhurst. Look forward to seeing you there!

Tonight we have the 4th of our 15km TT series at the Oro Fairgrounds. The weather is going to hold off, and I am looking forward to finally riding one myself. See you there.

Saturday is the second interclub race of the year, put on by the Mountainview Club. This is the Lafontaine course, and is a new one.
The race starts at 10am, so make sure you arrive in time to sign in, and get your numbers pinned on.

Sunday, weather permitting, will be our Adopt-a-Road cleanup day, so again, we will be removing the Sunday morning ride from the Calendar, and instead meeting at the Johnson St Parking lot for 9am. Please wear appropriate clothing for cleaning on the side of the road. Shouldn’t take long, our section is already very clean. See you there!

Now, a couple of final notes regarding group riding.

The downtown ride is seeing great success, with new members joining it every week, and a good time being had by everyone! Two things I noted during this weeks’ ride, which I need to address.

The first is regarding rear wheel skewers. I know a lot of people in the club ride Mountain Bikes, where it’s standard to leave the skewer handle pointing straight backwards. On a road bike, this is not a great idea, as another wheel could become caught up on it. I insist that everyone please keep their skewers pointed inwards, so that nothing is sticking out past the stays/dropouts/derailleur at the rear of your bikes. Thanks!

Second, if there is a wide, paved shoulder on the right side of the road, then please use it. There’s no need to ride on the line between lane & shoulder. Take the shoulder, so that only the outside row of riders are on the roadway. This is much safer than taking up half a lane and having 1m of space on our right too.

cheers,
robb