Details & RSVP for the February "All About The SIG & STS" Club Meeting will become avilable soon
Cue Sheets and GPS files for the B-SIG rides will be distributed via email during the week preceding each ride.
Need help with registration? Instructions are here.
Do you want to ...
- Learn how to ride safely in a group?
- Learn good bike-handling skills?
- Improve your strength, speed and stamina?
- Learn how to work as a team to make any ride easier and more enjoyable?
- Get to know some great NYCC routes?
- Meet lots of friendly, enthusiastic cyclists of similar abilities, some of whom will become your best riding buddies?
- Learn the best places to go for a cold beverage after a ride?
If the answer to a lot of these questions is yes, you'll love the B-SIG
Here’s what previous year’s B SIG participants said:
“I think the SIG is fantastic – dunno how else to put it.”
“I loved every minute of it. I had an amazing time and improved a lot. I could tell the difference by week 3. All that I learned will be with me for years to come.”
“The SIG brought me great happiness and new friends.”
“Fantastic program and it was well worth the time commitment.”
“Best thing I’ve done for myself if a while.”
“Phenomenal.”
So what exactly is it?
The B SIG is a 10 week structured progressive training program in group riding and cycling skills. Our goal is to create safe, competent and confident riders. But by participating in the B SIG, you’ll also improve your conditioning, get exposure to a world of cycling knowledge, explore some of the best riding routes in the tri state area and get high quality instruction in bike maintenance, bike fit, nutrition, stretching, flexibility and first aid. Best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of a great group of leaders and fellow SIGgies.
Here's an overview of how it works:
The B-SIG is divided into 3 pace levels: 16, 17 and 18
The numbers refer to the speed that each level rides at. By speed, we mean sustained cruising speed over flat terrain, not average speed over an entire ride.
Don't worry, we'll place you in the proper group
Each pace level consists of teams of +/- 12 SIGgies, a team leader and 2 -3 co-leaders. When you register for the program, you simply sign up for the B-SIG, not for a specific pace level. The first week of the program will consist of an indoor orientation session followed by a 6 lap ride around Prospect Park (approximately 18 miles). We’ll time you for this ride and assign you to an appropriate pace level and team based on your time.
These initial groupings work out quite well for about 90% of our participants, but we’ll fine tune the groupings over the next couple of rides. By ride # 3, all of the groups will be pretty well "dialed in."
Once you’re in the proper team, you’ll ride with that same group for the entire program. That way, with everyone riding at approximately the same level, you'll all progress faster. And everyone will be happier!
Each team will actually start riding the first few weeks at a pace a few mph below the “advertised” pace for its level. This is to give everyone time to get comfortable riding with each other, and also because we know that a lot of folks are just waking up from winter hibernation and may not have gotten in a lot of riding prior to the start of the SIG.
What to expect each week.
Each week's ride emphasizes a particular skill, each of which is outlined in the B SIG Riders' Guide. (There’s a link to the Guide on the B SIG web page.) You'll be asked to read the appropriate section on that skill in the Riders' Guide prior to the ride date. On the morning of the ride itself, we’ll spend a few minutes going over that skill before taking off. The rides are coordinated with the day's lesson, so you'll be practicing what you've learned in class. Also, the skills are designed to be cumulative, each one building on the one before.
Each ride will be broken up with a brief mid-morning pit stop, a lunch stop and possibly one more mid-afternoon pit stop. At the end of the ride, there will be a brief review of the day’s ride with the leaders before you break up to go home.
The rides get a little longer and a little harder each week. But don't worry -- you'll be getting stronger and more skilled as you go along.
How far do we go?
Our first actual group ride, week 2 of the program, is approximately 43 miles with about 2,300 feet of climbing, and we build gradually from there. On week 9 we’ll do a true century -- 100 miles. (If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry. If you stick with the program, you’ll do it!.) Week 10 is our gorgeous graduation ride, highlighted by a climb to the top of Bear Mountain and a late lunch in Cold Spring.
How long do the rides take?
If you haven’t had much experience with group rides, you should understand that group rides take longer than rides of similar distance that you do by yourself or with a small group of friends. And SIG rides usually take even longer – perhaps a lot longer. Rest stops and lunch stops take longer. Your group may stop for coaching from time to time along the way. And with a larger group, there’s naturally more chance for flats, mechanicals and health issues to slow things down. In the early weeks, you might get back to Manhattan as early as 3. But in the later weeks, as the rides get longer, you may not be back till 5 or even later. A good rule of thumb is to stay flexible and not make early evening plans on SIG days.
Attendance
Signing up for the B-SIG means you have made a commitment to spend 10 consecutive Saturdays cycling with us this spring. You will not be permitted to miss more than 2 of the group rides. In addition, you cannot miss more than 1 of the first 2 group rides. However, if a Saturday ride is canceled due to weather and you can’t make the Sunday make-up, your Sunday absence won’t be counted against you.
If you do have to miss a ride, we urge you to try to make that ride up before the next one if at all possible. In addition, missing 2 rides in a row may present a challenge to you in being able to keep up with the group when you do return.
Safety, safety, safety
Group riding carries with it the need for enhanced safety rules and skills, and these may be above and beyond what you're used to when you ride alone or with just one or two companions. The New York Cycle Club and the B-SIG are very committed to making our group rides as safe as possible. Therefore, we will emphasize safe cycling habits throughout the program, and safe riding techniques and instruction are an integral part of the curriculum. As a B SIG participant, it will be your obligation to learn these rules and adhere to them on our rides. We take this very seriously. Any rider who, in the opinion of the leaders, is not cooperating with our safety guidelines, or is otherwise creating unsafe conditions for the group, will be asked to leave the program.
Dates
The 2019 B-SIG begins on Saturday, March 2nd. Our first meeting will consist of an indoor orientation session that will last about 60 minutes, followed by the timed laps described above. The actual group rides will take place over the next 9 Saturdays, culminating in the graduation ride on May 4th. If a Saturday ride needs to be postponed due to weather, the ride will be made up on Sunday.
Please note: While the B SIG is a 10 week program, we actually schedule for eleven weeks. We hold that one extra week in reserve just in case we miss a full weekend along the way due to weather. If there’s no entire weekend canceled, the eleventh Saturday becomes an optional ride, with the route selected by the individual group leaders and their SIGgies.
Your Commitment
When you sign up for the B SIG you're making a major commitment. In addition to the commitment to be with us for the full 10 weeks, you are also committing to cooperate with and be respectful of your fellow SIGgies and leaders and to be good ambassadors of the NYCC and of cycling in general. You’ll hear a lot more about this commitment at orientation and in the B SIG materials. One of the most important parts of this commitment, however, is that you're also making a commitment to give back to the club. Towards the end of the B-SIG, the leaders will make suggestions on organizing and leading club rides. While the SIG is free, we expect that each participant will give back to the club, preferably by leading a ride or by volunteering for a club activity after the SIG.
For more details about the B-SIG, email bsig@nycc.org.
It's serious... but fun!
The B SIG is a serious program. Each year, dozens of NYCC volunteers spend thousands of hours planning, organizing and leading the program. In return, we expect a serious commitment on your part as well, in terms of preparation, participation, training, effort and, after the program concludes, willingness to "give back." But if you make that commitment, we assure you that you'll be rewarded many times over with a fantastic and fun experience.
Will the B-SIG be challenging?
It sure will!
Will the B-SIG teach me really good cycling skills?
Absolutely!
Will the B-SIG be fun, friendly and rewarding?
You can count on it!
Hope to see you out there!