BBC Monthly Rides
Saturday Club Touring Rides | Training rides | Brisk training ridesWednesday Women's Rides | Sunday Nice 'N Easy rides | Holiday breakfast rides
The hills around Bloomington and Monroe County offer great scenery and challenging routes for touring, training and social cycling. The BBC’s ride calendar accommodates cyclists of varying abilities and interests. Choose from the club rides described below to find a time, pace and group that suits you. Always bring a helmet and supplies but consider bringing a friend too.
Saturday Club Touring Rides
Saturdays, March-October; Start times will change from month to month with the availability of light and the onset of Indiana heat and humidity. Check the ride calendar for starting times.
Meeting Place: Bryan Park Pool parking lot
Pace: 13-17 m.p.h.
Mileage: Varies, see ride calendar. Short options are available on most routes.
Touring rides take cyclists to surrounding counties and accommodate cyclists of a variety of abilities. Participants frequently break up into multiple groups determined by pace.Ride leaders provide maps and ensure that no rider is completely dropped and all riders make it back to the starting point. On longer rides, leaders designate collection points to bring groups back together and identify rest stops for food and water. Mileage and difficulty of touring rides increase over the course of the summer. Touring rides are a great way to acquaint yourself with the area, build endurance, and meet others who share your interest in cycling.
Training rides
Tuesday and Thursday Nights, 5:30/5:45 p.m. (varies see ride calendar), March-October
Meeting Place: Bryan Park Pool parking lot
Pace: 17+ m.p.h. sprints probable (determined by the group)
Mileage: 30-40 miles depending on the availability of light
Training rides allow participants to challenge themselves in pace lines with other strong riders. Participants work to build speed and endurance. No route sweep is provided so riders who attend are expected to keep up with the group or be familiar with area roads. Participants determine routes on the evening of the ride.
Brisk training rides
Saturdays and Sundays, March-October
Meeting Place: YMCA parking lot
Pace: 17-20+ m.p.h.
Mileage: 25-50 miles
Brisk training rides are open to motivated, fast recreational cyclists and racers. Participants determine routes on the day of the ride. No route sweep is provided so riders who attend are expected to keep up with the group or be familiar with area roads. These rides are organized by member and past president, Joe Walker, and announced by email to interested cyclists.
Wednesday Night Women’s Rides
Wednesday Nights, 6:00 p.m., April- September
Meeting Place: Bryan Park Pool parking lot.
Pace: 10-15 m.p.h.
Mileage: 10-25 miles
This is a group ride for women who are new to cycling or who have been off the bike for a while and might find the pace of some club rides intimidating. These rides feature low mileage and a slower pace to help novice female riders build their speed, endurance and confidence over the course of the summer. Pace and mileage are determined by the group. Ride leaders ensure all participants make it back to the starting point.
Sunday Nice 'N Easy rides
Sundays, March-October ; Start times will change from month to month with the availability of light and the onset of Indiana heat and humidity. Check the ride calendar for starting times.
Meeting Place: Bryan Park Pool parking lot
Pace: 8-12 m.p.h.
Mileage: 15-30 miles
Sunday rides feature lower mileage and slower paces. Participants determine routes on the day of the ride. Nice ‘n easy rides cater to those who want to take it easy, to beginning riders and to families.
Holiday breakfast rides
Scheduled via BBC email for three-day holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Labor Day weekends, etc.)
Generally these rides go to McCormick’s Creek State Park, Brown County State Park, or Nashville to partake of some culinary delights in some degree of excess. Friends and family who do not ride are encouraged to meet participants and share in the meal.
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