HOW DO I
SIGN UP?
Ready to join the Detours crew? Head over to ccnbikes.com and simply search for "Bike Doctor Detours" on the first page. The site will guide you through the quick and easy sign-up process!
DO I NEED TO
BE SUPERFAST?
Absolutely not! While our organized gravel rides do attract some very fit riders, our goal is adventure for everyone. You'll need to be able to ride approximately 20 kilometers in an hour, which means you have a moderate fitness level and some cycling experience. We always strive to have enough volunteer leaders to accommodate both quicker and more moderate groups. Plus, our well-established Pedal Wench group offers several speed variations, all led by dedicated volunteers.
ARE ALL THE
RIDES GUIDED?
We offer a mix! We have official "events" with leaders, which you'll find advertised here on our website and on our Facebook page. We also use our Facebook page to promote less formal rides, which usually have a leader as well.
HOW DOES THE
WEATHER FIT IN?
We take weather seriously for your safety and enjoyment. We follow the SCA weather protocol, which covers lightning, heavy rain, and powerful winds—for obvious reasons! Beyond that, if conditions are looking particularly soggy after heavy rain, we might cancel. Gravel isn't always fun when it's a mud bath!
On the Thursday morning of a ride, our leadership team will pore over the forecasts. Our resident weather guru looks at multiple forecasting models to find the safest window. While they're busy threading the needle between weather systems, others on the team have a very low tolerance for "cells" and "systems" when riding!
What's important to understand is that we've made a conscious decision to err on the side of caution, aiming to avoid even relatively small chances of hail, lightning, or severe rain. We make the final call by 3 PM on the day of the ride, which allows our communicator to email the decision to all our members. We always encourage you to have a network of riding partners lined up, so if a club ride is cancelled and the weather surprisingly clears, you can still organize your own ride and social evening!