The current COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted our ability to host safe local group rides.  As a result most of us are cycling alone or in very small groups.  Our goal is to facilitate your connection with other VCM members.

Many of you may already be using Strava to record your rides. There is a Strava Club exclusively for VCM members. If you are not a Strava member it is free to join at the basic level.  Click here to Join Strava and create your account. As a Strava member, you can visit the Strava VCM Club here:  www.strava.com/clubs/vcmonterey. Just click on the Request to Join button on the Strava VCM Club page and within a day or two we’ll approve your membership in the club.

In an effort to promote connections among our VCM members we have made changes to improve the Strava Club for the VCM.  With this change our Club on Strava requires VCM membership.  It is available to VCM members who have paid their dues. 

The main feature of joining our Strava VCM Club is that you can easily see the rides in a list of “Recent Activity” which other members have made and they can see your rides.  This is a great way to see what rides other members are doing including their routes, distance, elevation and speed.  You should be able to find suitable riding partners!  This is also a way to encourage fellow VCM members by giving them kudos and comments on their rides.

For those of you who are driven by Leaderboards, this change means that VCM Club Leaderboard will only contain VCM members.  Previously as an open Strava Club the VCM Leaderboards were filled by cyclists from all over the world with no connection to our local club.  If you choose to be a Strava Premium paid member you will also have access to Segment Leaderboards for VCM members.  You will only be competing with other VCM members on the Segment Leaderboards.

We invite you to join your fellow Velo Club members on Strava. Visit the Strava VCM Club to get started. If you have any questions or problems with Strava send an email to rides@vcmonterey.org.

In any other year, right now we’d be deep into the planning stages of the Annual Velo Club Summer Picnic normally held in early August. Unfortunately, nothing is normal this year. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; the restrictions on large gatherings; and more importantly the Club’s concern for the safety and health of our members, mean that we need to cancel this year’s get together in Carmel Valley, along with the associated group rides that usually happen the same day.

With all the uncertainty on when we can socialize in groups again, planning for the rest of year is nearly impossible. But we look forward to the time, hopefully in the not to distant future, when we’ll be able to get together with you again.

Until then enjoy your riding and stay safe out there.

Unfortunately we’re going to miss out on Sea Otter altogether in 2020.  Below is the notice from the folks at Sea Otter.

Hopefully 2021 will be more accommodating to our need for the cycling tribe to gather.  Stay well!

Congratulations to the Seniors on the Monterey Junior Cycling Development Team. Well done!

Velo Club Monterey hopes you are continuing to enjoy your solo rides. We’ve enjoyed beautiful weather and amazing wildflower displays this Spring and we’ve seen lots of people out on their bikes.

Unfortunately to stay safe under the Covid-19 threat and abide by the current restrictions on large gatherings, this year’s Memorial Day Pie Ride to Gizdich Ranch is cancelled. Not only would it be unsafe to organize a group ride of 30-40 people, but Gizdich Ranch’s Bakery is currently only open for pickup orders.

We look forward to a Pie Ride with you at a later date.