Chain of Events
May 3, 2017

Breakfast branding

Please wear your jerseys for TBN's May 13 kickoff breakfast in scenic Etienne Brule Park, our annual start-the-season event. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones at the breakfast, which starts at 9am, and then enjoy rides at different levels -- we have something for everybody. Bring a non-member friend and both of you will be eligible for exciting door prices. And we're waiving our non-member fees for these rides.

Bike repair outlet Velofix will again be there for a last minute check of your bike and will offer up a great prize. And we will have sample cycling jerseys to try on so you can ensure you're ordering the size you want. See below for more details on how to order.

Registration is free, but we ask you to sign up, so we know how much food to order.

Ride the 'drome

TBN is proud to offer its speed demons a new chance to try their luck around the Milton Velodrome, with its impressive banked curves. Full instructions and rental bikes will be supplied. See the website for details and to register for this adventure, which takes place on the evening of May 27. The two-hour session costs $61 for TBN members and $66 for non-members. The folks who went last year still talk about, so don't miss out!

Help with Ride for Heart

TBN is still looking for volunteer Ambassadors to help at the annual Ride for Heart, when cyclists take over the Gardiner and the Don Valley Parkway to raise money for a good cause. The Ambassadors will be on duty from 7am on the June 4 ride day. You will help riders with flat tires or basic mechanical problems, and alert medical staff to emergencies. Click here to register.

Or if you're not that technically minded, of if you just don't want to get up that early, you can also volunteer to help staff the TBN booth at the ride, which is one of Toronto's biggest mass cycling events of the year. Contact publicity@tbn.ca to help.

As always, check the website for details of all the rides and other events that are coming up, and remember to check back a couple of hours before a ride in case it's changed or cancelled because of poor weather, or other factors beyond our control.

Survey summaries

We're still crunching the final numbers from the survey that TBN sent out earlier this year, but it's clear that you're all committed to the club and its success. Loyalty is high, and many of you are ready to recommend TBN to others. We're well organized, you say, and there's a true wish to make the club stronger and better for everyone. Our top prizewinner was long-time rider Kathleen Lau, who selected "the social aspect" as her favourite element of TBN. She'll be receiving a $150 gift certificate to MEC.

We're delighted that 50 of you expressed an interest in volunteering, and we will be following up with each and every one of you. Priority is a volunteer to coordinate volunteer activity. If you think you can help, please contact Ian Rankin at president@tbn.ca.

Thank you to everyone for your replies, and a special thanks to Mary Newman for organizing the questionnaire.

New coordinator

TBN is looking for a new coordinator for our popular Friday night rides. Contact Dave Mader at touring@tbn.ca if you can help.

How's your helmet?

It's sort of scary how many people don't know how to fit their helmet, or who ride with helmets that are long, long past their safety date, which means it may not protect you properly if you fall. To help you ride safely, your helmet should be:

• Fitted securely with the chin strap tightened to allow one finger thickness of space between the strap and your chin. There should be two finger widths between the bridge of your nose and the front edge of helmet. 
• Replaced if you fall and your helmet hits the ground.
• Replaced when it expires. Check inside your helmet for that little sticker that gives the expiry date. 

Reminders:

RWGPS

1. You must be a member of the club account at RWGPS to take advantage of some of the features outlined below. First, create your own personal account (either a free one, or a paid one) and then go to the club page (https://ridewithgps.com/clubs/27-toronto-bicycling-network), and submit a request to join. Membership gives you access to 300+ club rides, and you can filter those down to find the ride you want.

2. Check this comprehensive summary of how to use the TBN account on RWGPS to load a map and route onto your Garmin or to generate a printable map and cue sheet. As mentioned above, you must be a member of the club account at RWGPS to use these facilities.

3. Visit YouTube for an instructional video on how to create and print a customized map and cue sheet using TBN's RideWithGPS account.

4. And check out this video for details on how to load a TBN ride onto your smartphone -- a useful tool for people who don't own a separate GPS device.

Full team kit

Shopping by TBN is again open for business, with exciting new options including branded shorts and bib shorts. If you've already placed your order, you can expect to hear from a TBN volunteer by June 1 to pick up your kit.

Order by May 21 for a July 1 delivery. Check here for all the exciting options, including jackets, jerseys (long sleeves, short sleeved and sleeveless), shorts and winter wear. We'll have a fit kit at the Spring Kickoff May 13, so stop by to confirm your sizing.

Deals and special offers on bike stuff, tours, rides, and so on

TBN partners offer great deals for our members. Newer entries include a couple of bike shops, special bike tours outside Ontario, charity ride registration discounts, and much more. Please support TBN's great partners. There are so many new businesses out there that its tough to keep up and so If someone can help to keep this list up to date, please contact publicity@tbn.ca.

TBN supports charity rides

TBN is once again promoting numerous charity rides throughout Ontario, some of which offer special discounts to TBN members. The club is also the training partner for the annual Ride To Conquer Cancer -- all TBN rides through first week of June will be posted on the RTCC website and so you may see some RTCC participants on our rides. Please welcome the RTCC riders and help them prepare for their memorable journey.

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Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up. That little TTC logo below will alert you to any subway closures, of which there may be many in 2017.