Official MVC "Off-Season" Notice

EDICT: MVC recognizes the period between October 15 and January 15 (Sunday January 17, 2010 this time) as the "off-season." As such, our regularly scheduled Saturday(8:00 a.m.) and Sunday (1:00 p.m.) rides will be ridden at we like to call a "social" pace. It's a pace that's perfect for base miles, for small ring, high cadence leg work, and for anyone and everyone to sneak a turn in a paceline and to get comfortable with that essential element of road racing. These off-season rides are a great opportunity for MVC members and friends at all fitness levels to come out for fellowship and to sharpen your pack riding skills. See you on the road.

Stepler Conquers Kona

Joan Stepler flew the MVC Tri Team colors in Hawaii over the weekend as she competed in the Ford Ironman World Championships. Joan qualified for Kona by finishing 4th in her age group at the Ironman USA Lake Placid, and her effort in Kona was equally noteworthy. Here are her numbers:

ATHLETE RANK AGE/DIV 2.4 SWIM 112 BIKE 26.2 RUN TOTAL

Stepler, Joan 51/23/37 45/W45-49 01:36:28 06:09:50 05:30:13 13:27:41

Congratulations Joan on a race well swam/ridden/run. We can't wait to see you on the TV highlights in December!

Ride Green, Ride Clean, Ride... as Hannah Montana!

Bike riding is environmentally friendly, so using a family bike rally to promote renewable energy makes perfect sense. Check out this event to be held at White Rock Lake on Halloween 2009... looks like a great opportunity to grab the kids, dial your pace below below 20+ mph and follow through on that promise to take the family out for a family ride:

Roll Beyond Coal Bike Rally/Saturday, October 31 - Come on out for a fun-filled event supporting renewable energy, green jobs, and clean air with a brighter energy future beyond coal! Bike the 9.4 mile route around White Rock Lake with your family and friends starting at The Bath House on 521 E. Lawther Drive in Dallas. Prizes to be given for the best Halloween and Clean Air costumes! Registration: 8:30 am. Bike ride: 10:30 am. Cost: Adults-$10.00. Students and children 12/over-$5.00. Children under12-Free. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. Pre-registration information and more details are available at www.dallassierraclub.org or call organizer Lori at 972-980-7176.

MVC's Wednesday ride schedule

Hey Internet --

During the days of daylight (and for a few early year months,under the lights of Craig Ranch) MVC holds a weekly Wednesday night ride. The daylights savings season (April through October) rides leave from McKinney High across from Town Lake in, where else, McKinney... as the days get longer, so do the rides. Links to the three routes used on Wednesday night are set out below. The usual start time is 6:00 p.m., although in April/May and September/October, the time is pushed earlier to either 5:45 or 5:30. Check the MVC web site calendar, MVC's Twitter page or here for specifcis. For example, on September 16, 2009, we will start at 5:45 and ride the medium route... late starters can effectively ride backwards to meet the group by simply staying on FM 2933 all the way toward FM 545, and if you haven't run into the pack by 545, turn left toward SH 121.

After October fades away, we will take a 2-ish month break before early January when we re-start the Wednesday night Craig Ranch "Under the Lights" sprint workouts pioneered so successfully last year by Oz and the 'Bass. More details as the time nears.

Here are links to the three Wednesday night routes we use:

Short route: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/mckinney/new-hope-/903124275743443836

Medium route: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/-mckinney/new-hope/658124275802157602

Long route: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/tx/-mckinney/new-hope/382124275936067642