Q: Do I have to race if I join the club?
A: Heck no. Many of our club members ride recreationally. Some of them enter grand fondos, some are triathletes, some are hard-core racers. Do what you like!
Q: I want to race with a team—and win. Does ERTC do that?
A: Do we ever! From recreational riding to top-level racing, we have the people and support to get to the podium in road, track and cyclocross! Some of our most distinguished current and former members are Terra Manca, extreme endurance athlete and Taiwan KOM winner Marg Fedyna, Olympic triathlete Paul Tichelaar, and pro racer Aaron Schooler.
Q: What am I supposed to wear?
A: We want you to love riding. Comfort and safety are the keys to a great riding experience. For your comfort, we suggest you invest in: cycling shoes, clip-in(also called clipless) pedals, cycling shorts with a chamois lining (nothing between you and the shorts—everyone asks that the first time), and a breathable cycling jersey rear pockets to hold snacks, phone, tools, cash., with gloves being strongly recommended. Helmets are mandatory on ALL rides. You don’t need the most expensive gear, but we want you to be comfortable. Eyewear is really important. You don’t need $200 Oakleys but there is debris on the road and you need to protect your eyes from the sun.
Check the weather forecast and be prepared for anything—this is Alberta, right? Vests, arm and leg warmers, rain capes—all of these options can make or break your ride. Your jersey has three big pockets—use them for this important equipment. Sunscreen is vital! Look for a sweat-resistant brand to reduce the likelihood of sweaty sunscreen dripping into your eyes while you’re riding in from to me—thanks!
Q: What kind of bicycle do I need?
A: In general, we do not allow mountain or hybrid bicycles on our rides, and for your personal success, we highly suggest you ride a well-fitted road bicycle with a wide range of gearing, with tires suited to the conditions. If you are unsure if your bicycle is appropriate for our rides, please see below for a detailed list of requirements:
Functional Front and Back Brakes – type does not matter.
Maximum Handlebar With of 510mm(51cm) across the top, “drop” style (No Mountain Bike Bars or Aero/Triathlon/TT/Pursuit Bars. If your aero bars are detachable, please take them off. “I promise not to ride in them” is not acceptable). Flared Drops/”Dirt Drops” are allowed (wider at the bottom of the drop than the top).
Maximum Tire Width of 1.75inch / 45mm
No rear suspension with linkages. We recognize that many “Allroad/Gravel” bicycles come equipped with damping or suspension systems. These types of bicycles are allowed.
Legal to ride on the road without a driver’s license. This means that if you have an electric bicycle, it must be governed to 32 km/h and be of the “pedelec” type, and not throttle operated, along with all the previously mentioned items.
Q: What should I bring with me?
A: Bring a rain coat if it might rain. You need to consider the possibility that you will end up on your own on some rides. Pack food (power bars like Cliff and the drink of your choice—we suggest drinks with carbs, like gatorade). Your repair kit should include at least one spare tube, a patch kit, tire levers, a multi tool, a hand pump or CO2 cartridges. Bring your phone, and some cash for times when we stop at rural last stations to top up on food and drink.
Q: Can you teach me to do repairs on my bike?
A: We can teach you the basics, like how to change a tire/patch a flat, fine-tune shifting and braking cables, etc. Some club members are pretty good mechanics—you will find them when you need them!
Q: How fast and how far should I be able to ride on my own before I can join?
A: That depends on which club ride you want to come on. Generally speaking, you should be able to hit 24km/h to come on the entry-level rides. The best thing to do is come to one of our mandatory Wednesday introductory rides!
Q: Can I try out a ride before joining?
A: We currently have a one-ride policy, which means you can ride with us one ride before you must either register, or try a different club, as mandated by the Alberta Bicycle Association. If you want to ride with us for this one ride, please sign the Waiver here and bring it to the ride.
Q: How do I join the ERTC?
A: You can pay for your membership online through Zone4, our online vendor. Join the ERTC.
Q: How much does membership cost?
A: Membership for the year costs $140, plus a $6.70 administration fee charged by our online vendor. It’s a fair price, considering the benefits!
Q: Do I have to pay for a membership to go on a ride with ERTC?
A: Yes (refundable for 3 weeks). For insurance purposes, everyone on an ERTC group ride MUST be a member. Having a non-member riding with the group nullifies the insurance. We have a 1 ride policy where you can ride with us for 1 group ride before registering. After that, there are no exceptions. Ever.
Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Yes. If you decide that the ERTC is not the club for you, you can get a full refund on your ERTC membership fee—until July 31. After July 31, or 3 weeks from your join date, whichever is later, we can only remit $40.
Q: How do I find out about club rides, events and news?
A: You can find all club rides on our Strava page - find directions on how to join here. All club communications for member events, news and additional rides take place on Slack - join here! You can also follow along on our Facebook and Instagram.