What kind of cycling does your club do?
We are a road bike club. We ride racing bikes and riders can and do bring tandems and touring bikes on our club rides. In 2021, the club approved the use of E-cycles on club rides, subject to the rules specified in Events/Regular Rides.
How long has the club been around?
The club was established in 1974 by Willi Fahning and Brian Rowley and became a registered club with Cycling BC in 1975. The Tuesday night time trials began in 1980 and ended in 2021. In 1997, we established ourselves as the Sidney Velo Cycling Club Association under the Society Act.
Where do you ride?
We ride on the Saanich Peninsula, Sidney, Brentwood, Central Saanich, Saanich, the Victoria waterfront, and during good weather in spring through fall we ride on the Gulf Islands and up Vancouver Island.
How long are the rides?
Regular Saturday/Sunday/Holiday rides usually last two hours, while special mid-week rides can last up to 5 or 6 hours.
How old do I have to be?
Riders in our club rides are mostly in their 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Your riding speed is more important than your age; our club rides average about 20-25 km/h.
Do I have to be really fit?
It helps to be fit. But there are many levels of cycling ability in the club and people ride at different fitness levels during the year, and you are likely to find riders who ride at your speed.
Do I have to have cycling experience?
No. Our club has riders of varying experience. For new riders there are always club members who will ride with you to help orient you to the rides.
Does Sidney Velo Cycling Club Association race?
A few club members race in the Victoria Cycling League, BC 55+ Games and Gran Fondos.
Do I have to race?
Only if you want to. Some of us do but it’s not necessary to race and be in our club.
How do I join?
Sidney Velo is an “insured club” to provide liability insurance for our group rides. Everyone who rides with us must be insured via Cycling BC or the Canadian Cycling Association by having a UCI Race or Ride for All licence or a BC Race Licence. You must buy one of these at www.cyclingbc.net before you can ride with us. Contact the club Treasurer (see Contacts) if you need further information.
Who can I talk to?
See Club Officers list in the main menu.
Are there any costs?
Yes. There are club dues and each rider must be insured via Cycling BC or the Canadian Cycling Association by means of an UCI Race or Cycling for All licence or a BC Race Licence purchased from www.cyclingbc.net. See Membership in the main menu for details.
Those are great cycling jerseys…
Thank you, we like them. They were designed by a club member and are available to members at reasonable prices. See Clothing in the Club Stuff Menu for our current inventory and on-line ordering. See the Secretary-Treasurer for purchases.
Do you ride on holidays like Canada Day and Labour Day?
Yes, sometimes we do. Times and locations are announced via Spond.
Are there any special club events?
Yes, an annual general meeting in the spring and a Club dinner in late fall. See Calendar in the menu for more details.
Do you have a list of club riding events for this year?
See the menu for Events/Regular Club Rides .
Do you have a Newsletter?
No. We keep our members informed via this web site, our Google Group email group, and Spond for announcing club rides.
Time Trial Results
The time trial results for 2002-21 are contained under Tuesday TT Results,
What do the flags represent on these web pages?
They represent the countries of origin for the various members of our club.