River Valley Cycling

Supporting Cycling In and Around Fredericton

Fall Wednesday Night Rides

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Hey riders – back due to popular demand is the RVC night ride.

We start this week and we’ll be riding every Wed unless the trails are wet. Expect things to be a hoot. We’ll host at least two groups each week starting at the same time at the same trailhead. We’ll have a pack of ‘Party Pacers‘ that will be approachable for anyone who’s looking for a relaxed social ride. We’ll also have a group of ‘Trail Chasers‘ who are looking to cover a little more distance, and ride a little faster. Nobody will be dropped – regardless of the group. These are social rides and you’ll have more luck getting an Instagram post than a KOMs, QOMs, or any other speed record.

Night riding is a whole new experience. There’s something very satisfying about being in the middle of a long snake of light twisting through the dark forest as the leaves are falling. Trails you’ve ridden before feel different and everything feels a little faster than it really is.

A few tips about riding lights if you’ll be shopping to get one for the first time:

  • Light power output is measured in Lumens and 500 would be the bare minimum for singletrack. You can get away with less power in groups because you’ll benefit from riders behind you and in front of you who are lighting your way. 1000 lumens is plenty to ride solo at night.
  • Bring your helmet to the shop to make sure the light’s mounting strap is a good fit for your particular helmet design. You want it to sit flat and securely on the top of your head. A little wobble in the shop means that your light beam will be all over the place on bumpy singletrack.
  • A helmet mount has the benefit of putting light in the place where you want to look where a handlebar mount puts light strait ahead. The downside is that you need to remember you’ve got something sticking up on top of your head. If you’re used to ducking under branches don’t get caught. Also, if your light is heavy your neck will feel it at the end of a long ride.
  • Buy a reputable brand from a reputable shop. While there are plenty of cheap lights on eBay you might live to regret your choice if it has a wiring fault and just cuts out dead some night in the woods kilometers away from your car.

In addition to a light you’ll need to make sure you bring whatever you need to fix a flat tire and keep yourself happy on a 90 minute ride (water, snacks, whatever). Don’t forget to join RVC if you haven’t already done so this year.

The fall schedule:

  • Sept 21 – UNB Woodlot
  • Sept 28 – Woolastook
  • Oct 5 – Penniac
  • Oct 12 – MVP
  • Oct 19 – Odell Park
  • Oct 26 – MVP

Our Oct 26th night ride will be ‘member appreciation night’ and we’ll make it special! Rides start every week at 7:00. Stay connected to RVC on Facebook for the latest updates.

Monday Night Build Series

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There’s a saying that is still prevalent within some parts of mountain bike culture: “No dig – no ride“. It’s used particularly in areas where riding clubs don’t necessarily exist to support trail building, and if you don’t pitch in, you aren’t invited to enjoy the fun. Thankfully RVC and other clubs around New Brunswick have evolved and can offer some really nice riding to people who either don’t have the time, muscle, or desire to swing picks, run saws, or do all of the planning work that comes ahead of the sweat. You can help keep trails in top shape just by joining RVC.

RVC has finally got some considerable funding to work on big projects in Woolastook this year and we’ll be using that to pay some professional builders to come in. However… at our core… we’ll always be a volunteer-run club supporting volunteer-driven events and volunteer trail builders. Be a part of that!

Here’s what the new shoreline build has looked like so far!

Norm and Bev are two of RVCs most committed volunteer trail builders with a pretty impressive dirt-movin’ resume behind them. Until further notice, they’re going to Woolastook every Monday evening to build. We’re looking for people to join them. The current project is the planned connection of Shoreline trail, which is a cruiser singletrack running alongside Kelly’s creek.

RVC will provide the tools, Norm and Bev the leadership, and you’ll help shape the earth. You just need the essentials: water, work gloves, work boots, and eye protection. If you ever wanted to make a difference for the club or learn the craft of singletrack trail building this is your opportunity. Meet at the Parking lot at 6:30 each week starting August 8th.

If you’ve never built trail before trust us – it can be very fulfilling work. If you think riding flowy singletrack makes you feel good wait till to try riding flowy singletrack that you personally helped to build!

Another happy volunteer building trail. We guarantee that you’ll always enjoy a section of trail that you helped to shape!

Hope to see you there!

Getting Ready to Ride Series

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Hey riders!

After a really popular spring and early summer we are going to reboot the ‘Getting Ready to Ride Series’ group ride. If you just bought a mountain bike and want an intro to riding single track around Fredericton this is the weekly ride for you!

Every Sunday morning for 4 weeks beginning July 24th the group will tour a new trailhead. The focus is getting comfortable on your mountain bike; then progressively introduce climbs, descents, rocks and roots over single track trail networks. 

Here’s what you need to join the ride:

  • A mountain bike (knobby tires) that’s in good working shape
  • Your RVC Membership. Join here!
  • A good attitude, a bottle of water, and a spare tube

Here’s what a few riders who just went through the program had to say about it:

Jo Sto: “This group has helped me climb higher, go farther, descent faster and go on adventures I never dreamt possible.“
Noortje Kunnen: “I always thought mountain biking would not be something I would enjoy. When RVC announced a beginner group, my husband convinced me to give it a try. Under the leadership, encouragement and patience of Heather and Michel, I have come to love the sport. They gradually introduced us to various trails, building our confidence and skills and making new friends along the way!“

Carole Ouellette Volpe: “Joining the RVC Getting Ready to Ride group challenged me and helped me get comfortable with Mountain biking. Each week, we explored beautiful new trails and learned new skills. This group is welcoming, dynamic and encouraging!“
Debbie McCluskey: “This beginner group has been such a great way to get into the MTB scene. I am in absolute awe of the Trails we have available to us.. definitely something for EVERYONE with a cherry on top! After riding with this group, pushing ourselves a bit with each ride, I feel very proud to add another way of describing myself… I AM A MOUNTAINBIKER !“

Join the conversation and get the details for this ride series each week by following RVC on Facebook.

The “Fast Five” Skills Sessions

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In case you haven’t noticed RVC is back in a big way for 2022 with lots of programs. Heather’s weekly Sunday morning Beginner Ride Series has been a success and we just opened 6 weeks of Wednesday Evening Social Rides with a huge turnout of 25 riders on the first rip.

You’re hungry for more. We hear ya!

With so many new riders and with so much to offer on RVC’s trail network we’re putting on a monthly skills development clinic each month from now until October. Each session, hosted by the talented Chris Furlotte, will focus on a new technique that is key to taking your ride further.

With lots of experience riding, racing, and coaching – Chris F. has a lot of knowledge to share.
FocusRider Goals
June – Why, When and How of Ratcheting
We will cover what ratcheting is and when it is used. Riders will learn the proper body and ride position in situations that ratcheting is needed.		Apply proper body and ride position in situations on trail where ratcheting is needed
July – Choosing your Ride Line
Learn to read the trail. Riders will be shown how to read singletrack to choose lines and where to look. Riders will be shown how to look ahead at the trail and prepare to adjust riding position as required.		Be able to read singletrack trails to choose ride line and plan for adjusting body position as required
Aug – Braking and Cornering
Learn when and when not to brake. Riders will learn proper techniques to effective braking. Riders will start work on cornering techniques and how braking is connected to it.		Know when to brake and when not to.  Apply proper techniques for effective braking and cornering.
Sept – Navigating Descents
Now that riders have the proper ride position, are reading the trail, know how to brake and how to corner, we will tackle descending! Chris spent most of his biking career trying to descend as fast as possible and will share techniques so you feel more comfortable tackling steep descents.		Ride steep descents with confidence
Oct – “Feature” Attraction
Now that the base skills are in place, riders will work toward more technical natural trail features like rock gardens, chutes and roll overs/ roll downs.		Apply proper technique and body position over more technical trail features.
Learn to ride corners with the best of em’

Each session is free for RVC members. Non-members pay $30 through e-transfer to  treasurer@rivervalleycycling.com (see what we did there… wink wink). Stay connected to River Valley Cycling on Facebook to find out the location of each session and be part of the conversation. Each evening session will begin at 7:00 and run for 90 minutes.

We begin in June on the evening of the 23rd at Odell Park with our session on ratcheting. Meet up at the main Rookwood Ave parking lot.

Gain the confidence to let go of those brakes and Pin It!


Odell Park Progress

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With the permission of the City, Odell Park is now back on RVC’s website and Trailforks. This is the result of a lot of productive conversation between RVC and city staff over the past 2 years. It marks a turning point that is consistent with the Odell Master Plan, which included mountain biking in the site’s future, through well maintained and sustainable trails.

There’s a lot of work to do. City staff have asked RVC to come forward with trail maintenance and improvement priorities for 2022 – and we’re putting together a plan now. We’ll be proposing a few projects that will improve rideability and correct issues with the existing trail network. We’ve heard from many riders already but if you have a project idea please get in touch with RVC.

Odell Park mountain biking trails

Not all trail are sanctioned, so you’ll notice that the maps don’t include any of the legacy trails that run into sensitive environments. The old Evil Streambed and Bumblebee trails that cross Phyllis Brook numerous times will likely be decommissioned and revegetated in the future – so RVC is asking members to please avoid those. As well, the Creekbed trail that continues downhill from Red Arrow and collects a lot of water may be the subject of a future city project and is not included in the sanctioned trail plan.

While the heatmap shows may trails that will remain it also has some very foggy zones that show where braiding has taken place.

Odell can be wet in the spring. Please ride responsibly and avoid braiding trails or expanding wet holes – those will just become issues for volunteers to address. It’s a beautiful place and RVC is extremely happy to be in a position to say that riders are welcome to use the park. Remember to yield to hikers and remember to support RVC by joining us.

Proud Members of: Velo New Brunswick

Canadian Cycling Association

International Mountain Biking Association