About
Velo Halifax has been an active bicycle club since 1974. We are a social and recreation cycling group. We welcome new members. Everyone is welcome to attend 3 rides as a guest before joining. The rides that we offer extend from short day rides to more physically demanding weekend and week long camping trips. Our tours are in a relaxed, non competitive format. Velo Halifax encourages you to come join us on a ride and discover the enjoyment of cycling in Atlantic Canada.
Safety
In accordance with the Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act all club cyclists must wear a helmet while cycling.
In addition a white light on the front of the bicycle and a red light on the rear are also required when cycling before sunrise and / or extending into twilight hours.
Club cyclists should carry basic tools (i.e. spare tire patches, tubes, and pump) and be able to carry out simple repairs on their bikes, if required.
Club Affiliation
Velo Halifax is a non-profit volunteer run organization. We are associated with both federal and provincial cycling associations, Canadian Cycling Association and Bicycle Nova Scotia.
How to Join
We invite you to ride with the Velo club as a guest for a couple of tours. If you then decide to become a member, you will be required to fill out an application form and pay an annual bicycle club fee $25 for new members, $35 for returning members. As a member you will become a BNS member, receive club news information and be eligible for discounts at some recognized local retailers upon presentation of a valid club membership card.
Velo Tours
The tour leader will take attendance, lay out the planned route and note any designated stops along the planned route. If transport is required to out of town start contact the ride leader to arrange this.
There are some rides with a designated sweep (or sweeps). A sweep is a cyclist who may provide assistance (i.e.; minor bike repairs) and often rides at the back of the pack. It should be noted that all riders should plan to be self sufficient. In the event of a non-repairable breakdown it becomes each rider’s responsibility to make it back home.
Note: Multi-day trips and week long tours may have personal costs to be incurred by “registered participants”.
Velo Ride Rating Scheme
Our club uses a riding scheme to rate each of its rides based on a level of skill and physical abilities. This should assist riders in selecting tours that meet their capabilities.
A Rides are very long & difficult, designed for strong, more experienced and self sufficient riders.
B Rides are for experienced cyclists, fewer rest stops and distances of 60-160 km, with average speeds of 20 km/hr over flexible routes.
C Rides are moderate fixed distances, more relaxed pace, more stops and there are designated leader(s) and sweep(s) are optional.
D Rides have a slow pace (beginners), plenty of stops, set distances and routes with no changes, and with sweeps.
-All rides should be considered a ”C” unless otherwise stated.
-If scheduled Saturday ride is cancelled due to weather, it may be rescheduled for the following Sunday.
Departure Points
Tours unless otherwise noted will start from either Halifax (Hfx) or Dartmouth (Dart).
The rides will depart at 10 am unless otherwise stated by tour leader. This information would be distributed on previous rides, by email to club members and by way of the event contact.
Halifax Departure Point
Next to Armdale Rotary (roundabout).
Dartmouth Departure Point
Grahams Grove Park on Prince Albert Road.
Friends of Velo Rides
HRM Bike Week May 27-June 5
(30 km daily) halifax.ca/bikeweek
MS Bike Tour July 23-July 24, (50-85 km daily) mssociety.ca/atlantic/biketourNS.htm
Heartland Tour July 17,(various distances) heartlandtour.ca
