With the warmer weather coming, it is a great time to start a new outdoor activity. We obviously recommend cycling! Cycling can seem like a daunting activity to get into, plus who wants to ride alone. Lucky for you Calgary has many cycling clubs that can help you find your niche, and give you a group to ride with. Below are 3 cycling clubs in Calgary that can help you find your footing when it comes to cycling.

Bow Cyclist Club

Founded in 2013, Bow Cyclist Club has grown to a 250 member club with the focus of keeping the fun in cycling. Their team of ride leaders are passionate about cycling and able to accommodate many different levels of riders.

BiciSport Cycling Club

BiciSport was originally founded by a small group of cycling enthusiasts known as the Spokes Racing Team in 1988. In 1992, the name was changed to “BiciSport Calgary Cycling Club”. They are dedicated to promoting both a healthy lifestyle, and to supporting and promoting all levels of bicycle racing. They are a great place for junior athletes, and at the same time are keen to help all of their members reach their full potential.

Calgary Cycling Club

Calgary Cycling Club aims to grow the cycling community in Calgary focusing on inclusivity and connection. If you like long road rides, downhill, track, or commuting within the city this is the right group for you. They will be having all types of rides all summer long. The purpose of the group is to promote and expand the use of bicycles within and outside the city.

Now that Bike to Work Day 2021 is officially over, we are happy to announce the cyclist count for this year!

We tallied up the cyclist count from the 8 Energy Stations and it added up to a grand total of 1730 cyclists! That means, Bike to Work Day founder, Lonny Balbi, happily donated $1730 to Two Wheel View. Here he is with some of the TWV team (Hank and Pat) handing over the cheque.

Thank you to all of you who participated, from those who came out just for a quick ride to go back home and work, to the everyday commuters, and everyone else who joined us for the love of cycling.

Two Wheel View, which just celebrated its 20^th anniversary, is an incredible local charity that provides programs that use the bicycle as a vehicle for change in the lives of youth. The organization was started by Rick and Tanya McFerrin who brought their experiences and perspectives from cycling around the world here to offer young people the opportunity to learn leadership, health and wellness, self-esteem, achievement, and environmental stewardship.

Two Wheel View will take bike donations and even has some for sale!

https://www.twowheelview.org/

We are looking forward to seeing you all again on May 6, 2022 at next year’s Bike to Work Day!

If you’re like us and love to listen to podcasts about anything and everything (including cycling) - then you’ll want to hear some of our suggestions.  Podcasts have become a 21^st century phenomenon that let anyone talk about anything they want and reach a very large audience of like-minded people. Cycling is no exception. There are tons on all things cycling that are sure to pique your interest.   

We’ve compiled a list of the best podcasts on cycling for those who are interested in learning more about biking in general, bikes and gear, trips and routes, and everything in between.

• Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast

Hear cycling stories from all across the country and around the world right from the pros. You can also learn about bikes and gear, as well as training tips.

• CyclingTips Podcast

CyclingTips offers the best advice, tips, and tricks, while sharing the beauty of cycling aiming to inspire all audiences.

• VeloNews Podcast

This incredible podcast hosted by Velo Magazine aims to bring you news about cycling, race results and reviews on the best bikes for all cycling enthusiasts.

• Voxwomen Cycling Podcast

Brother UK offers an amazing source for everything on women’s cycling.  Meet some great riders in exclusive interviews or listen to some race reactions and analyses.

• The Slow Ride Podcast

If you’re looking for something that will make you laugh, look no further. The Slow Ride Podcast offers sarcastic and funny remarks on the world of cycling and spends a lot of time on cyclocross content for fans of the muddy sport.

These podcasts are available on most podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor and more. Listen in a café, on your way to work, or with your friends!

If you're also a book lover, check out our recommendations for books about cycling here. 

Happy listening!

Cycling has been proven to not only improve your physical well-being – but also your mental health. Whether biking indoors or outdoors, we consistently see positive effects on your brain and body.  There are multitudes of benefits that can affect all parts of your life.

Exposure to the outdoors has often been prescribed to combat mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Cycling outdoors is no different!  Your brain positively reacts to the influx of blood flow and nutrients and enables greater performance.  Meaning, consistent cycling in your day-to-day life keeps your brain healthy and young in your later years.

Studies conducted on cycling have shown these are just some of the mental health benefits people experience:

-Decreases in depression and anxiety

-Greater well-being and relaxation

-Enhanced creative thinking

-Improved memory

-Improved moods

-Better sleep

Additionally, you can reap the social perks of this hobby by meeting like-minded people who also greatly enjoy cycling.  There are endless ways to connect to these groups: many are on social media like Facebook and Instagram, or even on cycling apps like Zwift and Strava.      

It is often recommended to cycle for about 30-60 minutes at a steady pace three to five times a week to enjoy those benefits.  This can be done on your way to work, around your neighbourhood, or anywhere else you like to bike. During the winter months, this can be especially challenging, but even getting on a stationary bike helps with your well-being and mental health.

So, next time you’re thinking of commuting to work or wanting to get outside, grab your bike (and helmet) and see the benefits for yourself!

Go to Google and search e-bike reviews and one of the first sites that comes up is the well done ElectricBikeReview.com, or EBR.

This information source provides unbiased reviews of all sorts of electric bikes available on the market. It is run by Vancouverite Court Rye.

Court is an energetic and knowledgeable e-bike reviewer who has a genuine interest in the environment, health and his community. His background was that he was in product management and did a lot of cycling to and from work. However, he had some previous skiing and surfing injuries, and found the summer heat made it difficult to get to work and still look fresh. That is how he discovered e-bikes.

He bought his first e-bike online, not knowing anything about the technology, weight distribution or power sources. He loved that bike, but it was still heavy and awkward for his needs. He transferred his interest from the corporate world to the e-bike world.

Court now operates his website out of Vancouver, BC. He told me he “loves the local biking community” and enjoys the diversity of British Columbia. He independently reviews all sorts of e-bikes through a detailed summary, photo album and video. He offers viewers tips on best affordable e-bikes, best electric fat bikes, best electric mountain bikes and several other categories.

If you want to learn more about e-bikes, and especially if you are looking to get into one given the advanced technology now available, EBR is for you. Check out the excellent reviews and information.

Written by Lonny Balbi.