AAVC DEI JERSEY

Available to purchase until SUNDAY, APRIL 25TH!!!

LIMITED EDITION “INTERSECTIONS” JERSEY CELEBRATING ANN ARBOR, COMMUNITY, AND INCLUSION

As part of its commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive community for cyclists, AAVC is proud to offer this special, limited edition jersey to raise funds for our diversity and inclusion programming.

Thanks to a generous offer from our vendor Pactimo, 100% of the proceeds from this jersey will help fund future events and activities with the explicit purpose of reaching out to, welcoming, and building up those who cycling has traditionally marginalized.

The term “intersectionality” refers to the multiple identities an individual can hold, from gender identity to race to sexual orientation to ability. This jersey graphically represents those intersections, while also suggesting multiple paths crossing and converging - a visual nod to the community we love to explore on our bikes.

Designed by local artist Ingrid Ankerson, the jersey features high-visibility colors and “Ann Arbor” on the front. We’re offering this jersey to the broader Ann Arbor community, so you definitely don’t need to be a member of AAVC to feel good wearing it, but you’ll still find our familiar logo on the back pockets.

Enjoy this jersey for its beautiful, unique design, but know that your purchase will also go toward one of AAVC’s most important missions: making cycling accessible and welcoming to all in our community. Spread the word! Again, purchase is open to the public.

AAVC Transgender Statement

On March 25 of this year, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a law banning transgender women and girls from competing in school sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The Ann Arbor Velo Club believes that sports must be accessible to everyone. We believe that we must work hard to make our transgender and non-binary persons feel welcome and participate fully in the beautiful sport of cycling. We believe that the law in Arkansas does the opposite: it excludes a minority of athletes who have already suffered enough. And we strongly condemn this law, and any law, act, or statement that aims to take away the rights of transgender people.

To our members: the Club is talking about what action we can take to support transgender rights in cycling. If you want to be part of that conversation, join #diversity-inclusion-committee on Slack, join a Board meeting, or contact AAVC President, Laurens de Jong.

To our transgender and non-binary members: we appreciate that you are part of our community and we want you to stay with us forever. We ride behind you in your struggle just to be yourself. Ride strong.

Project AAVC-21

The Ann Arbor Velo Club wants to support the local cyclists and cycling community. Project AAVC-21 is a continuation of a fun project we started in 2020 that helped us get through tough times and supported our sponsors who have supported the AAVC for years. 

This year, the AAVC is again purchasing gift cards and other goodies from our sponsor businesses to give away to our members.

Over the next few weeks we will be introducing weekly missions to complete while out on your rides in the Ann Arbor area. Complete the mission and be entered into a raffle for a gift card to one of our amazing sponsors. 

#ridelocal #shoplocal #thankyou to all our club sponsors

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be a current AAVC member. If you are not, sign up HERE.

• Must have a Strava account and:

  • have a username close to the name that you used for club sign up

  • set your account (or at least the rides you are submitting) to public

  • be a member of the AAVC Strava Club (join HERE)

MISSION DETAILS

• Keep an eye out on the social media channels, and AAVC Slack for the weekly AAVC-21 missions.

• Include the week’s Strava segment/s in one of your rides on Strava during that week before Sunday at 8pm, and be entered into a raffle for a gift card to one of our sponsors.

• It does NOT matter if you are the fastest or slowest for the segment, winners are selected randomly, not based on time

EXTRA CREDIT

• Title your Strava workout “Mission AAVC-21.?”

• Use the hashtag #projectaavc21 on the social media

• Even if you don’t win, consider purchasing gift cards from our awesome sponsors

AAVC Century Club

Love riding your bike and eating oatmeal cream pies? Then the AAVC Century Club is made just for you! “THE GOAL” is to log at least one century each month of the year. Do the math and that’s a minimum of 12 centuries for the year. Pretty rad… wouldn’t you say? Not up for 12? That’s okay. Keep reading… there is much more!

Rides can be out in the wild or on The Zwift. The idea is to encourage and recognize members that accomplish at least one century in 2021. SUBMIT YOUR CENTURIES HERE.

We all remember our first century! Lets celebrate the accomplishment and help each other reach for what you once thought was impossible. For one rider that might mean getting in their first century and for others that might mean suffering through 100-miles in the middle of winter out in the wild!

Recognition & Awards will be presented at the “AAVC End of Year Banquet”...

CENTURY CLUB AWARD TIERS

• Platinum = 12/12 century months

• Gold = 8/12 century months

• Silver = 6/12 century months

• Bronze = 1/12 century months

SUBMITTING YOUR RIDES

1. Go to the AAVC CENTURY CLUB SUBMISSION FORM link : HERE

2. Your ride will be logged for the month it was completed

3. “That’s it folks”... now start planning your next century!!!

AAVC Mentorship Program

Introducing the AAVC Mentorship Program!

Are you new to the club and looking for someone to show you the ropes around racing, mountain biking, good gravel routes in the area… or just changing that bummer of a flat? Maybe you’re looking for a partner to ride with on Zwift or TrainerRoad during these cold months? Or… are you a veteran cyclist with knowledge, experience, and skills to share with someone just entering the sport?

Then the mentorship program is for you! This program pairs club members according to interests, goals, and experience to help foster relationships and skill-building and to help those new to the area discover great routes, rides, and races.

• Find out more about how the program works HERE

• To sign up to be paired with a mentor, fill out this short form HERE

• To sign up to be a mentor, go HERE

The first round of pairing will start March 1st.

Cold Weather Riding

Hard to believe that not long ago humans used to primarily ride their bicycles outside in the winter! Smart trainers and fancy apps have changed how we ride in the winter but that doesn’t mean you can’t take your cycling to the next level with some outdoor riding this winter. Check out these great tips from some Ninny Muggins as you prepare to have a great start to 2021…

Bike Setup

• Fenders are clutch, if you don’t have fenders at least an Ass Saver.

• Have a plan to wash your bike. Even if that means taking it inside and rinsing your trusty steed in the bathroom shower. Pro Tip : Check with your housemates, family, etc to make sure they are cool with this! Wipe off the salt, especially from your drivetrain and relive that precious chain. Be sure you are using a wet lube. Winter is not the time for a waxed chain.

• Double up on head and tail lights. It will be dark dark for the first hour or so, and then it will be a grey dream after that. Have a lighting plan for 4 hours of light.

• Go big on tires if you have a choice. If you don’t… just send it! Drop the pressure from your normal PSI. Lower pressure will aid traction, as will the larger width. Studs, knobs or files if your choice. A soft file tread will give you more traction on ice, but not as good as studded tires. Knobs will improve muddy road traction, especially helpful on hills. Tires are a rock paper scissor game.

You Setup

• Keep in mind these two principles : dry is good and the wind sucks.

• Dry : Focus on creating and maintaining a dry layer next to your skin. This means wicking away sweat and preventing environmental moisture. Check with your local bike shop (Wheels in Motion, Sic Transit Cycles, Motor City Bicycle or Aberdeen Bike) for some winter riding gear.

• Torso : Your base layer is key. In dry conditions go for the superior wicking of a synthetic choice. Wet weather go for merino wool and windy a windproof layer. On top of that, layer jerseys and jackets based on the temp. When it is wet, opt for Gore Tex. Dry and cold, go thermal. You’ll know you have it right when you are cold out the door and feel comfortable a half hour into the ride.

• Legs : Same idea as torso. If it is just 40 and dry it is a a bibs and leg warmer day. When the temps drop to freezing, add another layer. A pair of bib tights without a chamois for this layer. Below 25 degrees, bibs with wool tights and a layer of Gore Tex. Gore Tex is awesome for windy days. Generally a more relaxed fit in the winter is good to be sure you get the loft for warmth.

• Hands and Feet : If you get the torso and legs right your hands and feet are much happier. Winter specific cycling shoes are almost essential on the really cold days. 45nrth makes pricey stuff, but most haven’t been disappointed by anything they make. Their website has a good guide for what to wear at various temps. If you cannot spring for specific shoes I would look at fashioning some kind of vapor barrier system for your feet. Plastic bread bag sandwiched between layers of thin wool socks will work. Don’t wear thick socks that require cramming your feet into shoes. Being able to wiggle your tires mean warmth. For your hands it is gloves, lobster gloves, mittens and/or ponies as the temps drop. Obviously control decreases as you add bulk, that’s why keeping your core warm is important. A warm core allows you to wear lighter hand and foot protection.

• Chemical warmers : Some people swear by them. A pre-ride hot beverage can help. Start the ride with a full insulated bottle and a copious amount of coffee before the ride. Hot Gatorade or other isotonic drink can help. Broth is also good in the winter, the salt will help keep the bottle from freezing and a having an extra protein kick helps. Adding a little alcohol will also help prevent freezing your bottle, as will putting the bottle in your back pocket.

• Cold weather is hard on batteries. Be sure you are topping off your lights, head unit and other battery powered equipment.

Post Ride Setup

• After the ride it is important to recover and start the process of getting ready to do it again the next day. Making of checklist of tasks helps avoid the disappointment that comes with forgetting something. Cold weather riding is equipment intensive, lots of laundry and bike maintenance will make every Ninny Muggins and winter ride memorable rather than miserable.

By-Laws Update

At December’s board meeting the board approved the new by-laws. At this point we need all members to give the thumbs up to approve the new by-laws. Not voting means a no.

• Draft new by-laws can be found HERE.

• Current by-laws can be found HERE.

Below is a high level view of what has been updated. Please review all information, so you can be prepared to make an educated vote on Monday.

The 3 main updates are...

1. Adding an article supporting creation of Teams within the larger AAVC

2. Adding definitions for Club activities not supported in the current by-laws (Family Memberships, Board Members at Large)

3. Clarifying and defining voting basis for club actions (changes to by-laws, elections, removal of officers, discipline, etc)

==========================================================================================

Article 1 - no meaningful changes

Article 2 - Copied purpose from Articles of Incorporation on file with the state (adding the numbered list of functions). Changed "sport of competitive cycling" to "sport of cycling". Added a statement focusing on inclusion and non-discrimination.

Article 3 - Added Family Membership definition. Added parameters for revocation of membership (discipline)

Article 4 - Changes for clarity and compliance with michigan nonprofit code. Added parameters for Family membership voting ( up to two votes per family)

Article 5 - Changed election of board of directors to plurality instead of majority. Added clear processes for new board positions and mid-year vacancies. Removed definitions of most board positions, (to be defined each year in another document outside the by-laws). Added reference to Board Members at Large, to clarify that they get voting rights. Changed board meeting requirements to monthly instead of annually.

Article 6- No meaningful changes

Article 7 - New article (Teams)

Article 8 (formerly 7) - Changed voting basis for affiliation with other organizations from "2/3 vote of the membership" to to 2/3 Board Vote

Article 9 (formerly 8) - Changed dues from "fiscal year" to membership year, with membership year determined by the board.

Article 10 (formerly 9) - No changes

Article 11( formerly 10) - Changed voting basis for amendment of by-laws from "2/3 vote of The Club membership" to 2/3 of votes cast

Article 12(formerly 11) - No meaningful changes.