What we’re about
WELCOME to the St. Vrain Chain Gang Bicycling Club (SVCG) based in Longmont, Colorado. Our aim is to promote and encourage cycling through a friendly club experience, where camaraderie is developed through group riding.
Our rides generally cater to the Advanced Beginner and Intermediate Road Cyclist, who are looking to improve their skill level. In the spring-summer season (March through September) we offer 2 rides per week (Tuesday and Saturday). For the rest of the year we do a Saturday ride, weather permitting. Our riding groups usually split into 2 or 3 groups based on pace. Most our routes typically follow the quietest and most scenic routes in Boulder County and the surrounding areas.
Our goal for all rides is to keep the experience of group riding FUN and SAFE! We are a recreational cycling club, NOT a race club; by joining our group you are expected to be part of the group, and not treat the rides as a race, or as a solo ride. Please take the time to read over our SVCG Group Riding Safety guide.
Before joining/signing up for an SVCG ride, be sure you can ride at the average pace we advertise for each group. If you do not meet this minimum fitness level, unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate you, as it is unfair to all other riders. (A Group Pace = 18+mph Avg, B Group Pace = 15 - 18mph Avg).
If you are a new member and intend to ride with SVCG, please sign our RIDE WAIVER as a way of acknowledging you have read our club rules,
We look forward to seeing you on one of our rides soon! ~Ride Safe and Often~
Nick, Peter & the SVCG Crew
Upcoming events (1)
See all- NEW! SVCG Thursday Night Ride - Spin Until Next Spring (SUNS)Niwot Park 'n Ride (119), Longmont, CO
CONTINUED! WEEKLY RIDE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS FOR THE SVCG FAITHFUL! - Spin Until Next Spring (SUNS)
SPECIAL NOTE - The Rock n' Rails concert series has ended, but we will continue to post Thursday night rides as long as we have willing participants. This will include gravel trail riding with lights. Charge up your lights!!
SVCG Thursday Night Rides - Spin Until Next Spring (SUNS)
SVCG has added scheduled rides on Thursday extending beyond the normal season! We plan to S**pin Until Next Spring (SUNS), riding on every Thursday when weather and conditions allow. We will start with road and gravel rides, but once we get back into standard time (Nov. 5th), we will ride gravel roads and trails exclusively.The SUNS rides will start at several different locations. The following are the common starting locations for SUNS:
- Niwot High School parking lot east of the football field.
- Niwot Park n' Ride on Niwot Rd. between the diagonal (HWY 119) east and west bound lanes.
- Rayback Collective in Boulder - 2775 Valmont Rd.
- Erie Community Center/Park - 450 Powers St., Erie, CO
Always check the start location every week!
For all the rides, you should charge and mount your lights, especially as we get into standard time (Nov. 5th)
GRAVEL RIDE FROM Park N' Ride!
GRAVEL RIDE - This gravel ride will take us out of Niwot via the LOBO Trail to Boulder Res, then north on some nice dirt roads to Open Sky Loop. Then we will loop back via 73rd and Niwot to the Niwot Park n' Ride. If you haven't ridden the Open Sky Loop, this is your chance for some great scenery and good, wide gravel trails. Did I mention it is a GRAVEL ride. Mountain Bikes are welcome.
NOTE: If possible, please download the route below and upload it to your Cycle Computer.
Ride with GPS Course:
RNR Gravel - LOBO-Res-55th-OpenSky-73rd-NiwotSeptember 19, 2024 - THURSDAY NIGHT RIDES -
“A” group:
19.5 miles and 735 feet“B” group (AKA "James Gang"):
19.5 miles and 735 feetStart Location - ** Park-N-Ride at 119 and Niwot Road **
SVCG Ride Information
NOTE: If there is a small group we will leave the start as a group, and meet up along the route, riding together the entire route. Large groups will follow the rules below.
WHAT: The Club rides are "NO DROP" (except for the A group), we will re-group at the top of hills, and at any turns where necessary
GROUP A: This group will be at a faster pace (18+mph average) DROP/NO-STOP
GROUP B1: This group will be at a medium/fast pace (16 to 18 mph average) NO-DROP
GROUP B2: This group will be at a medium pace (15 to 17 mph average) NO-DROP
WHO: This is a road bike ride for people who have experience riding on the road with traffic. Please only sign up if you are confident you can complete the described ride/route (distance, pace, etc.).
RIDE NOTES: Rides roll out no more than 5 minutes after advertised start time, please arrive early & be ready to roll on time.- We are vehicles on the road so it is imperative we follow the traffic laws. Failing to do so can lead to serious injury, possibly death.
- Come prepared for mechanical breakdowns (bring spare tube, patch kit, tire levers, multi-tool).
- Be sure to bring enough water for the length of the ride. As a general rule, one bottle of water is good for 1 hour of riding (8 oz per 20 mins of ride time).
RIDE DISCLAIMER: By participating in St. Vrain Chain Gang Cycling Club "SVCG" activities you ACKNOWLEDGE, AGREE and FULLY UNDERSTAND that (a) you are in good health, and proper physical condition to participate in Cycling Activities; (b) that the nature of Cycling Activities involves Risks and Dangers, and these may be caused by your own actions or the actions of others (fellow riders, other traffic, and road conditions); (c) "SVCG", ride leaders, volunteers, and Sponsors associated with the club, can not be held accountable for the negligence or actions/inactions of participants, and they are released from ALL LIABILITY.
