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Chain Gang pedals through another season

It is cycling season once again and the members of Barrhead’s Chain Gang Cycling Club are back on the streets. The Chain Gang is an informal cycling club that was started by a small group of women in 2005.
From left Margaret Osborne, Fran Miedema, Lois Schulz and Diane Sutherland head out on a ride to Lac La Nonne as part of Barrhead ‘s Chain Gang Cycling Club July 8.
From left Margaret Osborne, Fran Miedema, Lois Schulz and Diane Sutherland head out on a ride to Lac La Nonne as part of Barrhead ‘s Chain Gang Cycling Club July 8.

It is cycling season once again and the members of Barrhead’s Chain Gang Cycling Club are back on the streets.

The Chain Gang is an informal cycling club that was started by a small group of women in 2005.

Margaret Osborne said many of its members, like herself, joined to become more proficient cyclers for the now defunct Queen of Hearts Triathlon. In 2014, the triathlon was cancelled when the aquatic centre closed.

Until recently the group called themselves Women on Wheels, but because over the years more and more men have joined the free club, two years ago, the members decided to change their name.

The group currently has about 20 riders, of which about 10 are core members who show up for almost every scheduled ride.

Generally the group rides twice a week – once on a weekday and the other being on the weekend – usually Saturday.

On weekend rides they usually begin their rides at 8:30 a.m. while weekdays they start out at about 6:15 p.m., starting out from the Agrena both times.

“A lot of our rides are about food,” Osborne joked. “We either go somewhere for lunch or if we have a long ride we usually come back to town and then go out for coffee.”

Early in the season the group usually starts out with shorter rides of about 40 kilometres, gradually working up to 80 kilometres or more.

“That might sound like a lot but it’s really not. If you are cycling with a good road bike and have been doing it, you can easily do 40 kilometres in a couple of hours,” she said, adding on July 10 the club cycled to Westlock, stopping for lunch before returning to Barrhead.

Anyone is welcome to join the group, although Osborne suggests because they often cycle long distances being in shape is an asset and you should be at least 18.

Osborne also suggests members have appropriate riding apparel including helmets and a bicycle in good mechanical condition, preferably a road cycle.

“A mountain bike is OK too, but because our rides are on pavement, most people prefer a road bike because it is lighter and it is easier to keep up with the group,” she said.

Although Osborne characterizes the club as a social club many of the club’s riders are involved with fundraisers such as Bike for Bibles, the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer and Kids with Cancer’s Great Canadian Cycle Challenge.

The club also holds an annual food collection drive in May.

“We have great camaraderie with each other and you can’t find a better group of people to cycle with,” Osborne said.

For more information on the Barrhead Chain Gang Cycling Club visit their Facebook page.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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