Northtown Site

On-site sign-in, number assignment, and transition area set-up takes place between 5:45pm - 6:25pm.  The timed brick events start promptly at 6:30pm.  It is crucial that we start on time to ensure that we finish before dusk.  If you arrive late, there is a good chance that you will still be able to do the timed event; however you will have to wait until after everyone else has started so that the volunteers can check you in and get you started, without delaying the start of everyone else.  There will be official time keepers at these events, and the results will be posted afterwards.  The time keepers will also keep an eye on everything in the transition area.  Members are also welcomed to participate in the workouts even if they do not want to be timed and do not want to have their results recorded and posted.

The Northtown bricks and time trials take place at the North Amherst Fire Company & Park, located at the corner of Tonawanda Creek Road (South) and Campbell Blvd (rte 270).  The exact address is 2200 Tonawanda Creek, Amherst NY 14228.  It is crucial that you park on the West side of the fire hall, and not the East side (where the baseball diamond is), because the ambulance exists from the East side.  The fire hall is a prime location for the brick workouts because there is ample parking, decent roads to bike on, and a very nice paved running path.  The terrain is very flat. Use the interactive map below to familiarize yourself with the location, bike, and run courses.

Types of Bricks, Bike Routes, and Running Routes

• • 1-2-3 Brick: 1 mile run, 2 laps on the bike (12.6 miles / 15.4 miles*), and a 3 mile run

  • 3-2-1 Brick: 3 mile run, 2 laps on the bike (12.6 miles / 15.4 miles*), and a 1 mile run

  • 3-2-3 Brick: 3 mile run, 2 laps on the bike (12.6 miles / 15.4 miles*), and a 3 mile run

  • 3-3-3 Brick: 3 mile run, 3 laps on the bike (18.75 miles), and a 3 mile run

  • Time Trial: 2 bike laps around the 6.3 mile loop, with riders starting every 20 seconds.  See below for details regarding the Member's Memorial Time Trial.

  • Introduction & Orientation: We usually use the first session of each season to welcome our new members and give everyone a chance to get familiar with the bike course and run course.  No timing is done and no points are awarded.  The session is more of a "meet and greet" between our new members and our veterans, and then we usually ride a loop of the bike course and do a little running on the path, ensuring that nobody is left behind

If you would like a turn-by-turn cue sheet for the brick bike course, you can print the one that is attached at the bottom of this page. That pdf file also contains cue sheets for 7 other bike routes that start at the North Amherst Fire Hall, but we do not use any of those for our timed brick workouts.  If you're going to use a cue sheet, you should give some thought to how/where you're going to attach it to your bike. You can also find some examples of home made cue sheet holders attached at the bottom of this page.

Timing & Scoring

For the timed Northtown bricks participants are awarded points based on their age group.  The fastest finisher in each age group is awarded 7 points.  The second fastest earns 5 points, the third fastest earns 3 points, and all other finishers earn 1 point.  Participants are grouped into the following age group categories: Male under 25, Female under 25, Male 25-34, Female 25-34, Male 35-44, Female 35-44, Male 45-54, Female 45-54, Male 55-64, Female 55-64, Male over 65, and Female over 65.  We follow USAT rules with regards to determining age groups (age as of Dec 31st of current year).   Awards are given at the end of the year for the top point earners in each age group.  The lowest score is dropped for each person.  In other words, if you miss a week, or have a bad week, that score will get dropped when the total points are calculated at the of the year.  The same categories and point system also applies to the time trial events.  Separate awards are given out for the time trial winners.

The last time trial of each season is dubbed the Members' Memorial Time Trial.  It originally began as the "Tim Chesko Memorial Time Trial," in 2008.  Tim Chesko was a BTC member and an all-around great guy who was taken from us much too early, in February of 2008.  You can read more about Tim in the March 2008 BTC newsletter.  In 2012 we lost another member, Gary Grant.  Gary was one of the original founders of the BTC in 1999, and had remained a member ever since.  It was then that we changed the name of the time trial to the "Members' Memorial Time Trial."  In 2016, we lost Kyle McArdle, and he was added to the list of BTC members that we wished to memorialize.  Anyone who has been to a BTC event or activity has likely met the McArdle family, and knows what a great family they are.  In 2018, the club was devastated again, with the loss of Joe Rosati.  Joe was one of the biggest personalities in the BTC, and a true cornerstone of the club.  One of the most prominent, welcoming, and helpful members that the club has ever had.  This special workout is part of our regular time trial series, but members are also able to compete for a special award.  At our year-end banquet the Tim Chesko Award will be given to the male and female who are able to beat their season average MPH by the greatest margin in the Members' Memorial Time Trial.  If nobody is able to beat their average MPH then the award will be given to whomever comes closest to their average MPH.  This award is all about competing against yourself, to be the best that you can be.  In order to be eligible for this special award, members must have competed in at least 2 of the 3 BTC time trials preceding the Member's Memorial Time Trial.

The results from each week, as well as the cumulative point totals will be posted on the web site shortly after each workout. 

The BTC generally holds 4 time trials per year. This year they will remain hosted out of our Northtown workout site. The day of the week is moving to TUESDAYS and are scheduled for the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

The final time trials of the year is our "Members' Memorial" time trial as a tribute to BTC members we've lost over the years.

Start time Northtown Time Trial Events: Sign in 5:45pm-6:25pm, workout starts promptly at 6:30pm

Northtown Maps & Cue Sheets

If you would like to print out a course map or cue sheet we have a few options available below.

Southtowns Location 1 - West Seneca

Location:  Sunshine Park

1750 East and West Road

West Seneca, NY 14224

The bike look is approx. 5.7 mile bike route. We will do 2 loops. Course is marked.

Bike Course (mapmyride.com)

The Run course is a .5 mile loop around the park.  

This will be an UNTIMED event.  Run as many loops as you'd like!

Southtowns Location 2 - Chestnut Ridge

Southtown brick location at Chestnut Ridge Park, near the North entrance off Newton Road.  It is typical for the BTC to utilize shelter #21.  If/when there is a problem with this location (such as another group booking the shelter, or the closure of the Newton Rd entrance, etc) we use the Casino parking lot as our alternate location (see map below).

This location has ample parking, great roads to bike on, and very nice running routes within the park.  Unlike the Northtown site, there are some significant hills on Southtown biking and running routes.

Rules

• • You must be a paid active member of the club to participate in club events. We NOW OFFER 1-day memberships, however we HIGHLY encourage spending the few dollars extra for the entire year, which gives access to our discount codes and ALL BTC special events. 

  • You absolutely must wear a helmet on all bike rides.

  • You must follow all USAT rules. (no drafting, no earphones, etc)

  • Please bring a red tail light for your bicycle, if you have one.  (A headlight may be desirable as well)

  • Glass containers are not permitted at any of our Brick locations (this includes any BYO after-Brick "refreshments")

  • BTC members must sign themselves in prior to beginning the workout. (you cannot sign in for someone else)

  • We can accommodate a maximum of 60 participants for the timed Northtown events, due to safety concerns and logistics. Entry is first-come, first-served. As noted above, you must sign yourself in. 

  • You will not be permitted to participate in the workout if you have been drinking alcohol beforehand. You are permitted to bring your own alcohol for personal consumption following a workout, provided that you do not violate any park rules or laws (no glass containers, no underage drinking, etc). Anyone who brings and/or consumes alcohol at or after a BTC event knowingly and personally assumes the risk of so doing and expressly releases from liability the BTC and all BTC officers and members.  (Note: at Chestnut Ridge, beer and wine are allowed only with a shelter permit, and no other types of alcohol are allowed)

Types of Bricks, Bike Routes, and Running Routes

The workouts tend to consist of some combination of two running routes (0.9 miles and 3.9 miles) and a 7.5 mile bike loop.  Maps and elevation charts for those 3 routes can be found below.

Southtown Maps & Documents

Over the years we've used variety of routes for events at or near Chestnut Ridge. Some of the old maps and routes are available below for historical purposes and might be used again the future.

Overview

These weekly monitored swim workouts are coordinated and ran by Carol Novak (President), Ethan Sasiela (Volunteer),  & other BTC Board members and volunteers. They are geared towards acclimating yourself to open water and to familiarize yourself with swimming continuously without a wall every 25/50 yards. Some members may also go for a run or bike ride in the neighborhoods adjacent to the beach before or after the swim.

Note there are no public restrooms at this location. There is a bathroom in the Mobil gas station less than a half mile up the road, North(east)ward.

Overview

These weekly monitored swim workouts are coordinated and ran by The BTC Board & other BTC volunteers. They are geared towards acclimating yourself to open water and to familiarize yourself with swimming continuously without a wall every 25/50 yards. The water is normally crystal clear, and the depth of the water gradually increases as you go out further from shore. Everyone tends to swim back and forth, parallel to the shore. If you are uncomfortable in open water you can stay closer to the shore so that you can touch bottom. Swimming in Lake Ontario can be more comfortable for new swimmers because of the shallow depth and ability to easily swim to shore. Some members may also go for a run or bike ride out of the swim site afterwards.

Warning: the BTC does not condone or endorse swimming in Lake Ontario alone. It is never wise to swim anywhere alone so please always have someone with you or to watch you.

Please make sure you take precautions to secure your property while you are in the lake swimming. For example, if you ride your bicycle to the swim site you should take precautions to lock up your bicycle and secure your other items in someone's car.

You may also want to bring a pair of sandals or some protection for your feet on the short walk from the parking area to the lake.

Swimming Rules

1. You must be a paid active member of the club to participate in club events. We cannot allow guests or any kind of 1-day option due to insurance reasons.

2. You must sign in prior to beginning the workout.

3. You must wear a bright-colored swim cap, to make yourself more visible in the water.

4. Members are highly encouraged to buy a personal swim buoy to be seen better on the water and to help in the case of an emergency.

5. We recommend you pair up with at least one other member to ensure everyone's safety.  There are usually plenty of members swimming, so it's pretty easy to tag along with others that are swimming loops or lengths.

6. Please do not bring any alcohol to this site for consumption after the workout (and members will not be permitted to participate in the workout if they have been drinking before hand).  

Water Temperature

Lake temperature estimates can be found on various websites linked below. Temperatures are taken at various locations and depths and may not reflect the exact temperature at the swim site. We'll usually toss a thermometer in the water for a reading before each swim.

• Weather.gov: Buffalo

• SeaTemperature.Info: Buffalo 

• NOAA.gov Buoy Data: Buffalo

In the past there have been coordinated Weekend Group Bike Rides. Currently there are no plans for this type of group activity this summer.

If you are a member and would like to assist the Board of Directors in re-establishing / resuming this activity, reach out to the Board of directors either through email or Facebook to start up a conversation!