Questions Answered

For Prospective Members

I'm brand new to triathlon. Is your program right for me?

Yes! Our Triathlon Training Program is geared towards all levels of athletes. Many of our members are training towards their very first triathlon. When you are on the spin bikes, YOU control the resistance on the bike and how hard you go. We're there to guide and help you achieve your first triathlon goal.

I have registered for a half iron and/or ironman distance event in the coming year. Do you offer a program suited to long distance races?

We offer a Cast Iron class as part of our Triathlon Training Program. These workouts are held on Saturdays and Sundays from January until early May and then you're welcome to drop in to any TTP class until the end of August. Your membership will include our fall programs too which feature Tour de France spinning, bootcamps and more. The winter workouts are specifically designed for the long distance athlete and a group of people with similar goals & fitness levels. They build to a two hour ride and one hour run and feature some strength training in January as well.

Do you offer one on one coaching?

Our members receive ongoing guidance from our coaching team in addition to help creating and managing their own training plan. We don't, however, offer virtual program management. We prefer working face to face with our athletes. For more on training plans, click here.

Is there a phone number I can reach someone at?

The best way to reach us is via email. In order to keep our programs costs as low as possible, we don't have a phone line but are more than happy to answer any of your questions via email.

Can I join for a shorter membership period than a year?

If you take part in our program from January to the first triathlon of the year in May, you will have already received a better value than any comparable program in Ottawa. Think of it as getting a great deal for a 5 month membership AND getting 7 more months for free! So, no, we don't do shorter memberships :)

Can I come by and talk to someone at the studio?

Special arrangements can be made by contacting the Administrator. The Ottawa Triathlon Club is often present at the local races with their team tent & flag. Please stop by and introduce yourself and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions.

How do I join if I'll be out of town on registration day?

All our registrations are done online so as long as you have internet access while you're away, you can register. If you are a current member of the club and want to keep your program spot, please contact the Administrator.

The program I want is sold out, are there wait lists?

Yes! There are wait lists available for all of our OTC Programs. Please contact the Administrator with the course & time slot (if applicable) of the program you're interested in. If a spot becomes available, we will contact you immediately via email.

The program that I want to join has already started, can I still join?

If there is still space available, we would love to have you join. We offer a prorated price from your start date to the end of the course. The prorated price is determined by the Administrator & head coach Geordie McConnell.

Do you have a virtual membership? I'd love to be part of Team OTC but can't do any of the programs.

We understand that some members move away or circumstances change where they can't join our programs but still want to be part of the OTC community. At this time we do not have such a social membership. Sorry!

What kind of pedals do you have on the spin bikes? Do I need bike shoes?

We have outfitted our bikes with the three most popular pedal types: Shimano Road, Look Keo and SPD (see photo at the bottom of this page). We also have our very own pedal inserts we invented that convert any of our pedals to one that can take a running shoe. If your bike shoes have been used outdoors, we ask that you clean them thoroughly before bringing them into the class.

Do you have a running group associated to the OTC?

Yes! The Ottawa Running Club started as part of the OTC in 2007. It's not part of the charity Sole Responsibility.

Who owns the OTC?

Todd Morin, and Steve Bodor own the shares of OTC Inc. and are the key organizers.

Where does Ottawa Swimming fit in?

Geordie runs Ottawa Swimming as a separate entity. It started as part of the OTC but was separated a few years ago and continues to be the swim provider for the OTC. During the pandemic shutdown they have programs at OttawaOnlineFitness.ca

For Members

I missed a Triathlon Training Program spin class or Tour de France spin class, can I go to another one that same week?

Absolutely! When you registered for our Triathlon Training Program or our Tour de France Program, you get unlimited drop in's with your registration. Just let the coach know that you're dropping in.

How do the drop in's work when I'm registered for TTP or TDF?

We recommend showing up to class 15 minutes early and letting the coach know that you're dropping into the class. The coach will let you know if and when a bike is available for you. We specifically set aside a certain number of bikes each class for drop in's. It's extremely rare that you won't get a spot. At the bottom of this page you'll find some drop-in data from 2018 to give you a general idea. Of course, things will vary year to year based on variables such as weather and coaching assignments.

I'm going to be away, should I contact my coach?

It's not necessary unless you're planning to be away for more than a week or decided to drop in regularly to a different class. If you're injured and can no longer attend class for the remainder of the year, please contact your coach & the Administrator immediately.

What about swimming?

We spun off our swim program into OttawaSwimming.ca. You'll find all the information you need on that site. It's an awesome program!

I want to change my email address for the newsletter or unsubscribe.

At the bottom of your OTC newsletter, you can click on the link that says 'Update Profile/Email Address' and make any changes you wish.

My friend wants to try a spin class before they sign up, can they do that?

In summer and fall we love to offer BAF weeks (bring a friend). Once your friend has a small taste of the OTC, I'm sure they'll want to join!

What kind of pedals do you have on your bikes?

We recommend that members always bring cycling shoes and running shoes in case they don't get their first choice. Pedals are a tricky business. Most spin studios just have SPD and all riders bring those shoes. We want to offer more so we have 5 Keo, 5 Shimano and 7 SPD/basket. For a photo of pedal cleat types check the bottom of this page.

Why is the summer strength program so much less intense than the winter/spring one?

Winter/spring is the time for focused strength work to make gains in power, balance and mobility. We work hard on this from January through early May. Once race season arrives it's important to maintain your gains but do so with a much lower training load so as to preserve your energy for the quality swim/bike/run workouts you need at that time of year. Our summer routine focuses on activating all of the muscles through key movement patterns to maintain strength, mobility and muscular balance to aid your performance and keep you injury free. Keeping your summer strength to 10-20 minutes once or twice a week helps you perform at your highest level.

Tell me more about your fall programs.

Members who register by the start of classes in January will be given flexibility to book 2 x 1hr slots in the fall along with unlimited drop-in's, of course. The Tour de France spin classes will certainly be there and strength classes (though varied in approach to the TTP). We also hope to offer such things as Pilates and yoga.

Is there an alternative colour for the orange shirt? Orange is not my colour!

Yes. There is a beautiful technical short sleeved run top for sale in our gear store. The free member shirts only come in orange, however, as they are ordered in bulk - sorry!

The course I registered for hasn't started yet & I can't do it for unforeseen circumstances. Can I get a refund?

It is not our club's policy to offer refunds but under special circumstances, the Administrator may give a refund if the course has not started yet. Our registration is done through CCN, Canada's leading club registration system. Because the credit card companies do not return processing fees to them, they cannot return them to members who request a refund. The fee along with a $5 refund charge means all but 31.92 will be refunded.

I'm injured and can't make my OTC training sessions anymore, can I get a refund?

As soon as you're injured or have a long term illness and can't make your classes, please contact your coach & the Administrator ASAP. We do not offer refunds but can give you OTC credits towards any other OTC programming or clinics from one year of issue. The Administrator keeps track of the credits but it is also the individual's responsibility to keep track of their credits as well. The OTC credits are not offered retroactively. They are only issued by the Administrator. If we have someone one our wait list willing to take your spot, it's between you & the wait listed individual to figure out payment. Simply notify the Administrator when the transfer has been completed.