There will be no ride on Monday of the long weekend. There will, however be a ride the following Monday and the focus that night will be on everyone’s favourite–Gearing!

This Sunday is the first of our Long-weekend Century Rides. You don’t, however, need to go the whole distance. Make it a 50k by turning around in Colborne. For 100k, we ride to the lighthouse at Presqu’ile Park then return home. Take a lunch-break at a restaurant in Brighton, or stay on the move by bringing some sustenance with you (aka portable snack foods) and lots of water.

This ride will also be open to members of the Ganaraska Freewheelers and the Cobourg Cycling Club who may ride free of charge as our invited guests (a waiver must be signed though—get your waiver here).

This is not about speed, it’s about going the distance. How long does it take to ride 100km? Between 4 and 5.5 hours, not including breaks. Level 3 travels together, level 4’s may break off into groups according to ability.

Time: 9:00am
Start Location: The parking lot behind the Dutch Oven
Skill level: Levels 3 and 4
Route map: Waterfront Trail (signed route—no route map necessary)

Leave a comment to let others know your plans regarding distance and lunch.

The weatherman says cloudy most of the day, showers in the evening. That means a good chance we won’t get rained out! Since we’ll be riding east toward Presqu’ile on Sunday, tomorrow we will ride westbound along the Waterfront Trail instead, turning back again whenever you feel like it, enabling everyone to determine their own distance. Ride for an hour, or ride for three, the choice is yours. These out and back rides allow for total flexibility in distance.

Start time: 10am
Start location: The park on Carlisle St. between Ewing and Westwood
Route: Waterfront Trail westbound (no route map necessary)
Skill Level: Levels 3 and 4
Ride Leader: Anita Macklin

As usual, We will naturally break off into different speeds, with the exception of Level 3 staying together as a group.

Join us for a nice meander through the beautiful country roads north of Port Hope. The evenings are perfect for riding these days and greening up of the rural area looks mighty fine from a bicycle. We won’t go too far or too fast and no one will be left behind. Should be fun!

Start time: 6:30
Start Location: Gilmer’s parking lot under the big sign
Level of Difficulty: Mixed levels
Ride Leader: Pamela Tate

Rain or shine, the Cycle-Safe clinic will happen. The venue is indoors and there’s plenty of space. Bring your bicycles—we’ll be doing some bike handling skills training. This one-night event is going to be jam packed full of all the essential safety and group riding skills that we can cram into one evening. Think of it as the “light” version of the 5-week course that starts next week. And it’s free!

Tuesday Night, 6:30 at Cycle Transitions. See you all there!

This route is  20k long. We start out small and add a little more distance each week as the season progresses, based on the developing needs of the group. Don’t worry about keeping up with the crowd—It’s a no-drop ride, we work together and support each other.

Notes: Helmets are mandatory. Please bring your membership card with you. If you mailed in your membership forms, your cards will be issued to you at the ride.
Start Time: 6:30pm
Start Location: The park on Carlisle St. between Ewing and Westwood
Ride Difficulty: Level 2
Route Map:  View the link on Ride with GPS
Ride leader: Mike McLellan

 

Hopefully the forecast thunderstorms will be over by the time 6:30 rolls around. This time we will meet in the parking lot behind the Dutch Oven in downtown Cobourg. Although the days are getting longer, it is important to know that the Highway Traffic Act requires cyclists to have lights on their bicycles 30 minutes before sunset: a white one on the front and a red one on the back. There are lights to “be seen” and lights “to see”, all of which we’ll talk about prior to the ride.

Notes: Helmets are mandatory, bring your membership card, and if you mailed in your forms, your cards will be available for you at the ride.

Time: 6:30-8:00pm
Difficulty: Level 1
Sunset: 8:28pm (lights required at 7:58)
Start location: Parking lot behind the Dutch Oven (enter from Albert St.)
Ride Leaders: Maria Garrett

It’s showing 19 and sunshine in the forecast! It should be a most excellent day for a ride, if you aren’t busy with Mothers Day activities. Just like the Thursday ride, Levels 3 and 4 travel much of the same route, albeit at different speeds, but Level 4 has an extra 16k with a little more hilliness. The route may be modified somewhat based on what Thursday riders report about road conditions, but we’ll keep you posted.

Notes: All riders are expected to have the route map with them. The Level 3 group should remain together throughout the ride. Level 4 riders may ride faster and may break off into smaller groups according to desired speed. Helmets are mandatory—they just are! Be sure to have the necessary items to change a flat tire. That means a pump, a spare tire, a patch kit and tire levers.

If you ride with level 4 and find it a little too fast, you can always just hang back and wait for the Level 3 group then ride with them.
Bring your membership cards with you.

Time: 10:00am (Level 4) and 10:05 (Level 3)
Start Location: Donegan Park
Route Map (Level 4) 52km: Printable route map here or Link to Ride with GPS
Route Map (Level 3) 36km: Printable route map here or Link to Ride with GPS
Ride Leaders: Anita Macklin (Level 4) and Volunteer Needed (Level 3)

Anyone wanting to volunteer to lead the level 3 ride, please let us know!

At the moment it appears as though there could be rain….but if it holds off, the ride is on! Here’s the way it works: Thursday and Sunday rides are essentially the same route. You can ride one, the other, or both! Essentially, Levels 3 and 4 travel much of the same route but Level 4 goes an extra 16k by making a left on Lyle St. in Grafton and heading up toward Shelter Valley Rd., and Level 3 makes a right heading down into Grafton, cutting out distance and some hills.

Notes: All Level 3 and 4 riders are expected to have the route map with them in the event that there is no designated ride leader. The level 3 group is encouraged to remain together throughout the ride and watch each other ensuring that nobody gets dropped (left behind). Level 4 riders are typically self-sufficient, may ride faster and may break off into smaller groups according to speed. Helmets are mandatory. Flats happen, they really do! Everyone must carry a spare tube, and the necessary tools to change a flat tire, even if you don’t yet know how to change it yourself.

If you start out with level 4 but find it’s just too fast for you don’t fret. You can always drop back and wait for the Level 3 group to catch up and then ride with them.

Time: 10:00am (Level 4) and 10:05 (Level 3)
Start Location: Donegan Park
Route Map (Level 4) 52km: Printable route map here or Link to Ride with GPS
Route Map (Level 3) 36km: Printable route map here or Link to Ride with GPS
Ride Leaders: None (Level 4) and Volunteer Needed (Level 3)

Please use the commenting feature to let others know if you are planning to ride, and if any experienced riders are able to volunteer to lead the level 3 ride, please let us know!

Warmer weather means we can dust off the bikes and hit the roads again. Cycling season at NHCC has officially arrived. Yipee! Port Hope based evening rides will be held on Wednesdays this year so clear your calendars and plan on joining us for an intermediate level cycle through the beautiful countryside of West Northumberland. Don’t worry, we’ll take it easy and not go too far as we start to get our cycling legs back. We can always drop into Gilmer’s to pick up some epsom salts after the ride if we think our muscles might be a tad sore!

Notes: Helmets are mandatory. Please bring your membership card with you. If you mailed in your membership forms, your cards will be issued to you at the ride.

Time: 6:00pm
Difficulty: Level 3
Start Location: Gilmer’s Home Hardware parking lot (under the big sign)