There are heat advisories for the earlier part of this week, so it will be especially important to hydrate well. Bring a few toonies with you in case an opportunity presents itself for some ice cream or lemonade. Note that in the event of a heat advisory we’ll modify routes, pace and number of stops as necessary for safety. See you all on the road!

Monday August 17: Level 1 Ride
Ride Leader: Maria Siemiazsko
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Wicklow Beach Parking lot

Tuesday August 18: Level 2 Ride
Since it’s going to be a hot one (forecast), plan on bringing a few $ with you and we’ll stop in for an ice-cream after the ride if you want!
Ride leader: Anita Macklin
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Westwood Park

Wednesday August 19: Level 3 Ride
Ride leader: Debbie Robertson
Start time: 6:00pm
Route: 42km Perrytown Pedlar (A Ganaraska Freewheelers route)
Start location: Gilmer’s Home Hardware on Toronto Rd. in Port Hope

Thursday August 20: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
This route is a nice ride up to Harwood where there’s always that opportunity to re-load your water bottles at the spring, and stop into the Harwood store for a little snack.
Ride Coordinator: Anita Macklin
Start time: 9:00am
Route Map: “Harwood, Butter Tart, Return” Printable 55k map/cue sheet or link to it on Ride with GPS
Start location: Cobourg Memorial Arena (Furnace St.)

Thursday August 20: Level 4 Evening Ride
Ride Coordinator: George Hussey
Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Canadian Tire Parking lot, Cobourg

Sunday August 23: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
Ride Coordinator: Anita Macklin
Start time: 9:00am
Route Map: “Harwood, Butter Tart, Return” Printable 55k map/cue sheet or link to it on Ride with GPS

This Saturday there will be a 9:00am morning ride for those who just want to go a little faster than the usual Level 2, and also for those who want to prepare for the upcoming Bike-Up charity ride taking place in September. The group will ride to Colborne and back for a total of about 50km of some nice & easy flat riding.

Start time: 9am
Start location: Donegan Park, Cobourg
Route: Waterfront Trail Eastbound (signed route, no map required)
Ride leader: Mike McLellan

Since this is not one of our regularly scheduled rides, please leave a comment to let Mike know that you plan to ride so that he knows how many to anticipate.

August 13-23, Cobourg: Bikes vs. Cars film at The Loft
Dates:
Aug 13 – 7:30
Aug 14 – 2:00
Aug 15 – 7:30
Aug 19 – 7:30
Aug 21 – 7:30
Aug 22 – 2:00
Aug 23 – 7:30

Location: The Loft, 201 Division St., upstairs
View the trailer here.

August 16th, Roseneath: Greenbelt Route Launch
Alnwick Civic Centre, 9059 County Road 45, Roseneath
The NHCC’s Sunday ride will coincide with the official Greenbelt Route Launch, taking place in Roseneath. The Greenbelt Route offers more than 475 kilometres of signed cycling adventures in the beautiful, protected countryside of Ontario’s Greenbelt. It extends from Niagara to Northumberland, meandering between lush forests, winding rivers, and welcoming communities all along southern Ontario’s diverse and stunning landscapes.

Sunday, August 30, Millbrook: Derek Olive (Blue Dot Music Cycling Tour)
This summer Derek will be heading out on tour by bicycle in support of the Blue Dot movement! The tour will see Derek ride over 3000 km while playing shows across much of the country to promote the Blue Dot movement, and of course his new CD Mystery and Dust. The Blue Dot movement is about recognizing Canadians right to breathe fresh air, drink clean water and eat healthy food.
Date & Time: Sunday, August 30, 7pm
Tickets: Get tickets here ($10)
Location: 17 King St. E., Millbrook

Monday August 10: Level 1 Ride
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Donegan Park, D’Arcy St., Cobourg
Ride Leader: Dennis Benson

Tuesday August 11: Level 2 Ride
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Cobourg Memorial Rink, 260 Furnace St., Cobourg
Ride leader: Geoffrey Honey

Wednesday August 12: Level 3 Ride
Ride Leader: Mike McLellan
Start time: 6:00pm
Route: “32km, Level 3, Bickle Hill” Printable Route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS
Start location: Westwood Park (on Carlisle)

Thursday August 13: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Donegan Park
Route map: “Shelter Valley 52km” Printable route map here, or view it on Ride with GPS

Thursday August 13: Level 4 Evening Ride
Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Canadian Tire Parking lot
Ride Coordinator: George Hussey

Sunday August 16: Special Event! The Greenbelt Route Launch
This is a special event, as the NHCC will be present for the much anticipated launch of the Greenbelt Route. It’s a 50km ride from Roseneath to Cobourg but you turn around at any point to return to Roseneath, making the route as long as you wish, and also to make it easy to retrieve your vehicle. Or, make it a 100km ride and ride into Cobourg with all of the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure participants then turn around to return to Roseneath.

Start time: 9:30am
Start location: Alnwick Civic Center, 9059 County Rd. 45
Route map: Route Map #1, and Route Map #2

In case you haven’t seen the skies just open up, tonight’s Level 2 ride is canceled.

It’s looking like a great week for cycling! Lots of heat and sunshine, almost no rain. Note that the Monday ride has a slightly earlier start time than usual. The 50km Thursday and Sunday rides are a new route that we’ll try, from Sylvan Glen and heading up to Garden Hill for a change.

Monday July 27th: Level 1 Ride
Ride Leader: Maria Siemiazsko
*Note that there is an earlier start time for this Monday’s ride.*
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Wicklow Beach Parking lot

Tuesday July 28th: Level 2 Ride
Ride leader: Geoffrey Honey
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: 210 Wilmott St., (The old Coke plant)

Wednesday July 29th: Level 3 Ride
Ride leader: Lee Shooter
*A nice little loop with plenty of climbs, all around Baltimore.*
Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Donegan Park
Route (38km): Printable route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS

Thursday July 30th: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
Ride coordinator: Anita Macklin
*If you want to bike over to the start point, adding an additional 28km round trip, meet at the Canadian Tire parking lot at 8:15 and bike to the start point via Port Hope. Leave a comment to let others know if you’ll leave from Canadian Tire*
Start time: 9:00am (8:15 if you plan to bike to the start point from Cobourg)
Start location: Sylvan Glen Conservation Area
Route map (50km): Printable route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS

Thursday July 30th: Level 4 Evening Ride
Ride Coordinator: George Hussey
Start time: 6:30pm 
Start location: Canadian Tire Parking lot, Cobourg
Route: To be determined

Sunday August 2nd: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
Ride Coordinator: Anita Macklin
*If you want to bike over to the start point, adding an additional 28km round trip, meet at the Canadian Tire parking lot at 8:15 and bike to the start point via Port Hope. Let others know if you are going to depart from Canadian Tire, by leaving a comment.*
Start time: 9:00am (8:15 if you plan to bike over from Cobourg)
Start location: Sylvan Glen Conservation Area
Route map (50km): Printable route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS

Are you an early morning riser? If so, we have a Saturday morning 60k Level 3 ride for you.

Start time: 8am
Start location: Donegan Park
Route map: View route on Ride with GPS
Ride coordinator: Lee Shooter

Please let Lee know if you plan to ride by leaving a comment.

**This event has been postponed**

Message from Sue Throop regarding the Trailblazer Tandem Cycling Club:

Dear NHCC members
On Saturday August 22, my friend Warren & I, along with Cycle Transitions, will be co-hosting a ride for the Trailblazer Tandem Cycling Club.

The TTCC is a tandem bike club where a sighted Captain pilots the tandem bike (provided) with a blind or sight impaired rider on the back. The TTCC is asking if any CT members would be interested in being a Captain for the Cobourg ride. It involves a brief orientation featuring procedure and etiquette on guiding the blind and the operation of a tandem with a blind / sight impaired “Stoker”. We are planning a waterfront route of approx. 50 km. The orientation would start at 9:15 a.m. and the ride would launch at 10:00 a.m. The ride will also feature a BBQ lunch ($10.00 per person).

At this point we are inviting CT & NHCC members only as there is a limit to tandem bikes available & there will probably be some of the Captains from the club that may want to join us.

With that being said, anyone who would like to join in the ride on their own bikes are more than welcome to do so.

If you’re interested please respond to me with your name, height & weight…these are important for matching individuals, from there depending on how many interested, things will be organized on matching captains to a potential Stoker.

If you’re interested & already have a tandem bike, even better!

Sue Throop suethroop@gmail.com

We appreciate that a lot of rides are being posted resulting in possible email overload. So, we are going to try something new and include multiple rides in one single posting. This should significantly reduce the quantity of email notifications you receive. Starting next week, all rides from Monday to Sunday will be covered in one simple post. For now, we’ll cover this Thursday till Sunday:

Thursday July 23: Combined level 3/4 morning ride
Notes: This is a Ganaraska Freewheelers route, and always guaranteed to be a great one! It’s also self-guided group ride (no ride leader), so please be sure to prepare by having a map printed out, or accessible by cell-phone.
Start time: 9:00am. *PLEASE NOTE:   those who have replied to this post have decided to start at 10:00
Start location: Warkworth Main St. (See route map below). The group meeting at 10:00 is meeting at t Warkworth Conservation Area at. Mill St (#29) and Old Hastings Road
Route Map: “Trent River Truckin” printable route map here

Thursday July 23: Level 4 evening ride
Notes: Road bikes are required for the regular level 4 rides
Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Canadian Tire parking lot, Cobourg
Route: To be determined
Ride coordinator: George Hussey

Sunday July 26: Combined level 3/4 morning ride
Note: Like Thursday rides, this is a self-guided group ride, without a designated ride leader
Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Warkworth Main St. (See route map below)
Route Map: “Trent River Truckin” printable route map here

The forecast for this week is pure sunshine all the way to Sunday, and even then it’s only a 30% chance of rain. Should  be a great week for cycling!

Before you head out for an evening ride this week, be aware that the Making Ontario Roads Safer Act, complete with steeper fines and demerit points takes effect on Tuesday. A few things of particular interest to cyclists are:

• One Metre rule: Drivers must maintain at least one metre of space between their vehicle and a cyclist where practicable
• “Dooring”: Drivers who open their doors in the path of a cyclist (“Dooring”) can be fined between $300-$1000
• Lights on bicycles: Bicyclists who do not use a light and reflectors or reflective material can now be fined between $60 and $500
• Cyclists will be allowed to use the paved shoulders on non-400 series provincial highways.

Monday August 31: Level 1 Ride
Ride Leader: Maria Siemiazsko
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Cycle Transitions parking lot, 739 D’Arcy St, across from the Cobourg Community Centre

Tuesday September 1: Level 2 Ride
Ride leader: Geoffrey Honey
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: The industrial parking lot at 210 Wilmott Rd., Cobourg

Wednesday September 2: Level 3 Ride
Ride leader: Roberto Almeida
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Cobourg Memorial Arena, 206 Furnace St.

Thursday September 3: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
It will be a great opportunity to ride up to Bewdley and then coast home, mostly downhill. You gotta do the uphill first though!
Start time: 10:00am
Start location: Westwood Park on Carlisle St. between Ewing and Westwood
Ride leader: No ride leader assigned for this ride. Please bring route maps with you.
Route map (62k): Printable route map here or view it on Ride with GPS
Route map (72k): View it on Ride with GPS

Thursday September 3: Level 4 Evening Ride
Ride Coordinator: George Hussey
Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Canadian Tire Parking Lot, Cobourg

Saturday September 5: All Levels Special Event in Hastings
Details to come

Sunday September 6: Level 3/4 combined Morning Ride
Ride leader: No ride leader assigned for this ride. Please bring route maps with you.
Start time: 10:00am
Start location: Westwood Park on Carlisle St. between Ewing and Westwood
Ride leader: No assigned ride leader. Please bring route maps with you.
Route map (62k): Printable route map here or view it on Ride with GPS
Route map (72k): View it on Ride with GPS