This Friday we are going to complete the third portion of our Waterfront Trail Westbound exploration. This time we’ll meet at the Port of Whitby near Rotary Sunrise Lake Park. There is a parking lot directly north of the East Pier. As usual, we’ll ride out and back along some beautiful pathways and trails, hopefully nabbing some ice cream along the way. We’ll just turn around at the Rouge River, making it somewhere between 50 and 60k.

Leave us a comment, letting us know you plan to ride.

Start time: 10am
Ride Leader(s): Randy and Anita
Route map: Waterfront Trail West Part 3 link to map on Ride with GPS
Start location: parking lot near Rotary Sunrise Lake Park

Let’s try this again.  The forecast looks okay for Sunday.  If my power holds true I create thunderstorms when I schedule a long hilly ride and this one’s got lots of them – hills that is!  It is a tough one, but let’s give it a try and see some new scenery west of Port Hope.

In Orono there’s a nice restaurant called the Firehall Bistro where we can grab a bite to eat or just re-load drink bottles.

For anyone wanting to do a shorter ride, or if the forecast is not favourable, simply ride only as far west as Osaca.  Turn south on county road 65 and weave your way south to meet up with the route again on the Waterfront Trail. Approx. 60km

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: The arena parking lot on Furnace St in Cobourg
Route map: “Hellacious Hilly 100k” printable route map here, or link to Ride with GPS

Please use the comment section below to get the conversation going about who’s riding, pace, distance, and who’s planning to stop for a quick lunch break etc.

Tuesday July 31, Level 2 Ride: Westwood Cobrg

We are continuing to build endurance and taking lots of rests after hills. This ride takes us to 28.7 klms, closer to our end of season goal of 30 klms over all. We build up gradually with a series of hills and are rewarded with a glorious descent at the end. Starting at Westwood Park, Carlisile to New Amherst Blvd, Hwy 2 to Theatre, up to Dale, east till Cornish Hollow, Right on Ball, Right on Racetrack Right on Dale to quick jog Left to Division, Oliver’s Lane, Ontario to University, Margaret, King, Burnham, Left on Westwood and back to the Park

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Geoffrey Honey
Start Location: Westwood Park parking lot, Carlisle St Cobourg

Thurs August 2, Level 2 Ride: St. Mary’s Grafton

David will be giving us a bit of relief from hill practice as this ride is a bit flatter than Tuesday’s. Here is his description:

“I think I we’ll try the Lakeport ride again.Lakeport, with an increase in speed to an average of 19kmh, a little faster so a little more distance. We’ll meet at St Mary’s and head east along the waterfront trail to Lakeport. In Lakeport turn south on Ontario St following it all the way around back up to the waterfront trail when we’ll turn left and back along the trail to the finish.Although mostly flat we will be going a bit quicker but not to worry you should be able to handle it. Bring water and a smile.”

Start Time: 6:30pm
Ride Leader: David Hutzel
Start Location: St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot, Lyle St Grafton

Monday. July 30th

Sprained foot and all, Anita will take the Level 1 ride on a tour of streets in the north part of Port Hope that we often hike during the off season, including the famed “Record Alley”
Time: 6:30
Meeting Location: King’s Field, Port Hope
Ride Leader: Anita Macklin

Wednesday, August 1st

Start the new month off right by following Dennis!
Time: 6:30
Meeting Location: Diamond Head Industrial Mall parking lot, 210 Willmott Street, Cobourg
Ride Leader: Dennis Benson

We did this ride a few weeks ago with levels 3 and 4 and this Tuesday we’ll ride alongside the Ganaraska Freewheelers who are also doing this route. There are options for everyone Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4, all starting in Peterborough at Beavermede Park. Anita will lead combined levels 1 and 2 along the out-and back route. Levels 3 and 4 will self-lead.

Levels 1 & 2: No route map is necessary since you’ll have a ride leader! A super nice, scenic, flat and easy ride from Beavermede to Lakefield along the Peterborough Rotary Greenway Trail. The first half is paved so if you turn around at Trent University you’ll do 14km, all paved. Continue to Lakefield along crushed lime screening for a total of 40km round trip or turn around at any point to make it whatever distance you want since it’s all out and back. The incentive to continue to Lakefield is the fabulous ice cream shop, so bring a little $$.  Ride leader: Anita Macklin

Levels 3 & 4: You will self-lead and choose either a distance of 50km or 65km. There are detailed route maps on Ride With GPS here and there will be others from both clubs to ride with (route maps will be available here soon):
34km route map link to Ride with GPS (Levels 1 and 2)
49km route map link to Ride with GPS (Level 3)
63km route map link to Ride with GPS (Level 4)

Please leave a comment to let me and others know you will ride and which level you are planning.

Start time: 10am
Ride Coordinator: Anita Macklin
Start location: Beavermede Park parking lot

IMPORTANT: Please note that beginning in August, all Level 4 evening rides will begin at 6:00pm. Days are getting shorter so we need to be aware of sunset. Lights on both front and back of our bikes are more essential than ever.

Tuesday July 31, Level 4 (46k)

This is a beauty ride, and a Level 4 favourite. Lotsodownhill in the first part and great scenery. Just 46k so we can still squeeze it in with the available daylight. This is the last of the 6:30 start times before we switch to 6:00.
Ride Leader: Maria Siemiaszko
Start time: 6:30
Sunset: 8:36pm
Route map: (46km) Beagle Club-Alderville-Centerton printable map or link on Ride with GPS
Start location: Beagle Club Trailhead parking lot (Northumberland Forest)

Thursday August 2: Millbrook and Back for Ladies (and Guys too!) (46km)

We happened upon the Millbrook Girls Night Out a few years ago and it looked like a lot of fun for everyone, men and women alike. King Street will be closed to make room for food, shopping & entertainment, specials in many of the shops, 50+ Street Vendors, a variety of food choices, entertainment by Close Enuff,  and much more! This is a great ride for those who might want to give Level 4 a whirl because it’s out and back so you can turn around at any point.
NEW START TIME: 6:00pm
Ride Leader: Maria Siemiaszko
Sunset: 8:33pm
Route map: 46km Welcome to Millbrook (Out and Back) link on Ride with GPS
Start Location: George Hamilton School in Welcome

Monday Level 2+: Baltimore & back

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Jim Berg
Start Location:  Cobourg Memorial Arena, 206 Furnace St.
Route: Link to printable route map

Monday Level 3: The Sappers Fascine Fiasco

Description: No mystery this time, something old, something new and lots of borrowed stuff! Long slow climb to start with and a few hills in between. What more can I say – it’ll be fun!
Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Allan Dennis- aka The Old Sapper
Route: Link to route map on Ride with GPS
Start location: Hamilton Township Municipal Office

Wednesday Level 3: Discover Beautiful Brighton 

Start Time: 6:00 pm (please note: early August start time)
Ride Leader: Roberto Almeida
Route: to be posted in comments section Monday or Tuesday
Start Location:  Strip mall parking lot- 46 Prince Edward St, Brighton

RIDE CANCELLATION: due to really unsavoury weather heading our way, ALL NHCC rides are cancelled for tonight.

This weekend we will ride on Saturday and Maria is taking us out of town to explore some new roads!  We will start in Campbellford and cycle to Tweed.  Then explore a different return route back to Campbellford. This will be a long ride, so please bring snacks/lunch and plenty of fluids. Riders can stop at the park in Tweed for lunch, where there will also be options to fuel up and refill water if needed.
Start Time: 10:00 am
Start Location: The parking lot on Saskatoon Avenue, which is at the north entrance to Ferris Provincial Park
Route: Link on Ride with GPS
Distance: 106 km
Après ride – if anyone is interested we can go for food/drinks at a local establishment in Campbellford.

Waterfront Trail East, Part 2

We loved the Waterfront Trail last week and this week we are going even more beyond the beyond and we are starting near where we left off. There’s a parking lot at the Soccer Fields and we’ll head East from there. This will be flat, flat, flat! This will be suitable for road bikes, anticipating it will be more road-bike friendly than Part 1 last week. Plus more scenic! If we turn around shortly after the Whitby Marina we’ll cover about 50k. If everyone decides unanimously to go further, we may just do that! Level 3 pace.

Please leave us a comment to let us know you’ll be riding. Hopefully the sun will shine for us!

Start time: 10am
Ride Leaders: Randy (Leader) and Anita (Sweep)
Route: Waterfront Trail Eastbound, Part 2 (Darlington to Whitby)
Start location: Darlington lower hydro field parking lot