Daylight hours are shrinking by about a minute per day, so our evenings rides will start getting a little shorter. But that means we can go for speed rather than distance!

Tuesday July 24, Level 4 (37k)

It’s a familiar, not super long or difficult ride, but a great one for those wanting to try Level 4 with a bit faster pace and less stopping. Those who want to increase the difficulty are free to fly ahead of the main group.
Ride leader: Maria Siemiaszko
Start time: 6:30pm
Sunset: 8:44pm
Route map: (37k) It’s all Downhill from Here Printable route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS
Start location: Donegan Park on D’Arcy St.

Thursday July 26, Level 4 (38k)

Ride leader: Anita Macklin
Start time: 6:30pm
Sunset: 8:41pm
Route map: (38k) Rice Lake South Printable route map here, or link to it on Ride with GPS
Start location: Hamilton Township Municipal Office

Enjoy your rainy Sunday everyone!

We’re well into the riding season and everyone seems to be having a lot of fun! Please remember to keep safe and be prepared while riding. Make sure you bring plenty of fluids, check that your bike is in good working order, and come prepared for those unexpected emergencies with a cell phone, I.D., some money, and a spare tube appropriate for your tires.

It’s still hot out there so Dennis, your ride leader for this evening, says to bring money as this is an ice cream ride.
Date: Monday, July 23rd
Time: 6:30
Meeting Location: park at Westwood and Carlisle
Ride Leader: Dennis Benson

And with the beautiful summery weather continuing, Petra will take the group on the pretty Wicklow Beach portion Waterfront Trail.
Date: Wednesday, July 25th
Time: 6:30
Meeting Location: parking lot at boat launch, Wicklow Beach
Ride Leader: Petra Hartwig

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 Salient Sunset

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Roberto Almeida
Start Location:  Cobourg Memorial Arena, 206 Furnace St
Route: Link on Ride with GPS

Wednesday Level 3: The Sappers Magical Mystery Tour

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Allan Dennis
Start Location:  Industrial Plaza on Willmott Street
Route: to be posted by Allan in comments section Monday or Tuesday

Tuesday July 24: Level 2 Ride

Pam will be leading us from King’s Field in Port Hope. Here is her description: “We will meet at King’s Field in Port Hope and head west at usual but this time we will do a loop instead of an out-and-back. It will mean a few new hills but everyone is getting so strong now that it will be a piece of cake. We will continue to take short pauses as needed for rehydration and to recover the will to live at the top of hills. It’s gonna be a blast!”

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Ride Leader: Pam Tate

Start Location: King’s Field, Victoria St. Port Hope

Thursday July 26: Level 2 Ride

Jim Berg will take us out to hills just north of Cobourg. Here is his description: “Baltimore and Back Version 2.”

“Route: North on D’Arcy, to Elgin, East to Greer Road, North to Danforth, East to Nagel, North to Hircock, back on Nagel, East on Van Luven, then South on
Meadowvale, Nagel, Hircock, Nagel, East on Danforth, South on Jarvis, East on Elgin, South on Workman, from Highway 2 follow Waterfront Trail back to Donegan Park.

About 20 km.

This route has a couple of hills but they are not steep. For these hills, slow and steady works very well.

On the way back on Danforth instead of going down Workman, there is the option of continuing on Danforth and doing Hill 60.”

Start Time: 6:30 pm

Ride Leader: Jim Berg

Start Location: Donegan Park 25 D’Arcy St. Cobourg

Did someone say hills? This one’s got lots of them and it isn’t for the squeamish. The second half is easier though and you’ll get a break as we return on the Waterfront Trail. I overheard talk at the Social last evening that this ride is not as hard as the Rice Lake Century ride (we will reschedule that one for August or September). It’s actually quite a pleasant ride, and we see some new scenery.

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.

This week we are going to go first for HILLS on Tuesday, then SPEED on an out-and-back for Thursday. The days are actually getting shorter now (by about a minute each day), so it’s especially important to make sure your lights are on your bike and actually charged up!

Tuesday July 17: Level 4 (47km)

This one’s called “Lots ‘o Hills” for a reason. We’re doing Bickle followed by the Jamieson Twins. But your climbing will be rewarded by some great downhill too.
Start time: 6:30
Ride Leader: Anita Macklin
Sunset: 8:50pm
Route map: 46km “Lots ‘o Hills” link on Ride with GPS
Start location: Westwood Park (on Carlisle St.)

Thursday July 19: Level 4 (46km)

We are going straight up County Rd 10 and back down. We’ll be going for some speed, so there’s no turns except to turn around in Millbrook. Plain and simple!
Start time: 6:30pm
Ride Leader: Anita Macklin
Sunset: 8:48pm
Route map: 46km Welcome to Millbrook (Out and Back) link on Ride with GPS
Start Location: George Hamilton School in Welcome

Hey everyone, we often take the Waterfront Trail all the way to Newcastle and then come back…but don’t you wonder what’s beyond? We’re going to meet at the Parkette in Newcastle and then ride along the Waterfront Trail westbound until we reach Darlington Provincial Park where we can get a scoop of ice cream, check out the beach and explore. Then of course we return. Total distance will be about 55 km. Some of the trail is crushed limestone but should be suitable for our bikes. Please bring a twoonie for park entrance (if they ask for it), and a few $$ for ice cream or snacks if you wish.

Please leave a comment if you are planning to ride.

Start time: 10am
Ride Leaders: Randy and Anita
Start location: Bond Head Parkette (on Boulton St. along the waterfront)

Sadly the forecast is not looking good – 60% chance of heavy thunderstorms right around 6:00-7:00 pm.  Just to be on the safe side, I am again cancelling the level 1 ride from Port Hope tonight.
We will try this again sometime soon. And there was going to be ice cream!

Tues July 17, Level 2 Ride: St. Mary’s Shtlr Valley Centerton & back.

Janine is taking us into the shade and up to Centerton and back. Her description:” Start at St Mary’s parking lot, Hwy 2, Shelter Valley , Broomfield road to Centerton Rd turn around and do reverse of this beautiful scenic route back to St Mary’s. Lot of shade along this route. Take rests as required in order to keep group together.”

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

Thurs July 19, Level 2 Ride: Westwood Theatr Dale and home.

Geoffrey will continue with hill/rest/breathe/ repeat, training ending the ride with a whoosh and some relative flat. The route: Westwood Park, New Amherst, Hwy 2, Theatre Rd, Dale, Danforth, North on Ontario, East again in Dale, South on Division, Oliver’s Lane, Ontario, University, Margaret, King, Burnham, Westwood to the park again.

Total distance 24.5 which is mid season Level 2 expectations. (Working towards 30 klms total distance by season end at the end of September.)

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Geoffrey Honey
Start Location: Westwood Park Cobourg Carlisle St, between Westwood and Ewing