This week’s Floater Ride is going to be about 65km, and we’ll be doing a modified version of the Peterborough Classic Route 3a “Hills, Views and Pastries”. We will start at Squirrel Creek Conservation area. This route claims to have a few hills, so we’ll call this one a Level 3+. The goal however, is to ride at a “tourist pace, taking those hills nice & easy and ride together as a group. Nobody will get dropped.

Start time: 10am
Ride Leader: Randy
Route map: Peterborough Classic 3a, Start from Squirrel Creek link to map on Ride with GPS
Start location: Squirrel Creek Conservation Area on Wallace Point Rd.

The weather on Sunday looks promising and let’s do the Waterfront Trail! There are two starting locations and times depending on how far you want to ride. If you would like to ride a little longer meet up in Cobourg at Westwood Park on Carlisle (between Ewing & Westwood) and follow the Waterfront Trail into Port Hope.  For those wishing to skip the hills out of downtown Port Hope and make it a shorter ride meet at King’s Field in Port Hope.  We will head west along Lakeshore and turn around whenever!  This ride will be suitable for most levels.  Please comment here so that you can buddy up with another rider of your ability. No maps needed for this one as we will be following the Waterfront Trail.  Please bring some cash in case we stop somewhere.  Wesleyville Church location is hosting a Country Market and Nature Fest from 10am to 4pm and I’m quite sure there will be butter tarts!!
Start Time: 10:00 a.m. Westwood Park, Cobourg; 10:30 a.m. King’s Field, Victoria St., Port Hope

IMPORTANT: Please leave a comment so that we can anticipate numbers and also assign ride leaders for the various distances if needed.

Ride Cancellation Notice: We looked at three sources….we talked on the phone, we speculated….evidence is there. Rain tonight, as usual. So no rides for the NHCC. FYI it is actually raining this moment north of Cobourg.

It’s Randys Friday Floater Ride and this one’s starting in Brighton. It’s a relatively flat ride, with no crazy hills to climb. This will be a Level 3 ride and start at the YMCA in Brighton. After the ride we can go into Lola’s for a coffee if people wish, so bring a few $ just in case.

Let’s talk weather: Since rain has so frequently de-railed our rides, if Friday morning rolls around and it looks like rain we may delay the start until afternoon. We will send out a post notification if that happens.

Let’s talk about “Leaving a Comment”: Letting us know you plan to participate helps the ride leader make decisions, especially in the event of a weather-related cancellation. When weather looks precarious and it’s debatable whether a ride should proceed or not, the ride leader generally scans the comments to see how much interest has been expressed in attending a particular ride. If there are zero comments the ride leader may rightfully assume that a ride cancellation is in order. 

Ride Leader: Randy Albon
Start time: 10am
Route map: Link to the route map on Ride With GPS
Start location: YMCA in Brighton, 170 Main St.

It’s the Daily Ride Cancellation Notice! Too cold…too extremely miserable. If it were only rain, or only cold we could deal with it, but the combination of the two means we are just going to cancel, yet again. Let’s hold out hope for tomorrow night’s All Levels Ride, and perhaps we can ALL ride if the weather allows.

All rides cancelled for tonight: Can you believe it? Raining again. Sorry for yet another ride cancellation but the weather is just beyond our control. No Club rides tonight. Randy has proposed that we rename our club the Northumberland Hills Cycling and Scuba Club, then we’ll always have something to do. 

Its the first of our once-monthly All Levels Ride and Social (Cobourg)! So, what does that even mean? All Levels Rides are a monthly opportunity for all NHCC members to ride together, with the option to try out one of the other levels on an out-and-back route where nobody gets lost.

There will be 4 designated pace-setters among the group, riding at each of the NHCC defined Levels (1-4). Just pick the level you want to try, and follow that pace setter to see what riding at that level really feels like. If you change your mind mid-ride, no problem, just slow down and wait for a group that’s riding at the speed you like. The All Levels Ride is ideal if you think you’d like to feel what the other levels are like without committing.

It’s easy: We ride for 45 minutes (or less depending on your Level) then turn around and head back the same way you went. This ensures everyone finishes at the same time for the optional social part where we head indoors for drinks, wings, social time and meeting others. This time the Oasis Bar and Grill will be our chosen spot!

Time: 6:30–8:00pm (ride) 8:00-9:30pm (social–The Oasis Bar and Grill)
Start location:  Parking lot on Albert Street behind the Dutch Oven and Craft Food House

Tuesday May 14 Level 2 Ride: Westwood Cobourg

We will do a slightly shorter-than-usual 17 km ride with a few moderate hills and frequent rests. The weather looks to be cold so make sure you have gloves, wind layers and wool/fleece underneath. Wondering what to wear? I will be wearing: Helmet, leather gloves, Hi-vis windproof jacket & pants, buff for neck protection, ear grips. Meeting at Westwood Park we’ll ride out to New Amherst, down Hwy 2 to Theatre Rd, then Telephone Rd., Burnham, Danforth, Ontario, then navigate a few in-town roads back to the start point.

Start Time: 6:30 pm
Ride Leader: Geoffrey Honey
Route map: Find the route using this link to Ride with GPS
Start Location: Westwood Park Parking Lot Carlisle St Between Westwood and Ewing

Thursday May 16 Level 2 Ride: Cobourg to Archers Rd.

We will try again to defy the wind and actually make it out to Archer’s Rd. After a safety discussion we will head out from Sleep Country Parking Lot down Hwy 2 to Archer’s Road as far as the Railway bridge. There is one significant hill over the railroad tracks at the east end of town. There will be frequent breaks for water (bring some) catching your breath and socializing. Clothing FYI: I will dress similar to Tues but may ditch the leather gloves and ear grips, depending on wind.

Start time: 6:30pm
Ride Leader: Geoffrey Honey
Start Location: Diamond Head Industrial Park, 210 Willmott St. Cobourg

Believe it or not, the days are getting longer, even if we don’t have warm sunny weather to go with it. Almost one minute more every day! Sunset on Monday is at 8:28pm, meaning almost 90 minutes before lights need to be on bikes. FYI, the Highway Traffic Act requires that bicycles have lights turned on 30 minutes before the sun sets until 30 minutes after sunrise. If you haven’t already installed a light on the front and back of your bike please do so. Dennis will be happy to discuss types of lights at the start of the ride if you unsure.

Level 1: Monday, May 13

Ride leader:  Dennis Benson
Start time: 6:30 pm
Sunset: 8:28pm
Start location:  Parking lot on Albert Street behind the Dutch Oven and Craft Food House

Level 3 Ride: Monday May 13

There is only one “regular” Level 3 ride this week since Wednesday will be an All Levels Ride. Monday will be a no drop 37km ride, with a sweep, catering for all L3 ability levels. Gentle ride up Shelter Valley, round the top end through Castleton, along a bit and then a glorious long downhill back to Grafton.

Ride Leader: Allan Dennis
Start Time: 6:30pm
Sunset: 8:28pm
Elevation gain: 227m
Route Map: “L3 APD – Ince’s Incremental Iteration” Link to route map on Ride With GPS
Start Location: St Mary’s Church car park, bottom end of Lyle St South, Grafton