Hey everyone, we get that it’s Fathers this weekend….and the weather was previously thought to be rainy on Saturday, but alas the weather man has a changed his mind. Saturday looks wonderful, so we’re switching the 100km ride to Saturday. Don’t forget to RSVP if you are planning to ride.  Visit the NHCC Ride Calendar, click the ride you want to participate in, then click RSVP.  Easy easy!

We will be offering three Workshop & Ride nights (Monday evenings) starting next week. These are designed for any member who might want to learn some basic bike maintenance and then go for an hour long rider afterward to practice some on-road skills for riding safely in a group.  Experienced members are encouraged to come on out and help! 

Week 1: Changing a flat tire
Week 2: How to lube your drivetrain
Week 3: Learning about different types of bikes, and adjusting the fit of your bike

Find all of the details (start time, location, etc), and RSVP on the Club’s Ride Calendar.

How to RSVP to a ride:

1. View the NHCC Ride Calendar.
2. While viewing the NHCC Club Calendar, click on the Ride you wish to participate in. The information will pop up and you should see an RSVP button that you can click. It’s that simple! Alternatively, leave a comment here on the website, we’ll count you in!

Sunday June 20th: Helmut has a Fathers Day ride planned for Sunday, since it appears to be the best day in the forecast.  It’s 100km, for you endurance riders! It’s a 9:00 start so that you can be back in time for dinner!

For ride planning purposes, its important that anyone planning to participates RSVP so that the Ride Planner can anticipate numbers.

How to RSVP to a ride:

1. Find your ride on the Club’s Ride Calendar.
2. Click on the Ride you wish to participate in. The information will pop up and you should see an RSVP button that you can click. Alternatively, leave a comment, we’ll count you in!

Note—New changes to next week’s rides:  There are changes to the previously announced Tuesday and Thursday rides next week, the most important of which is that they will take place in the Evenings at 6:00, rather than morning.  All the details are on the Club’s Ride Calendar!

We’ve got two different series of rides to roll out over the next two weeks. These are daytime morning rides, just to get started.  We’ll be adding more rides to the calendar, so stay tuned! 

Easy/Beginner Ride Series: This is a series of four rides that Dennis Benson will lead over the next two weeks, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Designed for both brand new members as well as those who enjoy a casual, leisurely pace. You will have the opportunity to learn some safe-riding techniques from Dennis, who is CanBike trained and knows just about everything there is to know about Safety! There usually isn’t a particular route associated with these rides, and they remain in-town and local to Cobourg.
Ride Planner: Dennis
Terrain: A
Pace: Leisurely
Type of ride: Group

Building Mileage Series: The second of the “Building Mileage” series of four rides over the space of two weeks on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. This one is 46km in distance. This is designed for experienced riders who are looking to just build up some base mileage—the speed and strength rides will come later! Its an all-round effort to get back in the saddle and start building base mileage. They will be “Regroup Rides”, meaning we might spread out, and regroup at specific points along the way.
Ride Planner: Anita
Terrain: C
Pace: Moderate
Type of ride: Regroup

IMPORTANT: Please RSVP if you want to ride!—Due to COVID restrictions it’s important that Ride Planners know how many to expect so that they can plan accordingly. It’s easy! Ride details and the RSVP feature are here on the Club’s Ride Calendar. Just click on the ride you want to participate in, and the information will pop up with an RSVP button that you can click.

Pump up the tires, lube the chain, make sure your lights are charged—the NHCC is riding on Saturday and also on Sunday! We’ve waited patiently, and the time has finally come.  These two rides will be out and back routes, allowing for riders of all levels to ride as long or far as you wish, separated into groups of 10 or less (to be determined at the ride start) in accordance with Ontario’s Stage 1 gathering limits. They’ll be nice casual, recreational rides to get ourselves rolling again!

In order to participate in Club rides:

• You must be a club member (sorry, no guests at this time). If you aren’t a member yet, Join Here.
• Please bring your mask and wear it while we assemble at the Ride Start. (You do not need to wear it while riding)
• RSVP (important): Please RSVP by leaving a comment on the website, or emailing secretary@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com to indicate which day you will ride (ride both if you want!).  It will help us enormously to do a little advance planning. 

For those who aren’t quite ready to ride yet—We understand, and respect your choice. We look forward to riding with you when the time is right!

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Route: Waterfront Trail Eastbound
Start time: 10:00am
Ride Planner: Randy Albon
Start location: Donegan Park, Cobourg

Date: Sunday, June 13, 2021
Route: Waterfront Trail Westbound
Start time: 10:00am
Ride Planner: Anita Macklin
Start location: Carpool Parking Lot, Port Hope

The NHCC has laid the foundation for a new flexible ride structure that’s responsive to the needs of our diverse membership—a big departure from the former Levels 1-4 format. Now it’s your turn! We are inviting members to help us put together 3-week ride blocks that suit your interests and needs, and hopefully you can throw your great ideas our way. We will either meet outside in person (safely distanced of course), or make use of a Zoom conference, depending on number of respondents. We’ll talk & discuss the new format, then make plans to populate the ride calendar. How about it? Are you interested? Both new and returning members are encouraged to participate especially if you would like to:

• Learn about how the new format will work 
• Suggest ideas for ride themes
• Take ownership of a 3-week ride block
• Influence the development of our Ride Standards

Let us know you are interested by submitting your name below, and indicate your preference for in-person or Zoom. We’ll get back to you with date and time. (If the form doesn’t appear below, please visit the NHCC website here. 

We are just a little over two weeks away from the official start of Spring! It’s been a heck of a year in so many ways, but we look forward to an exciting new cycling season ahead, making up for lost time last year! We at the NHCC recognize how super anxious people are to get back out on their bikes and ride with friends.

The NHCC has been busy planning in the background. We will introduce a whole new ride structure for 2021 that will optimize flexibility & diversity while maintaining inclusiveness that’s always been important to our Clubs culture.

New Ride Format for 2021:
Rides will be offered in series of 3-week Blocks, each with an associated theme and varying Levels of Difficulty.  While still in development, we are excited about the possibilities of how they might look. Here are some ideas we are bouncing around and we’ll be seeking more from members:

• Friday Floater Rides
• Regular Morning 50-60k ride
• Early Morning Coffee Rides
• Nice & Easy mid-distance rides
• Riding Safely for Beginners
• Bike Handling Skills Rides (Beginners)
• Evening Fast and Furious
• Hills for Strength
• Day Touring Rides
• Long Distance 100k Series
• Northumberland Forest Gravel Rides
• Prince Edward County 50k series
• Escalating Distance (30, 40, 50k)

The list will vary as it develops—it’s an opportunity for the Club to try something new & creative. Its success will depend on feedback from members and the willingness of ride leaders. Ride leaders could take on just a single riding block, or several consecutive ones and build upon them. More importantly, ride leaders won’t be committed to an entire season, just three weeks at a time! Win, win! Leave us a comment, let us know what you think.

The NHCC is taking Memberships now!
Be ready for when the season starts. Get your 2021 membership in now. The regular season begins on May 1st, but traditionally we offer rides as weather permits in March and April. Note: Due to COVID, all previously purchased 2020 memberships have been extended until the end of 2021. 

NOTE about COVID19: All NHCC rides will be subject to public health measures pertaining to outdoor activities and may include limiting group size, screening, etc.

Ride with GPS is the system we use to create routes and maps for Club rides and the NHCC maintains a Club Account for the benefit of all members. Those with their own individual Ride with GPS account (they are free!) can login to the NHCC Club Account at Ride With GPS to access great features including turn-by-turn audio navigation on club routes, the use of our Route Library for independent navigation, the ability to plan routes, print out maps from the Club Library, and more. Below are a few webinars to help Club members learn to make the most of the Club Account benefit. Hey, it’s a lockdown so what else have you got to do?