Congratulations to Randy

In the past couple of weeks there’s been one less person on Club rides….Randy Albon has been out of town in Dundas, Ontario immersing himself in the intensive Winterborne Bicycle Institute’s Professional Mechanics course (huge shout-out to Cycle Transitions for sponsoring him!).  The course takes a meticulous methodical approach to bicycle repair, teaching the skills to repair bicycles for optimum function and safety. He learned wheel-building from a Master Wheel Technician, and also gained a serious in-depth understanding of all major bicycle components, including frames, bearings, wheels, drive trains, brakes and shifting systems. He’s now well-versed (even more so than he already was!) in troubleshooting, repairing, and preventative maintenance!  

He’s happy to share his training & knowledge with others, so feel free to pick his brain on rides—about those weird squeaks, the funny rumbles, or those unexplained chain skips—or maybe just for preventative maintenance advice on how to protect your investment!  He’s happy to plan a few workshops if there’s interest—let him know what you’d like! You can also drop in an see him where he volunteers at Cycle Transitions.

Congratulations Randy, on a job well-done!

Randy in his Bike Garage!

Rides for this week: Monday August 22 to Sunday August 28

Reminder that Evening rides begin at 6:00pm and morning rides may start at 9am or 10 am—check your start times! Sunset on Tuesday is 8:02pm which shrinks our evening ride down yet again.  Make sure your lights are charged and on by 7:32pm.  We still have some rain in the forecast for Tuesday night so we’ll monitor all the weather gods and make a decision around 4:30.  It’s our last week of August, but the season goes all the way to the end of September and then beyond if the weather cooperates.  In the meantime, we’ll just skip to the details of this week’s rides!

The Quick Facts: Upcoming Rides

RSVP: All the details are on your Cycle Club account. If you plan to ride, please locate the Event in your Cycle Club account and click “Going” so the ride leader knows how many to expect.

Tuesday August 23: Evening Ride, 6:00pm

Level 1: 
Start location: Sydenham St., Cobourg (refer to your Cycle Club account for the exact address)

Level 2: 
Start location: The Mill Restaurant on Ontario St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
Start location: Cobourg Community Centre, D’Arcy St., Cobourg

Thursday August 25: Morning ride

Level 1: 
Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Westwood Park, on Carlisle St., Cobourg

Level 2: 
Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Westwood Park, on Carlisle St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
Start time: 10:00am
Start location:
 Squirrel Creek Conservation Area, 2520 Wallace Point Rd., Fraserville

Sunday August 28: Morning Ride

Level 1: 
Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Wicklow Beach Boat launch, 133 Lakeport Rd., Colborne

Level 2: 
Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Park Lane in Hastings (refer to your Cycle Club account for exact address)

Level 3/4: 
Start time: 10:00am
Start location:
 Hamilton Township Municipal Offices, 8285 Majestic Hills Rd., Hamilton Township

 

Ride Cancellation Notice: Sunday August 21

RIDE CANCELLATION NOTICE for Sunday August 21: So unfortunate! All those wonderful pies! But alas, the radar shows rain, and it’s not likely to turn into sunshine anytime soon. There are a few surrounding communities with severe thunderstorm warnings in effect. The good news is that you all have pies already made for dinner tonight! Sorry……but we have to cancel the Pie Potluck Ride.  Looks like I’ll have to figure out something else for my pecan pie with chocolate and bourbon!

Rides for this week: Monday August 15 to Sunday August 21

Reminder that Evening rides begin at 6:00pm.  Also, some of the morning rides may start at 9am.  Be sure to check the start times!

This week we are going to have some fun on Sunday with our first ever Ride and Pie Potluck! It’s exactly what it sounds like—we’ll ride for 90 minutes (45 minutes out, 45 minutes back) and then we’ll all share Pies potluck style outside near the sheltered picnic table at the Grafton Arena. You can credit Richard inspiring this—all his talk about pie!  Here’s what you need to bring to the Pie Potluck:

  • A pie to share! It can be any kind of pie—dessert pie, chicken pot pie, meat pie…..anything goes, it’s all about treating ourselves
  • Be sure to include a knife and a pie-serving utensil with your creation
  • Bring your own utensils & your favourite drink
  • Bring a lawn chair 

NOTE: We have a number of vegetarians in our Club—it would be much appreciated if you could please identify if your pie is vegetarian-friendly 

The Quick Facts: Upcoming Rides

IMPORTANT: Start Times may vary for each Ride Level
RSVP: All the details are on your Cycle Club account. If you plan to ride, please locate the Event in your Cycle Club account and click “Going” so the ride leader knows how many to expect.

Tuesday August 16: Evening Ride, 6:00pm

Level 1: 
Start location: Cobourg Public Library

Level 2: 
Start location: King’s Field in Port Hope 

Level 3/4: 
Start location: George Hamilton Public School in Welcome

Thursday August 18: Morning ride, 10am

Level 1: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 To be determined

Level 2: 
Start location: Park Lane in Hastings (Login to your Cycle Club account for the exact address)

Level 3/4: 
Start location: Boat Launch in Brighton (Ontario Street Dock)

CANCELLED: Sunday August 21: Morning Ride & Pie Potluck

Level 1, 2, 3, and 4: 
*Start time: 10:00am
Start location: Haldimand Memorial Community Arena (Grafton Arena)

 

Rides for this week: Monday August 8 to Sunday August 14

Just a short reminder that Evening rides begin at 6:00pm.  Also, some of the morning rides may start at 9am.  Be sure to check the start times!

LIGHTS ON BIKES: By the time Thursday rolls around the sun will be setting at 8:23pm. At this time of the year it’s especially important to remind ourselves that at minimum, we need to have a red light on the back of our bikes 30 minutes before sunset, so that means around 6:53 at night.  Not only does it make us more visible and thus safer, the Highway Traffic Act requires it!  When we are travelling westbound on any given road in the evening the setting sun can blind other road users to our presence as they approach from behind.  When the sun is glaring it can be blinding to motorists, and sometimes the only visible signal you have to alert them of your presence might be that little flashing light.  In fact, it’s a best practice to go beyond the minimum and have those lights flashing at all times when you are riding regardless of the time of day.

The Quick Facts: Upcoming Rides

IMPORTANT: Please note Start Locations may vary for each Ride Level, as well as Start times
RSVP: All the details are on your Cycle Club account. If you plan to ride, please locate the Event in your Cycle Club account and click “Going” so the ride leader knows how many to expect.

Tuesday August 9: Evening Ride, 6:00pm

Level 1: 
Start location: Cobourg Community Center, D’Arcy St., Cobourg

Level 2: 
Start location: Donegan Park, D’Arcy St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
Start location: Northumberland Forest (Beagle Club Parking Lot)

Thursday August 11: Morning ride

Level 1: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Wicklow Beach Boatlaunch

Level 2: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Donegan Park, D’Arcy St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
*Start time: 10:00am
Start location:
 Hamilton Township Municipal Offices (Majestic Hills Road)

Sunday August 14: Morning Ride

Level 1: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location: To be determined 

Level 2: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
The Mill Restaurant Parking Lot, Ontario St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
*Start time: 10:00am
Start location: Hamilton Township Municipal Offices, on Majestic Hills Rd.

 

Rides for this week: Monday August 1st to Sunday August 7

IMPORTANT NOTE: Believe it or not, the sun is setting earlier and the days are getting rapidly shorter. Evening rides will now begin at 6:00pm so be sure to make note of that!  

Pre-announcing some notable upcoming special events that you can start RSVPing to:

  • For everyone, we have an ALL LEVELS Ride & Pie Potluck on August 21st and you won’t want to miss that. It’s exactly what it sounds like—we ride, then there will be a potluck afterward that’s all Pie! Dessert pies, chicken pies, mini-pies, you name it.  You see, the Level 2s keep talking about Pie, and we all want some of that action!
  • On August 11th the Level 3/4s are going to hop on the GO train and make a Day-trip to Toronto, cycling around some wonderful trails, and exploring what the city has to offer
  • Labour Day Weekend (September 3rd, Rain date Sept. 4th)! Maria will be hosting an ALL LEVELS plus FOOD from her home in Grafton. The NHCC will be providing some fabulous food for all members—an awesome way to celebrate summer!

The Quick Facts: Upcoming Rides

IMPORTANT: Please note Start Locations may vary for each Ride Level, as well as Start times
RSVP: All the details are on your Cycle Club account. If you plan to ride, please locate the Event in your Cycle Club account and click “Going” so the ride leader knows how many to expect.

Tuesday August 2: Evening Ride, 6:00pm

Level 1: 
Start location: Wicklow Beach Boat Launch, 133 Lakeport Road

Level 2: 
Start location: Cobourg Memorial Arena, 206 Furnace St., Cobourg

Level 3/4: 
Start location: Hamilton Township Municipal Offices, on Majestic Hills Rd.

Thursday August 4: Morning ride, 10am

Level 1: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
 Cobourg Public Library

Level 2: 
Start location: Parking Lot at St. Marys Catholic Church, 103 Lyle St., South in Grafton

Level 3/4: 
Start location: Haldimand Community Memorial Arena, (Grafton Arena), 10766 Hwy 2 in Grafton

Sunday August 7: Morning Ride, 10am

Level 1: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Donegan Park, 

Level 2: 
*Start time: 9:00am
Start location:
Kings Field, at 28 Victoria St., South, Port Hope

Level 3/4: 
Start location: McDonald Rd parking lot for the Northumberland Forest

Bicycles for Ukrainians

Bicycles for Ukrainians” is a project to outfit newly arrived Ukrainian families with bicycles. Randy Albon (your NHCC prez) is collaborating with Cycle Transitions to collect, repair and distribute approximately 40 new or gently used bicycles for newly arrived families in our area.  We are asking for donations of bicycles (particularly adult sized) or cycling related items, as well as financial donations.

To make a donation of a bicycle or bike parts:

Contact Randy Albon: by email at president@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com  or text to 905-376-8696

To make a financial donation for the Ukrainian Project:

E-transfer to the following email address mentioning “Ukrainian Project“: membership@cycletransitions.org

Rides for this week: Monday July 25 to Sunday July 31

Tuesday night is an All Levels Ride & Patio Time. That means the whole club starts and finishes at the same time, riding out for 40 minutes then returning back for a total of 80 minutes of riding. Afterward, we have reserved some outdoor patio space, 8:00 pm at Arthurs Pub for whoever wants to make it a social event. Bring a little $$ for beer, wings, nachos….whatever!  The Level 1s are going to test out an earlier start time (9:00am) for the morning rides this week and see how it goes. The Level 3&4s are heading out of town this week—Thursday for a rail trail ride, starting in Lindsay and Sunday in Campbellford—Time to see some new scenery!  Apparently the Level 2s likes Pie—so Richard’s now famous pie will be featured after the Level 2 ride on Sunday.  

The Quick Facts: Upcoming Rides

IMPORTANT: Please note Start Locations may vary for each Ride Level, as well as Start times
RSVP: All the details are on your Cycle Club account. If you plan to ride, please locate the Event in your Cycle Club account and click “Going” so the ride leader knows how many to expect.

Tuesday July 26: ALL LEVELS Evening Ride

Level 1, 2, 3 and 4: 
Start time: 6:30pm (Ride), 8:00pm (Patio time at Arthurs)
Start location:
 The parking lot in front of the Fleming Building in Cobourg, at 1005 Elgin St., W

Thursday July 28: Morning ride, 10am

Level 1: 
Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Cobourg Community Centre, 750 D’Arcy St., Cobourg

Level 2: 
Start location: Kings Field, at 28 Victoria St., South, Port Hope

Level 3 and 4: 
Start location: OPS Township Community Centre, Lindsay, 2569 Hwy 7, Lindsay
Click here to see it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/sDXrnTgfoc2S6JzEA

Sunday July 31: Morning Ride, 10am

Level 1: 
Start location: Donegan Park, 25 D’Arcy St., Cobourg
Start time: 9:00am

Level 2: 
Start location: On the street near 145 Park Lane, in Hastings
Click here to see it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/DVWUeEJw1RXnnVAA7

Level 3 and 4: 
Start Location: The parking lot on Saskatoon Avenue, which is at the north entrance to Ferris Provincial Park

 

Ride Cancellation Notice (Sunday July 24)

RIDE CANCELLATION NOTICE: Thunderstorms—although fun & exciting present a safety concern, so unfortunately all morning rides are cancelled for today. Hey, at least weeds are easier to pull when the ground is wet…so there’s that.