Got a smart trainer and want to keep up your fitness level? We are going to try out some virtual group rides and the first one will be this Thursday evening. There are many platforms to try, but this week we will give Rouvy a go for this inaugural virtual evening ride. It will be a nice & short 11 km ride, 2% grade and you can’t get dropped because the Rouvy Magnet “boosts” riders so that we automatically stay together. Like magic! There is no need to worry about pace—all levels will be able to keep up.

If you have a smart trainer you will need to set up a Rouvy account. We recommend using the free trial period to see how we all like it before committing further to the Rouvy platform. If you have any questions about how to get started feel free to call Randy at 905-376-8696.

Date: Thursday November 16, 6pm
Start location: Your house!

RSVP: 
Members please RSVP on the Event in Cycle Club so we know who to expect.  
Guests are welcome (no waiver required, lol)

Getting to the ride:
Login into Rouvy and navigate to Group Rides/Scheduled Events and scroll down to the Northumberland Hills Cycling Club event at 1800h.

Together with Sustainable Cobourg and  Cycle Transitions we are pleased to be involved in the resurrection of the Bike For The Planet 2022 event in Cobourg. There are two distances—a short loop of 6km or a longer version of 10km, escorted by the Cobourg Police services. In past years we had up to 130 people attend! The event is free and for all ages.

Volunteer sweeps needed:
The NHCC has been asked to support the event by volunteering as ride sweeps. We will require at least six—3 for each route. A pre-ride and meeting for the sweeps will take place at the Bandshell this Thursday evening, May 19th at 6:30 pm. (The Cobourg Police Services are attending). 

Tomorrow is looking like a bright sunny day. Perhaps a good day for a early season ride. Since it is generally a little warmer away from the lake, I was thinking we could start at the Hamilton Township Municipal office and head on up to Rice Lake. We can make it up as we go along. Nothing crazy, just a chance to get out there. Considering the elevation we would traditionally consider this a level 3 ride

How to RSVP (Members): 

• Log into Cycle Club either on the web, or on your mobile device and go from there. If you aren’t setup yet, head on over to the website and take a look in the right hand column and click on the “Cycle Club”.

Ride Cancellation Notice: Sorry folks….tomorrow’s weather is just looking too much like we will get rained on, perhaps thunderstorms so we are cancelling the Friday Floater from Squirrel Creek.

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.