If you haven’t already done so, please take a moment to complete these few short questions.

Not a drop of rain in the forecast, and a really nice sunny 25°. Perfect for a Sunday morning ride. The longer route is just 56km in length (41k for the short), but you can collaborate with others to extend the ride if you are wanting to get a big distance in before next weekend, cuz next Sunday is the Big Century Ride (160km or 100km). Use the commenting feature to let others know if you want to go further.

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: parking lot at The Mill Restaurant
Route Map (Level 3): 41km Printable route map
Route Map (Level 4): 56km Printable route map

If the rain holds off and we are still able to get a ride in for the evening, we’re going to focus on Group Riding Techniques. It’s more than just riding down the road all together. We’re not going for distance or speed: it’s about skill once again. We’ll practice pace lines, group riding etiquette, etc. starting with a little instructional and then heading out on the road. This is particularly suited for those who like to ride those long distance rides, so it’s a good thing to try and be there.

You can be a super awesome keener by reading some of the material here about How to Ride in a Paceline and not Fall Down prior to coming out for the ride. It’ll just make that much more sense!

Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: The Park on Carlisle between Westwood and Ewing
Route map: not necessary
Lights required at: 7:34pm (Sunset at 8:04)
Skill Level: Levels 3 and 4
Ride Leader: Anita Macklin

Let us know you are coming….it’s nice to know how many to anticipate.

The weather is forecasting a 70% chance of rain “late in the morning” so we’ll still plan on riding. With any luck we’ll be back before the rain starts! This ride goes all the way up into the village of Bewdley and then back again.

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: parking lot at The Mill Restaurant
Route Map (Level 3): 41km Printable route map
Route Map (Level 4): 56km Printable route map

Let others know you are riding by commenting to say you’ll be there.

This ride starts at Donegan Park in Cobourg and we will ride to Baltimore where we turn around and come back. There are a few medium sized hills on this ride but we are going to take it sloooooow and learn some strategies to get up those hills. The scenery outside of town is worth the climb.

Criteria for a level 2 ride:
◾Ideal option for beginners and seasoned riders who want to take it easy for a change
◾Best if you are interested in seeing a little scenery and yakking with others
◾Any type of bike will do, though a hybrid or road bike will make it easier on you!
◾Test your endurance just a little
◾Distances starting at 15km progressing to 35km as the season progresses
◾Experienced ride leaders will accompany the group
◾Nobody will get dropped, the group stays together
◾A comfortable pace of about 15-20km per hour
◾Brief stops for hydration or to re-group

Hey, all you level 3 and 4′s! Never underestimate the value of some easier riding. The ones who have come out to support others always report how much fun they have! You get to ride and talk.

Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Donegan Park parking lot
Route map: Printable route map with elevations
Difficulty: Level 2+
Ride Leader: Paul Mills

This ride is about skill, not speed and suitable for Levels 1-4. Most of us are accustomed to riding on the road and participating in group rides, and it’s awesome that fitness and endurance levels are improving. However, there are traffic cycling principles that would improve our Cycling Safety on the Road. Members of all levels will benefit from this evening’s ride where we are going to cover in detail:

• Where on the road do you ride (and where not!)
• Positioning in Lanes (narrow lanes, wide lanes, lanes with parked cars)
• Intersections (position when turning left, right, or going straight)
• Left turns on multi-lane roads

All riders will benefit from participating, learning, reviewing and even sharing some lessons learned whether you’ve been riding for years or just getting started this summer.

Start time: 6:30pm (daylight hours are getting shorter all the time)
Start location: The Arena on Furnace St.
Ride leader: Anita Macklin

Did you know?
One study has shown that nearly all bicyclist fatalities (92%) occurred as a result of crashes with motor vehicles and most crashes (89%) occurred at or near intersections? (Nicaj, L., Stayton, C., Mandel-Ricci, J., McCarthy, P., Grasso, K., Woloch, D., et al. (2009). Bicyclist fatalities in new york city: 1996-2005. Traffic Injury Prevention, 10(2), 157-161.)

Three distances to choose from, all leaving from Gilmer’s Home Hardware parking lot in Port Hope. By leaving a little earlier and riding over to Port Hope from Canadian Tire, you can add an extra 24k to whatever route you choose.

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Gilmer’s Home Hardware parking lot in Port Hope
Level of difficulty: Level 3 and Level 4
Route Maps: 
28km (Level 3) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
42km (Level 3 or 4) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
58km (Level 3 or 4) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS

Ride leaders: Being determined

If you are leaving from Canadian Tire, please comment to let others know. Anyone want to volunteer to be ride leader?

Some will swim, some will walk. For cyclists however, there’s a 100k bike ride around Rice Lake to raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research on Saturday August 24th.

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne MD is a fatal disease that only affects boys, symptoms usually appearing before age 6. Those affected are typically wheelchair-bound by age 10-12. Life expectancy is approximately 25 years and there is no cure. A club member, Sharon Lynn-Weese’s 15-year old nephew Tyler Lynn has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Sharon will be participating in the 100k Ride and her nephew in the 6k Walk portion in his wheelchair.

For more information, to Register or to Pledge a Participant, visit Brian Connor’s Rice Lake Swim While no entry fee is required, a minimum of $25 funds raised per participant would be greatly appreciated.

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2013
Start time: 7:00am
Start location: Tam-Bir Cottages on Rice Lake, 6080 Rice Lake Scenic Dr., Harwood

View Larger Map

All you participants receive a t-shirt, drinks and refreshments

Just two route options for the evening ride, departing Gilmer’s at 6:30pm. Be sure to comment below to indicate which route you plan to take so others can plan, knowing there will be others to ride along with at a similar pace.

Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Gilmer’s Home Hardware parking lot in Port Hope
Level of difficulty: Level 3 and Level 4
Lights Required: 7:47pm (Sunset at 8:17pm)
Route Maps: 
28km Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
42km Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
Ride leaders: Being determined

We’re looking for volunteers to lead the ride for each distance. Please comment below if you can take on the responsibility of consulting the map and guiding others. It’s pretty easy stuff!

A Port Hope start for tomorrow, and three distances to choose from, each of them the same for the first 7km and the last 10km. The difference is found in the middle portion of the route.

If you really want to add more distance, depart from Canadian Tire at 8:20am and you’ll add an extra 22km total to your route making the long route 80k. Be sure to print out a map and have one with you. If you need some sort of a fancy high-tech way to attach that map to the front of your bike a clothes pin will work great on one of those cables coming out of your handlebars. 🙂

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Gilmer’s Home Hardware parking lot in Port Hope
Level of difficulty: Level 3 and Level 4
Route Maps: 
28km (Level 3) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
42km (Level 3 or 4) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS
58km (Level 3 or 4) Printable Route map or link to Ride with GPS

Ride leaders: Being determined

If you are leaving from Canadian Tire, please comment to let others know. Anyone want to volunteer to be ride leader?