The days are short(er). In fact, sunset is offically 7:44 tonight, meaning lights are required as of 7:14pm. That means an earlier start time. Meet at 6:00 at the Town Hall if you’re riding with the Port Hope group tonight. ‘Least the weather’s warm!

Time: 6:00pm
Start location: Port Hope Town Hall
Ride Leader: Pamela Tate

It’s not a huge crowd that rides in Port Hope, but Pam sure does appreciate knowing how many to expect. Leave a comment, let her know you are riding.

This ride will start out at the industrial park on Willmott Street. We will head east on highway 2 all the way to Grafton. Once in Grafton we will ride towards the lake and follow the waterfront trail back to Cobourg

Start time: 6:00pm
Start location: Industrial park on Willmott Street
Route Map:  View the link on Ride with GPS
Ride Leader: Mike Mclellan

Joseph Boutilier has been undertaking a 5,000-kilometer, 5-month unicycle ride, Unity for the Climate, across Canada to promote unity for the climate and will be departing Cobourg tomorrow morning. The trip culminatse in Ottawa after rallies, events and meetings in dozens of other communities along his route. Joseph is calling on the Canadian government to take rapid, strategic and collaborative action to tackle the climate change crisis.

We are inviting the membership of the NHCC to ride along with him as he leaves Cobourg in the morning, showing our support. He will be riding eastbound on the Waterfront Trail, and we’ll ride from downtown Cobourg with him. Ride along for whatever distance you wish! Hey, if any NHCCers ride a unicycle, free free to ride it.

Date: Tuesday September 2, 2015
Start time: 10:30am
Start location: The parking lot behind the Dutch Oven

Hope to see you all there!

After the big ride today, give your legs a little break and come out for a little fun and enjoy the 2014 Tune Your Ride Tour. It brings four Toronto-based folk musicians from Brockville to Toronto by bicycle, performing in Port Hope on Sunday. These cycling musicians cover almost 400 kilometres without a support vehicle and carry their instruments and a full PA with them. Their Port Hope performance is one of eight bike-powered concerts in towns along the route.

Building on the success of four consecutive years of presenting the Bicycle Music Festival in Toronto, the Tune Your Ride Collective is thrilled to follow in the tire tracks of bicycle-touring legends The Ginger Ninjas and Jeremy Fisher and their mentors SHAKE YOUR PEACE! by taking their show on the road with this second annual bike-powered adventure!

Time & Place: 6:00 – 8:00pm, Port Hope Bandshell

There’s been a request to ride to Newcastle and back, stopping for lunch in Newcastle if members wish. All total, the ride would be 80km. Less if you choose to shorten it by turning around at any time to come back. We’ll be following the Waterfront Trail, so no route map is necessary.

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: The park on Carlisle (between Westwood and Ewing)

Some want to stop for lunch….if that describes you, please ensure you leave a comment to that effect. You know, we don’t want to overwhelm the restaurant!

Ride ON! Radar seems to show we will escape the rain. See you all there!

We’ve all been waiting for this one…the Big Distance ride, supported by the NHCC. Choose your distance, make sure your bike is in good working order, and be ready to ride far! Although there will be no ride leaders, all levels are welcome to come out and give it a try. The route is easy and it’s flat. You are likely able to ride farther than you think without those hills.

Support: The NHCC provides a vehicle along the route and will be stationed at designated rest stops where you can grab some trail mix, fruit, water and/or gatorade. You are also welcome to place a few of your own items in the support vehicle prior to the start of the ride. The support vehicle is equipped to carry two bicycles if you find you need to be “rescued”. Keep in mind though, that the support vehicle will not return to the start until 160k riders have passed through the last rest stop.

The routes: All 3 distances depart from the Arena on Furnace St. The 100k and 160k riders go all the way to the lighthouse in Presqu’ile Park. The 100k riders then turn around and head back to Cobourg while the 160k riders proceed out of the Park too, but then do an additional 60k loop around the Lake Consecon area before heading back to Cobourg.

Preparation: It’s essential to have a tire changing kit with a spare tube, a little $$ in case you need something along the way, I.D., route map, and a PLAN. A plan includes having a phone number of someone to call in case you need it. If you think you want to stop for lunch somewhere along the way, start by leaving a comment to see if there are others planning the same.

It’s not about speed! It’s a long way to go, so plan to set aside your day for it, and ride at a comfortable pace. Buddy up with others who will be riding around your pace and distance.

Designated Rest Stops:
25k (for 50/100/160k): Lakeport Rd. (Turnaround point for the 50k riders)
57K (for 100/160k): Entrance to Presqu’ile Park
121k (for 160k): Entrance to Presqu’ile Park
142k (for 160k): Wicklow Beach

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: The Arena on Furnace St.
Route maps:
50k Printable route map here or view it at Ride with GPS
100k Printable route map here or view it at Ride with GPS
160k Printable route map here or link to Ride with GPS

This route is 22k long. We will meander through town so we are thoroughly warmed up before we attempt Bickle. The important thing to remember when attempting this climb is that the slower the pace the easier it will be to make it to the top!

Start Time: 6:00pm
Start Location: Arena on Furnace Street
Ride Difficulty: Level 2 ++
Route Map:  View the link on Ride with GPS
Ride Leader: Mike McLellan

We’ll do a longish but relatively hill-free ride along the Lakeshore like we’ve been doing, except we’ll go even further, maybe adding a bit of distance here and there, exploring some side-roads if people want. Our precious daylight hours are becoming shorter, so please be equipped with lights on your bike.

Start time: 6:30pm
Start location: Port Hope Town Hall
Lights required as of: 7:26pm
Ride Leader: Pamela Tate

Please leave a comment and let Pam know you plan to ride. It helps her out immensely, helping her to plan a suitable route.

People really enjoyed the ride where we started at Wicklow Beach so we’ll do it again on Monday. Gets us outta town a little, we’ll see some rural roads, and not experience too much traffic. What could possibly be better?

Start time: 6:00pm
Lights required as of: 7:30 (Sunset is 8:00pm)
Ride Leader: Maria Garrett
Start location: The parking lot at Wicklow Beach

If you missed Thursdays ride, you’ll get your chance this Sunday. Two distances to choose from, and cycling over to the start point from Cobourg gives you even more distance if that’s what you are looking for. If you take the 60k route and bike over from Cobourg, you’ll get in 74k in total. Or, just go a little easier and do the 51k. Whatever works for you!

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: Port Hope Town Hall
51k Route Map (Level 3): Printable route map, or view it on Ride with GPS
60k Route Map (Level 4): Printable route map, or view it on Ride with GPS