This ride starts at The Mill restaurant in Cobourg and we head out into the countryside. There’s a few hills in this ride but we are going to take it sloooooow and learn some strategies to get up those hills. Don’t let it scare you—that’s what those smaller chain rings are for! And remember, for every uphill there’s an equal and opposing downhill. The scenery outside of town is worth it.
We plan to have our second social of the year after this ride. We will adjourn to the Mill lower level pub where we will swap tales on how we successfully climbed those big bad hills.

Start Time: 6:30pm
Start Location: The Mill Parking lot
Ride Difficulty: Level 2
Sunset: 8:46 (Lights required on bikes at 8:16pm)
Route Map: Printable route map with elevations or, View the link on Ride with GPS
Ride leader: Mike McLellan

See you all then!

This ride has been cancelled due to unpredictable weather tonight.

Right now it’s looking like rain for tomorrow night, but if we all cross our fingers maybe it will stay away. As we were saying last week, speed and distance for this ride will vary depending on who wants to ride. If you’re departing from Cobourg meet in the parking lot of Canadian Tire at 6:05pm sharp, arriving at the Town Hall in Port Hope for 6:30. Use the comments section to let others know if you want to start from Canadian Tire (please).

Time: 6:30pm at Port Hope Town Hall (6:05 from Canadian Tire)
Difficulty level: (to be determined)
Start Location: Port Hope Town Hall north parking lot
Sunset: 8:45pm (lights required at 8:15pm)
Ride Leader: George Hussey and Pam Tate

Sunrise and Sunset

Lights on bikes and Sunset
The days are still getting longer, which is groovy, but eventually they’ll start to get slower, or you’ll be out a little later than you’d anticipated, so you need to know that cyclists are required to have lights on their bicycles beginning 30 minutes prior to sunset. The official sunset time can be found in the right hand column of the website, just below the weather links.

Cobourg’s Third Annual Bike Week starts this coming Saturday June 1st and to kick off awareness of Bike week there is a awareness event, the Stationary Bikeathon from 9am to 5pm. It takes place in front of Victoria Hall just like last year. Each of the three Bike Clubs in town are being asked to fill up the bikes with members in support of Bike Week and all things Cycling.

The NHCC needs volunteers 
It’s not a big strenuous effort, just 30 minutes of your time. Surely with all of our membership we can fill the 8 hours on the bike. We did it last year, and many of us enjoyed it so much that we hung around for big chunks of time. Just click on the link here and enter your name in a time slot for our club. Sign up now! Click here.

If the official time slots are full, don’t let that stop you from coming out to ride and show your support—There are a few extra bikes available (no signup) and the more NHCC riders the better!

Here are a few points to remember:

• Times: 9am – 5pm
• Helmets are required (we want to raise awareness here!)
• Wear your NHCC jersey or NHCC T-shirt if you have one
• Water will be available to riders
• Please arrive 5 minutes early for your time slot

(This event is an initiative of Sustainable Cobourg’s Bicycle Action Committee.)

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I’ll be at the ride with a bunch of cotton T-shirts ($15) on hand that you can pay for a take away, and jersey order forms ($68) for the order that will be placed on June 15th. I have just three single NHCC jerseys instock, so if you happen to be a women’s S, M, or L, you won’t have to wait the 6 weeks for delivery, you can do cash & carry!  See you all tonight.

We’ll meet in the parking lot behind the Dutch Oven for a 7:00 start so be ready to roll when the town hall clock strikes on the hour!  Since it’s supposed to be cool near the lake tomorrow we’ll forgo an ice cream stop this week and keep moving.  Don’t forget your lights if you have them, and we’ll discuss bike lighting before we set off.

Photo courtesy of Northumberland Tourism.

Mountain biking again this Saturday, but we’re starting at 10am (give it a chance to warm up from the cold the night before). This is open to club members of all ages. We hear it was a lot of fun last week, so we’re looking forward to it! Mountain bikes are rather essential…road bikes just won’t work on the trails.

Dates: Saturday, May 25
Times: 10:00-12:00am
NHCC members: FREE
Non-NHCC members: $5 per ride (plus the signing of a waiver)
Start location: The parking lot at Beagle Club Road. (about a mile and a half down the road off hwy#45)
Ride leader: Randy Albon

Come on out! And if it’s your first time mountain biking in a gazillion years don’t worry, you’re not alone!

It’s a great route, according to the Thursday riders said. Levels 3 and 4 ride together until we part ways on Kennedy Rd, meeting up again later on Cavan Rd.

Start time: 10am
Start location: parking lot at The Mill Restaurant
Route Map (Level 3): 41km Printable route map (revised)
Route Map (Level 4): 56km Printable route map (revised)

Route Note: The map that’s generated by our mapping program contained a mistake so do not use the map from Thursday. The new map provided here contains the corrected instructions.

Ride Leader for Level 3: Mike McLellan
Ride Leader for Level 4: Anita Macklin

If you’ve noticed those groovy club jerseys that everyone wears and are wondering how to get your hands on one, we’re taking orders. They have a full zipper down the front and three pockets in the back. The cost will be $68 (including taxes) pre-paid. They are manufactured by Louis Garneau and require approximately 6 weeks for delivery. The June 15th order should be in by the end of July.

Why do you want a jersey, you ask? Cuz they wick away the sweat, there are pockets to stash your snacks, sunscreen and kleenex, you’ll look like part of the team and it will make you ride faster 🙂

If you want a jersey, Anita will accept accept either cash or cheque (payable to the Northumberland Hills Cycling Club). Please put your payment inside of a sealed envelope with your name and size indicated. (It helps to keep it all organized). You can bring it to a club ride or drop it off at her house. Email here for address. 

Sizes available:
Mens:  3XS, XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL
Womens: XXS, XS, S, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 3XL

If you aren’t quite sure what size you might be, click here for the Louis Garneau sizing chart, and also ask around within the club and see what others are wearing.

The weather man says the temperature drops to 10°C in the afternoon, so you might want to wear some warm gloves. Everyone starts at the same time. Both Levels 3 and 4 ride together up until we are on Kennedy Rd. where Level 3s turn right at Jamieson Rd. and the others continue on to Bewdley before rejoining the route on Cavan Rd. With any luck, both levels will meet up at some point and finish together.

Start time: 10am
Start location: parking lot at The Mill Restaurant
Route Map (Level 3): 41km Printable route map or Link on Ride with GPS
Route Map (Level 4): 56km Printable route map or Link on Ride with GPS

Ride Leader for Level 3: To be determined
Ride Leader for Level 4: Anita Macklin

If you don’t make it out on Thursday, no worries. We do the same route on Sundays so that those who work during the week don’t miss out on anything. And if you ride on Thursday and then again on Sunday then great! You’ll see new faces, you’ll know the route, and you will be just that much better. 🙂