It doesn’t get any better for mid-November than Sunny and 15°. But that’s what we’ve got in store. So if you’ve stowed your bike away, go and get it out! If you missed the ride on Thursday (which applies to most people) then you’ll have the opportunity again. It’s the “Grafton East” route with different distances to choose from: 31, 36,  or 51k. You can increase the distance to over 72k by starting in Cobourg at Donegan Park at 9:30 and meeting up with the others in Grafton at 10:00.

Start time: 10:00 in Grafton or (9:30 in Cobourg)
Start location: Grafton Arena
Route map: “Grafton East” route map here
Ride Leader for the Scenic Group: Can someone volunteer?

Please indicate if you plan to start in Cobourg at 9:30 or Grafton at 10:00. Also, please let us know if you are willing/able to lead the Scenic Group. If you have confidence in reading your map directions and would like to ride at a comfortable social pace enjoying the sunshine, you’ll make a great ride leader. (just make sure nobody gets dropped, please)

The proposed agenda for the upcoming AGM is as follows:

Chair: Randy Albon, President

6:00-6:30 Drinks and mingle
6:30-7:30 Dinner
7:30 President’s address (Randy)
7:35 Slideshow (Anita)
7:45 Awards (Vivian, Anita, and Paul)
8:00 Treasurer’s report (Paul)
8:05 Amendments to ByLaws (Randy)
8:15 Election of Board of Directors (Randy)
8:20 Survey results (Anita)
8:30 Speaker: Rick Nonnekes, Cycle Transitions
8:35 Speaker: George Hussey, Port Hope Bicycle
8:35-9:00 **Informal discussion on club direction for 2013** (All Directors)
9:00 Adjourn meeting (Randy)

Board of Directors for 2013
At the NHCC’s Annual General Meeting we will be electing the Board of Directors for 2013. New for next term—There shall be 5 directors, rather than 4.

As a club, we nominate five people who will serve as directors. Once they are elected, they hold a meeting among themselves at a subsequent Board of Directors meeting to determine who will serve as the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the newly created position, Director-at-Large.

Currently, your 2012 Board of Directors are:
President: Randy Albon
Vice-President: Anita Macklin
Treasurer: Paul Mills
Secretary: Vivian Vandenhazel

To nominate someone for a Director’s position:
-confirm with your nominee that they accept the nomination
–email your nomination to the Secretary  before 6:00pm, Sunday Nov. 10th, 2012.

Nominations for the 5 Directors positions shall be closed at 6:00pm Sunday November 11th*. Voting will take place at the AGM. If you cannot attend the AGM and wish to vote, you may email your vote once the nominees are posted.

*The November 11th deadline for nominations is for Email nominations only. There will also be an opportunity to take Nominations from the floor at the AGM on the 15th.

If you still wish to attend the dinner and have not reserved a spot, please email Anita ASAP.

With the end of evening rides for 2012, we are down to two rides per week. This Thursday we will do the Freewheelers’ “Grafton East” route with different distances to choose from: 31, 36,  and 51k options. You can increase the distance to over 72k by starting in Cobourg at Donegan Park at 9:30 and meeting up with the others in Grafton at 10:00.

We Listen to You—Saturday Rides!
We don’t just ask you to fill in the survey for nothing. We’ve heard the suggestions that people would appreciate the occasional Saturday rides and we can certainly accommodate. As the weather becomes more unpredictable with the changing seasons, we will assess the weekend weather conditions mid-week and choose the day that’s most promising for a ride. If it happens to be Saturday, then Saturday it is! (That being said however, this Sunday looks most desirable.)

Start time: 10:00 (Grafton) or 9:30 in Cobourg
Start location: Grafton Arena
Route map: “Grafton East” route map here
Ride Leader for the Scenic Group: Can someone volunteer?

Please indicate if you will start in Cobourg at 9:30 or Grafton at 10:00 so others can expect you. Also, please let us know if you are willing/able to lead the Scenic Group. All that’s required to be the ride leader is a little confidence in reading your map directions and the desire to ride at a comfortable social pace with the more leisurely crowd. (making sure of course that nobody gets dropped)

Last Sunday was rained out so we will do that one tomorrow for anyone who wants to bundle up and go for it.

If you think you might ride, be sure to comment below. It’s the only way others have of knowing there will be someone to ride with.

Start time: 10:00am

Start location: Parking lot behind the Dutch Oven

Route Map: “Tour de Baltimore 2” route map here

Tomorrow is the cutoff day for RSVPing if you are coming to the AGM dinner. We have to provide the caterer with our final numbers. If you haven’t dropped off your payment for the dinner yet, please do so before the end of the day tomorrow (Thursday). If you are unable to do so, please email Anita right away to make other arrangements nhcycling2010@gmail.com.

So if you are a little prone to procrastination, this is the time to change those errant ways. After tomorrow is too late—we will not be able to increase our numbers after that.  🙂

Due to the big rain and wind coming our way, we won’t be posting an evening ride for Monday. It sounds like Wednesday, which would be the last evening ride for this year, might also be in jeopardy but we’ll keep you posted.

The weathers states “a little rain” (really?) but just in case it somehow miraculously goes away and it looks dry enough we’ll post the ride anyways. You know, just in case!

If you think you might actually ride, be sure to comment below. It’s the only way others have of knowing there will be someone to ride with.

Start time: 10:00am

Start location: Parking lot behind the Dutch Oven

Route Map: “Tour de Baltimore 2” route map here

This route has three distance options for you to choose from. Or, decide once you’re out there! There will be two speed groups: the Non-stoppers and the Scenic Group. If you head out with the non-stoppers but find it too fast, you are welcome to drop back and join in with the Scenic Group. Please indicate which group you hope to ride with.

Ride Leaders
We’ll be looking for someone to volunteer to lead the Scenic Group. Any takers? We tend to not have designated “Ride Leaders” for the Non-stop group because riders in that group are expected to be more self-sufficient, although we encourage all riders to be equipped with the essentials (route map, spare tube, etc.)

Route Maps
We’ll also take this opportunity to remind everyone that having a printout of the map with you while on a ride is important. It allows you to bail out of a route if necessary, and also provides a way out if you inadvertently find yourself lost. A really low-tech way of keeping it available to refer to is to attach it to your cable at the front of your bike with a clothes pin. Simple, huh?

Start time: 10:00am
Start location: Parking lot behind the Dutch Oven
Route Map: “Tour de Baltimore 2” route map here
Ride Leader for the Scenic Group: To be determined. Volunteers?

Please let us know if you are able/willing to be the Scenic Group ride leader and also if you are planning to ride.

There are just 22 more days until the Annual General Meeting. We must confirm with the caterer prior to the event, so we are making the cutoff date for reserving/ purchasing your spot Thursday November 1st.  There are spaces available for you to bring your spouse, partner, friend, friend of a friend.  🙂   Contact Anita by email if you want us to hold a spot for you and your guest. $27 per person includes buffet, tax, & gratuity (drinks not included). We can only provide dinner to those whose payments have been received by November 1st. 

Don’t forget that the first 50 people who purchase tickets will be entered into a draw for a free club jersey!

In the meantime—We like to plan and organize our club in such a way that everyone feels comfortable, happy and welcome. But we can only do so if we know what your thoughts are. If you haven’t taken the survey yet, please take a moment to do so. We’ll present the results of the survey at the AGM. Click here to take the survey.

The weather’s not looking all that promising at the moment, but keep our fingers crossed.

After this ride, there are only two remaining evening rides.

Start time: 5:30pm
Start location: Donegan Park
Route map: Pebble Beach from Donegan Park route map here

Please comment below if you are coming and please ensure you have working lights on your bikes.