Let the planning begin! To make a full 100km, we depart Donegan Park at 9:00am, travel to Presqu’ile Park then continue all the way to the Lighthouse before returning. It’s a lovely, flattish route, ideal route for your first 100k. A lakeside lunch spot in Gosport is an ideal opportunity to break the ride into two parts. There will be two different speed groups (Non-Stoppers and First Timers), so pick the one that’s most suitable for you.

First-Timers: “Am I capable of the distance?”
“Flattish” means it’s easier, but some endurance is required. If you’re able to complete a 60km on some our regular hillier rides (with few stops) comfortably, then you can likely handle it. If you find that you typically struggle to keep up with the regular paced group on 40k rides, then we wouldn’t recommend it. If you just aren’t sure, talk to some experienced club members who would be happy to help you determine whether or not this ride is for you. Below are a few tips to ensure a successful and fun ride:

• Plan to take a break for lunch
• Have 2 bottles of water/gatorade on your bike
• Hydrate well the day before. Drink at least 8 glasses of water!
• Plan to drink about 1 bottle every 1-2 hours (re-fill Colborne and Brighton)
• Carry some food in your pockets (granola bar, trail mix, or banana etc.)
• Pace yourself and don’t go too fast. You have all day.
• Spare tire, pump/CO2, patch kit, and tire levers are essential
• Rest for two days prior. Don’t ride.
• Have a cell-phone on hand

Nobody will be left behind. It’s not a race. Plan to take your time and enjoy. An experienced club member will accompany the first timers and will be available for support, encouragement and assistance.

Restaurant Reservations: Reservations will be made at the Harbourview Cafe in Gosport for 11:30–12:00 (Non-stoppers) and 12:30-1:00 (First Timers). Of course that estimated time of arrival can only be approximate.

Start Time: 9:00am
Start Location: Donegan Park
Route Map: Coming Soon

Please indicate below which group you plan to ride with and more importantly, if you are planning to have lunch at the Harbourview Cafe. We’ll need to know so that adequate reservations can be made.

This is an announcement just to let you know that we are planning the 100km ride to the lighthouse at Presqu’ile Park for next Sunday (August 12th). This is a great opportunity to achieve that goal of a 100k ride. It is a flat course and probably the easiest 100k you will get around these parts.

If next Sunday doesn’t work for you, we will do it again on September 2nd.

More details will follow next week.

This weekend is a long weekend and many will be out of town. But for those who remain, we’ll do the Rice Lake Ramble which is a classic Freewheelers route. Three distances to choose from, so there’s something for everyone. The start location will be at the Arena on Furnace St. rather than the Marina as indicated on the map.

Note that this is also the route that we’ll be doing on the weekend of September 15th with the folks from the Welcome Cyclists tour package. So it gives us a chance to preview the road conditions.  🙂

Start time: 9:00am
Start location: The Arena on Furnace St.
Route Maps Below:
Long route (87 km)
Medium route (74 km)
Short route (61km)

Please comment below to let others know which distance you plan to do. It’s the best way to ensure that you will have others to ride with!

We’ll start in Port Hope at 9am for the regular 48km route. The route is a relatively flat (code for easy) route and is suitable for most riders. There are also a few other choices to lengthen the distance and add a little challenge if that’s your preference.

New Riders: Don’t worry about distance and speed—this route is easy to shorten further if necessary. Take your time, do a pace that fits you and enjoy the scenery. You won’t get left behind, we promise. We have three different pace groups and the “Scenic” group is meant specifically for new riders and those who want to take it easy.

64 km: Start at Canadian Tire at 8:30am
71 km (with Bickle Hill): Start at Canadian Tire for 8:30am and on the return from Port Hope: left at Theatre Rd. continue straight to do Bickle Hill, right on Williamson, cross Cty Rd. 2 to continue onto Danforth, right at Ontario and right at Elgin St.

Regular Start time: 9am
Start location: Port Hope Town Hall
Route Map: “Go Fourth” (A Ganaraska Freewheelers route) map here
Ride Leader (Scenic Group): To be determined

Please indicate which route you are planning to do so others can plan to ride with you too!  🙂 Also, please let us know if you are willing and able to lead the Scenic Group.

The days are getting shorter (a little) but we still have time to get in an hour and fifteen minute ride. We just want to remind everyone that this will be an EASY ride, with speeds appropriate for the newest riders. Experienced people…..come on out and see how good it feels to cruise along at a nice easy pace. It does your body good!

Start time: 7:00pm
Location: Cobourg Memorial Rink and Recreation Centre on Furnace St.
Route Map: “Easy Route 2” 24 or 32 km route map here
Ride Leader: Volunteer Needed 

Please comment below to say you’re coming to the ride. Does anyone want to lead this ride?

On two separate weekends, one in September and the other in October, the NHCC will be leading rides through Northumberland County as part of two Welcome Cyclists Tour Packages being offered in our beautiful region of Northumberland County.

Tour guests will arrive at Cobourg VIA Rail Station 1pm Saturday then members of the NHCC will lead them through scenic Northumberland trails and quiet roadways, having fun enroute to their destination and overnight Rice Lake accommodations. (Guests return to Cobourg independently the next day).

It will be a fun day of riding, meeting new people, and showcasing a few of the fabulous cycling routes that our region offers. More information about the tour packages can be found by clicking the following links:

Northumberland Rice Lake Ramble Welcome Cyclists Weekend (September 15th)

Northumberland Waterfront Trail Welcome Cyclists Weekend (October 13th)

Please mark your calendars and plan to ride on each of these Saturdays. We will ride, rain or shine!

Hello all! Apologizing for the fact that this is very much last-minute, but that’s what happens when the webmaster has no internet access for an entire week.

There’s been a request for members of the NHCC to ride alongside the Friends for Life Bike Rally ride that’s coming through Port Hope and Cobourg tomorrow morning (Monday, July 30th).

More than 400 people have embarked on a six-day, 600 km journey from Toronto to Montreal. Riders of all ages and levels of experience and crew supporting a variety of activities along the route will unite in their passion to support people living with HIV/AIDS.

If you are able to throw on your NHCC jersey and support this great cause, please arrive at Port Hope Bicycle for 8:00 am where we will ride to the starting point on Lakeshore Rd. We hope to have riders accompany the folks through Port Hope and Cobourg, as far as Archers Rd. or beyond.

Location: Port Hope Bicycle
Time: 8:00am

Please mention below if you are able to go. Don’t forget to wear your NHCC jersey!

Being the last day of July, this is also the last day for starting at the Town Hall. For the month of August there will be a new starting location. In the meantime, plan on some EASY riding. (Emphasis on the Easy)  These evening rides are especially for those of you who at this very moment are thinking, “What if I can’t keep up?” You can! Nobody gets left behind—there’s no such thing as “too slow” on these rides. If you haven’t pulled that bike out of the garage in ages, don’t worry…….come on out, you’ll have fun!

If you wish to ride over there from Cobourg, meet at Canadian Tire at 6:20.

Start time: 7:00 pm (6:20 from Canadian Tire Cobourg)
Start location: Port Hope Town Hall
Ride leader: Volunteer Needed

Please comment below if you are riding, especially so if you think you could volunteer to be the ride leader. All you have to do to be a ride leader is have a route in mind, and then lead the way!