Hey Everyone—Yeeeeehawwwww! Let’s Roll!
Pump up the tires, lube the chain, make sure your lights are charged—the NHCC is riding on Saturday and also on Sunday! We’ve waited patiently, and the time has finally come. These two rides will be out and back routes, allowing for riders of all levels to ride as long or far as you wish, separated into groups of 10 or less (to be determined at the ride start) in accordance with Ontario’s Stage 1 gathering limits. They’ll be nice casual, recreational rides to get ourselves rolling again!
In order to participate in Club rides:
- You must be a club member (sorry, no guests at this time). If you aren’t a member yet, Join Here.
- Please bring your mask and wear it while we assemble at the Ride Start. (You do not need to wear it while riding)
- RSVP (important): Please RSVP by leaving a comment on the website, or emailing secretary@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com to indicate which day you will ride (ride both if you want!). It will help us enormously to do a little advance planning.
For those who aren’t quite ready to ride yet—We understand, and respect your choice. We look forward to riding with you when the time is right!
Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Route: Waterfront Trail Eastbound
Start time: 10:00am
Ride Planner: Randy Albon
Start location: Donegan Park, Cobourg
Date: Sunday, June 13, 2021
Route: Waterfront Trail Westbound
Start time: 10:00am
Ride Planner: Anita Macklin
Start location: Carpool Parking Lot, Port Hope
NHCC Rides for the Week of April 4
How to RSVP for a ride:
- Desktop: Click on the Ride Calendar, double-click on your chosen ride, then in the new window that opens, locate and Click RSVP to enter your name and email
- Mobile Device: (See below)
Don't have Ride With GPS installed yet? You can email your RSVP to: info@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com
The 2021 Ride Program; Let’s talk!
The NHCC has laid the foundation for a new flexible ride structure that’s responsive to the needs of our diverse membership—a big departure from the former Levels 1-4 format. Now it’s your turn! We are inviting members to help us put together 3-week ride blocks that suit your interests and needs, and hopefully you can throw your great ideas our way. We will either meet outside in person (safely distanced of course), or make use of a Zoom conference, depending on number of respondents. We’ll talk & discuss the new format, then make plans to populate the ride calendar. How about it? Are you interested? Both new and returning members are encouraged to participate especially if you would like to:
- Learn about how the new format will work
- Suggest ideas for ride themes
- Take ownership of a 3-week ride block
- Influence the development of our Ride Standards
Let us know you are interested by submitting your name below, and indicate your preference for in-person or Zoom. We’ll get back to you with date and time. (If the form doesn’t appear below, please visit the NHCC website here.
Spring is Springing and the NHCC will Ride!
We are just a little over two weeks away from the official start of Spring! It’s been a heck of a year in so many ways, but we look forward to an exciting new cycling season ahead, making up for lost time last year! We at the NHCC recognize how super anxious people are to get back out on their bikes and ride with friends.
The NHCC has been busy planning in the background. We will introduce a whole new ride structure for 2021 that will optimize flexibility & diversity while maintaining inclusiveness that’s always been important to our Clubs culture.
New Ride Format for 2021:
Rides will be offered in series of 3-week Blocks, each with an associated theme and varying Levels of Difficulty. While still in development, we are excited about the possibilities of how they might look. Here are some ideas we are bouncing around and we’ll be seeking more from members:
- Friday Floater Rides
- Regular Morning 50-60k ride
- Early Morning Coffee Rides
- Nice & Easy mid-distance rides
- Riding Safely for Beginners
- Bike Handling Skills Rides (Beginners)
- Evening Fast and Furious
- Hills for Strength
- Day Touring Rides
- Long Distance 100k Series
- Northumberland Forest Gravel Rides
- Prince Edward County 50k series
- Escalating Distance (30, 40, 50k)
The list will vary as it develops—it’s an opportunity for the Club to try something new & creative. Its success will depend on feedback from members and the willingness of ride leaders. Ride leaders could take on just a single riding block, or several consecutive ones and build upon them. More importantly, ride leaders won’t be committed to an entire season, just three weeks at a time! Win, win! Leave us a comment, let us know what you think.
The NHCC is taking Memberships now!
Be ready for when the season starts. Get your 2021 membership in now. The regular season begins on May 1st, but traditionally we offer rides as weather permits in March and April. Note: Due to COVID, all previously purchased 2020 memberships have been extended until the end of 2021.
NOTE about COVID19: All NHCC rides will be subject to public health measures pertaining to outdoor activities and may include limiting group size, screening, etc.
Learning to use the Ride With GPS Club Account
Ride with GPS is the system we use to create routes and maps for Club rides and the NHCC maintains a Club Account for the benefit of all members. Those with their own individual Ride with GPS account (they are free!) can login to the NHCC Club Account at Ride With GPS to access great features including turn-by-turn audio navigation on club routes, the use of our Route Library for independent navigation, the ability to plan routes, print out maps from the Club Library, and more. Below are a few webinars to help Club members learn to make the most of the Club Account benefit. Hey, it’s a lockdown so what else have you got to do?
Any Zwifters looking to ride?
These lockdown COVID days can be long. But if you are a cycling techy and fortunate enough to have a trainer set up with Zwift, we could ride together virtually!
What is Zwift?
Zwift is a subscription based ($20 per month), interactive online cycling experience that works together with a smart trainer in your home and a computer/smart phone, or Apple TV. You (your avatar) rides around a virtual course with other local cyclists as well as from around the world. Like a video game for cyclists!
Sooo….any NHCC Zwifters looking for a virtual group ride? We could get it up and running lickety split if there’s enough interest. Please reply with a comment below or just email president@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com and we’ll go from there.
Ride With GPS Webinar tonight: “Plan and Customize a Route”
During the pandemic, many NHCCers made use of the Club’s Ride With GPS Map Library to find places to ride either solar or in small groups. Haven’t you wondered how to plan and customize your own route? Tonight the Ride With GPS organization is presenting a webinar “Plan and Customize a Route”. Winter is a great time to look at routes and dream about the new riding season. You can plan routes around our region, or get creative and think about planning routes in far away lands! It’s free and all you need to do is click on the link below to get registered.
- Session 3: Plan and Customize a Route
Thursday December 17, 7-8pm
Ride With GPS Webinar tonight: “Club Member Benefits and How to Use Them”
As most know, the NHCC uses Ride With GPS for it’s routes and maps. It’s the service that provides our audio turn-by-turn navigation on club rides. There are other benefits for Club members that you may be unfamiliar with, and could benefit from too! Tonight the Ride With GPS organization is presenting the webinar “Club Member Benefits and How to Use Them”. Last weeks’ webinar was more geared toward administrators, we think this one will be of more relevance to Club Members. Hey, if we can’t ride, at least we can think about riding! It’s free and all you need to do is click on the link below to get registered.
- Session 2: Club Member Benefits and How to Use Them
Thursday December 10, 7-8pm - Session 3: Plan and Customize a Route
Thursday December 17, 7-8pm
A word from your new & recycled NHCC President
Wow, what a non-year it’s been! We had such big plans for the NHCC’s 10th Anniversary, but it was not to be. The season needed to wait….but trust us, we will be back as strong as ever as soon as conditions allow! The board has continuously monitored COVID-19, reviewing and discussing options since this all began.
When it comes to safety, we are a conservative bunch and decided not to ride this past cycling season. We had hoped to launch off-season Hikes and Cross-Country Skiing but with increasing COVID numbers we have chosen yet again to put that on hold until the numbers stabilize. Disappointing, but necessary. I hope that you were able to make the most of our unprecedented situation and stayed active this past summer.
We recently conducted our virtual AGM and elected some new board members to replace ones whose terms were expiring. I would like to introduce you to your new NHCC Board of Directors:
Randy Albon (President)
Freda Dong (Treasurer)
Anita Macklin (Secretary)
Debra Parks (Past President)
Bill Glover (Director)
Helmut Bock (Director)
Jim Breckenridge (Director)
We’d like to recognize outgoing board members Geoffrey Honey and Maria Siemiaszko, both who have contributed so generously to the success of our Club. We are so very grateful and fully intend to keep them close by! I have the distinct pleasure of being chosen as President for the second time since the club was founded! For those who may be wondering, there was a smooth transfer of power with no rioting nor recounts necessary.
The new Board has been meeting virtually and discussing exciting new directions for the Club including several committees that have been established (Rides, Mapping, Social, etc.). We are truly hopeful, crossing our fingers & toes that the 2021 cycling season will start on time in spring. In the meantime, why not join one of our committees and help with some planning this winter!—just email secretary@northumberlandhillscyclingclub.com to let us know you’re interested! This club is only as strong as its volunteers.
“Ride With GPS” Club Account Webinar Series: Looking for something to do? Ride With GPS is the mapping tool that the Club uses. They are offering a three-part Webinar series to learn how to make the most of Ride With GPS for 2021. It’s free, and you can choose any or all of the sessions.
- Session 1: Club Admin Features and Options
Thursday December 3, 7-8pm - Session 2: Club Member Benefits and How to Use Them
Thursday December 10, 7-8pm - Session 3: Plan and Customize a Route
Thursday December 17, 7-8pm
Read more and Register for a session by clicking here!
The NHCC was founded as a community based bicycle club, accommodating and encouraging fantastic people of all ages and abilities in their cycling pursuits. I give you my word that this will continue as the club moves through then beyond this “unprecedented” year! We’ve been going strong for more than 10 years, and value each an every member!
Sincerely,
Randy Albon, President, NHCC