Ruth Louden

Riding from Smiley Road in Cobourg – Sunday,

August 27, 2018

If you’re hanging around this Labour Day weekend, you’ll want to join us for a joint NHCC ride and potluck hosted by Randy and Anita at 4 pm on Sunday (rain day Monday). Their invitation to this celebrate-an-awesome-summer-cycling-season event is below.

Might as well go Big! And with that, Randy and Anita are inviting ALL members (Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4) of both the NHCC and the Ganaraska Freewheelers for a Ride and Really Big Potluck on Sunday September 2. (Rain date will be the following day, Monday). If there is no fire ban in effect we’ll get the ole Bonfire burning. We’ll ride at 4:00pm and there will be distance options for everyone. We’ll ride an out-and-back route so that everyone finishes at the same time.

Here’s what you need to bring:

A shareable dish of some sort (don’t forget serving spoon etc.), and in true potluck style we aren’t organizing who-brings-what. Please make sure it’s ready-to-eat. We will have a number of power outlets if you need to plug in a slow cooker.

Bring your favourite beverage, plates and utensils

Bring a lawn chair

We’ll set up some tables outside and there are plenty of shady spots in the yard to sit and be social. If you can’t make it for the ride portion but want to partake in the Potluck you are welcome to do so. Feel free to bring your significant other. If you are hesitating because you didn’t ride much and feel a little shy, don’t be, we’d love to have you there for some or all of the planned activities!

Ride time: 4:00pm
Potluck time: 6:00pm

RSVP (IMPORTANT): Please send us (Randy and Anita) a quick email nhcycling2010@gmail.com and leave a comment to let us know you’ll be there so we can plan a little.

Riding from the Baxter Creek Golf Club – Tuesday, August 28

August 24, 2018

Paul B. is your host for Tuesday’s ride. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at the Baxter Creek Golf Club, 1702 Cedar Valley Road in Fraserville (outside Millbrook).

We will follow the Baxter Creek route with 52 and 41.5 km options. And did I mention there were some climbs? Lunch to follow at Baxter Creek.

Cycling from Kirkfield – Sunday, August 26

August 20, 2018

Sue will host a ride from her cottage on Balsam Lake. If you like, drive up late Saturday afternoon and stay over. Sue has to leave at 4 pm on Sunday.

The cottage address is in the GF calendar.

Here is her invitation.

Come up anytime after 3 on Saturday to stay overnight if you wish. We will have a pot luck that night.

The ride will start at 10 on Sunday and will be around 50 k with options. We can then have pot luck appetizers back at the cottage.

Bring sheets or sleeping bags if staying over. We have quite a few beds so please let me know if you are coming so I can assign rooms. Lots of room for camping too if anyone wants.

Bring bathing suits and towels, kayaks if you want.

Riding from Victoria Park, Port Hope – Tuesday, August 21

August 19, 2018

Liz and Brian H enjoying a breather after lunch in Chelsea b4 taking off for the downhill return trip into Ottawa.

We’ll follow the Go Fourth route from Victoria Park in Port Hope. There is no host – riders can decide a lunch venue.

Watch for an update first thing Tuesday morning, as the short range weather forecast is calling for thunder storms.

Riding from Cobourg – Saturday, August 18 – 10:30 a.m. start

August 14, 2018

Barb and John will host a ride starting at 10:30 a.m. from their home. We’ll follow the East Danforth map, 50 or 33K with lots of options for longer or shorter routes. There will be an apres-ride bbq. Meat and veggie burgers, sausages, buns and condiments will be provided. You can bring nibblies, salad or dessert if you like.

We will cook and eat in jig time because the main event will be a Veggie Car Derby! The following youtube videos will give you an idea of what you will be doing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL7nPe6ZbJU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_vN81-meLI

Get your thinking caps on and creative juices flowing. Members will form teams of two or three to build a race car in a set amount of time and then we will hold races on a double section racing ramp. A variety of vegetables, and wooden axle materials will be provided. Participants may bring optional decorative fruits or whimsy. There will be prizes.

Cycling from Warkworth – Tuesday, August 14

August 10, 2018

Barry and Lilianne are hosting Tuesday’s ride.

We are meeting at Percy Park, on Mill Street at Old Hastings Road, just West of the Coop Grain and Seed Store in Warkworth.

The route is the Pike Route, which can be printed from our website. Note: Our starting point is not as indicated on the Pike Route map, but we will follow this map.

Lunch is at Our Lucky Stars Cafe & Roastery on Main Street. This is an unlicenced venue, with a menu featuring local ingredients and suppliers. Worth a visit.

Hope to see you on the ride!

Hold the dates – Saturday, August 18, Sunday, August 26 and Sunday, September 2

August 9, 2018

Heads up that Friday rides for August will be moved to the weekend. We have an exciting lineup of alt events that include:

Saturday, August 18: Barb and John will host the first annual vegetable derby race and potluck. It’s going to be wheelie fun!

Sunday, August 26: Sue will host a ride and potluck from her cottage on Balsam Lake. Bring your bathing suits!

Sunday, September 2: Randy and Anita are hosting a joint NHCC/GF ride. Expect a really big potluck and bonfire (if no fire ban).

Does it get any better?

Plan to be there for some or all of these summer festivities. Details will be provided soon through individual posts – in the meantime, hold the dates!

Ottawa Tour Update

August 7, 2018

NOTE: THERE IS NO FRIDAY RIDE THIS WEEK DUE TO THE OTTAWA TOUR WEEKEND.

Only three more sleeps until we meet in Ottawa to start our weekend tour. Weather is promising sunshine. This post provides important details that hopefully answer all your questions about routes, ride leaders and contact details. If not, please comment!

If there are members who are still thinking about going, it may still be possible to find accommodation and join us. Visit our Ottawa 2018 Tour page to learn more.

The Routes

Linked below are maps and cue sheets for the four scheduled Ottawa rides. All rides start and finish at Ottawa U residence parking lot at 90 University Private with start time of 10:00 am.

Saturday Route details: A Canal & Two Rivers

Short distance and elevation: 53 kilometres and 381 metres of climbing
Long distance and elevation: 74 kilometres and 527 metres of climbing

Sunday Route details: Pathways to the Gatineau

Short distance and elevation: 47 kilometres and 391 metres of climbing
Long distance and elevation: 73 kilometres and 817 metres of climbing

Due to the wide area that each ride covers, we were unable to find the usual road map that would display the total route in good detail on one sheet of paper. We decided to go with more high level screen prints from Map Ride with GPS, complemented with detailed cue sheets. Ride leaders also have Map Art versions of the map with additional details.

Nobody is going to get lost on these rides: we will ride as a group; 3 of the 4 leaders have already test ridden the routes.

Riders will be arriving as early as Friday afternoon and may head out for leisurely rides. Some will stay overnight on Sunday and do a Monday ride as well. You’re on your own for these rides.

The Ride Leaders

Short route. Richard and Marshall are ride leaders for this group of 6 riders.

Long route. Sue and Pete will lead this group of 22 riders.

For both groups, the goal will be to stay together, with one leader sweeping the back to ensure no one is left behind.

Emergency Contacts

Below are cell numbers of our ride leaders and Ruth.

Ruth will be creating a mobile chat group to update our 28 riders on any important new details or updates. GFW members in the tour will be automatically added as we have your cell phone numbers. Please let her know by text if you DO NOT want to be part of this chat group. If you are not a GFW member, and wish to be included in the group updates, please text Ruth to provide your cell phone number.

Marshall: 416-268-9919
Peter: 289-356-2436
Richard: 905-885-9128
Ruth: 416-418-3264
Sue: 905-244-6953

Social Details

While we have great routes planned for you during the day, we’re allowing the evening social experience to unfold. If plans emerge to go to dinner on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, Ruth will send out a text to announce details. If you’re not in the chat group, make sure to touch base with others to find out what options for the evening have emerged.

Note that Katherine has suggested it would be fun to go to the Cirque du Soleil performance on Saturday evening. If you’re interested, visit the website for Alegria.