Riding from Oak Hill – Tuesday, September 8

Jen and Andy will host our Tuesday ride from their home starting at 10 am. You can find their address in the member directory.

As Tuesday’s forecast is currently threatening rain, they invite you to consider Wednesday starting at 9:30 as the alternative. Please comment. Jennifer will make the rain cancellation call by 8 am on Tuesday and comment on the site.

The ride will follow The Oak Hills route – but in reverse! Options are 50 k, 37k or shorter for those who wish a less strenuous ride.

Please bring your own chair, picnic, swimming costume/towel (there is a pool) and beverage.

An FYI…….Two large dogs will be bounding about so remember to not leave food or articles of clothing around for a game of ‘chase me please.’ Irene’s apple strudel became apple crumble on our last get together!! It tasted so yummy!

Keep in mind that we’ll be following standard social distancing rules. If you have not joined a ride yet this season, please remember to print, sign and bring your COVID-19 Waiver and read the GFW response to COVID in the same document.

See you soon,

Riding from Wilmot Conservation Area – Friday, September 4

Mich and Mel are hosting Friday’s 48-km ride in the Newcastle area, beginning at 4:30. Their invitation is below.

The ride will be the July 24 ride backwards. We will end with the bike paths and start with the Lakeshore. Very flat. The climb out of Bond Head being the worst.

Parking will be at the same spot as July 24 at Wilmot Creek Conservation area at the south end of Toronto Street (note it is currently under construction, so you have to go through the Port of Newcastle subdivision to reach the parking.)

There are no facilities there but should be ample parking and room for chairs afterwards.

Maps will be provided at the start. Below is an image and if you’d like to print out your own advanced copy, just click on the image.

Note: Barb provided on the Facebook group some very specific directions to get to the starting point which might help anyone who wasn’t at the July 24 ride:

South on Mill Street which becomes Port of Newcastle Drive, right on Milligan and drive to the end which is the south end of Toronto Street. Or, sometimes we just drive around until we see a bunch of cars and bikes!

And last but not least, if you have not yet ridden with the club this season, remember to bring a signed copy of your COVID waiver.

Calling all Hosts for Fall 2020 Rides

This post is an invitation to our members to host rides. So far this season, we’ve enjoyed mostly glorious weather, wonderful routes and fun-filled socially distant picnics afterwards. While we got off to a later than usual start, it’s been a memorable season so far.

Only two more months remain to partake of the joys of cycling with our GFW friends! For both Tuesday and Friday rides, we are without hosts! So who wants to host and keep up our cycling host streak for 2020?

To host a Tuesday ride, contact your Tuesday ride coordinator, Marshall.

WTF?

For Friday rides, contact Katherine. Now that it’s getting darker (and colder) earlier, we’ve been talking with the gang who ride Fridays about maybe starting earlier – say 4:30 or 5:00. Alternatively, consider moving the Friday ride to a Saturday or Sunday and starting at 10. Riders are flexible. So we encourage hosts to decide the best timing for their ride!

One final reminder: if doing an evening ride, make sure your lights are in working order and wear visible clothing.

Riding from Stirling – Tuesday, September 1

Paul is again your host for Tuesday’s ride starting at 10:00 am. Below is his invitation.

The ride on Tuesday September 1st starts at Henry St. park in Stirling. The route is 51 km in length with the option of 42 km. The route is fairly flat with one big hill at the beginning and one nearer the end. Please download the map and cue sheet called Stirling East Route. It shows these two hills and their statistics and the insert map shows the location of the park. We will picnic at the park after. Unfortunately the washrooms are locked.

Because of the distance to Stirling, I will postpone the ride to Wednesday if the weather looks poor. I will do that in the comments on Monday.

Keep in mind that we’ll be following our standard social distancing rules. If you have not joined a ride yet this season, please remember to print, sign and bring your COVID-19 Waiver and read the GFW response to COVID in the same document.

Riding from Garden Hill – Saturday, August 29

We tested the route. It’s a keeper!

Instead of a Friday ride, Ruth and Pete will host a Saturday ride from our place in Garden Hill, starting at 10 am.

The route is 45 kilometres with options to shorten (or lengthen if you wish more!) All options have hills as they are hard to avoid near us! We’ll have maps for everyone.

Our standard socially distanced picnic will follow. We have an outhouse and plenty of private bushes for your nature needs.

Remember to exercise caution on the loose gravel driveway!

Riding from Cobourg – Tuesday, August 25

Sue is hosting Tuesday’s ride from Cobourg.

We will park at the Dale Road Senior Public School. The route map will be the 51-kilometre Rice Lake Ramble. We will either have our apres ride snack under the trees at the school or in the cemetery on the corner of Dale and Cornish Hollow Roads. That is to be determined.

Keep in mind that we’ll be following our standard social distancing rules. If you have not joined a ride yet this season, please remember to print, sign and bring your COVID-19 Waiverand read the GFW response to COVID in the same document.

Riding from North Cobourg – Friday, August 21

Randy and Anita are hosting this Friday’s ride from their home. Their invitation is below.

There will be three route options (21, 41, or 48k.) that take us up to Gore’s Landing and across Rice Lake Scenic Drive to Harwood (unless one opts for the 21k short distance). After the ride we can social-distance in our backyard where there is plenty of space. Non-riders and short-distance riders are most welcome to hang out in the yard

Only 13 members have not yet ridden this season! If you’re one of them, and plan to ride, remember to sign and bring the COVID waiver and read our response to COVID.

Riding from Peterborough – Tuesday, August 18

Paul is your host for a brand new route from Peterborough. His invitation is below.

My ride on August 18th with start at Nicholls Oval Park on the SW corner of Parkhill E. and Armour Rd. in Peterborough.

We will meet at the south end of the park near the washrooms. It is best to look it up on Google maps to see how to get there and enter the park. I will provide the maps on Tuesday.

There is no short cut on this route but you can ride the first part of the route up to Lakefield along the river and return the same way.

Beautiful area there for the picnic after.

Keep in mind that we’ll be following our standard social distancing rules. If you have not joined a ride yet this season, please remember to print, sign and bring your COVID-19 Waiver and read the GFW response to COVID in the same document.

Excited to see you all on this new ride!

Riding from Grafton – Friday, August 14 (revised post)

Brian H. is hosting Friday’s ride starting at 5:30. Below is his invitation. Join us!

This Friday’s ride will start at the Grafton Arena and follow the Grafton East route. This ride will have options for everyone – ranging from an easy 30 km out-and-back to Colborne to an undulating 50 km route. There are plenty of grassy options for our socially-distanced picnic, and there is even a canteen there if you make it back before 7 PM! When I checked it out last Friday, the “plastic loo” was acceptably clean 😀