Join us for our first official ride of the 2020 season, with Brian H. leading us at 5:30 from King’s Field in Port Hope on the Go Fourth route. Though a 48-kilometre route, there are plenty of options to cut out earlier!

Please comment if you plan to ride. If more than 10 ride, we’ll send some of us off in the opposite direction. Remember to print out, sign and bring with you your signed COVID-19 Waiver and read the GFW’s response to COVID-19 in the same document. Execs will be there to collect your paperwork! For those who do not have access to a printer, we will make sure to have plenty on hand. Try to remember to bring your own pen!!!

After the ride, we’ll enjoy a socially-distanced social where Brian plans to bring his beer, his toilet tent and his camping loo. Not sure that he’ll want to share, any of the above, but he invites you to join him and offer up any other suggestions to make this season opener one to remember.

Last Friday, we noticed it got chilly, as we’re close to the lake, so in addition to chairs, your own snacks and beverages, make sure to bring jackets, long pants and a blanket. Heck, Jen P., our resident Girl Guide, was so prepared last week, she even had her mosquito coil with her.

We hope you enjoyed today a lovely Canada Day celebration! Hopefully we’ll see you real soon!

Lilianne and Barry are hosting the Tuesday October 29th ride, starting from Port Hope at 10 am.

Meet at Kingsfield park, on Victoria Street at Sullivan. The route map is Pretty and Easy, with options of 51 and 31 kilometres.

Lunch will be at Nookies Soul Kitchen, on Ontario Street across from the LCBO. Hope for sun, no wind or rain.

Brian and Jacquie are hosting our last weekend ride of the season. Their invitation is below.

Meet at Jacquie & Brian’s house at 2pm. It will be Brian’s Favourite ride of about 50km with possible short cuts.

We have included a short section of quite rideable dirt road between StationRoad & Hwy 2 at Shelter Valley Road, for a change of pace and a return to our touring roots. Route maps will be available.

This will be followed by our traditional potluck supper at around 5pm. Bring your own plates, cutlery & drinks. Don’t forget your LIGHTS, it can get quite dark on a dull day at this time of year. See you Saturday!

Harold W. is our host for Tuesday’s ride starting at 10:00 am from the Mill in Cobourg.

We will follow the Northumberland Hills route with 60/48/35 km options. Please print your map.

Join us for our second last Tuesday ride of the season!

Ruth and Pete are hosting Sunday’s ride. Alas, we made a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to create a safe route from Southpond Farms to the Buddhist temple North of Bethany. We had to conclude (as Doug’s grimace suggsted at Katherine’s on Friday) that it was not possible.

Instead, we’re hosting from our home a ride starting at 10 am with three hilly options (34, 39 and 44 km), all of which will offer views of splendid fall colours. We’ll provide maps – but essentially the route takes you south as far as Concession Road 4 (long route), north to Thertell and Oakhill, then back south to our place from Dean’s Hill and Mill Street. If you need more than 44 km, we can suggest add-ons.

Can’t ride? Bring your spouse and join us anyway for a potluck afterwards – likely @ 1. We’ll have two chili options (beef and turkey/mango) and whatever you bring by way of appetizer, salad or dessert.

Weather looks promising – 16 high and mostly sunny!

We’ve done it again and although it is almost over, this has been another outstanding cycling season with excellent weather, our reliable membership stepping up to host regular rides and more than a few creative and amazing events.  We’ll wrap it up for 2019 with our AGM, a little bit of business and then a feast and gathering among good friends to celebrate.

Important Details

• Date:  Saturday November 9th
• Time:  5:00 p.m.
• Location: Barb and John’s
• Dinner to be catered: $10/person, bring your own dishes, cutlery, beverage (and spouses if they’d like to join us!)

Membership and Waiver Forms

Membership and waiver forms for the 2020 season will be available for you to complete.  If you prefer, print your own updated forms from our member section.

Nominations for Executive Positions

There is one executive position to be filled for next season:

2) Treasurer (2-year term)

Any club member may apply for this position, duties of which are outlined in the By-Laws.  However, you are required to have another club member nominate you and another member second the nomination.  

If you wish to be considered for this position, please send a confidential email to the club executive at ganaraskafreewheelers@gmail.com to express your interest on or before Thursday October 30, 2019. Please include the names of your nominator and seconder. 

Agenda Items

As this has been such a wonderful incident free season, we do not have a great deal of business to conduct at this AGM. We will send out an agenda closer to the date. If you have items you would like to propose we add, please email the executive by Thursday, October 30 at ganaraskafreewheelers@gmail.com. 

A couple of things to consider and be ready to act upon are:

• Safety Reminder Email. Please re-read the safety reminder email sent on September 26/19.

• Incorporation – Pros & Cons. One of the things we are going to ask you to consider is whether or not we want or need to incorporate.  We will do a brief recap of the pros and cons and costs of the decision and get a general consensus on whether to pursue incorporation further.

• Website Documents. It is always a good idea prior to the AGM to have a look at the website.  The Risk Management, Being a Freewheeler, Q&A are on the general webpages. By-Laws can all be found in the Insurance Policy & Membership Forms section. Minutes of the 2018 AGM are behind our password -protected member page. 

Looking forward to celebrating a wonderful 2019 cycling season with you.

Marshall invites you below to join him this Tuesday for a beautiful picturesque Autumn ride along the Waterfront Trail. 

We will be exploring the Waterfront Trail between Ajax and Darlington Provincial Park. A 55 K route will have a little bit of something for everybody – flat terrain, quiet trails, lakefront and beach views, parks, marshlands, boardwalks, forests and beautiful Fall colours.

The ride will start at 10:00 AM from the Royal Oak Pub at Victoria Street West and Gordon Street in Whitby (Whitby Shores – 617 Victoria Street West). Lunch is booked at the pub for 1:00 PM.  Lots of parking is available in the mall between Tim Hortons and Scotiabank. Check out the Royal Oak Pub on the following link. http://royaloakpubs.com/entertainment-whitby/whitbyshores/

Comment if you plan to stay for lunch to help with the booking.

Our 55 K tour will first head west through the Lynde Shores Marsh to the edge of Ajax, doubling back through the Whitby Marina and lakefront park, over to Lakeview Park in Oshawa and on to a ride through Darlington Park before heading back to our lunch at the Royal Oak Pub.

Attached are a map and cuesheet. The 55 K route is an out and back and can be easily shortened by just turning back when you are ready. Some shorter distances are mentioned on the map. Please print you own copy. The route is quite flat and offers a great chance for all of us to ride as a group.

I have also included a link  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31250737  to the map on “Ride with GPS” for those who would like to download it to their phones. Even if you don’t plan to download it, I would recommend that you take a peek at the satellite view of this ride. Drill right down and check out what’s in store for you on this beautiful ride.

Here’s hoping for some great fall weather.  See you all on Tuesday.

Katherine is your host for our annual Thanksgiving ride starting at 5 from her place this Friday. Please read her invitation below and make sure to comment if you plan to join us.

It is turkey time again!  I cannot believe a year has gone past.  October 11 is quickly approaching.

Me and the girls cordially invite you to ours to get that Thanksgiving weekend off to an advance start! 

Friday afternoon, the cycling bit commences at 5pm (note bump up of time).  The illustrious Brian Hedney will be your default ride leader and route provider, since he is making his infamous cranberries and is actually going to be in town! We will follow the Osaca Odyssey route. However, the ride will leave from Katherine’s house, so you will be pleased to learn that this means you do not have to climb Bedford Street as indicated on the map 🙂  This route has 46 km, 36 km and 27 km options. When deciding upon your riding distance bear in mind that the sun sets in Port Hope at 6:35 PM on October 11th!

Dinner is going to attempt to hit the island 7:30-8pm, if you are joining for festivities only. I am as always, making a turkey, with stuffing, gravy, etc.  I also discovered Maple Dale Cheese has a factory outlet. Well. Some cheese leapt into the cart. So that’s my contribution. The girls are offering both dry kibble and pate should anyone be interested.  And Bink is generally good for a mouse toy or 2.

Mr. Pike, as is his annual duty, is once again on ham, with the accompanying glaze.

If you would please indicate if you are coming, and how many people, it helps me with the furniture distribution.

As always, I am looking forward to spending a wonderful evening with my friends.  And enjoying amazingly good food!

K, Bink and Tabbey 

Occo is our host for Tuesday’s ride. We will start at Haydon Hall (2503 Conc Rd 8 – 1km east of 57). Washrooms are available – a donation is suggested.

Afterwards, join us for pot luck at Occo’s home – rain or shine! Parking is limited.

Suggested route is 58 kilometers with 702 meters elevation: plotaroute.com/route/904244

Sue is hosting Saturday’s ride starting from the Minden Rotary Park starting at 10:30.

The Minden to Haliburton ride will be about 62 k. Option for a shorter 52 k route is available. Or a longer 82 k route. We can take a look at the Haliburton Sculpture Forest and have lunch at the Baked and Battered restaurant in Haliburton.

Here’s the Ride with GPS link. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16929177

You can also download and print the cuesheet and map.

There are some hills, nothing too bad. Parking will be at the Minden Rotary Park which is just off 35 Hwy to the left as you are heading north. It is just past the Kawartha Dairy Outlet. Hopefully the colours will be beautiful at this time. Weather forecast looks promising!