Author: Erik Holbik

Thursday Intermediate Road Ride | July 18 6:30PM ‼️Fixed Gear Start‼️

This got ride got rained out last month so let’s try again. We’re switching it up a little to start and end our ride at our sponsor Fixed Gear’s Alma location. From there we’ll ride *gasp* WEST of town. As a head’s up, there will also be some very short, very tame gravel sections (see route below).

If you drive to the start, please use available street parking nearby, rather than Fixed Gear’s small parking lot or the auto shop across the street.

Bringing lights is always a good idea.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Disclaimer: Depending on rider turn out, some Speed Groups may have to be combined.

The Intermediate Speed Groups

Ride NameSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
INT AR628-30Moderate
INT BR726-28Social
INT CR824-26Relaxed

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 6:30 PM

Start Location: Fixed Gear Alma Street parking lot

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Intermediate A & B Speed Groups (R6 & R7) will follow this map:

Route: The Intermediate C Speed Group (R8) will follow this map:

**CANCELED** Sunday Road Tours | June 30 08:00

I guess in between the long weekend, kids home from school, and a couple groups riding in far flung locations, our sign-ups are lacking. Enjoy the long weekend in your own ways, although preferably still on a bike 😉

School’s out for summer! School’s out for ever!! Err- okay maybe not, Alice, but living in the moment for a couple hours on a summer morning can temporarily make it feel like forever. I’m shamelessly reposting routes from a few weeks back that got cancelled due to weather. Also, I don’t head that direction very often so there’s some self-interest here (thanks Robert M 🙏).

“This week the Grand Tour will head out to The Forks of the Credit, with a coffee stop in Belfountain. The Tours will stop for a coffee at Kit’s Little Kitchen on Main Street in Glen Williams, and will turn back towards Guelph after the sweet gravel climb on 10th Line beside Terra Cotta. Bring money for the coffee stop and tail lights are a good idea.”

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how. And never mind those pesky incorrect dates…

All rides need a minimum of 3 members signed up in order to officially run. If a ride has the required number of riders, but no Group Captain riding with them, that group ride will be considered cancelled. The group can decide among themselves to hold an ‘unofficial’ ride and follow the route. All group riders take it upon themselves to know the route and are responsible for their own safety.

Ride groups will be:

NameDistanceAverage Speed
Grand TourLonger Ride29-31 kph
Tour AMedium Length Ride29-31 kph
Tour BMedium Length Ride27-29 kph

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 8:00 AM

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Tour Medium Distance Ride will be following the map below

Route: The Grand Tour Longer Distance Ride will be following the map below

Tuesday All Members Ride | June 25th 6:30PM

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ATTENTION: The Start & Finish of the rides are at Flow State Bike Co. parking lot. See map image below. If possible, ride your bike to the start rather than driving.

Do not park on the Flow State lot! There is some limited parking by Arkell United Church.

NEW ROUTES! We have adjusted the Mid Season Routes due to the potholes on Mountsberg Road.

Please FINISH into the parking lot at Flow State Bike Co. Do not stop on the corner in front of the Arkell United Church. Please make room for all riders entering the lot.

REMINDER: Obey the rules of the road at all times.

R1 through R5 routes are a bit longer now.

They will remain the same for several weeks giving riders an opportunity to see how they progress in fitness week-over-week. Bringing lights is always a good idea.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Disclaimer: Depending on rider turn out, some Speed Groups may have to be combined.

The Speed Groups on this ride are:

Speed GroupAvg SpeedGroup NameFormation
R138-40+HammerfestRace Tactics
R236-38Hammerfest LiteRace Tactics
R334-36Team PursuitConstant Rotation
R432-34Very FastPaceline
R530-32FastPaceline
R628-30ModeratePaceline
R726-28SocialPaceline
R824-26RelaxedPaceline

GCC members only.  Join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking here.

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 6:30 PM

Start : Parking lot at Flow State Bike Co. in Arkell

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The R1 & R2 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Route: The R3, R4 & R5 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Route: The R6, R7 & R8 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Tuesday All Members Ride | May 28th 6:30PM

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PLEASE NOTE: We are changing our start location to United Church and Flow State. Please check here for final details before you head to the ride on Tuesday. Please try to ride your bike rather than driving to the start, if you can.

This is the last Early Season Routes for the TAM Ride.

Bringing lights is always a good idea.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Disclaimer: Depending on rider turn out, some Speed Groups may have to be combined.

The Speed Groups on this ride are:

Speed GroupAvg SpeedGroup NameFormation
R138-40+HammerfestRace Tactics
R236-38Hammerfest LiteRace Tactics
R334-36Team PursuitConstant Rotation
R432-34Very FastPaceline
R530-32FastPaceline
R628-30ModeratePaceline
R726-28SocialPaceline
R824-26RelaxedPaceline

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking here!

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 6:30 PM

Start : TBD

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The R1, R2, R3, R4 & R5 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Route: The R6, R7 & R8 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Thursday Intermediate Road Ride | May 9, 6:30PM

Note minor route change to avoid Guelph Line

Let’s go for a nice little cruise east of town! Starting at the East end library branch we’ll head south on Watson, weave our way out and up to Fifth Line, and come back in across one of my favorite cycling roads, Indian Trail. Intermediate C will follow an almost identical route, except will come back westward through the lovely Eden Mills instead.

Bringing lights is always a good idea.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Disclaimer: Depending on rider turn out, some Speed Groups may have to be combined.

The Intermediate Speed Groups

Ride NameSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
INT AR628-30Moderate
INT BR726-28Social
INT CR824-26Relaxed

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 6:30 PM

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Intermediate A & B Speed Groups (R6 & R7) will follow this map:

Route: The Intermediate C Speed Group (R8) will follow this map:

*CANCELLED* Sunday Road Tours (Local) | September 24 09:00

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UPDATE: Due to low numbers this ride is being pulled. Good news is the weather is still looking great so sign up for the gravel ride, or use this route for yourself, or go riding in any way that feels right to you!

So you want to ride some hills but without added travel of a remote start? Then come and join me on my annual pilgrimage up the escarpment! Some local favourites on the menu include a decent down the Col du Watson, up the mettle-testing Rattlesnake, and an ascend up 6th Line for the second main.

Unfortunately the menu is solely metaphorical, as there will be no cafe along the route. Word has it there is a vending machine at the entrance to the park atop the escarpment if you’re down bad, but otherwise you are encouraged to bring your own nutrition/caffeine.

Bringing lights wouldn’t hurt either, especially for the short jaunt along Derry Road which can sometimes be busy.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Speed will be between 29-31 kph average

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 9:00 AM

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Tour Medium Distance Ride will be following the map below

Route: The Grand Tour Longer Distance Ride will be following the map below

Thursday Intermediate Road Ride | May 18th 6:30pm

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Heading northeast out of town and circling back in through Arkell via the quaint Eden Mills. The R6 and R7 groups will encounter a very brief gravelly section before turning south to go through Everton. R8 will avoid this entirely by taking a shortcut down 5th Line instead.

With temps coming back down from the 20s, probably a good idea to bring a vest/windbreaker/warmers as it cools through the evening. And lights, bringing lights is always a good idea.

Load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

Disclaimer: Depending on rider turn out, some Speed Groups may have to be combined.

The Intermediate Speed Groups

Ride NameSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
INT AR628-30Moderate
INT BR726-28Social
INT CR824-26Relaxed

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

Advance sign-up required. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 6:30 PM

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Check here for weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Intermediate A & B Speed Groups (R6 & R7) will follow this map:

Route: The Intermediate C Speed Group (R8) will follow this map: