Author: Matthew Christian

CANCELLED Sunday Road Tour | Oct 29 11:00 AM

,

Although the rain seems as if it will hold out, projected temperatures in the low-/mid-single digits do not make for a very enticing (or apparently popular!) ride. I am going to make an early call on this one, but I encourage everyone to join me spectating at the Big CX and cheering on our club CX racers.

Cross is coming!! Well, it’s already here. Almost been and gone to be honest. But if you’re not into this weekend’s Big CX, maybe there’s still time for one last road ride… The weather is looking distinctly iffy to say the least for Sunday at this point so check back here Sunday morning for an update.

Only one route today, through Glen Morris and up Winston Churchill and a nice social pace.

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 11:00 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 will be following this particular route…

Sunday Road Tours | August 27 9:00 AM

The Road Tours this weekend head East towards Georgetown with a little bit of climbing for both the Tour and the Grand Tour groups. With a slightly later start at this time of year (cold mornings!) there is no cafe stop for the Tour group to get you home in time for lunch, while the Grand Tour group has a couple of options in Glen Williams.

Especial thanks to road captains Christopher Lambert (Tour) and Mark Ferguson (Grand Tour)!

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

The Tour Medium Distance Ride will be following the route below

The Grand Tour Longer Distance Ride will be following the route below

CANCELLED Thursday Advanced Road Ride | June 15th, 6:30pm

Well, the weather sure hasn’t made up its mind but the radar is strongly suggesting that we’re going to see a band of heavy rain hit the area in the second half of the ride at the very least if not for the beginning as well so I am going to make the call and cancel the official club ride tonight. If you do decide to strike out on your own, be advised that there is some rough pavement on the route — southbound on 1st line from 50 particularly at the north end, then Town Line E from 1st all the way to 25 — so be careful in those places. The weekend weather looks awesome, if that’s any consolation!

Courtesy of master route-smith John “The Map” Lyall, these routes take us out towards Acton before returning to Arkell via Rockwood. I think that we should be good with the distance given the time of year but we can always figure out some short-cuts in case of mechanicals.

That said, I have no idea what’s going on with the weather… I will keep an eye on it and will post an update no later than 5:30pm.

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.

FAST RIDERS WANTED!! Feel frisky? Want to put the hammer down? The fine folks in R1 & R2 want to meet you! Not ready for R1 & R2… then please keep a steady, cohesive pace without surging. R1 & R2 = race tactics, surging. Sub-R2 = no race tactics, no surging. If someone in your sub-R2 group is surging, don’t chase them, let them keep going until they catch R1 & R2. So remember: Don’t chase, keep a steady pace!

The Advanced Speed Groups

Ride GroupSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
ADV AR1 & R236+Hammerfest
ADV BR334-36Faster
ADV CR432-34Very Fast
ADV DR530-32Fast

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 Advanced A & B Speed Group will follow this route:

Route:  The Advanced C & D Speed Groups will follow this route:

Thursday Advanced Road Ride | May 25th, 6:30pm

,

I quite enjoyed the newly (at least to me…) resurfaced Indian Trail so I thought I’d include it again in this week’s ride but going in the other direction. We will meander (at a Ride-Group-appropriate meandering speed) over to 6th line, then up and over 15 before a familiar finish up Watson with a few extra bits for the A group. Weather looks great but it’s always a good idea to bring a light in case of a mechanical.

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 Advanced Speed Groups

Ride GroupSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
ADV AR1 & R235-40+Hammerfest
ADV BR3 & R432-35Very Fast
ADV CR530-32Fast

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 Advanced A Speed Group (R1 & R2) will follow this route:

Route:  The Advanced B & C Speed Groups (R3, R4 & R5) will follow this route:

Thursday Advanced Road Ride | May 11th, 6:30pm

The weather robbed us of Andrew’s fine route last week so I thought I would run a (very) slightly modified version of it this week so we can all enjoy a trip down Dublin Line. The weather looks great so come out and ride! We should be fine in terms of sunset but it is always wise to bring lights just in case.

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 Advanced Speed Groups

Ride GroupSpeed GroupAvg SpeedGroup Name
ADV AR1 & R235-40+Hammerfest
ADV BR3 & R432-35Very Fast
ADV CR530-32Fast

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 Advanced A Speed Group (R1 & R2) will follow this route:

Route:  The Advanced B & C Speed Groups (R3, R4 & R5) will follow this route:

CANCELLED: Sunday Road Tours | April 30th 11:00AM

,

SURPRISE! RIDES CANCELLED. Nobody even signed up. Hope everyone is having “fun” at P2A.

The weather sucked last weekend and this weekend looks even worse, if you can believe it. Regardless, we are posting this in the unlikely event that Environment Canada totally gets it wrong.

A wise poet once wrote that April is the cruelest month and 2023 is proving him right…

The routes are a little shorter this week, as befits an early season ride, but still fun with a little bit of variety. There’s an opportunity to stop for a quick break in Kilbride if necessary but both the Tour and Grand Tour groups should be able to roll right through. At this point, the weather isn’t projected to be great, with temperatures in the low single-digits and an uncertain forecast so check back here for a ride update, which I will post no later than 9am on Sunday morning.

*Note that the Grand Tour route finishes up at the West End Y*

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 11:00 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

Routes

Grand Tour

Tour

CANCELLED Thursday Advanced Road Ride | August 25th, 6.00 PM

Update: With a severe thunderstorm watch still in place, a tornado warning on the go and some really annoying persistent rain happening right now I am going to cancel the official Thursday Advanced ride. It might clear up later, but on the other hand Environment Canada might issue a “severe hail of frogs” warning. Who knows! Stay dry, and looking forward to seeing you on one of our Sunday rides this weekend.

Although the weather forecast is not looking too promising for tonight’s ride, we are nothing if not optimistic here at GCC. Check back here for an update no later than 5pm. Like the Intermediate group, we will be revisiting the Watsonberg and taking a fresh look at some classic roads. If we are able to ride, don’t forget your lights. September is just around the corner… 🍁🍁🍁🍁

The three Advanced Speed Groups on this ride are:

Hammerfest   R1       35-40 kph average plus some surges

Very Fast         R2       32-35 kph average

Fast                 R3       30-32 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 6:00 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

R1 / R2 Route

R3 Route

Sunday Longer & Faster Road Ride | August 14th, 2022: 8:00 am

It looks like another beautiful Sunday morning to get out on our bikes and ride! We’ll head East towards Glen Williams then up Winston Churchill before making our way home in time for lunch. Should be a nice one.

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

Average Speed will be between 29-31 km/h.

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

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

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Here’s the route for this Sunday’s ride….

Sunday Longer & Faster Road Ride | July 31, 2022: 8:00 am 

Let’s try this again! Great weather in the forecast and an even better route. We’ll cover a few of the same roads from this Thursday’s ride, but in the opposite direction, which basically means they’re completely different roads…

It’s a classic for a reason! A beautiful loop through Fergus, Elora, and Hespeler, featuring the Kissing Bridge and Chilligo Road, one of my absolute favourites. There is a little bit of gravel on the route, but not much and nothing a road bike can’t handle. Quite a few opportunities to stop and refuel on the way, or not as the mood dictates. The ride ends at the Starbucks @ Wellington and Gordon.

Average Speed will be between 29-31 km/h.

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

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

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Here’s the route for this Sunday’s ride….

RIDE CANCELLED: Sunday Longer & Faster Road Ride | July 24, 2022: 8:00 am 

,

This is a tough one… Looking up at the sky, it feels like the rain will hold off and we could have a really nice ride. But the radar looks pretty definitive that we have a rain-filled morning in our future, really heavy at times, which is less than ideal… So I am going to cancel the official ride this morning but I encourage everyone to get out on their bike this afternoon when the weather looks like it will be much better.

It’s a classic for a reason! A beautiful loop through Fergus, Elora, and Hespeler, featuring the Kissing Bridge and Chilligo Road, one of my absolute favourites. There is a little bit of gravel on the route, but not much and nothing a road bike can’t handle. Quite a few opportunities to stop and refuel on the way, or not as the mood dictates (sadly no paean to butter tarts on this post, but I can hook you up with a Coke and a bag of salt & vinegar Ruffles…). The ride ends at the Starbucks @ Wellington and Gordon.

At this point, the forecast does look iffy, so check back here for updates no later than 7am Sunday. And if we do get rain, the ride might be a wash-out but the parched earth sure will be grateful.

Average Speed will be between 29-31 km/h.

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

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

Start Location: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

Here’s the route for this Sunday’s ride….

Thursday Advanced Road Ride | July 7, 6:30 PM

,

A new way to look at an old friend? Sure, Thursday rides often begin heading south up Watson towards Arkell, but how many times do they end that way as well? An uphill finish and a change of pace. Be sure to keep an eye out for traffic and take care at the roundabout crossing Hwy 7 on the home stretch.

For riders looking for a nice, solid group that stays together on the flats and up the climbs, R3 is for you! If you’ve been riding R4 and would like to try something new or if you’ve been looking for a bunch of like-minded Thursday night riders, this one is for you. The R3 group will not be combined with R2 regardless of numbers so when you sign up for it you can be confident knowing what kind of ride you are going to be getting.

Bringing lights is always a good idea.

Club kit is on sale again for only one week. Click here for great GCC riding apparel!

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

The three Advanced Speed Groups on this ride are:

Hammerfest   R1       35-40 kph average plus some surges

Very Fast         R2       32-35 kph average

Fast                 R3       30-32 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 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 R1 & R2 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Route: The R3 Speed Group will follow this map:

Thursday Advanced Road Ride | June 16, 6:30 pm

,

Its time to make an Eastwards push out towards Limehouse, with the R1 and R2 groups getting the chance to take on the Quarry Climb. It was great to see an R3 group get together last Thursday. Let’s try to keep up that momentum: if you’re a rider looking for a solid 30-32 kph ride without surges and regrouping after hills, the R3 group is for you! Guaranteed good times.

I expect it to be a hot, humid ride tomorrow so make sure to bring two full bottles. Lights as well! Rides depart the East End Library at 6:30pm.

The three Advanced Speed Groups on this ride are:

Hammerfest   R1       35-40 kph average plus some surges

Very Fast         R2       32-35 kph average

Fast                 R3       30-32 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 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

R1 / R2 Route

R3 Route

Sunday Road Ride | October 24th @ 11:00 am

Looks likely to be a pretty chilly one with the potential for some wind so make sure to dress appropriately. Some tried and true roads with a few new ones that aim to please. No café stop on this route, but a couple of opportunities to fill bottles or grab a cheeky Mars bar…

The ride starts at 11am and we will ride as one group with a 29-31 kph target, adapted to the inclinations of the participants.

Advance sign-up for these rides is required. Click HERE to reserve your spot. Please make sure you sign up by Sunday morning at 9am at the latest so I know who to expect.

This ride is open to SRCC members only. If you have not signed up to be a club member, you can do so HERE. Sure, it’s really late in the season, but better late than never!

Ride starts in the parking lot of the East End Library at the corner of Starwood and Watson.

No Sunday Road Ride This Week

, ,

The official Sunday road ride is taking this week off as it begins its taper towards next week’s Big 100 (Sign up here. It is going to be epic…).

For those of you who would still like to head out on what promises to be a nice day for riding, here’s a suggested route that includes a couple of nice climbs and potential for a rest stop in Glen Williams if desired.

Thursday Advanced Rides | September 2nd @ 6:00 pm

,

While the calendar page might have turned and arm warmers become more and more of a thing we still have enough daylight to squeeze in some weekday fun! At least for now… Boo. This southerly route carries on the now-familiar “avoid the chipseal” theme and as a special gift to those riding tonight we go down rather than up 1st line into Eden Mills. It is a little more distance than the last few Thursdays but should get us home well before the sets.

Advance sign-up for these rides is required. Click HERE to reserve your spot.

This ride is open to SRCC members only. If you have not signed up to be a club member, you can do so HERE.

Rides start in the parking lot of the East End Library at the corner of Starwood and Watson. See the map below for the meeting point for your group.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Library-3-group-Meeting-locations-1024x644-1.jpeg

Thursday Advanced Rides | August 12th @ 6:30 pm

,

This route quickly became one of my favourites after having ridden it for the first time a couple of years ago. It has a little something for everyone: a power climb and a punchy climb sandwiching a nice smooth flat section along 7th line. We then head up the Sammon Run in Rockwood before finishing up through Eden Mills and Arkell. The A group gets a *little* bit of extra distance but avoid the now chip-sealed climb on 4th line. It should be a fun one for all concerned.

I’m going to keep an eye on the weather throughout the day but if the ride goes ahead, which I hope it does, it is going to be a hot one! Remember to fill your bottles and stay hydrated.

Advance sign-up for these rides is required. Click HERE to reserve your spot.

This ride is open to SRCC members only. If you have not signed up to be a club member, you can do so HERE.

Rides start in the parking lot of the East End Library at the corner of Starwood and Watson. See the map below for the meeting point for your group.