Category: Rides

Official Speed River Cycling Club rides

Sunday Gravel Ride | Sept 24th 9:00AM

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It’s looking like a cool morning, so we’ll start at 9 to let it warm up a bit. We’ll be hitting all the favourites south of Guelph, and for the first time this year we go through Valens. There will be a coffee stop at the Danish Place, bring some money for that. Tail lights are 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:

Advanced            G1        25-28   kph average

Intermediate     G2       23-25   kph average

Relaxed     G3       21-23   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: Guelph Youth Music Centre 75 Cardigan St

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

Route: All Speed Groups 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

Sunday Road Tours CREEMORE | Sept 24 7:30AM

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Who wants to ride some hills?!?

This Sunday I propose we head to Creemore and climb some of the most beautiful roads in the region (not to mention some fun decents). We will begin and end our route in Creemore, at the Creemore Springs Brewery. Also in Creemore are YF Patissier and Bank Cafe for pre ride coffee and treats, and The Old Mill House pub if you’re feeling peckish after the ride.

As is usual for GCC remote starts, carpooling will be arranged. Once you have signed up, please contact me, Christopher Lambert, at clsomatherapy@yahoo.ca to let me know if you can drive, and if so, if you can take other riders and bikes, or if you need a ride. We will all meet at the East Side Library between 7:00 and 7:30AM to organize cars and riders. As there are no longer any country stores in Horning Mills or Badjeros, sad I know, I will be putting together a cooler with water for refills and some extra food, which will be placed at the top of the climb in Horning Mills for refuelling. If you have snacks you would like added to this please hand them to me at the library before we leave. Drive time to Creemore is approximately an hour and a half. We will aim to start riding from Creemore at 9:30AM.

Bring money for a coffee before and a beer after, and tail lights are a good idea.

By the way, the gravel sections at 64k and 89k aren’t actually gravel.

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 at the Library by 7:30 and ready to pedal at 9:30 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 Grand Tour Ride will be following the map below

Thursday Coached Cyclocross Session | September 21st 6PM

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‘Cross is HERE!

This coached session is intended for ALL GCC MEMBERS looking to gain skill and confidence for cyclocross riding. We are offering a dedicated group for Youth/Junior riders (9-16 years old) and an Adult group. Both groups ride at 6PM and each will have instructors prepared to lead the session.

At a minimum riders should have the ability to ride on smooth, level terrain and control the bike safely (stopping and turning). Otherwise, the only requirement is a good attitude!

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

Start Time: please be onsite & ready to pedal at 6:00 PM

Start Location: Centennial Park, Guelph, ON

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

Schedule:

6:00PM – Intro & Warm-Up

Upon arrival meet at the start/finish area (yellow “X” on map below) for a friendly welcome and brief session intro. We’ll quickly begin riding the course. Go at your own pace and ride the loops you’re comfortable with.

6:15PM – Skills

We’ll regroup at the start/finish to begin our technical portion of the session. Bring a towel and sun tan lotion because we’re heading to the beach! This week’s emphasis is “sand”.

6:40PM – Intervals

Get ready for some friendly, competitive intervals. Upping the intensity and taking our skills to the next level, we’ll ride the course at speed!

Click Image below for directions.

BIG100 2023 | Sunday Sept 17th, 2023

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BIG100 – Imperial & Metric Century Rides!

The GCC road ride of the year with local beer and gourmet wood oven pizza to top it off!

It’s time to see how your fitness has progressed throughout the season. Or you can just come along for another Sunday ride, you decide what this will be for you.

There are two century distances to choose, 100 miles (160km) or 100 kilometres. Each with multiple speed groups.

Riders should lower their personal expected speed average for these longer rides from what they might be used to on a TAM Ride.

Below is the departure schedule for each speed group based on expected speed average. Please choose wisely and responsibly.

Two routes have been carefully scouted and prepared by several seasoned GCC long haul road masters. There will be a rest station along the way and we will be riding some very interesting and not often travelled roads! Please be aware that there will be some unpaved sections on the routes in order to improve safety and keep riders off of busy roads.

Ride is unsupported – you must be prepared to fix your bike or make your own way home in the event of a breakdown.

The Details:

  • Rides start and end at Fixed Gear Brewing, with a free beer at the end for participants. Water & soft drinks are also available
  • Rain or shine (unless very bad weather or warnings issued by EC)
  • Free parking, gear storage on site, arrive early to stow some gear – come early for this.
  • Multiple pace groups per distance (see above)
  • Staggered start to finish at a similar time
  • There area a few unpaved sections to keep us off busy roads. They have been ridden recently on road tires. 23s and larger will suffice. However, there are still a few short busy sections that can’t be avoided. Single file in those areas is suggested.
  • There is a GCC supported rest stop at 56k in Ayr and a paid stop at 132k at Picard’s Peanuts.
  • The BIG100 is open to GCC Club Members only
  • Post ride food provided by our incredible sponsor Fixed Gear Brewing
  • Door Prizes from Speed River Bicycle and Paramount Sports
  • Bring cash or card for additional post ride bevies
  • Pace group adjustments may occur subject to popularity
  • Make certain your bike is tuned up and in good condition for your ride
  • Ride is unsupported – be prepared to make your own way home in the event of a breakdown
  • Participants must pre-register to allow for food prep

Both routes share the first rest stop where we will have some great snacks and water waiting. The 160K has a second paid rest stop, bring some cash for that.

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 your prescribed time.

Start Location: Fixed Gear Brewing 20 Alma St S

Rain or shine , but check here for EXTREME weather cancellation posted no less than one hour before the ride begins

Fixed Gear Brewing – 20 Alma St S, Guelph, ON N1H 5W5 – Click above image for directions

The Metric Century – 100K Map:

The Imperial Century – 100 Mile (160 km): Map

Thursday Coached Cyclocross Session | September 14th 6:00PM

‘Cross is HERE!

This coached session is intended for ALL GCC MEMBERS looking to gain skill and confidence for cyclocross riding. We are offering a dedicated group for Youth/Junior riders (9-16 years old) and an Adult group. Both groups ride at 6PM and each will have instructors prepared to lead the session.

At a minimum riders should have the ability to ride on smooth, level terrain and control the bike safely (stopping and turning). Otherwise, the only requirement is a good attitude!

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

Start Time: please be onsite & ready to pedal at 6:00 PM

Start Location: Centennial Park, Guelph, ON

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

Schedule:

6:00PM – Intro & Warm-Up

Upon arrival meet at the start/finish area (yellow “X” on map below) for a friendly welcome and brief session intro. We’ll quickly begin riding the course. Go at your own pace and ride the loops you’re comfortable with.

6:15PM – Skills

We’ll regroup at the start/finish to begin our technical portion of the session. This week’s emphasis is “barriers”.

6:40PM – Intervals

Get ready for some friendly, competitive intervals. Upping the intensity and taking our skills to the next level, we’ll ride the course at speed!

Click Image below for directions.

BIGMTB Ride | Sept 10th, 9:30 & 11 AM

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GCC’s Jim Brogden presents the 2023 BIGMTB!

Jim has led the development of the Arkell Spring Grounds with fellow GCC and GORBA club members.

The rides will begin from the parking lot in front of the Guelph Youth Music Centre, see image below.

These are ‘Ride Leader’ led rides.

There are three ride groups: Advanced, Intermediate and Medium. Everyone rides the Guelph Lake trails. After Guelph Lake, the Intermediate and Advanced riders will continue down Watson Rd. to ride the Smith property and/or Arkell Spring Grounds depending on group.

There is a supported rest stop on the west side of Watson Rd just south of Stone. Riders will divide into two groups there. Advanced does both Smith and Arkell, and Intermediate only does Arkell.

The ‘Medium’ group will ride most of the trails at Guelph Lake, both ways for some.

Afterwards, riders will head back to our sponsor Fixed Gear on Alma Rd. for refreshments and food.

As required by the city of Guelph, you must be a GORBA member to ride the Arkell trails. For $35, it’s quite a reasonable annual contribution to keep these trails open and maintained. How much does a bike tire cost? A GORBA Membership might be one of the cheapest accessories of your riding season. No more excuses, get your GORBA membership here today!

This is a GCC and GORBA combined event.

TimeOptionTrailsGORBA Membership
9:30 AMAdvancedGuelph Lake, Smith Property & ArkellYes
9:30 AMIntermediateGuelph Lake & ArkellYes
11:00 AMMediumGuelph Lake onlyNo

Members only. To become a GCC member join HERE

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

Start Time: please be ready to pedal at 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM

Start Location: Guelph Youth Music Centre 75 Cardigan St

Click image for directions.

Sunday Road Tours | Sept 10 8:00AM

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The weather is looking pretty good for Sunday morning; 16c at 8:00AM SO THAT WILL BE THE START TIME. This week we are going north to Lake Belwood and then south. The Tour will split off at Dublin Line & Hwy 7 where they can refuel at MacMillan’s Maket – on the south side just west of Dublin. They continue south and make their way home via 15th sideroad. The Grand Tour will have a coffee stop in Campbellville before heading back home.

Bring money for a coffee stop, some extra snacks, and tail lights are a good idea.

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 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

SATURDAY Gravel Ride | Sept 9, 9 AM & 10:00 AM

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This is a special Saturday remote start in Belwood (no gravel ride this Sunday – BIGMTB) supporting the Water Cycles Bikes and Blues Festival.  G2/3 will start at 9:00 AM and G1 at 10:00 AM. Please email Meg if you need a ride or have room for other people and/or bikes.  If you wish to ride directly from Guelph, also please email Meg; we will coordinate departures and give you a route that connects you to the ride.

The ride starts from the Belwood baseball field and weaves through Grand Valley and around the Luther Marsh (avoiding the current hunting closures) before returning to Belwood.

There is a coffee stop at Landmark Gardens  (~67km) for bevies and some of the best cookie and light snack options in the Grand Valley.

A benefit concert at the Skol House in Belwood follows the ride, featuring blues music, beer garden, BBQ, and kid’s activities, benefiting the Waterloo-Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival which serves thousands of students in the Upper Grand school district annually. Water Cycles Expeditions uses adventurous bike tours and events to reconnect people and water through cycling. The festival celebrates the end of the “summer of water cycling” which has included locally led rides and tours from Kansas to Kenya across a global network of community hubs. Check out the highlight reel for this event and some recent coverage on CBC and the LA Times. Tickets to the benefit concert are available at a discount for GCC members with a promo code GCC2023 at the Water Cycles website.

The Speed Groups on this ride are:

Advanced            G1        25-28   kph average

Intermediate     G2       23-25   kph average

Relaxed     G3       21-23   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 (G2/3) 9:00 AM & (G1) 10:00 AM

Start Location: Belwood Baseball Diamond, 4 Smith Street, Belwood

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

Route: All Speed Groups will follow this map:

Thursday Cyclocross Coached Session | September 7th 6:00PM

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‘Cross is HERE!

This coached session is intended for ALL GCC MEMBERS looking to gain skill and confidence for cyclocross riding. We are offering a dedicated group for Youth/Junior riders (9-16 years old) and an Adult group. Both groups ride at 6PM and each will have instructors prepared to lead the session.

At a minimum riders should have the ability to ride on smooth, level terrain and control the bike safely (stopping and turning). Otherwise, the only requirement is a good attitude!

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

Start Time: please be onsite & ready to pedal at 6:00 PM

Start Location: Centennial Park, Guelph, ON

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

Schedule:

6:00PM – Intro & Warm-Up

Upon arrival meet at the start/finish area (yellow “X” on map below) for a friendly welcome and brief session intro. We’ll quickly begin riding the course. Go at your own pace and ride the loops you’re comfortable with.

6:15PM – Skills

We’ll regroup at the start/finish to begin our technical portion of the session. This week’s emphasis is “cornering”.

6:40PM – Intervals

Get ready for some friendly, competitive intervals. Upping the intensity and taking our skills to the next level, we’ll ride the course at speed!

Click Image below for directions.

Tuesday All Members Ride | Sept 5th 6:00PM

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This is the last TAM Ride of 2023!

Sorry to say it, but as the sun sets earlier and earlier, some groups will not make it back before dark next week. Don’t be too sad, Sunday rides will be going for another two months!

And the weather promises to make a beautiful evening of it and perfect patio conditions for the post ride social at our sponsor Fixed Gear Brewing at their Canteen location at 5 Edinburgh rd South. Meet out front on the patio.

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 6:00 PM

Start : Calvary Baptist Church at Arkell and Carter Rds

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

Route: The R1 – R5 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Route: The R6 – R8 Speed Groups will follow this map:

Sunday Gravel Ride ERIN | September 03 9:00AM

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Another remote start! It’s only a short drive to ride some awesome, and rather hilly gravel roads. Meet at the back parking lot (near the tennis courts) behind Center 2000 in Erin for a 9-am start. The route is a bit shorter than typical, but don’t be fooled, it’s to compensate for the elevation gains. And, if you’ve never summited “The Grange” before, you owe it to yourself to use your prime summertime fitness to challenge yourself on one of Southern Ontario’s most feared/revered gravel climbs. Plus there’s a decent coffee/treats stop – right beside the trail – at exactly the halfway point in Inglewood. Since this is an “away” ride, carpooling can be arranged amongst yourselves or you can contact Meg and she’ll help you out. Also, if you are planning on driving and have room, please let her know if you are willing to take others.

Bring money for a coffee stop. Tail lights are 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:

Advanced            G1        25-28   kph average

Intermediate     G2       23-25   kph average

Relaxed     G3       21-23   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: Back parking lot, near tennis courts of Center 2000 in Erin

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

Here’s the start location. Click the image below for directions to the start.

Route: All Speed Groups will follow this map:

Sunday Road Tours | Sept 3 9:00AM

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Looks like we will be heading back into some summer weather for the long weekend. Great news for those heading out of town for one last hurrah before school starts again. That being said, it’s also fine weather for us that are staying in town and the roads should be quieter too! To celebrate let’s head out and get some Ayr. Start and finish will be from our fabulous sponsor Fixed Gear on Alma street (pardon the gravel ride start image below, it’s the only version I could find). And what better way to finish a hot ride then with a beer!

Depending on turn-out, we may need to combine groups. Bring money for a coffee stop and tail lights are a good idea.

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: Fixed Gear Brewery on Alma

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 | Aug 31st 6:00PM

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The shadows grow long; The corn is sweet and the smell of apples is strong; Alas this is our last one.

This is the last official Thursday night ride (where has the summer gone…) and since I got lucky with a nice route to the southwest earlier this month – I’m going to use it again. To keep us off busier roads there is a short gravel section for the R6 & 7 route.

Bringing lights is a good idea, especially since sunset will be at 7:58pm 🙁

The is still one more TAM (Tuesday) ride followed by a social next week, and the Sunday rides continue into the autumn.

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 6:00 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

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: Thursday Speedway Coached Session | August 31st 6:00PM

*UPDATE*: Do to scheduling conflicts it won’t be feasible to run a session tonight. My apologies. We’ll be back next year!

Thursday is our final Speedway session of 2023!

This week will be a mix of intervals on the oval and kart track. See below for more details.

We ride on a closed circuit (no cars!) at the Flamboro Speedway that features a 500m oval and a technical course.

Upon arrival, enter through the ticket gates and drive up the pit road. Park near the picnic tables & canteen. There are washrooms available. 

This coached session is intended for R1, R2, R3 & R4 Speed Groups.

Please see the GCC speed categories for more info.

Come Try it out! Riders are invited to try one Speedway session before subscribing. Advanced sign-up (see below) is required. 

This is a ‘fee for service’ coached session. Check out the details here.

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

Start Time: please be onsite & ready to pedal at 6:00 PM

Start Location: Flamboro Speedway 873 5th Concession Rd W, Milgrove, ON

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

Schedule:

6:00PM – Intro & Track Etiquette, Paceline Riding (Session 1)

Enter the track and join us at the Staging Area. We will do a quick familiarization and discuss track riding etiquette. Then break into groups and ride the oval. 

Mandatory: On your first visit to the Speedway you must attend the intro & track etiquette at 6:00PM so you are familiar with the layout and expectations for riding the track. 

6:40PM – Oval Intervals (Session 2)

We will pause the paceline riding and reorganize at the Staging Area. Then break into new groups and ride intervals on the oval. 

7:20PM – Kart Track Intervals (Session 3)

Meet at the Staging Area. We’ll use the new configuration for the technical training.

Entering & Exiting the Track:

Enter the track at turn 4. Always come to a complete stop and confirm the track is clear before entering. Cross the oval to access the kart track and stop at the “Staging Area” (“S” on the map below). 

Exit the track at turn 2. When the track is clear, from the inside of the oval cross the track and exit. While riding the oval you may also move to the far outside of the oval and exit. 

Click Image below for directions.

Thursday Advanced Road Ride | Aug 31 6:00PM

I do love this time of year, but I’m also very sad because this is the last official Thursday road ride for the 2023 season.

It’s not all sad news though. We’ve still got one more Tuesday ride next week and we’ll be doing Sunday road and gravel rides until the weather stops us.

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 & 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 6:00 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

Route: The Advanced A Speed Group (R1 & R2) will follow this map:

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