Category: BIG Ride

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

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.

SUPER SUNDAY | July 16th

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WEATHER UPDATE: All rides are on!

The inaugural GCC Super Sunday! Another club event where all members can participate in their desired speed group in gravel or road riding, starting and finishing at the same place for everyone with a post-ride gathering! Everything, everywhere, all at once (great film btw!). Come one, come all… come out and join the fun!

The event starts and finishes at our club sponsor ‘Fixed Gear Brewing’ on Alma Street.

There are two start times, 8:00AM & 9:00AM depending on your group, NB.

Ride Leaders for each group have posted their route maps, see below.

The club is footing the bill for pizza and one beer per club rider. Non alcoholic bevies will also be available.

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

The SUPER SUNDAY Rides Groups are:

Ride GroupDistanceGroup NamePedal Time
R1 & R2100+KRoad – Hammerfest8:00 AM
R3 & R4100+KRoad – Very Fast8:00 AM
R575-85KRoad – Fast9:00 AM
R6 & R770-80KRoad – Moderate9:00 AM
R860-70KRoad – Relaxed9:00 AM
G190-100KGravel – Advanced8:00 AM
G290-100KGravel – Intermediate8:00 AM
G370-80KGravel – Relaxed8:00 AM

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 or 9:00 AM depending on your ride

Start : Fixed Gear Brewing on Alma Street

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

R1 & R2 Route

R3 & R4 Route

R5 Route

R6 & R7 Route

R8 Route

G1 & G2 Route

G3 Route

The 2023 BGR | Sunday June 4th

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It’s GCC’s 5th Annual Big Gravel Ride!

And like always, we promise that many of you will ride in some places that you have never been before!

About the route: 104km long. The start and finish are at our sponsor, Fixed Gear Brewing. There are four speed groups. Each with a different start time: Moderate, Quick, Fast and OMG!

Sign up soon to ensure you get a spot! This will sell out!

Local legend Martin Brubacher put this year’s route together and reports, “It’s dandy”. We agree!

The route has been pre-ridden by a little old lady of 68 years who has given her L.O.L. seal of approval.

We have also hired a new complaints department director, Helen Waite. If you have any complaints, you can now go to her. L.O.L.

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

GCC Team Car polished, fed & groomed for the BGR.

The Essentials:

GCC members only. To become a member join HERE

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

Start Time: Moderate 8:00 AM; Quick 8:30 AM; Fast 8:45 AM; OMG 9:00 AM

Start Location: Fixed Gear Brewing 20 Alma St S

Start and Finish here at Fixed Gear Brewing at 20 Alma St S

The Details:

  • 50 Entries only!
  • The BGR 2023 is open to GCC Club Members only.
  • 104km route.
  • Four speed groups.
  • Starts times: Moderate 8:00 AM; Quick 8:30 AM; Fast 8:45 AM; OMG 9:00 AM
  • Staggered start to finish at a similar time.
  • Free ON-ROAD parking around Fixed Gear Brewing (don’t park at the auto shop!).
  • Gear storage on site inside FGB, arrive early to stow post-ride gear etc.
  • Carry tools to fix your bike.
  • Bring mosquito repellent in case of woodland repairs.
  • Carry two large water bottles.
  • Load the route if you have a computer.
  • Be prepared to get yourself home if you can’t finish the route.
  • GCC is providing a food & water station at the halfway point.
  • Registered participants get one free beer provided by our sponsor FGB.
  • Bring cash or card for additional post ride bevies.
  • Registered participants get Wood fired Pizza as well.
  • Door Prizes awarded randomly from some of our great sponsors.
  • This is a multi surface event which may include, but not be limited to, mud, rocks, forest, roots, branches, gravel, stones, dust, pavement, mosquitoes, ticks, dragons, ferries, hobbits, adventure, sweat, tears, smiles, etc…
  • Tires recommendations: Minimum 30 mm wide with some file tread, 50 psi max.
  • Rain or shine.

Route Map below:

Route by Martin Brubacher – Finally!

BIG100 Century Rides 2022 | Sunday September 18th

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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 from: 160km (100 miles) or 100 kilometres. Each with three speed groups.

The two routes have been carefully scouted and prepared by seasoned GCC road master John Lyall. He assures us there are no hills – we don’t believe him (we’ve seen the route, oh…there are plenty o’hills!). There will be rest stations along the way and we will be riding some pretty cool and not often travelled roads – that, we believe!

The Details:

  • The 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 weather warning issued by EC)
  • Free parking, gear storage on site, arrive early to stow some gear – come early for this.
  • Three pace groups per distance (see above)
  • Staggered start to finish at a similar time
  • There are rest stops along the way
  • 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
  • Participants must pre-register to allow for food prep

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 Google Maps location

The Routes: Both distances share the first rest stop at 47.5 km where we will have some great snacks and water waiting. There will be some fresh baking provided by club member Shannon Brown who knows a thing or two about long rides and crazy climbs (she just rode 2K km and 20K of climbing with panniers in the Alps!). The 160K has a second paid rest stop in Kilbride at 107 km, bring some cash for that.

The 100 Mile (160 km) Imperial Century:

The 100K Metric Century Route: This route has been slightly adjusted due to a detour.