Category: Sunday Gravel

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:

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:

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 Gravel Ride | Aug 27th 9:00 AM

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Saturday night has an overnight low of 7 degrees – chilly willy! We will be starting at 9 am to give the morning an extra hour to warm up for us.

On this route, we are mashing together a few old favourites with a coffee stop in Elora. Bring money for that. Tail lights are a good idea too.

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:

Sunday Gravel Ride GUELPH| Aug 20th 8:00 AM

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For those of you who don’t have all day to ride hills, here’s a local route; you’ll just have to self-organize at the start.

Bring money for a coffee stop at the Bank Cafe in Fergus, and 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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel Ride CREEMORE| Aug 20th 9:15 AM

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We are heading to Creemore for a good hilly ride! We went last year, wore ourselves out and had a blast! After the ride we’ll have a late light lunch in Creemore before we head back to Guelph. Here are the details…

Please sign up for the ride early – this will help immensely with logistics.

Please email meg@guelphcyclingclub.ca as soon as you can and let me know 1) If you can drive or need a lift, 2) how many people you can carry and 3) How many bikes you can carry.

Be sure to leave Guelph no later than 7:45 am to make the 9:15 am Pedal time in Creemore.

We will park / meet / start / finish at the Creemore Rec. Center 218 Collingwood St, Creemore, ON.

Bring your ride food and food for the trip up so we can get going early.

We’ll have a rest stop in Feversham which is at Kilometer 54.

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 in Creemore at 9:15 AM

Start Location: Creemore Rec Centre 218 Collingwood St, Creemore, ON

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

Creemore Rec Centre – Click image for directions.

Route: All Speed Groups will follow this map:

SUPER SUNDAY | August 13th, 2023

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GCC’s second ever 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! 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 will be (or already have) posted 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
R585KRoad – Fast9:00 AM
R6 & R780KRoad – Moderate9:00 AM
R865KRoad – Relaxed9:00 AM
G190KGravel – Advanced8:00 AM
G290KGravel – Intermediate8:00 AM
G383KGravel – 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

Sunday Gravel Ride | August 06 8:00AM

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This loop is sort of a tour of the local MTB locations (e.g., Guelph Lake, Arkell, Twin Pods, Little Tract) without riding any of the actual MTB trails. Rest stop at the Danish Place at about km 55. The loop is 91 km, if G1 wants a bit longer, at the exit of Fletcher Creek Preserve they can turn east on Gore Road, ride Lafarge 2000 Trail south down to Concession 8 west, and then head north on Valens Rd, to the Danish Place (adds about 15km).

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.

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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel July 30: Menno Country 165km & 90km

Sunday Gravel Ride | July 30 7:30AM

Hey y’all. I’ve got something a little different for this edition of the Sunday Gravel ride. This week’s ride will offer two distances. Long distance riders will start on bikes in Guelph, and the shorter distance riders will drive to the remote starting location. The intention for this type of ride is to go further afield than the usual 80-100km ride from Guelph will allow. For most riders the following routes will get them out to trails and roads that they don’t often ride.

Menno Country 165 leaves GYMC at 7:30.  There will rest stops at Millverton (60km), and St Jacobs (128km). This route will be ridden at G2 pace

Menno Country 90 leaves Yatton Rd. parking lot at 9:00. Rest stop at Milverton (25km). This route will have G2 and G3 pace options.

Load the route you plan to ride on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how. Stay tuned for updates as the date approaches.

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 7:30 AM or 9:00 AM respectively

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

Start Location: Guelph Youth Music Centre 75 Cardigan St or Yatton Rd. parking lot

Routes for Menno Country 165 and Menno Country 90 below

Sunday Gravel Ride | July 23rd 8:00AM

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A bit of a different take on an Elora-Fergus trip, we’ll stop in Elora just before the halfway point for coffee. We can stop again in Fergus for liquids if needed. Looking like a great forecast!

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.

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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel Ride | July 9th 8:00AM

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We’re going to do the Laskonian route to Hillsburgh. It’s a nice mix of gravel road and rail trail, with a few heart-pumping hills to help prepare those of us doing the Reggie Ramble next week (what … taper?!)

We’ll stop at the Quick Pick convenience store in Hillsburgh for some yummy (OK .. tolerable) snacks.

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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel Ride | July 2nd 8:00AM

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Weather Update: Ride is on! Radar says rain will hit Guelph after we head north toward Alma and be gone by the time we get back. Wishful thinking? Maybe. Have a look here and make your own decision. But as there are no official weather warnings at this time from environment Canada, we’re good to go! If we do happen to get any precip, at least it won’t be cold and wind is low.

Back by popular demand, Alma is the place you oughta be! This route has something for everyone.

Bring money for a coffee stop and 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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel Ride FGB Start | June 18th 8:00AM

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Fixed Gear Brewing start and finish for Father’s Day! Alma street location.

It’s your day dad (thanks Hallmark!). Have the whole famdamily meet you at FGB after the ride you’ve deserved all year long… on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning no less! You’ll be home in time for lunch! Or stay for barley sandwiches and wood fired pizza. Dad’s call!

The route goes south east through Halton. We’ll be briefly stopping in Campbellville for a coffee break so bring money for that. A shortened route is also available. 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 8:00 AM

Start Location: Fixed Gear Brewing 20 Alma Street S, Guelph

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

Route: All Speed Groups will follow this map:

Shortened Route

CANCELLED: Sunday Gravel Ride | June 11 8:00AM

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7:30AM: RIDE IS CANCELLED. While it might not rain, it’s probably going to rain. You’re welcome to ride on your own – I’d bring the rain jacket, if you do.

With the (really fun!) BGR under our belt-less bibs, let’s tackle another longer gravel ride this Sunday. The air quality will hopefully be improving a change in wind direction, so it’s looking like a lovely day for a ride. I will keep an eye on the weather and update by Sunday morning at 7:30am.

Groups can choose if they would like to jut north into Belwood at km 61 for a refresher, or continue on without a stop – if you’ve ridden with me, you know my preference is the latter 🙂

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 8:00 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

Sunday Gravel Ride | May 28th 8:00AM

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It’s looking like a nice day for a long-ish gravel ride in preparation for next week’s BGR! But you’ll still be home in time for lunch!

Bring a small snack for a real brief trail side nature break at the snow mobile bridge at Wilson’s Flats and then a few sheckles for a proper Coffee stop in Fergus at the Vault Cafe.

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 8:00 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:

Sunday Gravel Ride | May 14th 9:00AM

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Graveliers celebrate Mother’s Day, thanks Hallmark!

Forecast is looking nice for this Mother’s day ride, but Saturday’s overnight low is only 1°C. Meaning –> chilly morning. Can’t see the hourly prediction at the time of posting. This may get adjusted again. Check back to be sure of our start time.

Bring your own snacks for a rest stop. We’re stopping at the Danish place, but it might not be open when we get there. Tail lights are a good idea.

This ride is routed to Fixed Gear Brewing on Alma street in celebration of Mother’s Day! Prost mama!

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: