Category: Sunday L&F

100+ km, often at tempo pace, with a refuel stop.

Sunday Combined Road Ride Oct. 30 11 a.m.

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I have a confession to make: I’m kind of sick of road riding.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love it: of all the different kinds of cycling I do, it is by far my favourite and just looking at my road bike still fills me with that little kid excitement and sense of anticipation. The speed, the intensity, the comradery…

But with the end of weekday group rides, cooler weather and shorter days, road riding doesn’t have the same allure it does during the dog days of summer. Fall feels like the time for gravel and I’m already looking ahead to the snow and fat bike season. The Zwift membership has been reactivated and trainer set up reassembled. I actually enjoy the variety that cycling in Canada demands.

That said, there are still a few good days left and some places I’ve been meaning to get to. A couple of times this season I’ve mapped out a run to Holtem’s Bakery in Erin only to be thwarted by the weather so I’m throwing it out there one final time in the hopes of getting hands of some of that tasty goodness.

Anyway, let’s head into the breach one more time my friends before putting the trusty skinny-tire steed away for the winter. If nothing else, I promise the fritters will be fantastic.

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 Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday, Oct. 9 Combined Road Ride 11 a.m.

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Listen, I get it. It’s Thanksgiving and most of us have things to do and trying to fit a ride in with family obligations and turkey cooking and even a stupid playoff baseball game might be tough. It’s the end of the long summer season and we’ve already made plenty of time for cycling so perhaps, in this particular case, we should prioritize other things.

Or, and just hear me out here, maybe we can squeak in just a quick ride, just a wee rip before turkey time. We’ll feel better about gorging ourselves if we burn some calories first, more tolerant of vaguely annoying extended family members if we’ve spent a little time Zenned out on two wheels: among the things to be thankful for, surely cycling makes the list.

So how about a compromise? There is no long and fast route this week because even ride leaders have to know when a bridge across the gap is a bridge too far. But I have devised a plan that might, just might, have a little something for everyone.

We’ll do a quick 60km loop through Hespeler, no stops. We’ll wave at the Four Fathers patio, breeze by the coffee shop on Queen Street – no time for dilly-dallying today – and finish up at the south end Starbucks. Two hours, with a bullet.

For those of you with more time to spare, there will be a longer route option that adds another 50km or so. I will not be joining for this bit because I like being married so it will be leaderless in practice but not in spirit because we are all leaders on the bike at this point. Might make sense to load the route on your bike computer if you have one, here’s how.

So let’s give thanks the right way on Sunday: from the saddle, in spandex with our riding friends. Everything else is gravy.

Speed will be between 27-30 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below, with a longer route option for those so inclined.

Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | October 2nd @ **9:00am**

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Fingers crossed for better weather this weekend. Lets get in at least one more nice long ride as this GCC season gets closer to an end. Apologies in advance, but I can’t start this ride any later than 9am so dress wisely …. it’ll warm up nicely. We’re meeting at Lost Aviator Coffee to start and then heading out toward some much less familiar roads through Reidsville and Ayr. Explored this route last weekend and loved it. Bring money for a refuel/coffee stop in Ayr. We’ll make our way back through Glen Morris; Scenic Drive and Sheffield. See you Sunday!!

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: Lost Aviator Coffee on York Rd at Hayes Ave

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

Route: The Longer Faster Sunday Ride will be following the map below

CANCELLED: Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | Sunday, September 25th – 9 AM

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TOO COLD AND WET for me. May see you in the virtual world today. Please note the start time is 9:00 a.m. No / No-go call will be made by 8:00 am as the weather is not looking all that good tomorrow. We will be heading down toward Carlisle and cutting across to the west before coming back up through Hespeler. There are various options for people to make this route shorter. 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: East End Library at Starwood and Watson

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

Route: The Longer Faster Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | September 11, 8:00 AM

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110 KM with lots of places to stop and refuel. Options to extend or shorten if we decide to do so as a group. Ignore the sections on the map that indicate unpaved roads. The entire route is, in fact, paved.

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 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 Longer Faster Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | September 4th, 8:00 AM

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Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | September 4th, 8:00 AM

Ever wanted to ride around the Conestogo Reservoir? Go in a different direction than our usual routes? Or maybe you just have an aversion to heading South. If you answered yes to any of these, this ride is for you. We’re going to head out northwest and check things out in this part of the world. I think most of the roads are pretty quiet but if not, we’ll go single file or reconsider a re-route. It looks like the best rest stop is Drayton which is pretty far into the ride so bring some snacks for the first part.

The weather forecast is looking iffy but as usual, the final call will be be made by 7 AM.

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 Longer Faster Sunday Ride will be following the map below

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 Combined Ride 8 AM: All hail the mighty Dar

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Dar’s Delights has been a staple in the metropolis of Moffat since I can remember. Hers is a unique combination, to say the least: fine baked goods – the doughnuts are simply outstanding – paired with a personality so curmudgeonly it borders on parody. And don’t ask to use the bathroom unless you want to be stabbed in the neck with a set of metal tongs. Soon, however, Dar’s Delights will be no more: she is closing in early September to “enjoy” retirement. I, for one, will miss both the fruits of her labour and her unique world view. Only a heart of gold produces treats that good, hidden as it may be under layers of fully-formed crust. On Sunday, we will pay homage to Dar by swinging by to sample her wares and take some of her crap. It will be a combined ride, a mediumish distance done at the fastest pace the group can sustain. We will eat doughnuts, if there are any left, and revel in an experience that will soon be just a tasty, and inherently complex, memory.

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 Sunday Ride will be following the map below

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 

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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….

Sunday Longer Faster Road Ride | July 10th at 8AM ***Starting from the Guelph YMCA

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Dundas Valley/Mineral Springs/Sulphur Springs/Ancaster/Waterdown – We haven’t made it all the way down there yet this year for one reason or another. This Sunday looks like the day to do it. The plan will be to leave from the Guelph Y – rolling at 8am for a 123km loop down into the winding/rolling roads of Dundas Valley. We’ll have a rest stop once we’ve made it through the toughest climbing and reach Waterdown. It’ll be a bit of a long ride so we’ll keep the break short so as not to burn up the whole day. Bring money for the coffee stop. Bringing lights is always a good idea.

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

And the Club Kit is on sale again only until Wednesday. Click here for great GCC riding apparel!

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: Guelph YMCA on Downey Rd

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

Route: The Longer Faster Sunday Ride will be following the map below

CANCELLED Sunday Road Ride | October 31st @ 11:00 am

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The ride is offically canceled. It seems that between the weather and my general popularity that I am the only person to have signed up for the ride. Not the way we would have wanted the last official club ride of the year to go but thats life. Thank you all for such a great season in spite of all the goings on in the world.

Let’s see if I will be 0 for 3 on leading Sunday rides. It has been a very wet year.

Start time to 11:00 am. It will be getting increasingly windy as the day progresses. We will earn our pay.

Nice scenic route through Acton, Glen Williams, and Limehouse. Lots of places to stop and refresh along the route. This is 110km form the start back to the church at Arkell and Watson. This route will take us through some nice fall scenery. We can adjust the length of the route to suite the conditions and or the wants of the group.

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Rides start in the parking lot of the East End Library at the corner of Starwood and Watson. We will all meet at the B group location since we are a single group.

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.

Sunday Oct 10th road rides | 11am start

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The long term forecast looks decent, 21 degrees and overcast. Perfect 🙂

We’ll head to Dundas to check out the resurgence of Cafe Domestique 2.0, now located at King and Foundy St:

This cafe has always been a great supporter of local cycling, so let’s give back!

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

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

Meet at the east end library at 11:00AM. A clockwise route, and we’ll need to avoid a bridge being out just west of town.

No Sunday Road Ride This Week

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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.

BIG 100 Century Rides Sunday September 26th, 2021 160K & 100K

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

It’s time to see how your fitness has progressed throughout the season or come along for just another Sunday ride, you decide.

The Essentials:

Sunday September 26th, 2021

Start Times

160 KM
8:00 am – Recreational 
8:15 am – Moderate 
8:30 am – Fast
 
100 KM
10:00 am – Recreational 
10:15 am – Moderate 
10:30 am – Fast
 

Start and finish is at Fixed Gear Brewing on Alma Street (the original location).

Pre-registration is mandatory and available here

The Details:

  • The rides start and end at Fixed Gear Brewing, with a free beer at the end for participants. Water & soft drinks also available
  • Rain or shine (unless weather warning issued by EC)
  • Free parking, gear storage on site, arrive early to stow some gear
  • Three pace groups: Fast, Moderate and Recreational for both distances
  • Staggered start to finish at a similar time
  • There are rest stops along the way
  • The BIG 100 is open to SRCC Club Members only
  • Post ride food provided by SRCC with more available to purchase
  • Bring cash or card for additional post ride bevies or food
  • Masks are mandatory when passing through the Fixed Gear Brewing building
  • Participants must pre-register
  • No other club rides will run on this date
  • Exact departure times for each pace group coming soon
  • Pace group adjustments may occur subject to popularity

Don’t forget… winter is long and September is beautiful.

Hope to see you there!

Your SRCC Board

Sunday 08/22 Road, 8:00am

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As long as the rain holds off, it should be a great (but hot) day for riding bikes! We’ll go on an adventure to explore the Escarpment south of us, before returning up some familiar roads. Bring lots of water, as it’s going to be hot!

We have two options for stops: firstly at the very classy gas station/Tim Hortons on Tremaine Road at around the 50km mark, and secondly in Kilbride around the 70km mark (popsicle stop highly recommended at this point!).

Please sign-up for this ride HERE

This ride is open to SRCC club members only. If you aren’t already a member, you can sign up for the club at speedrivercyclingclub.org/join

The ride departs from the East Branch Public Library at Starwood and Watson at 8am. See the route below, and load it to your GPS!