Sunday M&M – Guelph Cycling Club

WEEKLY RIDE POSTS

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

Drew Edwards October 28, 2022 October 29, 2022Sunday L&F, Sunday M&M

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

Cancelled – Sunday Medium Moderate Road Ride | October 23rd 11:00AM

Shane Danis October 21, 2022 October 22, 2022Sunday M&M

Cancelling due to low/no participation. Join us on the gravel or L&F ride instead.

The weather looks amazing for a late season ride. If for some crazy reason that changes an update will be posted here no later than an hour before the ride. Since you’ve been working hard all season to strengthen the body and mind, what better time than now to test yourself with the Rattlesnake / Appleby Line climb. If you’ve never done this climb then no better time to try it with a group. We’ll be sure to re-group at the top (a.k.a. waiting for me) and the mid ride break is shortly after as well. Bring money for a coffee stop in Campbellville. Tail lights are a good idea.

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

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

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

Drew Edwards October 6, 2022 October 6, 2022Sunday L&F, Sunday M&M

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 Medium Moderate Road Ride | October 2nd 11:00AM

Shane Danis September 28, 2022 September 28, 2022Sunday M&M

Now that it’s October rides now start at 11:00AM. This week we’ll head north to Elora and head home on the fun and fast Middlebrook and Crowsfoot Roads. Hopefully the weather outlook stays sunny but if something does change then any changes or cancellations will be posted here no later than 10:00AM on Sunday morning. Bring money for a coffee/snack/hydration stop in Elora 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 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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

CANCELLED: Sunday Medium Moderate Road Ride | Sep 28th 9AM

Meg T September 24, 2022 September 28, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

Unfortunately we have no ride leader for the M&M ride this week. Below is a shortcut version of the L&F route. Those who want to do this shorter ride can start with the L&F group, then follow the unofficial route below home. Be sure to load the route into your bike computer, here’s how.

Note this week’s start time is 9AM.

Go ahead and sign up if you want to do this – then you will know who else is coming! You can also use our new Discord app to communicate with each other.

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 on the F&F posting no less than one hour before the ride begins

Route: The Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium Moderate Road Ride | Sept. 11, 8 AM

Drew Edwards September 9, 2022 September 10, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

This time of year always makes me a little bit sad and lazy. The days are getting shorter and weekday rides have come to an end: maintaining the fitness I’ve built over the summer gets harder and harder and the couch and the chicken wings are right over there, ready to fill the emptiness in my biking soul.

But wait. There’s one more big club event on Sept. 18 and some cool events this fall. I love my road bike but gravel rips in colder weather is fun, too. Fat biking in the winter is a trip. Zwift isn’t that bad, in moderation. And Sunday rides are still a thing. Maybe I should just keep pedaling and see how it goes.

With that in mind, this Sunday we’ll join forces with Daryl’s Long and Fast group for the run out towards Erin, then loop back through Rockwood for a quick coffee before some late morning hill climbing back to Arkell.

So once more into the breach, dear friends. Summer might be coming to an end, but our two-wheeled journey never stops.

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | September 4, 8:00AM CANCELLED

Emma Johnston September 1, 2022 September 4, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

CANCELLED

Seems enough people are away for the long Weekend and no one has signed up. I’m going to cancel this ride, and join another one myself 🙂
***

This route is very similar to the Longer & Faster ride, but we lop off about 50km around the reservoir. We’ll leave with them, but will probably fall into our own pace at some point. There’s some lovely hills on the way up north!

Tail lights are never a bad idea, and we’ll stop for coffee in Fergus on the way home.

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

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

RIDE CANCELLED | Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | August 21st 8:00AM

Shane Danis August 19, 2022 August 21, 2022Sunday M&M

RIDE CANCELLED. It looks like there’s a 50/50 chance we’d get wet early in the ride and radar suggests a large burst around 10:00 – 11:00 so airing on the side of caution and cancelling the ride.

The weather is not looking good at this time so be sure to check back no later than an hour before the ride to see if we’ll be riding, fingers crossed. This ride will take us east, south, west and north as I couldn’t decide which way to go. We’ll make a stop in Hespeler to refuel as needed. The stop is a bit later in the route so be sure to bring plenty of water. The unofficial end of the ride will be at Gordon and Clair Roads. Bring money for the refuel 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 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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | August 14, 8:00 AM

Andrew W. August 12, 2022 August 12, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

A scenic route for the M&M group this week: Maryhill, the covered bridge, Elora and Fergus. We’ll stop for coffee in Elora.

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

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Combined Ride 8 AM: All hail the mighty Dar

Drew Edwards August 5, 2022 August 5, 2022Sunday L&F, Sunday M&M

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 Medium & Moderate Road Ride | July 31st 8:00AM

Shane Danis July 29, 2022 July 29, 2022Sunday M&M

Butter Tarts! Now that I have your attention, Sunday morning rides north to Belwood for butter tarts is a mid summer must do. The weather looks like it’ll be a perfect morning for a ride north. We’ll ride at the posted pace but ensure we regroup often if needed. Bring plenty of fluids and money for the butter tart stop. Tail lights are a good idea for visibility.

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

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | Month Day Time

Gabhan Chalmers July 15, 2022 July 15, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

We’ve all been avoiding it. Time to visit Rattlesnake once again. Oh come on, it’s not so bad. It makes you a better rider.

Quick stop at the corner store in Campbellville, then cruise home. Stay hydrated, it looks like a decently warm one.

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

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | July 3, 2022: 8:00 am

Daryl LeBlanc July 2, 2022 July 2, 2022Rides, Sunday M&M

85 km

We will roll down Wellington Road 50 and then down through Acton where we can stop and refuel. All the roads are, in fact, paved. Ride with GPS is not up to date on paved roads.

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 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 Medium and Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride – June 19th – 8AM

Emma Johnston June 18, 2022 June 18, 2022Sunday M&M

We’ll be following the Long & Fast route for the first ~30km, so we might leave with them and split up at some point. In any case, our route takes a turn at Carlisle, and meanders around some lovely roads. We return to Guelph by Cambridge & Hespler, where we’ll find a nice cafe.

Bring money for a coffee stop and tail lights are a good idea.

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 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 Medium Moderate Sunday Ride will be following the map below

CANCELLED – Sunday Medium & Moderate Road Ride | June 12 8 AM (Starts at the Y)

Drew Edwards June 10, 2022 June 12, 2022Sunday M&M

UPDATE 7:05 a.m.: The weather forecast actually improved a bit but the radar doesn’t look great and after riding in the rain on Thursday, I don’t recommend it. We’re also down to three riders so I’m going to err on the sign of caution and cancel it.

Cycling is often about optimism. Convincing yourself you have the legs to keep up, the will to hang on, the courage to go for the blue sign in the surge at the end of a ride (it’s not a sprint because sprints are definitely, absolutely, for sure not allowed on club rides.) And sometimes you just need to believe the weather is going to change.

Sometimes, that faith is misguided. Last Thursday, for example, we challenged the radar gods and were punished with a thorough soaking, sketchy conditions and general chaos. This is the downside of optimism, wanting and hoping for something to be a certain way only to have your hopes and dreams crushed. Ever watched the group pedal away, unable to do a single thing about it? That’s optimism gone horribly awry.

Still, we keep the faith. I’m posting this ride despite a decidedly foreboding weather forecast. I need it to change. I believe it will change. Because I want to ride.

When this ride happens (not if, when) we will START AT THE Y ON KORTRIGHT and join the long and fast group for the downhill, downwind rip towards Dundas where we will stop at Domestique, an exceedingly cool, cycling-themed coffee shop, before starting the climb for home on the famed Sydenham Road. The ride home will be long and mostly uphill. You will be tested. Your faith may waver. You will make it and be rewarded.

Or you will check here at 7 a.m. and have your plans ruined by Mother Nature in her cruelest form. The price of optimism is an occasional disappointment but that’s OK: we will ride again and it will be that much sweeter because of it.

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 8:00 AM

Start Location: The YMCA parking lot (Hanlon at Downey)

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