This week’s rides are posted! Head on over to CycleClub App to register.

Monday night we’ll ride up some hills with a few tips and tricks shared by our Ride Host and VP Scott.

Wednesday sees a group ride with 2 pace groups. (Expect some hills on this route!!)

Dirty Thursday will be back, standby for details but get your fave off road bike ready for some action.

A weekend ride is also in the works, check back later in the week for news on that.

Not a Member yet? What are you waiting for?? Sign up today so you can join in this week’s rides.

We’ve got rides happening tonight and on Sunday. Tonight, it’s a Gravel Ride on The Short Nasty route (a Northumberland Classic), and Sunday we have a Party Pace Social Ride exploring the Trent Hills.

Head on over to CycleClub App to register for this week’s rides! Pre Registration is required for participation in our Group rides.

See you on two wheels!!

As promised, today we are revealing the Segments for the June PB (Personal Best) Challenge. Below you will find the names of 15 Strava Segments (5 Road, 5 Gravel, and 5 MTB) that we challenge you to achieve a PB on between June 15th – July 15th. The first 5 Members to get back to us with PBs on 5 segments win a free CCC Cool Cycling Cap. You can mix and match your segments between road, gravel and MTB.

Each of the Segments offers a great view, a great challenge, or is little known in the area. Riding the entire series will give you a true taste of riding in Northumberland County and around.

Please note that participation in this Challenge is at your own risk and the PBs are intended to be achieved outside of our Club rides. We created this Challenge to encourage you to ride a new route or to achieve a PB. As mentioned before, you don’t need to end up on the Leaderboard, KOM/QOMs aren’t extra special, just aim for your best time. Ride safely and enjoy the tour!

So, without further adieu, here are your Challenge Segments:

Road Segments

• “From Snacks To Beer” Rice Lake Scenic Drive from Gore’s Landing (18) to Harwood (15) West to East. 4.88km with Average 0.2% Grade
• “Vimy Ridge Climb” at Glen Gavel Road East-West. 0.44km with Average 6.5% Grade (ouch!)
• “CCC Shelter Valley TT (7.5km Spilt)” From Hwy 2 to Vernonville Road. 7.45Km with Average 1.1% Grade
• “Mastwood Rd from Hwy 65” From Hwy 65 south to 4th Line in Port Hope, ON 4.88Km with Average -0.1% Grade
• “English Settlement Road Eastbound” From Bigford Road to Loyalist Parkway in Brighton, ON 5.62Km with Average 2% Grade

Gravel Segments

• “Fisher – Edger Benson” South off Beaver Meadow to Eagleson. 1.74km Average Grade 0.2%
• “Scoot Along Old Danforth W-E”* Grafton, ON Old Danforth Road from Purdy to Benlock
• “Veep’s Locke UP”* Grafton, ON Locke Road from Pipeline to Joice
• “Beaver Meadow W-E” From Johnstone to Bowmanton Road 1.93Km Average Grade 1.2%
• “Donaldson You’re No Son Of Mine!” Donaldson RoadWest to East From Canning Road to Hwy 18 1.91Kms Average Grade 0.2%

*These 2 segments are new and will only be available as of June 16th.

MTB Segments( All in Northumberland Forest)

• “Up The Chute” (East of Hwy 45) 0.54km Average Grade 10.5%
• “The Dragon Stonewall to Carstairs” 5.00km Average Grade 0.4%
• “Black Oak Section 2 E-W” 1.25km Average Grade -3.3%
• “Green A Finish C4” 6.24Km Average Grade -0.5%
• “To The Bench” 3.48km Average Grade 0.9%

Email us at info@cobourgcyclingclub.com when you have achieved your PBs with the Segment Names. Good luck and have fun with it!

Did you see we are riding this week??? Join our road ride Wednesday night or our Dirty Thursday gravel adventure- head on over to CycleClub App and reserve your spot!

We have all tried to be safe for the last year or so. One more day shouldn’t hurt.
The rain has left sand and standing water on the roads north of the 401 and the radar does not give a clear window for the ride time.
See you Wednesday at Donegan park.

It’s the news we have all been waiting for! The CCC 2021 season of group rides starts Monday, June 14th. ⁠
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If you haven’t already, download CycleClub App and get yourself registered for next week’s rides. We’ll be out Monday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday Night. ⁠Pre-Registration is required for participation in our group rides as group size is limited.
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Haven’t joined us yet? Follow this link and become a Member today! http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/join/
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Woot Woot!! See you this week!!

Saturday, June 12th a number of CCC Board Members and Club Members will Ride For Rebound. Ride for Rebound is a fundraising initiative put forward by Cobourg Chief Of Police Paul VandeGraaf. Tomorrow’s ride of 115km has raised funds that will go directly to programming for children and youth in our community.

THANK YOU to the riders, the sponsors, and everyone who made a donation to support this event. Leave a comment here or on our Social channels (FB + IG) to encourage the riders as they set out on their 115km tomorrow. May the winds be at their back!

Stay tuned as we just received the OCA’s Return To Sport Guidelines, looks like we will be ready for Group Rides very soon!!! What great news to start the weekend off with!!

Congrats to everyone who completed the May Challenge of riding 250kms outdoors! Please email info@coboourgcyclingclub.com to claim your good-looking CCC mask.

We had a lot of fun with the May Challenge so now onwards to the June PB Challenge. We’ll be releasing the names of 15 segments in the area, ones that are a true taste of riding in Northumberland Hills. 5 Road Segments, 5 Gravel Segments and 5 MTB segments. The goal is to get a PB (Personal Best) on each of 5 segments. Doesn’t matter if you place on the Leaderboard for the segment, QOM/KOMs aren’t extra special for this challenge, just aim for your best time on 5 of the 15 segments. THE FIRST 5 PEOPLE TO GET PBs ON 5 SEGMENTS WILL WIN A FREE CCC CAP. The Cap is a lovely Sportful cap with a fresh new design in Club colours. The Challenge Starts June 15th when we release the names of the Segments. Keep an eye on our social channels for an update.

Aren’t doing the Challenge? Still want a hat? No problem, we will be selling hats to anyone who wants to buy one. Stay tuned for details on that coming soon.

How do you let us know about your PBs? Email us at info@cobourgcyclingclub.com with your stats when you’ve completed the challenge. Good luck and have fun with it!

This Challenge is open to current Members only. Not a Member yet? Join us here: http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/join/

Gravel riding offers a level of exploration beyond that of paved roads. Rail Trails, unmaintained roads, unpaved roads, fields, single or double track, all are avenues to take you deeper and further into the world of exploring by bike. Here in Northumberland County, we have endless opportunity to ride gravel- rarely a route is ridden that doesn’t have you roll past an unpaved road or trail through the woods or fields. Our VP has spent a lot of time riding around these back roads so we asked Scott to give us 10 Tips for Riding Gravel. Here they are, along with some pics from recent off road adventures.

1. PREPARE YOUR BIKE One of the most important things you can do to prepare your bike for a ride is to make sure it’s in good basic mechanical shape. That means giving it a good service and making sure there’s plenty of meat on the brake pads, the drivetrain isn’t worn and all the cables, bearings and other parts are running smoothly.
2. ENSURE PROPER AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES. Rule of thumb for this one is the wider the tire, the lower the pressure. If your setup is Tubeless you can usually run even less pressure as you won’t risk a pinch flat. Lower pressure in your tires allows the tire the conform to the terrain and provide a more stable ride. If your tires are hard, they may bounce off rocks which will make bike handling more difficult. You should be able to squeeze your tire and feel some give. Side Note: Knowing the terrain on your route will help you determine the right pressure for your tires. Rail Trail vs. Unmaintained road vs. unpaved roads are all very different surfaces
3. PICK A LUBE THAT SUITS THE TERRAIN OF YOUR RIDE This means choosing between Wet or Dry Lube. Wet should be used for early spring, wet or muddy conditions. Dry for summer, dry and dusty conditions.
4. PREPARE YOUR SADDLE BAG: Include tools, tubes, air pump etc to help you with any trail side maintenance you may need to do. Getting comfortable with basic roadside repair is a real asset- changing a tire, etc. Carrying a Chain tool + spare link are super important for gravel rides- conditions are less consistent than riding on pavement and therefore a little more likely to put strain on your components. I’d also suggest carrying a Tire Boot as well as having 3, 4 + 5mm Allen keys on hand- those 3 sizes will cover most minor repairs.
5. EAT AND DRINK ACCORDING TO YOUR DISTANCE: Bring extra water and snacks as there may be long stretches without places to restock. Bonking while you’re deep in the woods or trails isn’t a great idea- it may take a while for your call-a-friend to locate you.
6. PICK A ROUTE THAT SUITS YOUR FITNESS AND EXPERIENCE LEVEL. As mentioned above, gravel riding can vary from fairly easy to very challenging. There are lots of online services like Komoot, Ride With GPS and Strava that can help you plan a route based on terrain, distance and elevation. There are also several online communities and Facebook Groups that share great information on routes where you can ask questions before you head out.
7. PLAN YOUR ROUTE so you know where you can get replacement fluids, food and even shelter if needed. Please remember that a 50K gravel ride will take longer than a 50K road ride and factor that time difference into your day. Estimate that you will be approximately 5-10kph slower than your average road speed when on gravel.
8. CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST You may need to pack layers for varying conditions, or pack extra fluid for a hot day. Remember that gravel riding takes your father away from conveniences so being prepared is super important.
9. LEAVE LOTS OF SPACE When riding with others, give lots of space between yourself and the person in front and behind you.This allows you time to react to obstacles up ahead like pot holes, sticks, an animal crossing the path, a rider falling over, etc. Riding close together on gravel can be dangerous.
10. HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE SCENERY. This is truly what gravel riding is all about.

As restrictions are lifting, we here at the CCC are gearing up for the upcoming riding season. We are waiting patiently for the official Return To Sport from the OCA that will guide our return to riding as a Club. So, here are a few things we wanted to mention to our followers so that you too will be ready to hop on your bike and join us when we get the green light.

1. JOIN THE CLUB

Follow this link to sign up or renew your Membership: /http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/join/

Please note that if you are a returning Member from 2020, your Membership is not automatically renewed. You must reregister with the CCC and renew your OCA for the current year. If you wish to take advantage of the discount code for your 2020 Membership, please email Corey (our Membership Director) at membership@cobourgcyclingclub.com to request your discount code.

2. SIGN UP FOR EMAILS ON OUR WEBSITE

This will keep you up-to-date and informed on official Club happenings. Enter your email in the field on the home page, right underneath our sponsors’ logos. http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/

3. DOWNLOAD CYCLECLUBAPP

CycleClubApp is our official ride management app. This is how we schedule and post rides and where you will need to reserve a spot in order to be able to join our group rides. It’s a great app and easy to use. Available through the AppStore, Google Play or for the web: /https://www.cycleclubapp.com/

4. JOIN OUR STRAVA CLUB

For Members in good standing. We post notices and Challenges in this Club. Request to join here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/CCC1972

4. FOLLOW US

Our FB Page is here so go “Like Us” https://www.facebook.com/cobourgcyclingclub

Find us on IG @coboourgcyclingclub

Looking forward to seeing you on the road or trails soon! It’s not too late to join our 250KM Challenge to win a good-looking CCC Mask. The Challenge runs until June 10th! Details are available through this link : http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/2021/join-the-club-and-our-new-challenge-to-win/

CONSIDER BECOMING A RIDE LEADER. Training is easy and available online. Set out on your fave routes on days and at times that suit you. Clubs survive on volunteers like yourself. Want more single track and off road? BECOME A RIDE LEADER. Want to drop the hammer? BECOME A RIDE LEADER. Interested in long coffee pace rides? BECOME A RIDE LEADER. (notice a theme here?? : )

Our Board of Directors is chock full of dynamic individuals with some great experience in the sport of cycling, as well as a few accomplished Triathletes. At a recent meeting we decided we’d share some tips and wisdom with our Membership. Here’s some terrific insight on Why To Tri from one of those accomplished and dedicated Triathletes, Harold Kuschnik. As we continue to ride alone due to the Lockdown, you may find some inspiration in the article below on how to keep yourself motivated and active.

Read on!

A major component of health & fitness includes endurance training, and this can be done in many formats with cyclists favoring their bikes, swimmers the water, and so on. Whatever your choice, have you ever considered the benefits of cross-training or ‘triathlon training’ to compliment what you’re already doing? Perhaps you’re experiencing cycling road/trail fatigue with muscle soreness, weather restrictions, or bike issues but still want to workout.

Consider the benefits of swim-bike-run (SBR) connection:

• Improved overall conditioning, flexibility, strength and coordination which is available from engaging more of your body’s muscle groups and metabolic systems
• Training options when cycling just isn’t possible
• A fresh mental focus which will likely make cycling more enjoyable
• Options for multi-sport competition/racing such as duathlons, triathlons, etc.
• Enhanced muscle recovery allowing your body to keep fit but not overloading certain muscle groups thereby reducing the risk of injury
• A psychological break from intensive or extensive bike training which keeps burnout away

The keys to starting include:

• Begin at a level suitable to your ability. If this means taking swimming or running lessons then so be it. Everyone benefits from good coaching, even the pros.  
• Monitor your body carefully. A lower body injury will likely hamper both running and cycling, but likely not swimming, and vice versa.
• Be reasonable with gains. The benefits to your body’s adaptation is long term, weeks and months
• Have a balanced program which allows your body to recharge and heal. Loading swimming and running on top of your current cycling is best done gradually, with a reduction in cycling,- as in cycling, the right gear makes all the difference. However in this case, quality running shoes & apparel will make running so much better, just as a good set of swim goggles, swim suit, etc will make swimming better,
• If and when possible train with an experienced partner or group. They will likely provide the mentoring, encouragement and technical support to head you in the right direction
• Avoid an all at once approach. Become proficient at either swimming or running first. Trying to teach your body and mind too much all at once can be overwhelming. Change up the volume and intensity of your SBR training,
• Finally, have fun! Whether it’s the journey or destination you can find a good starting point to find the right balance or “happy spot” for yourself.

Endurance athletes, whether recreational or semi-pro can benefit from SBR or triathlon training.. Enjoy your time on the road, trail or in the water as you move forward to discover your athletic abilities.

Who doesn’t love a good Challenge? This year we are running some Challenges to keep you- our current Members, our soon-to-be-returning and our new Members motivated and riding. Time to get the trainer tire dust off your bike and get those wheels on the road, gravel, or trails!

Our first challenge is to Ride 250km Outdoors between today and June 10th.

HOW TO ENTER: If you are a current Member, make sure you are part of our CCC Strava Club. For those who don’t use Strava or are new Members, please track your KMs and email your results in when you have completed the challenge to info@cobourgcyclingclub.com

Your Prize for completing the Challenge is a good-looking CCC Mask!

You can register for your 2021 CCC Membership here: http://cobourgcyclingclub.com/join/

Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and stories @cobourgcyclingclub when you’re out riding for this Challenge. Stay safe out there and we’ll be in touch soon!

Looking for a cycling event that helps to support a great cause and a post Lockdown goal??? On May 29th consider joining a few CCC Members and other cycling enthusiasts from the area on this 115km ride from Campbellford to Port Hope raising funds and awareness for Rebound Child + Youth Services. What does Rebound do you ask? Rebound offers programs and services that encourage mental wellness and positive growth, counselling, skills building, and restorative practices to ensure that children and youth are supported to reach their fullest potential.

This Ride for Rebound initiative was created by Cobourg Chief of Police Paul VandeGraaf. CCC Club President Raff Melito and CCC Treasurer Joanne Magne will be 2 of 25 cyclists riding for Rebound. Sign up now while spots are still available!

Register for the event here : https://www.rcys.ca/ride/registration

Support Raff and/or Joanne by making a donation here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/60412

About Rebound Child + Youth Services: https://www.rcys.ca/rebound-overview-index

The OCA issued updated Return To Sport V.12 in response to the latest Emergency Brake Lockdown Measures announced by the Ford Government last week. You can read the details of the announcement here: https://ontariocycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Return-to-Sport-Update-V12-April-1.-2021.pdf

Your Board of Directors met last night and decided that it was safest to postpone the start of our ride calendar for a few weeks, until after the lockdown is lifted. Our original plan was to start on April 17th but now things are looking like a start in early May. We felt a few weeks delay was the better choice over risking the safety of our Membership.

In the meantime, ride outside, ride solo, ride with a vaccinated friend and get ready for a fantastic season of riding ahead. There is no shortage of Virtual Events taking place that you can participate in. Consider signing up for the #notP2A http://parisancaster.com/ as a season starter gravel event. Pick your location, ride and then tell us all about it by tagging us in your Social posts @cobourgcyclingclub on IG and FB. These Virtual Events are not part of the official CCC calendar but they are great, fun events that you can choose to participate in. Support the events that you want to see return year after year!

See you on the road and trails soon! Stay Safe everyone!

This week we’ll return to France, where we haven’t been since the early days of our Meetups. We’ll ride half of the Petit Boucle route which was part of the Virtual Tour De France. Our 30k distance should take us to the bottom of that great descent. Those that want to stay on past that can enjoy an attempt at the Aqueduc KOM and then hit the Pave Sprint.

Now that the weather is looking more favourable for outdoor riding, we’re going to change things up for our Meetups. We’ll choose the crappiest weather day between the Tuesday and Thursday. Outdoor riding will be starting in a few short weeks which will bring an end to our weekly Meetups, so sign up for your Membership and get ready to roll!

As a reminder, these rides are open to Members and Non Members alike. Follow RiffRaffles El Presidente on Zwift before 4pm on ride day to get added to the Meetup. Our rides are No Drop, and Meetup view only. Voice Chat via Discord for those who want to chat along the way. See/hear you there!

Ride On!

The OCA is hosting online Ride Leader/Ride Host Training tomorrow night via Zoom. If you are interested in becoming a Ride Host for the Club this season, sign up for this training. It’s free and very interesting. Here’s the link to register: https://ontariocycling.org/event/ride-leader-training-2/?instance_id=2743

This course will cover:

• Risk Management
• Club Ride Guides
• Safe Riding Practices
• Ride Coordinator Responsibilities
• Ride Leader Responsibilities
• Troubleshooting Difficult Situations
• Managing Groups of Different Ability Levels
• In Person Ride Simulations (postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic)

Our Official Ride Season begins later in April. The more Ride Hosts we can get, the more rides we can have!

Do you like Everything Bagels? I like Everything Bagels. Question is, will we still like Everything Bagels after we ride the NYC Everything Bagel Route for this week’s Meetup?? Be prepared to climb the NYC KOM twice, with 2 short sprints along the way just to spice things up.

We’re changing the date to Thursday this week as Tuesday looks like it might be good weather for an outdoor ride. We’ll rollout at 6:30pm as per usual. Voice Chat via Discord on the Riffraffles Server (CCC Meetup Chit Chat Channel). As a reminder, everyone is welcome to join these Meetups. We keep them No Drop with MeetUp view only. Follow RiffRaffles El Presidente in order to be added to the Meetup. Do so before 4pm on Meetup day to give us time to add you in.

Outdoor rides will be starting up soon so we’ll only have 1 or 2 more Meetups this season. Speaking of outdoor rides, have you signed up for your 2021 CCC Membership yet????

We’re back to our regular Tuesday Night Zwift Meetup, roll out for 6:30pm. This time we tour the scenic, quite climb-y and mixed terrain route of the Ocean Lava Cliffside Loop in Watopia. The climb is quite steep and will likely produce some expletives, but the downhill is really really fun! Your regular road bike works fine on this loop, no need for the mountain bike.

As a reminder, anyone can participate in these Meetups. We keep them No Drop and have the route to ourselves. Friendly chit chat over on Discord for those looking for the camaraderie and support of suffering in a group. Follow RiffRaffles El Presidente on Zwift to be added to the week’s Meetup.

Have you signed up for 2021 Membership yet???? If not, don’t delay! Weeknight rides will be here before you know it.

Ride On!

Hey hey everyone, the day has come! The CCC 2021 Membership link is live, loaded and ready to go. Woot Woot!

Membership for the club this year is $55, a slight increase over previous years. The decision to increase fees was not made lightly- our operating costs have increased and therefore need to be reflected in our Membership Fees. As promised last year, those Members who were in good standing last season will receive a coupon code for the cost of your 2020 Membership. Please email Corey Watts, our Membership Director at membership@cobourgcyclingclub.com to receive your Discount Code. We hope that you will consider still paying your full Membership Fees for 2021 even if you qualify for the discount as it helps us keep the Club going. Every bit helps.

Stay tuned for announcements regarding our Ride Calendar for 2021. We have listened to your feedback and are pleased to be expanding our range of rides, aiming to have something for every day of the week with all types of riding from easy cruising, to gravel and mountain biking, to our trusty TTs and group road rides.

Did you see our post about needing Ride Hosts?? Consider stepping up to Host a ride or two that suits your schedule. No need to commit to a full season of weekly rides. Reach out to our Ride Co-ordinator Jamie Barnes rides@cobourgcyclingclub.com if you’re interested and available to Host.

Sign Up for 2021 Membership here : https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/cobourg-cycling-club-membership-2021

Spring is in the air! Looking forward to an exciting season ahead!

Change of plans for this week’s Meetup as your El Presidente has to attend something Presidential (Virtually, of course) on Tuesday evening.

This week we’ll return to France on the Tire-Bouchon route. We’ll do our usual 25K or so distance together then you can decide to stay on and finish this 60K route or get the heck off your bike and head for a refreshment and your foam roller. Your Beacon will likely choose the latter as all previous Meetup participants would guess! We’ll be voice chatting via Discord as per usual for anyone who wants to listen in or participate in the banter.

6:30pm roll out, Thursday March 11. Be there with your Bidon and road snacks, ready to give some Ride Ons!

As a reminder, these rides are open to anyone who wants to participate. Follow RiffRaffles El Presidente on Zwift to be added to the Meetup.

Tonight we take our Zwift Meetup across the pond and over to London. Another 25k route, this time through London and up the infamous Box Hill Climb! Be ready to rollout for 6:30pm. Chit Chat via Discord always adds extra fun.

As a reminder, these rides are open to Members, Former Members, Soon To Be Members, Friends of Members, and really anyone who wants to join in. Follow RiffRaffles El Presidente on Zwift to be added to the Meetup. If you’ve participated in a previous Meetup, invites will be sent automatically each week.

Ride On!