Sunday Ride 26-07-26 - Orleans, Millennium Park n Ride
About the event
IronPeople
First order of business: A shout out to our Sunday riders who are participating in and in the final days of training for next week's IronMan Ottawa. Woot! Woot! Here's wishing you all a satisfying and rewarding day!
Upcoming Club Events:
Please note that you must be a current OBC member to participate in any events.
Please take a look in club calendar to see what upcoming events you may wish to take part in. There is something going on almost every day, and new, recurring activities are still coming on-line for the season.
AIR QUALITY
Sadly, forest fire smoke is, again, to be contended with as it affects our group rides.
We now have gov't websites that provide guidance on current and forecast air quality.
When the risk is low to moderate, each rider must make their own determination as to whether or not they will participate in any given club activity. Although the OBC Extreme Weather policy doesn't specify a precise air quality value which triggers event cancellation, the Ontario Cycling policy (which we must abide by) does provide more specificity. As the Sunday Ride Coordinator, I will cancel a Sunday ride when a "High" risk is forecast (possibly even on the high end of moderate, in certain circumstances). This determination will likely be made the morning of the event but possibly the night before. With a "moderate" air quality value, you might consider riding a shorter route at a slower speed.
You would be notified by email of such cancellation. It's always a good idea to check your email before heading out to a ride.
REMINDERS FOR RIDERS:
Group ride participants must have previously attended an OBC Group Riding Clinic (GRC).
Check the calendar to see when the next GRC is scheduled. Send a message to the education director (also VP) to express your interest.
Is your bike ship-shape? Are you carrying basic tools and equipment? Be sure all the critical components -- brakes, drive train; tires -- are in good shape and thus ensure that your bike won't be inclined to leave you in tears at the side of the road. On all club rides (in fact, whenever you ride), please carry, minimally, a spare tube, tire levers, air pump (or equivalents for tubeless). Having bright, day-time running lights (front & back) is also a really good idea to improve your visibility to other road users.
RIDE LEADER COURSE:
I'm offering the 2-hour, mid-week, evening, on-line seminar next Monday, July 27th, 18:30 - 20:30. It's ready for you to register and join the crowd already signed up! The info in the webinar is useful for all riders but is particularly aimed at those who wish to step up and lead groups. All members are welcome.
Remember: If there are no ride leaders, there are no rides. If the person next to you volunteers, why don't you?
Sunday Ride
Please note that you must be a current OBC member to participate in any events.
Description : Road Ride
Start Location : Millennium Park 'n' Ride, Orleans
Start Time : 8:00 AM Departure - gather 7:30 -- 7:45
Anyone else noticing that the corn is getting (too) tall and dangerously close to harvesting?
Into the mysterious (?), exotic (??), quite flat (unless you're an A rider) east, once more. There are scenic roads to be ridden, for sure.
Note the addition of a trial, MIXED PAVEMENT/GRAVEL ride this week: CANCELLED DUE LACK OF INTEREST BUT WILL TRY AGAIN! SIGN UP EARLY!
B, C, and D rides stay on the Ontario side, finding new pavement here and there and roads that appear new by going the other direction (route planning trickery) while the A riders explore more hills in Quebec.
A riders: bring 2 x $2 for the ferry. (They accept cards: + 2.5%)
Construction: There is a little bit, here and there, that you ought to be able to ride through.
Looking ahead #1: Veteran riders from Orleans may have noticed the lack of 2-ferries rides this season. This is because your frugal routemaster is miffed that Traversiers Bourbonnais (Cumberland) jacked up their rates for a bike and rider by 150% this year, from $2 to $5. Fortunately, the other ferries did not follow suit: still $2 (Rockland) or $3 (Lefaivre). So, send me feedback as to whether or not you want your 2-ferries route the next time we return to Orleans. The cost would be $7 each for ferries ($5 + $2). Perhaps we could save that for the Fall (yikes!) Colours ride in September.
D riders: Due to the shorter distance of your rides, the 2-ferries ride doesn't give you great options for roads (i.e. QC-148 is the only option). Let me know if you would nonetheless like to do a 2-ferries ride or not.
Looking ahead #2: A riders. There is a move afoot to schedule a ride to the St Lawrence at some point this season (roughly 200km). Please let me or Michael Varty know if you are interested, as a rider or ride leader, and at what pace. Would you prefer that it be on a Sunday (from the airport; perhaps departing earlier than 8AM?) or a Saturday?
Bonne route!
*Group composition will depend on having a Ride Leader, and interest for specific Distance/Speed combinations, as determined by who shows up at the start point.
Sorry, registration closed.
Available rides
A (133 km, 1147 m elevation gain)
"3 loops with connecting tissue" and "mildly adventurous" might describe this route across to Quebec.
!! : bring 2 x $2.00 for the ferry.
Some notes on the route:
at km 18.6, there's a left turn into Rockland to avoid the crappy condition of Baseline Rd east of the big downhill. If you don't mind the crappy road condition, you can continue on Baseline through to Landry Rd, where you will turn left to rejoin the route en route to the ferry.
You can expect, I believe, construction over a distance of 1km on Rang St Louis, somewhere between km 49 and km 57. Seven culverts are being replaced; hopefully, one at a time.
Having never been to St-Andre-Avelin, I don't know the cafes. However, Google says there's a pastry shop that's open Sunday, but you might need to take a short detour over a temporary bridge to get to it. You're welcome. There's also a Tim Hortons on your way south from St-Andre, just after you turn off the 321 just after crossing the 50.
At km 80.9, the route goes straight ahead onto unknown roads. Streetview shows promising pavement at either end of 7e Rang E but is blind to what's in between; worst case, you turn around and retrace your steps into Thurso.
Other refreshment stops include Rockland, Thurso, Sarsfield, Navan. I believe there are toilet facilities at both ends of the ferry crossing.
B (104 km, 432 m elevation gain)
Zigging southeast to Casselman and zagging on the return, you almost circumnavigate the Larose Forest on this counter-clockwise loop. Some roads might be new to you while others are well known, particularly once you get to Bourget on the return. To find toilets and refreshment in Casselman, you might need to follow the cues almost to the 417. It's a good idea to look at the map, close up, to see what fast food is available. On the way to Casselman, you might find a portapotty in Alcide Trudeau Park in Vars (300 metres north of the route, km 17.4) and in the skate park in Limoges (right on the route; km 30.3).
The main road bridge into Casselman is under reconstruction; you should still be able to cross it without a problem.
On the way back, the grocery store in Bourget has a washroom. The park in Hammond may have a portapotty. Midori Market in Sarsfield has refreshment. Sunrise Bites in Navan (presumably) has bites.
I suggest that you familiarize yourself with these stops.
C (72 km, 362 m elevation gain)
A counter-clockwise loop makes old roads seem brand new!
In this case, you start off with the freshly re-surfaced Trim Rd, heading south to Navan, then ducking over to the wide-shouldered Frank Kenney, down to Vars (I believe there is a portapotty in Alcide Trudeau Park for those who forgot before leaving home; check location on the map). Head east on what should be a very quiet Devine Rd before turning north towards more familiar territory.
The roughly midway stop is at Midori Market in Sarsfield. Then you wend your way back to Wilhaven Rd, westbound this week. finish with an unexpected jog down Frank Kenney to Wall Rd then Trim back to the barn.
D (54 km, 270 m elevation gain)
A counter-clockwise, vertical oval this week, south to Vars -- via freshly paved Trim Rd and wide-shouldered Frank Kenney -- then up to Sarsfield for a rest, then up to Wilhaven Dr heading west.
Rest stop planned for Midori Market in Sarsfield. If needed, I believe there is a portapotty in Alcide Trudeau Park in Vars, which is about 500 metres off the route (see the map for directions to get there).
The map indicates gravel on Sarsfield Rd; I believe it is fresh pavement.
PG (81 km, 371 m elevation gain)
PG = Pavement/Gravel
THIS RIDE IS CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEK AS NO ONE HAD SIGNED UP AND I NEEDED TO MOVE TO FILL A HOLE ELSEWHERE.