Type of ride: Sunday Ride
6 weeks to RLCT!
Description : Road Ride from Parc Moussette, Gatineau
Start Location : Parc Moussette parking lot
Start Time : 9:00 AM Departure - gather 8:30 -- 8:45
*** NOTE NEW TIME ***
Bonus: A group riding clinic is scheduled today for the same time & place. Check the calendar for sign-up.
Upcoming Club Events:
Please take a look in the calendar to see what upcoming events you may wish to take part in.
THIS IS THE LAST WEEK THAT CALENDAR EVENTS WILL BE SUMMARIZED HERE
MAY 6, 6:00 PM : Tuesday evening ride season opener
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 7, 10:00 AM : Wednesday Coffee Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 8, 6:00PM : Thursday Open Time-Trials
Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 10, 9:00 AM : Gravel Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 10, 10:00 AM : New Members' Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 13, 6:00 PM : Tuesday evening ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 13-16 : Westport Tour First multi-day tour of the season
These out-of-town tours are a terrific way to explore new parts of the region and also to develop great friendships, and have fun, with other club mambers. Every member is welcome.
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 14, 6:00 PM : Women's Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 15, 6:00PM : Thursday Open Time-Trials
Canadian Aviation and Space Museum
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 16-19 : Northumberland tour on the long weekend
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 17, 9:00 AM : Gravel Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
MAY 18, 9:00 AM : Sunday Road Ride
See OBC calendar: https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/club-calendar/
REMINDER FOR RIDERS:
Group ride participajnts must have previously attended an OBC Group Riding Clinic (GRC).
https://ottawabicycleclub.ca/group-riding-clinics/
This year, starting with the April 20th ride, the GRCs will be scheduled coincident with Sunday rides for the first several weeks of the season; that is, starting from the same place at the same time.
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.
Keep an eye out for trash, rocks, sand, gravel, etc. on the roads, especially rounding corners. It's unlikely that the street sweepers will be out tout de suite, so Spring requires special attention to the road surface.
On to the ride...
You will appreciate this! Honest!
Mais, tout d'abord...
Single-file, always, in Quebec. Two-up riding is not permitted. I'm not interested in learning that the SQ has picked up some miscreants and renditioned them to France for forty days and forty nights of solo ascents of the Col du Tourmalet as punishment. "I will not ride two-abreast... I will not ride two-abreast..."
Gatineau Park is lovely in Spring which, so says the calendar if not the weatherperson, is upon us. The surrounding area is also quite scenic. So, this week, we make the first of several forays this season to enjoy what's on offer.
3 of the 4 rides will stop by Wakefield, où gastronomie leur attend! I was recently treated to a delicious bite of pizza and a very fat croissant chez Bluebarn (no, I'm not getting any kickbacks; it was just really good!). But, there are many other options for eating and drinking, if you can only get yourself off your saddle.
Hopefully, the aromas wafting down from the north will encourage the D riders, as they circle Chelsea, to venture farther afield in the future!
Here's a trick when climbing hills in the park (when the parkways are closed to cars and you can usually get away with riding two-up): have a conversation with the person beside you. Seriously. Try it and see if the climb is easier.
Bonne route!
Routes: (take note of the elevation gain for each ride)
It is up to ride leaders and groups to make alterations to reduce the climbing, as desired. Chances are, such alterations are more likely to be made in slower-paced groups.
A Ride : 1208m 97km Chelsea-Wakefield-Lascelles
Trading mileage for altitude this week. The route is drawn north on the newly refinished River Rd to Wakefield, followed by the challenging loop through Lascelles, highlighted by the steep hill encountered immediately upon turning away from the river at Alcove. The group can decide if it wants to stop in Wakefield on the way north, or go off-script and drop into town on the return for a well-earned refreshment. You might find River Rd so pleasant that you will prefer taking it southbound as well. Similarly, the return from Chelsea is open to interpretation, as it is drawn to follow the city streets before turning towards P3 (Gamelin).
28-30 / 31-33 / 34+ kmh
B Ride : 1150m 88km Champlain Lookout-Chelsea-Wakefield
Have you been up to the lookout yet this Spring? If not, here's your chance! After summitting, head down to Chelsea then on to Wakfield via the newly rebuilt River Rd. Enjoy whatever refreshment you like in Wakefield, before returning. The return is drawn the same way you went up, but the group can also climb up to the 105 from Wakefield, if desired, and follow it south.
25-27 / 28-30 kmh
C Ride : 853m 71km Chelsea via Pwky-105/River Rd to Wakefield
The C ride gets the early-season "taste" of the Gats -- i.e. Pink Lake hill and hills before and after -- before transiting through Chelsea on the way to Wakefield, via the dreamily rebuilt River Rd. A cheat route around the hills is, of course, available for any group that didn't eat a mandatory second bowl of Wheaties (are they still a thing?). If you are not familar with the cheat route, the return from Chelsea to Moussette follows it; you can simply take the same route north if you wish. No judgement and whatever will give you the most enjoyabel day!
22-24 / 25-27 kmh
D Ride : 546m 42km Chelsea via Pkwy-Rail Trail loop
Well, young D, how fit is your fiddle this morning? The route is drawn over the top of Pink Lake and adjacent hills. There is no rush, so it is up to you and the group whether to take on the challenge (encouraged!) or sneak around the hills and get to your cup of tea that awaits in Chelsea a little quicker. Discuss that with your group leader -- i.e. hone your lobbying skills -- when you arrive at the launch that morning. The strength accrued from the hill climbs you will definitely notice, and you will find each subsequent outing a little more enjoyable and a little less taxing. More strength also means that more routes become available to you. I've also drawn the route to include about 5km of rail trail, suitable for all but the most fragile of tires, that it might inspire you, in the near future, to follow that trail north to Wakefield. That's a scenic, enjoyable and almost-flat day trip.
Note: If the rail trail is a showstopper for you, not to worry; it can be easily avoided -- and you'll arrive sooner at the coffee stop. Where Scott Rd meets the 105 and the drawn route turns left, instead turn right to follow the 105 down to Chemin Old Chelsea, where you turn right, again, to return to Old Chelsea. Meet the others at the chosen cafe. Easy peasy.
20-22 / 22-24 kmh
*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.