Rec Level Ride Descriptions

Rec 2 Tuesday 6:00,  Ride Leaders Alan Stunden, Linda Mclean, Shaun Ritchie, Nick Draker-Fortis, Les Kariunas

Starting at 72 Simcoe St.

A great ride for experienced and new riders; those who are new to Group Road Riding, new to PCC, want to refresh their Group ride skills, or who like the Rec 2 pace and distance. We ride at a pace which is comfortable for everyone. Expect an average pace of 19-21 km/h and distance 30-45 km. We start off easier and then add more challenges as the year progresses, and there is always a social aspect to our rides.

We have experienced Ride Leaders who can provide personal guidance for this who might want it.

Rec 3, Thursday 6:00,  Ride Leaders Alan Stunden, Linda Mclean, Shaun Ritchie, Nick Draker-Forti

Starting at 72 Simcoe St.

Similar to Rec 2 Tuesday Night with a faster pace and longer distance. If you are new to Group Road Riding or need to refresh your skills prior to trying other rides, this is the place to start.  Average speed is 21-23 Km/h with distances 30-65 Km.
The routes start off easier and add more challenges as the year progresses. There is always a social aspect to this ride.
Rec 3 is a No Drop ride and we ride at a pace at which everyone is comfortable. We will have Ride Leaders available to provide personal guidance as participants need.

Rec 5, Tuesday 9:15,  Ride Leader Stephen MacPhee

Starting from Silver Bean Cafe Millennium Park this ride promotes a slightly faster Rec pace, but still a couple of notches below tempo. Goals are a fun ride with a bit of social get together post ride.

Rec 6, Monday 6:00,  Ride Leader Doug Driscroll

Starting from Nicholls Oval, this is a fastest Rec Ride. In its 3rd year now, the Monday Rec 6 Ride was originally introduced to bridge the gap between Rec and Tempo rides. Riders should be comfortable at speeds averaging in the high 27-29 KPH range, with some stretches exceeding 30 KPH. Good group riding abilities are required. With larger turnouts, we often lead two groups, with one being slightly faster than the other.

Tempo and Gravel Rides

Tempo Manic Monday's, Monday 6:00, Ride Leader Steve Ouelette

The idea of this ride is to increase rider safety and fitness while working a smallish group. For those that have goals on moving to Thursday night B rides or just looking to have a more of a sportif ride, this just maybe the ride for you.

Rides will be 50 km in length with the first 10km used a warm up and the last 5 km will be used to cool down. The heart of the ride will 35km in length. Riders will be working in a single paceline while taking short pulls on the front and then rotating off. Expect to hit speeds of 33 to 35km/h on the flats.  Two alternating routes will be used throughout this first season with both routes being on the flat side. Rides should take just over hour and half from start to finish by midseason. If this sounds like fun, I'll hope to see you out

Tempo Thursday, 6:00, Ride Leaders Steve Ouelette, Gene Jochen, Paul Chesson

Welcome to our 2025 Tempo A, B and C rides. Let's have a great season

1. Tempo A rides will have an average speed between 30 to 32 km/h
2. Tempo B rides will have an average speed between 28 to 30 km/h
3. New! this season is a Tempo C ride which will have an average of 27 to 28 km/h

Each ride group will have it's own ride leader on Thursday nights

The average speeds for the rides are based on the pace outside of Peterborough and for the duration of the ride. Thus at times may exceed or fall under the posted average. If the route is a hilly ride, except to complete the ride a little under the average speed

Please note - All rides will now start and end at the Rugby club. Some Strava maps may show a starting point at another location. Please join us at the rugby club unless otherwise indicated via the cycle club app.

Tempo Sunday Morning, 9:00 AM, Ride Leaders Steve Ouelette, Gene Jochen, Paul Chesson

All tempo rides will now start  from the Peterborough Rugby Club, including Sundays rides

Welcome to our Sunday endurance rides. This season, similar to seasons past we'll explore our local roads with a few rides scheduled to take place starting and ending out of Peterborough. We'll also introduce a new ride to the club this season called the Turkey Gobbler that will take place on Thanksgiving weekend. This year will be the 2nd annual ride.

Distances will range from 65km to start the season to up too 140km. This will make a good training platform for all that are looking to participate in any fondos such as the HunTer Fondo that will take place on Sept 7th. Avg speeds to be around the 28 to 30 km/h area once the ride has been completed

Gravel Tuesday, 6:30, TBA



Competitive Rides

Thursday Nighter, Fight Night, Thursday 6:00, Ride Leader Scott Murison

Our classic Thursday night ride meant to simulate a race situation. This is a Drop Ride.

Typically two groups, but sometimes we need to break into three self-seeded groups due to numbers.

Time Trial, Wednesday 6:00, Ride Leaders Richard Mathews, Jeff Minicola

Join the race of truth on third Wednesday each month. Final TT is our famous Worlds event followed by pizza!

Recreational Rides

All Rec rides are no drop rides.

One of the PCC Ride Standards is to adhere to the ride description and categorization assigned to a given ride. This will ensure rides are predictable in terms of speeds travelled and distances covered.

Recreational rides are No Drop rides - this means two things. We ride as a group and maintain a steady pace. It is the ride leader’s responsibility to stay within the boundaries of a given ride level, obviously slower up hills and faster down but overall at the posted pace.

 As a participant you need to respect the ride you have joined - going to slow or too fast disrupts the ride and the enjoyment of others. If you are struggling talk to the ride leader and consider leaving the ride (assuming you not suffering any health risks). Likewise if you find you are pushing the group... maybe it is not the ride for you!

Competitive Rides

Competitive Drop Rides

We offer a variety of competitive rides. The Thursday Nighter is our classic drop ride that simulates a race environment. For the safety of all, riders must be skilled a group rides at high speeds - it is not enough just to be able to ride fast - you must understand group ride dynamics, have superior bike handling skills, and be able to ride safety (smooth, steady, predictable) at high speeds.

Our Tempo rides are a hybrid between the Rec Level rides and the drop ride. If you have not raced, it is the place to start. Tempo are No-Drop rides but offer an overall faster pace but with bigger efforts on hills and fast sections that may be well above the posted average. 

Time Trail races are held on the last Wednesday of May, June, July, August (Worlds). Typically a 15K out and back course.

Gravel Rides are no drop

Gravel Rides

Gravel rides offer an opportunity to get off the pavement and onto the quieter gravel roads.

We have some great gravel roads in our area.

While some gravel is hard packed and can be ridden on regular road tires we recommend a gravel bike,  or road with a wider and softer tire.

The pace is solid and you want to be able to ride a Tempo ride to join the gravel, or at least touch base with the ride leader to ensure you won't hold the group up.

Beyond Gravel are special rides that take on fire routes and other more difficult terrain that push beyond just a gravel road.

What Bike should I ride? Ideally a gravel bike, but a road bike with wider tires will be fine. No mountain bikes or hybrids.