Sat, September 16th | Guelph Lake
2023 6 Hour EPIC
MEMBERS ONLY!
GORBA’s signature event is back with 6 hours of solo or team-based, non-competitive riding through some of Guelph lake’s best trails, including an après social with food and prizes!
Time & Location
- September 16, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (registration 9 a.m., biking starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.; food and prizes approximately 4:30 p.m.)
- End of Guelph Lake’s dam walkway:
About The Event
This is not a race event!
The GORBA Fall Epic is a fun event suitable for all riders. If you’re a newer rider and have been intimidated by the idea of a competitive race or if you’re an experienced rider and just want to have a great time, this is the event for all of you!
The objective is simple: You will be riding a well-marked trail loop showcasing some of our best trails at Guelph Lake. Each completed loop gets you or your teammates a playing card. At the end of 6 hours, the highest poker hand wins! After the ride, we feed you. The name of the game is to have fun and enjoy a full day of riding in the company of other club riders.
Do you actually expect me to ride my bike for six straight hours? Can I take breaks?
We don’t expect you to do anything except show up and occasionally ride a predefined loop around our trails. The course is a marked ~8 km loop which shows off some of the variety of trails we have. Only one rider from each team is allowed on the course at a time, so only solo riders have the opportunity to ride for the entire six hours.
Teams of two, three, or four follow a relay format. Only once the rider returning to the pit area exits the course can the next rider enter. So if you are on a team of four, by splitting up the riding evenly you’re down to an hour-and-a-half of riding. In this way you get to determine how EPIC your day will be. Heck, you can form a solo team, do three laps and then just hang out. It’s really up to you!
…So how do I win?
It gets a bit philosophical, but everyone wins. This is not a race event. Teams will continuously do laps of the course, collecting a playing card at the end of each lap. At the end of the six hours, the team with the best poker hand gets the grand prize. All other prizes will be “door prizes”… so don’t lose your ticket!
Everyone wins because it’s a day outdoors, surrounded by like-minded people just out for a good time. Everyone who enters gets an event t-shirt and post-ride “feast”! That’s a win in our books. Getting a prize is just the icing on the cake.
Some of my friends are more skilled than me. Can I handle the course?
We’ve tried to put together an ~8 kilometer course with a little bit of everything, but for the most part it should be rideable by most riders with a bit of experience.
We will be posting the loop as a Strava segment for you to try ahead of time – stay tuned! Depending on your ability and fitness, the course should take about half an hour to forty-five minutes to complete.
What should I bring?
Bring a bike in good working order, a helmet, lots of water, bug spray and sunscreen, food/snacks, a chair/blanket, and some cash for a 50/50 draw… and just in case, there are treats on site for sale!
Can I bring my spouse/kids/dog/[thing you like here]?
The trails are closed to the public on the day of the event, but we’d be happy for you to bring along your cheering/support crew. We do not have any child care services, just keep that in mind. There will be a porta-potty onsite for the event, but otherwise facilities are pretty limited.
We love dogs, but be aware they must be on-leash.
Patrollers are on-site and on-course to ensure the safety of all participants.
Vehicle access to the event is not allowed! How do I get there?
Parking is available a short distance away at Lakeside Church on Conservation Rd. Please be courteous and fill the lot from back to front.
We will have one or two vehicles available to shuttle chairs, coolers, etc. across the dam, but you will need to ride your bike or walk the short distance to the starting point. Drop your stuff off at the gate by the dam, go park, then load your stuff onto one of the shuttle vehicles and meet it at the staging area.
My friends don’t ride but I want to be part of a team. Can you guys help?
You are welcome to put up a message on our Facebook Group or TeamPages letting people know that you are looking. Include a short description including how many team members you would like and how much maximum or minimum riding time you are looking for, and an estimate of your abilities.
Example: Hi, I’m Jeffrey. Looking for two other people to form a three-rider team. I’m a pretty middle-of-the-pack rider and would like to do at least an hour and a half of riding. Send me a message if you’re interested!
I forget to bring tools to events like this. Then what?
One of our local bike shops will be set up on-site, ready and willing to help out with any minor mechanical repairs.
How much does this whole thing cost?
It’s $42 CAD to register. This includes your entrance to the event, parking, a t-shirt, food, and a prize draw ticket! Not bad.
Now go register!!
Our sign-up process is easier than ever. Click on the google form link below and get it done. We’ll ask for your name, your team members, your t-shirt size, and your food preference.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/hE1RHrvShXNCo2WR6
Registration is closed.
Once you’ve completed the form we’ll confirm your GORBA membership and email you a payment link. Once you’ve paid, you’re fully registered and will receive a confirmation!
Can I sign up at the last minute?
No, do it now! There is a 200 rider limit. The google form will close August 26th and the payment deadline is August 28th.
Something has come up – can I cancel?
We understand, life happens! Unfortunately once you have paid we will have ordered your shirt, food, bike tag, etc. and won’t be able to issue refunds. If you have a friend who is a GORBA member, perhaps they can substitute for you on the day of, or at least pick up your shirt and food.
What about the weather?
This event will run rain or shine.
YOU MUST BE A 2023 GORBA MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE.
Not a Member yet? SIGN UP HERE: https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/gorba-2023-membership