Overview: This fixed based ride will be based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.   The city of Ottawa has a vibrant cycling culture and boasts over 500 miles of on-road cycling lanes, multi-use and country pathways, as well as thousands of bike parking spaces making sightseeing stops around the city easy.   Dedicated bike paths and bike lanes are available in many otherwise congested areas.  The end of September is a delightful time to explore with cooler temperatures (average in the 60’s) and abundant fall foliage.

As Canada’s Capital, Ottawa is a hub for culture and history, as the home to seven national museums that recount the tales of the country’s colorful past.  There are dinosaur skeletons at the Canadian Museum of Nature; armored vehicles at the Canadian War Museum; a collection of totem poles at the Canadian Museum of History; Canadian and Indigenous Galleries at the National Gallery of Canada  present a new way to view the country’s cultural riches; a hands on approach to discovery is available at the Canada Science and Technology Museum; the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum offers a working farm in the heart of the city; and you can fly over Ottawa in a vintage biplane at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

Other tourist highlights include Parliament Hill (our equivalent to the US Capitol Building), Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s Residence (the Governor General exercises the powers of the head of state on behalf of Queen Elizabeth), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride Centre, and the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO world heritage site.  The locks are still operated today much as they were when the canal first opened in 1832.  Our rides each day will generally take us along at least a small portion of the canal.

Our hotel the Cartier Place Suite Hotel is located just blocks from Parliament Hill and many of the other attractions this beautiful city has to offer.  Bike paths are very close by.  The hotel includes a pool, fitness center, sauna and hot tub.  All rooms are suites with a separate bedroom and full kitchen.

Most of our Ottawa rides will use dedicated bike paths or roads closed to cars.  On some of the longer routes, we'll eventually head out into the countryside, riding along peaceful, paved farm roads.  All rides will start out on bike paths that follow either the Ottawa, Rideau, or Gatineau rivers or the Rideau Canal. All of these pathways are generally level and traverse picturesque routes leading to different areas within the City.  There will also be rides going into the Gatineau Hills, which as the name suggests will involve more climbing which equals scenic views. Each day offers multiple choices for distance and climbing.  Something for everyone.

Health and Safety:  Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride. Should someone's health become compromised and the group’s health and safety placed in jeopardy, a plan will be developed by the ride leader(s) and communicated to all individuals. The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

Ride Rating: The ride is rated as 2B.  Typical rides will be around 40 - 50 miles in length with less than 1000’ of elevation gain.  Options will also be available for shorter ride or longer ride.  Depending on the optional rides chosen, the trip could become a 3B.  One ride will involve going into the Gatineau Hills which will involve a total elevation gain of ~3000’. All grades will be less than 8%, and no climbs are longer than 1.5 miles in length.

Cue sheets, maps, GPS files: RWGPS routes will be provided approximately 1 month prior to the start of the tour. Participants will receive an email containing a link to the EVENT file. Participants will need to have downloaded (at the minimum) the free version of the RWGPS app to receive the voice turn-by-turn directions. RWGPS can be run on a Garmin device and/or smartphone. Participants wanting cue sheets or maps will need to print their own from the file provided.  However, paper instructions are not recommended because of the number of turns needed to exit/enter the city.

Weather: Typical day-time highs in late September are in the mid 60’s, although 10 degrees warmer or cooler is not unusual.  Overnight lows tend to be in the mid 50’s.  Rain is to be expected with average September rainfall of about three inches.

Lodging, Meals, & Happy/Social Hour: The tour cost includes 7 nights’ accommodation at the Cartier Place Suite Hotels (http://www.suitedreams.com/), including 7 happy hours with a glass of wine/beer or soft drink and light snacks and 2 group dinners where participants will be responsible for their own drinks.  Breakfast is not included .  There is a breakfast restaurant next to the hotel (as well as other restaurant options) as well as grocery stores nearby and all suites come with a full kitchen for those who want to prepare breakfast themselves.  Lunches and daytime snacks will be on your own with many options to choose from along the routes. 

Logistics: The tour commences at happy hour on Monday, September 27, 2027 and ends with checkout on Monday, October 4, 2027.  If traveling by car, the most convenient border crossing points are probably the Thousand Islands Bridge which connects Ontario Highway 137 with Interstate 81; Interstate 87 north of Plattsburgh, New York which connects with Quebec Highway 15; or Interstate 89 north of Burlington, Vermont which connects with Quebec Highway 133. Secured parking is available at the hotel for approximately $27 per night.

Ottawa (YOW) can also be reached by air.  There are direct flights from New York, Boston, Orlando, Washington DC, Miami, and Chicago. Other destinations connect through Montreal or Toronto.  On your return flight, you can preclear US Customs and Immigration in Ottawa.  Our hotel is about a $30 taxi ride from the airport.

We will be riding mostly on paved trails and on good dirt or smooth stone dust bike paths for short stretches.  All bikes for this tour should have at least 28 - 32 mm tires. E-bikes  and tandems are acceptable. 

Rental bikes can be obtained through Cyro Sports (Cyrosport.ca) or Escape Bike Tours and Rentals (escapebicycletours.ca), both a few blocks from the hotel.   Participants are responsible for and must pay separately for their bike rentals.  

There is a locked room where we will store bikes.  Storage of bike boxes will be in the rider’s room.  The suites are quite roomy, so there is plenty of space for storage.

Cost & Administration: The tour cost is USD $1,600.  The cost is based on an exchange rate of 1 CAD = 0.74 USD. A deposit of $800 is due within 7 days of being accepted on the ride. The final payment of USD $800 is due March 1, 2027. The final payment may be adjusted depending on the USD/Euro currency exchange rate.

Singles & Solos Policy: A “single” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and wishes to share a room with another participant. A “solo” is a member who signs up by himself or herself and does not wish to share a room. It is recommended that singles who want a roommate try to find their own. However, after receipt of the initial deposit, a single rider without a roommate will be placed on the ride and given until March 1, 2027 to find a roommate. If they are unable to find a roommate, they will have the option to receive a full refund (minus the BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee) or pay the  $780 Solo Supplement and stay on the ride. If a single pays the supplement, they may continue to seek a roommate, but must plan to participate without a roommate if necessary. The Ride Leader will assist by attempting to match singles who apply for the ride.

The solo supplement payment of (insert amount), is due by (insert date) and can be paid by Zelle or check. To pay using Zelle:

·       In your bank's website, add Bicycle Adventure Club as a new recipient, with email address treasurer@bicycleadventureclub.org

·       Initiate a payment

·       In the Message block, enter the name of your ride.

If you have questions, contact Nancy Bohnett nbohnett@bicycleadventureclub.org. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check and mailed to:

Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

Cancellation Policy: The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fees are not refundable unless the entire tour is canceled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour. Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped. The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations. If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time. If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed. If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the canceling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Ride Participant Responsibility: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles. All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour. We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader. While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and cleanup. Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour. Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you might have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Insurance Statement: BAC maintains two insurance policies: a) United States, and b) Foreign (all other countries). Both the U.S. and Foreign policies are considered secondary policies to your personal medical insurance policy. They are subject to a $1000 deductible and may not cover all expenses related to an accident. Copies of the current policies are located under the “Docs” tab on the BAC website.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. While touring in the U.S, the BAC insurance includes coverage for injuries due to accidents during the bike trip. Members’ personal insurance will need to cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected illness (i.e. treatment for unexpected illnesses, including Covid, are not covered).

While touring internationally, i.e., outside of the U.S., BAC maintains Foreign accident insurance to assist with expenses related to accidents, medical emergencies (including sudden and unexpected sickness), and repatriation. Insurance will apply door-to-door for treatment and travel for a maximum of 90 days overall. Coverage extends to a limited period spanning the published BAC trip dates, allowing for side trips occurring before and after the BAC ride; the limitation period is 7 days before or after the published BAC trip dates. The policy covers the cost of treatment for Covid and other unexpected illnesses, but not quarantine.

Sign-up: To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee by credit card. There is an $85.00 domestic ride fee and $150.00 international ride fee. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Director by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.