If you’re not a member of GCBT, you will need to join in order to participate in this event. The annual membership is $40 CDN.
We are really pumped to offer a cycling adventure in the US again, not far from a favourite of past years – Allegany State Park. In addition to going down memory late (or should I say up up up) in the state park, we will explore the mountains of Pennsylvania and beautiful hilly countryside in the Ellicottville NY area.
This cycling adventure takes place from Thursday August 1st to Sunday August 4th, NOT the traditional Friday to our holiday Monday in Canada. We will be hosted at the lovely Saint Bonaventure University campus in the town of Allegany, NY. We are arranging a late checkout on Sunday so you can shower and pack up after cycling.
Accommodations will be in one of the student residences. Each unit has 3 bedrooms (each with two single beds), 2 full bathrooms, a furnished kitchen and living space. If you want a room to yourself, register for single occupancy and you will have a bedroom with two single beds. Double occupancy means you will each have a single bed in that bedroom. If you want to share the 3 bedroom unit with friends, be sure to identify them when you complete your registration. The kitchen has frig, stove and microwave. Linens and towels are provided. And the best part, it’s all air conditioned!!
Dinners are included in the weekend registration, starting with an outdoor pavilion BBQ on Thursday evening; dinners will be in the campus dining hall on Friday and Saturday. You’re on your own for breakfasts – make your own in your suite’s kitchen (you’ll need to bring your own dishes, cutlery, fry pan, etc,) or head to one of the local restaurants. And of course you are on your own for lunches too – pack something along with you in your jersey pocket or take note of stops recommended along the route.
There will be 3 route distances each day – roughly 60 kms, 80 kms, and 100 kms. All routes are on paved roads. Work is well underway in designing the routes to provide a mix of flats and challenging hills, beautiful countryside, and refreshment stops along the way. There are no tour marshalls for the rides – everyone should be self sufficient to follow route instructions (using RidewithGPS) and to handle basic bicycle maintenance on the road … or be sure to cycle with someone with that knowhow and to whom you are happy to owe a beer at the end of the ride. There will be a designated start time each morning - everyone gathers after breakfast, for pre-ride instructions, and departs together. Groups tend to form with similar speed and similar distance cyclists. Your bikes can be stored in your suite or bedroom.
You can choose to arrive one or two days early – the Tuesday or Wednesday July 30 or 31 - to have more time to explore the area on your own. You will be assigned a room for your full stay, so you won’t need to relocate once the GCBT event starts. There are no meals included for this extended stay. You can book your extended stay on the GCBT St Bonaventure registration page.
As stated above, you need to be a member of GCBT in order to participate in this weekend adventure. If you aren’t already a GCBT member, it might work best to do two separate transactions – one to join the club, and the other to register for St. Bonaventure. Check our calendar for the weekend day rides from early April until late October – all for the $40 membership fee, it’s a steal!
Below are the fees for the GCBT St Bonaventure weekend, as well as the extended stays. Each is an option on the registration page.
GCBT St Bonaventure Event Thursday to Sunday
Single Occupancy - $355/person; Double Occupancy $650/room
GCBT St Bonaventure Event plus arrival Wednesday
Single - $430; Double $800
GCBT St Bonaventure Event plus arrival Tuesday
Single - 505; Double $950
If you have any questions, contact Catherine Kwiecien at gcbt.clkwiecien@gmail.com.