Cyclists Robin Bell and LeeAnn Cruz say the best way to stay in shape over the summer is to get out and pound pavement across Haliburton County using nothing but a pair of wheels.
The duo are members of the Haliburton Real Easy Ryders cycling club, a membership-based group committed to promoting biking across the Highlands.
With the 2024 season on the horizon, the club is hosting an information session at the Stanhope Firefighters’ Hall April 28, from 1 to 3 p.m., where people can learn about the Ryders. Bell said there will be volunteers offering safety tips and teaching about biking etiquette.
“This is sort of like our annual kick off. There won’t be any riding at the event – it’s more of a workshop for people who may be interested in becoming a member or learning about everything we do,” Bell, past president of the group, told The Highlander.
Cruz, the current president, added, “We want to get our name out there and tell people that it doesn’t matter if you consider yourself an experienced rider or not, if you have a road bike, gravel bike, fat bike, or e-bike, anyone is welcome.”
Memberships run $40 annually. It qualifies riders to participate in up to three weekly local rides – on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays – as well as monthly socials. Members will also be granted access to the club’s Ride for GPS, which tracks distance covered and provides voice navigation for all ride routes, and Zwift, for virtual riding, accounts.
Now into its 27th year, the group has gone through something of a renaissance post-pandemic. It had 105 members in 2019, dropping to 55 in 2021 at the peak of COVID-19 lockdown measures, but climbing to 159 last season.
Cruz said members like that each ride starts in a different location.
“Some rides will leave from Head Lake Park, so a nice central location, but we have others that start in Wilberforce, Stanhope, rural Minden. We try to hit all four corners of the County,” she said.
There will usually be 20 or 30 riders at each event. Bell said those larger groups will typically break off into smaller groups of five to six people, depending on how fast and far they want to ride.
“It’s important that, as cyclists, you don’t completely take over the road. Riding in smaller groups allows vehicles to pass safely,” he said.
Now into his 60s, Bell said he’s planning to enter this year’s Hurtin’ in Haliburton, an annual eight-hour bike race in Haliburton Forest. He’ll be using his weekly rides with the Ryders to prepare.
He said cycling has helped keep him feeling young at heart. For Cruz, after years of trying and dropping various fitness initiatives, she said cycling is a perfect fit for her, and many others.
“There’s no impact on your joints. It’s great for cardiovascular health, building fitness and muscle – it’s a full body workout,” Cruz said. “You’ve got your upper body going constantly, your core strength for balance, and then your quads, hamstrings, and calves through pedalling.
“After a long ride, you’ll feel the results – you’ll be tired, but there’s no better workout in my opinion. Cycling just hits all the important points,” she added.
The first outdoor ride is scheduled for April 30 in Stanhope.
“I’ve made so many friends by being part of the Easy Ryders – it’s just as much a social thing for me as it is a fitness thing,” Bell said. “I’d encourage it to anyone. It’s a great group of people.”
For more information, visit haliburtonrealeasyryders.com.
