Ottawa Bicycle Club

The Ottawa Bicycle Club was founded in 1882. We are the oldest and one of the largest bicycle clubs in Canada. The OBC offers a range of cycling programs which appeal to a range of cyclists from novice to experienced riders. Events vary from relaxed country tours with picnic lunches to fast-action road racing. The Ottawa Bicycle Club provides a unified voice for cyclists in the national capital region to speak to government bodies, organizations and other groups of interest to cyclists. The OBC is run by members -- only through an active membership can the club offer so many programs. Club members volunteer to lead the tours and organize club events. Open to cyclists of all ages, our oldest members are in their eighties, our youngest have just taken off their training wheels. Day Tours The OBC offers a variety of group riding opportunities. The vanguard of our program is our Sunday Rides program. Sunday tours normally depart from the McDonald's at Billings Bridge. Occasionally, the start point changes from Billings Bridge to another location, which we refer to as a "remote start". On Sundays, riders have a choice of group riding speed and distance to suit your particular fitness level. The Club also has group rides on Saturdays during the summer months or Tuesday evening rides if you enjoy stress-free evening rides. Touring Events Touring events are overnight tours to locations outside the National Capital Region. The marquis event is the Rideau Lakes Cyle Tour from Ottawa to Kingston and return. It is normally held the first weekend in June. The Vermont tour is normally based out of a state college in Vermont, such as Castleton, Johnston, Burlington or Lydonville. An Inn-to-Inn Vermont tour is also held in conjunction with the Vermont weekend. A small group of OBCers travel to Virginia in the Spring, to get a jump on the cycling season. The Summers End Century Tour is a trip to the NAVCAN facility in Cornwall, Ontario, and there is a "Metric" and "Imperial" route offered. Racing The OBC operates a comprehensive racing program. Our race team provides development and support to athletes of all ages and abilities with great success. Cyclists can take part in our Tuesday and Thursday evening Time Trials on the Rockcliffe Parkway. The OBC also hosts the OBC Grand Prix in Gatineau Park. This racing event has Ontario Cup status and is also a Quebec Federation Event. In the fall months, the OBC hosts the Eastern Ontario Cyclocross series.