Here you will find short bios. of the Owen Sound Cycling Club’s board members and ride leaders.
President
brian
The OSCC has provided me with a great opportunity to join others on both road and gravel rides. It has opened new routes to ride in our area coupled with meeting new cyclists and enjoying social times both during and post rides.
I have enjoyed cycling from a young age delivering newspapers by bike and exploring our community. My interest in cycling continued with mountain biking, road, triathlons, cycling touring in Canada and internationally, and more recently the introduction of gravel riding opening up so many more roads and trails in and around Owen Sound.
The OSCC promotes safe and enjoyable cycling in our community and invites cyclists to join us as members for group rides within a welcoming cycling club.
Vice President
AIDAN
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Membership
Joanne
I joined the OSCC in 1988 at the age of 36, not many women were riding with the club at that time, I was certainly in the minority. It was a small group of regulars and we rode most of the routes we still enjoy today. Helmets weren’t mandatory at the time, but it wasn’t long till I picked one up. There was a reason – I won’t elaborate!
Since that time I have been an active member of the Club, and as part of the executive was instrumental in developing and promoting cycling for women. In 2023 we had almost an even split of male and female riders.
Over the years I have enjoyed cycling weekends with the Club. A number of years ago Tom Hakala organized an amazing cycling trip to Manitoulin, this was an enjoyable ride from Gore Bay to Meldrum Bay. Other weekend adventures included cycling the Bruce, with accommodation at various bed and breakfasts. Cycling can be so rewarding to cover the distance with like-minded friends.
As Lance put it, “It’s Not About The Bike”, just get out there and ride and you will soon figure out what equipment you need and don’t need. Sometimes it’s not all about the big fancy expensive set of wheels, but the people you hang with that make the difference!
Hope to see you on some of our group rides! Reach out to any of the Board members and they will gladly get you going.
Communications / Newsletter
Tom
I learned to ride a bike as a kid going to the blueberry patch and for a swim in lake Michigan. I picked up skills by carrying my trombone case in one hand and steering with the other.
I joined OSCC in the early years of the club and went through the different trends of road riding, time trials, mountain biking and lately, gravel rides. This led me to write a couple of books on cycling in the region, Cycling the Sound and Bicycling the Bruce. I have helped cut trails at Sawmill and served as newsletter editor and president more than once over the years.
After my working career as a graphic designer at RBW/Transcontinental I have continued to work with design projects in a volunteer role for this club as well as Tom Thomson Trail, Bluewater Railroaders, Bruce Ski Club and Owen Sound Ski Club.
That leads me to my current role in the club as Newsletter Editor and Communications person.
Treasurer
John
I started cycling at a very young age in Southern Ontario and worked in a grocery store delivering Groceries to local customers in a small town for several years. My competition from another store was an older lady who had a horse and a flat bed wagon. I eventually bought a 3 speed touring bicycle so I could increase my recreational travel distance. After school, I moved to Owen Sound and eventually bought a 10 speed bicycle that was very fancy and weighed lots! I started riding to work most of the time at PPG in the summers. There was a new cycling club in town and I went to my first event which was a time trial?? I was hooked and have been a member for the last 40 years with the exception of 3 years cycling in China. Owen Sound is a great place to ride where you can walk out your door and get on your bike and ride trails or quiet roads.
Ride Leaders
Jim
A cyclist for the last 20 years and member of club for many years. As Ride Coordinator, I have the privilege of working with a talented and dedicated Ride Team. We work hard to deliver safe and enjoyable club rides. My “happy place” is seeing the smiling faces of our members returning home from an enjoyable ride in our beautiful Owen Sound area.
Webmaster
Trevor
I rode a lot as a teenager, inspired by Reg Harris, Beryl Burton and local rider Bas Clarke, who passed through my village in Rutland, England on his way to club rides and races.
I switched to running for many years, but eventually returned to cycling. I compete in the club’s time trials and ride the trails on my gravel bike, but I enjoy the hills most of all.
My work as a software developer helped me learn web development. I look after the technical side of the website and assist communications with emailing, etc. Contact me with suggestions for the site or help with club emails.
Sponsorship
Bill
I learned to ride bike in the streets of Toronto as a child, leaving the house at 8:00am and not returning home till 8:00pm covering endless KM’s and experiencing everything outdoors, while exercising at the same time.
New to Owen Sound and Road/Gravel biking in general, I have found a new home in Owen Sound Cycling Club. I was looking for an organized ride that included myself as an individual and other rides that offer an opportunity for myself and my wife to enjoy this great sport together and OSCC offers just that. By sponsoring and supporting this Club you will have access to a very unique and diverse group of riders from all walks of life, just “Living Life” in their community.