The Oshawa Cycling Club was established in 1980. It was founded by two avid cyclists, Edward Reilly and Gerald Corrigan. Together they formed the club for the purpose of safe cycling, promoting physical fitness in cycling and companionship on the road.
The Club offers regularly scheduled rides on weekdays and weekends from early April to late October. There are many featured or special event rides throughout the season. The OCC supports cyclists of all age and experience levels including serious road cyclists, triathletes, touring cycling, mountain bikers, recreational riders and active non-riding members.
If you require our mailing address, please make a request below through our email.
Mission Statement
To promote safe and enjoyable cycling for all levels of cyclists
Objectives
To promote safe and enjoyable cycling for all levels of cyclists;
To promote the sport of cycling;
To promote interest and participation in cycling games, sports and recreation;
To arrange matches and competitions related to cycling, and to establish and grant prizes, awards, and distinction in respect to cycling activities;
To arrange for instruction, displays and exhibitions of cycling skills;
To foster goodwill and sportsmanship.
The By-Laws of the Oshawa Cycling Club
By-Law No. 1
A By-law relating generally to the transaction of the affairs of the
OSHAWA CYCLING CLUB
Oshawa Cycling Club - Code of Conduct
As an OCC member I promise to practice good sportsmanship and conduct myself in a respectable manner at all cycling and non-cycling events where I am representing the OCC. (“Representing the club” is considered to be anytime you are at an event where you are registered as an OCC member, and/or anytime you are wearing apparel that includes the name and/or logo of OCC.)
Inappropriate and unacceptable behavior includes but is not limited to:
Physical abuse to any person or property while riding or at any club event. This to include guests.
Use of foul language, making obscene gestures towards any person while riding or at any club event.
Malicious actions at an OCC event that endangers the well-being of others.
Unlawful activity, including theft or fraud, intentional damage to property; and use, sale, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs.
Non-consensual physical contact, threatening or bullying behavior, unwanted sexual advances, and any other inappropriate behavior.
Conduct which is hostile, abusive, harassing, or discriminatory toward others.
Excessive consumption of alcohol at OCC events or reporting to these events while inebriated or “under the influence of illegal drugs”.
Other inappropriate conduct that reflects poorly on OCC and/or upon cycling in general.
Failure of any member to report inappropriate activity or unacceptable activity as noted in the following:
Members who experience or witness inappropriate or unacceptable activity as outlined above are expected to promptly report the issue to the Ride Leader on that particular ride. If the member is not satisfied with the response of the ride leader, they should go online and complete a “Member Concern Request for Review Form”.
As an OCC Member, I will:
Abide by all relevant traffic regulations whether on individual or group rides; respecting rules of the road and maintaining safe riding habits.
Assist any rider having mechanical or physical difficulties on OCC rides when they are unable to continue to ride safely.
Select the appropriate ride pace for my ability on OCC rides and ride within the advertised pace or relinquish this responsibility by informing the ride leader that I intend to ride at a faster or slower pace. I understand this will separate me from the club ride.
OCC members must be conscious of their role as ambassadors to the non-cycling and recreational cycling communities. The OCC logo, such as on apparel, is an advertising vehicle for the club. Failure to abide by bicycling traffic laws, if observed by the public can be extremely detrimental to the club’s image. Disciplinary actions may result in the revocation of all membership perks and/or privileges. All members demonstrating a manifest unwillingness to meet this Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action by the club which may include suspension of their club membership, or possibly having their membership revoked.
Ride participants under the age of sixteen may participate on club rides only if accompanied throughout the event by a parent or guardian who is a member of the club.
OCC Membership is a privilege. Membership may be revoked, suspended, or denied.
Club History
Back in 1980 Gerald Corrigan of Oshawa, a General Motors employee, fitness enthusiast and passionate amateur cyclist, just wanted to find people to ride his bike with. One day he was riding on Ritson Road and came across another cyclist, Ed Reilly. As they chatted they both expressed their concern about the lack of any organized riding organizations in Durham Region. Soon they started riding together regularly and decided to do something to bring more riders together. Gerald took out an ad in the newspaper and printed business cards to give out to cyclists they met on the road. On July 16th, 1980 they held the very first ever meeting for what would become the Oshawa Cycling Club on the back porch of Gerald’s house. Sixteen people attended this initial meeting and Ed Reilly was chosen to be the very first president of the club while Gerald became the Membership Chairman. At the meeting they established rules for this new club, agreeing the most important rule was “not to stress racing, but instead to emphasis the social aspect of the sport.”
Within weeks the first regular club rides were run from Durham College on Sunday mornings and before long membership was up to 25. By the next year, membership doubled and the first female members had joined. Initially memberships were $10 or $20 for a family membership. In 1982 the first club jerseys were ordered using yellow and blue, the city of Oshawa colours.
In addition to the weekly Sunday rides from Durham College, morning rides were added on Wednesday mornings starting at Ritson and Taunton. In 1984, the Scugog Circle Century Ride became a club feature event that was attracting over 200 cyclists from all over the province. The club would run this ride every August for 25 years before it became the Ride4UnitedWay.
The club continued to grow over the years with the current club logo and new style jersey being introduced and becoming the standard for the club going forward. New rides were also added with Training and Time Trial rides offered on some evenings while the Wednesday morning ride was moved to King and Townline and increased to Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Several different members served as club President over these early years. In 2002 Jeanette Piercy became the OCC president and steered the club for eight years before passing the torch to current club president Melissa Claxton-Oldfield in 2010. Around that time, a Tuesday evening was added to the regular schedule and membership soared. Next a Thursday evening ride was introduced, and as the club grew, Brooklin rides became a regular feature. The Sunday Durham College was also moved to Brooklin and a number of other new rides were added to a schedule which now offered rides almost every day of the week for much of the season. Membership climbed to the 250 member range with the annual Canada Day becoming the most popular annual club ride. Other rides like the Lilac Ride, Lake Simcoe and Minden-Haliburton also became regular annual events. A special two day ride to Peterborough, the Tour to Trent, ran for several years and may be featured again. Weekend tours have also been offered over the years, and in recent years have featured destinations that have included Niagara Falls, Collingwood, Kingston, Ganonoque, Cornwall, Ingersol, Magnetewan and even Montreal and the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania. Other special features in recent years have included Pizza nights, Saturday theme rides, the return of Time Trials, the club’s Adopt a Road program on Nash Road and a new annual combined ride with the Kingston Velo Club.
In 2020 the club celebrated its 40th anniversary and introduced a special edition jersey for the occasion. The future looks bright for the OCC which was able to keep operating through Covid thanks to a loyal core of faithful members. As we enter 2022 a new Pace Line training ride and regular gravel rides are being added to the club schedule and the club looks forward to many years of safe cycling ahead.
Co founder Gerald Corrigan with current club president Melissa
Oshawa Cycling Club
Copyright 2023