Thanksgiv'r 2026: The Return of the Turkey 🦃

 

 

Three rides, plenty of fall trail time, and a Tour de Ville Poker Ride to finish it off!

 

 

📆 Rides 1 and 2 are self-directed! You have from Sept 26 - Oct 11,  2026 to complete them. Ride them when it works for you and take photos at the checkpoint signs as proof of your ride. 

📸 Take pictures at each checkpoint sign and send them along with your Strava (or other) screenshot to gccthanksgiver@gmail.com by Sunday October 11, 2026. You can also share your photos and videos by tagging @goldencyclingclub and #goldencyclingclub ... your profile needs to be public for us to see them.

 

 

Ride #1: The Fun Stuff (NO registration required):

Begins on September 26, 2026 (6.3km, 250m)

 

https://www.trailforks.com/route/ride-1-the-fun-stuff/

✅ Start at Reflection Lake and climb Rodeo Drive 

✅ Turn onto the Rotary trail and head through the Disc Golf Course, then up 7up

✅ Ride along Bush Party and thenHead downhill on Berminator and enjoy the ride!!

✅ Follow the road down to the connector trail and go UP the woodlot ride to the start of Premature!

✅ Enjoy this fun jumpline all the way to Selkirk Slacker and take a hard LEFT

✅ Ride Selkirk Slacker to the new "Extra Cardit" trail and enjoy the trail the High School kids worked hard on the past few years :)

✅ Call it a day and relax!

 

Ride #2 (NO registration required):

Begins on October 3rd 

 

Ride #2 details. Everyone who completes both Rides 1 and 2 will be entered into a draw for GCC swag.

ROUTE: https://www.trailforks.com/route/thanksgiv-r-ride-2-2026/

✅ Start at the Sternwheeler/Gudjonson Parking area and start up Sternwheeler. 

✅ Take a right at the top on Wapiti and ride Wapiti all the way to 2%

✅ A small pedal up 2% to Bear Claw lower which takes you all the way to Tonight Tequila

✅ Follow Tonight Tequila to arrowhead and down to the Moonraker/Cedar Lake parking before heading up the Tallis road towards Northstar.

✅ Northstar --> Cedar Camp --> Barking Dog --> Aroowhead --> Better Than Boston 

✅ Find Bear Claw upper and hammer up to Moonraker for a fun descent!

✅ Once you complete Moonraker, head back towards the parking area via Klahowya --> Private lands --> Wapiti and down Sternwheeler!

✅ Keep some cool bevvies in the car for afterwards, you deserve it!

 

Ride #3 - Tour de Ville (REGISTRATION REQUIRED :)

Sunday, October 11th

 

Join us for the one-day Tour de Ville Poker Ride! Collect poker cards along the route and see what hand you finish with. The ride will travel through Golden’s trail networks, with fresh crepes in Nicholson and a BBQ at the finish.

 

The Poker Ride route:  https://www.trailforks.com/route/gcc-tour-de-ville-poker-ride-2026/

For the juniors out there... the ride can be finished in Nicholson at the crepe station (convenient :). Youth will need a shuttle back to town so that people aren't riding on the highway!

 

 

✅ The poker ride requires you to register in advance!

✅ Entry is pay what you can, with a suggested contribution of $10. 

🕰 Registration/Start @ 8:30 - 📍1222 11 Street South

🍔 After ride BBQ @ 📍1222 11 Street South

 

What else is included:

• Crepes with maple syrup and Nutella in Nicholson!

• A water station

• Prizes for the best poker hands, including a farm-raised turkey for first place, thanks to Whisper Ranch!

Everyone who completes all three rides will also be entered into a GCC swag draw.

You can ride to the start or park at the College of the Rockies and head over from there.