Gran Fondo Lake Huron Day is this Sunday, August 19, and the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) wishes to bring important details to residents and travellers to the region.

The Gran Fondo Lake Huron is a charity cycling event in support of the SMHF raising funds to purchase medical equipment that keeps health care close to home with 30km, 70km, 110km and 160km routes.

While roads along the route will be open, some road closures have been approved beforehand and residents will maintain access to personal homes and businesses during the road closures. Drivers are asked to be patient and courteous when travelling the cycling routes and cyclists will be instructed to obey all road signs and signals.

Drivers are asked to be extremely cautious on all roads, particularly along Huron Street South and along the Shore Road between Southampton and Port Elgin. Hundreds of cyclists are expected to take part in this inaugural fundraising event. Motorists are also asked to look before backing out of your driveway.

Area approved road closures are as follows:

From 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.
High Street from Albert Street (Hwy. 21) to Victoria Street
High Street from the Flag to Huron Street
Access to the Coliseum

From 4 a.m. to 11 a.m.
High Street from Huron Street to Grosvenor Street
Huron Street from Lansdowne Street to Palmerston Street

All four rides will start at High Street and Huron Street in Southampton with start times as follows:

Bruce County Bucket List - 160km ride - 7 a.m.
Cyclists head east to the lights then turn north on Highway 21 towards County Road 13

Pretty in Paisley - 110km ride - 7:15 a.m.
Cyclists travel south along Huron Street South towards Port Elgin

Winding Past Windmills - 70km ride - 8 a.m.
Cyclists travel south along Huron Street South towards Port Elgin

From Shore to Farm and Back - 30km ride - 9 a.m.
Cyclists travel south along Huron Street South towards Port Elgin

All routes will finish in front of Martin's Bicycle Shop, 235 High Street in Southampton. with the last cyclists expected at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Visitors and residents are invited to celebrate the day, help organizers roll out the welcome mat and cheer on the cyclists as they travel past residences and businesses.

Properties can be decorated with a blue bicycle or other blue decorative material.

The SMHF Gran Fondo will also feature Tyke Trike and Skills Circuit Children’s Rides. See SMHF announces children's rides for details.

Below is the full route map for the August 19 Gran Fondo. Click to enlarge.