Ontario By Bike E-News: September
Discover Great Cycling Experiences in Waterloo
 
Waterloo Region is criss-crossed with amazing trails, perfect for family and leisure riders. Plan a day trip along the Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail running along the Grand River for 19km between the two communities.  The Kissing Bridge Trailway   is a 45km recreational trail and another cycilng experience that takes cyclists through southern Ontario farmland from just west of Guelph to the town of Millbank. Pack suppliers for a fall picnic lunch and enjoy sitting along the banks of the Grand River, overlooking Ontario's last covered bridge in West Montrose. 

West Montrose / Credit:  SpeedRiverBicycle






The Hyrdo Cut / Credit: Explore Waterloo Region

Fast and flowy. Quick and curvy. Call it what you will. The 30km of singletrack at the Hydrocut is a gem of a trail network. Featured in our   2017 Cycling in Ontario Guide , the top picks for experienced riders are Sweet Street, Medusa and the new, Godzilla!

Circle October 6-14 on the calendar and head down to Kitchener-Waterloo's famous Oktoberfest. Bring your bike to explore more of the area while taking in some of the festivities of the world's largest Oktoberfest event outside of Germany.

Visit  www.OntarioByBike.ca/WaterlooRegion  to download cycling maps and information on road routes, trails networks, mountain biking and 28 certified bicycle friendly locations to eat, visit and sleep! 
Ride 2017 Legacy Itineraries 
- Ontario150 Celebrate by Bike -

As part of the ongoing Ontario150 - Celebrate by Bike programming, cyclists can now find 13 self-guided day trip and  multi-day cycling itineraries that connect to Share the Road Cycling Coalition's  Bicycle Friendly Communities  and Ontario By Bike Ride destinations and showcase the 475km  Greenbelt Route and 2,100km+  Great Lakes Waterfront Trail !

Discover Lake Erie River Run, a 2-day ride in Haldimand County along the Grand River and shores of Lake Erie. How about the Simcoe County Trail Loop, a 153km ride along rail trails?  Each of the 13 itineraries comes with detailed ride descriptions, curated points of interest, digital mapping and GPS files. 

Join one of the remaining Ontario150 Celebrate By Bike events that can be found on www.OntarioByBike.ca/150 There's something for everyone and it's all free or available at minimal cost! 

Cycling this fall? Tag social media posts and pictures with #BikeON so we can share it far and wide and show the world how we celebrate by bike! 

The Haliburton Dilemma: Road or Mountain Bike 

If you are into both mountain biking and road riding you may be challenged to decide which bike to bring on a getaway to Haliburton Highlands. Lakes and rolling hills, Canadian Shield and dense forest remind visitors Algonquin is not far north. One never feels too remote with the towns of Minden and Haliburton and a scattering of four corner hamlets, all easy to get to from any activity or ride base for accommodations, food, shopping and more.


Road riders planning a trip should make it a priority to get a copy of Cycle The Haliburton Highlands Map to see the series of recommended looped routes. Out of the town of Haliburton, the loop that takes in Harburn Road with its tree canopied twists and turns is a favourite with cyclists. Those looking to do some serious kilometres, with fresh paving, paved shoulders and wide vistas should hit the #118, add on Loop Road near Wilberforce and not miss the stretch from Tory Hill to Kinmount. Consider riding and training with local pros at Bare Bones Cycling Tours.

Catch an easy ride up the ski lift at Sir Sam's, for downhill, cross country or to just enjoy the fall colours, weekends through Thanksgiving. Trail passes are available at any time, weekdays at the hill or try nearby  Haliburton Forest. With 300km of trails and forest roads in multiple locations around the county, it may be a good idea to carry paper or download the interactive map to better navigate the trail network.   

Some top spots for nosh and refreshments post ride include Boshkung or Highlands Brewery, Baked and Battered lakeside in Haliburton and  Kawartha Dairy in Minden for ice cream. Take an arts break while in the area, and visit some of the studio's, galleries and unique gift shops dotted about the Highlands. Lakeside accommodation choices range from B&B's, cottage rentals and motels, to larger hotels like the Pinestone Resort and also the Haliburton Cycle & Ski Retreat welcoming outdoor enthusiasts in both the green and white seasons. 

Visit  www.OntarioByBike.ca/HaliburtonHighlands  to download maps and find more information on routes and trails, and certified bicycle friendly locations to eat, visit and sleep!  
Attention Campers & Bike Riders!
- Take This Short Survey -

Cycling is growing in Ontario and cyclists are increasing looking for overnight accommodations while travelling, including staying at campgrounds. 

Ontario By Bike wants to ensure that cyclists' needs are being met at camping facilities across the province. 

Using the results of this survey and other research, we're considering updating our criteria for campgrounds to best suit the needs of bicycle travellers. 


Ontario's Most Popular Rail Trails!

Last month we asked you, " Rank you r Top 3 Favourite Rail Trails in Ontario ". The results flooded in and in the end were close, but there was one trail that seemed to be deemed a favourite by most. 

The Cambridge to Paris Rail Trail was a top favourite, and truly is a remarkable ride along the shores of the Grand River. With lots to do in the area and the leaves soon changing colour, make this your next fall trail ride! 

Note: Click on the graph it expand the size.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts! There really are incredible rail trails in the province and we hope this will encourage cyclists to explore even more of Ontario by bike. 
Quick Guide to Cyclocross 
- aka Tough Mudder on a Bike -

Credit: Kevin Morphet
You've heard of cyclocross, right? 

Some have probably seen a growing number of 'cross' bikes at the local shop and wondered, "Why are there nobby tires on that road bike?". 

We wanted to get some of the fundamentals  clarified for you, so we reached out to John Hauser, Event Chief at The Silver Goose Cyclocross Race based out of Midland, Ontario. We connected with John earlier in September and asked him to share some thoughts on what a beginner could expect from dipping their toes in the emerging sport.

So what exactly is cyclocross? 
Fall Blow Out Bike Sale
- Save the Date: October 14 -

Cyclists look forward to this event and super sale every year. 

Whether you are looking to buy a new bike, gear and accessories or just have fun checking out the deals, it is definitely worth making plans to stop by October 14. Remember to drop by our booth, located next to the exit, to show us any noteworthy purchases and pick up some maps to plan your late fall or 2018 rides.  

To find out more about the sale visit www.BicycleShowToronto.com
Cycling Windsor to Point Pelee National Park 
- New 150km Route -

Download the Canada 150 - Bike Route & Map developed by Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and local partners. 


This bike-friendly route links Windsor's riverfront to Point Pelee National Park along a 150km regional bike route suitable for an intermediate level cyclist. 

It's a combination of interconnected unpaved rail trails, paved pathways through Windsor and along the new Herb Gray Parkway, paved shoulders and low traffic county roads.

Visit   www.OntarioByBike.ca/WindsorEssexPelee  to download cycling maps and information on road routes, and trail  networks, as well as over 30  certified bicycle friendly businesses across the entire region.
New Start Location for 2017
- Greg's Ride - 

Share the Road's annual event has moved to Hamilton for 2017. An easy 10am start time on Sunday, September 24 will have riders departing from downtown Dundas on their choice of 8, 37 and 77km routes.  Raising funds for cycling advocacy in Ontario, this charity ride has a fun pre and post party planned, both being hosted at Shawn and Ed's Brewing Company. 

To find out more and register to ride visit www.SharetheRoad.ca
Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike!
Share using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!
2017 Cycling Events in Ontario

Join a cycling event in 2017 and discover one of the best ways to explore a new area by bike. Here is a list of some of the events coming up over the next month and a half.

Ontario 150 Celebrate by Bike
Celebrate by Bike events are connecting 15 communities across Ontario through cycling. Events take advantage of the iconic Greenbelt Route and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

For full event listings visit www.OntarioByBike.ca/150
   
  Discover L & A Ride
September 23
September 23
September 22-23

  UxCyCle 2017
September 24
September 24
September 30
September 30

September 30 
Ride for Refuge
September 30
Fall Colours Cycling Retreat
Sept 30 - Oct 1
Exhale MTB Race
October 1
October 14
Fall Harvest Ride
October 14
Hastings HIghlands Hilly Hundred
October 14
 Overdrive Race Series
October 29 

Be sure to visit  www.OntarioByBike.ca/Events  for more complete listings  and search over 10 0 cycling event listings with something for every type of cyclist

Do you know of an event that isn't listed on our site? Send an email to [email protected] and we'll add it!
Rolling into Autumn!

As autumn approaches we always have mixed feelings. We're closing the chapter of another Ontario summer, but what comes next is one of our favourite times of the year.

Crisp and cool mornings with a warm sun make for wonderful riding days. Watching the leaves change colour on our favourite routes makes us push that extra distance, knowing that the winter is not far off. 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves! There's a ton of great cycling left in 2017!

Join an event in September or October, pack in a weekend of trail riding with family and friends or test your skills on some of the amazing singletrack mountain biking trails in Ontario. 

We'll be hitting the trail September 23 to 24, riding from Uxbridge to Lakefield on the last of our 2017 weekend small group tours. Be sure to look for ride photos on social media and in next month's enewsletter to see where this sold out ride takes us. 

C heck  www.OntarioByBike.ca  and source the latest maps and resources for your new favourite ride destination!  Share your cycling pics and stories through email or post on social media and tag #OntarioByBIke and #BikeON

Cheers, 

From Louisa & Michael 

Ontario By Bike Network 
Project of Transportation Options 
850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1 
Office : 416-827-2774 
Toll-Free : 1-866-701-2774 

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