It's March and time for our first enewsletter of 2021. Below and every month on, you will find lots of info about exploring Ontario by bike. We hope to provide you with resources to help inspire and plan your bicycle trips and outings whether that be locally or when the time is right, and as restrictions allow, to destinations and bicycle friendly businesses around Ontario.
Cycling in Ontario 2021
- NOW AVAILABLE! -
We're excited to announce that our 2021 Cycling in Ontario guide is now available!
The 9th edition of this popular guide is packed with articles and ride suggestions about cycling in Ontario. On 48 pages you will find more than 50 day trips and multi-day itineraries for all different ride types, which will provide you with lots of inspiration for the upcoming cycling season. Learn more about car free bike travelling, green season ride fun at ski resorts, an island cycling getaway, ebikes and more.
Get inspired to explore Ontario by bike this summer and start planning your own bikecation. Find out how to truly make Ontario 'yours to (re)discover'.
Click on our email address [email protected] and include your mailing address.
If you would like a French edition or multiple copies to share, let us know.
If you are a subscriber of Canadian Cycling Magazine or Vélo Mag you will receive a copy soon with their next editions, so you do not need to order directly through us.
If you have any additional distribution suggestions or can help us get copies to outlets in your area, let us know.
Please note that due to ongoing restrictions our processing times for individual mailouts may be longer than usual. We will send you a copy as fast as possible and thank you for your understanding.
Pairing Culture & Cycling: 8 Cycling Trails in Stratford
Photo Credit: Stratford Tourism
If you are looking for a cycling getaway no matter your skill level, add Stratford to your vacation bucket list for this year. The charming city mixes the best of art and culture with gorgeous scenery, that can easily be explored from the saddle of your bicycle. Bring your own bike or rent one right downtown. Find the ride that suits your style, from easy trails, more difficult routes, mountain biking, or paved roads, there is something for everyone.
Check out 8 different routes in our new blog article and find out how to explore Stratford on two wheels.
2021 Ontario By Bike Rides
- Destinations and Schedule Announcement -
Ontario By Bike's 2020 group rides are now available for booking. This year we have two fabulous new weekend looped routes that we can't wait to ride with you, exploring new trails and unique Ontario destinations you may have not visited before. We are also pleased to bring back a couple of our classic routes that are always so popular.
As there remains some uncertainties around travel we would like to assure you that we will be adhering to all local and provincial travel advisories, we have health and safety guidelines in place and also an updated cancellation policy.
On our 2020 rides, 100% of riders surveyed thought that our health and safety guidelines in relation to Covid-19 were sufficient and well communicated.
Join us on a weekend tour this summer to explore Ontario By Bike. Accommodation, lunches, luggage transfers and more are included. Let us take care of the logistics while you ride along on these four fantastic routes we'll be cycling this summer.
Just bring your bike and ride!
Our 2021 Rides were announced to past riders and via social media in February. As many are keen to ride this year and make travel bookings in Ontario, we have already sold out 2 tours. If you are interested in joining us on an available ride, visit our ride pages for booking info and/or waitlist. Also see our legacy itineraries, so you can enjoy one of our rides independently and self supported at link below or at:OntarioByBike.ca/Itineraries
who offer a wide range of cycling tours in Ontario and world-wide!
*Prices per person based on double occupancy. HST not included. Single rider supplement, triple, quad and youth discounts available.
A Ride to Remember: Cycle Southern Oxford County in the Heart of Rural Ontario
Photo Credit: Dudek Photography
Small town Ontario: Where most of the shops close on Sunday and traffic jams generally involve farm equipment rambling down a back road, you'll also find beautiful rolling hills of golden crops, cows gently grazing in fields and culinary delights that can only be found this close to where the ingredients are grown.
This season, head to Oxford County to discover the heart of Ontario's agricultural hub and ride one of the scenic loops through the southern part of the County. Find must sees and places to stop in our new blog article and get ready for a rural cycling experience.
Ontario By Bike`s 2020 Photo Contest
- We have a Winner! -
We'd like to thank all those who submitted entries into Ontario By Bike's 2020 photo contest. With many of you using cycling as a safe and healthy alternative to get outside and social distance, we received so many amazing photos, making it hard to pick a winner.
Congratulations to Paulette Dalton for submitting the above winning picture, perfectly capturing the joy and beauty of an early morning ride. Paulette is part of the Toronto Tri Club, which runs weekly morning coffee rides. The picture was taken on Redway Road, showing one of her fellow club members climb up the hilly road.
If you would like to share some of your best cycling shots with us, take part in the next round of our Ontario By Bike photo contest. 2021 submissions are now open! Visit OntarioByBike.ca/photocontest for more information on how to enter and look at past year's winners and as well as those that received honourable mentions. The contest will be open until November 2021. We look forward to another round of beautiful cycling shots from all across the province and seeing pictures of your 2021 cycling adventures in Ontario.
Nominate Your Favourite Bicycle Friendly Business
We would like to call on you as avid cyclists who get out and about on two wheels to nominate your favourite bicycle friendly business to win a 2021 award.
Do you frequent a business that:
Excels in catering to and welcoming cyclists that visit their location?
Goes above and beyond offering specific services and amenities for cyclists?
Is the most bicycle friendly business in the region?
Is certified as bicycle friendly by Ontario By Bike (review all locations here)?
Then we want to showcase and celebrate all that they do!
New this year, we invite our community to make nominations. As one of our enews readers, you may have read with interest winners featured monthly in past editions. Help us find the best bicycle friendly businesses as this year, more than ever, businesses deserve the recognition.
Photo Credit: Cycle Simcoe - Location: Highland Nordic Centre
It is time to dispel the belief, that cycling is only a 3 season activity and winter time is when all riders take a break from cycling. If you get an itch to get out on a bike on a cold winter day there is an easy solution: try fat biking. Extra wide tires and specially designed frames for winter terrain, fat bikes allow you to safely maneuver on wintery trails and paths.
Home to many great trails that get groomed in the winter for cross country skiing and utilized for mountain biking in the dry season, Simcoe County is a perfect destination for that winter or shoulder season ride you have been looking forward to. Below is an overview of different areas that are well suited for fat biking.
Like the name says, the trails here are located in a beautiful hardwood and pine forest, close to Barrie and Orillia. The hilly terrain features a network of rolling trails, popular for mountain biking in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. The trails vary in length between 3km and 22km. During winter, all trails are open for fat biking, while on the weekend the majority are reserved for cross country skiers with a designated 5km single track trail specifically for fat biking.
PC: Cycle Simcoe, Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club
Boosting a large network of snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails, the Highland Nordic Ski Centre also welcomes fat bikers to use a variety of the designated 8km of snowshoeing trails. Located on the Niagara Escarpment, you'll also get to enjoy amazing views of Georgian Bay. Rentals can be booked on site.
With over 9km of fat bike trails through the natural beauty and scenic winter wonderland of Copeland Forest, Horseshoe Resort is the perfect location for intermediate fat bikers as well as those who are new to the sport. With rentals available, if you don't own your own fat bike, this is the perfect place to give it a try.
The Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club maintains one of Ontario's largest mountain bike trail networks with over 100km to ride. Many of the trails are maintained year-round making them also accessible for winter riding. Club memberships cost $40 that help funding important trail work and give access to maps and private sections.
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2021 Cycling Events in Ontario
A usual feature in our enewsletters are cycling event listings. With so many uncertainties in regards to Covid-19, many 2021 events have yet to confirm and post dates. While we have updated our event listings webpage for 2021 to the best of our ability, we have decided to suspend this column and instead direct you to our webpage as well as recommend you visit event websites as linked to confirm status directly with the event organizers. OntarioByBike.ca/Events
If you do have any updates we should be aware of in regards to event dates please feel free to email us as we are eager to assist in helping events get back online and cyclists participating as soon as it is safe to do so.
March 24: While no details yet, expect news about the 20% tax credit for travel within Ontario to be announced in the March 24 Ontario budget or very soon. It may very well help kick start your bike and travel plans for when its safe to travel again.
To all our friends and fellow cyclists who we usually meet at shows this time of the year - we missed you and hope to see you again real soon!
