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Ontario By Bike E-News: August
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We hope that you our valued readers and fellow cycling enthusiasts will make use of the info and resources below as well as online to inspire and plan your bicycle trips and outings whether that be locally and as restrictions allow, safely to destinations and bicycle friendly businesses around Ontario.
Until we connect again, enjoy the read, visit our website, stay in touch on social media
and most importantly stay healthy and fit.
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7 Incredible Simcoe County Waterfront Cycling Routes
For any cyclist, there's nothing better than a quiet bike ride on nature-filled paths beside dazzling waters. In Simcoe County, explore by bike a variety of beautiful bodies of water, lakes, rivers and waterfronts.
There is something for everyone from beginners to advanced cyclists. Learn about excellent waterfront routes that can be accessed from Barrie, Orillia, Port Severn, Midland, Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach, and Collingwood.
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5 Bike & Brew Rides in Toronto
Photo Credit: Brunswick Bierworks
Get inspired to ride with these five routes that will take you to a number of uniquely set craft breweries, discovering new neighbourhoods, trails and bike routes across Toronto.
With lots to see and do along the way be sure to extend the day and reward yourself with a tall cold one on a brewery patio or grab a take-away to pop in your bike bag for later. Most breweries have bike racks or will make accommodations for bikes on patios, some serve foods and almost all offer non-alcoholic choices.
Read more and see route maps for the East Don, Royal Humber, Beaches, Beltline, West Toronto Rail & Junction Bike and Brew Rides.
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To Go Bicycle 4-Pack Unique Saddle Bag
For those that like to include craft brewery stops on rides or indeed anyone interested in unique and handy collectable bike bags, you might be interested in this one.
From a new BC based company, To Go Cycles, the Bicycle 4-Pack Saddle Bag can be easily and securely attached under the seat, has insulation and is a great way to transport your purchases till end of ride and home base.
The bags also can function as normal bike bags and be used to carry any other items for your ride or other cold refreshments.
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2021 Award Winners:
Ontario's Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses
We are pleased to announce the 2021 Best Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners. This is the third year of our awards, where we select one Ontario By Bike certified bicycle friendly business from each of the 13 tourism regions in Ontario.
Over the coming months and in each enewsletter we will feature each award recipient. Consider stopping in at one of these locations on your next cycling adventure in their region as they have all taken the extra steps offering services and amenities to welcome cyclists.
This well-located hostel has been extending a warm welcome to cyclists for years and takes pride in the large range of amenities and services offered to visiting cyclists as well as its sustainability certification.
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Ottawa
Keenly supporting cycling events and clubs, the Kichesippi Beer Co. is a go to spot for cyclists in the Nepean/Ottawa area. With a large patio and on-site food trucks, no cyclist will go hungry or thirsty. Find plenty of bike parking and a bike repair kit available if needed.
Well situated for a trailside stop, the off-road ride to/from downtown Ottawa is 26km or westward following the Ottawa Carlton Trailway/Trans Canada Trail to Stittsville 9km or all the way to Carlton Place 20km. Zooming in on the TCT map, layers of useful info can be found or click on our RidewithGPS map showing the full trail route. KBeer.ca
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In addition to the award winning bicycle friendly places to eat, sleep and visit there are a number of bike businesses that provide services and/or tours located in each region. To recognize all they offer, in 2021, special mention and an award goes out to the following in the Niagara and Ottawa areas:
County Cycle - Located in Beamsville and the heart of wine country, this full service bike shop also has an espresso bar where you can linger and get advice on local bike routes from knowledgeable and friendly staff.
A La Carte Shuttle & Tours - Offers a range of services catering to all your bike touring
needs in the Ottawa area including bike rentals, shuttle services, self-guided and
guided tours plus 'Cycle & Savour' packages.
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Visiting the 'Great Canadian Wilderness' is not as far as you think. A few hours north of Toronto the areas of Algonquin Park, Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Muskoka and Parry Sound are all destinations worthy of a visit with bike to ride this summer and fall.
To help plan your ride routes, whether it be to tour, train or trek the Bike Cottage Country website has all the resources you need. Find over a dozen digitally mapped looped routes of varied distances, 21km to 152km, that will set your course on roads through lush forests, granite rock cuts and past pristine glittering lakes. Mountain bikers will feel the rush on more technical single track or easier cross country trails at a number of bike parks and trail areas. Be sure to make time to stop and explore the iconic cottage country towns of Gravenhurst, South River, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Magnetawan and Bracebridge before or after a ride. With a large number of bike shops and outfitters about, all your bike needs will be easily taken care of on your next biking adventure in Ontario's cottage country.
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Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike!
Share using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!
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Free Ride Souvenir - Simcoe County Loop Trail
If you are riding the 160km Simcoe County Loop Trail this summer and interested in a snazzy new T and ride souvenir then be sure to tag @cyclesimcoe in a social media post during your adventure and they will send you a free 'I Rode the Simcoe County Loop Trail' t-shirt.
To help plan your ride visit
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A Fresh Perspective on the
Ontario By Bike Ride Experience
We are so pleased to be able to host our Ontario By Bike Rides this season, with 4 out the 5 ride dates going ahead as originally planned. While we can tell you what a great time all riders have, and even share with you the post ride survey results (9.3 out of 10 for overall enjoyment on the most recent ride) perhaps a more credible story is told by an outside view. Hence we are pleased to share with you the following 2 articles and ride reviews:
Traveling Mitch - Joining us on the July 3 to 4 Sarnia Lambton Loop was Christopher Mitchell who shares via his blog insight on the camaraderie amongst riders, sights and neat finds along the way.
Journey Woman - Including insight from some of our regular female riders, this blog shares a little on how they got into cycling and their thoughts on what are some of the best trails and rides for cyclists in Ontario.
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2021 Cycling Events in Ontario
While many events are still planned as virtual rides or postponed until next year, we are now seeing a number of cycling events confirming dates for September. Below you can find a list of events that are planned for later this summer and fall, in person/live events! As always, we advise that you visit the event websites links to confirm status directly with the event organizers.
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Prince Edward County
September 11
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Bath
September 25
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Hardwood Hills
September 24-25
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Dundas
September 26
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September 26
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October 3
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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.
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Cycling in Ontario 2021
- LAST CHANCE TO ORDER PRINT -
What a year! Adding to what we know already about the huge surge in interest in cycling during the pandemic, we have experienced an incredible demand for our 2021 print guide.
We are now down to our last few boxes, not many remaining of the 35,000 copies we printed and distribute for free.
While this is your last chance to order a print copy, the digital version will remain online, accessible anytime.
So get inspired to ride and order your copy today, finding within more than 50 day trips and multi-day ride ideas and itineraries for all different ride types.
To Order Print Copy
- 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.
Please note that due to office access 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.
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What's Your 2021 Ride Story & Photo Contest
We know you've been out there enjoying some summer ride adventures across Ontario, we've seen many of you on social media tagging #ontariobybike.
If you have an interesting ride story to share, video or photos, let us know. It won't be long now until we start thinking ahead to our 2022 guide - the 10th annual - and you may have an inspiring and interesting story about exploring Ontario by bike that others may like to read about.
Share your story or submit a story idea by clicking on this email link to: [email protected]
Our annual photo contest remains open until mid November, but now is the time to snap some great summer ride shots.
A prize will be awarded to winner and photo will be published in our 2022 guide, plus honourable mentions are also awarded and photos shared on social media.
Visit OntarioByBike.ca/photocontest for more information on how to participate and check out some of the fantastic winning shots from previous years as well as lots of great honourable mentions.
2020 photo contest honourable mentions: Top by Debara Yu; Bottom by Shawn Wyckoff
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Get Inspired to Ride: South West Ontario Tour
One of our followers and avid cyclist Denis Kalichuk kindly shared a great video he put together of his 540km, 8 day ride around south western Ontario in July.
Starting and ending his loop in hometown of St Thomas, ride along with Denis and share in his adventure and experiences along the way. Visiting friends as well as camping along the way stops include Long Point, Brantford and the G2G Trail from Guelph to Goderich. As Denis is keen to point out 'you notice a lot more of the little things when on a bike.' We couldn't agree more!
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In The News: Bikes & Travel
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Ontario By Bike Network
Project of Transportation Options
850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1
Toll-Free: 1-866-701-2774
Want to read more: Link to our e-Newsletter archive HERE |
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