Ontario By Bike E-News:

August 2022

Discover Art and Toronto Flavours by Bike

Photo copyright Destination Toronto

Summer hits Toronto hard, sending Torontonians out into the streets and parks to eat, drink, and be merry, making the most of the season. And there’s usually a bike in there somewhere, too.


Bikes are not only a good way to see the city, it’s a great way to taste it, too.

In addition to the easily navigable city streets, there are bike-specific paths throughout the city, and really a lot of street art everywhere. Some of the paths lend themselves better to food en route than others, but bars, restaurants, and food pop-ups of one sort or another are so thick on the ground, there are a lot of bike food options.

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Gravel Riding in the Haliburton Highlands

If you, like thousands of cyclists all over the world, have discovered the joys of gravel riding, you owe it to yourself to consider a trip to the Haliburton Highlands. From smooth, rolling gravel roads to full-on adventure riding in iconic Algonquin Park, you can find a gravel route here to challenge you and re-ignite your love of cycling.


Gravel riding is so popular because it gets us off the pavement, away from the cars, and helps us access the quieter nooks and crannies of an area. We have lots of nooks and crannies! Maybe you like rail trail rides with tasty bakery destinations? Half-day fitness challenges with lots of vertical? Perhaps full-day adventures with a mix of smooth roads and gnarly climbs? Multi-day bikepacking? Yep, we have all of those.

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Hot Summer Rides: How To Keep Your Cool

August can be a hot month to ride any distance on a bike, but if you are prepared it can be when the best summer cycling memories are made.


Here are some top tips to keep cool and bike on:

  • Ride early or late, skipping the peak early afternoon sun times if possible
  • Carry extra H2O, or plan your route so it passes by stores or places where water fill-up is guaranteed, you may want to consider a drink that has electrolytes, to replace those lost in sweat
  • Cover up from the sun, protect your skin with sun block and wear light clothing
  • Rest when needed, find shaded areas for breaks, or slow the pace to a comfortable speed
  • Keep your bike in good working order, and for any sizeable distances, carry a basic repair tool kit and pump to ensure you are not caught out having to walk with a broken bike
  • Know what to expect, check the forecast before heading out, paying attention to any heat alerts, high humidity and storm warnings

(Photo Credit: Norm Bertrand) 

Ontario By Bike Ride Recap

-Uxbridge Kawarthas Rail Trail-

With an eager group of cyclists, we set off on a weekend long ride late July to enjoy the Kawarthas Trans Canada Trail and popular Ontario By Bike Ride route we have done numerous times in the past, the Uxbridge Kawarthas Rail Trail Ride.


Connecting to the trail in Uxbridge on day 1 we rode 45km on the trail through peaceful marshlands, forests and farm fields to our handy and most welcoming trailside accommodations at the Days Inn & Suites Lindsay. Ice creams and buttertarts were enjoyed by all as top treats of the day.


With ominous weather, we set off a little earlier on day 2 and were successful in outpacing the storm, getting into Peterborough for lunch on the patio overlooking the water at Silver Bean Cafe. Along the way we enjoyed the views from up high on Doube’s Trestle Bridge and a stop at Marnie & Steve’s farm, local trail stewards who spoiled us with home baked treats. With lots to see and do in Peterborough, many enjoyed visits to the Canadian Canoe Museum and Trent Severn Waterway, and others rode the last 15km to Lakefield, before bus and bike transport back to the start at the end of the weekend. 


Find All Our Ride Itineraries Online


All of our Ontario By Bike Ride itineraries including the Uxbridge Kawarthas Rail Trail can be found on our website HERE. You can download detailed PDF ride notes, get RidewithGPS links, and see suggested stops and accommodations so you can follow the route on your own time.

2022 Ontario By Bike Rides - Upcoming

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We still have 2 more Ontario By Bike Rides for the season! We are now getting ready for August 26 to 28, 3 days enjoying a Lanark County Trail Tour. Based out of Carlton Place, we'll be heading north, south and east, on this new ride route we are super excited for. 


The last ride of the year will be along the Hamilton Brantford Rail Trail, overnighting in Brantford and exploring the city trails before heading south on day 2 to Port Dover. Bus and bike transportation is included back to Dundas start.


We have had a number of last minute cancellations on our rides this summer, so if you are interested in riding with us make sure you check availability and/or join our waitlist in case of cancellations.  OntarioByBike.ca/Rides

Ontario By Bike's 2022 Photo Contest

Another year, another round of our popular annual Ontario By Bike Photo Contest. As our cycling community is spread out all over Ontario, we are always excited to see where your bike is taking you. No matter where and how you are riding, alone, club style or with friends and family, snap some pictures of your best ride moments that include you and your bikes, and share them with us. 


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. 


The contest will be open until November 18th, 2022 and the winning shot will be featured in the next edition of our annual Cycling in Ontario Guide. 


2021 Photo Contest Honourary Mention: N Suzuki & H Pierard, Queenton Lewiston Bridge 

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10th Annual & 2022

Cycling in Ontario Guide


View our annual Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide online. Find ride ideas, resources and info to inspire your next bike adventure. OntarioByBike.ca/2022


View all past editions at: OntarioByBike.ca/Ten

2022 Award Winners

Ontario's Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses

We are pleased to announce the 2022 Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners. This is the fourth year of our awards, where we select one Ontario By Bike certified bicycle friendly business from each of the 13 tourism regions in Ontario.


Find a full list of all 2022 winners at: OntarioByBike.ca/2022AwardWinners

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Through out the year and in each e-newsletter 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. 

Snapping Turtle Coffee Roasters

St. Marys, ON

Visit this family-run coffeehouse located in beautiful St. Marys, where the aroma of freshly-roasted coffee embraces cyclists as warmly as their friendly baristas. Their summer bike corral parking and shady, on-street patio are a huge draw, with riders coming from around southwestern Ontario to visit the cafe. In addition to serving some of the best espresso in Perth County, the cafe is a great base in which to explore historic St. Marys and the picturesque countryside of the region. To top that off, Snapping Turtle offers guests arriving by bicycle a 15% discount on all beverages and treats.

 

Explore St. Marys and Perth County on one of the routes published in the Stratford, St. Marys & Perth County Cycle Map. Make Snapping Turtle your home base on the 59km Perth County Paolo Picnic + Espresso route, 30% on gravel back roads, with the remainder on quiet paved roads. The gravel on Road 137 is not to be missed, curving and rolling alongside the Thames River. SnappingTurtleCoffee.com

Dominion Hotel and Pub

Minden, ON

Rarely a day goes by that there aren’t bikes at the historic Dominion Hotel and Pub, founded in 1865 and located on Minden’s main street on the banks of the Gull River. With a warm welcome, secure indoor overnight bike storage, clean modern rooms, and ample food and beer, the hotel makes an ideal stopover for day rides and multi-day bike tours of the Haliburton Highlands. There is live music in the summer, a patio and even a sunroom with views of the river. The Dominion has loaner bikes and helmets and dingy's, if you want to go for a float down the river during your stay.

 

Check out the Haliburton Highlands Cycling Map for lots of road cycling routes starting and passing through Minden. The 65km Minden-Norland-Kinmount-Minden loop is a great place to start your exploration, with more gentle topography to get your legs in gear, where you’ll roll through dense evergreen forests, past many scenic lakes and through enticing small communities.

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In addition to the award winning bicycle friendly places to eat, visit and sleep there are a number of bike businesses that provide services and/or tours located in each region. To recognize all they offer in 2022, special mention and an award goes out to the following in Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington and Ontario Highlands:

Changing Gears Adventures - Changing Gears is an eco-conscious bike tour and delivery service based between Guelph and Goderich, Ontario. Changing Gears creates expansive yet relaxed guided experiences so you can joyfully explore local landscapes, destinations, and food by bike. Feature tours include an end-to-end Guelph-to-Goderich (G2G) trail ride, and Guelph to Millbank guided bike tour along the Kissing Bridge Trail.

Yantha CycleLocated directly next to the Algonquin Trail in Pembroke, Yantha Cycle is your go-to for trail-side repair and service, parking and access to the trail, bicycle rentals, and even camping for passing cyclists. Their parking lot is well used and safe access point for the trail, and they provide excellent service for all types of cyclists, whether recreational cyclists out for a day ride, or multi-day bikepackers in need of a timely repair.

Ride Destination:

Bruce County & Peninsula Southwest

Round out the summer or kick off the fall by making plans to visit the southern end of the Bruce Peninsula. More easily accessible than the tip, experience it all from quiet green countryside, turquoise waters, jagged escarpment cliffs to welcoming town centres, all within a short bike distance apart.


A ride south from the strikingly quiet shorelines in Oliphant to the bustling Sauble Beach scene is an easily navigable road cruise with many water stops that could include some play or paddle time at Sauble Falls. Further south follow the Lake Huron coastline on the Saugeen Shores off-road trails connecting you to all you need in Port Elgin and Southampton including bakeries, breweries, patios and a variety of accommodations, with 30 locations certified as bicycle friendly across the area.


Crossing the peninsula at the base, are a number of delightful backcountry road routes that connect to Wiarton, the hub for traffic going north and south. Be sure to take some time off the bike to hike a portion of the Bruce Trail, explore the wooded forests and find secret beach and water access points to marvel at the sweeping views and breathtaking vistas.


To start making plans, check out the Ontario By Bike Bruce Southwest - Great Places to Cycle page to find maps, road and trail routes, and also bicycle friendly businesses to eat, visit and sleep. 

(Photo Credit: Melissa Claxton-Oldfield)

2022 Cycling Events


Visit our new for 2022 Cycling Events Calendar. With the new format, events can be displayed in your choice of list or calendar view, search for events by categories, and find all the useful info you need to plan ahead and sign up to participate at events that suit your ride style in 2022.


View the full 2022 calendar here: OntarioByBike.ca/Events

Upcoming Events

Tour de Bonnechere

Aug 28

Ottawa Valley

Shuniah Forty Miner

Sept 9

Thunder Bay

County Gran Fondo

Sept 10

Prince Edward County

Port Perry Pedals

Sept 11

Port Perry

Thousand Island

Gran Fondo

Sept 11

Big Move Cancer Ride

Sept 11

St. Catharines

Hurtin' in Haliburton

Sept 17

Dysart et al

Great Lakes to Greenbelt Farm Fresh Tours

Sept 17

Pedal for Portage

Sept 17

Elora

Ride for KCC

Sept 18

Thornhill

Fall Epic 8 Hour  MTB

Sept 24

Hardwood Ski and Bike

Tour the Hills

Sept 24

Georgetown

Discover L&A Ride

Sept 24

Bath

Essex Region Bike Tour

Sept 24

Kingsville

Cycle 4 St. Joe's

Sept 25

Milton

Parkbus: Nature Bound - Car Free Access

If you live in Toronto, you might be interested in hoping on board one of the Parkbus runs to a nature destination, near or far, leaving the big city behind for a day or longer. A program of our organization, Transportation Options, enjoy Active Days programming that depending on park location can include hiking and guided walks, paddling, yoga, SUP and more. 


Additional services include the TD Rouge Express which provides a free shuttle on weekends through till October, making the ride from downtown Toronto to the Rouge National Park seamless for car free travel.


Longer runs to provincial and national parks are also available and perfect for a camping trip. Parkbus also has services in BC, Alberta and Quebec.


Plus new Canadians can enjoy NatureLinka Parkbus program that offers fully subsidized (free) transportation via partnerships with settlement agencies and other non-profit organizations.


Note: Due to bus capacity bikes can not be transported on Parkbus services.

In the News: Bikes & Travel

In case you missed it:


August 13 - Summer Games mountain bike venue leaves competitors wanting more

August 10 - Cyclists pedal into region as part of Great Lakes adventure

August 2 - Scarborough like you've never seen it: Why 2 cousins want you to go adventuring on bike

July 30 -  High Performance Youth Road Races good introduction to cycling

July 24 - Bike shortages slightly improving in Toronto; Gravel bikes new trend

July 23 - Canadian national XCO championships: Batty’s back, Disera triumphs

July 23 - Bicyclists ride from Grand Bend to London to raise money for MS

July 19 - Bike racks, bicycle repair station offered to Trent Lakes



Find more articles at: OntarioByBike.ca/IntheNews

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

Email: info@ontariobybike.ca

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Want to read more: Link to our e-Newsletter archive HERE

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