Ontario By Bike Blog

The beginning of autumn in Southern Ontario is signaled by crisp, cool weather and spectacular colours, the perfect conditions for a scenic ride.

There is no better place to enjoy the beauty of autumn than in Haldimand County, located a short drive from Hamilton and other major urban centres in Southern Ontario.  The peaceful beauty of this rural area makes it the perfect get-away for a day ride or weekend adventure.

Even with an estimated quarter of a million lakes in Ontario, there are likely only a very small percentage that make for a compelling round the lake ride and achievable challenge limited to a day or two max. One to certainly add to the 100km+ bucket list is around Rice Lake. Straddling Northumberland and Peterborough Counties, this 32km long and relatively shallow lake is a part of the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Over the past couple of years, we have spent a fair bit of time exploring and riding the network of interconnected rail trails, a part of the Trans Canada Trail through the Kawarthas Northumberland area. The Ontario By Bike Rides we have hosted on these trails have proved to be popular, perhaps due in part to their close proximity to the Greater Toronto Area, just 1 to 2 hours northeast, depending on your chosen ride start location.

Trail ride suggestions are something we are often asked for at the shows and events we are at with our Ontario Cycle Tourism Info Centre. Time away from traffic, the quieter and often more natural settings that trails travel through are just some of the appeal. Most likely you are well acquainted with the trails close to home, but the following are some of our top trail suggestions to help you get out there and explore more by bike this summer. Happy trails, as they say.

This article was originally published in the 2019 Cycling in Ontario Guide. Written by John Swart. Photo Credit: Northumberland Tourism.

In our excitement to ride and discover Ontario by bike, we sometimes forget the right gear can make our trips much more enjoyable.   Whether you prefer day or multi-day trips on road, trails, gravel or mountain bike track, consider these tips as you equip yourself and your bike.

It was December 2015, on a cold brisk morning, when a few cyclists gathered at a local cafe that the Bluewater International Granfondo (BIG) was born. The goal was simple; to get more people off the couch and active in our community; to promote exercise and comradery; to showcase the beauty of Sarnia-Lambton; and to hopefully raise money for palliative care. Within four years, BIG has had an impact far greater than anyone could have imagined.

For many recreational cyclsits, 'Rail Trails', are the trail of choice for day trip and overnight cycling trips. These converted rail beds are increasingly found throughout Ontario and offer opportunites to explore more and more of this province along car-free corridors in scenic, rural settings.

The City of Kawartha Lakes, which incorporates Lindsay and the surrounding area, including the villages of Bobcaygeon, Kinmount and Fenelon Falls, among others, sits at the cross-roads of two major rail trails in Ontario. Travelling east to west across the entire region, the Great Trail, known locally as the Kawartha Trans Canada Trail intersects the Victoria Rail Trail, which runs north to south, (download map here) in Lindsay and offers plenty of trail riding for those looking to take bike trips in the heart of Ontario's cottage country.

Wondering what could possibly be better than a two-wheeled adventure with pit stops for wine and great eats along the way? Look no further than the Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island Cycle Tourism Map to plan your next visit. If you are looking to pedal your way through the southern peninsula of Ontario, cyclists of all sorts can explore this region via six established cycling routes, all featured on this new map. Routes vary by way of experience with everything from an 8km scenic ride along the Windsor Riverfront to a three-day, 130km cycling adventure through Windsor, Kingsville and Essex.

There are few regions in Ontario that can boast a more complete cycling offering than Kawarthas Northumberland. From a rail trail network that spans over 200km and connects urban centres with quaint villages to over 1,000km of signed routes that touch every corner of the region from Lake Ontario, north through to the heart of Ontario's cottage country, the region has something for everyone.

Love to cycle AND eat? We hear ya! If you’re looking for a unique ride, then cycling along The Oxford County Cheese Trail is a super fun and delicious way to enjoy your next ride. With 92km of new stories, local flavours and oh-so-tasty cheese, there’s no ride quite like it.

The Oxford County Cheese Trail is a list of 24 curated stops throughout Oxford County that serve up a local cheese or dairy offer for visitors to enjoy. If you follow the Oxford County South Route, you’ll be able to experience many of these stops yourself right from your two wheels. Don’t forget to bring a cooler!

If you have spent anytime cycling in Ontario, chances are you have already experienced some of the top trails and rides in southern Ontario and are looking to set your sights and spin your wheels on new routes. Why not make 2019 the year to ride the north, exploring more of northern Ontario by bike?

It’s the morning of the third day, or maybe the fourth. Truthfully, it’s starting to be a bit of a blur, and I’m feeling pretty moody. I can tell that my body doesn’t understand what I am doing to it, and I’ve never done anything like this before. I mean, six days of cycling? Seriously?

When the weather turns cooler, a clear crisp autumn day is the perfect time to plan a late season ride.

Haldimand County, located a short drive from Hamilton and other major urban centres in Southern Ontario, is the perfect destination for a day away or a weekend adventure. 

When the group of 35+ riders set off from Comber on the Saturday of the 2018 Labour Day long weekend here in Canada, it was already heating up and most knew it was bound to be scourcer. It didn't take long for riders of the Essex Windsor Loop, an Ontario By Bike Ride and small group tour, to get right into the quiet countryside amongst the corn fields and wind turbines. 

Less than three hours’ drive from Toronto, southwestern Ontario’s Blue Coast offers some of the best waterfront cycling in Ontario, with over 200 kilometres of waterfront to explore. Discover two internationally renowned Blue Flag beaches as well as awe-inspiring natural scenery, impressive local art, and sumptuous local food and drink.

Whether you are a city resident or just passing through on 2 or 4 or more wheels, there is a fascinating new exhibit recently opened in Toronto that any avid cyclist or budding historian is not going to want to miss.

Bike City - On now till November 17 at the Market Gallery located on the second floor of the south St. Lawrence Market.

Not to share too many spoilers, as you must go and learn more yourself, here are some of the fascinating bits of historic Toronto bike culture we learned from this well curated and documented exhibit:

• Bikes have been built in Toronto since 1882.
• Early manufacturers that included Massey-Harris, merged to create Canada Cycle & Motor Company (CCM brand) to combat American competition.

CHARITY RIDES ARE A FUN WAY TO EXPLORE ONTARIO AND DO SOME GOOD TOO
There are so many good reasons why it’s a great idea to do a ride for a charitable cause. For me, setting a goal of doing my first one several years back was the perfect excuse to improve my performance on my road bike. Since then I’ve done a handful more and have never regretted it. Here’s a little primer.

About 2 hours east of Toronto, nestled in the northeastern corner of Northumberland County, is the community of Campbellford. Not to be mistaken with Campbellville or Campbellcroft; Campbellford is perched upon the Trent Severn Waterway on the northern boundaries of the county. The rural setting and scenic countryside, make this area a perfect spot to get out on the quiet paved roads and clock some kilometres on a bike.

Pedal your way through Canada`s southernmost peninsula, which provides a largely flat topography for recreational cyclists, families, or avid enthusiasts. The trails in the region connect to further excursions in EPIC Wine Country, Point Pelee National Park, on Pelee Island, along Windsor’s stunning riverfront, and are also part of the Trans Canada Trail and the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Yes, we humans are a competitive bunch and while we retain a sense of positive community and comradery, it’s in our nature to enjoy knowing where we stand in relation to others. These instincts are being nurtured through a gaming culture that is creeping into every aspect of our daily lives. Gamification is nothing new and is the integration of game mechanics into a product or process to motivate participation, engagement, and loyalty.

E-bikes make you look.

Whether you notice as they whiz by you on your push pedals or you’re an innocent bystander noting something just isn’t right with the ease of speed and rider, a second glance may answer the question. What may appear to be a regular bike may indeed be sporting a chargeable battery pack, with pedal assist kicking the bike into an accelerated speed.

Looking to shake up your cycling season? We suggest a milk shake! Oxford County isn't just the Dairy Capital of Canada, the region is also gaining quite a reputation as a great destination for on- and off-road cycling. The reasons to Ride Oxford are lengthy but we have shortened it to a simple five for your reading pleasure.

Honestly, we don't say this every year, but this winter has been an amazing year for cycling. New Fat Bike series and festivals popped up all over the province, more and more trails were being groomed by those tireless volunteers (yes, buy them a beer when you see them next!). There has even been some pretty significant flucuations in the weather, giving riders a chance to get out and ride on dry roads. 

Fat bike or Touring Bike? Cross or Mountain? Performance Road or Hybrid? None (or all) of the above? We scour Instagram each month to find the images that help tell the story of how amazing and fun riding in Ontario can be and will aim to find something for everyone. We hope it helps inspire you to explore more of Ontario by bike and discover a new destination to visit on your next cycling holiday.

For some winter in Ontario can be disheartening. Shorter days, the polar vortex and a feeling that this cold weather will never end, all lead to too much time inside and mindless scrolling through Netflix.

For others, there isn't a better time of year to head outside, get on a bike and get that blood flowing. We've scoured Instagram to find some images that will help you get out on a bike this winter and discover a new ride destination!

On the coldest days of the coming winter, reflecting back on the September ride will be sure to bring warmth to the tingling toes and fingers of each rider. With heat advisories and record breaking temperatures the most recent Ontario By Bike Ride weekend on the Uxbridge Kawarthas Trans Canada Trail will go down in history as the hottest one to date.