Travelling often requires early departures, so it was with some acceptance that we pulled out of the big city well before sunrise on Saturday of the long weekend. Loaded with bikes and all our ride supplies to keep 35 cyclists hydrated, energized and bikes in good running order on the tour, we hit cruise control for eastern Ontario and our 1000 Islands St. Lawrence River Ride start location in Gananoque. 

In various states of caffeination we pulled out of town shortly after 10am, and soon joined the off-road trail heading east paralleling the 1000 Islands Parkway.

Bikepacking has seen huge growth within the cycling industry in the past few years. This rise in popularity means more and more people are getting out and giving this new style of cycling a try. So what is bikepacking? Simply put, it’s a blend of backpacking and mountain biking. Packing lighter and more strategically than traditional cycle touring allows us to ride off-road routes like snowmobile trails, service roads, and even technical singletrack. For me, I was drawn to the opportunity to travel further than I could walk or hike, but still benefit from great adventures found off of paved roads.

It’s somewhat human nature to obsessively check a weather app the week prior to one’s holiday. As we approached the June 17-18 weekend, and the first Ontario By Bike Ride of 2017, we were willing the sun to persevere and to push away the severe thunderstorm warnings for Simcoe and Grey Counties. Regardless of what Mother Nature would throw at us, we were excited to embark on the new Georgian Bay Explorer route with a sold out tour along nearly 100km of rail trails and quiet rural roads throughout southern Georgian Bay from Stayner, through Meaford to Owen Sound. See the routing here.

I had visited Norfolk County a couple of times in the past, using the area as a springboard to a great ride, following the Waterfront Trail, Port Dover to Fort Erie, or as part of a rail trail tour weekend on an Ontario By Bike Ride, from Dundas to Port Dover. I felt I knew something about the bike scene in the area. But it wasn’t until I recently spent a weekend dedicated to exploration and cycling adventures that I experienced a true appreciation for all things Norfolk.

There is something special about crossing water to a destination beyond. Whether it’s a 5 minute ferry jaunt or multi hour journey, that getaway feeling is inescapable. When you pair it with the freedom of two wheels you'll find the ultimate way to slow down to island time. With an abundance of lakes and rivers, Ontario has beautiful waterfront cycling and thousands upon thousands of islands to visit. Here are a few top picks for island cycling this summer. 

Spring is in the air, but cycling in Ontario in March offers up a wide range of weather as you can see from the pictures we've pulled of Instagram for March. A mix of warm and wet, snow and sun will make you even more keen to get out on that bike and explore more of Ontario by bike. Maybe consider joining a cycling event this year - a great way to discover a new ride destination!

A post shared by Paulo LaBerge (@crankngrind) on Mar 18, 2017 at 10:29am PDT

Here is our March Edition of 10 inspirational cycling images we've peeled off Instagram, in no particular order. To help us find your great images on Instagram, tag your posts with #OntarioByBike!

 

Well 2017 has finally arrived! It's a pretty special year with Canada celebrating it's 150th birthday! The buzz around the country is palpable and, while we may be bias, we're also seeing a ton of buzz around cycling! It's been a busy January with a number of fantastic winter fat biking events taking place across the province of Ontario. 

Top Fuel gets first ride of the New Year. @trekbikes #topfuel #northerncycle #enjoytheride

A photo posted by Colin Munro (@mmmkeh) on Jan 2, 2017 at 7:02am PST

Here is our January Edition of 10 inspirational cycling images we've peeled off Instagram, in no particular order. To help us find your great images on Instagram, tag your posts with #OntarioByBike!

Happy 150th Birthday Canada!

It's a special year here in Canada with fantastic sesquicentennial events being held all across Canada, including Ontario. If there was ever a time to visit The Great White North, now's that time! To help celebrate this wonderful occasion and the amazing places Canada has to offer, Parks Canada in 2017 wants to give you unlimited opportunities to enjoy National Parks, National Marine Conservation Areas and National Historic Sites across the country - FOR FREE!

Click here to order your 2017 Free Parks Canada Discovery Pass!

We thought it only appropriate to highlight some of the great cycling in and around Ontario's National Parks. While many don't allow cycling on trails, some have fantastic cycling opportunities both in the parks and in close proximity to them. 

DAY 1:

We had 2 full days of perfect cycling weather on the horizon, which just happens to coincide with our group ride with this nifty little organization: “Ontario By Bike”. Our family booked a weekend trip with them last year and had a good time. So we booked the three of us for this late September weekend tour and trail ride. Booking fall outdoor activities far in advance of any realistic weather forecast is always a bit risky. Occasionally, you can end up with a weekend like this one.

A seemingly endless distance of quiet, well paved roads exists in Ontario just waiting for cyclists to put rubber to pavement. Take your pick of routes in some of the following destinations and start training for one of the events listed on our Events Page.

Ottawa Valley - Credit: Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (2016)

With the August long weekend right around the corner, as we have in the past, we wanted to offer up some inspiration with a selection of top cycling instagram picks from across province from this past month. Keep an eye out on our website, as we'll look to put these posts together every so often!

Tag your posts with #OntarioByBike to get your images into one of these posts!

It had been awhile since I had gotten off the well beaten path and more popular cycling routes in Niagara that stretch between the Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. I was keen to head south to the quieter stretches I last had the chance to ride when we were still operating the Toronto Niagara Bike Train service with VIA Rail (now run with more summer frequency by GO Transit).

Not just a buzzword or an option in other destinations, combining cycling with different modes of travel in Ontario can be both convenient and add to your next bike adventure. 

'Century Rides' are a goal and training milestone for many. The 100 mile routes are offered at lots of cycling events in Ontario. So if you are looking for your next big ride, put some of these top picks on your list. (We've included some Canadian versions too, with a more modest ride distance of 100km.)

With the Canada Day long weekend quickly approaching, we wanted to offer up some inspiration with a selection of top cycling instagram picks from across province. Keep an eye out on our website, as we'll look to put these posts together every so often!

Tag your posts with #OntarioByBike to get your images into one of these posts!

There is no better way to get to know an urban centre intimately than by hopping on a bike and pedaling through neighbourhoods, explore downtowns and beyond. Every year city centres across Ontario are adding more bike lanes, improving bikeway networks and creating more connections for cyclists to get from Point A to Point B safely. This allows riders to meander through city streets, accessing incredible parks, trails systems and attractions. Here is a selection of ideas and resources that will help you plan out your next urban cycling adventure in Ontario. 

Ottawa - Credit: Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (2016)

Enjoying outdoor activities always makes for a great day out with family. When sticking to off-road trails, biking is a safe and easy activity for all ages. Depending on your riders, make sure there is extra time for stops that may include ice cream, turtle ponds, swimming spots and more.

With the winter coming to an end here in Ontario, we wanted to offer up a reminder that Ontario is a fantastic four-season cycling destination. Here is a selection of top cycling Instagram picks from across province over the past few weeks or so. Keep an eye out on our website, as we'll look to put these posts together every so often!

Tag your posts with #OntarioByBike to get your images into one of these posts!