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 goals were simple. Within four years, BIG has had an impact far greater than anyone could have imagined.
The City of Kawartha Lakes, which incorporates Lindsay and the surrounding area, 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 and offers plenty of trail riding for those looking to take bike trips in the heart of Ontario's cottage country.
Find out more about our Ontario By Bike Ride destinations and schedule for 2019! New destinations and old classics all with the same great value! These small group weekend tours are self-guided, fully supported and always sell out!
Just Bring Your Bike and Ride!
Learn more about and view the presentations from our recent Cycle Tourism Conference held on March 1, 2019.
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Credit: Destination OntarioRead on for inspirational cycling experiences across Ontario. Whether you're looking for rail trails, mountain biking or road riding, we're putting together stories to get you out on two wheels. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get more updates and so we can hear your story. Interested in guest blogging with Ontario By Bike? Shoot us an email!
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.
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?
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:
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!
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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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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)
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