Ontario By Bike Blog

When my partner Natalie and I decided to sign up for the Reggie Ramble, a self-described “gravel grinder” event, we were admittedly both a little nervous. While we are pretty experienced cyclists (both having done overnight tours and long day rides over the years), the sustained output required to participate in a bike “race”, especially on gravel, combined with the amount of climbing required (1000m) had us questioning our decision.

If you are a keen cyclist chances are you know the best routes in your neighbourhood, city and surrounding area. Hence who better to ask for ride suggestions than a local. Feeling like we left much to explore since our Ontario By Bike Ride in Waterloo Region a year ago, and dreaming of returning this fall, we reached out to a few connected friends to ask them to share some insider tips, their favourite rides and destinations in and around Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge areas.

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. 

If you are new to cycling or find yourself riding more than ever before, you are not alone, as the number of cyclists out and about in the past year has skyrocketed. Getting comfortable and being confident on two wheels will help take you to new places safely. Like Driver’s Ed, practice and knowing the rules of the road are necessary. If you are ready to roll, there is no better learning course than the bike trails and bike lanes in Toronto.

Over the last few years, bikepacking has become increasingly popular. It allows for some epic cycle touring and while it can take many forms, it often gets riders out on a more challenging experience exploring exciting areas off the beaten track. With its diverse landscapes and large network of old railway lines, trails and gravel roads, Ontario is an ideal location for a bikepacking adventure.

There is always a thrill in travelling to somewhere new, something we were keen to experience this summer with travel keeping us all closer to home. Having long heard about the excellent bike trails, quiet country roads, small town charm and modern city amenities we enthusiastically began research mid winter on the ultimate looped two day ride itinerary to explore the Waterloo Guelph area.

We are fortunate in Ontario to have both National and Provincial park systems, providing residents and visitors with access to treasured and protected outdoor recreational spaces, many with historical significance. In Ontario there are 6 national parks and 39 historic sites under the stewardship of Parks Canada. One of the best ways to explore some of these parks and sites is on two wheels.

If its been a while since you visited Stratford you may want to consider exploring the great outdoors this summer, starting on your bike! Create your own path to experience Stratford, or discover one of the many road cycling routes and trails nearby.

If you are looking to get back into nature after an extended period of staying at home, and once travel restrictions are lifted, why not plan a ride and day trip to an Ontario Provincial Park in the near future. 

With over 330 park locations across the province, it was recently announced that Ontario Parks will be open again for use, with limitations on facilities. 

To get you rolling, here are some of our top picks for exploring Ontario Parks by bike. 

While many of us were itching to get out on our bikes, looking forward to warmer temperatures and riding with friends, our daily lives have been drastically changed in the last few weeks as COVID-19 requires us to practice social-distancing and limits our ability to travel and get around. To keep the spring ride excitement growing and make sure you are ready to ride when we can, Ontario By Bike has created a list of activities and suggestions to keep your wheels rolling.

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.

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?

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. 

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.

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.

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.

You`ve heard of cyclocross, right? Some have probably seen a growing number of `cross`bikes at their local bike shop and wondered, "Why are there nobby tires on that road bike?". 

We wanted to get some of the fundamentals sorted out for you, so we reached out to John Hauser, Event Chief at The Silver Goose Cyclo-Cross Race based out of Midland, Ontario. We connected with John earlier in September and asked him to share his thoughts and what a beginner could expect on this emerging sport.

What exactly is 'cyclocross'?