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'?

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.

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.

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!

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.)