One Bike, All Rides

The following is an excerpt from the full article ‘One Bike, All Rides’ by Lesley Cassidy on page 22 of the 2023 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario. The route maps and trails below are described in the full article.

As a child, I owned one all-around bicycle. It was granny smith apple green, with a banana-shaped seat and a kickstand, and I rode it everywhere – dirt, trails, sidewalks, streets, my parent’s front lawn. Fast forward, and somehow the number of wheels in my garage expanded. It started with a road bike to participate in a few triathlons and tours, then a mountain bike to escape the steamy asphalt, followed by a second-hand commuter bike. Now, my only ride is my gravel ride. Because, like my green bicycle, it’s stable and comfortable, and I am thrilled I can pedal almost anywhere.

Ontario has more than 130,000km of unpaved roads – so where do you want to groad? Yes, groadies. Groadies are roadies who love dirt. And mountain bikers who love gravel too. Many other labels exist, including gravel grinders, multi-terrain, all-road or all-terrain cyclists, etc. However you define your ride, cyclists have pedalled over every surface imaginable for years.

So make some plans to hit the groad! Check out this mix of terrain and routes that will give you a taste of Ontario’s unpaved fun. It’s just the tip of the gravel iceberg!

Read more in the 2023 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario.

Collingwood/Georgian Bay

Georgian Trail – Rail Trail – For more information visit www.georgiantrail.ca

Kimberley Loop – 77km

This route is courtesy of Jody Wilson (@jodywilson and @jodywilsonphotos on Instagram) from Collingwood. This and other road and gravel cycling routes in the Collingwood and South Georgian Bay area can be found on Jody’s website www.gocyclecollingwood.com

Kimberley Loop – Photo by Jody Wilson

Durham and Northumberland Counties

Northumberland Rail Trail (from Hastings to Campbellford, part of the Trans Canada Trail) – for more information visit www.northumberlandtourism.com/en/see-do/trans-canada-trail

Roseneath Ramble – 79.9km

Roseneath Ramble – Photo by Lesley Cassidy

Durham Destroyer – 101.9km

For more information, visit sites.google.com/view/durhamdestroyer/home

Huron County

Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail – for more information visit www.g2grailtrail.com

Goderich to Auburn Rail Trail (G.A.R.T) – 13.8km

Farm Loop – 55-59.8km depending on start

Eastern Ontario

Algonquin Trail (part of the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail) – for more information please visit www.ottawavalleytrail.com

Algonquin Rail Trail / Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail – Photo by SÉO

Adrian Grant and his website www.ridegravel.ca are a great source for routes predominantly in Eastern Ontario, though new routes are being added across Ontario.

Eganville Gravel Grinder – 50km

Views on the Eganville Gravel Grinder – Photo by Lesley Cassidy

Going Back to Cali – see routes on ridegravel.ca or Ride with GPS maps below

Going back to Cali – 72.2km

Going back to Cali – 56km

Clarence Rockland Classic – 86.1km

Read the full article ‘One Bike, All Rides’ with descriptions of the above routes on page 22 of the 2023 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario.

Hungry for more gravel adventures? Check out gravel cycling blogs on our website HERE