2023 Ontario by Bike – Bicycle Friendly Business Awards – Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2023 “Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses” in Ontario.
The following businesses were selected to win the Ontario By Bike award for their efforts in and excelling at providing services and a welcome to cyclists visiting their locations as well as supporting cycling within their community. A winner was selected from each of the 13 tourism regions in Ontario, plus a recognition award was given to the best bike related businesses for each region, where nominated, as these businesses provide an important service supporting cycle tourists.
Each business will be featured in an issue of our monthly e-newsletter March to October 2023. See archive and subscribe HERE.
We encourage you to plan a visit, and cycle by to find out more yourself and first hand.
Ontario’s Southwest / RTO1
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Crazy 8 Barn – Palmyra
Crazy 8 Barn is a must-visit attraction and rest stop while cycling in Southwest Ontario with their welcoming attitude, historic 8-side barn, native tree garden and experiences, water refills, wifi and nutritious snacks, ice cream and butter tarts. The owners love welcoming cyclists and the positive influence they bring to their business and have met all types of cyclists, from day-riding families, to round-the-world tourers.
Crazy 8 Barn is located on key cycling routes, including the cross-provincial Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the trans-continental Erie Connector Route. The Barn is also a popular stop with visitors to Rondeau Provincial Park, where there are three beautiful trails open to cyclists and stunning park roads, featuring old growth Carolinian forests and a rare oak savanna.
Best Bike Business: WindsorEats – Windsor
Niagara Region / RTO2
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: South Landing Inn – Queenston / Niagara-on-the-Lake
Ideally situated in the Niagara Region, this historic inn has hosted cyclists from all over the world, and offers a variety of services catering to cyclists including local cycling advice from specially trained staff.
From the Inn’s front door, you can explore the Niagara River Recreation Trail, a scenic paved trail running from Niagara-on-the-Lake in the north to Niagara Falls, and all the way south to Fort Erie, connecting to the Friendship Trail and the full Greater Niagara Circle Route. Queenston is also the start location of the Greenbelt Route, an on-road signed cycle touring route following the Niagara Escarpment and Greenbelt from Niagara to Northumberland County.
Hamilton Halton Brant / RTO3
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Heart’s Content Organic Farm – Brantford
Heart’s Content is an organic farm nestled in the picturesque countryside of the Brant County between Brantford and Dundas, with the focus of growing and selling medicinal and edible herbs and related products. Running right through the farm is the Hamilton to Brantford Rail Trail, and owners Ella and Richard love hosting cyclists, offering farmstay experiences with quaint suites and camping sites on the farm, and have even offered lunches for larger group rides. As one of the host sites for the Paris to Ancaster Bike Race, they see over 3000 cyclists pass through their farm on event day. If planning to visit, please book in advance.
Consider staying at the farm before or after the Paris to Ancaster race, the renowned spring race, or stop trailside on any ride at their covered picnic shelter and use the repair station if needed. The farm also makes an excellent base for exploring the scenic rail trails in the area, leading to Brantford along the Grand River, up to Paris and Cambridge, and the trails south to Port Dover, Norfolk County and Lake Erie.
Best Bike Business: Heron Head Bikes – Brantford
Huron, Perth, Waterloo & Wellington / RTO4
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Bingemans Camping Resort – Kitchener
Located metres from the Walter Bean Trail in Kitchener, Bingemans Camping Resort is the ultimate escape from the hustle and bustle without ever having to leave the city. They offer a variety of accommodations like log cabins, converted containers, traditional tent & RVing, and even luxury glamping. Cyclists have access to both city and resort attractions (bowling, water park, axe throwing, mini golf, pizza) steps from beautiful trails along the Grand River.
Use Bingemans as your base camp on the 3 Day Waterloo Region Four Rivers Bikepacking Route, exclusively available through the new Waterloo Region Cycling Guide app, a mobile app developed in the region to guide cyclists to safe roads and trails. This new Bikepacking Route is similar the Grand Nith Ramble, but modified to keep riders on more manageable terrain.
Best Bike Business: Flow State Bike Co. – Arkell
Greater Toronto Area / RTO5
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Residence & Conference Centre – Toronto Downtown – Toronto
This state-of-the-art residence building for George Brown College transforms into a hotel between May and August, and makes an excellent alternative to more pricey traditional hotels in downtown Toronto. Close to the Waterfront Trail and Don River Trail, the RCC welcomes and accommodates cyclists, allowing them to bring their bikes up to their 2 bedroom suite rooms. The RCC makes a great base for before or after a cycling event or visit to the city.
The RCC – Toronto Downtown is the overnight accommodation on our Toronto Trails & Ravines Ontario By Bike Ride on June 17 and 18 – book by May 31 to secure your spot! Or stay at the RCC before and after the Mattamy Homes Bike for Brain Health on June 4, raising funds for research, innovation, care and education in the field of aging and brain health, in support of Baycrest. Ride the Gardiner Expressway and scenic Don Valley car-free.
Best Bike Business: The Cyclepath – Danforth – Toronto
York Durham Headwaters / RTO6
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: McMichael Canadian Art Collection– Kleinburg
Located in the beautiful village of Kleinburg the McMichael gallery and grounds are a go to destination for art, garden and outdoor cycling enthusiasts. Surrounded by 100 acres of forested land, the well maintained trails run deep into Humber Valley, connecting to several well know conservation areas. A trail also goes directly to town where there are ample outdoor cafes and patios.
The McMichael prides itself in offering a welcoming atmosphere to cyclists, with secure bike parking, access to restrooms and areas to rest. Be sure to stop by to take in the sculpture garden, other outdoor exhibits and the world renowned gallery with its extensive Group of Seven collection before or after a road or trail ride in Vaughan.
Bruce Grey Simcoe / RTO7
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Super 8 by Wyndham– Port Elgin
With welcoming, clean, excellent accommodations, Super 8 by Wyndham Port Elgin prides themselves in being a top destination for cyclists visiting beautiful Saugeen Shores on Lake Huron. They host hundreds of cyclists every year, with numerous Vélo Québec tours visiting all throughout the summer, and many repeat individual cycling visitors which they are happy to see year after year.
The municipality known as Saugeen Shores, made up of Port Elgin, Southampton and Saugeen Township has a beautiful array of waterfront riding, including the scenic roads and extensive trails (Saugeen Rail Trail, North Shore Trail) that make up the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail along this stretch of Lake Huron. Explore long sandy beaches, lighthouses, incredible sunsets and vibrant and historic communities.
Best Bike Business: Georgian Trail E-Bike Rentals – Collingwood
Kawarthas Northumberland / RTO8
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Haute Goat Farm Inc.– Newtonville
Located in the picturesque rolling hills of Northumberland County just north of Port Hope, Haute Goat Farm has been a key stop for many cycling groups over the last few years. The farm is easy to access and park at by bike or car (including supervised bicycle parking), has great animal experiences, food and drink at their cafe, washrooms, and also overnight accommodations – including a chance to sleep alongside Alpacas! They even have a network of mountain bike trails and a pro disc golf course on the property.
Make a visit or overnight stop at Haute Goat on the two day 195km Highland Hustle Route, a cycle touring loop which follows the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the Greenbelt Route through beautiful Northumberland County and Durham Region. On day one, ride up and along the Oak Ridges Moraine through Ontario’s Greenbelt, and on day two enjoy the descent south and long stretches of the flat and scenic Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario from Port Hope back to Whitby.
Best Bike Business: Down to Earth– Lindsay
South Eastern Ontario / RTO9
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Katarina’s Coffee Shop – Prescott
Katarina’s is a family owned and operated cafe located in the historic town of Prescott and features breakfast, light lunch, fresh pastries, desserts and ice cream. With quality food and service and a wonderful setting near the beach and beautiful waterfront park, Katarina’s has welcomed many cyclists over the years, including large cycling groups and clubs to their patio.
Explore this beautiful St. Lawrence River portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail on either a multi-day tour, or base a weekend riding or more from the bicycle friendly community of Prescott. With 12 bike friendly locations in total, there are plenty of accommodations to choose from, restaurants and cafes, and interesting historic attractions to explore, such as Fort Wellington.
Best Bike Business: On the Trail – Augusta
Ottawa & Countryside / RTO10
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Beau’s Brewing Co.– Vankleek Hill
2023 is set to be an epic year for cyclists at Beau’s Brewery. They are one of seven launch points for the 2023 Myeloma Canada Ride fundraiser in June, and new this spring, in partnership with the Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail, Beau’s will be launching an ebike and regular bike rental fleet available from the brewery. Beau’s has hosted a variety of charity cycling events supporting United Way, including their Oktoberfest ride, and last year the Vankleek Hell gravel event. After a ride, cyclists can enjoy a refreshing glass of Beau’s award-winning beers on their gorgeous hop-covered patio, and sample their hearty summer kitchen menu.
Cyclists can park their cars for free at Beau’s and explore the beautiful gravel and paved roads in the area, as well as the nearby Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail. Check out the Prescott-Russell Regional Cycling Map for routes like the 43km Vankleek Hill-Caledonia Springs Loop, which uses paved rural roads, the Recreational Trail, and takes riders north to ride along the shores of the Ottawa River.
Best Bike Business:velofix Ottawa – Ottawa
Ontario’s Highlands / RTO11
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Yours Outdoors / Haliburton Forest – Haliburton
Yours Outdoors, a division of Haliburton Forest & Wild Life reserve, specializes in experiential and community-based tourism, offering distinctive outdoor and cycling experiences in Haliburton Forest and throughout the Haliburton Highlands, many incorporating cultural and arts experiences (ie. cycling and glass blowing). At the Forest there are campsites, cabins, dorms and micro-cabins, plus a restaurant and other attractions including the canopy walk and Wolf Centre.
Spend a weekend or more exploring the Haliburton Forest, which offers 100,000 acres with 100 lakes and 400km of maintained gravel roads and trails perfect for gravel biking, mountain biking and other uses. Or explore the Forest at one of the cycling events they host – Storm the Trent or Hurtin’ in Haliburton, or explore the area on a Yours Outdoors cycling tour.
Best Bike Business: Gearheads– Petawawa
Explorers’ Edge / RTO12
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: Four Corners Algonquin – Whitney
One of the newer accommodations located near Algonquin Park, Four Corners offers a variety of camping, ‘glamping’, and tiny house accommodations on their 90 acre homestead located 4km outside the eastern park boundary. Popular options include their ‘bubble’ tents for star gazers and their a-frame ‘safari’ tents. Four Corners loves welcoming cyclists, with a growing number of visitors each year who cycle to their campground, and many who use their property as a base camp to cycle locally.
The Old Railway Bike Trail is one of the biggest draws for cyclists to the park, running 16km with a number of stunning Algonquin lake vistas. Another rail trail to try out and just east of the park, The South Algonquin Old Rail Trail has recently received a major resurfacing. It is 40km from Whitney east to Barry’s Bay and travels through two smaller provincial parks.
Northern Ontario / RTO13
Best Bicycle Friendly Business: On The Bay B&B – Providence Bay, Manitoulin Island
On the Bay B&B is located on the south shore of central Manitoulin Island, steps from the Providence Bay Beach, said to be one of the best beaches in Northern Ontario. The B&B is close to the boardwalk, great food shops and many of the island’s cycling routes start at their doorstep. The B&B has been supportive of Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates (MICA) initiatives to promote cycling on the island through the years and have even rescued cyclists caught out in a storm.
On the Bay B&B is a great base for a cycling exploration of the island, or a relaxing stay before or after the Manitoulin Passage Ride, scheduled for June 3 and 4, 2023. The Passage Ride is an annual group road ride on the island and includes luggage transfer, meals, a dance, and many other perks.