Bike Train Ontario

Ontario By Bike Update

In This Issue: August 2014
Great Places to Cycle - Rideau Heritage Route
Feature Event: Ride the Rideau
Sip, Snack & Cycle...Your Way Through Ontario
Traveling Show By Bike
Picking up Steam!
Go All In!
Upcoming Events
Caledon to Port Dover
Aug 14-17

Elgin County
Aug 16
  
Ottawa Valley
Aug 17
  
  Toronto to Port Hope
Aug 22-31
  
Bowmanville
Aug 24
  
Fort Erie
Aug 24
  
Ottawa
Sept 6 
  
London
Sept 6
  
Markham
Sept 6

Milton
Sept 7
  
Toronto
Sept 7
  
Blue Mountains
Sept 12-14
  
Haliburton
Sept 12-14 
  
Oro-Medonte
Oct 5 

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Find us at @OntarioByBike

 

New Ontario Trails 
Map Flipbook 
Just released and only available on-line, be sure to check out the new format of the Ontario Recreational Trails Map series produced by AdverMap.  

View the online version HERE
or read their blog HERE
Bikes Take Over Urban Streets
More and more cities in Ontario are starting to participate in what is often referred to as 'Open Streets', where major urban thoroughfares are closed to vehicle traffic for a number of hours, but open to pedestrians, roller bladers, strollers and cyclists.

Photo Credit: http://cycle.ottawacitizen.com/news/12375

Encouraging more healthy living, physical activity and fun urban recreational times these events are attracting thousands of residents and are great for visitors to also
participate in. 

Bring your bike and join in:

All summer long and 
Aug 17, 24, 31 

Open Streets TO
Aug 17 & 31 

 

Waterloo

Sept 14

 

Earlier this summer
2014 Cycling Guide
View at:

Cycling in Ontario

Bike Train
Transport you and your bike to destinations around Ontario serviced by VIA Rail and GO Transit. 

Regular summer weekend Toronto Niagara trains are operating through till Labour Day and also Thanksgiving weekend.


Bike Train

For more info on 2014 routes and schedules visit:
Parkbus

Buses running through till October. Depending on dates stops include: Killarney, Bruce Peninsula, Algonquin
and additional parks.  

View full schedule and info
Parkbus

at: parkbus.ca 

E-News Archive
Archived since May 2011, visit the following link to read more and past issues. 
 
We have alot of fun putting together content for you to read in our 7 annual issues, and hope to inspire you to explore more of Ontario by bike. 

 

Visit our website or simply click HERE

 

Consider sharing link with a friend. 

With Thanks to

our 2014 Sponsors

 

  

 

  VIA Rail 

  GO Transit

 Pedal Magazine

Advermap

Norco Bicycles  

  

 Great Places to Cycle:
Rideau Heritage Route and River

 

The Rideau Heritage Route welcomes all levels of cyclists with scenic touring routes and charming places to relax and unwind. With all routes on-road, riding longer distances in the area does require some experience but sharing the road with traffic isn't a worry - the quiet country roads on either side of the Rideau make for a much more relaxed ride than an average big city cycling outing.

 

The small towns strung along the Canal are a perfect cycling distance apart and offer a great variety of eclectic stops and refreshment break options to slow down even the hardiest riders. 

 

You can arrive by car, park for the day and choose from a number of routes that are easily accessible. The heritage lock stations along the Canal system provide a great spot for tying up dock side and hopping on a personal boat bike.

 

For a challenging ride, set off early from Westport Village or nearby Foley Mountain Conservation Area and make a day of it. You can pedal to the hamlet and Old Stone Mill in Delta, and as far as Jasper, before looping back via Portland and Newboro on a 125km well mapped route that would put anyone through the paces. Or you can take it easy and split the ride into two days.
 

An easier one day ride starts from Kemptville and follows the flat riverside road into Merrickville, passing four lock stations enroute, including the pretty park-like setting of Burritts Rapids. Making the full 76km all the more worthwhile are stops at orchards and apple farms that sell seasonal produce and fuel for the return trip.
 

Whether you choose a challenging ride or a scenic tour - The Great Waterway cycling routes have something for every two wheeler! Maps of two Rideau Heritage ride routes are available for trip planning and download at:
www.thegreatwaterway.com/cycling/itineraries

 

Written by Ontario By Bike for The Great Waterway, and reprinted with permission. 

Feature Event: Ride the Rideau

Looking to experience the Rideau area by bike, consider signing up for Eastern Ontario's most successful single day cancer fundraiser and ride: Ride the Rideau, September 6th.

 

With 3 different route lengths ranging from 50 - 100 - and the new 160 km option, cyclists of all levels can enjoy the spectacular scenery along one of Ontario's most iconic heritage waterways, the Rideau River and canal system.

  

New this year the ride starts and finishes in Ottawa. With a fundraising minimum set, and over 3 weeks until event, there is still time to sign up to participate, make a donation, or perhaps consider putting it on your calendar for a 2015 must-do!  

 

For more information visit www.ridetherideau.ca

  Sip, Snack & Cycle 
Your Way Through Ontario

In our 2014 Cycling in Ontario / Le velo en Ontario guide we featured a number of great culinary experiences to be enjoyed by bike including: Covent Garden Market in London; Wine Trail Rides and Bike and Beer Tours in Windsor Essex; Kawartha Dairy's Ice Cream stops; Beau's Brewery in Vankleek Hill; and St Jacob's Market, near Kitchener-Waterloo. 

  
Whether you ride-to-eat or eat-to-ride, here are some additional suggestions and a great selection of culinary 'trails' that match any appetite (or fitness level!), perfect for a harvest ride.  
 
Bay of Quinte's Cheddar & Ale Trail - With a rich history of Caseiculture (aka the craft of making cheese), cyclists will find several award-winning cheese makers throughout the Bay of Quinte and surrounding area. The region also happens to be synonymous with great cycling experiences. Cycling in Northumberland County and The Great Waterway offer all the more reason to arrive happy and hungry! Now what goes better with cheese than an Ontario Craft Ale? 
Blue Mountain's Apple Pie Trail - Head off to Ontario's apple growing capital and enjoy mixing great recreational rides with these gastronomic delights! Whether you're looking for on-road, mountain bike trails or other off-road routes, Grey County's cycling is sure to kick start your appetite!
  
  
Photo Source - Kawarthas Northumberland
Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour - What is more quintessentially Ontarian than the Butter Tart? While we'll let the debate rage on over who has the province's top tart, we know the eventual winner is always the cyclist! The Kawarthas Northumberland offers cycling throughout the region that is sure to help burn off some calories that are associated with this sweet treat!

Do you have any hidden culinary gems that are perfect pre, during or post-ride? Be sure to send us an email or post to our Facebook page!

  Traveling Show By Bike

The 2014 Tune Your Ride Tour is a bicycle-powered travelling music tour that will take four folk musicians from Toronto to Brockville this August. Covering nearly 400 kilometres entirely by bicycle, with all instruments and a full sound system in tow, these pedal-pushing troubadours are performing eight bike-powered concerts in communities along the Waterfront Trail. Show dates include August 22-24, 26-29 and August 31st. 

 

The free, family-friendly shows open with a set of children's music from Great James and continue with performances by acoustic singer-songwriters Abigail Lapell, Ben Hermann and Jessica Moore. Find out more at www.tuneyourride.com.

 

Any other 'can't miss' cycling events happening in the province? Share your favourite cycling event on our Facebook Page

Picking up Steam!

As more and more of us are getting out and laying rubber to pavement, carving up single track mountain bike trails, or enjoying recreational cycling of any kind, there too increases the number of businesses and services that cater to cyclists. We can attest to that as Ontario By Bike has now surpassed 900 certified bicycle-friendly locations across Ontario!

 

We've also seen new cycling amenities pop up across the province. One business that is going above and beyond is Steam Whistle Brewing. Not only do they donate beer to various cycling events such as at the Ride to Conquer Cancer (which is a plus post-ride), they're also going one step further and have begun installing free public bike maintenance stations across the province!

 

In 2013, Steam Whistle Brewing installed a bike maintenance station outside of the brewery's front doors in Toronto. The positive response from the city's cycling community inspired the brewery to reach out to other communities in Ontario. This picture is of one of their latest instalments, as Steam Whistle Brewing begins to ramp up installing more bike maintenance stations across Ontario. 

 

Other locations now include: Smoking Buddha in Port Colborne; Boler Mountain in London; Simcoe County Mountain Bike Club in Oro Medonte; the 'Wooly' in Guelph; the Duke of York Pub and Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto. New bike maintenance stations are expected to be installed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ottawa, Dundas and Hamilton by the end of the year.

 

Have you seen any of the Steam Whistle Brewing Bike Maintenance Stations? Why not send us a picture or post on our Facebook Page.

Go All In!

Whether you like it or not, the weather this summer hasn't been pushing the mercury. It may not sit well with the beachgoers, but we all know that this means great cycling weather!

 

As we hit the final stretch of summer clock some kilometers, enjoy the trails, spend weekends away exploring Ontario, and most of all keep your wheels spinning and ride safe!

 

From Louisa, Joanne & Michael 
Ontario By Bike Network & Bike Train Team
Projects of Transportation Options

850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1  

Office: 416-827-2774
Toll-Free: 1-866-701-2774


~~~
  
Looking for a getaway this fall? Experience this group of certified bicycle-friendly businesses while cycling in 
Simcoe County: 
  Photo source - Cycle and Stay Simcoe Huronia
Experience all Simcoe and Huronia have to offer with multi-day cycling tours only an hour north of Toronto. Tour features including route planning, accommodation, breakfasts and luggage transportation.
  
Explore and plan your route at
Funding Partners

Plus over 100 destination partners and supporters.