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Ontario By Bike E-News:
October 2025
| | Thanks for reading along. As the October edition is our last e-newsletter for 2025, we invite you to stay engaged via our social media pages (see below) and look out for our next edition in Feb/March 2026. | | |
Fall Cycling in Hastings County:
Three New Routes Worth the Climb
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The prize is at the top, and elevated views are worth every pedal stroke. With brilliant foliage beginning to show, there’s no better time for Ontario fall gravel cycling to chase those rewarding vistas. After months of scouting and testing, we’re excited to share three brand new Hastings County cycling routes that showcase everything we love about this region’s cozy, small-town charm, from scenic lakeside loops perfect for shorter fall days to challenging climbs that deliver spectacular leaf-peeping opportunities.
Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, these routes offer the ideal mix of adventure and accessibility, with plenty of opportunities to refuel with hot coffee and hearty meals.
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Take a Survey on:
Cycling in Ontario
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Ontario By Bike – is looking for your input on your cycling activities in Ontario and would like to ask for your assistance in completing a fun and easy survey.
With the data collected through this survey, and similar ones in the past, Ontario By Bike is able to provide a valuable service to our partners as there is limited research and data available related to these activities in Ontario.
This information is important and needed to show the value of the projects and work we all do to support cycling and cycle tourism. Ontario By Bike, like many of our partners, is a not for profit organization, and we can use the results to access funding, increase partnerships and ultimately continue to offer our programming and resources used by so many cyclists.
Your input is valuable and is confidential. We thank you in advance.
The survey will be open until November 17, 2025.
Please share link with cycling friends: Surveymonkey.com/r/2025CyclingSurvey
| | What's Your Cycling Story? | | |
Did you have some epic cycling adventures this year that you would like to share and inspire others to try?
Get in touch, we are looking for stories and 'Travellers Tales' to be included in our 2026 Cycling in Ontario/Le vélo en Ontario guide.
More info and submission instructions at OntarioByBike.ca/TravellersTales
If you still didn't get a copy of the 2025 edition, for information on how to receive a free print copy or to view online visit: OntarioByBike.ca/2025
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2025 Award Winners
Ontario's Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses
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We are pleased to announce the 2025 Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners. This is the 7th year of our awards, where we select one Ontario By Bike certified bicycle friendly business from each of the 13 tourism regions in Ontario.
See the full list of 2025 winners at: OntarioByBike.ca/2025AwardWinners
The following are our final award winners for 2025. We hope you have enjoyed reading about our winners and have made plans to stop in at one of these locations on a cycling adventure this year. All of these businesses have gone above and beyond to offer services and amenities to welcome cyclists.
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Three Sheets Brewing is a craft brewery located in the heart of Port Elgin/Saugeen Shores, boasting the best patio sunset views around. They see cyclists visiting all year long from large group rides, long-haul cycle tourists to beer tours, and make sure each have their water bottles full and tires have air. The brewery has seasonal food trucks, games and also partners with Gran Fondo Lake Huron, hosting parts of the event at the brewery.
The brewery is located metres away from the North Shore Trail, a paved 6km separated trail that hugs the Lake Huron shoreline from Port Elgin to Southampton, offering stunning lake vistas and views of Chantry Island. This scenic part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is on our Ontario By Bike Ride itinerary – Huron Coast Explorer, a three day, two overnight ride that was originally hosted in 2024, which can now be explored as a self-guided itinerary. ThreeSheetsBrewing.ca
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Bowering Lodge is located on a beautiful forested property on the Niagara Escarpment, just 20km from Blue Mountain Village, with apartment suites and campsites that can be booked. Through their Eagle Adventures company, they arrange outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing and caving, and more. They even have 2.5km of trails on their property that can be explored.
The lodge is in the heart of bike friendly territory with easy access to mountain biking next door at the Kolapore Wilderness Trails, downhill terrain at Blue Mountain and top-notch paved and gravel road riding. They support two major bikepacking events annually, including hosting the No Winter Maintenance Bike Rally in June and provide support and an aid station for the 800km BT 700, bringing together cyclists from all over the world. BoweringLodge.com
| | In addition to the award winning bicycle friendly places to eat, visit and sleep there are a number of bike businesses that provide services and/or tours located in each region. To recognize all they offer in 2025, special mention and an award goes out to the following in Bruce Grey Simcoe (Tourism Region 7) | | | | The Bike Stop of Orillia offers bicycle sales, service and rentals of both traditional bikes and e-bikes, plus nutrition products available and free water bottle refilling. Offering friendly, honest service and being located only a block away from the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail, they are a regular stop for cyclists on the Simcoe County Loop Trail looking for a snack, water refill or repair. They prioritize cycle tourists for repairs to get them back on track as quickly as possible. E-bike rentals have been popular for tourists visiting the area who want to tackle a longer rail trail ride or the local hilly terrain. | | |
2025 Photo Contest
Submit Your Best Ontario Ride Photos!
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It’s that time of the year again – send us your best Ontario ride photos of 2025!
Do you have an inspiring photo that captures the joy and excitement of exploring Ontario by bike? Whether riding with friends or family, on a club ride, multi-day tour or afternoon spin, send us your photos featuring you, your bikes as well as places you have visited around the province. Submit it to us for your chance to win our 2025 Photo Contest and inspire others to explore Ontario by bike!
The winning photo will be published in the 2026 - 14th annual edition of the Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide.
You can find previous Photo Contest winners, honourable mentions and more info at OntarioByBike.ca/PhotoContest.
Submit your photo/s by email to info@ontariobybike.ca before the contest closes on November 10, 2025. Be sure to include your name, where you are from and info on where in Ontario the photo was taken.
Photo: 2024 Photo Contest Winner – Lake Huron near Southampton on BT700 by Simon Batcup from Guelph
| | Ride Destination: Norfolk County | | |
Norfolk County is a cyclist’s paradise along the north shore of Lake Erie, blending scenic shoreline rides, a large network of paved and quiet rural backroads and forested trails. With its mix of waterfront routes, charming small towns (Port Dover, Simcoe, Waterford to name a few) and local food experiences, it’s an ideal destination for both casual riders and cycling enthusiasts.
In Norfolk County, cyclists can:
- Follow the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, tracing Lake Erie’s shoreline through beaches, parks (Turkey Point, Long Point) and welcoming lakeside communities, and linking east to Niagara Region.
- Explore off-road trails Lynn Valley, Norfolk Sunrise and Waterford Heritage Trails, perfect for day trips or multi-day rides, which seamlessly connect Port Dover north to Brantford and beyond to Waterloo Region, Hamilton.
- Discover 85km of exhilarating mountain biking at Turkey Point, with bike rentals and tours available.
- Enjoy farm-to-table dining, craft breweries, and local markets, celebrating Norfolk’s rich agricultural roots.
- Visit historic towns and waterfront villages, each offering cyclist-friendly services and unique local charm.
Get all the info you need to get riding on our Norfolk County Great Places to Cycle page, plus listings for 29 bicycle friendly businesses to eat, visit and sleep.
Photo credit: Tour de Norfolk
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Ontario By BikeRide Recap:
Caledon Trails & Backroads Explorer
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What an incredible finale for our 2025 Ontario By Bike Rides season, on our two day, one overnight Caledon Trails & Backroads Explorer, pedalling forested trails from Brampton to the tranquil paths and stunning geography and roads of Caledon and Halton Hills. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and to top it all off we had the changing fall colours to soak in.
On Day 1 we pedalled the smooth and winding Etobicoke Creek Trail from Brampton to the paved shoulders of Kennedy Road taking us into the heart of Caledon, enjoying the peaceful Caledon Trailway leading us to a lunch stop in Caledon East. There were many festivities and fun fall activities happening in many of the rural communities, including in Glen Williams for the hamlet’s 200th birthday celebration. The rolling hills and backroads of the Greenbelt Route led us into Georgetown for a pleasant overnight stay.
Our Day 2 ride took us back into Caledon with stops in Terra Cotta, bucolic gravel roads passing horse farms, and a memorable lunch stop in Inglewood. Riders were struck by the impressive Cheltenham Badlands geological site, marvelling at the otherworldly red rock formations. After a few more hills we were rewarded with a long slow descent back to Brampton along Creditview Road, meandering along creekside paths back to our start in Brampton.
All our past itineraries are available online making it easier for you to make a plan and ride our routes at anytime, including this Ontario By Bike Ride.
OntarioByBike.ca/Itineraries
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Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
-Celebrating 30 Years-
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The trail that stretches 3,600km following Ontario's Great Lakes shorelines is a fully signed route that connects cyclists and all users to over 170 communities. 2025 marks the trail's 30 years of growth and dedication to connect us to and protect our waterways.
The Great Waterfront Trail Adventure cycle tour is hosted annually, with this year's ride celebrating the 30 year anniversary with an epic looped route visiting three Great Lakes in eight days. With breathtaking scenery and warm community welcomes, over 150 riders participated, riding 640km and visiting Lake Ontario, Lake Huron and Lake Erie.
See the itinerary and plan your own self supported ride: WaterfrontTrail.org
Find out more, read day-by-day highlights: Greenbelt.ca/gwta_2025
Congratulations to our valued partners at the Waterfront Regeneration Trust for all the achievements and creating such a treasured route for us all to enjoy!
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2025 Cycling Events
Visit our 2025 Cycling Events Calendar. Events can be displayed in your choice of list or calendar view, search for events by categories and location, and find all the useful info you need to plan ahead and sign up to participate at events that suit your ride style in 2025.
View the full 2025 calendar here: OntarioByBike.ca/Events
Keep an eye out in the months ahead as 2026 cycling events are announced and placed on our calendar!
Upcoming Events
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In the News: Bikes & Travel
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Get Inspired to Ride:
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail & Greenbelt Route
| | Here are some new route ideas to celebrate the 30 years of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Follow the trail along the Great Lakes, and connect to the Greenbelt Route from Lake Ontario to explore even more! | | Thanks for reading along. As the October edition is our last e-newsletter for 2025, we invite you to stay engaged via our social media pages (see below) and look out for our next edition in Feb/March 2026. | | |
Ontario By Bike Network
Project of Transportation Options
850 Coxwell Ave ~ Toronto, ON ~ M4C 5R1
Office: 416-827-2774
Toll-Free: 1-866-701-2774
Email: info@ontariobybike.ca
| | | Want to read more: Link to our e-Newsletter archive HERE | | Stay Connected with Ontario By Bike! | | |
Share using the hashtag #OntarioByBike & #BikeON!
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