Ontario By Bike E-News: May 2024 | |
Bike Assist to the Rescue | |
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It can happen – getting caught out on a ride without the right gear to fix a flat or a more challenging mechanical issue that is beyond a trail or curbside repair. Whether you are an avid cyclist or just starting out, there are times when there is no way around it – help is needed. Just a call away, and available to CAA members, CAA Bike Assist® is just that.
Here are a few happy tales from cyclists we spoke to whose days have been saved, making use of CAA Bike Assist, while out on ride adventures near and far from home.
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A Ride to Remember:
Cycling the Riverside Trail in Cornwall
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Roll into Cornwall this year and discover an inviting mix of small-town charm, beautiful scenery, and, of course, amazing cycling.
The eastern Ontario city is home to one of the most beloved parts of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Cornwall’s Riverside Trail runs the entire length of the City’s waterfront – some 18km – before continuing west for another 25km to Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg. That’s over 40km of cycling right along the river’s edge.
Best of all, many attractions are located right along the trail while a variety of shops, restaurants and accommodation options are just a short ride away. It’s a great fit for those looking to build a cycling trip into a weekend adventure.
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2024 Cycling in Ontario Guide | |
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Do you have your copy yet?
For information on how to receive a print copy or to view online visit: OntarioByBike.ca/2024
*Limited print copies left*
The 2024 edition of the Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide
is available in print and digital formats.
This is the 12th annual edition of our extremely popular free publication, available in both English and French. Get inspired to ride this cycling season with interesting articles and more than 50 day trips and multi-day ride ideas and itineraries for all different ride types.
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2024 Award Winners
Ontario's Best Bicycle Friendly Businesses
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We are pleased to announce the 2024 Bicycle Friendly Business Award Winners. This is the 6th 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 winners at: OntarioByBike.ca/2024AwardWinners
Throughout the year and in each e-newsletter we will feature award recipient. Consider stopping in at one of these locations on your next cycling adventure in their region as they have all taken the extra steps offering services and amenities to welcome cyclists.
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Visit this beautiful and quiet location, just off main roads and close to the Greenbelt Cycling Route, offering bike parking and rest areas, washrooms and snacks, plus water and craft hard cider. Cyclists can park and return after riding for a picnic in the orchard.
Stop at Carlisle Cider Company on the 113km Bur-Oak Backroad Blast, a Great Lakes to Greenbelt Itinerary. Cruise the Burlington and Oakville waterfronts mixed with open-road rural riding on this fully signed route following the Greenbelt Route, Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, and signed connector routes. CarlisleCiderCo.com
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Ottawa Valley Coffee (RTO11)
Renfrew, Arnprior & Almonte, ON
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With multiple locations - Renfrew, Arnprior, Almonte – Ottawa Valley Coffee serves coffee, fresh baked goods and craft beer, a perfect spot to unwind on the patios or inside, after a long ride. The bicycle friendly cafes are a hot spot for cyclists, and the owners have been known to go out of the way to assist any stranded cyclists.
Make a stop at Ottawa Valley Coffee cycling the smooth and scenic Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail, stretching a whopping 296km between Smiths Falls, Almonte, Arnpior, Renfrew to just shy of Mattawa, with smooth stone dust surfacing as far north as Petawawa. Ottawa-Valley-Coffee.myshopify.com
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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 2024, special mention and an award goes out to the following in Ontario's Highlands / Regional Tourism Organization 11: | |
Valley Cycle Tours at The Whitewater Inn - Offering a variety of services to cyclists visiting Ottawa Valley/Renfrew County, Valley Cycle Tours based out of The Whitewater Inn is keen to see more cyclists enjoying the larger area. Located in Beachburg they provide shuttles for rail trail tours, or guided services, itineraries for mountain bikers and accommodations. | |
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Ride Destination: Ontario's Southwest
- Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford Counties -
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With the lush green of spring now popping make plans this season for a ride through one of Canada's richest farm belts, southwestern Ontario.
With Strathroy the centre of Middlesex County, a ride out into the surrounding countryside is a short pedal from town. Find ample gravel roads and paved options, through the green of traditionally grown crops, and also discover a surprising number of alpaca farms.
Oxford County has a large number of well mapped cycling routes to choose from, short or longer road routes, or the Gravel Grinder ride series. Well known for its cheese offerings, plan to carry a panier to pick up some locally made treats along the way.
Stretching south from St. Thomas, east and west along the shores of Lake Erie too, any ride in Elgin County can easily include both green fields and blue waters. Follow the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, Whistlestop Trail or Highwheel Way to the lakeside port towns and beyond.
Located in close proximity to each other, a trip to the southwest can easily include discovery rides in all 3 areas. Find all the info you need to get riding on our Great Places to Cycle page for Southwest Ontario – Elgin, Middlesex & Oxford, plus listings for bicycle friendly businesses to eat, visit and sleep
Credit: Elgin County Tourism
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Ontario By Bike Rides 2024 - If you missed out on booking to ride with us on one of our Ontario By Bike Rides this year, now largely sold out, we still do have a couple of spaces left for our August Railway City and Erie Ports Tour, through Elgin County.
Find out more and book soon at:
OntarioByBike.ca/AugustRide2024
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Travellers’ Tales is a new section on our website and in our annual print magazine where we share cycling stories from readers. The first story ‘Biking the G2G Trail’ was included in the 2024 Cycling in Ontario / Le vélo en Ontario guide. The second is an inspiring collection of gravel rides in the Haliburton and Hastings Highlands from two Peterborough-based cyclists (photo).
Do you have a great Ontario ride or tour story you would like to share with us? We are collecting stories from the road and trail all year, for possible inclusion in next year’s Cycling in Ontario Guide. Now’s your chance to inspire others to explore more of Ontario by bike!
See our website for more details OntarioByBike.ca/TravellersTales
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5 New Drive-&-Ride Itineraries in the North
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Heading north this summer? There are now 5 new drive-and-ride cycling itineraries between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, worth exploring.
Some are loops, some are one way day rides and all include weekend long ride suggestions. With lots of interesting stops highlighted that include lighthouses, hiking, paddling, parks, beaches, waterfalls, coffee and food, plus accommodations, these itineraries highlight some of the work underway to expand the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail along the shores of Lake Superior.
Available in English and French download the itineraries and find out more at WaterfrontTrail.org/The-Trail/Lake-Superior
Credit: Martin Lortz/WRT
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2024 Cycling Events
Visit our 2024 Cycling Events Calendar. Events can be displayed in your choice of list or calendar view, search for events by categories, and find all the useful info you need to plan ahead and sign up to participate at events that suit your ride style in 2024.
View the full 2024 calendar here: OntarioByBike.ca/Events
Upcoming Events
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Get Inspired to Ride:
Destination Toronto
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Plan a visit to Toronto this summer, bring your own bike, rent one or make use of Bike Share. Ride and discover more of the city on some of these top trails. For more info on where to ride, visit OntarioByBike.ca/Toronto. | |
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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
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Want to read more: Link to our e-Newsletter archive HERE | |
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