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Spring -Summer - 2023 Gravel Events
Turas Mor - May 13th - Creemore
Blue Mountains Gravel Fondo - UCI Gravel World Series Qualifier - June 11th - Thornbury
Scarecrow Gravel Ride - Sea Otter Canada - June 17th - Blue Mountain Village
Eager Beaver Gravel - August 27th -Mansfield
Growling Beaver Brevet - Collingwood - September 30th
Bruce Peninsula Gravel Gran Fondo - October 1st - Lions Head
In the heart of south western Ontario sits a 700+km bike packing loop named the BT700. The route is only a few years old, but has been a very popular summer challenge for anyone looking for back county roads, steep gnarly gravel climbs, unopened/unclassified road allowances, no winter maintenance sections, single track and rail trails. The course covers every type of terrain you could ever wish for and with approximately 6500 m of climbing you can be sure to come across a few hike-a-bike sections.
After a little research, I discovered that people were either riding it in one complete go with a few hours of rest, or spreading it out over 4-5 days. I personally had no desire to ride it straight, nor did I have 4 or 5 days to spend gradually making my way along the route, so I decided three days was appropriate, Thursday-Saturday, leaving Sunday as a back up if a fourth day was needed.
Since large portions of this route is very remote, I recruited a friend to accompany me along the journey, attempting to keep the experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Typically the BT700 ride has a "Grand Depart" on the summer solstice in June, but it can be ridden during any time from April through October. Our window of opportunity was July 1-3, 2021. With some pretty long riding days planned, we would need all the daylight possible. Normally the route starts in the small town of St Jacobs, right in the the heart of Mennonite country. However, since we live on the northern portion of the route, we decided it was best to start our journey right from our homes.
Planning was tough. To crunch the BT700 into three days, it meant riding some very long, hard kilometers. Lucky for us, the hardest portion of the route, with the most climbing was right in our back yard. Day one would be the hardest, 260km with 3500m of climbing. Day 2 would cover a longer distance of 290km, but much of that over flatter terrain. Day 3 would be a shorter day of 190km, but the climbing would be back to help slow us down.
The first 3/4 of day one would be familiar to us, and this didn't help as we knew what we were getting ourselves into . From Thornbury we headed inland, away from Georgian Bay where we climbed and ascended the beautiful Beaver Valley, mostly on pristine gravel roads, but on occasion, unopened, unmaintained bush/forest roads. This kept the first few hours of riding pretty spicy. After a quick stop in Kimberley at the General Store, we climbed our way out of the Valley for a final time on one of the most beautiful gravel roads in the area, Lower Valley Road.
Back on top of the Niagara Escarpment, we made our way north again through some questionable unopened roads. With a quick stop to refuel and grab our first Butter Tart at the Ravenna General Store we then push on toward the top of Blue Mountain and Scenic Caves, overlooking Collingwood for some epic vistas. From here things got exciting as we descended a very long, hard section of single track through the Pretty River Valley Provincial Park. Normally downhill sections are always welcomed, but with a fully loaded bike, we were happy to see the pavement at the bottom.
Continuing on we made a quick water stop at Highlands Nordic Center and pushed on with plans to stop for our first meal in Creemore. Flying through Nottawasaga Bluffs Conservation Area we were rewarded with some great views looking east toward Creemore. A few kilometers later we stopped at the Creemore Cafe for a sandwich, a donut and a nitro coffee to power us through the afternoon.
Leaving Creemore things continue to be up and down, taking on the challenging roads of Noisy River Provincial Park. The next portion of the ride took us through many of the "no winter access roads" that Mulmer Township is known for. Not a lot to say here but it was epic and if you get the chance, Mulmer Township is worth going back to.
Early evening we arrived at a friends home in Mono Mills. They provide camping in their backyard to anyone needing a place to stay or shelter during the BT700. We were treated with some of the best peanut butter & Jam sandwiches, signed into the riders journal they keep and hit the road again.
The final portion of day one was spent racing the falling sun on gravel roads. Arriving after dark at Albion Hills, we set up our camp and both fell fast asleep.
We had high hopes for day two, long-but mostly flat riding. Up with the sun at 5am we were rolling by 6am. The only real climbing came at the beginning of the day as we rode though Caledon Hills and the Forks of the Credit on some great gravel roads lined with estate horse farms and a portion of the Bruce Trail. We managed to grab a quick breakfast at a Tim Hortons in Erin before continuing on via the Elora-Carrack Trailway, snapping a few images as we crossed the over the dam at the Belwood Lake Conservation Area. Lunch was planned for St. Jacobs at the Eco Cafe (the official start/end point of the BT700) where we gladly sat down, ordered some delious sandwiches and watched as Mennonite buggies past us by on the streets of St. Jacobs.
The next portion of the ride was suppose to be the easiest, flat, charming concession gravel roads heading predominantly north west ending on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron. Instead, we were greeted with steady 40km/hr northwest head winds for nothing less then the next 180km. This turned out to be the hardest section of the trip. The open fields as well as the lack of cover and shelter from the wind and sun slowing took any energy we thought we had. Making it to the village of Mildmay was a huge relief, where we aggressively consumed a early evening dinner from a local chip truck.
The remainder of the day was spent riding the very rough Bruce County Rail Trail, which sees most of its use from ATV's and not bicycles. As day two quickly came to an end, the sunset again upon us we rolled into the Town of Port Elgin where we set up for the night at my relatives place.
After a great nights sleep, we ventured out along the western shore of Lake Huron, around a portion of Saugeen First Nations, respecting the Covid-19 measures that had been put in place. The next section of the route would take us deep into the peninsula of land between Wiarton and Owen Sound, tackling some very aggressive unopened roads around the Skinners Bluff area and dodging a few larger puddles along the way. The Geogian Buffs Rail Trail was a welcome site as we rolled into the City along the shores of Georgian Bay.
After an extended lunch at the take out window in Harrison Park, we smashed out a few steep sections of single track as we left the park behind us and headed back toward the eastern shore of Georgain Bay and Hibou Conservation area. As we slowly approached the small community of Ballacalva, the roads started to go up again. This was our final section of climbing for the ride. The next 15km of riding was filled with some steep, long sections bordering the Meaford Tank Range and some hand numbing single track through the Bayview Escarpment Nature Preserve. From here we jumped on the Tom Tomson Trail and descended our way quickly into the Village of Meaford. Back on common roads, we hit the Georgian trail and made quick time to the finish off the ride in Thornbury, we were had left two days before.
My take away from this bike packing trip was that I loved all the off road portions of this course. Anything that was gnarly, off the beaten path and something I would normally love riding. Certain sections I would love to tackle again, but maybe in the the opposite direction next time. The BT 700 is now part of larger bike packing collective in Ontario. Several similar routes in other parts of the province have now been assembled and are available for download to suit your adventure needs. For more information, check out their website at http://www.bt700.ca/
As originally published in the Summer 2020 Edition of Escarpment Magazine
March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares a pandemic with the spread of the Covid-19 virus and the world as we currently knew it changed, a moment we will never forget. A time when companies acted quickly to get employees working from home, a time hospitals and essential front line workers exposed themselves to the deadliest virus since the Spanish flu, a time many businesses struggled to pay their rent, but also a time smaller local businesses began to grow and thrive. With all the changes and uncertainty to our normal way of life, it’s hard to see where the bicycle fits into all of this?
Throughout history the bicycle has played an important role in modern society, examples include its role in World War I as well as its involvement in the Women’s Liberation Movement. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that during a pandemic, the simple bicycle is playing an important role in keeping people safe and healthy, both physically and mentally.
The bicycle plays a very important role here in the Southern Georgian Bay area. In fact, this area is widely known for its “work where you play” mentality. This mantra has aided in the development of the cycling community both on the road and off. Locals utilize the endless trail networks for commuting and leisure riding, while mountain bikers and roadies spend countless hours on the great single track and endless road network around the region. With numerous bike shops and cafes that cater to the local cycling industry, there’s no doubt the Covid-19 virus will have an impact on the local cycling economy. Here’s what’s been going on locally during the last few months.
Local Bike Shops
In March, during the beginning of shutdown here in Canada, many local bikes shops (LBS) found themselves dealing with the uncertainty of what was to come. By mid March the Ontario Government deemed bike shops as an essential service and quickly all of the LBS’s started opening up providing curb side pick-ups and drop offs for repair. “The industry flipped virtually overnight with a massive surge of interest. Kids needed bikes that fit, parents had neglected to maintain their bikes hanging in garages or sheds. Commuters avoided public transit. The demand for service skyrocketed and sales boomed!”, says Neil Gold, a local cyclist as well as the Canadian Sales Manager, Cycling Sports Group. Add to this homeschooling and spring/summer temperatures and you have the perfect set up for a mini family getaway from the home, all on two wheels.
The rush in bike sales and tune-ups posed operational challenges for the local shops. In speaking with Kris Baumgarten, owner of Kamikaze Bikes in Collingwood, he mentions that as the warm weather started to arrive, 30-40 people began dropping off bikes each day, and it didn’t stop. Add to this supply chain issues and it has been a very challenging time for getting parts and accessories for customers. Baumgarten also mentioned that it would be hard to find a bike between $300 to $1500, as everything in that range is out of stock. Anyone looking will have to wait until the fall until the fall, when the industry can catch up to the demand.
At Squire John's, where traditionally a customer would wait a day or two for a tune up, there is now a 1 or 2 week wait. In speaking with Shane Kilfoyle from Squires, this unheard of wait time can be attributed to many of their clients remaining here in March once the lock down started. Typically after the ski season comes to an end, many of their clients from private clubs would return home to the cite. However, due to the pandemic, many of them never left after march break. With this came bicycle tune ups as well as new set ups for all ages. Kilfoyle mentioned that in the course of two months, hard working staff had pushed through a summers worth of bike fittings, sales and service.
Local Cafes, Coffee shops and General Stores
Everyone knows that coffee shops and cycling come hand in hand. Many of the local hot spots have remained open to cyclists, but others, due to size restrictions and social distancing have come up with creative ways to make this happen. Kimberley General Store has conducted 90% of its business as curbside pickup. For the months of March through May, a hand written sign hung on their door thanking cyclists for all the years of business they had given, but during these times, their priority remained providing groceries and essentials to the locals of the area. At the end of May, Kimberley General Store began stocking out a water cooler for cyclists to refill their water bottles. They are working on a plan to have goodies and drinks available for the summer season. Ravenna Country Market has remained open and welcomes cyclists and requires them to use hand sanitizer and follow the arrows on the ground if they want a hot cup of coffee and a butter tart, there is a limit of 5 people allowed in the store at a time to maintain social distancing. Over in Creemore, the bike rack remains in front of Affairs Café and all the pastries are available to cyclists, but only 2 people can enter the café at a time.
Local Organizations
The road cycling community faced many changes in the early days of Covid and many riders found themselves riding solo on the road or inside on trainers.
The Collingwood Cycling Club (CCC) belongs to the Ontario Cycling Association (OCA), all of their organized weekly rides require sanctioning from the governing body. In March, the Canadian Cycling association advised that there would be no group activities as governmental guidelines could not be followed while group riding in the traditional manor. Fast forward to the end of May and the OCA rolled out a new set of guidelines which allow cyclists to ride in groups of 5 or less as long as the social distancing rules of 2 meters or more was kept between riders. The CCC realize that it is virtually impossible to hold a group ride under these guidelines, so they will continue to wait for more direction from the Province before the regular weekly rides will resume. “Everything is currently on hold” says Noelle Wansbrough, President of the CCC. Wansbrough indicated that she knows of at least one Ontario based club that has cancelled the season. She indicated that the Board is working hard to come up with alternative ways to ride, but ultimately they are waiting on response from the OCA as to whether the members will be able to get their money back or defer their memberships until 2021.
The local amateur racing experience has also come to an abrupt stop. Many of the events such as the UCI World Qualifier Blue Mountains Gran Fondo, Sea Otter Canada and all the OCA mountain bike, road and gravel races have all been cancelled or temporally postponed until later this year. In the meantime, the OCA race schedule has been taken indoors to the popular virtual platform, Zwift. Many local cyclists use platforms like this during the winter months to train.
As popular as road riding is in this area, mountain biking has sky rocketed over the last few years. As the snow melted away this spring, many of the popular trails remained closed. In the beginning of May, as the trails began to dry up, the province began lifting restrictions provincial parks, allowing riding in places like Three Stage again.
The very popular Collingwood Offroad Club or CORC, has put its normal Thursday evening mountain bike rides on hold and will resume normal activities once the province has lifted restrictions. Despite this, the CORC Board has taken the Covid times as an opportunity to forge ahead. Despite Thursday nights being cancelled, CORC has been busy constructing new trails and pump tracks for its younger members to build and develop their bike skills. They have also focused their efforts on building key relationships with private land owners, Ontario Parks and Kolapore Wilderness Trails in order to connect local systems and provide CORC members with greater value in the future. The CORC Board is very excited about a number of upcoming initiatives and have been using their social media platform to help promote shopping locally and helping out their sponsors. In the Month of May alone the CORC membership grew by 350 new members, bringing the number to 500, an obvious indicator that the restrictions haven’t stopped families from riding bikes.
Despite all the challenges during these times, the bicycle is helping families spend more quality time together in an active way. For the individual commuting, the mountain biker out on the single track, or the roadie out on the vast network of routes, it provides a mental escape from the everyday challenges. With our cities struggling with to find solutions to the over packed transit, emergency initiatives are being introduced to build hundreds of kilometers of bike lanes to get the workforce back to premise. Many individuals, wanting to support our local healthcare system and respect the front line workers, have found a new love for indoor riding as they stayed inside to ride during the early days of the pandemic. While our local tourism begins to open up and the LBS’s catch up with the built up demand, the bicycle will remain a very healthy, important part of life here in the Southern Georgian Bay area.
Winter quickly made its grand entrance into the Collingwood area in early November. It seems like the Halloween decorations were still hanging as the snow started to fall. With the time change at the end of October, midweek riding disappeared for most working folk leaving only the weekends for getting outside to ride.
If you are looking for something different to try this winter you can always give fat biking a try. For the 2019/2020 season, Highlands Nordic will be grooming and maintaining trails specifically for fat biking.
2020 Cannondale #fatcaad
I’ve had the chance to ride the trails a few times now and I’ve been very impressed. It’s so nice to be able to get out, feel the bike move underneath you and get a good workout. The current loop climbs up to the top of the highest point, meanders through the hardwood and evergreen forest before descending back down to the clubhouse.
If you are looking to experience fat biking but don’t have a bike, Kamikaze Bikes located on First Street in Collingwood has a rental fleet. Fat bikes are $50 to rent or if you are looking to ride at Highlands its’ $60 which includes a trail pass for the day. If you have already have a bike, a day pass at Highlands Nordic is $14 or an 8 pass is $80.
Check out Highlands Nordic website for condions and updates on the trails.
Over the past decade, Southern Georgian Bay has established itself as a hot bed for all types of cycling. With a calendar full of local events, plenty of single track trails, long steep paved climbs and endless gravel roads, it’s a playground for mountain bikers, road riders and now a new generation of cyclists; “gravel grinders” or “groadies”.
Call it what you want: gravel biking, groad, all-road or even mixed terrain, the gravel boom is alive and thriving in our region. In the mid to late 2000’s during the earlier years of carbon fiber road bikes, it would have been difficult to find anyone riding an expensive carbon frameset on anything but buttery smooth pavement. Fast forward to 2012 and a small group of locals were beginning to ride more robust cyclocross (CX) bikes on the Georgian Trail and the quieter gravel country roads.
In the history of the bicycle, the idea of riding on gravel or dirt roads is not new. When bicycles were first introduced in the mid 1800’s they were used on cart paths, cobbled streets and country lanes.
So that begs to question, what has changed since then? In recent years, gravel riding has been increasing pushed by the major bike brands. Several companies quickly jumped on the gravel train, all developing their own version of a gravel bike. The end goal was to develop a bike that would perform on mixed terrain surfaces and feel stable, safe and comfortable for all day riding.
Most modern gravel bikes have a taller head tube with a relaxed angle. Both allow for a upright riding position and provide more stable steering compared to that of a road bike. Typically, the bottom bracket on a gravel bike is closer to the ground to create a lower center of gravity, resulting in greater stability. The wheel base is also lengthened to provide for a solid base while rolling over unpredictable surfaces. It’s also normal to see gravel bikes with a sloping top tube to allow for more stand over room. Disc brakes are now standard which allow for larger volume tires and different wheel sizes (700cc & 650b).
So, what draws cyclists to gravel roads? Its popularity can be attributed to a few factors. There’s buzz in the cycling world that road cycling itself is beginning to slow down. Whether the blame can be placed on the doping scandals in the pro ranks or the safety concerns around vehicular traffic on local roads, cyclists are looking for something new.
Gravel riding brings with it a community of cyclists that love to just ride bikes. Finding new roads, exploring with friends, stopping for coffee, finishing at a local brewery. It’s camaraderie, it’s lack of competition, it’s quiet, it’s slower. Spending time taking in the scenery, the fields, the forests, the seasonal scents, the clouds, the animals. Where road riding typically involves fast paced rides, gravel riding slows all of that down and creates a very unique experience. That new found experience is what has caused the interest in gravel riding and the overall boom.
Southern Georgian Bay is littered with numerous hidden gem back roads. Many of these are closed during the winter months and are referred to as “goat paths” due to the fact that they are typically less traveled, less maintained and more rugged. Gravel grinders are drawn to roads like these because they provide a challenge and sense of adventure. Many of the popular routes traverse along back county roads wonderfully named to described them such as Old Mail Road, Hidden Valley Road, Lower Valley Road and Lavender Hill Road. Typical gravel routes in the area pass through small cross road intersections like Duncan, Lavender, Little Germany, Epping, Loree, Rock Union and Redwing and Banks, most of which only see traffic from local residents as they come and go to work or to town.
Both the spring and fall are popular for gravel riding in Southern Georgian Bay. With sand and salt on the roads after a long winter, the spring presents an opportunity to venture outside and rediscover those roads after five months of hibernation. In September and October, the quiet back roads and the beauty of the autumn season draw out the gravel bikes after a summer of riding local paved routes.
The growing popularity of gravel riding has led to the creation of many local gravel events such as The Growling Beaver Brevet. It was introduced in 2015 as a way to raise funds for Parkinson’s and bring together the gravel community for one last long ride before the colder weather sets in. The event ranges in distance from 40km to 200km in length and begins in Collingwood. The routes take advantage of the quiet Georgian Trail, the steep gravel climbs along the Niagara Escarpment, the endless back roads snaking through the Beaver Valley and the scenic agricultural fields of Clearview Township. Along the way participants enjoy local cuisine from many of the popular general stores, cafes and businesses that support the cycling industry throughout the year. It’s a celebration of the diversity the Southern Georgian Bay has to offer. Other local events include Turas Mor (Creemore), The Eager Beaver (Nordic Highlands/Duntroon) and Sea Otter Canada's Scare Crow Gravel Race (Blue Mountains). Currently there are more gravel events in our area than traditional road or mountain.
The overall local gravel scene and events like these have created an amazing gravel community that attracts hundreds of cyclists to the region every year. The tourism dollars bring support for local hotels, B&B’s, restaurants, general stores, shops, cafes and festivals. Gravel riding is doing its part to contribute to the betterment of our community by connecting people of all ages and backgrounds, improving physical and mental health and enhancing ones appreciation for nature.
For many people, this winter has been another one for the record books. With snow in early November, the polar vortex in January, and the snowfall of February, the arrival of an early spring is on everyones mind.
I have to admit, this winter has been nice to me, Girona is a special place. The morning temperatures range from 0-7 degrees, followed by warmer temperatures in the afternoon.. I’ve been spoiled with wonderful spring like riding for 2 months now, so I can’t complain. But like everything else, all things must come to a close as I prepare to return home in March and change up my ride schedule.
I’m very excited as cycling in Southern Georgian Bay this spring/summer/fall is going to be amazing. From the Collingwood Cycling Club launching their registration just last week along with the youth Mountain Bike Program, and CORC moving forward into their second year, it seems the cycling scene is in full swing for 2019. This year The Blue Mountain Gran Fondo is joining forces with Centurion Cycling and Sea Otter Canada is making its entrance into Canada and in no better place then Collingwood. This year will be packed full of awesomeness for anyone loving bikes! Here is a list of the dates and highlights so you can mark them on your calendar and get involved.
CCC Registration - Club registration opened on February 15th, first 400 members registered before March 1st get the signature CCC jersey as part of the registration.
Youth MTB Registration - Parents can now register their children for the CCC/Pedalpushers Youth Mountain Bike Program. (Free jersey with early bird registration).
The focus of the Youth Program is safety, fun and mountain bike skill development. This program is designed for youth that have had some experience riding off road. They must be comfortable climbing, descending and shifting gears. Skills, drills and trail exploration are the foundation of the program. Each group will have a Coach or Group leader and Parent Helpers.
Required age range for the program is 10-18.
Early bird registration (by March 1st): $120.00 (includes free jersey valued at $100.00) + $35.00 OCA citizen license. If your child is racing Ontario Cups and already have a UCI license they do not need a citizen license.
Regular rate: $140 after March 1st + $35.00 OCA license.
NOTE: A FREE CCC MEMBERSHIP is currently included as part of the Program ($65.00 value). Program runs Monday May 13th to June 24th from 6PM to 7:30PM (excluding Victoria Day).
Collingwood Off Road Club - CORC is a Collingwood based Mountain Bike Club for all ages and abilities, offering weekly rides and events to its members. Each ride/event will be followed by "The Social", which includes food, drink, and fun for all. REGISTER
Blue Mountains Gran Fondo - UCI World Series Road Race Qualifier - June 15, 2019 in partnership with Centurion Cycling (website)
Sea Otter Canada - July 4th to the 7th, 2019 (website)
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the road this spring!
It’s that time of the year again, time to plan for 2019 and start chugging away at your cycling goals. I don’t know about you, but winter in Canada can be tough for those of us that love cycling. Embracing the cold weather and making the most of the winter can benefit your cycling greatly.
January and February are the perfect time to rest your body and work on that core strength. Activities like snowshoeing, skiing, walking, running and some weight training can really work wonders on your cycling for the season. However, it is also nice to keep the legs moving on the bike a few times a week.
Over the past few years there has been some big technology advancements that have allowed riding our bikes year round much easier. I’ve spend many years riding in my basement utilizing programs like Trainer Road and Zwift. For me its great, but I have aways found that there is a component of it that is missing, the social part.
In 1994, exercise physiologist, coach and former professional Ironman triathlete, Paulo Saldanha, created the PowerWatts indoor training system. Dealing with the harsh Canadian winters and urban congestion in Montreal, Paulo was obsessed with finding a solution that would save time by avoiding "junk mileage", create value through superior functionality and, most importantly, deliver results with laser-focused accuracy.
Seamlessly integrating hardware, software and coaching methodology, PowerWatts stems from Paulo's vision and was further elevated, since its inception, by many years of practical racing experience combined with the science of high intensity conditioning.
Collingwood Powerwatts provides 4 bikes and a very social atmosphere for you and your closest friends, or cycling rival. Spending an hour on a bike where you can physically see your friends push themselves and sweat can help combat the deep winter months in Canada.
Hardware- No need to bring your bike, its supplied. Shoes are all you need. Bike is set up for you before you arrive.
Software- PowerWatts CPX software has many features others programs don’t. All of these features improve your cycling efficiencies by developing your neuromuscular system.
Coaching-PowerWatts Collingwood Classes have a 4-1 coach/ride ratio. Clients get the benefit of a much more personalized coach experience.
Group ride experience-Solo on a trainer is completely different than a group class. Custom group classes for couples and friends are also available upon request.
Zero to none, unless having a great time and getting in shape is something you don’t want?
If you are interested in PowerWatts Classes this winter, check out the online schedule HERE or contact them at pwcollingwood.info@gmail.com
PowerWatts has 60min & 90min classes available on weekends. If there is no time on the schedule that works for you, two or more people can be added to a session based on studio/coach availability.
PowerWatts Collingwood
1 First Street, #102
Collingwood, Ontario, L9Y 1A1
Peak to Shore Physiotherapy
Tel: (705) 441-2617
Recently I reached out to my good friend Nancy Newman, an active cyclist, teacher and overall amazing community member to chat about her upcoming ride across Canada. The planned route will see three local teachers (one driver and two cyclists), cross Canada from east to west over the course of July and August 2019. Here’s what Nancy had to say about the cause and what the next 8 months brings.
We are three teachers from Simcoe County, Ontario who will be travelling across Canada from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia in July and August of 2019. Aaryn and Nancy will be cycling and James will be driving our support vehicle. We are in partnership with Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario and we have called our fundraising adventure “From The Rock to the Rockies”. Our mission is to raise $30,000 to help with educational programming at the Child and Youth Mental Health In Patient Unit at RVH. We are thrilled to take on this endeavour to help the youth of our area.
With just over eight months left until we dip our back wheels in the Atlantic Ocean to begin our ride, training is really ramping up. We are doing outdoor rides when the weather allows and training hard at the Powerwatts Collingwood indoor cycling studio as well. We are also doing lots of strength training at the gym. We are very excited about the ride and have numerous events (speaking engagements, fundraisers...) coming up before next summer.
Please visit our website for more information about our ride:
If you would like to partner with us as a sponsor, please email us at fromtherocktotherockies@gmail.com. We are still looking for a couple more sponsors to help us out with our support vehicle and gas costs.
It seems like the on going debate over the legality of two abreast cycling in Ontario has finally been put to sleep by the Ontario Provincial Police after it was confirmed by Attorney Generals office as a result of an incident in the Collingwood area this summer. The conclusion, apparently you can.
As part of a group of longtime cyclists in Collingwood, we had believed it was legal over the last number of years. Trying to wade through the mud and water to understand the Ontario Highway Traffic Act can be a difficult task. Steve Varga, Vice President of the CCC has written it perfectly in the clubs documentation by stating “In Ontario two abreast cycling is not defined nor acknowledged but neither is it prohibited in the HTA. A cyclist may ride six abreast if there are no other faster vehicles approaching. The confusion comes into play when another faster vehicle approaches. Section 148(2) of the HTA suggests that the slower vehicles move to the right to allow the faster moving vehicles to go past, in other words not to impede or obstruct a faster vehicle from passing”.
All of this was recently outlined in TVO’s short documentary series “The Agenda with Steve Parkin” where he takes a good look at the issues and struggles the Collingwood Cycling Club has experienced over the last number of years. Check it out below.
So, where do we go from here? Education is key. It starts with those enforcing the laws out on the road, the officials need to understand what cyclists do and why they do it. From there, cyclists need to make sure they are educated and up to date on the what is right and wrong. I personally believe this is an absolute must, it’s the cyclist responsibility to know. Finally, there needs to be public consultation and campaigns to education the rest of the community. The locals, the business owners, the farmers, the tourists, everyone that uses the roads. Who’s responsible for this education? In my eyes, the province, the municipalities and the community. We are in this together, lets work together.
I hope one day that all road users, vulnerable or not, can exist in harmony. Its not car vs bike nor bike vs car. We all have the responsibility to act properly and respect one another on the road.
The Agenda with Steve Parkin - Aired October 12, 2018
May 13th, 2017
Simcoe Street Theatre (65 Simcoe Street, Collingwood)
Doors open for Social Hour at 6:30pm
Film begins at 7:30pm
This is a fundraising event for Parkinson's Disease. All proceeds will go towards the joint work of ParkinGo Wellness Society and the Davis Phinney Foundation.
About the Film
Modern society has long believed that women hold up half the sky in terms of equality and progression. So when it comes to the sport of professional cycling, why aren't women receiving half the road?
HALF THE ROAD is a documentary film that explores the world of women’s professional cycling, focusing on both the love of sport and the pressing issues of inequality that modern-day female riders face in a male dominated sport. With footage from some of the world’s best UCI races to interviews with Olympians, World Champions, rookies, coaches, managers, officials, doctors and family members, HALF THE ROAD offers a unique insight to the drive, dedication, and passion it takes for a female cyclist to thrive. Both on and off the bike, the voices and advocates of women’s pro cycling take the audience on a journey of enlightenment, depth, strength, love, humor and best of all, change & growth.
Kathryn Bertine
Hey folks, I trust everyone is doing well after a long, long winter here in Southern Georgian Bay. I managed to keep myself busy in the basement riding endless loops of Watopia on Zwift and spending a little extra time on the side at the gym. Believe it or not, I got out skiing a handful of times as well.
It seems spring is now here for good. As I sit in a local cafe typing away, outside the April showers are in full swing and I can't help but wonder, will the rain stop before the weekend? Sunday is forecasted for 17 degrees, I think a century ride is in order!
So, what's happening in the cycling scene this spring? What's new? What's coming up? I have taken a bit of time to highlight the exciting up coming cycling events over the next few months.
Now in its sixth year since re-establishing, the Collingwood Cycling Club launched their 2017 Membership campaign in February. Rumour has it 385 members registered for through the early bird program this year. Looks like it will be an amazing summer of riding with the club. Here are the dates to remember.
Spring Social - Saturday, April 29 - 7-10pm, at the Village Conference Centre at Blue Mountain Resort.. First Club ride - May 6-7
-2017 sold out
Pedal Pushers runs a youth development program in conjunction with Highlands Nordic and the Collingwood Cycling Club.
The focus of the CCC Youth Program is safety, fun and mountain bike skill development. This program is designed for youth that have had some experience riding off road. They must be comfortable climbing, descending and shifting gears. Skills, drills and trail exploration are the foundation of the program. Each group will have a Coach or Group leader and Parent volunteer.
U13/U11: Develop bikes skills such as shifting, climbing, descending, obstacles, cornering and trail etiquette in a fun safe environment. U18/U16/U14: Geared towards intermediate/advanced riders looking to develop speed, endurance and technical skills.
Dates: May 15th-June 26th. Program runs Monday evenings from 6-7:30PM
Trail Clean Up Day- Sunday April 22nd (mandatory). This is a great opportunity for all the kids to meet, bond and explore the trails.
If you are looking to start riding bikes, maybe even get back in the saddle after being away for a while, Pedal Pushers is the solution to give you the confidence you need to get back at it. Noelle and her staff provide a non-intimidating environment to walk you through everything from gearing and basic riding techniques, to fixing that flat on the road and how not to get dropped on a ride. Pedal Pushers run corporate tours, one-on-one coaching and woman specific clinics as well as co-ed clinics. New for 2017 includes the "How not to get dropped" and Gravel Riding Clinics!
2017 Clinic Dates:
Women's Clinics
Diva Day Road Cycling Clinic -Saturday May 13th/2017 (Early bird reg April 13th)
Climbing Clinics (road)-Saturday June 3rd & Saturday June 10th/2017
Co-ed Clinics
How to not get dropped clinic NEW (road) co-ed: Sunday June 4th
Mtn Bike learn to ride & race clinics-June 22nd & June 29th (evenings) Co-ed
Gravel Road Clinic NEW-Saturday August 26th/2017 Co-ed
Saturday April 22, 7:30PM, Blue Mountain Resort
Bikes vs. Cars – 2015 OFFICIAL SELECTION, Telluride Mountain film Festival
A documentary about the bike and what an amazing tool for change it can be. It highlights a conflict in city planning between bikes, cars and a growing reliance on fossil fuels. Bikes vs. Cars depicts a global crisis that we all deep down know we need to talk about: climate, earth’s resources, and cities where the entire surface is consumed by the car. Activists and cities all over the world are moving towards a new system. But will economic powers allow it? Bikes vs. Cars, a new film project from director Fredrik Gertten, looks into and investigates the daily global drama in traffic around the world.
http://www.bikes-vs-cars.com/thefilm
The event will take place on Saturday April 22 in Weider Room (Blue Mountain Inn). Doors open at 7PM. Film screening will run from 7:30PM to approximately 9:30PM (including an intermission). Tickets are $10.00 each and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Environment Network. The event includes free popcorn (BYOB – Bring Your Own Bowl), a cash bar (with valid photo I.D.), and draws for a selection of great door prizes!
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW (CASH ONLY)
Purchase at The Environment Network (10138 Highway 26, Collingwood) or Red Devil Sports in the Blue Mountain Village.
Saturday May 13, 6:30pm doors open, Film at 7:30PM, Simcoe Street Theatre
All proceeds to the Growling Beaver Brevet - Davis Phinney Foundation & Parkingo Wellness in support of Parkinson's Disease.
HALF THE ROAD is a documentary film that explores the world of women’s professional cycling, focusing on both the love of sport and the pressing issues of inequality that modern-day female riders face in a male dominated sport. With footage from some of the world’s best UCI races to interviews with Olympians, World Champions, rookies, coaches, managers, officials, doctors and family members, HALF THE ROAD offers a unique insight to the drive, dedication, and passion it takes for a female cyclist to thrive. Both on and off the bike, the voices and advocates of women’s pro cycling take the audience on a journey of enlightenment, depth, strength, love, humor and best of all, change & growth.
In addition to the international race footage and athlete interviews, the film also follows director/athlete Kathryn Bertine’s quest to make the 2012 Olympics during her first year racing professionally for Team Colavita. Bertine, a three-time national champion of St. Kitts and Nevis, explores the issues faced when smaller nations try to make strides in a sport that has no history of tradition or support within their culture. The title HALF THE ROAD comes from a segment of the film where the president of a small cycling federation quotes the old adage, “Women hold up half the sky” in reference to equality. Our documentary explores the idea that, If women hold up half the sky, then the women’s peloton deserves ‘half the road’ of opportunity, growth, support & equality within professional cycling.
Tickets sales to be announced soon.
After a successful return to Ontario last summer, Canada Cup Downhill racing is back again at Blue Mountain Resort! From Cycling Canada... "The Canada Cup series is designed to provide competitive opportunities to the next generation of cyclists, transitioning from provincial race series to international competitions.
Inspired by the vintage rides of Europe, Turas Mór – meaning ‘Great Journey’ in Gaelic - consists of two unique cycling routes on gravel and non-gravel roads through the rolling hills of Creemore.
The Grey County Road Race (Saturday June 17th, 2017) and the Grey County Time Trial (Thursday Jun 15th, 2017) will be the sole Canadian qualifier events for the 2017 UCI Gran Fondo World Series. The events take place in Blue Mountain Village, Ontario which is located at the Southern end of Georgian Bay just outside of Collingwood, Ontario Canada.
Keep aside July 15, 2017 for the 5th amazing year of mountain biking, friendly competition, fun and fundraising.
Last year this local Mountain bike race raised over $95,500 for My Friend’s House. This year they are celebrating their 25th Anniversary, we want to help them by raising the most money we can.
So get 4, 6 or 8 people together for a team, or if you’re brave enough - go solo, and get ready to fundraise and race. As always, your team can be male, female or coed and the race is open to children and adults. Early bird discount before May 1, 2017.
Going into its 9th year, Centurion Cycling is a house hold name in the cycling subculture here in Ontario. With the C25, C50 and C100 courses all ready lined up for September, Centurion Cycling is piggy backing off of local events like the Growling Beaver Brevet, to bring you True Grit, its first gravel race for 2017.
Introduced in 2015, the Growling Beaver Brevet, an all-road gravel grinder puts an exclamation mark on the end of the cycling season in the Collingwood area. If you find yourself lucky enough to be one of the 200 participants for 2017, you are going to experience one of the best days on a bicycle you could possibly dream of. The GBB is nothing like any other event around. It is a “brevet” style ride where participants travel from check point to check point receiving a stamp in their passport. Each control point puts on a spread of pastries, butter tarts, sticky knots, wood fired pizza, espresso and anything you can dream up. Local General stores from Kimberley and Ravenna, as well as the Bakery from Thornbury and Affairs Cafe in Creemore provide the perfect food at each station. The Growling Beaver has raised over half a million dollars for the Davis Phinney Foundation and Parkingo Wellness Society in just two short years. 100% of the funds go to help people living with Parkinson’s Disease “Live Well Today”.
*The 2017 event sold out in just 8 short hours in March.
Fresh off an amazing bikepacking trip with the folks from Mariposa Bicycles in July to the Karwartha's, I had the idea to tackle the Simcoe County Loop Trail (SCLT) over the August long weekend. The "Loop" trail is made up of a series of rail and waterfront trails stitched together forming a 165km loop around the central/northern portion of Simcoe County. Two thirds of the loop is also associated with the Trans Canada Trail, which joins together over 150 communities in Ontario through a collection of multi-use trails. The SCLT links together small farming communities with waterfront towns, boasting stunning vistas and panoramic views that leave you wanting more.
The decision of where to start our ride was based on a discussion with the local expert from Cycle Simcoe, Brendan Matheson. With plans to experience the loop over the course of two days, we needed a stopping point approximately half way through the loop that had sufficient accommodation for a Saturday evening stay. After weighing all the options, we decided that it would be best to start in the City of Barrie and ride the loop in a clockwise fashion. We would stop in Midland at the 80km mark for the evening and then continue on with the remainder the next day; taking in Port McNicoll, Victoria Park, Waubaushene, Coldwater, Orillia and then back to Barrie.
In my research leading up to our ride, I learned that our route for the first day was a portion of the North Simcoe Railway Line which was built in 1878 to replace the stagecoach service that ran between Barrie and Penetanguishene. Previous to the rail system, taverns were located very close together along the route (every 2km) to house weary travellers.
With our bikes loaded up we departed downtown Barrie in search of a day of adventure. Getting out of the city was fairly simple as we left early enough to avoid any local traffic. The residential built up area quickly became typical Ontario rural farmland as we left the sounds of the city behind us.
We caught the North Simcoe Rail Trail just off George Johnston Road. Immediately I was excited. As we began our day rolling through some narrow rail trail, I took in all the sights, sounds and smells of the Minesing Wetlands. Blue wild flowers lined both sides of the trail as we headed towards Phelpston. There are plenty of things to see along the way, including Josephine, a ghost town from the early timber days, Mayers Marsh, the Minesing Station Park, dairy farms and dense hardwood forests.
Our first stop for a coffee was in the small town of Elmvale. With no real traditional local cafe in town, we decided to pop our heads into the Elmvale Bakery for baked goods and grab a coffee at the local Coffee Time just down the street. We sat in the sun at the park across the road and listened to a local band play a few tunes before heading out again.
As you leave Elmvale through Heritage Park, there is a short bypass that takes you onto County Road 27 for a short time until you pick up the trail again just off of County Road 6 South. However, before you get any farther, this is a great spot to stop and fill your bottles. Elmvale, and aptly named Springwater Township, is well known for having some of the cleanest water in the world. Be sure to check out the artisan wells located on County Road 27. Just south of Flos Road 10 West you will see a small red clad building on the east side of the road, stop and fill your bottles, it's not every day you will have an experience like this. Please note: This is one of areas of trail improvement for the near future. I’ve heard they are working on a solution to develop better trail access at this point as the highway is very busy at times. We were able to ride along the side of the road, but the highway was very busy.
As the trail continues north towards Wyevale, it runs parallel with the highway. Despite this, you still feel like you are hidden away in the forest. With some sandy sections and several small rail bridges, this section was a bit more challenging than the earlier portions of trail. Wyevale provides a small picnic area if you are carrying your own food, with plenty of tables and places to rest trail side.
The Tiny Trail continues through mature forests and fields eventually veering to the north east heading towards Penetanguishene. As you near shoreline town, the trail turns to pavement and the fun begins as you fly over eleven bridges that cross the Copeland Creek. After a long day in the saddle of riding straight, flat trails, this section in the forest was definitely a breath of fresh air.
Eventually you find yourself cycling through a graffiti filled steel tunnel under Bridge Road and onto the Penetanguishene Rotary Waterfront Trail. The trail meanders along the waterfront which includes a beach, playground, skate park, picnic facilities and stunning views of the harbour. We were lucky enough to be passing through the same day the "Urban Slide" was in town. After taking in some of the excitement from the festivities, we continued to follow the trail through the maze of streets to the Mid Pen Link Trail.
The Mid-Pen link trail is a paved section that runs between the two communities. It starts with a great downhill section that continues around numerous corners, simulating the feeling of riding a roller coaster. The trail meanders through a stunning mature hardwood forest, eventually connecting you with the Rotary Midland Waterfront Trail.
Our first day of riding ended at the Midland Harbour. King Street runs directly away from the harbour where you will find several restaurants and coffee shops to suit all tastes. If you're looking for a great lunch, be sure to check out the amazing panini's and soup at Cibolette Et Cie. For the best java in town, Grounded Coffee Co. is located just another block and a half up the street. This little cafe is hopping with people and they absolutely love cyclists, so be sure to stop in while you are there.
There are a variety of places to stay in Midland. To make the most out of your stay, it would be best to stay within the downtown area. There are limited places in the downtown, mostly B&B's so be sure to book well in advance if you can. Since our trip was last minute, most places were fully booked but we were lucky enough to obtain a reservation at the Best Western Highland Inn & Conference Centre, which is located approximately 3 km from the downtown area. During the evening we were able to grab a very reasonably priced cab back to the downtown area to enjoy dinner and watch the sunset behind in the harbour, a truly amazing finish to a great day.
Day two started off right with a smoothie and a tasty espresso from Grounded Coffee on the main street. As we left Midland, we continued to ride along the waterfront, taking in the beautiful panoramic views of the harbour.
Leaving Midland we crossed a bridge that leads to Sainte-Marie Amongst the Hurons, Ontario's first European settlement dating back to 1639. The last time we had visited the site was when we were both young children, so we decided to stopped in for the experience. We stayed for roughly an hour, watched a 15 minute film and walked around the historic settlement taking in everything the cultural site had to offer. There was plenty of bike parking located at the front of the building, just be sure to bring a lock with you. We didn’t travel with locks, but the staff allowed us to store our bikes just inside the main foyer where they were safe.
The Tay Shore Trail runs between Midland and Waubaushene passing through Victoria Harbour on its way. This section of the trail is well maintained with an asphalt surface, filled with joggers, cyclists and walkers. A few kilometers east of Midland is the Trestle Trail which takes you into Port McNicoll where you can check out the SS Keywatin docked in the harbour. Here you can take a tour of the historic passenger ship that carried people across Georgian Bay for over 50 years.
As you pass through Victoria Park there is a Cycle Simcoe bike stand if you need to make any adjustments or repairs to your bike. There is also a pump if your tires are in need of inflation.
The paved portion of the Tay Shore Trail comes to a end as you pass under Highway 400 on the other side of Waubaushene. Back on gravel, it is a quick 7 km ride to Coldwater, a perfect place to stop and check out Em's Cafe. We grabbed an espresso and pastry and sat outside in the sun. Coldwater is a cute town, a great place to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere of the small quaint downtown.
On the east side of Coldwater we picked up the Uhthoff Trail and headed east inland toward Lake Couchiching. This section of rail trail is unlike the other sections. At times it appears as two single track paths with grass growing in the middle. Don't let this discourage you, this was some of the smoothest parts of the non-paved sections on the SCLT. Cycling through farm county and hardwood forests, the trail is very sheltered from most of the elements. Keep an eye out for farm crossings, wetlands, Purbrook Creek and the bridges over the North River and Silver Creek. As you approach Orillia, the trail surface changes to something similar to a gravel road, making it very tough to navigate at times. This is a shorter section, so be sure to stay in the same track as everyone else and you’ll be fine.
Passing under Highway 11, the trail turns into the Orillia Millennium Trail. As Lake Couchiching comes into sight, the trail meanders through Couchiching Beach Park, Central Park and Veterans Memorial Park. We arrived in town just in time for Funfest, an annual festival put on by the local Lions and Rotary clubs. With a midway, arts and crafts vendors and food trucks: it definitely added the excitement of arriving in Orillia. We decided to stop for lunch at the Mariposa Market which is located in the busy downtown core. We had heard that it was a local landmark was extremely busy, but well worth it. After figuring out how to order, we settled in with some delicious veggie sandwiches and cookies, all washed down with some refreshing lemonade. There are many things to see and do in Orillia, so be sure to set aside time to explore when you are here.
After navigating a few streets in Orillia, the Oro-Medonte Rail Trail leaves town heading south west towards Barrie. This section of trail is long and straight. The surface is great and the trail is very well sheltered from any environmental elements. Over this section of trail you will see large wetland areas, beaver dams and mature forests. Keep your eyes peeled for osprey nests, blue herons, deer and other wildlife.
As we rolled into Barrie along the waterfront, we chatted about what an amazing experience we had. We discussed doing it again, but maybe in the reverse direction next time, or maybe taking a large group of friends with us during the fall to take in the colours and the changing seasons.
Our experience riding the Simcoe County Loop Trail was incredible. The trail sections are all so unique in their own little ways. Gravel, stone dust, paved, hilly, twisty or narrow, the majority of the trails were excellent to ride on. I would highly recommend discovering the SCLT over the course of two days, maybe even a long weekend so you have one extra day to explore. For those of you that can ride anytime of the week, this would make a great mid week excursion.
Currently the SCLT is just being completed as the municipalities and County work to close the links. They hope to offically launch the route in 2017.
For more information regarding the trails and the Simcoe County Loop Trail:
http://experience.simcoe.ca/trails
For Cycling Information specific to Simcoe County
It’s been a hot summer for cycling in Southern Georgian Bay. As we approach the August long weekend, I can’t help but look ahead to the fall. After its introduction into the local cycling world last October, the Growling Beaver Brevet has once again sold (Note: this year there is a waiting list for participants that missed out on the early registration).
The Growling Beaver Brevet made its debut in 2015 to celebrate cycling and to help people with Parkinson's to live well today. All fundraising proceeds will go to support the joint work of the Davis Phinney Foundation and ParkinGo Wellness Society.
The Growling Beaver Brevet is a social (non-race) ride to celebrate cycling with 200 cyclists riding 40, 100 or 200 km routes through the scenic Beaver Valley at what should be the height of the fall colours. The day will feature Beaver Valley and Georgian Bay communities and merchants that have supported cyclists through the summer season.
The routes have been conceived with a mix of tarmac and scenic country gravel roads. Every rider will carry a “passport” that will be authenticated at checkpoints.
Those that got in this year will love some of the new swag and additions to the event. It’s going to be a great year. For more information and to buy swag, please go to: www.growlingbeaver.com
Check out the new, freshly released today video from Cycle Simcoe.
I’m spending my August long weekend bike packing around Southern Georgian Bay. I’m super excited about a project I’m working on with our friends at Cycle Simcoe. Keep your eyes peeled in an upcoming blog about my day tripping experience around Southern Georgian Bay.
As usual, I’ve looked over my favorite weather services for the long weekend forecast. There are conflicting predictions, but for the most part the weather looks great. Winds this weekend will be fairly light out of the N to NE to NEE, depending on the day. Saturday looks like a great day to be out on a bike. There is a bit of conflict with the Sunday forecast, with one weather service showing sun and cloud, while the other predicts rain on and off for the day. You may want to keep a closer eye on Sunday’s weather as it nears. Holiday Monday looks like a perfect day for a long ride.
Have a great weekend, hope to see you on the road.
As we near the end of July each year, Collingwood becomes filled with fanatical Elvis fans. With over 30,000 visitors to the area, you can expect the roads in and around town to be very busy starting Friday morning and running through until Sunday evening when the tribute king is crowned for 2016. This years event will draw some 100 tribute artists all competing for their spot in Graceland. If you plan on riding downtown be sure to take a lock with you.
The Scott team will be at 3 Stage this Saturday morning at 10am-3pm with a ton of bikes for you to demo and try out.
Things to bring: Helmet, Pedals, Drivers License, Credit Card
List of Bikes available for demo:
GENIUS:
SPARK
SCALE
E-ASPECT
E-Sub Tour
FOIL
SOLACE:
Elvis weekend is typically a perfect summer weekend. It's not too often that we get a lot of rain at the end of July, and with the drought we have been experiencing over the last few months, there is nothing but hot summer weather coming our way again this weekend. On Friday the heat warning will remain in place, but is said to be removed for the the weekend with temperatures still high, but below the trigger mark for the heat warning. Temperatures in the high 20's to mid 30's can still be expected for Saturday and Sunday. Winds will be moderate coming from the NW on Saturday and then switching to the S and SE on Sunday. I'll be riding towards Kimberley on Saturday and Creemore area on Sunday to take advantage of the tail winds home. Be sure to drink lots of fluids both before, during and after your ride this weekend, its going to be warm.
Watch for symptoms of heat illness, which include
- dizziness or fainting, nausea or vomiting
- headache
- rapid breathing and heartbeat
- extreme thirst and
- decreased urination with unusually dark yellow urine.
If you experience any of these symptoms during a heat event, immediately move to a cool place and drink liquids. Water is best.
Have a great weekend of riding, hope to see you on the road!
I have a little secret, I know a local place you should ride to that I can almost guarantee you haven’t been. New route, new road. I know, I know…I can hear all you locals say…”I’ve ridden all roads in this area and drank coffee at all the cafes, what are you talking about?”.
Scotch Hollow Market & Deli is located in the heart of Singhampton, to the rear of Mylar and Loreta’s parking lot. New this spring, owners Scott Holmes and Kate Sparling have been huge supporters of cycling and mountain biking in the area for many years. The cafe is open most days between 10am - 5pm (10am-4pm Sun & Mon). I’ve been up to visit a handful of times now and love going back. Great staff, fresh coffee, all local baked goods, deli sandwiches, small pizza’s, oat bars, butter tarts and of course ice cream (last weekend they included fresh strawberries on it!).
So your asking, how do I get there? Personally, my favourite route includes gravel, so most of the time I take my cx bike. If you are setting out for a back road adventure, head straight up Tenth Line, climb up to the Duntroon quarry. Turn left onto Grey Road 31/Simcoe Rd 95 and continue south straight into Singhampton (Scotch Hollow will be on your right). If you prefer all paved roads, head up the Pretty River Valley, take a left at Rob Roy and follow Grey Road 31 all the way to Signhampton. There is plenty of construction going on at the top of the valley this year, however, you should be fine if you stick to Grey Road 31.
The Scotch Hollow Market & Deli follow the simple philosophy “Shop local, Eat local, Spend local, Enjoy local”….we might as well add Ride local, I think it fits just fine with the rest of the mantra. Stop by and check them out, I promise you won't be disappointed.
It looks like another amazing weekend to ride! Mid summer means the middle of road construction season in the area so there are still a few places to avoid. Construction on Fairgrounds Road has been completed from the railway tracks just south of Airport Rd to County Road 91. Grey Road 31 also has new pavement along with a healthy 1 meter shoulder for bikes (thanks to a group of locals rallying the County of Grey this past winter). Places that are still torn up include a short section at Rob Roy heading south one concession as well as Grey Road 119 from Banks to Ravenna. If you avoid these two sections, you should have a great weekend of riding.
The weather outlook couldn’t be better, sunny with temperatures in the mid to high twenties on Saturday and Sunday, with a light winds out of the west. Pretty idea weekend to ride.
See you on the road!
Canada Day is a great time to head out with a group of friends and explore the area. Unfortunately this Friday doesn’t look so great for weather. If you are willing to deal with the rain and wind, stick close to the area and do a coffee run. If riding in wet weather is not your thing, it may be a good day to check out all the tent sales around the Collingwood area and get stocked up for the next winter.
Noelle Wansbrough from Pedal Pushers has been guiding corporate groups now for a few years. On June 23 Pedal Pushers hosted their first corporate day of the year for a Toronto based Company with special guest George Hincapie. The event included an all-inclusive day of riding in the Collingwood Beaver Valley are area, with 80km and 100km route options. With 7 guides, 2 swag vehicles, bike set ups from Kamikaze Bikes and the on road help from Velofix, the Pedal Pushers corporate day was extremely successful again this year.
For more information regarding private cycling events or corporate cycling events contact Noelle at http://pedal-pushers.ca
This weekends weather looks much better for Saturday and Sunday. On Friday the weather gods suggest that we will see rain for the majority of the day with winds picking up in the afternoon. There will really be no great time to get out and ride, so if you are looking to get out, take your rain jacket with you. If riding in the afternoon, stay as sheltered as possible (Georgian Trail), as the winds are expected to pick up to 50km/hr. Saturday and Sunday look much better with typical summer temperatures in the mid twenties and winds out of the W or NW or WN.
Have a great Canada Day long weekend, hope to see you on the road.
It’s been a great week for riding in and around the Southern Georgian Bay area. Temperatures have been seasonable and very pleasant for riding. This weekend looks like another epic weekend to hit the roads and trails in the area.
“All for the love of BIKE”, quoted right from the Blue Mountain Village website. This weekend marks the 2016 PedalFest happenings out at the mountain. What should you expect? A kid’s bike parade, bike demos, bike shows, live music, guided and self-guided trail rides and tons of other awesome activities. This is the first year the Mountain will be hosting the East Coast “Canada Cup” downhill race which promises to be awesome for spectators! So if you are looking for something to do, or a place to end or start your ride this weekend, check out the Village at Blue, it looks to be a pretty awesome venue for cyclists.
http://bluemountainvillage.ca/pedalfest/
Road cycling, and in particular, road cycling in groups tends to be a highly controversial topic. Misunderstandings surrounding the highway traffic act (HTA) being the primary culprit. With that in mind, Cycle Simcoe recently partnered with Tourism Simcoe County, RTO7 and Grey County, on a series of cycling safety videos. These videos, directed towards both cyclists and motorists were developed to clarify the rules of the road and encourage all road users to co-exist, practicing courtesy and truly 'Sharing the Road'.
The video's touch on the following topics:
http://cyclesimcoe.ca/safety-videos/
Not much to say, it’s a green light for riding this weekend here in Collingwood. Saturday looks great with very low winds out of the NW and temperatures in the high 20’s. On Sunday the winds will shift to the south and a few clouds will move it. Thunderstorms are expected later in the afternoon, so if you plan to get out, take advantage of the morning and early afternoon hours.
Have a great weekend of riding! Hope to see you on the road.
6 Hours of Gibraltar Course
During the hurricane winds of last Sunday, I had the chance to pre-ride the 6 hours of Gibraltar course with a little instruction from a local MTB legend. This race is now in its fourth year and it has become without a doubt the highlight of the season for most locals that shred the trails in the 3 Stage area. The past two summers I have been away from the area during the event, so this year is the first time I will partake in the festivities. Anyone who knows me will be surprised to hear that I'm jumping on a mountain bike, but I must admit, I had a blast on the course last weekend. It was fast, with a ton of corners, a few little climbs and plenty of speedy descents. Just as you get into your groove, a small rock garden is thrown in just to add a little excitement and slow you down for a second or two. The course is great for all abilities and I’m really looking forward to the event on July 9th.
The event is open to everyone and has a 4 person category, a 6-8 corporate team division or if you are brave enough, a solo category. Last year the event raised $140,000 for the local My Friends House charity. My Friend's House is a non-profit organization providing emergency shelter and counseling services to abused women and their children escaping violence in their personal relationships.
For more information or to donate to the cause please check out the website or donate HERE
Day Time Running Lights (DTRL's) are becoming more popular on the road nowadays with cyclists.
Over the winter there has been a lot of talk on the interwebs and bike forums about day time running lights (DTRL’s) on bicycles. I remember reading an article (which I can't find anywhere now) about a group of roadies in California who have started riding with DTRL’s to increase their visibility during the normal hours of the day. Its funny, I believe most people won't use DTRL's because they actually think it's “uncool” or they are afraid of being the only rider in the bunch with lights on during the day. As cyclists we need to change the way we think and have a better understanding on how drivers see us on the road.
For the most part, this year i have been riding with front and rear DTRL’s. It doesn’t matter if it is sunny and bright, I use them if I have them. According to a little research I conducted, motor cycle collisions were decreased by 26% when DTRL’s were used. So where does that leave us vulnerable cyclists? I’m actually beginning to think people are crazy for not using them, DTRL's make you more visible on the road any time of the day. In Ontario, the law requires us to have a white front light and a red rear light or reflector if you ride between a half hour before sunset and a half hour after sunrise. The law does not speak to DTRL's. I believe that as a cyclist, it's in our best interest to do everything within our power to be seen on the road. DTRL’s are the way of the future for road cycling, time to give it a chance. Check out your local bike shop and get fitted with some new lights. Quick tips- spend money on lights, they are expensive but may save your life. Don't buy small ones, they are typically useless and can't be seen. Make sure they are rechargeable so you can plug them in after every ride. In fact, it doesn't hurt to have two sets, that way one can always be charged and ready to go.
Looking to demo a new bike for the 6 hours of Gibraltar? Squire John's is hosting a Rocky Mountain Demo Day tomorrow at 3 Stage between 10am-3pm. Test ride the latest bikes with new school handling and geometry from Rock Mountain.
There is some construction going on this weekend the you may wish to avoid. Grey Road 119 from Banks to Ravenna is closed for surface modifications. The County of Grey has also started a bit of construction on Grey Road 31 east of Rob Roy (portion of the local ride called the Newman Loop). There are a few ridable gravel sections, but you may just want to avoid this area all together.
Last weekend was really a disaster for any great road riding here in Southern Georgian Bay. The high winds really put a damper on all the excitement for riding. This weekend looks like it could be the best one yet of 2016, both Saturday and Sunday will have temperatures in the high twenties with very low winds out of the west and north west. This may be the time to break out the sun sleeves and sunblock, its going to be a hot weekend! Pack lots of fluids and be sure to stop at all those cafes along the way to refuel!
Hope to see you on the road!
A few years back I rode from Collingwood to Midland for the annual Butter Tart Festival (dubbed "Ontario's Best"). Anyone in the cycling world (at least in Canada) will understand that any good ride should include the chance to devour a few butter tarts along the way. There are several amazing places to ride to from Collingwood that all have an incredible selection of these heavenly treats; Giffen’s County Market, Affairs Cafe, Kimberley General Store and of course Ravenna General Store. The great thing about the Midland Butter Tart Festival is that you can ride to one place and get the worlds best BT selection.
Chocolate covered butter tarts
This ride differs from others in the the area because it is completely flat, zero climbing. From Collingwood it is a 120km return ride, so you will need a bit of time to do it. For those looking to reduce the length, you can ride out of Wasaga Beach and take 40-50 km off the ride. I have included the route below.
Raspberry filled Butter Tart
More information can be found at the Midland Butter Tart Festival Website:
The weekend weather looks to be a bit of a mixed bag. On Saturday, Environment Canada is calling for a 60% chance of thundershowers with the temperature around 26 degrees (humidex is around 34 degrees). The afternoon looks better for riding if you are planning to get out. Sunday looks amazing at first glance, but when you take a closer look, the winds will once again move in, just like they have all this week. Right now the weather gods are forecasting 26 km/hr winds out of the NW gusting to 40 km/hr all day. There will be no real ideal time to ride on Sunday, so when you do, make sure you head out in a northwest direction (towards Thornbury and Frogs Hollow) so you can enjoy the tail wind home.
Hope to see you on the road!
Looking for something to do this Thursday evening? Cannondale is bringing their demo fleet of MTB’s from the Ontario wide #LeftyTour to the trails up at 3 Stage. The event starts at 4pm and goes until dusk.
Things to bring
Bikes available for demo
There are so many reasons to demo a bike when the opportunity presents itself. I always take advantage of events like this, it’s good to stay in tune with the cycling industry, the technology, the different styles of frames, new components and anything else that may be new since your last bike purchase. Always bring your own helmet and pedals, and don’t forget your shoes. Do your best to have the bike set up so you are comfortable with it, but remember that it's just a demo session, so you may not be able to have it dialled in as much as you would like.
For the test ride make sure you start off slow and take a bit of time to get use to how the bike rolls, corners, shifts and brakes. As you feel a little more confident, test out the braking, take different angles and speeds into the corners, spend some time climbing/descending and basically get to know the bike as best you can. Don’t forget to ask for the low down on the bike itself; what makes it different and unique from everything out there on the market.
Let them you your coming here
Happy Demo-ing :)
