Wednesday Wheelies: TBN's Best-Kept Secret

Bill Hannaford

The nature of the Wednesday day rides known as the "Wednesday Wheelies" might be the best-kept secret in the TBN. Wednesday Wheelies are social, tourist-level rides that cover routes similar to the popular Country Cruises, but which have the glorious advantage of roads, often busy with traffic on a Sunday, being nearly deserted mid-week. Good quality maps are provided in the format also in use on the Sunday Country Cruise.

Rides run from mid-March to mid-December (weather permitting), and start within a one hour driving time of Toronto. Starting points are as far west as Waterdown, north as far as Keswick and east as far as Oshawa. Routes are 70 to 85 km in length, designed to get you back home before rush-hour traffic begins. Starting time is 10:00 a.m., with an earlier start at 8:30 a.m. during July and August to beat the heat and enhance the summer experience. As every photographer knows, a country scene which appears flat and unexciting at noon becomes a delight to behold in the mists and soft, low light of early morning. As well, there is a certain satisfaction to sipping an after-ride cool beer or iced tea by 1:00 p.m.

The Wednesday Wheelies have been running for over a decade, and have built up a core of dedicated and enthusiastic riders. They were initiated in 1990 and run for two years by former TBN members John and Marilyn Malloy who have since moved to Kingston. In recent years the rides have continued with the addition of a glorious weekend of riding in Kingston with John and Marilyn. I now volunteer as the coordinator, and produce the maps, but there are many other volunteers to lead rides, organize the Kingston weekend or bake pies for after-ride birthday celebrations.

The Wheelies have acquired an unfortunate and incorrect reputation of being "a bunch of old guys who ride fast". From their inception, the rides have been very much informal and social, with the group riding together as far as the lunch stop, then perhaps after lunch breaking up into smaller groups for a faster or slower return depending on the interest of the riders. Often there is an after-ride stop for refreshments and additional socializing. Although there are some riders who are male and retired, we have participants of both sexes in ages representative of club membership. And when riders show up who require a leisurely pace, there are always one or two of the regulars who will lead a slower-paced group and join the others at lunch. A number of riders who have joined the group as easy roller cyclists, with encouragement, advice on cycling skills and tips on bicycle purchase, have become regular participants and much-improved riders.

How are some cyclists able to ride mid-week? Here are some reasons: Flexible work hours; jobs with a day off mid-week; shift-work; holidays (teachers); students; those temporarily unemployed or in need of a mental health day. As well, some Wednesday Wheelers arrange to take some of their holiday time on Wednesdays.

We welcome you to join us sometime this season. Listen to line 2 of the Hotline (416) 760-4191 for the weekly destination, check back here at www.tbn.ca or subscribe to the weekly Chain of Events email announcement. If you would like further information, please feel free to call me, Bill Hannaford, at (416) 482-2125. I can also refer you to a number of other enthusiastic Wednesday Wheelers for comments. Then when cycling season ends and snow falls, consider joining us for TBN mid-week cross-country skiing.

Don, Fred, Edith and Janie, summer 2005

2009 Ride Schedule

Mar-25	10:00 am	King City/Bradford	60 & 65 kms
Apr-01	10:00 am	Hornby/Campbellville	66 km
Apr-08	10:00 am	Keswick Along Lake Simcoe	63 & 75 kms
Apr-15	10:00 am	Unionville/Mt. Albert/Musselman Lake	70 & 86 kms
Apr-22	10:00 am	Schomberg/Caledon East	74 & 93 kms
Apr-29	10:00 am	Stouffville/Goodwood	61 & 76 kms
May-06	10:00 am	Schomberg/Alliston/Hockley	72 & 88 kms
May-13	10:00 am	Durham College/Port Perry	60, 72 & 85 kms
May-20	10:00 am	Hornby/Rockwood	70 & 81 kms
May-27	10:00 am	King City/Schomberg Alternate	70 & 92 kms
Jun-03	10:00 am	Campbellville/Waterdown	64, 74 & 114 kms
Jun-10	10:00 am	Bradford/Innisfil Beach	70 & 78 kms
Jun-17	10:00 am	Mount Albert/Lake Simcoe	55 & 79 kms
Jun-24	8:30 am	King City/Schomberg	67, 80 & 96 kms
Jul-01	8:30 am	Ashburn Tour	57 & 81 kms
Jul-08	8:30 am	Hornby/Glen Williams	73 & 87 kms
Jul-15	8:30 am	Durham College/Bowmanville	69 & 79 kms
Jul-22	8:30 am	Stouffville/Goodwood	61, 76 & 84 kms
Jul-29	8:30 am	King City/Caledon East (or Bolton) /Kleinburg	74 & 103 kms
Aug-05	8:30 am	Hornby/Campbellville	66 & 75 kms
Aug-12	8:30 am	Courtice to Bowmanville	71 & 86 kms
Aug-19	8:30 am	Hornby/Lowville/Campbellville	67, 83 & 99 kms
Aug-26	8:30 am	Stouffville/Uxbridge	61 & 85 kms
Sep-02	10:00 am	Hornby/Glen Williams	73 & 87 kms
Sep-09	10:00 am	Schomberg/Caledon East	74 & 93 kms
Sep-16	10:00 am	Campbellville/Waterdown	64, 74 & 114 kms
Sep-23	10:00 am	Bradford/Innisfil Beach	70 & 75 kms
Sep-30	10:00 am	Ashburn Tour	57 & 81 kms
Oct-07	10:00 am	Stouffville/Goodwood	61, 76 & 84 kms
Oct-14	10:00 am	Waterdown Escarpment Adventure	51, 71 & 83 kms
Oct-21	10:00 am	Mount Albert/Lake Simcoe	60 & 79 kms
Oct-28	8:30 am	King City/Schomberg Alternate	70 & 92 kms
Nov-04	10:00 am	Hornby/Rockwood	70 & 81 kms
Nov-11	10:00 am	Schomberg/Alliston/Hockley	72 & 88 kms
Nov-18	10:00 am	Stouffville/Uxbridge	61, 76 & 85 kms
Nov-25	10:00 am	King City/Caledon East/Bolton/Kleinburg	74 & 103 kms
Dec-02	10:00 am	Unionville/Mt Albert/Musselman Lake	70 & 86 kms
Dec-09	10:00 am	King City/Bradford	60 & 65 kms
Dec-16	12:00 pm	Wednesday Wheelie Christmas Luncheon

Bill and Brian

The group at Keswick, 2000

All photos courtesy Lionel Simmons