Leader's Choice: Niagara Peninsula Roundabout
When: September 27-28, 2025
Where: Around the Niagara Peninsula
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51945023
Type of ride: This will be a no-drop Leisure Wheeler level ride. To check if this level is appropriate for you, click here and scroll down to Leisure Wheeler.
Remember: Before the ride make sure you have your bike (in working order with the tires pumped up), helmet, spare inner tube, tire levers, pump, and flashing lights front and rear.
Start (and end) location: Lock Three Visitor Centre, 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake ON
Ride Leader: Carl Friesen. Mobile 647-998-4057.
Maximum number: 8
Cost: $125 per person. This is based on 8 registrants, double occupancy (breakfast included), and each person's share of the luggage transfer costs. Your own meals, snacks, and drinks are extra.
The cost for the trip is based on 8 registrants sharing 4 rooms that have booked with a 30% discount. The cost for single occupancy is $162.29 per room, tax in. When you register note who you would like to share a room with or let me arrange the room sharing.
Registration: Everyone must register to join this ride. If you do not have a regular TBN membership, click here. TBN offers three levels of membership that are valid for 12 months: namely Family, Individual and Student. Prices are $85, $55, and $30, respectively. (Membership renewal prices are $70, $40, and $30, respectively). TBN’s 30-Day-Trial membership costs $10 and is valid for 30 days.
If you are unable to attend then please cancel your registration.
Check the website the evening before the start in case of updates.
The route: all-paved (so bring your road bike), and mostly off-road. Mostly flat, aside from the escarpment climb at Thorold and the descent at Queenston Heights
Distance: 64 km the first day, and 76 the next, about 140 km in total.
Luggage: We provide luggage transfer from the ride start to our hotel, and then back again, where it will be ready on your return to your vehicle.
Accommodation: Okay, it’s Fort Erie, not NOTL. So we have the Comfort Inn, and reviews indicate that for breakfast, it's the waffle-machine, boiled-eggs, bagels, plus coffee and orange juice sort of place.
Meals: pay your own way, other than breakfast at the hotel on Sunday morning, that’s included.
What to pack: Not much. One bag. Bring rain gear depending on the weather forecast, and cool-weather gear (it’ll be late September) for the evening. Bring a small bag that goes on your bike, for snacks, tools, lock, sunscreen, spare tube, and other items you’ll need on the ride.
Day 1: Saturday, 27 September, 65 km
10:00: Meet at the Lock 3 Visitors Centre on the Welland Canal. There’s a big parking lot, and the visitor’s centre has washrooms and snacks. No charge for parking, and you can leave your car there overnight. We’ll ride south beside the Welland Canal, This is where we’ll find the only real hill on the route, as we climb the Niagara Escarpment alongside the ships. Once past the double locks, we’ll ride the canal pathway, watching ocean-going ships from all over the world pass by. We can stop for a quick break at the farmer’s market in Welland, and then stop for lunch in Port Colborne. In the afternoon, we’ll ride the Friendship Trail to our overnight in Fort Erie.
Day 2: Sunday, 28 September, 75 km
After a hotel breakfast, we’ll ride to the start of the Niagara Parkway near the 18th-century fortification, Fort Erie, which played a big role in the War of 1812. We’ll pass several other landmarks from that war along the way to Niagara Falls. We'll pass through the tourist traps at Niagara Falls (watch the traffic!) and on to the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll pick up the Waterfront Trail (which is mostly on quiet roads and streets). When we reach the Welland Canal, follow it back to Lock Three for a mid-afternoon arrival.
Questions? Call or text the trip leader, Carl Friesen, at 647-998-4057.
