The Toronto Bicycling Network Inc.

September 2, 2020

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September is Bike Month!

The first ever September Bike Month is under way in southern Ontario. Bike month is a great time to rekindle the youthful magic of exploring your neighbourhood by bike or to share that joy with the next generation of bike riders. Even during a pandemic, riding a bike is an efficient way to get around while maintaining physical distance, all the while getting exercise to help maintain your physical and mental health. Whether you ride for transportation or recreation (or both!), there’s a lot going on across the GTHA and Toronto.

Register early for your TBN ride

TBN is now offering almost a full schedule of member-only rides, and we encourage you to sign up early as many of these rides fill up fast. Details available on the upcoming events section of the home page and on the calendar: rider numbers vary depending on the program and the preference of the ride leader. Important: Please go back to the website to cancel your ride registration if you change your mind, so that your space can go to someone in the waitlist.

Remember: You must register to join a TBN ride, and you must agree to the terms of the new waiver. Bring hand sanitizer and a mask with you and wear that mask when you can't keep a safe distance from your fellow club members, such as during rest stops. TBN rides are not open to non-members at this stage.

More details of our COVID-era club ride rules are on the TBN website.

The first rides that will reopen are:

Wednesday Evening Rides
Friday Evening Rides
Sunday Leisure Wheelers
Sunday Tourist rides.

Other programs may start up later in the year.

We are all looking forward to seeing each other, enjoying group rides and having fun together again in the midst of this unforgettable summ

Join Martin Lansche on our special virtual education session on how to work with RideWithGPS, the app/website where TBN stores its extensive collection of city and country routes. Martin will offer clues on whether you should use the free version of RideWithGPS or pay for an upgrade, explain how to find a TBN route, demonstrate how to download a route to your smartphone or bike computer, and discuss how to navigate your ride. You'll also get tips, and help with troubleshooting. This session is designed for users who are new to RideWithGPS: it will not cover advanced topics like route creation, organization and maintenance. Details coming soon to the Education section of the website.

Details of the newest proposals are here. City council will vote on the ideas on Thurs

Jersey deadline extended to Sept 30

TBN's jersey store will stay open until September 30, to give you an extra chance to place your order. Go to TBN Jersey for two pages: one with instructions on how to order, and another page showing samples, details on each jersey type, with a sizing chart and a link to Louis Garneau's website where you will make your order. Jerseys will be shipped to TBN and we will be in touch with you to arrange pickup. Please be sure your TBN online profile is up-to-date. Contact publicity@tbn.ca with any questions.

Fall colours in Niagara?

Are you interested in a day trip to the Niagara region in October to enjoy the fall colours? This 70km weekend ride, at Urban Roller level, will start in Port Dalhousie and loop around to visit the Welland Canal, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Post-ride dinner in either Niagara-on-the-Lake or Port Dalhousie. Travel options: drive or take the GO train to St. Catherines and ride to the starting point. Email Lora if you are interested.

Join a research study on active cyclists

The University of Toronto is looking for healthy, recreational cyclists to join a study on whether you are working as hard as you think you are -- measuring the gap between your view on your workout and your actual performance, which will be based on objective measures like heart rate. You need to be aged between 40 and 69, ride an average of 150km a week and own a road bike and shoes/cleats for Look Keo pedals. More details here. TBN's summer trips are cancelled because of COVID-19, and later trips will depend on how the situation evolves. Please monitor the TBN website and Facebook for more details.

Join a research study on active cyclists

TBN's summer trips are cancelled because of COVID-19, and later trips will depend on how the situation evolves. Please monitor the TBN website and Facebook for more details.

Travel with TBN

Collingwood fall colours Oct. 2-4 REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPT. 18

Registration is open for our new fall colours biking trip in theCollingwood region. You will make your own travel arrangements and join your fellow riders for rides and social events. More details on the TBN website.

Fitz fall hiking Oct 16-18 REGISTRATION OPENS SEPT. 13

Registration opens on Sept. 13 for our fall colour hiking trip to the quaint Fitz Hostel in Lion's Head, Ont. Breakfast, packed lunch fixings and one dinner are provided, and we'll do a potluck for our second night at the hostel. This small trip offers shared accommodation: two four-person dormitory rooms and one room with a double bed for two people. Details on the website.

Winter at Wolf Den Jan 29-31 2021 REGISTRATION OPENS IN NOV. 8

Enjoy skiing, snowshoeing and skating at the rustic Wolf Den lodge, near the entrance to Algonquin Park. Registration will open in November.

Reminders

TBN membership to be extended

TBN is working on a way to extend all non-lapsed member renewal dates based on the length of time that our season is delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. In other words we will add days to your next renewal date after you pay for your 2020 renewal. Please renew your membership when it expires so that your membership does not lapse.

Did you take a bike trip you want to share?

TBN offers occasional virtual travelogues, where members host presentations, with photos, on travel by bike. Email Lora at weekendtrips@tbn.ca if you would like to deliver a travelogue. The travelogues, like our virtual movie nights, take place via Zoom, a free and easy-to-use video call app where you can see and hear other participants on the call.

TBN routes: one of our most prized assets

You asked for a library of TBN routes. We listened.

A new work-in-progress page on the TBN website offers a convenient way to find some of our routes, which are stored on RideWithGPS. We have over 1,000 routes in total, including many duplicates and obsolete rides, so this will become an easier way to find a specific ride than scouring our online calendar. Check it out.

Join TBN's trips committee

To join TBN's Trips Committee, which plans new adventures for TBN members, please email Lora at weekendtrips@tbn.ca. Let's start thinking about next year, which we hope will be better.

lease check the TBN homepage for details of future movie nights and travelogues, where we watch movies together, and chat about them afterward, or listen to a presentation on travel with your bike. Please email Lora at weekendtrips@tbn.ca if you would like to deliver a travelogue, or you have suggestions for movies we could watch.

The presentations use Zoom, a free and easy-to-use video call app where you can see and hear other participants on the call.

Please check the TBN homepage for details of future movie nights and travelogues, where we watch movies together, and chat about them afterward, or listen to a presentation on travel with your bike. Please email Lora at weekendtrips@tbn.ca if you would like to deliver a travelogue, or you have suggestions for movies we could watch.

The presentations use Zoom, a free and easy-to-use video call app where you can see and hear other participants on the call.

Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up. The little TTC logo below will help alert you to any subway closures.