WHAT IS CYCLON?

Cyclon® is a 4-day cycle touring mini vacation that takes place every year during the August Civic long weekend. It is organized by the Cyclon Committee which consists of volunteer members of Toronto Bicycling Network. It has been running for over 30 years, in Ontario locations including: Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough, Barrie, Kitchener, St. Catharine’s, Guelph, Belleville, Waterloo and London.

This year Cyclon starts on Friday, Jul 31 and concludes Monday, Aug 3, 2026. We will be hosted at Brock University, located in the beautiful city of St. Catharines, Ontario, approx. 100 km driving distance from Toronto. Cyclists will be able to enjoy rides around the St. Catharine/Niagara regions, including urban routes and rural country roads with opportunities to visit and enjoy parks, beaches, nature attractions, museums, theatre, historic landmarks, restaurants, micro-breweries, wineries and much more.

Of course, Cyclon would not be complete without the Sunday Night Banquet and Dance. It will be held at Brock’s “Pond Inlet”, less than 300 metres from our residence, complete with a wonderful buffet-style, three-course meal followed by dancing.

Pond Inlet

CYCLING

Cyclon will feature 14 rides over four days, designed for all ride levels. You will have your choice of different cycling routes for each day of Cyclon. Route maps will be available so that you can plan your cycling. The routes range from 15 to 90 km in length and are based on the TBN ride categories: Leisure Wheeler, Urban Roller, Short Tourist and Tourist. The categories refer to both distance and pace. For more information on these categories, visit our website (The Toronto Bicycling Network Inc. - Choose your level (tbn.ca)). Experienced ride leaders and sweeps will be leading and sweeping each tour. The rides on Friday afternoon and Monday morning will be shorter, to allow for travel time. On Saturday and Sunday, the rides begin between 8:15 and 9:30 am, and finish between 2 and 4pm.

VOLUNTEERING

Who runs Cyclon, can I help? The answers are “VOLUNTEERS and YES, YOU CAN!” Like everything in TBN, nothing could happen without our members stepping up to lend a hand. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and help make this event as enjoyable as possible. On the registration page there will be a list of all the volunteer positions to be filled during the weekend. When you are registering, please consider how you can volunteer.

ACCOMMODATIONS

What type of university residence is it?  Each residence suite consists of two bedrooms and one shared bathroom. Each bedroom has one single bed and a lockable door. There are 2 lounges on each floor complete with a full-sized refrigerator, microwave, sink and sitting area. There are also laundry facilities, but you will need to bring your own soap.

Can I choose my suitemate?  Of course! As part of the registration process, you will be asked for the name of the person with whom you wish to share a suite. If two registrants both request to be paired with each other, then the Cyclon committee will pair them in the same suite. If one registrant requests a particular suitemate, but the other suitemate does not have a complimentary request, then you might not be paired.  Please include specific requests in your registration details.

What if I didn’t choose a suitemate?  If you do not indicate a suitemate on your registration form, you will be placed in a suite with a participant of the same sex.

Bikes You will be able to bring your bike into your room overnight, except ebikes.

What about eBikes?  Brock’s insurance policy states that ebikes are not permitted within their buildings due to fire/explosion hazards. We are organizing another storage and charging option, which will mean an extra charge of $20 to $30 for ebike users.

NOTE: When considering whether to bring your ebike, be aware, the terrain in the St. Catharines area is considerably flatter than last year’s Cyclon in Peterborough.

What time can we check in at the residence?  You can check in anytime after noon on Friday July 31st.

What time is check-out?  Check-out time is no later than 2 pm on Monday Aug 3rd.

Can I stay for extra days?  Yes, for the same nightly cost. In this case you need to call Brock in July at 905-688-5550 x 3220 or email  EastDesk@brocku.ca.  Please wait until July because Brock will then know the room you will be staying in. It may also be possible to extend your stay once you are at Cyclon, by visiting the front desk.

Brock Campus Map: Interactive Campus Map

TRANSPORTATION

Parking: Parking is complimentary from noon on Friday until 2 pm on Monday, in Lots 4A and 4B. These are behind Residence Eight where we are staying.

What if I need a ride to/from Cyclon? When you register for Cyclon you will be asked whether you need a ride, and whether you can give a ride. We will then attempt to match those who need and those who can offer rides hopefully based on proximity to each other. NOTE: There is no guarantee we will be able to find you a ride. Drivers typically appreciate a contribution of $20 each way from the passenger(s) but the exact amount is up to the driver.

Is there public transit? Yes, you can take the GO bus from Toronto to the St. Catharine’s Bus Terminal where you can cycle to Brock or transfer to the city’s transit which will take you to the university.

How will I get to the restaurant for dinner on Saturday? Guests will meet at the residence, then walk, carpool or share taxis.

MEALS

Meal	Time	Location
Complete Buffet-style Breakfast (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday)	6:30 am to 8:00 am	Dining Hall (Decew Res, 250 m walk)
Friday Evening Pizza and Games	6 pm to 9 pm	Atrium Dining Hall (Res 8 Main Floor)
Saturday Night Hosted Dinners please note that this dinner is not included in the cost of registration	Hosts choose the times	Volunteer hosts will make reservations at various restaurants in the area. You will have the chance to sign up for one of the restaurants.
Sunday Night banquet and dance with DJ	6 pm to 11 pm	Great Hall, 700m walk from the residence
light post-ride snacks Saturday and Sunday	2 PM TO 4 PM	ROOM FLOOR LOUNGES & OUTSIDE
Lunches are not included in the cost of registration.		Saturday and Sunday rides usually have a lunch-break, where you can purchase something to eat (restaurant, coffee shop). Some cyclists just have breakfast and snacks, then dinner; some bring simple lunch foods from home and keep them in the common room fridge or personal coolers.

Can I prepare any of my own meals? Brock does not permit the preparation of meals (cooking) in your room. Lounge areas include a fridge, microwave and sink, so you can make simple things like sandwiches, but other meal preparation equipment is not available.

What about special dietary needs or allergies? If you have any special dietary needs, requirements, or allergies, please indicate these concerns at the time of online registration. The organizing committee will provide this information to our caterers who will do everything they can to accommodate.

ENTERTAINMENT

Aside from cycling, what other social/entertainment options will be available?  Friday dinner and games night; Saturday dinner in small groups; Sunday banquet. There will be some time to explore the St. Cat region on your own – plays at the Shaw festival, Niagara Falls (including museums and other attractions), the locks of the Welland Canal, and a few beaches.

What can I expect at the Sunday Night Buffet Dinner & Dance? – This evening is traditionally one of the highlights of the Cyclon weekend. The event features a fabulous 3 course meal, prizes, and of course a DJ with lots of dancing! It will be held in Pond Inlet, a 300 m walk from our residence.

Is there a specific dinner attire? Attire normally ranges from casual to semi-formal. Don’t forget to bring comfortable shoes for dancing.

COST INCLUSIONS

What do I get with my registration? You get three nights’ accommodation (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights), and 3 breakfasts (Sat, Sun & Mon), cycling tours with ride leaders and sweeps, Friday Pizza, post-ride snacks, and of course Sunday’s Buffet Dinner & Dance.

Registration Dates	TBN Member ($) *note: you must be a full TBN member to attend Cyclon. Please see below for details
Early Bird Opens April 4 Closes May 24	$425
Later Birds Opens May 25 Closes June 26	$455

How do I register for Cyclon?  TBN requires that all event registration be done on-line through the TBN website. The Toronto Bicycling Network Inc. - Cyclon 2026  As TBN no longer accepts cheques, payment must be processed during on-line registration with a credit card, PayPal, or e-transfers.

Your spot at Cyclon is reserved when you have completed the entire online registration form, and your payment is received. Please ensure that you provide your correct email address when you register for yourself. We use this email address to send you additional information and directions. Please check your Bulk or Spam email folders in addition to your inbox.

Can I attend Cyclon as a Trial Member?  No, you must be a full member. If you are currently a trial member, you can become a full member for $30 (Student,) $50 (Individual) or $80 (Family), at https://www.tbn.ca/joinus The $15 trial fee will be refunded to you.

Can I attend Cyclon as a Non-Member?  No, you must be a full member to be covered by TBN insurance. But it’s easy! Go to https://www.tbn.ca/joinus and become a full member for $30 (Student,) $50 (Individual) or $80 (Family.) Your membership is valid for one year.

I am not a member. Can I get my TBN membership while I sign up for Cyclon?  Yes, you can. You must become a member first, then register for Cyclon. You will then get your TBN membership and save money by registering for Cyclon at the member's price. The TBN membership form is available at www.tbn.ca/join.

What happens if I want to cancel my registration?  All cancellations are subject to a $50 per person cancellation processing fee. NOTE: If you cancel AFTER July 9th, you will lose the full registration fee but, with the approval of the Cyclon Director, you may sell your package.

What happens if I have an illness, accident or emergency after the cancellation date?  Sadly, you will lose the full registration fee, but you may sell your package with the approval of the Cyclon director.

What happens if there is a COVID Outbreak?  Should the government initiate a city or province-wide lock-down due to COVID, and Cyclon must cancel, we will refund your registration fee less $50 to cover non-refundable expenses and other losses that may be incurred.

Should TBN or Cyclon become aware of COVID cases arising from or during the Cyclon weekend, we will follow existing TBN COVID notification protocols.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO CYCLON?