Fall is here

What a great summer it was, seemed every weekend was sunny and warm....or more like "hot". The weather may have cooled, and a few ride programs have ended, but there are still plenty of cycling and other recreational activities to choose from in TBNs calendar of events. Hiking and city walks are starting soon, and, shudder to think, winter activities like indoor spinning, skating and weekend ski trips are in the works. But first.......

It's just about time for a party

TBN's Annual General Meeting and Dinner Dance is just a few weeks away. Come on out to meet your TBN pals, vote for the new board, recognize the hard-working volunteers and see who won volunteer of the year. A tasty dinner is followed some great tunes to dance to. Judging from prior years, TBN'ers can certainly dance up a storm! The gala event takes place at Whistlers on Broadview Avenue on November 5. Register now to take advantage of early bird pricing until October 27. Deadline to buy your tickets is November 3. 

Winter is coming

Are you ready for winter cycling? Come to our free Winter Cycling education session on October 13 and learn the ins and outs of biking in the cold, including how to chose the best clothes for all possible conditions. If you can ski in cold weather, why not bike in cold weather too? TBN member Dinsmore Roach will share his experience of winter cycling, offer recommendations and answer all your winter cycling questions. The event takes place at North York Central Library at 5120 Yonge Street. Click here to register.

Get the most out of your club

For the upcoming year, we're looking for volunteers to join the TBN board A few positions are available, most importantly as secretary. Are you organized and efficient, and able to work with a hard-working and dedicated team in running our monthly meetings and keeping TBN organized? 

Or maybe you want to achieve your life long goal of producing and editing a magazine, notably   TBN's Quick Release Newsletter, which is set to become a once-a-year venture. 

Do you want to volunteer in some way, but not quite sure how? Contact TBN President Ian Rankin at president@tbn.ca and he'll help you out.

Tell your friends

TBN's home page now features a short video about the club with comments from club members, including people you might know. Have a look and then forward to friends, especially non-members who can then get a flavour for the club.

TBN opposes bicycle licencing

TBN not only organizes events, but also advocates on behalf of all cyclists. Advocacy Director Joey Schwartz submitted a strongly worded letter to the Toronto Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on behalf of TBN opposing bicycle licensing. Thanks to submissions like this from TBN and other parties, the committee overwhelmingly voted to postpone discussion indefinitely. Contact advocacy@tbn.ca if you wish to learn more.

Quick Release online

The Fall/Winter edition of Quick Release will be released online in the next few days -- there will be no printed and mailed-out copy. The TBN website has undergone considerable improvements in recent years and is now your primary source for ride schedules and all things TBN. 

Starting in 2017, Quick Release will revert to an annual to be issued in March, with more of a focus on features and stories,and a preview of the upcoming TBN season. Ride schedules will no longer be printed in Quick Release. TBN is currently seeking an editor for 2017, so if you wish to produce and edit what should become an annual keepsake, please contact publicity@tbn.ca. 

Reminders

Ride with GPS

Most TBN rides are available on Ride with GPS as well as with paper maps and cue sheets. But you can also enjoy benefits of RWGPS premium membership without paying for a premium account? Just click on this link, and follow the instructions. If you already have a RWGPS account, you're good to go. If not, it takes only a minute or two to set up a free account.

As long as the ride is listed in the TBN Club section, you get the following benefits:

1. One-click loading of the route to your Garmin device.
2. You can customize the layout and font-size of the cue sheet PDF to the way you like it.
3. Get turn-by-turn directions from the mobile app on your iPhone or select Android smartphones.
4. And you can RSVP to rides.

You must be an active TBN member to get access to the free upgrade. If you have questions, please contact Joey at tourist@tbn.ca. 

TBN on the Go

Re-introducing TBN's mobile app. This new app displays all upcoming rides and events and allow you to check the most current details in advance of the event or while on route. If you have any comments or suggestions about the app, please contact TBN's Technical Director Sandra.wong@tbn.ca.

Save with TBN

Dozens of firms, stores and services offer discounts to TBN members, so check here and remember to mention TBN when you shop for gear. 

Check before you ride

Remember to re-visit the TBN website before you head out in case your activity is cancelled or changed at short notice. Coordinators will always put safety first and cancel a ride if weather conditions pose a danger. Schedules and start locations can also change so don't rely on the Quick Release newsletter, which may be out of date.

You do not have to sign up for rides. Just show up at the start point and show your membership card to the ride leader.

Bring a friend; non members pay $5.

Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up.