Chain of Events
April 19, 2017

Breakfast in the park

Register now for TBN's May 13 kickoff breakfast in scenic Etienne Brule Park. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones at this popular annual event. The breakfast starts at 9am, followed by rides at different levels -- something for everybody. Bring a friend, and both of you will be eligible for exciting door prices. And we're waiving our non-member fees for these rides. What a perfect chance for friends to try out some of the rides that TBN has to offer.

Velofix will again be there for a last minute check of your bike and offer up a great prize.

Bonus offer: We'll have sample cycling jerseys to try on so you can ensure you're ordering the size you want. (see below for more about TBN apparel.)

Registration is free, but we do ask you to sign up, so we know how much food to order.

As always, check the website for details of all the rides and other events that are coming up, and remember to check back a couple of hours before a ride in case it's changed or cancelled because of poor weather, or other factors beyond our control.

Help with Ride for Heart

TBN is again looking for volunteer Ambassadors to help at the annual Ride for Heart, when cyclists take over the Gardiner and the Don Valley Parkway to raise money for a good cause. The Ambassadors will be on duty from 7am on the June 4 ride day. You will help riders with flat tires or basic mechanical problems, and alert medical staff to emergencies. Click here to register.

Or if you're not that technically minded, of if you just don't want to get up that early, you can also volunteer to help staff the TBN booth at the ride, which is one of Toronto's biggest mass cycling events of the year. Contact publicity@tbn.ca to help.

Getting out of town

TNTO weekend challenge

Sign up by May 15 for early bird prizes on our traditional Toronto-Niagara Falls-Toronto Overnight adventure, which takes place on the weekend of June 17-18. Start in Toronto and finish in Niagara Falls, riding 100+ miles on both Saturday and Sunday, or start in Stoney Creek for shorter routes -- just under 100km each day. Click here to register.TBN

Niagara long weekend - WAITLIST Our May 19-22 weekend in the Niagara area is full. Click here to join the waiting list for the trip, which includes rides along the Welland Canal, a visit to pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake, and a hike along part of the Bruce Trail.

Is this your Hairshirt year?

Registration is open for the Toronto-Niagara-Toronto double century Hairshirt, which takes you to Niagara Falls and back -- in just one day. Riders will leave from Mississauga at 6am on June 25, and return to the start place at the end of the day. Check out the website for detailed tips on how to tackle this challenging ride.

Other travel news

We're also planning two weekend camping trips, one in July and one in August, and a hiking trip to the Bruce Peninsula in October.

And of course, Cyclon will be back in Kingston in August for a second year, details in the next Chain of Events.

Watch the website for details of all these trips.

Contact Jeannie at weekendtrips@tbn.ca if you have any suggestions for a trip or if you wish to lead one. Trip leaders have their fees paid by TBN

Ride the 'drome

TBN is proud to offer its speed demons a new chance to fly, or at least to try their luck around the Milton Velodrome, with its impressive banked curves. Full instructions and rental bikes will be supplied. See the website for details and to register for this adventure, which takes place on the evening of May 27. The two-hour session costs $61 for TBN members and $66 for non-members.

Tips on RWGPS

1. You must be a member of the club account at RWGPS to take advantage of some of the features outlined below. First, create your own personal account (either a free one, or a paid one) and then go to the club page (https://ridewithgps.com/clubs/27-toronto-bicycling-network), and submit a request to join. Membership gives you access to 300+ club rides, and you can filter those down to find the ride you want.

2. Check this comprehensive summary of how to use the TBN account on RWGPS to load a map and route onto your Garmin or to generate a printable map and cue sheet. As mentioned above, you must be a member of the club account at RWGPS to use these facilities.

3. Visit YouTube for an instructional video on how to create and print a customized map and cue sheet using TBN's RideWithGPS account.

4. And check out this video for details on how to load a TBN ride onto your smartphone -- a useful tool for people who don't own a separate GPS device.

Safety matters

There are still a few slots left on our very important Ride Better, Ride Safer clinics, so check the websites for details of the two workshops on safety and cycling skills. Learn how to be a safer and more confident rider with in-classroom and on-the road instruction. You must commit to both of the two-hour sessions, to be held on Monday nights, on April 24 and on May 1.

Check out the Education section of the TBN website for details and to register for these two hugely informative events.

Thank you for your views

Thank you to the 360+ TBN members who replied to our survey about the club and its activities. Your responses will help us set priorities going forward and tailor future events to members' preferences. We will announce the prize winners in a future edition of Chain of Events.

Reminders

Full team kit

Shopping by TBN is again open for business, with exciting new options including branded shorts and bib shorts. If you've already placed your order, you can expect to hear from a TBN volunteer by June 1 to pick up your kit.

A new 'store' opens in the next day or two: order by May 21 for a July 1 delivery. Check here for all the exciting options, including jackets, jerseys (long sleeves, short sleeved and sleeveless), shorts and winter wear.

Decoding TBN rides

Check out the website for an explanation of TBN's ride classifications. The Tourist and Sportif rides are the fastest, and the Urban Roller and Leisure Wheeler rides are no-drop rides at a gentler pace. There's something for everybody.

Deals and special offers on bike stuff, tours, rides, and so on

TBN partners offer great deals for our members. Newer entries include a couple of bike shops, special bike tours outside Ontario, charity ride registration discounts, and much more. Please support TBN's great partners. There are so many new businesses out there that its tough to keep up and so If someone can help to keep this list up to date, please contact publicity@tbn.ca.

TBN supports charity rides

TBN is once again promoting numerous charity rides throughout Ontario, some of which offer special discounts to TBN members. The club is also the training partner for the annual Ride To Conquer Cancer -- all TBN rides through first week of June will be posted on the RTCC website and so you may see some RTCC participants on our rides. Please welcome the RTCC riders and help them prepare for their memorable journey.

Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up. That little TTC logo below will alert you to any subway closures, of which there may be many in 2017.

Chain of Events April 19, 2017