Chain of Events
December, 20 2017
Happy holidays from TBN
It's that time of year again. Happy Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, New Year and Festivus from all at TBN. Wishing you a peaceful, healthy and happy 2018, with plenty of opportunities to ride your bikes. Stay warm.
Calling all volunteers (and would-be volunteers)
Please join us for TBN's bigger-and-better volunteer party, which will take place at the Firkin on Bloor on Tuesday, January 23. We're inviting current volunteers, as well as those who want to volunteer for the coming season -- you don't have to be an experienced cyclist. Opportunities include organizing overnight trips or social events, promoting TBN on social media and helping improve the crucial TBN website. So come along to to see what volunteering opportunity best fits your interests and how you can help TBN. More details coming by email, or on the TBN website.
Print your own membership card
New for TBN this month is the opportunity to print your own membership card and cut down on TBN administrative costs. To access your profile, please log in to the TBN website using your email and password, then click on your name at the top left of the page. The membership card will appear under Membership Details. If you want a hard copy of the card, please email membership@tbn.ca to request one.
Travel with TBN
TBN is offering a series of weekend and multi-day trips next season. Watch the overnight trips section of the website for more details.
Wanakita January 12-14
There's still space on TBN's annual trip to the comfortable YMCA Camp Wanakita on beautiful Koshlong Lake in the Haliburton Highlands. Friday snacks and five delicious meals are included in the cost of $234 for members and $246 for non-members. Activities include classic skiing on 25km of on-site groomed trails, snowshowing (showshoes provided) and skating on the lake (bring your own skates). There's also tobogganing, and a night ski to a bonfire.
Check the Overnight trips page of the website for details and to register.
Wolf Den February 2-4 WAITLIST ONLY
Our Feb 2-4 weekend ski trip to Wolf Den is full, but there's room on the waitlist for male TBN members or friends. Wolf Den is just outside the entrance to Algonquin Park and the weekend price of $100 for members and $110 for non members includes accommodation, Friday night food, two pancake breakfasts and supplies for sandwich lunches. Saturday dinner is a potluck. Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are both available.
New York 5 Boro May 3-7
There are just two slots left for TBN's inaugural trip to the New York 5 Boro ride, on May 6 next year. We'll car pool to the New York area and spend four nights in New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. The plan includes rides near the city and then the 65-km 5 Boro ride, which takes you along streets and bridges that will be closed for traffic for the once-a-year occasion. Check the website for details, and click here to sign up (or join the waiting list).
The 5 Boro ride started in 1977 with 250 riders. Next year 32,000 riders will join the relaxed-pace ride, with bands and music along the route, plus a big party at the end. Click the link for a short video of the ride.
Please contact Dan Richards if you are want more information.
Kentucky Bluegrass Country May 18-May 28
Registration opens on March 1 for TBN's 3rd cycling vacation in Kentucky, run by Dinsmore Roach and Marie Ferguson. The trip will offer 10 days of cycling the rolling hills of Kentucky, including an organized weekend with the Blue Grass Cycling Club. We will carpool to Lexington, Kentucky, for the start of the trip, which will cost $799 for members, $850 for non-members. Click here for more information.
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.
Where do we go next year?
Still space at TBN's splendid spin sessions
Come along for TBN's superb indoor cycling training sessions on Wednesday nights at the downtown Adelaide Club. Master spinning instructor and competitive cyclist Carmen Diges develops these progressive classes carefully and tests riders regularly so that participants can meet their personal goals.
It's a great way to keep your cycling muscles tuned up during the winter, and you'll get a chance to try the Adelaide's new state-of-the-art Stages bikes, with power meter technology.
Classes are from 6:35pm to 7:35pm and the eight-week series costs $90 plus HST. Please register with Lauren at 416-367-9957 x 4309 or lauren@adelaideclub.com.
Cold enough to skate
The skating season is underway, with the brand new skating trail in Riverdale Park East on the schedule for this Friday night. Enjoy an evening skate with your TBN friends, and discover some of the best outdoor winter activities that TBN has to offer. Check the website for more details.
What's coming up?
A quick note of some of the special events coming up in the coming weeks and months. If you have something to add to this new feature in Chain of Events, please email the editor at coe@tbn.ca.
January 23: Watch your email for details of TBN's big volunteer appreciation evening.
January/February: TBN ski trips to Wanakita and Wolf Den. Details on the website.
February 3: Cycle Toronto hosts its annual Coldest Day of the Year Ride. The event starts at 11:30 am at Alexander the Great Parkette (Danforth Ave at Logan Ave), and continues with a short, family-friendly ride starting at noon. Click here for details.
March 2-4: Toronto International Bike Show. TBN will have a booth at the show, and we'll be looking for volunteers to help answer questions from visitors. More details coming early next year in Chain of Events.
May: TBN cycling trips to New York and Kentucky. Details on the website.
June 3: Ride for Heart. It's never too early to start fundraising for this annual event, which gives you a chance to ride your bike along the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, along with tens of thousands of other riders.
Reminders
Membership fees going up
After more years than the current Chain of Events staff can remember, fees for TBN membership will rise from January 1 to keep finances stable as costs rise. This means, for example, that the renewal fee for a single member will go up to $40 from $35. Respondents to TBN's 2017 membership survey described TBN as excellent value for money and they were open to higher fees.
Deals and special offers on bike stuff, tours, rides, and so on
TBN partners offer great deals for our members. Discounts are also available at numerous bike stores, special bike tours outside Ontario, charity ride registration, and much more. Please support TBN's great partners.
Remember you must present your valid TBN membership card for a discount at any TBN discount partner.
As always, check the TBN 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.
Remember to visit the TBN calendar of events to find out more about what's coming up. That little TTC logo below will help alert you to any subway closures.
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