Chain of Events
February 28, 2018
Check out TBN's Bike Show booth
Come check out the TBN stand at the Toronto International Bike Show this weekend, and then take a look at all that manufacturers are offering this year. The show includes trade stands, showcasing the newest bicycle trends, as well as booths from retailers, bike-friendly regions and tour operators. It's the perfect place to find a new bike or new biking swag, or to find maps for that region that you've always wanted to explore.
The show takes place at the Better Living Centre on the Exhibition Grounds.
Sign-up starts on March 1 for more TBN trips
Ready to ride?
The first rides of TBN's formal 2018 season are less than a month away, so now's the time to check your bike is in good condition for the season. That means checking tires, gears and brakes, and dusting off the cobwebs that probably accumulated over the winter. The first official ride is scheduled for March 25, a tourist-class ride from Finch TTC station with distances of 59km, 81km and 114km, followed by a Wednesday Wheelie ride from Markham on March 28.
But there may be unofficial rides before that date, especially if we get more of this glorious spring-like weather - our Facebook page shows one group that rode on Tuesday.
Check TBN's Facebook page for details, or look at the Upcoming Events on the TBN home page.
Winter programme still going on
It's that strange shoulder season right now. It's warm enough to get back on their bikes, but cool enough that some prefer to continue with the winter activities. that means city hikes, Friday evening skating and our popular indoor cycling sessions at the downtown Adelaide Club. Check out the website for more details.
Travel with TBN
TBN is offering a wider range of multi-day bicycle trips this year, a couple of which are already either sold out or very nearly so. Registration for most of the remaining trips opens on March 1, so you can start planning your bicycle vacations now.
See the overnight trips section of the TBN website for more details.
Springtime in Kentucky May 18-May 28
Registration opens on March 1 for TBN's 3rd cycling vacation in the rolling hills of Kentucky, run by Dinsmore Roach and Marie Ferguson. The trip will offer 10 days of glorious, quiet-road cycling, including a weekend of rides with the Blue Grass Cycling Club: the Horsey Hundred. We will carpool to Lexington, Kentucky, to start the trip, which will cost $799 for members, $850 for non-members. Click here for more information.
Niagara Bike & Hike May 18-21 SOLD OUT
Our Niagara Bike and Hike weekend is sold out.
Toronto-Niagara-Toronto, June 16-17 OPENS MARCH 1
Challenge yourselves with our 2-day ride from Toronto or Stony Creek to Niagara Falls, and back. This event is in its 25th year and features an exhilarating ride along the Niagara Parkway and a return route through picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake. Registration opens on March 1 for members and on March 18 for non-members. Trip prices for members are $150/person, single occupancy, or $90/person for double/triple/quad occupancy. More details coming soon on the Overnight Trips page.
GO to GO Tour , June 21-24 OPENS MARCH 1
No car? No problem! You can join this 4-day bike tour to Burlington, Stratford and the Halton Hills without driving or carpooling. Take your bike on the GO train to Mount Pleasant Station in Brampton and leave your luggage with the support vehicle. You will ride through the scenic Halton Hills, past Amish farmlands, to an overnight in Stratford and then along the Grand River and through the Escarpment to end your trop at Aldershot GO station in Burlington. Member registration starts March 1 -- register by April 30 for the early bird price of $425/person double occupancy. Non-member registration starts March 18, for an additional fee of $60/person. See the website for more details.
Midland History Bike Tour, July 20 – 24 OPENS MARCH 1
Take a ride into history on a relaxed 4-day tour starting at Georgian College in Barrie. Then ride to Midland to explore Ontario’s first European settlement and First Nations heritage at Christian Island, and then ride the Georgian Bay shoreline and visit a lighthouse and marine museum at Port McNicholl. The tour continues through Orillia back to Barrie. This trip includes a support vehicle and has GO train options. Member registration starts March 1, 2018, with an early-bird price of $455/person (double occupancy) available until May 15. Non-member registration starts March 18, for an additional fee of $60/person. See the website for details.
Eastern Townships Sept 7-14 SOLD OUT
Our first 2018 trip to Quebec's scenic Eastern Townships is sold out.
Eastern Townships/Vermont Sept 15 – 21 OPEN NOW
TBN is working with tour operator, Velo Quebec to offer members a comfortable 6-day tour in the Eastern Townships and in bike-friendly Vermont. This tour is for the cyclist who wants everything taken care of, with a support vehicle, an experienced guide trained in first aid and bicycle mechanics, and well-designed and tested routes. The package includes 6 breakfasts, one 3-course dinner and comfortable 2-3 star hotels/motels. It will cost $1510/person (double occupancy) if 10-14 people register or $1425/person if there are 15-20 riders. Registration is open now.
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.
Learn (or relearn) to lead a ride
Sign up now for TBN's annual ride leaders' workshop. We'll discuss important safety issues, what you need to bring with you to a ride and how to keep your group together. The event takes place at the downtown Ralph Thornton Centre on Queen Street East (just east of Broadview) on Wednesday April 11. Access is via the King or Queen streetcar lines, or there's Green P parking just a block away.
What's coming up?
A quick note on some of the bike-focused events over the coming weeks and months. If you have something to add to this feature in Chain of Events, please email the editor at coe@tbn.ca.
March 2-4: Toronto International Bike Show. TBN will have a booth at the show.
April 11: TBN Ride Leaders' clinic
May 12: TBN's Spring Kickoff breakfast. More details soon.
May 18-21: TBN Niagara Hike and Bike weekend
May 19-28: TBN Kentucky trip
June 3: Ride for Heart.
June 16-17: TNTO (Toronto to Niagara Falls) weekend.
June 21-24: Halton-Stratford-Burlington bike trip.
June 24: TBN's annual Toronto-Niagara-Toronto Hairshirt ride. Registration is open now.
July 20-24: Midland History bike trip
August 3-6: Join 200 TBNers for Cyclon, to be held in Waterloo, Ontario.
September: TBN overnight trips, to Quebec and to Quebec/Vermont.
Reminders
Calling Hairshirt riders
Registration is already open for the annual Hairshirt ride, which takes place on Sunday, June 24. Ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls in the morning/afternoon, and back in the afternoon/evening for a total one-day distance of 322km. Check the website for more details of this challenging once-a-year ride.
Print your own membership card
TBN now offers you the opportunity to print your own membership card and cut down on TBN administrative costs. Use your email and password to access your profile on the TBN website, and 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.
Where do we go for near year's party/AGM?
Whistlers Bar and Grill has hosted TBN's annual meeting (and dance) more often than any other venue in the club's history. But Whistlers is closing this year, and we're looking for ideas for a new location to help us celebrate the year,. Please email social director Susan Bishop at social@tbn.ca if you have suggestions for a venue for the 2018 event.
New partner Pedalinx - 30% discount on tune-ups
We’re delighted to welcome TBN’s newest retail partner, Pedalinx, located at College and Bathurst in Toronto and in Mississauga at Winston Churchill and 401. Pedalinx, which caters to cyclists at all levels, will offer TBN members a 15% discount on bikes and a 20% discount on accessories and service. And until the end of March they are offering a 30% discount on preseason tuneups. We’ve heard great things about them from a couple of members, something reflected by their five star Yelp rating.
P.S. Look for a Pedalinx mechanic at our spring kickoff on May 12, where TBN members will be able to get a hands on demonstrations of changing a flat tire.
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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