The Toronto Bicycling Network Inc.

Chain of Events
March 28, 2018

You asked, we responded: look at TBN vacation offers

A key request in last year's TBN member survey was for more overnight trips, to old and new destinations, and we responded with a bigger than ever range of vacations, at a range of different prices. There are brief summaries further down this newsletter, and more details on the overnight trips section of the TBN website. Take a look, and sign up to join the fun. A word of warning. If not enough people sign up, we might have to cancel some of the trips.

Meet, chat, eat and ride at kickoff breakfast

Register now for TBN's May 12 kickoff breakfast, which takes place at Etienne Brule Park, on the popular Humber River bike trail. If you are interested in joining, this is your chance to come out and try one of our TBN rides at no cost. Rides will be available at different levels. You may be lucky and win a prize! Check out the website for more details.

Ride the rock

It's just days to our April 2 education session on riding in Newfoundland. TBNers Adam Hotchin and Greg Yaschyshyn both toured ‘The Rock’ last year, Adam on an organized trip and Greg with his own itinerary. The two will share their experiences and talk about the challenges at our Monday evening session at the Deer Park Public Library, 40 St Clair Avenue East. See the TBN website to register.

Travel with TBN

TBN is offering a wider range of multi-day bicycle trips this year, three of which are already sold out. Registration for most of the remaining trips has opened, 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

Sign up now for TBN's 3rd cycling vacation in the rolling hills of Kentucky. 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. Click here for more information.

Toronto-Niagara-Toronto, June 16-17 OPENS APRIL 1

Challenge yourselves with our 2-day ride from Toronto or Stony Creek to Niagara Falls, and back, an event that's now in its 25th year. The route features exhilarating ride along the Niagara Parkway and a return through picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake, with a couple of climbs up the escarpment to add excitement. Registration opens April 1 for members, and April 15 for non-members.

GO to GO Tour , June 21-24

No car? No problem! Take your bike on the GO train to Mount Pleasant Station in Brampton and leave your luggage with the support vehicle for our four-day trip to Burlington, Stratford and the Halton Hills. The ride finishes at Aldershot GO station in Burlington. See the website for more details.

Midland History Bike Tour, July 20 – 24 , 2018

Ride into history on a relaxed 4-day tour starting at Georgian College in Barrie. You'll explore Ontario’s first European settlement and First Nations heritage, and then ride the Georgian Bay shoreline and visit a lighthouse and marine museum at Port McNicholl before riding through Orillia back. This trip includes a support vehicle and has GO train options. See the website for details.

Camping weekend August 24-26

Watch the website for details of Paul and Brenda's annual camping/cycling weekend, at a location that's yet to be decided.

Eastern Townships/Vermont Sept 15 – 21

TBN is working with Velo Quebec to offer 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. Registration is open now.

Wolf Den Sept 14 - 16

Details will be coming soon for our fall cycling trip to Wolf Den lodge, near Algonquin Park.

New Ride Ideas?

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

Ride for Heart ambassadors

TBN is seeking volunteers to act as ambassadors at the Ride For Heart, which opens the multi-lane Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway up to cyclists for a single day. Ambassadors help riders with flat tires or mechanical problems and generally act as the "eyes and ears" of the popular fundraising event. Please check the TBN website to register to help. Ride for Heart waives its entry fee for TBN ambassadors.

Bikes are good for you

We've known this one a long time, but now there's proof. A couple of surveys published a medical magazine, Aging Cell, concluded that older cyclists are not like other people. We are healthier. Biologically, we are younger too. There's a summary in the New York Times if you want to read more.

Reminders

Ride leader clinic

You can still sign up for TBN's annual ride leaders' workshop 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.

Calling Hairshirt riders

Registration is 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 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.

Are you a pack rat?

TBN volunteers have found some gaps in the sometimes chaotic TBN archives. Please contact secretary@tbn.ca if you have copies of any of the following:

Quick Release Vol. 4, no. 4; Vol. 9, no. 2; Vol 17, no. 5; Vol. 20, nos. 3, 4, 5; Vol. 29, no. 1
Cyclon welcome kit (with maps): 1987-96, 2010
Some sets of board minutes, mostly from 2003 and before

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, 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.

Chain of Events March 28, 2018