August 8, 2018

One Week Left to Order Your New TBN Jersey

The new TBN jerseys were on display at Cyclon this weekend, and that's a reminder that you still have just over a week to go online and place your order. Our online store will be open until August 15, and this will be your last chance to buy a TBN jersey in 2018.

Participants report that a lot of fun was had by everyone at Cyclon. We're offering one picture here, and you can check out the Google photo album or the TBN Facebook page for more shots.


Free summer picnic this Sunday

This Sunday is TBN's annual summer picnic, in scenic Toogood park in Markham on August 12. You'll have a choice of rides to get to the picnic, which is a great opportunity to meet up with people and exchange cycling notes. The event is free and the food is good, but please register now so we know how much food to order. 

GO ride a century to Niagara

The next two editions of the 166km (100 mile) ride to Niagara Falls (with the GO Train back) are on Saturday August 18 for a tourist pace and Saturday August 25 for advanced urban roller cyclists. Check out the website for more details - and please register ahead of time, so we have some idea of the numbers.


Or GO for a shorter ride this Saturday

A shorter option, if you're not keen on riding 100 miles, is our ride from St Catharines to Niagara Falls this Saturday August 11. Take the train to St Catharines, and ride to along a 70km route that includes both a scenic stretch along the Welland canal and a short ferry ride. Dinner to follow and then take the train back to Toronto. Register here

Book your PEC camping & cycling weekend - only $40

On August 24 to 26, join over 50 fellow TBN members at our annual camping and cycling weekend, this year in gorgeous Prince Edward County. Even if you're not a hard core camper, you're sure to enjoy this getaway .... at an amazing price that can't be beat. More details are here

Bike stuff in the city
Here are the latest (non-TBN) bicycle-related events to highlight for the coming weeks, if you're looking for things to do on your bike, or things with a clear biking focus. If you know of other events coming up, please email the Chain of Events editor.

Wednesday August 8: Enjoy a Toronto History Series lecture about the role of Canadian cyclists in World War One. Entry is free, but you need to sign up ahead of time.

Thursday August 9: Check out Scarborough hip-hop artist Just John at the latest in the free series of Toronto Bicycle Musical Festival Concert. The concert takes place at 6:30 at Parma Park near Victoria Park and Eglinton East.

Saturday August 18: Best of Toronto Fringe Festival offers a one-night showing of Bikeface, a play about one woman’s journey as she cycles across Canada. Bikeface was a sold out hit at the Toronto and Hamilton Fringe Festivals. The show takes place at 9pm at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, Studio Theatre, and all tickets are $20.

Thursday August 23: Cyclists and non cyclists are welcome at a free screening of the classic bicycle movie Breaking Away, which profiles a small town American teen’s obsession with the Italian cycling teen. Presented by the City of Toronto, the screening is at St James Park at King and Jarvis at 8pm. 

And finally, the Market Gallery in the downtown St Lawrence Market is hosting a special exhibit on Toronto's cycling culture. It runs until November 17, and full-price entry is $8.

Cycling tips: How to clean your bike

TBN's website offers a very useful web page of cycling tips and tricks. Check it out. Featured this week: a special section on how to clean your bike from Bicycling Magazine. I'll bet you've been doing it wrong for years.

Train for the Alan Gordon century ride

It's time to start training for the September 9 Urban Roller/Leisure Wheeler 100km century ride, the longest ride of the year for both these riding groups. Enjoy mostly level trails and quiet streets, with many exit points available, as you head from the Beach to Oakville, and then ride back. Lunch at Tim Hortons in Clarkson, and then a rest point and turnaround at Gairloch Gardens in Oakville. More details here and here.



July member of the month  - Janet Guttsman 

Chain of Events is handing over to communications director Dan Richards for this entry in your TBN newsletter.

Janet Guttsman, editor of this e-newsletter, is TBN’s July Member of the Month. For the past three years, Janet has been the prime mover behind Chain of Events, and we consistently get great feedback on how she keeps members on top of what’s happening at the club. Janet was also one of three members behind the successful new Freedom Friday rides, along with Vicki Bondy and Arlene Smith. TBN couldn’t exist without dedicated, capable members like Janet - please extend both your thanks and your congratulations the next time you see her on a ride.



Nominations for August member of the month

Nominations are now open for TBN’s August Member of the Month. Please email memberofthemonth@tbn.ca if you want to nominate a TBN member who went above and beyond the normal call of duty this month. Please include your name, the name of the member you’re nominating and what they did. The winner gets a $50 gift certificate and the chance to be recognized as Member of the Year.

Bike parking problems?

The City of Toronto has launched a free web app called BikeSpace to collect data from cyclists to help improve bicycle parking. Using the BikeSpace app, cyclists can highlight areas where new bike parking is needed and report broken and full bike racks, as well as spots occupied by abandoned bikes. Download it to your smartphone from the Apple or Google app stores.



Travel with TBN

Here are some of the out-of-town adventures that TBN is offering this year.

Presqu'ile camping August 24-26 

Wolf Den Sept 14 - 16 

Fitz fall hiking Oct 12 - 14 (Waitlist only)

Wolf Den Winter Feb 8 - Feb 10 (Registration opens October 1)

New trip 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.

Reminders

Seeking volunteers

TBN relies on club members to maintain our role as Toronto's best venue for cycling. If you have comments or suggestions about your experience with TBN or would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the club, or on one of our club committees, please email club president Ian Rankin at president@TBN.ca.

TBN mobile apps

TBN offers free iPhone and Android apps that show upcoming rides with a single click. Search for  "Toronto Bicycling Network" in Apple's AppStore or the Android PlayStore. You can also view TBN events from your smartphone or tablet on our mobile friendly site, which is available here.

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

TBN partners offer great deals for our members, with discounts 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.

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