View Full Version : Road Cycling in Toronto
Hi! I justs joined this cycle forum and glad to join the rests of the cyclists in Toronto! I cycle mainly in scarborough and probably will till next spring. Has anyone outthere ever cycled from Toronto to Vancouver? I'm thinking of doing this trek or eastwards to Quebec and would love to hear some travelogue experiences out there.
MR.
Everyone must move to London ON., if you like riding in relative peace. The London Centennial Wheelers have been around since 1968, and have developed a fine list of routes. http://www.lcw.ca/ (http://www.lcw.ca/) Otherwise, I'm sure Toronto's downtown park, High Park, has some short stints.
I know! One guy did email me and suggested riding with me, and I was delighted but now he seems to have vanished into thin air. I'm getting a complex!:p
The problem for me is I don't know how to drive, so if I do go outside of Toronto to ride in a decent road, I'd actually have to cycle out there first. *sigh*
Know where your coming from. I live in Scarborough at Neilson and Ellesmere and I haven't tried taking my bike on the Go or TTC yet but I'd more than likely to cycle all the way downtown and then justs take public transit going back. I've biked mainly at morningnside park and the U of T scarb. campus grounds, which has a nice trail leading up to Kingston rd. which leads to Rouge Park, which will take you all the way into pickering. Morningside park is a great park to run in for distance but on the bike, I have to hit two trails twice, plus U. of T justs to cover about 2.5 hours on the bike. Where abouts do you ride?
M. Reyes
Know where your coming from. I live in Scarborough at Neilson and Ellesmere and I haven't tried taking my bike on the Go or TTC yet but I'd more than likely to cycle all the way downtown and then justs take public transit going back. I've biked mainly at morningnside park and the U of T scarb. campus grounds, which has a nice trail leading up to Kingston rd. which leads to Rouge Park, which will take you all the way into pickering. Morningside park is a great park to run in for distance but on the bike, I have to hit two trails twice, plus U. of T justs to cover about 2.5 hours on the bike. Where abouts do you ride?
M. Reyes
Wow, all the way into pickering, is it a bicycle trail all the way? or does it link up with streets at all? I must try that soon.
Twice this week I've had to bail from work early (Queen and University) to pedal all the way up to McCowen and Shepard to pick up motorcycle parts before the store closes (it takes me close to an hour to get there from downtown). It's a smooth ride all the way to Vic. Park and Eglington at which point I have no idea what streets to take. It seems the traffic takes a drastic change in attitude once I reach that intersection, aggressive drivers duplicate out of nowhere and regardless of the posted limit people seem to drive ridiculously fast beyond that point. I wish I knew more bike routes to the north east of the city. Like a way to get to the Zoo without taking on any main streets.
Wow, all the way into pickering, is it a bicycle trail all the way? or does it link up with streets at all? I must try that soon.
Twice this week I've had to bail from work early (Queen and University) to pedal all the way up to McCowen and Shepard to pick up motorcycle parts before the store closes (it takes me close to an hour to get there from downtown). It's a smooth ride all the way to Vic. Park and Eglington at which point I have no idea what streets to take. It seems the traffic takes a drastic change in attitude once I reach that intersection, aggressive drivers duplicate out of nowhere and regardless of the posted limit people seem to drive ridiculously fast beyond that point. I wish I knew more bike routes to the north east of the city. Like a way to get to the Zoo without taking on any main streets.
Motor-bike errands are always a treat. Even when you have to leave work early.
Perhaps the solution to everyone Toronto-ridin' woes, is to purchase a Tacx i-magic... and do-like Mr. Dress-up...and pretend.
I plan on getting one soon, they cost anywhere from $1000-$1650 CDN, here in London ON.
_-H
Hi! I justs joined this cycle forum and glad to join the rests of the cyclists in Toronto! I cycle mainly in scarborough and probably will till next spring. Has anyone outthere ever cycled from Toronto to Vancouver? I'm thinking of doing this trek or eastwards to Quebec and would love to hear some travelogue experiences out there.
MR.
Generally, it's best to cycle west to east when doing across country (means more wind to your back since the winds generally go that way). I haven't done a "cross country" trip but met a couple on my latest Maritime trip (Shediac-Fundy-Shediac-Halifax-Halifax-Digby)...
Generally, it's best to cycle west to east when doing across country (means more wind to your back since the winds generally go that way). I haven't done a "cross country" trip but met a couple on my latest Maritime trip (Shediac-Fundy-Shediac-Halifax-Halifax-Digby)...
I lived in Halifax a couple years ago. The riding was good-and-hilly (being an Ontarian flat-lander), traffic was a little brutal. Lots of wind too.
_-H
Generally, it's best to cycle west to east when doing across country (means more wind to your back since the winds generally go that way). I haven't done a "cross country" trip but met a couple on my latest Maritime trip (Shediac-Fundy-Shediac-Halifax-Halifax-Digby)...
What kind of training did you do for your treks? My main workout in the winter is running once or twice a week (10 ks +) and muthai classes. What's the Atlantic coasts like by the way?
What kind of training did you do for your treks? My main workout in the winter is running once or twice a week (10 ks +) and muthai classes. What's the Atlantic coasts like by the way?
Generally, I bike train in the winter using an indoor bike trainer (UPS USA 2000) while following the CTS Sport training schedule. I found it particularly helped this year since I found my partner (he did Brussels to Cairo one year and seems relatively fit) slow and out of shape compared to me. So usually 4 times a week I was on the bike during winter months.
In the summer I bike to and from work plus add on weekend rides of at least 50km each day. (so that works out to 5-6 rides a week). One of the things you'll need to do is train for the terrain (roughly) of what you will be riding. I'd suggest a few rides around the Escarpment to help with steep hill climbing or ride from downtown to as far out as you can on Yonge Street.
Atlantic coast area I did was mostly rolling hills with one or two "HILLS" and I would have done more mileage except my bike had some major parts breakdowns (15,000km in 6 years seems to have done it's toll on a bike not meant to do this kind of riding).
Wow, all the way into pickering, is it a bicycle trail all the way? or does it link up with streets at all? I must try that soon.
Twice this week I've had to bail from work early (Queen and University) to pedal all the way up to McCowen and Shepard to pick up motorcycle parts before the store closes (it takes me close to an hour to get there from downtown). It's a smooth ride all the way to Vic. Park and Eglington at which point I have no idea what streets to take. It seems the traffic takes a drastic change in attitude once I reach that intersection, aggressive drivers duplicate out of nowhere and regardless of the posted limit people seem to drive ridiculously fast beyond that point. I wish I knew more bike routes to the north east of the city. Like a way to get to the Zoo without taking on any main streets.
Don't know if you got my reply a few weeks ago since I sent it through my e-mial automatically. The route starts at morningside park and you cut through to the U. of T. scarborough campus where there is a trail justs pasts the tennis courts which will take you into kingston road. Where you go from there is your choice. I went a block or two pasts manse and kingston road into Col. danforth park I think, its a sharp u-turn into the park before hitting an on ramp and this park leads into Highland creek park. If you go further on kingston road, you should hit rouge park and if you go south that will take you into pickering. I've done this route when I ran with the club in the fall and its a nice trail for bikes and runners, you even pasts by the lake at one point.
Hope this helps. I ordered the Toronto cycling map 2004 (416) 392-7592 and its free. It gives a nice view of the entire of toronto and where there are bike lanes and routes to parks.
Hope this helps.
M. Reyes
Thanks Michael, I didn't get any replies as of late, but my home computer has been down for the past week.
I'll have to try this route out to Pickering soon (this weekend or next). I've exhausted most of the main routes listed on the Toronto cycling map (it's taken me most of the summer to do...the odd weekend here or there). Lots of great stuff, just too bad it doesn't list trails on into the outter regions of the GTA and further.
Don't know if you got my reply a few weeks ago since I sent it through my e-mial automatically. The route starts at morningside park and you cut through to the U. of T. scarborough campus where there is a trail justs pasts the tennis courts which will take you into kingston road. Where you go from there is your choice. I went a block or two pasts manse and kingston road into Col. danforth park I think, its a sharp u-turn into the park before hitting an on ramp and this park leads into Highland creek park. If you go further on kingston road, you should hit rouge park and if you go south that will take you into pickering. I've done this route when I ran with the club in the fall and its a nice trail for bikes and runners, you even pasts by the lake at one point.
Hope this helps. I ordered the Toronto cycling map 2004 (416) 392-7592 and its free. It gives a nice view of the entire of toronto and where there are bike lanes and routes to parks.
Hope this helps.
M. Reyes
Thanks Michael, I didn't get any replies as of late, but my home computer has been down for the past week.
I'll have to try this route out to Pickering soon (this weekend or next). I've exhausted most of the main routes listed on the Toronto cycling map (it's taken me most of the summer to do...the odd weekend here or there). Lots of great stuff, just too bad it doesn't list trails on into the outter regions of the GTA and further.
Have you cycled in the winter time? I ran at morningside park this pasts winter and saw some cyclists. This question is open to everyone since I'm thinking of doing some cycling in the winter time to stay in condition in addition to my running and muthai. Kind of busy at work with the afternoon shift so I can't have a really good workout in the morning. I do about 20 mins. on the stationary bike and if I'm lucky, about 45 minutes or an hour mountain biking.
M.
Have you cycled in the winter time? I ran at morningside park this pasts winter and saw some cyclists. This question is open to everyone since I'm thinking of doing some cycling in the winter time to stay in condition in addition to my running and muthai. Kind of busy at work with the afternoon shift so I can't have a really good workout in the morning. I do about 20 mins. on the stationary bike and if I'm lucky, about 45 minutes or an hour mountain biking.
M.
I'll be riding outside until the first snow fall. I started on the bike at the beginning of April. If winter proves to be a mild/late start it could mean a nice long outdoor "season" for me. Once the snow falls, I go inside to my indoor trainer. I don't trust the drivers during winter conditions. Additionally, I don't have the appropriate space to have a "beater" bike to handle the salt and other crap that would need to be washed off daily. If I get/buy a house I want to convert the garage to handle that kind of activity.
If any of you wants to get together for a ride, I'm game! I will keep riding until it gets too cold for my asthma to handle. I will be in the US this winter, but will definitely be around all fall.
I still need to try Ms. Mittens' hwy 2 route, and I still don't quite get how the Keele to King Sideroad works, can anyone elaborate?
:)
I had a more suitable beater bike last year that I used every day I could (although there were some bitter cold days in feb. that I just couldn't force myself to ride to work in those temps). My route to work was different last year Woodbine and Danforth to Queen and University (i think that was about 10km).
If you dress for it, you can ride any day of the year comfortably. You say you work afternoons, so I assume that means you get mornings to play. So long as your riding durring daylight hours in the winter months it's fine, but once that sun goes down, it get's bitter cold outside and frostbite on exposed skin happens before you know it when your coasting along at 20km/h. (I know)
msmittens( or anyone else) have any good tire choices for riding in the mid March slush?
Have you cycled in the winter time? I ran at morningside park this pasts winter and saw some cyclists. This question is open to everyone since I'm thinking of doing some cycling in the winter time to stay in condition in addition to my running and muthai. Kind of busy at work with the afternoon shift so I can't have a really good workout in the morning. I do about 20 mins. on the stationary bike and if I'm lucky, about 45 minutes or an hour mountain biking.
M.
I live downtown and as a previous poster mentioned, I use the time spent getting out of the city as warm up time (it's a good way to force myself to do it since I have a bad habbit of wanting to go hard right away). My favourite route is to head west from downtown on the bike path along the water (heavy pedestrian, roller blade traffic but hey, it's warm up time) until it hits LakeShore. Then you can open it up to proper road speed. I take LakeShore through Port Credit, through Oakville, till about 10-20km past Oakville then come back again. (if you're not sure about this route, be sure to check a map, at one point LakeShore jogs south towards the water, but I can't remember the name of the street/intersection).
Most important things to consider: (apply for any ride really)
1. Leaving early if you can (7am) means next to no traffic on the way out and much less on the way back. Safer when sneaking through the odd red light ;)
2. Pay attention to the wind. I find that along the lake the wind can get pretty strong and if it's at your back on the way out, make sure you've saved some leg for the way back.
3. It's a long route (~100km) so make sure you've got food/water, tubes and pump. It's helpful to know where the bike shops are along the way as well. If I'm not mistaken, the Toronto cycling map, available at bike shops around town, actually indicates various bike shops on it. (It doesn't cover anything outsite toronto though...)
For shorter rides but a good workout, especially during the week when I don't have as much time after work, I frequent the High Park area. If you come from the LakeShore side you can take Ellis up, (a decent climb at about 1.2km) then you have the option of going left, followed by a quick right which is the flat finish to get to Bloor, or you can take a right and go down a nice hill and then take Harcourt, a nasty steep switchback that serves as a great workout. This will also lead you out to Bloor. Then head east on Bloor over to High park, do one or two laps there to recover from the hills. You can then exit the part on the south east side and it will take you back down to LakeShore (or the Queens Way). From there head west again over to Ellis and backup up the hills! There are also a couple great bike shops on Bloor right in the area should you run into any technical difficulties.
Hope that helps someone out! Happy Riding!
Actually, I did a ride on the waterfront out to Mississauga....I left later in the day so didn't have time to go to Oakville, but I spent most of the trip on the pathways. But you suggest skipping the paths and just doing Lakeshore the whole way?
A word of warning to anyone doing that route, there is one place (in the Etobicoke section I think) where there is one of those sawed off poles that they put in the middle of paths. It is sawed so low, and with no fluorescent paint that you don't even see it at all until you are right there. I saw it at the last second and hit the brakes, as I didn't want to ride over it in case it ruined my wheel. I hit the brakes so hard the bike came right out from under me. Look at what happened to my knee! (see attached) I also have a huge blue (dark denim blue!) bruise on my leg and a light coating of road rash on my shin. :mad:
So be careful out there!
Actually, I did a ride on the waterfront out to Mississauga....I left later in the day so didn't have time to go to Oakville, but I spent most of the trip on the pathways. But you suggest skipping the paths and just doing Lakeshore the whole way?
A word of warning to anyone doing that route, there is one place (in the Etobicoke section I think) where there is one of those sawed off poles that they put in the middle of paths...Yes, I ride on Lakeshore almost the whole way. Technically there's a speed limit of 20km/h on the bike paths and with all the people (and geese at this time of year) you're lucky to be able to do even that. I prefer to ride around 35-40km/h so the road is the only way to go. I'm assuming that I'm already off the paths at the point you encountered this sawed off pole as I've never seen it before. Hope the bang up doesn't slow you down!
This is my second dust up actually, and I've only been on about 12 rides in my life! The other one was on a group ride on the Don trail and some kid came zigzagging along the trail, crashing into our tour leader, who crashed into me! Like a race pileup! Fortunately I was next to the bushes and had a reasonably soft landing. I am going to be a nervous wreck riding now :eek: !
I don't think I could ride more than 20Km/hr....I think I average more like 19...you sound much speedier and more experienced than I, however I do hate poking behind the slower riders and walkers...maybe I'll try the road next time.
msmittens( or anyone else) have any good tire choices for riding in the mid March slush?
If I ever get a house so I can properly maintain a winter bike I'm getting these. I figure these would probably be your best bet (both are available from MEC):
Schwalbe Snow Stud 26 x 1.9 (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669975&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=483885&bmUID=1095757731460)
Schwalbe Snow Stud 700 x 38C (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669975&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=483889&bmUID=1095757834172)
HTH :D
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