Road Cycling in Toronto - Page 2

If you took the Go Train west, to Oakville or further (Burlington or Hamilton) you will have access to nice terain. The escarpment is that region so if you like climbs you would be in luck. I'd also think that within a 10 minute drive from any of those stations you would be riding on almost empty roads.

Wow. You're not far from me (I'm at Sherbourne and Dundas). Stay on Bloor, heading east bound. It merges into Hwy 2. Watch for the right shoulder check merge, however. If it's early morning, shouldn't be too bad but can be a bit busy and sometimes a bit nerve racking for first time. Just take Hwy 2 to the end. The end is denoted by the sign that indicates Hwy 2 is becoming Hwy 401. On the right should be a ramp. Head up the ramp that points to the Toronto Zoo, go over the bridge, hang a left -- back on to highway 2 and back to Bloor.

You can take the Dundas option. Just bike to Dundas, hang a left (heading east) and follow it to the end. Then hang a left onto Kingston Road (there's a stop light here that will help) and take Kingston Road as per above. One thing to note: this option has a wicked hill. It's this hill that has the right-side merge. Difference is, this time you're already on the right side of the street, rather than coming from the left.

Oh.. and if you haven't got one, might want to invest in a road map book (I have multiple of these coming out of my ears). I tend to use these to help navigate my way around the city and to plan routes. The one I use the most is the little Toronto & Area Map Book by Perly's. Costs about $12 and can fit into a small pack (bit heavy for the jersey). This way if I get sidetracked or begin to explore, I still can find my way around.

I just wanted to mention that I have started going on the Waterfront and Don bike trails, and found them to be quite uncrowded and very pleasant indeed. Yesterday I rode down the Leslie Street Spit and through Tommy Thomson park, and arrived to a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline at sunset with just the crickets and birds for company...it was really nice!

On my way home I did something I thought I couldn't do...I ride my bike UP Pottery Road!!!! Hmmm, Bejing 2008 anyone?

Nice, I ride those paved bike trails all the time. You must live in the east end too, otherwise I don't see why you'd want to ride up pottery road.
I love trying to find the longest route possible out of the city by traveling on mainly bike paths where possible.
I only tried it this past weekend actually, I start at ash bridges bay (right near my apartment), go along the lakeshore path, then up the Don path to where it splits at Don Mills Rd, I keep going north under the Overlea bridge up behind the science center and follow that path all the way to Edwards Gardens. From here I can go up Leslie St almost to the 401, then on the right hand side there is Moatfield Farm Park, and there is a path in there that seems to go forever. I went as far as Cummer Ave before I ran out of water and someone called me on my cellphone so I had to turn back. But the path I was on seemed like it could at least go as far as steeles, maybe further.

Round trip was probably 2 hours (at a relaxed pace).

That sounds like a nice route, I would like a nice 2 hour ride! I should try it. I live at Bloor/Sherbourne, which is very handy because there is a bike lane on Sherbourne, and on the bridge over the Don Valley.

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/ Otherwise, I'm sure Toronto's downtown park, High Park, has some short stints.

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.

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

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

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).

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