Toronto Bicycling Network is Toronto's largest recreational cycling club, rated the city’s #1 cycling club by BlogTO and Readers Choice. TBN offers a wide variety of rides throughout the week and on weekends, catering to all levels of riders, as well as affordable trips outside Toronto and a wide range of winter activities.

Cyclon registration is now open

Hello TBN members, 30-Day trial members and non-members. Yes, It's that time of year again. Cyclon, set for Aug. 1-4 at Trent University in picturesque Peterborough, Ont, is now open for registration. To register go to The Toronto Bicycling Network Inc. - Cyclon 2025 then click on the Cyclon 2025 link (found under "Register for Cyclon 2025" and check out the FAQ link for all the information you'll need (including pricing) for an awesome weekend of cycling and socializing.


TBN Jerseys are now for sale at the TBN Store

The TBN Store is now open to offer the 2025 jerseys and shorts. Click here for a shortcut. The big news this year is black shorts with only a TBN logo on them. Bib shorts will also be available. There is a slight change to the jersey to make "TBN" more visible but it is not a new design. Sizing is the same as last year so if you know your size, you can order once the store is open. The samples for sizing will be available at the Spring Kickoff.

TBN SOCIAL/EDUCATION EVENTS

Monthly Dining Out, April 24 (sold out). This new social event, where we eat at different interesting ethnic restaurants each month, has become very popular. This month’s dinner at Terroni, set for April 24, is sold out but please check here on or after April 25 to register for May's dinner.

TBN Pub Quiz, April 29. The TBN Pub Quiz series has been moved to the last (or second last) Tuesday of each month. The change was made because the Prenup Pub, which is one of the best and most interesting in the GTA, is much quieter on Tuesdays. Registration for the April quiz is now open via the calendar. More details about the new participant-centred quiz format and about the Prenup Pub are available here.

Flying With Your Bike & Bikepacking 101 presentations, April 30. Bike Depot, 1588 Bayview Ave, is presenting two info sessions April 30, beginning at 6:30 pm. “Flying With Your Bike” will demonstrate how to disassemble, pack, unpack and assemble your bike for travel. For “Bikepacking 101” TBN Board member Greg Andre-Barrett will show the bike(s), bags and gear that he typically takes on trips. Information and registration are here.

Spring Fling, May 3 (sold out). Last year's inaugural spring party was a huge success. We will have the same great venue, same great food, and the same great live band on May 3. This year, there is a minimal charge of $10 for all of that. The event has sold out, so please put yourself on the wait list if you’d like to attend. More information and registration is here.

Spring Kickoff, May 10. Don’t miss this opportunity to eat breakfast, socialize and ride with members you haven’t seen for a while. It’s a great way to meet potential new members and those who ride at different levels. The event is free for members and non-member guests. Please consider registering as a volunteer as we need help setting up the food and cleaning up afterwards. Information and registration are here.

Cycling in Japan trip presentation, May 12, 7 pm. Jun Nogami will talk about his experiences cycling in Japan, everything from exploring Tokyo and Kyoto, to doing a five-day tour across Kyushu, Shikoku, and across the world-famous Shimanami Kaido. The event will be held in the main floor meeting room at Northern District Public Library, 40 Orchard View Blvd, a three-minute walk north of the Eglinton subway station on the Yonge line. Register here


TBN's Spring Kick-off is on for May 10. Don't miss it!

Ride for Brain Health: We need volunteers!

TBN is once again an active participant in Bike for Brain Health, the annual fund-raiser that allows thousands of cyclists to ride a closed circuit along the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway. This year's event, set for June 1, starts, as it does every year, at the Better Living Centre on the CNE grounds.

In an arrangement with the event organizers, TBN is providing volunteers to serve as Marshals and Route Ambassadors. Marshals, identified by special T-shirts provided, serve as a mobile safe-riding team, to ensure that participants are riding safely. Ambassadors, wearing TBN jerseys and special arm bands, act as eyes and ears on the route, calling a central number to request mechanical or health-related assistance for participants. Details and registration for volunteers can be found here. At press time we are still seeking 27 volunteers.


Overnight Trips 2025 

As of April 17 the events below, with highlighted links, have been posted on the calendar. Others are in the planning stage. For the latest Overnight Trip information see https://www.tbn.ca/overnight-trips

Each event in this list show the total number registered at press time and total spaces still available, for example: 9/0

Any questions or suggestions please contact the trip leader or Greg Andre-Barrett, the Overnight Trips Director, at WeekendTrips@tbn.ca.


Algonquin Outfitters Old Railway Bike Trail: Just one of the many perks in TBN's June trip to Wolf Den

Wolf Den in summer!

We tried for many years to book a summer trip to Wolf Den, just outside the west gate of Algonquin Park, and this year we were at last lucky. And on top of it we got 15 percent discount. 

But our trip is now under the threat of cancellation because on April 27 our deposit will become unrefundable. For some reason the club members have not show much interest in it. Once we lose this booking we will never have another chance to book Wolf Den for summer.

Our winter Wolf Den trip was always a success and we are sure the summer one will prove to be the same. We will have bike rides of different levels as well as canoeing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife watching in nearby Algonquin Park, plus amazing star-gazing, sauna, campfire and night hike to the waterfalls. Swimming is just across the road in Oxtongue River or in Oxtongue Lake, which is within walking distance.

What’s Included:
✔ three nights of cozy accommodation

✔ snacks on Friday night
✔ three energizing breakfasts
✔ daily adventures in nature

All this for just $130–$260 per person (depending on your accommodation choice). That’s only $43–$87 per night — an incredible deal for a weekend packed with outdoor fun and great company! We’ve booked the entire Wolf Den, so it’s just us and nature. Sign up today to take advantage of. this great opportunity. Check out the gorgeous lodge and surroundings here: Photo Gallery


Wolf Den sauna

Committee volunteers needed

Volunteer of the Year and Awards Review Committee. There was significant feedback regarding the volunteer of the year citation at the AGM. The program needs a review and some improvements. The board has decided to create a committee of three to five members to conduct the review and recommend changes to the program. Typical tasks for the committee would be to review the current feedback, conduct research and then compile the results and recommend changes. The term of the committee would run until the changes are accepted by the board. We need some input on this, so please do consider volunteering, especially if you have wondered in the past how these decisions have been reached. Fresh ideas are most welcome and the time commitment is minor.

Presidential Nominating Committee. The President is stepping down at the end of this program year at the AGM. The board is looking for a committee of three to five members to search for and nominate a new President to be elected at the next AGM. The club must have a President to function so this is a very important volunteer position.

If you are interested in volunteering for the nominating committee or have any questions about it, please contact the President at president@tbn.ca.

If you are interested in running for President or nominating someone else directly, please also contact president@tbn.ca.

Emergency First Aid and adult CPR course for ride leaders

The TBN board has decided it will pay for a limited number of TBN ride leaders to attend an eight-hour emergency first aid and adult CPR course, run under the auspices of the Red Cross. The course includes emergency scene management, shock symptoms, adult CPR and choking relief techniques. Available dates are Saturdays starting at 9 a.m. and the courses will be located at 750 Spadina Ave, at the downtown Miles Nadal JJJ. There is an option for a blended course, where some of the theory is completed online prior to the in-person course. Members interested in attending should email TBN education director Andrew Paterson: education@tbn.ca with the title ‘First Aid course’.

Technical Director's Corner

Web Page updates to be aware of: The Ride/Event Leaders Tools page and the Ride Leaders Documents and Notices page have been completely rewritten. Also, there is a new Ride Leaders Checklist PDF.

TBN Applications Dashboard Updates: There are now four applications on our dashboard which is found here.  A video tutorial on these four applications has been posted here on YouTube.

View a Report: Have you ever wanted to view a previously submitted report? Choose the View a Report menu item on the dashboard to view any report.

Hazards Report: Based on feedback from a ride leader last year, we have introduced a mechanism for Ride Leaders to document requested changes to routes to include warnings about hazards or other items of note in the RideWithGPS route information. A new field in the reports called Route Hazards should be used to identify recommended improvements to the route information. Any report containing any text in this field will be listed in the Hazards Report menu item on the Dashboard. Reports marked with a ** have not yet been updated by the Ride Coordinator. Below is an artificial example for demonstration purposes.

Ride Leaders Report: 

The Ride Leaders Report has added support for the Route Hazards feature, and the various help prompts have been clarified.

Who's coming on my ride? 

As the outdoor cycling season will soon be upon us, we will be seeing new faces at our rides. If you are a ride leader, one of your responsibilities is to ensure newcomers are welcomed, assisted and engaged. The new and improved "Who's coming on my ride?" application will give you a list of all who are registered for your event, and will provide clues about those who are "new" to TBN: members who have recently joined TBN, those who have been at few events, those who are 30-Day-Trial members, and those who are non-members are highlighted on the application. 

You can use this tool for events up to seven days in advance, and it can also be used at the start location from a mobile phone for last-minute checking. 

Below is a sample of what this application produces for an event on the calendar.

NEW “30-DAY-TRIAL" MEMBERSHIP

We are changing how we offer non-members a chance to try out TBN. We have heard feedback that non-members do not like the $10 fee to try out a ride in a TBN ride program that may or may not have been at their level. Or perhaps that specific ride was cancelled due to weather. So starting in 2025, we are changing to a new "try-us-out approach" to include a new “30-Day-Trial" membership class. For $10, an individual can ride on as many rides, across all our ride programs, during a 30-day window from the day of purchase. We hope that after trying us out, these Trial members will upgrade to full membership. When upgrading to a full membership, the $10 trial fee will be refunded to the new members.

For current existing TBN members, this new Trial membership option will be mostly invisible. Our future TBN calendar events will begin to have both the old "Free for TBN Members" registration option, and a new "30-Day-Trial members" registration option. You will continue to use the "Free for TBN Members" registration option.

Exclusions:

  • Note that some events, with limited availability, may not be available to 30-Day-Trial members. 
  • The Wednesday Evening and Friday Night ride programs will return with the "Free for non-members" option. 
  • The Hairshirt ride will continue to offer a simple $10 fee, but will also be open to Thirty-day Trial members. 
Tell your friends who may be wondering about TBN, and who want to give us a try, about our 30-Day-Trial option.

TNTO IS BACK FOR 2025

We are thrilled to announce that the Toronto Niagara Toronto Overnight (TNTO) ride is back for its 28th year, taking place June 14-15. TNTO is a two-day cycling challenge for experienced cyclists featuring rides from Toronto and Stoney Creek to Niagara Falls and back the next day. Visit TNTO page for more information.

Registration is open via the calendar. To ensure everything runs smoothly, we need your help. We are currently looking to recruit one or two enthusiastic volunteers to join our Sag Squad to drive the sag wagon. Specifically, we need a driver to assist with transporting luggage and snacks to the hotel in Niagara Falls. Accommodation is complimentary and a $100 per diem per day to cover food will be provided.

Alternatively, driving the sag wagon can be shared among two volunteers if members are interested on riding only one day and driving the sag wagon the other day.

Your involvement will be crucial in making TNTO 2025 a success. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please reach out to us at tnto@tbn.ca


Committee volunteers needed

Presidential Nominating CommitteeThe President is stepping down at the end of this program year at the AGM. The board is looking for a committee of 3 to 5 members to search for and nominate a new President to be elected at the next AGM. The club must have a President to function so this is a very important volunteer position. If you are interested in volunteering for this committee or have any questions about it, please contact the President at president@tbn.ca. If you are interested in running for President or nominating someone else directly, please also contact president@tbn.ca.

new tbn facebook group

In order to provide a consolidated space to discuss TBN-related rides, social engagements, topics of interest and other activities related to our membership, the Board of Directors TBN has decided to create a TBN-owned Facebook group. We are asking our members to join the group and make it the go-to place for all TBN social interactions. Let's build together this space and make it "home". To join, click hereWe are also looking for Facebook-savvy members who can help with moderation activities. If you are interested, please contact publicity@tbn.ca.

New: TBN fees may now be paid via e-transfer 

Invoices for membership applications and renewals are now payable in two different ways. If you select "Pay Online" you will pay via PayPal. If you select "Invoice Me" you must pay via an e-transfer to treasurer@tbn.ca. Be sure to include the invoice number within the comment field of your e-transfer. Note that online payments are registered immediately, but e-transfer payments require a manual processing step to update our payments database. Please allow 48 hours for processing. 

Reminder to update your TBN profile

Please ensure to periodically update your TBN club profile. Perhaps upload a photo of yourself (so other members know who you are), confirm that your email address listed is correct (as this is the primary way for us to contact you), confirm your phone and emergency contacts are still valid, and update your current (or former) occupation and let us know if and how you would like to volunteer with TBN. We are always looking for helping hands, especially those with needed skills. How to do this: Login to the website, click on your name, then click Edit Profile. When you are done, press Save to commit your changes.

UPCOMING RIDES AND EVENTS

Next 20 rides/events

See all rides and events on the main calendar and also check back two hours in advance in case of last minute updates or cancellation due to weather. You can also find past rides on this calendar. 

HOW TO CANCEL A RESERVATION FOR AN EVENT

Due to an issue we have discovered on Apple devices, we have had to revert to the original wording for the link used to cancel your reservation for an event. If you need to cancel your reservation for an event, see the Cancel-my-registration page for details.

Most Recent Newsletter

Chain of Events is TBN's e-newsletter, featuring up to date info about upcoming rides and events. Click here for the most recent Chain of Events.

Share your blogs with TBN members

TBN member Jun Nogami has an informative blog on Facebook, which includes summaries and photos from club rides. Check it out here. If other members would like to request that we share similar cycling-focused blogs with members via tbn.ca, contact the Communications Director.

Upcoming Events

Overnight Trips

Volunteers Needed

TBN has a Strava club

Now's the time to join TBN's Strava TBN club, where you can share your rides with fellow club members and see who's fastest on the hills. To join the club, click here and press "Request to join." Strava links to services like RideWithGPS and Garmin Connect and offers a way for to track your speed and mileage. It has two levels of membership, a fee-based premium service, and a no-charge basic service.

TBN routes: one of our most prized assets

You asked for a library of TBN routes. We listened. A new work-in-progress page offers a convenient way to find some of our routes, with links to rides mapped through RideWithGPS. We have over 1,000 routes in total, including many duplicates and obsolete routes, so this will become an easier way to find a specific ride than by backtracking to RideWithGPS in our online Calendar. Check it out.

Upcoming Tourist Class Rides

Upcoming Urban Roller Class Rides

Upcoming Leisure Wheeler Class Rides

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