I did not learn to ride a bike until I was 12. I think it was a combination of not being able to afford one and being a fearful little girl. However, once I did learn, I cycled a lot while I was a teenager; it was my main mode of transportation to part-time jobs. In the early years of adulthood and motherhood, I also rode my bike a lot: getting to work, riding with my children, and sometimes as a break from them. Many years passed, and then recently I have started riding again, although not nearly as often as I would like. I’m really going to make an effort to start doing it more regularly. Below are some of the places where Cris and I have enjoyed cycling, now and in the past.
The Elora Cataract Trailway, used for walking and cycling in the summertime, follows the route of the abandoned Canadian Pacific railroad bed. It begins at the Forks of the Credit, in Caledon slightly northwest of Toronto, to Elora, approximately 1.5 hours west of Toronto. By the way, it is a lovely town to visit: its shops, gorge, microbreweries, and great restaurants, including the one in the mill.
Work is being done to upgrade and connect the trails west of Elora all the way to Goderich on Lake Huron. That will be wonderful! I have not cycled along any part of these trails, but I have cycled several times along the Caledon – Elora stretch and it is always lots of fun. It is excellent for those who want to incorporate some exercise with being out in the country: the trees and gorgeous views. There are no steep grades and of course you can go as slow or fast as you like.
Going on vacation for a few days with my daughter is always a win-win-win great time for me. We have fun, lots of uninterupted time to chat, some kind of exercise – hiking, cycling – is included, and she takes care of the planning!
Four years ago, when I was overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and unforeseen ripple effects of the caregiving role I had recently taken on, my daughter and I went to Montreal for a few days so that I could get a break and we could spend some fun time together. We parked the car when we got there and spent a couple of days cycling along the island’s waterfront and to a variety of interesting sites, from the Botannical Gardens to Atwater Market, that we could reach by bike.
When I was a young girl I had a purple bike with a banana seat. It was the coolest bike! I rode my bike everywhere. It got me to school (almost on-time) and around my neighborhood. As I grew up I rode my bike longer and further afield. I rode along the connecting bike trails that follow the Don Valley Parkway, as well as the Waterfront Trail. I completed the 7-day Oklahoma Freewheel cross-state ride, from just north of Texas up into Kansas. There are tarantulas in Oklahoma it turns out and although nothing bad happened to me, I’m told you should not try to nudge them with your bike wheel when you see one.
There are many cross state annual rides. While in Oklahoma, the two I heard about most often were the RAGBRAI in Iowa – everyone said it was a 7 day party – and the Hotter ‘n Hell 100 in Wichita Falls, Texas. One day. 100 miles. And hot!
Click here for a list of interesting and fun rides across states and cities in the United States.
One of the most well known bike trails in Canada is the cycling trail on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. The Cabot Trail hugs the Atlantic Ocean and at just under 300 kilometres, be prepared for rugged, scenic and breathtaking views. Well worth the effort. Click here for more information about this ride.
Another bike ride that is well worth doing is the Whistler Mountain Bike Park in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada. There are bike trails and mountain bike trails from beginner to pro. Short to quite long. There are so many choices and the mountain views are spectacular. Click here for more information and a map about this ride.
As a way to decrease the number of vehicles on the road and their impact on the environment, as well as encouraging more people to ride their bikes and get some exercise, more and more cities are incorporating bike lanes into their streets. Do you or your family use them? Have you ridden your bike in any places that you really enjoyed? Tell us about them and we can add them to our cycling bucket lists.
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