No shortage of clubs in Ontario
Cycling groups offer events from relaxed to competitive
The popularity of cycling has been steadily increasing over the years and with it the growth of bicycle clubs that vary from local groups in small communities to big city associations with hundreds of members.
Clubs offer a range of activities such as long distance touring, racing and cycle treks within their own areas or to cycling destinations around the globe.
Whether they cater to small family groups or large gatherings, they all have a common goal of making cycling an enjoyable and safe activity focusing on fitness, education and social camaraderie.
Besides being socially active, many club members get involved in local volunteer projects and raise money for numerous charities.
Wherever you live in Ontario, there is a cycling club nearby. Here is a sampling of some bike clubs in large communities and smaller towns around the province: Oshawa Cycling Club: Founded in 1980 by avid cyclists Edward Reilly and Gerald Corrigan, the OCC aims for safe cycling, physical fitness and companionship on the road. It holds regularly scheduled rides on weekdays and weekends from early April to late October, with two feature rides during the summer season: the Canada Day Ride on July 1, and the Ride4UnitedWay on Aug. 16. The OCC supports cyclists of all ages and experience levels including serious road cyclists, triathletes, touring cyclists, mountain bikers, recreational riders and active non-riding members; oshawacyclingclub.com. Toronto Bicycling Network: Since 1986, the TBN has been promoting economical, non-competitive recreational activities in a relaxed social environment. It offers a variety of bicycle tours, rallies and other cycling events for all levels of abilities and interests, including off-season activities such as cross-country skiing and hiking for its 850 members. Bike tours take in various parts of the city and around the GTA. The TBN also organizes weekend overnight trips to other areas of Ontario; tbn.ca. Gay West Bicycle Club (Toronto): From May to October, the GWBC welcomes cycling enthusiasts of all genders and ages on group rides around the city. The club encourages its more than 100 members to take part in hosting weekly rides, whether they are all-men, all-women or mixed-company rides. The club was founded in 2003 by Michel F. Paré, and is an incorporated non-profit division of the Gay West Community Network Inc. Members range in age from 16 to 80 and there is no fee to join. The club is called GWBIKECLUB in Yahoo groups and on Facebook; queerwest.org/bikeclub.php. Owen Sound Bicycle Club: The OSBC organizes bike tours for about 120 of its members on rides ranging from 15 to 40 km in and around the southern Georgian Bay region, with weekly time trials, recreational rides, fitness rides, rides specifically for women, mountain bike rides and races. The club dates back to 1983, and current members are involved in developing new trails and maintaining existing trail systems in co-operation with the Grey/Sauble Conservation Authority and other land owners. Cyclists from12 years and up are welcome to join; owensoundcycling.ca. Peterborough Cycling Club: A locally-based volunteer run non-profit organization affiliated with both the Ontario Cycling Association and the International Mountain Biking Association, the PCC’s principal aim is to reach all interests and age groups by offering rides to its members on most days of the week covering a wide range of fitness, interest and ability, from casual-paced bike rides to competitive road cycling, mountain biking and time trialing; peterboroughcc.com. Thunder Bay Cycling Club: Founded in 1975 and run by a group of volunteer directors, the 270member Thunder Bay Cycling Club has a calendar full of events and rides ranging from short local treks to lengthy countryside rides of 100 km through the many communities surrounding Thunder Bay. Members are of all ages and abilities and they participate in all the club’s programs, including road racing, time trials, structured rides, group rides, mixed and same-sex trips, and cyclocross; tbaycc.ca. Waterloo Cycling Club: With the motto: Ride, Race, Lead, the WCC dates back to1968 and has 422 members involved in road and mountainbike trail riding, while providing cycling and fitness training for adults and kids from the ages of 8 to 15. The club helps maintain, manage and monitor a growing network of trails in North Waterloo in collaboration with the region of Waterloo. This year’s club cycling vacation (July 30 to Aug. 7) will explore the wine-producing Piedmont region of Italy; waterloocyclingclub.ca. Sault Cycling Club (Sault Ste. Marie): The SCC’s 120 members partake in a variety of cycling activities, ranging from recreational rides to mountain biking. Started in 1977, the club works with local landowners and the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority to develop and maintain trails. A beginner-friendly cyclocross event is being planned for late August and the club strives to teach kids safe cycling through a program with the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club; saultcyclingclub.ca. Ottawa Bicycle Club: Dating back to1882, the OBC is the oldest and one of the largest bicycle clubs in Canada with around 1,150 members. It offers cycling programs for a range of cyclists from novice to experienced riders and racers. Events vary from relaxed country tours with picnic lunches to fast-action road racing. Tours include overnight rides within the region and longer cross-border trips to Vermont and Virginia; ottawabicycleclub.ca. Oakville Cycling Club: Celebrating its 25th year, the OCC’s 485 members enjoy a friendly environment for recreational road riding, training, touring and cyclocross at every skill level. Rides are organized throughout Halton Region and farther beyond. Members include local residents and cyclists from the Toronto, Mississauga and Hamilton areas in an even mix of male and female cyclists of all ages and abilities. Rides are held almost every day of the week in the cycling season; oakvillecc.com. Toronto Chinese Road Bike Club (York Region): Since 2011, many of the club’s 75 members have cycled in the popular Sunday night rides along back roads between Markham and Richmond Hill. The TCRBC’s mission is to have fun, make friends and promote recreational cycling in the Greater Toronto Area. It is a noncompetitive organization that welcomes all levels of cyclists, from beginners to seasoned experts. Members participate in rides through both rural and urban areas of the GTA; tcrbc.ca. Kingston Velo Club: An 80-member social touring club, KVC members come from all age groups and walks of life to enjoy a range of cycling experiences at different levels of skill and fitness. Short, easy tours, more challenging rides and personal fitness challenges are among the variety of cycling activities conducted by the club. Weekday evening and weekend tours run throughout the cycling season and the club organizes longer bike trips, such as this summer’s multi-day tour of the north shore of Lake Erie; kvc.ca. London Cycling Club: Gearing up to celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2016, the LCC’s 168 members range in age from 18 to 81 and share a common interest in the health, lifestyle and social aspects of cycling. The club offers Saturday and Sunday cycling tours, at three levels of pace and distance, from April through October, and occasional weekend tours to other parts of the province. It also organizes popular club social events throughout the year; londoncyclingclub.ca. St. Catharines Cycling Club: The SCCC includes Steve Bauer, winner of Canada’s first Olympic cycling medal, as well as past world-record holding Canadian cyclist Gord Singleton among its lifetime members. Founded in 1971 by local bike racers, the club’s aim is to promote bicycle racing and develop young riders with organized rides throughout the week. The club hosts the Niagara Classic, one of the oldest races in Ontario. Its130 members enjoy road, track, mountain, cyclocross and triathlon competition events; stcatharinescc.com. Kenora Borealis Multisport: Formed more than a decade ago by some friends keen on training for running, swimming and cycling events, their activities caught the interest of more friends and KBM quickly became a club. It has branched out to include a variety of cycling and other activities at various levels of ability, from triathlon training to recreational group cycle tours in Kenora and outlying communities; kenoraborealis.com. Eastside Riders Cycling Club (Windsor): Informally created by a handful of road riding enthusiasts in 2009 and formalized as an Ontario Cycling Association-affiliated club in June 2012, the ESRCC currently has over 100 members who ride and race in Essex County. The club organizes rides and supports members at various levels of ability who want to cycle and increase their fitness or performance in a friendly environment that stresses safety and camaraderie; eastsideriders.net.