The Challenge

Bike ON

TRENDS, INSPIRATION, AND INSIGHT TO HELP EXPLORE MORE OF ONTARIO BY BIKE

Greenbelt Route

THE CHALLENGE BIKE PACKING ONTARIO STYLE: BT700

Mennonites in horse drawn buggies, hidden waterfalls in the forest, glorious butter tarts and craft breweries are just a few highlights of this epic patchwork of trails through bucolic south western Ontario.

The 770km self-guided BT700 (butter tart) route traverses rail trails, gravel roads, forest single track, unserviced roads and some sections of the beautiful Bruce Trail, that are accessible to bikes. With downloadable GPS routing, the suggested start is in St. Jacobs, near Guelph. The route then heads clockwise through Huron Country, up to southern Georgian Bay, weaving through Bruce, Grey and Simcoe counties, before heading south from Collingwood. To assist with planning there is also a GPS route map that includes amenities along the way to help tailor the trip to your comfort and budget preferences: consider rustic wild camping on crown land or more luxurious accommodations such as the Elora Gorge Hotel & Spa or Southampton’s Paradise Inn.

You can do a portion, or all of it; you can race it, or like many, you can finish between four and seven days to allow for some sight-seeing and longer sojourns at markets and bakeries. You can skip parts of the trail (suggested detours are on the GPS map) if you’re tired or rushed, however, you must complete 90% of the trail to be listed in the Hall of Fame. If you’re keen, in July there is a grand depart for riders looking to race. The fastest female finished in 59 hours, 22 minutes – on a single speed, and fastest male in 44 hours and 5 minutes.

It would be wise to be in good shape for this trip – the route climbs up to 6,000 metres in elevation. That also means having a climb-friendly gear ratio, distributing the weight evenly between front and back bags and packing all the necessities you need including tools (pump and extra tubes), water, and snacks. As for bike choice, a hard tail mountain bike, a gravel or mountain bike hybrid is suggested – this trail is rough at times so the more rubber the better. — For more information and downloadable maps visit: bt700.ca Looking for something a little less challenging? Ontario By Bike Rides are self-guided, small group supported bike tours that showcase some of the best recreational cycling experiences in regions across Ontario. • O N T A R I O B Y B I K E R I D E S • O N T A R I O B Y B I K E R I D E S

Tours include: accommodations, lunches, breakfasts, snack and water stops, van support, group ride option and/ or detailed maps, plus return transportation back to start which makes these rides, often following linear trails and routes, possible. Just bring your bike and ride! Find 2020 tour dates and destinations, or legacy itineraries from past tours to allow you to ride these same routes as a self-supported cyclist online at ontariobybike.ca/ rides