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Rail Trail Bike Ride: Cambridge to Brantford and Back (70 km) (11/1/2009)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Bike

Event Location:

Cambidge-Paris-Brantford Area

Date(s) & Time:

Sun, Nov 1 2009 10:30 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Oct 30 2009 8:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

9-10 hours (including drive to and from Toronto)

Difficulty Rating:

D4: Moderate to Difficult

Event Coordinator(s):

Jim O
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

3 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

The Cambridge-Brantford Rail Trial is a recreational hiking and cycling trail located, for the most part, on the east side of the Grand River. With the biking season drawing to a close, this event may be one of our last chances this year to head out for a ride on a rail trail.

We will depart from the Downsview carpool location at 8:00 a.m. sharp (keep in mind TTC schedules, as the subway and buses may not yet be running that early ), and we will begin the ride at the Cambridge entrance to the trail at 10:30 a.m. sharp. The ride from Cambridge to Brantford's outskirts is about 35 km in length. The intention is to ride to all the way to the outskirts of Brantford, where we will stop for lunch at a Tim Hortons, and then return to Cambridge.

The total length of the ride should be about 70 km. The trail is relatively flat, so the riding should not be too difficult. However, we will be riding at a steady, reasonably demanding pace and this ride is NOT intended for slowpokes. There will be glimpses of the Grand River during our ride, and the fall colors should be fully on display. We will pass by a lovely old mill that is located along the banks of the Grand River.

Total riding time should be about 5 hours, including the break for lunch at the Tim Hortons. Therefore, when signing up for this event, be sure that you can handle this length of ride. A hybrid or touring bike is recommended, though I have seen people use a mountain bike or even a road bike on this trail. If using a road bike, you will be at risk of flats (so bring extra tubes and the equipment needed to change your tire); if using a mountain bike, the additional friction of the tires will slow you down and force you to work much harder than the other riders. In any case, you should be able to ride at an average speed of about 21 km per hour. The ride will proceed at a steady pace, so as to provide a physical workout for those who are participating.

Required Items to Bring:
Well-maintained Bike, one spare tire tube, basic bicycle repair kit, bike helmet, bike lights; lots of water, snacks for the ride, money for lunch (if you are not bringing a home-made lunch); suitable clothing, including bike gloves, for fall bike riding.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Lunch/snacks; money for the same for our stop at Tim Hortons.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Take Highway 401 going west, and turn south on Highway 24 (Exit 282) to get to Cambridge. Stay on Highway 24 until you get to the south end of Cambridge. You will pass through the downtown. There will be a GTO gas bar on the right at the south entrance to Cambridge on Highway 24. The parking area at the start of the trail is located at the first driveway past the gas bar. At the parking area, you will find a kiosk with a map and some historical information. Entrance to the trail is on the wst side of the road (across from the entrance to Churchill Park). A washroom is available in the nearby GTO Bas Bar.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

205Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $52.89 (calculated at total Km * $0.258, effective Thursday, November 21, 2024). This is based on $0.08/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Your event coordinator will confirm exactly how much money is required from each person.

Notes:

Whether 9 people can actually participate in the event is contingent on whether there are enough cars going that can take both participants and their bicycles. Therefore, if you can carry additional passengers/bicycles with your vehicle, it is important for you to make this known when you sign-up. I will try to ensure that everyone is accommodated, on a first come, first serve basis.

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in TOC events.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@torontooutdoorclub.com.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Stacy, at content@torontooutdoorclub.com.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!