Toronto - Any Biking Highlights ?

[Jap90s]

I'm taking my mum to Toronto in September to see her family for 4 days

I'm the escort / chauffeur so I won't have full days available but will have a few mornings / afternoons free

I've been before so have seen the usual tourist stuff is there any biking - preferably riding, preferably on gravel nearby ?

Also a company who will rent a suitable bike, not looking for a tour

[Bob_Defly]

I don't know about rentals, but there are a few places to ride.

How long a ride are you looking to do, half a day, full day, multiple days?

And I'm assuming you have no access to a bike and/or gear?

How many bikes do you need?

[Jap90s]

It's just me

1/2 maybe 3/4 of a day as Mum (85) is tired out after 2 / 3 hours

If there's a chance of reasonable riding I'll bring my gear with me

I'll have a hire car - probably an F150 as they're surprisingly cheap so I can get around easily

Edited by Jap90s on Thursday 9th July 16:02

[Steve Bass]

Bob_Defly said:

I don't know about rentals, but there are a few places to ride.

Yes, how about a round trip on the Don Valley Parkway followed by a few laps of the Gardener Expressway??

Jap90s said:

probably an F150 as they're surprisingly cheap

And surprisingly shyte, Ford can't give them away

In all honesty, if you're on a UK MC license, don't bother.

Whilst UK Car licenses are recognised, getting insurance on a local machine on a foreign license is borderline impossible, especially for a shorter term policy.
A friend has come over from Ireland and is riding from Toronto to Alaska and then down to Patagonia and the Canadian part of the trip in terms or arranging insurance was a nightmare. He was getting nowhere that he decided he was going to ship the bike to the US and start from there because it was so difficult, but he managed to get something sorted at an extortionate cost so decided to run with it.
Also, outside of Ministry approved riding schools who provide the machines, bike rental isn't a thing here... to much insurance and regulatory headaches to contend with.
Canada is not a bike friendly nation at all.

[Bob_Defly]

Here's some good info.

https://northernontario.travel/motorcycle-touring/...

Trail Tours and SMART are both highly recommended. Both about an hour from TO.

[Steve Bass]

Bob_Defly said:

Here's some good info.

https://northernontario.travel/motorcycle-touring/...

Trail Tours and SMART are both highly recommended. Both about an hour from TO.

Both on closed/Crown land so no road licensing or insurance requirements?

[Bob_Defly]

Steve Bass said:

Bob_Defly said:

Here's some good info.

https://northernontario.travel/motorcycle-touring/...

Trail Tours and SMART are both highly recommended. Both about an hour from TO.

Both on closed/Crown land so no road licensing or insurance requirements?

Both are on private land so insurance will be covered by the rental agreements. Trail Tours is at Ganaraska Forest. I'm guessing if you're a tourist then you'll need to show a bike licence of some sort.

If not a tourist you will always need liability insurance.

[Jap90s]

Sounds like it's a non starter - I took a quick look at upgrading the hire car instead

No manual V8s are available

[Gnits]

1/2 day might be enough to travel a couple of blocks downtown.
Traffic was horrendous when I was there and v little opportunity to filter through. Could have been due to construction but it took me hours to travel a few miles in town.

Guelph is nearby so you can see where Neve Campbell was born and go to Squirrel Tooth Alice (if it is still there) home of 'Warm beer and lousy food'.

The obvious draw though might be Niagara Falls?

The other thing I learned was 'Etobicoke' is not pronounced like that!

[Steve Bass]

Gnits said:

1/2 day might be enough to travel a couple of blocks downtown.
Traffic was horrendous when I was there and v little opportunity to filter through. Could have been due to construction but it took me hours to travel a few miles in town.

Guelph is nearby so you can see where Neve Campbell was born and go to Squirrel Tooth Alice (if it is still there) home of 'Warm beer and lousy food'.

The obvious draw though might be Niagara Falls?

The other thing I learned was 'Etobicoke' is not pronounced like that!

Traffic is still horrendous, filtering is illegal and car driving standards are appalling. Nuking Toronto would be a huge improvement.... it's a shyte hole by every definition and I would say sticking pins in your eyes would be preferable to an hour in Toronto.
I work there and prefer to travel an 800km round trip every other week to keep my family out of it....
As for Niagara, if you've ever visited Skegness amusement arcade in February, that's about the sum of it

Edited by Steve Bass on Friday 10th July 09:58

[JR1979]

Have you thought about getting a job at the tourist board?

[Steve Bass]

JR1979 said:

Have you thought about getting a job at the tourist board?

I did, but standing at Pearson Airport with a sandwich board and bull horn shouting "turn around and run for your lives!!" wasn't a strong selling point.

Toronto.....it's less bad than Detroit. Which is something I guess

[Jap90s]

Went to Niagara Falls 35 years ago, I doubt it's improved

We're going to see my uncle, probably for the last time, who lives an hour north of Toronto

He's my favourite uncle who 35 years ago, took me Moose Hunting in Alaska which was one of the best things I've done

Don't worry no moose were hurt (or even seen) but we flew in on a float plane to a pristine wilderness and stayed in a log cabin for a week

I was hoping to have a bit of fun this trip too but that's looking increasingly unlikely