Sun, Apr 20 2008 - Bike Ride in the City: Metro Toronto Zoo Loop (40 km) (View Original Event Details)
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This was our first time doing this ride. At the very start of the ride, there are some very huge hills: going down-hill is a thrill (but make sure your brakes are working); going up-hill is a struggle on these hills (make sure you are in shape). After the initial hills, the ride is reasonably easy, with only occasional smaller inclines and declines here and there. One needs to be careful on Steeles Avenue, as it is a two-lane road with lots of traffic. It is a little tricky turning left from Steeles onto Sewalls Drive, as the turn comes on a downward slope. One also has to be cautious when crossing back and forth over the 401. It may be advisable, in some instances, to dismount and walk one's bike across the 401 on the sidewalk. All in all our group did have a good time. The verbal directions for the ride are as follows: Metro Zoo Park Loop (on-road riding; go single file and use hand signals) Go east on the 401 after leaving Downsview Station. Take the Meadowvale Rd. exit, and go north until you get to Sheppard Avenue. Turn west at Sheppard Avenue, and then locate the parking lot just off of Twyn Rivers Dr., just beyond where Sheppard Avenue veers in a south-easterly direction. The Ride Begins (Note: There are some huge hills to climb right near the start of the ride. Therefore, this ride is not suitable for those with cardiovascular problems or, perhaps, for beginner riders who do not have good control over their bicycles. However, if you can make it through these early hills, the rest of the ride is much easier, with only occasional smaller hills. If you do the complete ride, you will have to cross the 401 at designated points, a couple of times. You should dismount and walk your bikes for these crossings, for safety reasons.) 1) Ride in an easterly direction on Twyn Rivers Dr. 2) Follow Twyn Rivers Dr. when it turns left (in a northerly direction). 3) Continue following Twyn Rivers Dr. when it turns right (in an easterly direction) 4) Turn left at Woodview Avenue and go north. 5) Follow Woodview Avenue north until you get to Finch Avenue. 6) Turn left (in a westerly direction) at Finch Avenue. 7) Turn right (in a northerly direction) when you get to Beare Rd. 8) Turn left (in a westerly direction) at Phug Hat Rd. 9) Turn left (in a southerly direction) at Meadowvale Rd. 10) Turn right (in a westerly direction) at Old Finch Ave. 11) Turn right (in a northerly direction) at Reesor Rd. 12) Turn left (in a westerly direction) at Steeles Avenue. (Note: You do not have to ride for long on Steeles Avenue, but at this point, Steeles is a two-lane road, and it has lots of traffic. Great care must be taken while turning left onto Steeles, while riding on Steeles, and while turning left off of Steeles at Sewalls Rd. Be careful.) 13) Turn left at Sewalls Rd. and go south. 14) Follow Sewalls Rd., which becomes a winding road . 15) Turn left at Brenyon Way (the Malvern Recreation Centre will be to your right as you turn left). 16) Turn left (east) onto Murison Blvd., and continue in an easterly direction. (You may wish to press the cross button and walk your bikes across the street here, as the light is slow to change unless you do so.) 17) Turn right (south) onto Conlins Rd. and travel in a southerly direction. 18) Turn left onto Military Trail and go in a south easterly direction. 19) Turn left onto Old Kingston Rd. and briefly travel in a north-easterly direction. (Note: you will have to turn left where Old Kingston Rd. appears to end, at an intersection where the road onto which you are turning has no specific name. Is it still Kingston Rd. or not? It is not clear. But turn left. 20) Very soon, at the first set of lights, turn right (south) to cross the 401 by using an overpass. There are lanes for bikes on the overpass. 21) Then, after crossing the over-pass, turn left at Lawson Rd., and follow Lawson Rd. in an easterly direction. 22) Turn left (north) at the corner of Port Union Rd, and travel in a northwesterly direction. You will have to cross the 401 again. After crossing the 401, you will come up to Sheppard Avenue East again, and you should turn east and follow the bike lane. The last leg of the ride is a great pleasure, as there is a bike lane and there are few stops. 23) Return to the parking lot at Twyn Rivers Dr., off of Sheppard Avenue East.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.