To celebrate the opening of Pedego Kawartha Lakes’ second location in Lindsay, Ontario, we’ve selected three great bike rides in the Peterborough region. All of these rides are sections of the TransCanada Trail (“The Great Trail”). For the 53.8km that The Great Trail runs east to west through the Kawarthas, cyclists enjoy a relatively flat, 3 metre wide, hard packed limestone trail with plenty of stops along the way. Pop into the new Pedego Kawartha Lakes store at 66 William Street in Lindsay, or the original store in Bobcaygeon, to rent an electric bike and see how much fun it is to ride these trails.
Note: we couldn’t do this without help from dedicated Pedego owner Karen Lambert Fields. She read our last post on 10 best bike trails in Ontario and was quick to suggest some of her favourite Kawartha and Peterborough rides that didn’t make it in. She’s ridden all over, takes great photos, and shares her love of Pedego electric bikes. Thanks Karen!
Rotary Greenway Trail
This lovely rail trail runs along the eastern bank of the Otanobee River from Peterborough to Lakefield, past Trent University. The southern half paved trail and the northern half limestone gravel. The full trail from Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough, through to Lakefield is about 20km. It was built by the Rotary Club of Peterborough and it passes through parks and ecosystems which are home to a variety of wildlife. Interpretive signs describe the ecology, flora, fauna and history of the area. This is Rex Fields on the London Street Bridge in Peterborough.
Lang Hastings Trail
This 30km section of the Great Trail (TransCanada) runs east from Peterborough to the Lang Pioneer Village, where it crosses Indian River, and continues along the Trent River to the town of Hastings. There are wonderful historic and bucolic scenes on either side of the trail, such as a grist mill, dairy cows, orchards and barns. Different days, or has Rex swapped his Pedego below?
Omemee Trail
The Omemee rail trail is a popular 35 km bike ride from Lindsay into Peterborough. It is crushed gravel and easy riding out of Lindsay towards the Omemee River.
It crosses the 200m long Doube’s trestle bridge, which allows you to ride easily across vegetation and streams of the Buttermilk Valley. Here is Karen on a sunny day crossing the trestle bridge.
To connect with other Pedego riders in Kawartha Lakes, or visit the store’s Facebook page.
From farms to conservation land, wineries to waterfronts, Ontario is a fantastic destination for bike tourism. Whether you are taking weekend trips from Toronto, or spending the whole summer touring the lakes, you’ll experience a huge variety of riding. Single track, double track, converted rail trails, gravel roads, multi-use paths and bike shoulders, there is a great variety in every itinerary.
Going by electric bicycle is a great way to see even more of Canada’s second largest province. Just ask any Pedego owner if they ride more since buying an ebike! And, if you need more than 10 rides this summer, grab Ontario By Bikes’s 2019 riding guide. If you need an electric bike, visit Pedego Kawartha Lakes or Pedego Prince Edward County: rent for a one-off adventure, or buy one forever.
WALTER BEAN TRAIL, WATERLOO
This 35km return trip starts at Schneider Park and runs along the old Grand Trunk Railway Line to Cambridge. Enjoy river views, historic mills and one of Ontario’s prettiest downtowns filled with lovely stone architecture.
STURGEON LAKE, KAWARTHA LAKES
Make Kawartha Lakes your destination for some spectacular lakeside riding, following County Road 24 out of Bobcaygeon along Sturgeon Lake. There are a selection of secondary roads intersecting the Trent Severn Waterway and lock stations. Pedego Kawartha Lakes rents bikes for this route (and the next one)
KEN REID CONSERVATION AREA, LINDSAY
A great ride for novice and intermediate riders is in the Ken Reid Conservation Area a 5km ride north of Lindsay along the Victoria Rail Trail. The 10km trail network is relatively flat with many rest areas and water features on the southern arm of Sturgeon Lake. Even better, the whisper quiet motor on a Pedego won’t interrupt the birding. Visit Pedego Lindsay for maps and bikes.
COUNTY ROADS 18 and 16, MORRISBURG
For riding on paved shoulders, the County Roads 18 and 16 provide a 40km lollipop route including the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. The flat agricultural lands spanning the horizon call to mind The Netherlands, as does the joy of cycling on the road instead of driving a car.
PRESCOTT RUSSELL RECREATIONAL TRAIL, ST EUGENE
The 72km Prescott Russell Recreational Trail stretches from St-Eugène in the east to the village of Hammond in the west. For those looking for a recreational overnight trip, ride from Vankleek Hill to Plantagenet along the trail. Overnight in Plantagenet before pedalling the paved shoulders north and east along the Ottawa River back to Vankleek Hill for a 76km loop.
MILLENNIUM TRAIL, PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
Acquired by The County from the Canadian National Railway in 1997, the Millennium Trail is a re-purposed abandoned rail line that was converted into a multi-use recreational feature for the enjoyment of County residents and visitors. The 46-kilometre multi-use trail stretches from Carrying Place at County Road 64 to Picton at County Road 49, passing near Consecon, Wellington, and Bloomfield. You’ll find Pedego Prince Edward County smack bang in the middle of it, with a large rental fleet including an electric tandem bicycle.
TURKEY POINT, PORT RYERSE
Turkey Point has approximately 65 km of well-maintained and signed singletrack trails both within and adjacent to Turkey Point Provincial Park and St. Williams Conservation Reserve. Beginners have plenty of terrain to explore; and it is possible to rent electric bikes from Ontario’s South Coast Bicycles nearby Port Ryerse.
WILDWOOD CONSERVATION AREA, ST MARYS
If you’re really into natural surfaces, in Pedego-speak that means an Elevate, Trail Tracker or Ridge Rider, the Wildwood Conservation Area has approximately 30 km of trails, including a 24km loop Lake Trail of mostly single track. It is directional meaning that on even-days it rides clockwise and on odd-days, counter-clockwise.
VICTORIA RAIL TRAIL, FENELON FALLS
The trail takes you from Lindsay north for 22 kilometres along Sturgeon Lake to Fenelon Falls. During the summer months the bridge crossing this waterway is swung open to allow boater traffic through. Rent a bike from Pedego Lindsay and ride north to the falls and back.
GREAT WATERFRONT TRAIL
The first nine aren’t enough? Tackle the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail—3,000 km of breathtaking waterfront on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, running from Sault Ste. Marie to Sudbury!
It was a glorious day for a bike ride on the wild west coast. Last summer, Ruby, our friend Joy and I took our Pedegos out to explore the route between the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, and the Ucluelet-Tofino Junction. Accessing a combination of trails, quiet side roads, and bike paths, and wound up on the amazing 8 km bike path that follows the highway out of town to the Junction. It’s one of the best roadside bike paths anywhere. We meandered around, taking advantage of every opportunity to view the magnificent Pacific Ocean from a number of vantage points, enjoying the spring blooms of the surrounding lush, verdant forest.
We had a wonderful day and didn’t even make it all the way to the end of the path, because of so many side trips, which we could do so easily being on Pedegos.
As a born and raised West Coaster, I know no greater beauty than the sights from the wild side of Vancouver Island!
And to enjoy the gorgeous ocean scenes from our Pedegos — it doesn’t get better than this!
However, if you’re looking for a longer adventure, and want to ride all the way to Tofino from Ucluelet, it will soon be no problem! The entire length will be connected with a roadside path through the Pacific Rim National Park, and connect with the current multi-use paths in both communities.
As you ride or drive towards Tofino from Ucluelet, take Wick Road. From there, you will see the development of a fabulous biking excursion for our future! Yes these two communities will have another connection! https://www.discoverucluelet.com/cycling.
Plan this into your summer ride adventures now! This will be a blast ride for bikes of all description.
As you ride or drive towards Tofino from Ucluelet, take Wick Road. From there, you will see the development of a fabulous biking excursion for our future! Yes these two communities will have another connection! https://www.discoverucluelet.com/cycling.
Plan this into your summer ride adventures now! This will be a blast ride for bikes of all description.
By Julie Edwards