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What
should I bring?
- Luggage:
Participants are permitted to bring 2 duffel
bags, including camping equipment. Suitcases,
boxes, cases, are NOT allowed. Baggage
may not be tied together and must include a
luggage tag with the participants name.
- Bicycle
Equipment: Helmet, small repair kit
that includes a tire, spare tube, tire irons,
alan keys, small wrenches, and a pump. Bike
gloves, cycling shorts, bike jersey, light jacket,
rain gear, bicycle lock and water bottles You
may also want a rear view mirror and panniers.
- Camping
Equipment: Duffel bag, sleeping bag, pillow,
pad, tent, ground cloth, rope, stakes and a
flashlight.
- Toiletries:
Towel, washcloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, skin
lotion, shampoo, soap, razor, nail clippers,
brush/comb, hair ties/barrettes, deodorant,
mirror and toilet tissue.
- Clothes:
T-shirts, shorts, a jacket, pants, warm-up suit,
underwear, socks, shoes, thongs, sleepwear,
swimsuit, and possibly sweatbands/bandannas.
- First
Aid: Pack aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamins,
Band-Aids, gauze, tape, first aid cream, lip
balm, sun block, insect repellent, safety pins,
and sanitary protection if needed with
disposable bags. Access to emergency medical
treatment will be available in each campground.
- Miscellaneous:
Bring an alarm clock/watch, spare glasses,
sunglasses, camera, earplugs, ID, money, traveler's
checks, credit cards, journal, pens, pencils,
address book, several plastic trash bags for
rain protection and zip-lock bags. Be sure to
enclose everything in a water-tight plastic
bag.
How
do I get to the start of the ride?
The
Great Waterfront Trail Adventure will be starting
early on the morning of July 4th. Please make
sure that you have made plans in advance to get
to the starting point. Niagara-on-the-Lake is
located near the Canada-US border and Niagara
Falls. Here are some suggestions to assist your
planning:
- Bike
Train:
The Bike Train will be running from Toronto
to Niagara Falls on July 3rd, leaving Union
Station at 10:00 am and arriving at noon. From
the train starion, it is 22 km downhill to Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Taxis can take you in to the town, or you can
ride your bike. The Niagara River Recreation
Trail is an off-road designated trail that runs
from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake (see
the Region of Niagara's cycling map at http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/exploring/cycle/bikemap.aspx).
If you need a shuttle to carry your luggage,
please contact Petrina at pt@wrtrust.com.
To book tickets for the Bike Train, or for more
information log on to http://www.biketrain.ca/.
If you take the train you will need to make
reservations for accommodations for the night,
please book early as most of the town is already
booked up. For suggested accommodations log
on to: http://www.waterfronttrail.org/gwta_web/accommodations.htm#eve
-
Drive:
Driving to Niagara-on-the-Lake is another way
to arrive at the start and you can have someone
drop you off, or you can drive yourself and
leave your car in the official long term parking
lot for the tour. We have secured a limited
number of parking spaces, so please contact
Ian at il@wrtrust.com
to book a spot for your car.
-
Car Pool: We encourage participants
to car pool to the start of the event and to
use facebook to find
people to carpool with.
- Ride:
Riding to the start of the Great Waterfront
Trail Adventure is an option and may be a good
warm-up!
Are
meals included?
- Meals
will NOT be included in the
registration fee. Communities will host breakfasts/lunches/dinners
and snack stops. By supporting these communities
you will be supporting many local charities
and businesses that are essential to the success
of the Waterfront Trail. There will be
several places to stop along the way during
the first half of the ride and fewer during
the second half, so we encourage you to plan
ahead, look at the maps and bring lots of snacks
with you. You will have more energy and
more fun if you stay fed and hydrated.
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Should
I bring my own snacks?
- We encourage you to bring your own snacks
and ride with more food than you think you will
need, especially if there are specific foods
that you like to eat during a ride. There
will be several places to stop and refuel during
the first half of the ride, but more spread
out during the second half.
What
kind of bike should I ride?
- The Waterfront Trail tour route is paved and
road and touring bikes will be the most efficient.
Hybrids and mountain bikes with knobby
tires may want to change to a slick type tire
for a more comfortable ride.
- You will want to make sure your bike is in
great working condition and may want to take
it in for a tune-up. Bike shops are busy
in the spring and summer, so schedule a tune-up
a few weeks before the ride.
How
do I get home or to Niagara from Cornwall?
Participants are responsible for arranging their
own transportation home. Following are some ideas;
however, please note that if you decide to take
the train or bus home from Cornwall you will have
to leave on July the 12th, which means you will
need to stay the night of July 11th in Cornwall.
You can book a room at St. Lawrence College, which
is where we will be staying on July 10th (more
information coming soon), or you can stay at the
First Canada Inns (a GWTA registered accommodation)
- www.firstcanadainns.ca
- or another hotel in Cornwall. We encourage you
to post a note on facebook
to communicate with other riders and find people
to travel with.
- Via operates a train that leaves Montreal
at 9:40 am and leaves Cornwall at 10:58 am and
arrives in Toronto at 3:14pm - http://www.viarail.ca/.
This is the only train with a luggage car that
is capable of transporting bikes. For an additional
fee of $20 plus tax your bike will be loaded
into a box, provided by VIA, and travel in the
luggage car. You will need to loosen your handlebars
and remove your pedals, so bring the proper
tools. We also recommend that you book early,
as space for bikes is limited. Please also note
that Toronto is the final stop for bikes as
there is no luggage car that continues to Niagara.
If you need to return to NOTL with your bike,
please read the next point about the Bike Train.
The train station in Cornwall is approximately
5 km from St Lawrence College and 3 km from
First Canada Inns, so you will need to make
arrangements to get to the station. Veteran's
Blue Line Taxi in Cornwall has one mini-van
in their fleet - (613) 932-7311.
1A – If you need to get back to Niagara,
the Bike Train may be operating a service on
July 12th depending on demand. You would need
to change trains at Union Station in Toronto
and transfer to the 5:45 pm Bike Train. Once
you arrive in Niagara, it is a beautiful 22
km downhill ride back to the long term parking
in NOTL. If you would like us to transport your
luggage for you back to your car please let
us know, or you can book a taxi to take you,
your bike, and your luggage, but please make
reservations in advance - Niagara Falls Taxi,
905-357-4000. If you are interested in the Bike
Train and/or luggage transfer from the train
station, please contact Petrina at pt@wrtrust.com.
For more information on the Bike Train log on
to www.biketrain.ca.
1B- Once in Toronto, you can take the GO train
from Union Station as far west as Hamilton and
as far east as Oshawa. Bikes may be taken on
to the GO train on week-ends and during non-peak
hours during the week at no additional charge.
Peak hours are considered 6:30 to 9:30 am and
3:30 to 6:30 pm. The same is true for Toronto
Transit. http://www.gotransit.com/
http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/
1C – Coach Canada also operates buses
from Toronto to Niagara. Boxes are available
for $5 to $10 and bags are available for $10
to pack your bikes for travel and it is recommended
that you reserve a box or bag in advance. There
are services available that can be found at:
www.coachcanada.com. If there is a high demand,
bikes may be placed on a separate bus than the
passenger.
- Coach Canada operates a bus service from Cornwall
to Toronto and then on to Niagara 3 times per
day for $105.11 including taxes. Departure times
are 9:05 am (40 min. transfer in Toronto), 11:05
am (10 min. transfer in Toronto), and 3:05 pm
(1 hr. transfer in Toronto). Boxes are available
for $5 to $10 and bags are available for $10
to pack your bikes for travel and it is recommended
that you reserve a box or bag in advance. If
there is a high demand, bikes may be placed
on a separate bus than the passenger with a
shipment fee of $27. Call 613-932-9511 for more
information.
- You could get together with some other participants
and charter a bus – we have created a
forum for participants to communicate with each
other. If you want to find someone to carpool
with or to share the cost of chartering a bus,
post a thread on the forum http://www.mapmyride.com/community/groups/1141785104
or join our group on facebook,
search for Waterfront Trail. Delaney Bus Lines
operate coach and school bus charters. www.delaney.on.ca
- A friend or family member is welcome to join
in the finale party celebrations in Riviere-Beaudette
at Sam’s Place where they can pick up
riders and transport them home. Car pooling
is also an option, start a discussion on facebook
to find people to to car pool with.
- Riders can continue to Montreal which is approximately
90 km from Cornwall along La Route verte. Once
in Montreal participants can take a plane, train,
or automobile home. Should you choose this option,
be aware that you will have to carry your own
luggage or provide a personal support vehicle.
- If you want to ride more than 8 days and
want a longer adventure, you can ride home.
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How
much money should I expect to spend?
- Riders will be passing unique stores, attractions,
and entertainment venues that you may want to
explore and set aside some shopping money.
- Meals are not included and estimated daily
food costs is $35-50 per person.
- If you choose to stay in a hotel or bed and
breakfast, factor those rates into your budget.
Can
I leave my car in Niagara for the week?
- Plans are being made to ensure a place is
made available for long term parking. Should
you choose this option, you will be provided
with a numbered/logo marker for your windshield
that will identify you as a participant of the
GWTA. Long term parking at trip start is by
reservation only, please contact us at il@wrtrust.com.
Will
there be vegetarian options? My child is allergic
to peanuts, will nuts be served?
- If you have special dietary restrictions,
allergies, or requests, please contact us a
few weeks before the tour at il@wrtrust.com
so that we may help accommodate your needs.
Do not expect that each meal will have a vegetarian
option or be nut free, and the sooner you contact
us, the more likely we will be able to fulfill
your request.
Do
I have to camp?
- No, you do not have to camp. There are
hotels and Bed and Breakfast locations along
the route that would love to have you as a guest.
We recommend that you make reservations
in advance, including transportation from the
Waterfront Trail to the hotel. A list
of accommodations can be found here.
Do
I need my own camping gear?
- You will need to bring camping gear with you.
A list of suggested items can be found
in at the top of this page under “what
should I bring”
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How
do I know if I’m fit enough to participate?
- If you have never done a ride like this before
we recommend that you give yourself several
months to train for it. You should plan
on riding at least 1000 kms before starting
the tour, you will decrease your chance of injury
when you come prepared. If you are comfortable
riding 50 to 75 km in one day and can maintain
a speed of 15 km/hr or faster you should be
able to finish the tour. Check out our
recommended
training section for some ideas on
how to prepare for the ride.
- If you would like to join in the fun but are
concerned with the distance, consider the personal
vehicle support option, it’s like
a relay where one person drives and the other
rides, switching off after ½ a day, a full day,
or whenever you want.
What
is a personal support vehicle?
- If you would like to join in the fun but are
concerned with the distance, consider the
personal
vehicle support option, it’s like
a relay where one person drives and the other
rides, switching off after ½ a day, a full day,
or whenever you want.
What
if I don’t want to ride all 8 days?
- If you would like to join in the fun but are
concerned with the distance, consider the personal
vehicle support option, it’s like
a relay where one person drives and the other
rides, switching off after ½ a day, a full day,
or whenever you want.
- You are welcome to register for one or two
days of the ride. Most people surprise themselves
with just how far they can go. The scenery is
very inspiring and suggestions on how to enjoy
the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure on and
off the bike, as well as young rider friendly
routes can be found in the itineraries
section. Give it a try.
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