Saddle Up for Scenic Cycling: Registration for 2024 Farm Fresh Cycle Tours Opens

Celebrate Bike Month by Registering!

June 25, 2024—Toronto. The Waterfront Regeneration Trust, in partnership with the Greenbelt Foundation, CAA and Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association, announces the return of the popular Farm Fresh Cycle Tours this September.

Do you love Ontario in the fall – the crisp tang of a freshly picked apple, the clear skies, the slight nip in the air? Have you heard that Ontario’s Greenbelt is gloriously picturesque, with idyllic views of Lake Ontario? Do you enjoy discovering local businesses and friendly people and learning more about the history of our province?

Plan to join us on September 28 and 29 for the 2024 Farm Fresh Cycle Tours. Choose from Saturday’s 48-km Hambur Loop, Sunday’s 43-km Rural on the Ridge Loop, or both!

Together, the weekend of riding will showcase parts of the iconic 475 km Greenbelt Route and the 3,600 km Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

“We are thrilled to bring cyclists of all levels together for two fully-supported bike tours in the Hamilton area this September. Cyclists can expect two days on routes that feature a winning combination of fine views, local produce, beaches, and craft beverages”, says Jo Sharland, Tour Director, Waterfront Regeneration Trust

We’ve partnered with local Greenbelt and Great Lakes Waterfront Trail businesses including Collective Arts Brewing and  Ridge Road Estate Winery to showcase the finest local seasonal produce as well as cultural and heritage attractions at our Farm Fresh Rest stops,” added Sharland.

“By joining the farm fresh tours, cyclists not only support local businesses but also deepen their connection with Ontario’s Greenbelt and Lake Ontario waterfront. It’s a chance to explore, to learn, and to savour the best of what our communities have to offer”, says Ed McDonnell, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation.

On Saturday 28th, the Hambur Loop ride will begin and end close to Hamilton’s waterfront and includes some of Burlington and Hamilton’s best sights and views with tantalizing stops at breweries and botanical gardens. On Sunday 29th, the Rural on the Ridge Loop will guide us along the top of the Niagara Escarpment on a flat route, which starts and ends at Ridge Road Estate Winery and features part of the off-road Dofasco Trail. This is apple country, and rest stops will feature fresh local fruit. Want a shorter ride? This route has a 20 km option, which makes it even more attractive for younger or less experienced riders.

“We look forward to welcoming Farm Fresh riders to Hamilton and Burlington for this unique opportunity to experience laid-back rural routes featuring agricultural stories, as well as locally-sourced and crafted stops. We are a premium destination for cycle enthusiasts, featuring an endless menu of cycle-friendly small businesses”, says Bev Scott.

CAA is proud to be once again supporting the Farm Fresh Tours hosted by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and the Greenbelt Foundation. Rides like this inspire many to get on their bikes and explore the communities around them. Cycling safety remains a key priority for us, and our work with the Trust is one of the many ways CAA continues to support travelling by two wheels across Ontario,” says Michael Stewart, Community Relations Consultant, CAA South Central Ontario.

Click here to learn more and register for Farm Fresh Tours.

Click here to see a video about the Great Lakes to Greenbelt Watershed Cycling Network