|
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 paniers.
It is also recommended that you bring chamois
creme.
- 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 (this option is pending for 2009 - stay
tuned for updates):
The Bike Train runs from Toronto to Niagara
Falls. From the Niagara Falls 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 il@wrtrist.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.
-
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!
Can
kids participate in the GWTA?
- Yes. kids (under 16) are definitely welcome,
but must be accompanied by a guardian or responsible
adult, on a bike. Parents and/or Guardians must
accompany their children in the support shuttle.
Parents are not permitted to leave their child
in the care of a volunteer. Volunteers are responsible
for group safety and may have to stop to deal
with various issues along the route. Children
should know the rules of the road and know how
to ride in traffic, with both other cyclists
and vehicles. We recommend Canbike courses for
new riders.
Are
meals included?
- Meals
will NOT be included in the
registration fee. Communities will host breakfasts/lunches/dinners
and snack stops and you can expect to budget
about $35 per day for food. 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.
| Back
to top |
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.
We encourage you to post a note on facebook
to communicate with other riders and find people
to travel with.
- There is only 1 train per day from Cornwall
to Toronto on which you can check a bicycle.
That is Train #57 which departs 7 days a week,
leaving Cornwall at 10:59 am arriving into Toronto
at 3:17 pm.- http://www.viarail.ca/.
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 contact Ian at il@wrtrust.com
to make alternate arrangements. Please note
that you will need to make your own arrangements
to get to the station. Veteran's Blue Line Taxi
in Cornwall has one mini-van in their fleet
- (613) 932-7311.
1A– 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/
1B- – 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 4 times per
day for $110.67 including taxes. Departure times
are 9:05 am, 11:05 am, 3:05 pm 1:30 am. Bags
are available for $10 to pack your bikes for
travel. 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,
join our group on facebook,
and mapmyride.com
search for Waterfront Trail, and Great Waterfront
Trail Adventure respectively.
- 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
or mapmyride.com
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.
| Back
to top |
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 a vehicle at the ending or beginning town?
- Yes, there will be options available to help
facilitate long term parking in Niagara-on-the-Lake
and in Cornwall at the end of the ride. Information
will be sent out in participant emails as the
details are confirmed
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. Throughout the event we will be
spending the evenings in towns where we will
have the opportunity to access local restaurants
and vendors who comply with special dietary
needs.
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”
| Back
to top |
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.
Will
I need a passport to travel from the US?
- On June 1, 2009 all U.S. and Canadian citizens
who are 16 and older traveling between the U.S.
and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America,
the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including
ferries), will be required to present a valid
passport or other alternative documents as determined
by the Department of Homeland Security. U.S.
and Canadian citizens who are 15 years old or
younger will still be allowed to travel with
just a copy of their birth certificate, as will
teens between the age of 16-18 if they are part
of an adult supervised school, religious, cultural
or athletic group. (from US Customs & Border
protection website)
| Back
to top |
What
time can I start biking in the morning?
- Designated times for the GWTA will be based
on the days ride, generally leaving after breakfast
around 7:00- 8:00am when support vehicles will
be on the route. We recommend that no biker
start out before sunrise or finish after 6 p.m.
Will
we encounter much traffic on the route?
- The Waterfront Trail is a combination of designated
bike path, bike lane, and country roads. We
cannot close roads in most cases, but we do
work with all of the communities involved to
establish awareness of road conditions and temporary
signage where necessary. There are a few busier
sections, but for the most part we are riding
in rural areas. As a rider you should always
be aware of your surroundings, and stay far
right.
Why
does the ride always go from west to east?
- Headwinds are gruelling for riders, and after
we turn around the Lake, we tend to have the
prevailing westerly winds at our backs. Another
factor in riding from west to east is to avoid
riding into the mid afternoon sun when riders
are most tired.
How
are the overnight towns selected? And how is the
route selected?
- Each year the GWTA will try to alternate overnight
locations, lunch and various rest stops along
the route to incorporate different communities.
With over 41 communities incorporated along
the Waterfront Trail, there is an abundance
of historical towns, scenic waterfront views
and incredible hospitality to experience. In
year two we have introduced two new overnight
locations (Port Hope and Trenton), and included
a few new towns as stops along the way. The
primary goals are fun and safety. Can we get
250 plus riders and their support crews from
point A to point B safely on a route that is
off-road/on country roads? Can each of the smaller
towns support camping and meal options for our
group? Each partner along the route is chosen
for these reasons, and for the energy, hospitality
and support that they bring!
| Back
to top |
|
