MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I may have an opportunity to move over to Toronto for work for a period of time (years rather than months). I've been regularly for work up until now, but only for 3-4 days at a time, so have no real feel for the place. Can anyone offer any opinion on what it's like?
The main question is obviously - Is there biking there? Local stuff? Stuff to travel to?
I currently live near the Peak, & bike 2-3 times a week both local & all around the UK / Alps etc. Is that worth giving up?
I'm not keen at the moment (west coast - you bet!) but am keeping an open mind if anyone can offer some ideas.
I was out there for a couple of work trips a 10 years ago
IIRC there is not a lot of mtb in the area, Aurora in the 'burbs alledgedly had some but little else
a lot of the near national parks ban mtb's (or did then)
I would google for local bike clubs and email them
Thanks - that is kind of what I thought. If only I could convince work that Whistler was an option!
also very cold in winter, so some part of the year cycling impractical
having said that still lots to see and do, you just need to become more "canadian"
just remember it's not the UK, if you are single and the opportunity is a good one I wouldn't turn it down just for the different cycling/ outdoor activities
on the minus side the wife got the scare of her life when a "bear warning" got put through the letter box when I was at work
just drink bottled/ boiled water
I went for a holiday there last summer and took my bike with me. There seemed to be quite a few places to ride(Hardwood Hills, Copeland Forest and a few others that I can't remember the name of), they even have some lift assisted riding(Blue Mountain). Unfortunately Canada is a little like a mini US in that they drive everywhere. On the plus side, crime is lower and the people very friendly. As always, it helps to have a local show you around. Canadians are very in to outdoorsy stuff so there is always a thriving scene. Hope this helps.
I liverd outside Toronto for a year over 2004, did really like it, it is far to urban for my liking.
There are trails following along the river North out of town these are very seasonal, it is frowned upon (or was when I was there) to ride them in the wet. There are also a few nice little areas close to a couple of the closer ski hills - I cant remember their names, the trails are more cross country than anything else, all short climbs and decents.
Been to Toronto many many times and even went to school there for a while. Brilliant place but not too much great terrain in terms of the Peaks. Having said that there's still loads of mtbers there. Toronto has loads of ravines and a big and well maintained cycle network. Although the recent mayor is a confirmed cyclist hater. Worth going for a try and maybe you could switch to roadie for a bit, although the huge streetcar (tram) network means there are loads of tracks in the roads so be careful on skinny tyres. Summertime is great, esp round queen st east around the Beaches. And Canadian cottage country is brilliant on summer weekends, unlike anything we have here and a must if you've never tried it.
The drinking water is just as safe as here btw.
I currently live in Toronto; moved out in August from London. So far I love it; it's hot in summer, snowy in winter, and the people do like a British accent.
At the moment I'm skiing most weekends; biking's not really practical with the weather, but it's still pretty cool.
It's not cheap living here, but overall I reckon it's worth it, and would recommend it, unless you have somewhere you'd rather live insted for a few years...
The drinking water is just as safe as here btw.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkerton_Tragedy
I also have to point out the the intake for Toronto's main water treatment plant is a mile away from the discharge pipe for the nuclear reactor
Canadian water networks are sized for fire protection not water quality, water quality sampling was done by flushing a main for 20m mins and then taking a sample. (in the UK is a random address and done at your kitchen sink). When I was there there was no network model, no-one could tell me the age of water in the pipes
in "cottage country" the water well is usually adjacent to the septic tank, be careful after heavy rain 😉
also very cold in winter, so some part of the year cycling impractical
Not to Canadians it isn't! 😉
It's a shop, but you would do well to contact the Toronto branch of [url= http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp ]Mountain Equipment Co-op[/url], as they should have dedicated MTBers in-shop who will be more than happy to tell you about local conditions. I certainly always found them helpful whatever the outdoor pursuit I was asking about.
To be honest, they'll probably feel a bit indignant at people thinking that the Greater Toronto Area has nothing to offer MTBers.
Big n daft, Been there nearly 20 times and must have spent well over 3 years there over the years, not once have I or the wife and kids had any issues. Cottage country is of course different as it isn't on the water infrastructure. All cottage water is bought at the store.
I lived in the Beaches for a couple of years. Which is a great place to take up running...
I hardly rode my bike in the time I was there, but I didnt mind as Toronto is a great city to live in. Also, winter can be pretty brutal, so a gym membership is a must, unless you ski/snowboard.
There's some stuff that's a drive away such as Hartwood Hills and Blue Mountain. In Toronto, there are the Don Valley trails with a few miles of singletrack that will keep you busy for an hour or two.