When’s the last time you biked from one community to the next? Few feelings beat hitting our region’s open roads or groomed trails in search of whatever lies one town over. With that in mind, Wellington County has crafted seven signature cycling routes connecting communities across Guelph and Wellington — Elora to Fergus, Harriston to Clifford, Rockwood to Guelph, and more.
Friday afternoons in the summertime are made for getting out of town: for leaving work early, hitting the open road, and – several hours later – arriving at some idyllic slice of Canadiana for a weekend of great food, cold drinks and, perhaps most importantly, time in nature with loved ones. In theory, at least. The reality tends to go a bit differently. Taking hours to pack the car. The awful traffic heading north.
WHILE THE FINE FOLKS AT GUELPH’S PARAMOUNT SPORTS SPEND MUCH OF THEIR TIME IN THE SHOP HELPING CUSTOMERS FIND THE RIGHT GEAR TO HIT THE TRAILS (IN THE SUMMER) AND SLOPES (IN THE WINTER), THEY STILL MAKE SURE TO CARVE OUT TIME EACH WEEK TO SHRED THE GNAR AT AREA TRAILS – AND FINISH UP WITH NOMNOMS AND PINTS AT LOCAL WATERING HOLES.
I’M A SUCKER FOR A BIKE SHOP. AND WHILE JUST ABOUT ANY SHOP WILL DO, SOME ARE COOLER THAN OTHERS. ENTER FLOW STATE BIKE CO – THE BRAINCHILD OF LOCAL GEARHEAD NATE LESSNICK. LOCATED AT THE MAIN INTERSECTION IN THE TINY HAMLET OF ARKELL, NEAR STARKEY HILL CONSERVATION AREA, THIS BOUTIQUE BUSINESS IS SURE TO APPEAL TO CYCLISTS AND NON-CYCLISTS ALIKE. IT’S GOT GREAT KIT AND A FULL-SERVICE MECH, OF COURSE.
‘We’ve been standing here for only three minutes,’ I exclaim to my TOQUE Partner Cai in amazement, ‘and over twenty cyclists have ridden past.’ I watch as another couple bikes cruise by – all safe from cars and trucks in a well-marked protected bike lane.
‘This sure beats our regular morning ‘zoom’ meetings, eh?,’ I grunt to my TOQUE Partner, Cai Sepulis, as we cycle up the rail trail just past Ariss. She nods in agreement and then, with a determined smile on her face, drops the hammer to catch up with her wife, Sonia, and my fiancée, Liz, who are biking together about fifty yards ahead.
It’s a Tuesday in early June. Just before noon. As our small yet mighty crew rolls into the charming hamlet of Milverton, I am ready to take a load off. ‘Not too much longer,’ remarks Taylor, our ride lead, before adding: ‘Our lunch spot’s just ahead.’ Phew.
Like any fallen creature, I’ve got a few vices. Craving Arabella’s glee-inducing B-b-burger, for instance. Or Elora Brewing’s tasty Elora Borealis Pale Ale. Lusting after super expensive camera gear. Binge-watching YouTube. Some others I’d never mention outside of therapy. And coveting bikes.
Glorious bikes.
As I pull into the small gravel parking lot that marks the trailhead of Waterloo Region’s famed Hydrocut, I note that Brent Ellis and Joanne Beattie have already arrived. Local cycling legend Andy Cox has yet to appear.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
The tightknit crew at Backpeddling in Guelph's Junction neighbourhood share their favourite rigs from the shop floor.
backpeddling.com @officialkingofbikes Backpeddling Bike...
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