For an unplanned training ride a lot of thought has actually been put into it. Since I started thinking about biking long distances there have been three major rides that I’ve considered. One was Toronto to Montreal. Another was riding 250k to my grandmother’s. The latest has been to ride around Lake Simcoe. Technically I suppose I’ve done it by going to Ben’s cottage and back, but there was a day of rest between. I wanted to do it either in one shot, or over two consecutive days.

Since then I’ve spent weekend afternoons when I’m not riding, trying to figure out the best way around it. There are some gorgeous parts between Barrie and Orillia, and along the south shore, but connecting them can be a little messy.

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Flying over the handlebars can be fun in the right circumstances—crashing into a snowbank, or landing in a bush with a water-filled backpack to break your fall. It’s not so fun when you catch a root down a hill and tumble shoulder first on top of a rock. It’s like getting hit in the chest with a hammer. Luckily I was able to ride away with only a slightly bloody shoulder and knee and a sore chest—maybe a bruised rib.

It wasn’t the best way to prepare for Sunday’s 166k road ride with the TBN, and it from the outside it wouldn’t seem to get much better after that.

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Each weekend when I started cycling I would try to visit as many trails reviewed in my copy of a guide to Ontario’s trails. I completely dismissed the Don Valley set of trails. Never even bothered to visit. Too short, too busy, and too many people. Now that I live within 15 minutes, it makes the perfect good morning ride.

Here’s my daily hour-long loop. Check out the Google Earth option, it looks awesome!

don loop