I’m excited to share a personal goal completion, to cycle from Toronto to Niagara Falls (170 km in one day).
Ever since I’ve been cycling long rides in the past 5 years, I’ve had a goal in mind to cycle all the way to Niagara. This past July I finally did it!!!
Building up to 170 km
It’s been a few years building up to this, from doing longer and longer rides every time. It first started with going to Burlington, which was around 75 km, then to Hamilton, which was 125 km.
Last year, 125 km was the furthest I had gone. I realized there were three limiting factors other than pure mental and physical endurance:
- Weather
- Average km/hour – should be >20
- Leaving early to maximize the sunlight
This year I was determined to get it done. I bought a new road bike and coordinated with my friend to find the perfect weekend to make it all the way.
The ride
It was a long ride leaving early in the morning, around 7:30 and we got to the Burlington beach into Hamilton by noon. We had to wait for the bridge to open and we got a good lunch there. The grind was getting to St. Catharines on the service roads.
From St. Catharines to Niagara-on-the-Lake, it was the toughest ride for me. It was long and grueling and getting some ice cream at Cows was a much needed stop.
The part I was looking forward to the most was the scenic ride along the Niagara River from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls. I was mentally and physically exhausted and I needed to take a few breaks along the way. I didn’t want to stop and call it quits.
Arriving at Niagara Falls
Arriving at Niagara Falls on my bicycle was a surreal feeling. After a quick photo stop, there was a final push to the GO Train station 10 mins away. We left at 7:40 pm and were able to make the 8 pm train.
All in all it was a long but satisfying day. It was a long three-hour train ride home and I wouldn’t trade the feeling of accomplishing my goal for anything else.
Now I’m thinking about what’s next for my cycling journey…