There are 10 Cycle Stratford curated road cycling routes (no gravel) outside Stratford city limits that are included below. There are links to view the full version on Ride with GPS and another link to send the route to your phone’s interactive GPS mapping app. Enjoy the ride! See cycle safety info below.
Also, check out our City Road and County Gravel cycle routes or visit our Cycling page.
Cycle Safety Notes
What to wear
Cyclists should wear clothing that will not catch in the wheels, chain or other moving parts of the bicycle. Wear comfortable, layered clothing that breathes, yet is wind resistant. Don’t forget your water and sunscreen.
Wear an approved helmet for safety. Choose a helmet that fits correctly and look for a CSA, Snell, ANSI, ASTM British Standard or Australian Standard sticker that shows that the helmet meets legislated standards.
According to the Highway Traffic Act 104, cyclists 17 years of age and younger must wear an approved helmet or risk getting a $75 fine.
Night riding
To make cyclists visible to motorists at night, wear light-coloured clothing or reflective fabric that glows in the dark. Cyclists must use bicycle lights from a half-hour before sunset to a half-hour after sunrise. Use a white front light and a rear red light or reflector. Under the Highway Traffic Act 62, there is a $30 fine for improper bicycle lighting.
Riding in the rain
When cycling in the rain, increase stopping distance and wear fluorescent clothing to make up for the decreased visibility. Do not ride through puddles, which may hide pot holes, glass or other road hazards. It is also a good idea to stay away from the center of the road where oil slicks form.
Headwinds
When riding into a headwind, you can begin by raising your cadence a bit so that you’re better able to respond to sudden gusts of wind. If you’re below 80 rpm, you might find that you come to a stop if the wind blows suddenly but if you’ve got 90 RPM above, you should be able to respond pretty well. You want to get a flat back, get your elbows and your knees tucked in, drop your head, and you’ll go much faster for exactly the same power output. Alternatively, you may want to try and avoid headwinds altogether. Firstly, it’s a good idea to look at a wind forecast before you head out on your ride to plan your route so it traverses the headwind and leaves you coming back with a direct tailwind. Secondly, you should try and seek out roads that give you a bit of shelter either by trees or hedges. If you’re riding in a group, or even just the two of you, you can take turns being in the front of the headwind, to get a break. A wind resource to refer to: windy.com.
These map routes should be evaluated by each individual based on their level of experience and comfort in mixed traffic, weather, speeds, road grades, and road obstacles such as construction or road conditions. The organizations participating in this map make no warranty of accuracy or completeness, or the condition of any route or facility listed. Users of the cycle map are responsible for any risks associated with its use and their own safety. Cyclists must comply with the Highway Traffic Act and use their own safety equipment. In case of emergency, call 9-1-1.