Every year two of Toronto's main highways are shut down for an annual charity bike ride for the Heart and Stroke foundation. As my old condo on Bathurst was right near the start line at the CNE ground I had participated annually while I lived there.

The route starts at the CNE grounds downtown from where you can cycle along the Gardiner/DVP to Bloor St and back down for a 25km run. The 50km run continues up to York Mills and the DVP. While the 75km run loops back up from Bloor St again to York Mills and finally back down to the CNE grounds.

I participated from 2005-9 in the 50km ride and raised over $2500. In 2010 I was busy moving overseas so this is my first time back since 2009 to participate again.

Every year I'm not able to get much practice beforehand as the weather is still cold. This year we had perfect sunny weather that weekend and a forecast high of 26 degrees.

I left home about 6.45am for the 7.30 early start and it was very chilly. As I cycled along the open highways the winds were howling and bitterly cold this early.

Originally I had thought of turning back at Bloor St and only doing the 25km run as I live further from the start at the CNE grounds but continued going as the 25km route is so short its almost not worth doing unless with young children.

After maybe 10am it warmed enough for me to take my **********. The northbound route along the DVP has some inclines so is more of a workout.

Coming back is much easier and almost downhill for half the DVP route so easy to glide along and recover your strength. I had found somebody's keys halfway so had to return it to lost and found.

They announced this year there were 14,000 riders and over $6 million raised. I completed the 50km in my normal 3 hours and raised $215 this year.

One of the things I was curious to see was the amount of new condos that had gone up in the three years while I was away, particularly in my old neighbourhood.

The summer bike riding season has officially started now the weather is finally in the 20s. I expect to do more exploring of other parts of the city.

See also some of my other biking adventures

Budapest Biking (Hungary)
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/27/1379795268/tpod.html

Biking Ankor Wat (Cambodia)
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/19/1328610050/tpod.html

Biking Sun Moon Lake (Taiwan)
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/24/1360093943/tpod.html

Biking Ganghwa Island (Korea)
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/1/1336934645/tpod.html

Biking Gyeongju (Korea)
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-e ntries/londone7/1/1369688935/tpod.html