This Sunday was the annual Heart and Stroke Foundation Ride for Heart along the Gardiner and DVP highways. There are 25/50/75km options. I have participated since 2005 six times in the 50km option.

Last year I did register and fund raise but it was raining heavy on event day so I had to miss out. People did comment when I fundraised again this year if I was going or not!

The start line is at the CNE. Since I live along the Gardiner by High Park I tried to just go on the highway rather than going all the way into the CNE to the start line and back out again.

It had been hot sunny weather all week but Sunday was forecast for rain. Overnight I could hear the rain but it was forecast to clear out in the morning.

I left home 7.20am, the roads were still wet but no rain, just muggy with the heat. As I'm biking 11km to work each way daily I was sort of in training. A lot of the inclines didnt feel as bad as I remembered them.

Along the way they have rest stations for refreshments. Normally they have cut fruits and many of the sponsors are handing out free samples. This year there was none, only apples, bananas, and water. The garbage signs even said to throw out orange peels but there were no oranges at any of the rest stations.

Another disappointment was the fundraising prizes. Typically I raise around $250 - $500. In the past for different fundraising increments I've got mini binoculars, first aid kit, odometer, helmet, and bike lock. I have t-shirts from four years previously.

Now they do not award any prizes. The only thing you get is a t-shirt and only if you raise a minimum of One Thousand Dollars !!!!

I realize this is a charity event and its not just about giving prizes back for fundraising. But it seems the overall attitude even with cutting back on refreshments has taken a lot of the fun out of the event.

Returning south on the DVP is a lot easier as there are a lot of declines where you can just roll. It's always faster coming back.

This year on the Gardiner they have also added a mini marathon with a delayed start after the early morning start for the cyclists leaves the outbound lanes open.

There are nice shots of a deserted downtown.

The finish is by the Jameson Ave exit back to the CNE. I live further along the highway so didnt want to cycle into the CNE and back home wasting time and energy. I just kept cycling along the highway since it was closed.

I didnt realize this was the 75km route and passes right by the foot of my building by the South Kingsway exit so I just went home that way. Next year I'll just use this route.

It was 59.05 kms door to door and took me 3 hr 39 mins stopping for rests and pics.

To see some of my other biking adventures and the 2014 event click the below link

2014 - 50km Ride for Heart (Toronto)
http://www.travelpod.com/trav el-blog-entries/londone7/28/1401739817/ tpod.html

Budapest Biking (Hungary)
http://blog.travelpod.com/tra vel-blog-entries/londone7/27/1379795268 /tpod.html

Biking Ankor Wat (Cambodia)
http://blog.travelpod.com/tra vel-blog-entries/londone7/19/1328610050 /tpod.html

Biking Sun Moon Lake (Taiwan)
http://blog.travelpod.com/tra vel-blog-entries/londone7/24/1360093943 /tpod.html

Biking Ganghwa Island (Korea)
http://blog.travelpod.com/tra vel-blog-entries/londone7/1/1336934645/ tpod.html

Biking Gyeongju (Korea)
http://blog.travelpod.com/tra vel-blog-entries/londone7/1/1369688935/ tpod.html

Biking Seonyudo Island (Korea)
http://www.travelpod.com/trav el-blog-entries/londone7/1/1348493001/t pod.html

Biking Mt Palgong - Songnimsa Temple (Korea)
http://www.travelpod.com/trav el-blog-entries/londone7/1/1342987463/t pod.html

Biking the Geumhogang River (Korea)
http://www.travelpod.com/trav el-blog-entries/londone7/1/1347207943/t pod.html

Niagara Biking (Canada)
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/28/1438715634/tpod.html

Merida Easter Sunday (Mexico)
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/33/1461009068/tpod.html