8 Best Bakery-Inspired Cycling Tours

Is there anything better than the feeling of gastronomic liberty you get before or after a long bike ride? If so, I sure haven’t heard of it! In this article, we looked to established and emerging Ontario mountain biking, gravel riding and road cycling destinations and found the best local bakeries to…ahem…cater to your ride. The result is a list of great cycling and fresh baking that will leave you salivating, along with local knowledge to help you plan a bakery inspired cycling tour in Ontario. 

St. Joseph Island

Located about an hour’s drive east of Sault Ste. Marie, St. Joseph Island is rapidly emerging as a destination for road cyclists, with a mix of pastoral scenery, lush maple forests and Lake Huron coastline that make it a gem on the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Locals say as soon as you cross the Highway 548 bridge you’re on “island time.” Moments after arriving you’ll see Stubbees Beestro, which serves great meals throughout the day, along with a variety of homemade baked goods. They also make their own honey. 

A full tour around the perimeter of St. Joseph Island on Highway 548 is a 74-km day trip, with stops in the quaint communities of Richards Landing and Hilton Beach, several public swimming beaches on Lake Huron, and an optional side trek to visit Parks Canada’s Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site, which was a critical British stronghold in the War of 1812. The island’s grid-like road pattern makes it easy to shorten or add distance to your ride. St. Joseph Island is also noted for great birding, with century-old farm fields and mature hardwood forests providing the opportunity to see rare grassland species like Bobolinks as well as a variety of warblers. 

• When you’re done, stay on the water at Maria’s Cabins or Sunnyside Bed & Breakfast and dine at Whisky Rocks or The Wharf in Richards Landing
• Algoma Trad is a unique nonprofit on St. Joseph Island that hosts live concerts and music camps all summer long
• Rent bikes, get a tune up, grab last-minute gear and chat with passionate local experts at Velorution or Algoma Bicycle Company in Sault Ste. Marie

Thunder Bay

From mountain biking at Shuniah Mines to wilderness gravel riding and smooth asphalt roads, there’s an abundance of cycling in and around Thunder Bay. The city features plenty of bakeries, too. Swell Bakery is a one-woman-owned and -operated phenomenon in the heart of downtown, featuring an ever-changing menu of delights including delicious turnovers, delicately laminated croissants and danishes featuring local ingredients. It opens at nine and freshly baked items tend to sell out quickly: sip a locally roasted coffee at St. Paul’s Roastery, located next door, while you wait. 

Looking for a big ride to burn off the calories? Check out the Thunder Bay Grinder, an epic gravel race held each September. Use your favourite fitness app to download the maps and tackle some of Ontario’s best backroads cycling, with distances of 100 km or more. An excellent 100-km ride starts at the crossroads of Slate River Valley, just southwest of Thunder Bay, and zigzags on mostly gravel roads to the communities of South Gillies and Wamsley. The route contains over 700 m of ascents, descents and all-around backroad bliss. Make sure your bike is in good shape and pack a spare tube, pump and basic tools—as well as plenty of food and drinks—for this remote and rugged ride.

Cyclists can also cover distance with this 70km classic courtesy of the Thunder Bay Cycling Club, which is a challenging ride with several significant climbs.It passes close by the Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, where cyclists can stock up on award-winning gouda cheese.If that route is too long, try the shorter 25km route. 

• Stay in downtown Thunder Bay at the Superior Inn. For a great apres-cycling meal check out Caribou Restaurant; for local beverages try Sleeping Giant Brewing; and be sure to take in Thunder Bay’s rich Scandinavian culture at the iconic Hoito Restaurant, Niva’s  Restaurant or Kangas Sauna
• There are three go-to shops for bike rentals, repairs and local knowledge in Thunder Bay: Fresh Air Experience, Rollin’ Thunder and Petrie’s Cycle and Sports

Sudbury

Beard’s Coffee Bar and Bakery is located in Sudbury’s multicultural Donovan neighbourhood, featuring homemade, 100-percent vegan donuts, cookies, scones and more—along with high-octane hot drinks. All this will get you energized to tackle the Nickel City’s notorious bedrock on a mountain bike. 

It’s hard to believe the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, featuring nearly 20 km of multi-use trails, is located adjacent to downtown Sudbury. Prepare for equal parts technical and smooth-flowing trails. There are also great mountain bike trails in Sudbury’s south end at Kivi Park (with onsite rentals) and the Walden Bike Club, west of the city. Would you rather a mix of bike lanes, city parks and road riding? Check out the Tour de Sudbury, a route that takes you around scenic Ramsey Lake, starting and ending downtown—one of many urban rides in the Rainbow Routes trail network. 

• The Travelway Inn, TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Canada’s Best Value Inn all offer safe bicycle storage
• Sudbury has a wide range of dining options. Highlights include the eclectic Laughing Buddha; comfort food at La Fromagerie; and Tucos Taco Lounge for vegetarian. There are three local breweries: 46 North Brewery, Spacecraft Brewery, and Stack Brewing
• For bike sales, repair and rentals in Sudbury check out The Outside Store, Adventure365 and Sessions Ride Company

Creemore

Creemore is a charming small town with a big appeal for cyclists. Known for its rolling countryside, good eats and a friendly vibe, Creemore is a top destination for road and gravel cycling in southern Ontario. The area’s hilly routes wind past farms, maple forests and the rewards for climbs are panoramic views of the Niagara Escarpment. Finish your ride at the town’s famed bakery, the Creemore Bakery, for delicious coffee and sweets treats.

The Creemore Loop is a popular 60-km route that takes cyclists through the scenic hills of Mulmur and back into Creemore. Expect challenging climbs and thrilling descents on quiet rural roads. Rider are spoiled for choice in this souther Georgian Bay region. See Cycle Simcoe for more route inspiration.

• There’s more than one great bakery in town. Visit the cozy Bank Café for fresh pastries and espresso, or grab a hearty meal at Chez Michel after a long ride.
• For overnights, try a cute boutique bed and breakfast in the heart of town. Most accommodations are bike-friendly, with secure storage and local route maps on offer.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie recently rebranded itself as Ontario’s “Trail Town”; you don’t have to venture outside of city limits to find great cycling. But first, prepare for the day with locally roasted coffee, homemade breakfast and a huge range of baked goods (with gluten-free options), breakfast and lunch options at Feeding Your Soul Cafe, a bike-friendly eatery that’s centrally located near the city’s 25-km Hub Trail. This smooth-rolling urban path is a great way to see the city’s neighbourhoods, greenspace and commercial districts on an easy ride that’s suitable for the whole family—and serves as a gateway to longer road and gravel rides on the periphery of the city.

Mountain biking is the focal point of Trail Town. Drive 10 minutes north to the Hiawatha Highlands, home to a rapidly expanding network of trails that currently includes a whopping 60 km of single-track that rivals anything in eastern Canada or the Midwestern U.S. Check out the new Farmer Lake Trails for challenging, machine-built riding with great views and a wilderness feel; the Crystal includes fast-paced flow trails with berms and tabletops; the Red Pine is old-school, rugged and hand-built; and the Pinder is flat and easy. 

• Stay in Sault Ste. Marie at the Water Tower Inn or the Comfort Inn on the waterfront
• Enjoy apres at Northern Superior Taproom or Outspoken Brewery, and dine at Tandoori Gardans (authentic Indian), Giovanni’s (Italian) or Peace restaurants
• Velorution and Algoma Bicycle Company are your go-to bike shops in Sault Ste. Marie

Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island has a growing reputation as one of Ontario’s best places to cycle. Despite that popularity, the island’s 850 km of biking routes are far from busy. Bittersweet Tea Company in M'Chigeeng is a great place to start your ride. Besides offering plenty of hot drink options, they serve homemade baked goods like butter tarts and hello dollies, scones, muffins and more. From here you can stage long loop road bike rides to the east or west, relishing in smooth asphalt with minimal traffic. Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates is your best bet for route recommendations and more.

• Stay at the Hawberry Motel in Little Current or camp at the Manitoulin Eco-Park
• Little Current is also home to the Manitoulin Brewing Company and Loco Beanz, the island’s favourite coffee shop
•  Breakaway Sports offers bike repair and sales in Little Current

North Bay

Starting in Powassan, just south of North Bay, the Farmstand 40 is a backroads cycling route along the Great Powassan and Area Farmstand Tour. A legacy of public health measures in the Covid-19 pandemic which closed the local farmer’s market, this 37-km route visits plenty of local farms between the May long weekend and Thanksgiving. Bring your panniers to fill up with fresh produce and locally raised meat. Many vendors also sell fresh baked goods to fuel your ride to the next stop. The scenery is great, too, with a mix of rolling pastoral hills, Canadian Shield outcrops and tall pines.

• Stage your ride from the quaint Alderdale General Store and Cafe, east of Powassan and 30 km from North Bay
• North Bay itself is especially bike-friendly; highlights include Kate Pace Way on the Lake Nipissing waterfront; mountain biking on the Three Towers trail network; and road riding on the Voyageur Cycling Route
• Stay at the bike-friendly Comfort Inn Lakeshore or Best Western North Bay; and dine at The Boat, a historic Lake Nipissing passenger ferry turned lakeside restaurant and bar
• North Bay bike shops include Wheelhouse or Cycle Works

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

About an hour’s drive from Thunder Bay, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is a rare provincial park that allows cycling on designated trails. You won’t find a more picturesque and scrumptious place to start your ride than the historic Silver Islet General Store, located at the end of Highway 587, near the park boundary. Indulge in homemade pie and tea before exploring Sleeping Giant’s more than 50 km of cycling trails, which are perfect for backcountry gravel cyclists. Highlights include the gravel route to the Thunder Bay Lookout over Lake Superior; family-friendly cycling from the campground on Marie Louise Lake; and Kabeyun Trail along the Lake Superior coast to scenic Tee Harbour and secluded Lehtinen’s Bay. 

• Stay at Beyond the Giant Nature Retreat, with private cabin rentals on Lake Superior’s Black Bay 

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