Welcome to the new online home for Newmarket Cycles! My name is Mathew and I’m excited to be involved in Newmarket’s very first community cycling hub. I have learned a lot during my 10+ years in the cycling industry, and I can’t wait to spend the summer sharing my knowledge with anyone who wants to learn.
I’ve lived in Newmarket for a decade and in that time, I have enjoyed riding through the quiet neighborhoods, the Tom Taylor/Nokiidaa bike trail, as well as small, wooded areas that are scattered throughout the Town. I’ve also spent a lot of time commuting by bike to Aurora and Keswick along busier routes like Leslie Street and Bayview Avenue.
Cycling has a lot of great benefits on paper, but the real reason I ride is for the intangible feeling of freedom and excitement I get when I am travelling on two wheels. A good bike ride makes me feel simultaneously humbled and empowered; I get the exhilaration of speed, the satisfaction of clearing a tough section of trail, and a connection to the terrain and environment that makes me appreciate things I often take for granted. I have no doubt that you can find your own reason to love riding, too.
As the program coordinator I’ll be present at all Newmarket Cycles events. At those events, I will be happy to answer any questions you might have about biking, so don’t be shy! Some of the events I will be leading this year include:
- Workshops to discuss topics like the knowledge and equipment you need to safely commute by bike and basic skills for maintaining your bike.
- Do-It-Yourself bike repair events where I’ll help you learn how to fix your own bike with Newmarket Cycles’s tools.
- Group rides to practice running errands by bike, or to go on fun and casual rides around town. Don’t have a bike? We can lend you one!
- Public bike booths around town where I will help you perform simple repairs on your bike so you can safely enjoy your rides. The volunteers and I will also give away cycling maps, and more.
All Newmarket Cycles events and programs are free and geared towards helping you welcome biking into your life, even if you don’t own a bicycle.
Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to find out what we’re doing this year! It’s going to be a lot of fun, so spread the word. I can’t wait to see you at Newmarket Cycles events this year!