2013 MS Bike photos are up!

Relive all the excitement of the 2013 MS Bike! Check out our Flickr page to view all the event photos. 

Thank you for gearing up to end MS!

Cycle into Fall

This past Sunday marked the first day of fall. As the cool autumn breeze begins to blow and leaves transform into beautiful colours, the fall season is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the scenic outdoors.

Along with the beginning of a season full of fun and festive activities, the fall season also marks an important opportunity to kick off your personal fitness goals. Whether you aim to improve your overall health and fitness levels, begin to prepare for next year’s MS Bike or are a beginner cyclist, now is the time to start! 

Why not set aside 20 minutes a day to go for a relaxing ride outdoors? Grab a friend or family member, or load up your favorite tunes on your IPod and get ready to cycle into fall!

For some quick tips on choosing the right bike to begin your active cycling routine, check out this short Health Smarts video by fitness expert Vonda Wright. http://bit.ly/1aLuBWP.

Staying Motivated to Cycle Throughout the Fall

As the days get shorter and the temperature gets cooler, many of us often struggle to keep the momentum of summer cycling up through the fall. In order to prepare for the cooler months and stay motivated to ride, consider the following fall cycling suggestions. 

• Invest in some cool weather cycling gear to stay warm and dry – Consider purchasing a wind and waterproof cycling jacket, long sleeved moisture wicking undergarments and cycling gloves to keep your core and fingers warm during your ride.
•  Focus on shorter more challenging rides – With shorter winter days approaching, concentrate on going for shorter, more intense rides by incorporating high intensity interval cycling or choosing more intense uphill routes. 
• Change up your ride – Altering your daily ride to include a new scenic route, a family or friend, or even forming a cycling group in your neighborhood could add some exciting new elements to your ride. 
• Replace one ride a week for another indoor fitness activity – To escape the cooler weather while maintaining your fitness routine, participate in an indoor spin, yoga or weight training class once a week. These activities help to strengthen your body and core, keeping you healthy and fit all year round. 
• Set new cycling goals for the coming year – Choose an event you would like to participate in next year and mark it down in your calendar. Perhaps you would like to take part in two MS Bike events next summer? To keep you motivated to stay fit and keep cycling over the fall and winter months, set smaller goals you would like to achieve each month in preparation for the big event.

To find more great fall cycling tips from womenscycling.ca, visit: http://bit.ly/18UdXAK.

The 2013 MS Bike has reached the finish line in Ontario!

On September 8th, MS Bike completed its final tour of the season in Toronto. Once again this year, we had a very successful season! We are ecstatic to report that more than 3500 cyclists raised over $2.6 million in support of those affected by MS. These results would not be possible without the hard work and support from all of our dedicated organizers, volunteers and participants who joined together to help in the fight to end MS.

We want to thank everyone involved for making this year’s MS Bike an unforgettable one. We look forward to seeing you in 2014!

We would love to hear about your MS Bike experience! Please feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page.

MS Bike Tour – Toronto a great success!

 “I am extremely grateful for the funding that has been awarded to me to pursue [MS] research.  The financial support will enable me to further contribute to our understanding of this disease and I truly believe that the results of this work will potentiate identifying new effective treatments for patients suffering from MS.” - Dr. Coral-Ann Lewis, an MS Society postdoctoral fellowship recipient from The University of British Columbia

This past weekend, 275 participants cycled through west Toronto to raise money for those affected by MS. Cyclists raised an amazing $120, 000!

With wonderful weather and smiling faces, MS Bike – Toronto was a great way to wrap up the 2013 MS Bike season! Thank you to all the dedicated participants, enthusiastic supporters and hard-working volunteers, whom we couldn’t have done it without. See you at MS Bike in 2014!