Riding the Sarnia Lambton Loop with Ontario By Bike
Ontario By Bike’s 162 kilometre Sarnia Lambton Loop offers a diversity of sights and experiences that are sure to make any Ontario cyclists (and photographers) happy.
While I’ve always felt there’s a beautiful solitude in riding long distances on my own, there’s no doubt in my mind, especially now, that there’s an even greater beauty in riding with a group that has a collective goal. You may be separated, and perhaps riding at your own pace, and the wind may even be a bit too loud to carry on a conversation, but there’s an unmistakable feeling of togetherness.
A quick smile or smirk with the rider beside you can encourage you both to set off down the road as fast as can be, or a conversation can slow you right down, as you sit happily in the back of the group to get to know each other a little better. You eat lunch or share snacks, you pat backs, and share stories. Especially for an overnight trip like I did with Ontario By Bike, your fellow cyclists almost feel like your adopted family for a couple of days.
There’s a tone set with Ontario By Bike that everyone can ride at their own pace, but we’ll all get to the same spot in the end, and no one will be judged for how long it takes to get there. If you’re a cyclist concerned that you’re “not fast enough” or “won’t fit in,” I’m confident in saying those fears won’t be realized. From the top down, it felt as if OBB (Ontario By Bike) was all about support, inclusion, and safety.
Joan Paulin, an absolutely lovely fellow cyclist from my group who I don’t think I ever saw without a smile, summed it up well when saying, “you are able to ride at a pace that works for you – no pelotons here!; and the camaraderie of the group over the two/three day trip is outstanding.”
What’s Ontario By Bike All About?
As they say on their website, part of their goal is to simply help Ontario cyclists “stop at bicycle friendly places to eat, visit & sleep.”
On the one hand, it’s about arming Ontario cyclists with the information they need to explore this province by saddle. That means that they’re providing and creating maps and itineraries, listing well known and little known cycling routes, mentioning certified bicycle friendly businesses en route (everything from wineries to rentals), and so much more.
On the other hand, it’s also about helping businesses, especially as cycle tourism continues to expand and gain interest across the province. There are currently over 1500 businesses that Ontario By Bike has certified as bicycle friendly! And, by the way, businesses can register free of charge for this.
They’re focused on the rider, but also where they’re riding, and how cycling can make both Ontario’s citizens as well as regional business ecosystems healthier.
Just weeks ago, I worked with Lennox & Addington Tourism to cover a bike route that they’ve developed that includes local businesses, and it’s been an absolute hit. They even have a ride that takes place yearly called the “Discover L&A Ride.” My point being that cycle tourism in Ontario isn’t just a fad, it’s here to stay, and Ontario By Bike is helping to lead the charge - and it’s making a difference.
As an avid cyclist, and born and raised Ontarian, I certainly aim to do my part as well. And that’s why I was thrilled to be a part of this campaign and to team up with OBB, because I firmly believe in their vision.
In my humble opinion, that vision is at it clearest on the tours that they run - where they’re bringing cyclists from all over the province to complete routes like the Sarnia Lambton Loop, the Niagara Circle Route South, the 1000 Islands River Ride, and the Cataraqui Kingston Cruiser. They’ve got a brilliantly managed page of Ontario cycling tours (which include some of their own listed above) which you can find here, and I’d definitely recommend you sign up for their newsletter if you want to know more about their tours, as well as cycling in Ontario in general.
That being said, in this article, I want to largely focus on my experience on the Sarnia Lambton Route. Generally speaking, they sum it up rather nicely on their site when they say that that they take care of the rest, and you just need to “bring your bike and ride!”
The Sarnia Lambton Loop
The total distance of the Sarnia Lambton Loop is 162km, but I’d urge you not to be intimidated by that.
As Joan said so perfectly to me, “OBB rides are a great way to introduce yourself to longer distance rides (broken up each day by lunch and rest stops) and/or multiple-day trips. Route planning, locating rest areas, lunch stops and overnight accommodations are all taken care of.”
She actually mentioned to me that when she first signed up, she felt unsure of whether she’d be able to complete it, but went on to say that “by the end of the weekend, I was hooked. I’ve been on seven rides over the past three years and signed up for another two this season!”
This route in particular is a looped route that aims to have some scenic waterfront riding along the St. Clair River and Lake Huron, but also a fair bit of flat riding that takes you right through the heart of Ontario’s historic oil country in towns like Petrolia and Oil Springs. I appreciated the ride because the first day was quite different from the second, and it led to a diversity of photography and memories. I’ll get into more depth about each respective day below, of course.
The experience level required from a trip like this is moderate. Elevation isn’t a problem at all, but there are some segments where you’ll be sharing the road with cars, as well as some gravel roads and trails. For the most part though, it’s paved roads and smooth sailing.
If you’d like to have a more clear mental picture of the loop in full, here’s the full route tagged on Ride with GPS.
Day 1: Dresden to Sarnia - 78km
We gleefully arrived in the parking lot of Lambton Kent Composite School, promptly made sure our spandex was of the appropriate tightness, stretched a touch, and were ready to take off.
However, not before we were supplied with some info from Chatham-Kent Tourism, as well as some delicious baked goods and coffee from Dresden, Ontario’s own, Union Block Bakery. I’ll actually have an article coming out shortly on what to do in Dresden, and they’ll be very much included. They’re top-notch!
The beginning of the ride includes an initial jaunt along country roads where, in truth, I was mostly just celebrating the fact that I was out of the city and onto my saddle. You’re primarily just taking some deep breaths around the farmlands of Ontario’s southwest, and getting to know some of the fellow participants.
That being said, I’d be remiss not to mention the historic site, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which wasn’t open for our trip, but will be soon (if it isn’t already). I will certainly make efforts to head back and learn more about what is a very important story. I know that one gentleman that I met on the trip, Bo, had actually read Uncle Tom’s Cabin before the trip so that he could appreciate that history (and the trip) in greater depth.
For the photographers and GoPro enthusiasts out there, be sure to be ready to snap some footage right after Wallaceburg, as that’s when you’ll finally set eyes on the St. Clair River.
You’ll ride on this path for quite sometime, and it’s a stunning stretch.
Before you know it, you’ll be stopping for lunch in Brander Park, where some hearty bagged lunches await. With an appetite like mine (don’t judge, I’m about 6’2 and 200 pounds!), I always get nervous that the portions won’t be large enough, but I never had that problem on this trip. They were very aware of the fact that we’d be burning calories left, right, and centre.
After lunch, a small group of us who were a touch quicker set out for Sarnia. It was Nima, Ali, Mike, Bo, and I vs. the road. We kept a pace of a little over 25 kilometres per hour, and stopped here and there for photos along the gorgeous St. Clair River.
At one point, Mike popped a tire, and Bo and I stayed back to help him out. However, he clearly did not need help, as I swear he changed it faster than even an F1 pit crew could. I promised I’d give him some kudos in the article, so here we are. Well done, Mike. I want you around should I ever pop a tire!
For the record, I should note that if you do ever run into trouble, you’ll always have the number of the Ontario By Bike support service vehicle, so if Mike isn’t nearby, you’ll still be just fine.
We whipped past Mooretown Centennial Park, then hopped onto the Bluewater Bike Path, and before we knew it, we were at the hotel in Sarnia. The scenery certainly got more industrial as we headed towards the city, but I found I was hungry for any and all new sights, to be honest (particularly after what the last year and a half was like).
I should mention that I adore Sarnia’s Bluewater Bike Path along the water. By the way, if you’re looking to explore Sarnia, feel free to check my in-depth article on Sarnia and Ontario’s Blue Coast!
We checked into the Days Inn Harbourfront, and then all had a moment to catch our breath and shower. Shortly thereafter, Ontario By Bike organized a little outdoor meet-up in the back area of the hotel. Thankfully, Big Family Brewing Company was right across the street, so I grabbed a six pack and then headed back to the hang out area. It was magnificent to just have the chance to meet some new people over a beer. I’m quite sure my smile could have been seen from space.
It was a genuine pleasure to grab six beers, then proceed to give most away as I got to know some new faces a little better.
Later, I went to nearby Waggs Steak & Seafood Restaurant with Nima and Ali. We enjoyed some wine on the patio, as well some great food. I had the Seafood Linguine, which I’d strongly recommend. It had green onions, red peppers, tomatoes, jumbo shrimp, and a healthy dose of mussels in a creamy blush sauce. I know that both Ali and Nima enjoyed their meal as well.
Before going back to the hotel, we headed over to McDonald’s to get some ice cream. We noticed it was closed but, like men who had become kids again for a brief moment, we walked through the drive-thru and got three cones. It was just plain fun.
Day 2 - Sarnia to Dresden - 84km
We left the hotel and headed to the Howard Watson Trail, which was as pleasant as can be. You’re not on the road, so you won’t be going quite as quickly (for those who try to keep their speeds at a certain level on Strava), but it’s worth it to be in nature for a bit. The trail runs roughly from Sarnia to Camlachie.
Then, it was time to take in the sights of Lake Huron, and I think the whole group stopped to get a photo at Brights Grove Beach (the feature image of the article up at the top if you’re keen to see it). My gosh is it ever beautiful down there. With the sun hitting the water the way it was, Lake Huron looked the epitome of blue.
I’ll be totally up front in saying that I really did not know the depth of the oil history in the area we rode into next. Take, for example, the fact that the site of the first oil well in North America was on our route right in aptly named Oil Springs, Ontario. Before that, we stopped in Bridgeview Park for lunch, right after rolling through Petrolia. Petrolia is a neat little Ontario town, and all the street signs allude to its oil past. You’ve got Oil Street and Tank Street and Eureka Boulevard and all kinds of other names.
The heat got pretty intense as we were riding later in the day, so we took a breather at the Oil Museum of Canada. The indoor section is closed, but there’s still plenty of outdoor exhibits to appreciate (and shade, thankfully), including that first oil well I was referencing before. For those with a keen fascination for Ontario’s history, I think you’ll relish the opportunity to visit the museum and the region at large.
Once again, I think Joan might summed things up better than I ever could when she noted to me that with Ontario By Bike trips, “you ride places in Ontario that you might not otherwise think to visit, and then realize that you want to come back!”
A few of us decided to bomb the last 20km with what energy we had left, and we really went for it, especially Ali and I. There’s something remarkable about finding fuel you didn’t know you had when you thought the tank was already empty. Petroleum metaphors aside, it was a heck of a way to finish things off.
That’s a Wrap on This Ontario By Bike Tour
We arrived back in the parking lot where it all began just a couple of days before. Most of us found discreet ways to change out of our skintight spandex biking attire, and into regular old clothes, largely so that we could all drive home a touch more comfortably. I laughed to myself when it occurred to me that it felt like we were all retiring our superhero outfits after achieving some remarkable feats in the days prior.
What I’m struck by is what I started this whole article with - that while we all tracked our own individual stats, the completion of the trip felt almost entirely like a collective win. Something we did together.
That, to me, is the power of an Ontario By Bike tour. You can access their site and get all the resources you need to do things your own way, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But, you can also sign up to meaningfully explore a new region with new people, and do a loop in which you’ll leave from your start point as strangers, but you’ll arrive at the finish line as friends.
I want to humbly thank Ontario By Bike for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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