A New Chapter for Cycling at Trail Hub
At Trail Hub, we have always believed the best cycling events should feel bigger than a single start line. They should bring people together, create real energy on site, and reflect the full spirit of the riding community. That is exactly what Bike Fest is designed to do. On Sunday, July 5, we are bringing together riders, racers, brands, and spectators for a full day shaped by racing, riding, conversation, and the kind of atmosphere that keeps people here long after their ride is done. Set against our direct access to Durham Forest and the surrounding gravel road network, Bike Fest is our way of creating a cycling event that feels connected, dynamic, and built for the community.
Two Disciplines, One Shared Energy
At the heart of Bike Fest are two distinct but complementary experiences: the Gravel Fondo and the MTB Enduro. Each brings a different rhythm to the day, and together they create something that feels broader, more exciting, and more reflective of where cycling is heading. The Gravel Fondo leans into endurance, scenery, and exploration. The Enduro brings technical riding, race-day focus, and the intensity of timed stages. One invites riders to settle into the landscape over distance. The other asks them to stay sharp and committed through changing terrain. Bringing both together in one place is what makes Bike Fest feel so special to us.
The Enduro Season Starts Here
On the mountain bike side, Bike Fest will host the opening round of the 2026 Ontario Enduro Series, making Trail Hub the starting point for one of the province’s key enduro series. Our course ventures beyond the property and into Durham Forest, using some of the region’s most notable trails to create a race experience built around timed stages, pedal transitions, technical terrain, and flowing descents. It is the kind of format that brings real race-day momentum to the property while also showcasing the depth and quality of riding that exists here in Durham Region.
The Gravel Fondo Is Built Around the Rider Experience
The Gravel Fondo explores the rolling gravel roads and rural scenery surrounding Trail Hub, beginning and ending right here at the venue. Led by Vito Barbara, the route is being shaped with rider experience at the forefront, with careful attention to course design, flow, and the kind of day that feels memorable from the first pedal stroke to the final return. With a 50 km short course and a 100 to 110 km long course, the Gravel Fondo is designed to offer more than mileage alone. It is a scenic, well-paced, and thoughtfully executed riding experience for those chasing distance, riding with friends, or simply looking for a strong day out on some of the best gravel roads in the region.
A Festival Built Around Real Interaction
What excites us most about Bike Fest is that it has been designed to go beyond competition. At the center of the day is the Festival & Expo Village, where riders, spectators, brands, and partners gather throughout the event. The village will feature cycling brands, vendor activations, product showcases, bike demos, food and beverage, and relaxed social spaces that give people a reason to stay, connect, and enjoy the atmosphere. For us, that part matters just as much as what happens on course, because the strongest events are the ones that create room for conversation, discovery, and genuine rider interaction.
Lowering the Barrier for Brands to Participate
We have also taken a thoughtful approach to vendor and brand participation. Bike Fest offers complimentary vendor space to brands that participate as co-marketing partners. In exchange, those partners help promote the event through social media, newsletters, tagging, and rider-facing awareness. We see that as a more collaborative way to build something meaningful, because it reduces barriers to entry, encourages stronger participation, and helps shape Bike Fest as a true meeting point between industry and community rather than just another vendor row. Want to join us as a vendor? Click here to fill out our survey.
Building Something That Lasts
For us, the long-term opportunity behind Bike Fest is not simply to host a successful one-day event. It is to help strengthen cycling culture in Ontario through something meaningful, repeatable, and worth returning to. We want Bike Fest to be the kind of event that brings gravel riders, mountain bikers, racers, spectators, brands, and local cycling energy into one shared experience, with room for competition, exploration, conversation, and connection. In that sense, Bike Fest is about more than what happens this July. It is about building the kind of cycling community we want to keep growing here at Trail Hub.
Join Us at Bike Fest
We are incredibly excited to bring something new to the cycling community through Bike Fest at Trail Hub. Our goal is to create an event that feels energizing, well-rounded, and genuinely worth being part of, whether you are coming to race, ride, spectate, or connect with others who share a love for the sport. We hope to see riders, brands, clubs, and supporters from across Ontario here on July 5 as we bring this vision to life together. To learn more about registration, categories, and fees, visit our Race Roster page.
About the Author
Trail Hub is your premier destination for adventure in the Greater Toronto Area. Situated in the Durham Region, we are trailside to more than 240 km of trails perfect for biking, hiking, disc golf, and skiing. Our chalet offers farm-to-table dining, breathtaking vistas, and memorable events such as corporate gatherings and weddings. Immerse yourself in the nature and vibrant community at Trail Hub.
Explore. Experience. Connect.