It's Pedal Season: Get on Your Bikes & Ride!

We did it. The green is finally starting to appear! I am so excited to kick off another summer at The Forks.

One of my favourite parts of summer is that everything somehow feels easier. Minimal layers needed! I can hop on my bike jacket-less and socks-less and cruise around town with the warm breeze in my hair and sunshine on my face. I love getting around town feeling relaxed and energized at the same time. It makes me so happy.

For the past two years I’ve been fortunate to share all kinds of stories about biking and The Forks with you through this blog. Here’s the thing about biking: biking is for just about everyone. No matter what your fitness level is - you can ride a bike. It’s movement AND it’s enjoyable. It’s my hope to show you that there are so many ways to integrate a bike riding into your lifestyle in meaningful ways. It’s not just exercise - it’s living life!

As we get ready for another season of summer fun times at The Forks, I want to help you find your inspiration to dust off that banana seat and pedal on down to The Forks for some hangouts. I’ve rounded up my top five biking blog posts to share with you again to help you find your bike riding mojo this summer:

  

1.     Date idea: bike ride and a picnic

Hanging out with someone new? Suggest a bike ride and a picnic at The Forks. Blow their mind with your fun easy going and vivacious attitude. Long time partner: this will certainly break the boring pattern of dinner and a movie.

2. Family hang out! A family bike ride to The Forks

It’s about the journey. Take the long route. Feel the sunshine. Be the active lifestyle example for your kids. All roads lead to The Forks. Bonus: The Forks has everything you need when you arrive.

3. Commute! Biking with a purpose

Make your commute an active commute. Not sure how to do it? There’s an app for that! Read all about the Go Manitoba commuter buddy app and you can ride to The Forks/downtown with the support of an experienced cyclist. Maybe even make a new active friend too?

4. Bikeless? Old bike need a tune up?

The Wrench is at The Forks all summer to help you with all your biking needs! I am still riding around town in the cruiser I picked up from them. They have a great selection of vintage bikes for sale that have been restored AND they even taught me how to maintain my bike! Bike people really are the nicest.

5. Hang time + active time + eating/drinking time

Bike riding with a gang of pals is seriously the best. You feel like a kid again! Gather your buds and head on down to The Forks for a delicious lunch and hang out this summer. It’s so fun.

  

What do you think? Who knew a bike ride can be so much more than a bike ride? It’s a lifestyle! Still scared because you haven’t done it in a while? Well, you know the saying “it’s just like riding a bike…” Well, it is! You can do it!

See you out there this summer! Can’t wait to see all your happy biking faces at The Forks! P.S. Free parking for cyclists! ;)

And here's a few maps to get you started on your route - it's basically under 40 minutes to pedal to The Forks from any corner of the city. 

Lindsay Somers is a Lifestyle Health Coach in Winnipeg. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Other posts that might interest you: 

• Endless Choices With Flights at The Forks Market
• Picking Something Fresh at The Public Orchard
• A New Year: 3 Ways to Feel Great & Be Active in 2018
• Market Eats: Fries of The Forks Market

This Weekend at The Forks: Free Fun for the Whole Fam

Winter is coming to its end, so it's time to get out there and enjoy the season that often defines our fine city of Winterpeg. Here are a whole slate of activities that are available to you and the rest of your family for free this weekend including all the Arctic Glacier Winter Park programming:

1. Sleigh rides

Sunday

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Outside The Forks Market

Thanks to Duran Equipment, you can see The Forks by horse-drawn carriage. Hop on, and don't forget your camera because the horses are adorable and The Forks full of people on a Sunday in winter is a pretty magical sight.

2. Bannock making & storytelling

Sunday
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Teepee in Busker's Lookout

Join Barbara and Clarence Nepinak in the teepee to hear the stories of the land passed down through generations of Indigenous peoples while making a traditional food staple – bannock – plus it's super delicious.


3. Tobogganing

All the time
Festival Field

Grab your best sled and head to the hill in Festival Field for some fast, free fun.


4. Skating

All the time
The Canopy Rink, On-land trails, Red River Mutual Trail

This is a Forks staple, and if you haven't been skating yet, your time is running out, friend! Bring your own or rent a pair from Iceland Skate Rentals in The Market and skate a trail that has already broken a record this year – the longest Red River Mutual Trail we've ever had at 10km – and is about to break another – if the trail can stay open until February 28, it will be the longest on record at 69 days open!


5. Soul on Ice

Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Canopy Rink

Get your soul on under The Canopy for a perfect mix of dancing and skating. Sure, you may not be as elegant as Tessa and Scott from Team Canada's figure skating team, but hey, who really is? Bounce and glide to your favourite tunes with DJ Co-op and DJ Hunnicut.


6. Ice Castles

Okay this one isn't exactly free, but part of it is! Enter the code FREEKID18, and you will receive a free kid's pass when you purchase an adult pass to go along with it. This ice marvel won't last forever, and now is the time to check it out if you haven't already.


Other posts that might interest you:

• All booked up: McNally Robinson opens at The Forks
• Three skate tips for beginners
• Weekend Wrap-Up: Photos You Shared That Made Us Go 😍

Weekend Wrap-Up: Photos You Shared That Made Us Go 😍

Winnipeg! You sure shared your photo skills with us this weekend, and we LOVE it!

After a long stretch of colder weather, which allowed us to extend the Red River Mutual Trail from the Queen Elizabeth Way all the way to Osborne, we got a little taste of warmer weather – perfect for skating, visiting the Ice Castles, and all the other outdoor fun we love so much.

Here are a small selection of our favourite photos you tagged us in on Instagram this weekend:

A post shared by Jen (@canadian101) on Jan 7, 2018 at 12:25pm PST

A post shared by CBC Manitoba (@cbcmanitoba) on Jan 7, 2018 at 9:30pm PST

A post shared by l i n d s a y s o m e r s (@lindsayhsomers) on Jan 6, 2018 at 7:53am PST

A post shared by @wpgphotog on Jan 7, 2018 at 11:28am PST

A post shared by Oda (@urfabmama) on Jan 7, 2018 at 12:29pm PST

A post shared by Georgia Fox (@georgiafoxphotography) on Jan 7, 2018 at 6:47am PST

A post shared by Shayna Wiwierski (@shayna_apopofcolour) on Jan 6, 2018 at 2:41pm PST

A post shared by Sean Kolla (@seankolla) on Jan 7, 2018 at 9:32pm PST

A post shared by Amanda Park (@xo_amandapark) on Jan 6, 2018 at 7:52pm PST

A post shared by Lucy Vuong (@lucyrvuong) on Jan 6, 2018 at 11:44am PST

A post shared by Ｈｅａｔｈｅｒ (@heathers.images) on Jan 6, 2018 at 10:58am PST

A post shared by Everyday Winnipeg (@everydaywinnipeg) on Jan 7, 2018 at 11:39am PST

A post shared by Kim (@kjkorzkie) on Jan 7, 2018 at 12:35pm PST

Keep killing it, Winnipeg. Don't forget to tag @theforkswinnipeg in your Insta posts, so we can see all the photo greatness you guys are putting out!


Others posts that might interest you:

• A New Year: 3 Ways to Feel Great & Be Active in 2018
• Market News: PASSERO and corto
• How to Crokicurl

Tunes of the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Canada Games Festival: Ontario & Quebec

The 2017 Canada Summer Games are quickly rolling into town, and it's not only the sports we're looking forward to but also the 11 days of free music and fireworks for the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Canada Games Festival.

Summer doesn't feel complete without spending at least a couple days hanging out with your friends at a music festival singing along and dancing until the sun sets. Sometimes those festivals aren't cheap, but this one is as affordable as you can get– free!

This only covers two of the 11 days of music, so check out the artists playing and stay tuned for many MANY more.


Ontario Day
July 29

Attica Riots
5:55 pm




Kardinal Offishall
6:55 pm




Skydiggers
8:05 pm




Serena Ryder
9:20 pm





Quebec Day
July 30

Justin Lacroix
5:00 pm




Made in Kouglistan Street Circus
5:55 pm




Nicolas Pellerin et les Grands Hurleurs
6:55 pm




Bobby Bazini
8:05 pm




Coeur de Pirate
9:20 pm

Full Festival Schedule

Other posts that might interest you:

• Work Hard, Play Hard: The Free Canada Games Festival You Just Can’t Miss
• Why don’t you: go on a family bike ride to the Forks?
• Endless Choices With the Flights of The Forks Market

Must-Sees at Aboriginal Day Live

The lineup for APTN Aboriginal Day Live has us counting the days until the artists take the stage. As of now, that number is five. FIVE days until Nelly Furtado, Daniel ROA, Neon Dreams, Asham Stompers, Nelson Tagoona, and Burt-Project 1, and more have us swaying and singing along on Wednesday, June 21, for the largest celebration of National Aboriginal Day in Canada's history. 

Aboriginal Day Live is a celebration of Indigenous art, dance, music, and culture. On National Aboriginal Day, we gather together to celebrate the outstanding achievements and rich culture of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada by being in great company, eating great food, and singing and dancing together. 

In these next five days, hit play on these tunes and prep yourself for all the great artists taking the Aboriginal Day Live stage. Then on Wednesday, June 21, come celebrate with us!

Neon Dreams

Nelly Furtado

Burnt-Project 1

Renee Lamoureux

Full schedule:

Sunrise to Sunset Sunrise Ceremony and Sacred Fire Oodena Circle

11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Aboriginal Day Live Pow Wow in partnership with Manito Ahbee Festival
Skateboard Competition in partnership with SK8 Skates

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Round Dance
Main Stage

12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
APTN Kids Zone
Language, Storytelling and Traditional Games
Artisans, Community Resources, Partners and Sponsor Displays

PERFORMERS

PRE-SHOW: 6:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Main Stage (webcast available)

Skyler Sonia

Eidse Chuck

Copenace Group

Renée Lamoureux

CONCERT: 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Main Stage (webcast available)

BURNT-PROJECT 1

DANIEL ROA

NELLY FURTADO

NELSON TAGOONA

NEON DREAMS

ASHAM STOMPERS

Co-Hosts: JANELLE WOOKEY & KYLE NOBESS

Other posts that might interest you:

• 4 Treats You Have to Try at Neon Cone This Summer
• Oodena Celebration Circle: Observing the Stars
• Oral History Tour: Storytelling Through the Generations

Get on your fat bikes + ride!

Winter/spring shoulder season is a tough one in Winnipeg. We can have a blizzard on Monday and patio beers on Friday. It’s always a challenge to wait out the last blasts of winter to transition to spring, but I found a surprisingly fun thing to do that works no matter what the bananas March weather brings: fat biking.

Have you seen these bikes around town? As you might guess, they have comically large tires—quite impossible to miss if you’ve ever seen them. People have been cruising on them all winter along the Red River Mutual Trail. When I found out they are available to rent from White Pine Bicycle Company in the Johnston Terminal (and it's pretty affordable - only $25 for up to 5 hours), I had to check it out!

A fat tire bike is shockingly stable and secure. It’s one of the easiest bikes you’ll ever ride. I was immediately at ease, maneuvering safely and easily through snow, ice, mud, and puddles. I felt like I was riding the tank of bikes—the tires gripped the ground like Velcro. Riding this bike was akin to that satisfying indestructible spring feeling of walking through puddles in rubber boots times 100. So fun.

There are many trails to explore on a bike when you start at The Forks. We rode along the Assiniboine River and hit up some single-track trails behind the Granite Curling Club. Then we looped around on my favourite 5K active transportation loop connecting the Exchange District, downtown, The Forks, and St Boniface. The are many trails to explore that connect to The Forks, and White Pine Bicycle Company carries various maps to help you plan your route. 

Dressing for this season is always tricky. Layers are always recommended, and on warmer, milder days, bring water protection! Our ride was wet and messy, exactly how spring should be!

Nothing completes a good bike ride quite like a refreshing cold beer. Lucky for us, we had one of those unusual warm spring days, which meant patio beers! It was a great afternoon spent exploring the city in a brand new, active way. This is how you do spring in Winnipeg.


Lindsay Somers is a Lifestyle Health Coach in Winnipeg. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter. All photos by Mark Reimer