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My $750 bike ride for brain health.

Fitness 2 min read Toronto

I rode in Bike for Brain Health in May 2026. I raised $750 for it. I also rode ten kilometres more than I was supposed to, because I missed my exit.

Why I did it

It was a big race I'd heard of, and I really wanted to compete in it. I wanted to see if I could do it. It's a good way to push myself.

Bike for Brain Health runs through Baycrest. I set up a fundraising page, and I raised $750 on it.

I trained for about six weeks. Normal weight training, plus a little bit more heavy cardio. That was it.

It was a set distance, 35 kilometres, one big circuit. They closed down the whole highway for it.

I thought the way back would be all downhill. It wasn't. There were just as many hills coming back as there were going out.

And the hills were extreme. Some of them went on for a very long distance.

Around kilometre four, I was questioning everything. I didn't really know what I'd set myself up for.

But most of it, I flew through. I felt very good. I didn't have to stop once. Nobody rode with me, so it was just me and the hills.

Here's where I messed up. Because the whole highway was closed, there were barriers up. And I missed the turn for the exit.

So I had to hop the barrier. Then I had to go all the way around again.

That's how 35 kilometres turned into 45. My time was about two hours and fifteen minutes, I think.

I'm very excited to go again. It's 2027 next, and I'm going to try the furthest distance they have. This time I'll watch for my exit.

Drafted and created with the help of AI.

Written in Toronto4 October, 2026 Back to all writing