Robyn Hughes

Name:
Robyn Hughes

Ministry:
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

What’s your day job?
Senior Manager, Business Improvement and Innovation Branch, Social Assistance Programs Division

What’s your past biking experience?

B4UW 2014 Circle the Park was my very first long distance ride and it inspired a real love of riding and exploring Ontario.

I’m a ride leader with Toronto’s largest women’s cycling group, Saddle Sisters of High Park. I love to bikepack (like backpacking, but with a bicycle) and led two “intro to bikepacking” weekends last year. 30 women strapped a bunch of camping gear on their bikes and rode out for a magical night under the stars.

What’s your inspiration for this ride?

Exploring and seeing Ontario by bike is one of my favourite things to do. I’ve never been north of Sudbury and am excited to spend time riding through the north while raising money for a great cause. Being able to see the impact of those dollars on the local agencies, food banks and early years programs really connects you to how much these supports are needed.

How are you preparing for B4UW?

I’m super stoked to cover an enormous chunk of Ontario this year by bike!

I’ll be putting lots of kilometres and hills under my belt, mostly on dirt roads and trails. I’m planning to race two 800km bikepacking events: the Butter Tart 700 in Southwestern Ontario and the Log Driver’s Waltz in the Ottawa Valley and Outaouais regions.

It’ll be a change to ride on so much pavement after exploring the dirt roads and ATV tracks of southwestern and eastern Ontario.

What do you think will be your greatest challenge on the ride?

10 straight days in the saddle! If anything is going to limit me, it’s going to be my rear end!

What do you like to do other than riding your bike?

Clean my bike.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I ate my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich only two years ago. I love them now for fuelling my long bike rides!