Cyclists riding on a scenic trail in Ontario

Brantford · Ontario · Canada

Powered by People,
Not Petrol.

HPTA Brant unites riders, builders, and dreamers who believe the most liberating machine ever invented still runs on human energy.

Upcoming Events Our Story
31Years Active
240+Active Members
18Annual Events
900kmMapped Routes

What We Do

A Community Built on
Human Horsepower

From velomobiles to cargo trikes, recumbents to hand cycles — if human effort moves it, we celebrate it. HPTA Brant is Brant County's home for human-powered vehicle enthusiasts.

Group ride through Brantford trails

Group Rides & Touring

Weekly social rides, multi-day touring expeditions, and moonlit night rides through the Grand River valley. Open to all ages and abilities.

Explore Routes →
Velomobile racing event

HPV Racing & Events

The legendary Niagara Velomobile Happening draws competitors from across Canada. Speed-oriented events for those who want to push human-powered performance to the limit.

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Workshop and community building

Workshops & Learning

Monthly shop nights, frame-building clinics, aerodynamics workshops, and hands-on maintenance sessions. Learn from builders with decades of experience.

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Upcoming

What's On This Season

June 14, 2025
Grand River Trail Ride
A 45 km social ride following the Grand River Trails network from Brantford to Paris, Ontario. Lunch stop included.
July 19–20, 2025
Niagara Velomobile Happening
Our flagship annual gathering — time trials, drag races, and the legendary velomobile show at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
August 3, 2025
Recumbent Beginner Day
First time on a recumbent? This guided half-day session at Mohawk Park teaches you everything you need to ride confidently.
Scenic cycling route in Brant County Ontario

Our Territory

Riding the Heart of Ontario

Brant County is extraordinary cycling country — the Grand River meanders through rolling farmland, connecting Brantford's urban trails to the quiet limestone backroads of Six Nations and Paris.

HPTA Brant has spent three decades mapping, advocating for, and riding every corner of this landscape. Our route library covers over 900 kilometres of tested terrain.

Browse All Routes
About HPTA Brant – Our History & Mission

Est. 1993 · Brantford, Ontario

A Movement, Not Just a Club

For over three decades, HPTA Brant has been the organizing heart of human-powered transportation advocacy in Brant County — building community one pedal stroke at a time.

HPTA Brant members at a group ride

Who We Are

The Human Powered Transportation Association of Brant (HPTA Brant) was founded in 1993 by a group of recumbent cyclists and velomobile builders who gathered in a Brantford garage to share their obsession with efficient, human-powered machines. What began as informal Saturday morning rides grew into one of Ontario's most respected HPV clubs.

Today, our 240+ members range from competitive racers chasing land speed records to weekend tourers exploring the Grand River valley. We welcome anyone who moves through the world without a combustion engine — cyclists, trike riders, velomobile pilots, hand cyclists, and human-powered watercraft enthusiasts alike.

Beyond recreation, HPTA Brant actively lobbies municipal government for better cycling infrastructure, funds youth education programs, and partners with Wilfrid Laurier University's engineering department on human-powered vehicle design projects.

Our Mission

To promote, celebrate, and advance human-powered transportation in Brant County through community building, education, advocacy, and world-class events that showcase the joy and ingenuity of moving under human power.

Our People

Meet the Leadership Team

Greg Polanski - President

Greg Polanski

President
Sandra Tuomi - Events Director

Sandra Tuomi

Events Director
Raj Mehta - Technical Chair

Raj Mehta

Technical Chair
Cathy Arsenault - Youth Programs

Cathy Arsenault

Youth Programs

2025 Event Calendar

From casual Sunday spins to competitive multi-day rallies — there's something on every month of the calendar for HPTA Brant members.

June14

Grand River Trail Ride

45 km social ride from Brantford along the Grand River Trails to Paris and back. Flat terrain, suitable for all skill levels. Lunch stop in Paris at noon. Bring your own water and snacks for the first half.

Group Ride
Register
July19

Niagara Velomobile Happening 2025

Two-day flagship event. Day 1: time trials and sprints at Niagara Falls aerodrome. Day 2: touring ride along the Niagara Parkway with the famous velomobile showcase. Camping available on-site.

Race / Showcase
Register
Aug3

Recumbent Beginners' Day

A half-day guided introduction to recumbent cycling held at Mohawk Park, Brantford. Club bikes available to borrow. Learn to mount, balance, and corner confidently with coaching from experienced riders.

Workshop
Register
Sep6

Six Nations Loop Century Ride

160 km gran fondo through Brant and Haldimand Counties, looping through the Six Nations reserve and along the Caledonia back roads. Scenic, challenging, and fully supported with four rest stops.

Group Ride
Register
Oct18

HPV Frame Building Workshop

Weekend intensive at our Brantford workshop space. Learn steel tube joining, lugged construction, and dropout alignment from master framebuilder Terry Wills. Max 8 participants. Materials included.

Workshop
Register
Nov8

HPTA Brant Annual General Meeting

Annual meeting at Brantford City Hall. Review of the year's achievements, election of 2026 officers, budget approval, and social reception. All members welcome and encouraged to attend.

Member Event
RSVP

Human Powered Vehicles

Every Shape of Human Motion

The HPV world spans from speed-optimized carbon missiles to practical everyday cargo trikes. Discover the full spectrum of human-powered engineering.

Various human powered vehicles on display

Vehicle Guide

Know Your HPVs

Whether you're looking for speed, practicality, comfort, or adventure — there's a human-powered machine designed for exactly what you need.

Recumbent bicycle

Recumbent Bicycles

Two-wheeled recumbents position the rider in a laid-back seat, dramatically reducing aerodynamic drag and eliminating saddle pressure. Touring recumbents are HPTA Brant's most popular vehicle category.

Low position · 2-wheel · Touring / Sport
Velomobile

Velomobiles

Fully faired recumbent trikes with aerodynamic bodywork. Capable of 50+ km/h on flat ground with moderate effort. Our Niagara Velomobile Happening is Canada's premier velomobile gathering.

Fully faired · 3-wheel · Speed-optimized
Recumbent trike

Recumbent Trikes (HPT)

Three-wheeled recumbents offer unmatched stability — no need to unclip at stops. Ideal for riders with balance concerns, disabilities, or those carrying heavy cargo. Available in tadpole and delta configurations.

Stable · 3-wheel · Accessible
Cargo bike

Cargo & Utility Cycles

Long-tail cargo bikes, front-loading bakfiets, and cargo trikes designed to replace car trips. Members use cargo cycles for grocery runs, school pickups, and even moving furniture around Brantford.

Utility · High capacity · Urban
Hand cycle

Hand Cycles

Upper-body powered vehicles for riders with lower limb disabilities. HPTA Brant maintains a fleet of loaner hand cycles and actively works with the Grand River Health accessibility program.

Arm-powered · Adaptive · Inclusive
HPV racing shell

Speed Machines & Racing HPVs

Fully streamlined, low-slung racing vehicles optimized purely for maximum speed. Human-powered speed records now exceed 140 km/h. HPTA Brant's technical team helps members design and test speed machines.

Streamlined · Competitive · Record-seeking
Cycling trails in Brant County Ontario

900 km of Brant
County to Explore

Every route in our library has been personally ridden, graded, and GPS-mapped by HPTA Brant members. Updated seasonally.

Grand River Trail Easy

Grand River Heritage Trail

The backbone of Brantford cycling — 32 km of paved multi-use trail running from Brantford south to Caledonia. Flat, family-friendly, and spectacular in autumn.

32 km·Paved·~2h
Paris to Brantford route Easy

Brantford to Paris Loop

A 48 km loop following the river trail to the Victorian village of Paris, returning via quiet County Road 18. Perfect for a half-day outing with a coffee stop at the Paris Bakery.

48 km·Mixed·~3h
Six Nations reserve route Moderate

Six Nations Perimeter Ride

A 78 km loop circumnavigating the Six Nations of the Grand River territory through scenic agricultural land. Rolling terrain with one significant climb past Ohsweken.

78 km·Road·~4.5h
Backroads of Norfolk County Moderate

Norfolk Tobacco Roads

95 km through the distinctive flat tobacco belt of Norfolk County. Endless sight lines, minimal traffic, and iconic red tobacco kilns dot the landscape from Delhi to Simcoe.

95 km·Road·~5.5h
Niagara Escarpment cycling Challenging

Dundas Valley Escarpment Ride

A 110 km beast from Brantford to the Dundas Valley Conservation Area and back, ascending the Niagara Escarpment twice. Stunning views reward the 1,200 m of climbing.

110 km·Road·~7h
Night ride in Brantford Easy

Mohawk Park Night Loop

A 22 km lit night ride starting from Mohawk Park, looping through Brantford's river trail network. Our most popular summer event. Lights required; loaners available at the start.

22 km·Paved·~1.5h

Membership

Become Part of Something That Moves

HPTA Brant membership connects you to 240+ riders, builders, and advocates who share your passion for human-powered transportation. Join us for the 2025 season.

✓ Unlimited group ride access
✓ Event discounts
✓ Route library access
✓ Monthly newsletter
HPTA Brant members at a group event

Choose Your Level

Membership Plans

Supporter
For the occasional rider
$45/year
  • Monthly newsletter
  • Group ride access (6/year)
  • Online route library
  • 10% event discount
Join as Supporter
Most Popular
Full Member
For the serious enthusiast
$85/year
  • Everything in Supporter
  • Unlimited group rides
  • Workshop access (all sessions)
  • 20% event discount
  • Loaner bike access
  • Voting rights at AGM
Join as Full Member
Family
For households of up to 5
$130/year
  • Everything in Full Member
  • Up to 5 household members
  • Youth programming access
  • 30% event discount
  • Priority event registration
  • Annual jersey (1 per family)
Join as Family

News & Updates

Stories, reports, and dispatches from the HPTA Brant community.

2025 Niagara Velomobile Happening recap Event Report

Record Turnout at the 2024 Niagara Velomobile Happening

This year's Niagara Velomobile Happening drew 84 registered vehicles and over 200 spectators to the Niagara aerodrome — the largest gathering in the event's 18-year history. A new course record was set by Kitchener's Murray Clarkson in his custom Quattro velomobile, clocking 58.4 km/h over the 400m flying sprint. Read the full report from event director Sandra Tuomi.

Sandra Tuomi · July 28, 2024 · 6 min read
Grand River Trail expansion
Advocacy

City of Brantford Approves Grand River Trail Extension

After three years of advocacy by HPTA Brant, Brantford City Council approved the $2.1M extension of the Grand River Heritage Trail south to Caledonia Road.

June 15, 2025
Youth cycling program
Programs

Youth HPV Program Graduates First Class of 12 Builders

Twelve young people aged 14–17 completed HPTA Brant's first-ever Youth Frame Building Program, each constructing a functional recumbent to keep.

May 3, 2025
Wilfrid Laurier partnership
Partnership

Wilfrid Laurier Engineering Students Join Annual Design Challenge

For the fourth consecutive year, WLU mechanical engineering students competed in our HPV design challenge, with winning designs eligible for fabrication funding.

April 10, 2025

Get in Touch

Whether you're new to human-powered vehicles, looking to register for an event, or want to volunteer with HPTA Brant — we'd love to hear from you.

📍

Address

HPTA Brant c/o Brantford Cycling Club
344 Elgin St, Brantford, ON N3S 7P5

✉️

Email

info@hptabrant.ca
events@hptabrant.ca

📅

Monthly Meetings

Second Thursday of each month, 7:00 PM
Brantford Public Library — Main Branch

Map of Brantford Ontario area

Send Us a Message

We typically respond within 2 business days. For urgent event matters, use the events email above.