Navy Bike Ride is Back Raising Funds to Help CAF Personnel, Veterans and Families

The 2025 Navy Bike Ride, presented by BMO, is just around the corner, and this year’s event features a lot of new and exciting opportunities to cycle, run or walk with your Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

The Navy Bike Ride is made possible thanks to the generous support of incredible sponsors, including presenting sponsor Bank of Montreal, as well as The Royal Canadian Legion, Veterans Affairs Canada, Lockheed Martin, Thales, Commissionaires, Irving, Canadian Tire Corporation, Seaspan, WestJet, Logistik Unicorp, and Inside Edge.

With in-person events across the country, a greater variety of virtual activities and challenges, and two chances to take part in outdoor spin classes on or beside RCN ships, the 2025 NBR provides many opportunities to connect with your RCN, support the military community and get active.

Whether you are participating in person or virtually, you can make a difference in the lives of Canadian Armed Forces members, Veterans and their families by fundraising for the Navalis Foundation (formerly known as the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund), Support Our Troops, and Soldier On. Once you register, you can personalise your fundraising page and engage your community in supporting the members of our RCN, naval veterans and their families as they navigate the unique circumstances of military life.

In-person events from coast to coast

In-person NBR events are planned for three different cities, each offering their own unique distance options.

On the West Coast, CFB Esquimalt is hosting an NBR event Saturday, March 31. There will be a free kids’ bike rodeo (for anyone aged 12 and younger) at 10 a.m., as well as an 18K ride and a 3 Québec City 6K ride at 10:30 a.m.

RCN Headquarters is hosting the Ottawa NBR event Saturday, June 14 at Hog’s Back Park. This year’s event includes a 5K run/walk at 8:30 a.m., followed by a bike ride at 10 a.m. From 10 a.m. to noon, you can ride as many loops of the closed route as you would like to. New this year, a family ride will be held from noon to 1 p.m., giving families a chance to cycle together on a closed course where speed will be limited to keep everyone safe.

NBR moves to the East Coast for the final in-person event of 2025. CFB Halifax will host an NBR event Saturday, June 21 at the Shearwater Fitness, Sports and Recreation Centre. All events start at 10 a.m., and there will be a 6K ride, a 15K ride, a 30K ride and a 37K ride.

NBR is excited to be partnering with Halifax International Fleet Week for this year’s event.

New Navy spin classes

An exciting new offering this June is a series of Navy spin classes in Halifax and Québec City.  Spin bikes are an important part of Navy physical training, as spinning can be done while on a ship anywhere – and this is your chance to experience a spin class in the most Navy way possible!

In Québec City, you will have the chance to take a 60-minute instructor-led spin class directly onboard the newest commissioned ship in the RCN, the HMCS Frédérick Rolette, outside on the flight deck. Classes will be held Saturday, June 14 at 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Wharf 22 of the Port of Québec.

In Halifax, 60-minute instructor-led spin classes will be offered Friday, June 20 at the Tall Ships Quay at the Halifax Waterfront. You will have the chance to ride beside HMCS Margaret Brooke in classes at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Learn more about the new Navy spin classes here.

New virtual options

Can’t make it to the in-person event? Don’t worry, you can still be part of the fun virtually!

There are many different virtual options you can complete between June 1 and June 30, and this year, the virtual event has expanded to include a wider range of activities.

You can sign up for the NBR Virtual Challenge, an open-ended challenge for the month of June with minimum or maximum distance, or if you want a single-ride activity, you can register for the 80K Battle of the Atlantic Ride, which honours the 80^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic in 2025.

 For those looking to increase their distance, there is the 100K Admiral’s Challenge, offering you a chance to cycle a total of 100 kilometres throughout the month of June.

New this year, the 520K Protecteur Challenge celebrates the RCN’s new Protecteur-class ships and gives you a chance to cycle 520 kilometres in total throughout June. Anyone who signs up for this challenge will receive a unique HMCS Protecteur-themed cycling jersey as part of their registration.

Another new offering this year is the virtual 5K Run/Walk, giving anyone who would like to support the RCN but doesn’t cycle a chance to take part in the Navy Bike Ride.

To learn more about this year’s Navy Bike Ride and register, visit navybikeride.ca.