How To Cycle Across Canada
Keep it Simple
Reference Film : Cycling Across Canada Solo at 22 - The Greatest Trail : m
My FAQ Video :
Navigation
Keep it Simple
Within any city limit: Google Maps > Cycling Directions.
Outside City limits: Google Maps > Driving Directions > turn on ‘avoid highways’
Or… If you’re old school just grab a good o’l paper map and follow less busy routes!
http://bikingacrosscanada.ca
There are a number of different Fb groups great for details on conditions of roads and sundries.
For Canada: Trans Canadian Trail which is a mix of shared roads with cars and also bike paths… make sure you explore it virtually on the website map and google maps before embarking on it!
Timmy’s google maps if you’re curious
Shelter
Keep it Simple
Wild camping
Warmshowers.com
Couchsurfing.com
Knocking on people’s doors and asking if you can stay in their yard.
Definitely Wild Camp. and if you get caught just say sorry. Welcome to Canada.
There are like 5 guns in all of Canada and nobody's going to shoot you with them.
Food and such
Keep it Simple
Food: Fresh foods/Whole Foods all the way!!! I bought a bunch of random ingredients to last me 3 days or so at a time. Water I refill every day at certain lakes and mostly gas stations.
I did a rough calculation that I would burn 8k-10k calories cycling around 100km daily. Maybe I’m wrong but whatever… a dietician made me a plan to eat 2.5k calories a day…. Needless to say i completely ignored that and just ate as much as i could all the time.
Finance
Keep it Simple
Camping: Free… Wild Camp.
Food: depends how picky you are. You can survive on ramen or eat AAA steaks every day. I focused on nutrient RICH foods.
Gear: You can spend $100K on titanium toothbrushes and carbon fiber sunglasses or just go with what you can afford and have a blast just the same! My gear is probably $1.5k bike incl.
Camera stuff: it’s not the camera it’s the storyteller.
GH3 & Mavic pro and an ol’ gopro that kept on dying on me.
The entire trip cost $2k for me I think. Including flights.
Gear
Keep it Simple
My bike: DeVinci Caribou. Canadian made, Aluminum touring bike… ish.
Recommended: Surly, Touring bikes, or cyclocross bikes. Steel is sturdy in most cases!, Keep it simple.
don't stress too much about the bike.just get it fitted professionally at your local bike shop (seat height, Handlebar angle/height, ect...) as to ensure maximum comfort during your tour... and for goodness sake SAVE YOUR MEASUREMENTS that you set up your bike at... (i scratch my bike seat post to know the exact spot to set it)
What I had in the video. Weighed 100lbs including my bike. Wish I had brought a better battery bank for my phone since I used to it share the adventure more and such.
Clothes: Gore-tex e’rething , Merino Wool as much as you can afford, banish cotton. Don’t get too technical… people used to cycle tour in jean shorts back in the day and did twice my milage without beaking a sweat just wear whatever you’re comfy cycling in and send it. Wish I DIDN’t bring my jeans and flip flops and towel… waste of space and weight, i dropped it off at a friends in N.B.
Mechanical tools: Some old bike multitool that had just about everything in it. I should have had a tool to remove a sprocket or cassette incase but oh well. I made it I guess.
I would definitely invest in better tire, patches and glue. Seems like a recurring event, flats.New Chain every 2.5k , New Tyres every 10-15k new horizon every pedal stroke. (all depends on your payload and riding style). Get your mechanic to check with the chain stretch tool guage.
FAQ
English Speaker survival speaking english in Quebec? (le french province): Honestly, just don’t be a prick and if you can speak french even if it’s just bonjour, try it it goes a long way!
Westbound or Eastbound? I did it WESTbound as a sense of discovery of the West of canada as I had never been there that's all. little headwind in the prairies expected but just cycle mornings and evenings instead of the windy midday
…DM or email me to ask more . No stupid questions:p
Note on fundraising
When I Decided to do this trip I was bound to do it for a selection of fundraisers, therefore making my whole trip into somewhat of a fundraising campaign for those non-profit companies. Whenever I meet people along the way in a philanthropic adventure of sorts like this… Even before asking, I would be offered things such as food/stay/cash… I always made sure to differentiate the money going to the foundations and money directly intended to go towards my running costs of the trip (which are probably the lowest of all the cycle-touring/bikepacking styles)
So… With that said: If you’re doing it just to do it: amazing!! And If you’re doing it for a purpose and to raise money/awareness for a fundraiser… Amazing as well!! Just make sure you have a solid way for people to donate the money (i.e.: online website) for the sake of trust and as well, a open mind towards people also wanting to support YOU on this adventure… and to not be afraid to ask for help if you need it to finish your mission…(entire fees waived on meals, camping spots, hotels, mechanical work on bike, bike parts ect…) I will precisely say: this is NOT to be abused as to conserve the integrity of fundraising cyclists worldwide… however was pointed out to me by a Cancer survivor that :
“People WANT to help…they WANT to be involved and help further your mission more than through donating so ask and you shall receive!!!”
Here’s an example of when I did the trip and how I presented it : TRANSPARENCY IS KEY
“It's finally happening! I'm biking over 7,500km across Canada this June starting June 13th 2018 from St John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, BC!
This adventure is definitely one of the top priority on my bucket list but I'm putting a purpose behind it, raising money for kids cancer treatments and research through the Great Cycle challenge Canada , and through team WorldVision to provide clean water to communities in need in Africa.
I am aiming to raise $1 for every kilometer I bike so feel free to donate to the causes if you feel led to :D
God Bless,
- Timmy”
(link expired but this is the process)
https://www.worldvision.ca/WorldVisionCanada/media/get-involved/world-vision-group-fundraising-quick-start-guide-final.pdf
https://greatcyclechallenge.ca/Riders/Timmy22
Happy Cycling!!
Timothee Leger
timotheeleger.com