It all started last early summer around July 08 when I was getting into bike-touring as a way to travel cheap & carbon-free. That was when my thought about riding across Canada started.
After some initial research & attempt in building a touring bike from ground up, I stumpled upon a perfect touring bike for sale on Craigslist. For $800cad, I've found myself a Trek 520, and that's including racks, 2 panniers, and a handlebar bag!
This bike originally came from a girl who already rode some 2300KM from Winnipeg to Montreal. Not bad at all. Only 2 weeks later, my dear friend took it away from me & rode it from Montreal to Gaspesie in Quebec then to Nova Scotia over 1800km in 14 days!
Fast forward to 2009, having decided to actually store my truck camper for the summer, I flew out to Vancouver with my bicycle & started the never ending journey from there!
Here is the link for some recent photos from my Vancouver to Winnipeg journey.
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l37/allochris/Bike Canada 2009/
First day of Fall 09' (Sept 21), I left Revelstoke, BC about 1700+KM west of Winnipeg, MB.
Last week on the Oct 6th, I arrived in Winnipeg & put the bike tour on-hold for the moment. Temperature were already dropping below zero, not the mention the constant rain pour as well as forecast calling for 10-20cm of snow!!! Instead of exposing my miserable self to the element 24/7, I hopped on the Greyhound & fast-tracked to Toronto. This coming week, I am still attempting to continue on within 3 days over 560km towards Montreal along the north shore of the St-Lawrence River. It will be below freezing and headwind from the NE, but at least it will be sunny!
Mission:
-Solo, un-assisted, ride the "Bike" across Canada (not just by me)
-Travel light & fast (Accomplished by using only a Bivy Sac, 5°c Sleeping Bag, Blue foamy, Mini Tarp, a handlebar bag, 2 paniers in the front, & a 3rd panier in the back for bodily fuel storage (trail mix/gummy bear/chocolate/banana/nutella/...)
-Goal of averaging 180km/day
-Ride as much as possible, as long as possible, weather permitting.
-No spending on accommodation, unless impossible due to weather
Journey Completed: (Over 6300km & counting...)
Kristin, Summer 07' (Winnipeg, MB - Montreal, QC ~2400km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...3633&sspn=18.165441,33.881836&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5
Maria, Aug 15th-31st, 08' (Montreal, QC - Amhearst, NS ~1800km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...15588&sspn=0.585839,1.058807&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10
Me, June 3rd-5th, 09' (Vancouver, BC - Keremeos, BC ~350km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...58298&sspn=0.275279,0.529404&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
Me, September 21st-October 06th, 09' (Revelstoke, BC - Winnipeg, MB ~1750km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...3,-107.666016&spn=17.136909,33.881836&t=h&z=5
After some initial research & attempt in building a touring bike from ground up, I stumpled upon a perfect touring bike for sale on Craigslist. For $800cad, I've found myself a Trek 520, and that's including racks, 2 panniers, and a handlebar bag!
This bike originally came from a girl who already rode some 2300KM from Winnipeg to Montreal. Not bad at all. Only 2 weeks later, my dear friend took it away from me & rode it from Montreal to Gaspesie in Quebec then to Nova Scotia over 1800km in 14 days!
Fast forward to 2009, having decided to actually store my truck camper for the summer, I flew out to Vancouver with my bicycle & started the never ending journey from there!
Here is the link for some recent photos from my Vancouver to Winnipeg journey.
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l37/allochris/Bike Canada 2009/
First day of Fall 09' (Sept 21), I left Revelstoke, BC about 1700+KM west of Winnipeg, MB.
Last week on the Oct 6th, I arrived in Winnipeg & put the bike tour on-hold for the moment. Temperature were already dropping below zero, not the mention the constant rain pour as well as forecast calling for 10-20cm of snow!!! Instead of exposing my miserable self to the element 24/7, I hopped on the Greyhound & fast-tracked to Toronto. This coming week, I am still attempting to continue on within 3 days over 560km towards Montreal along the north shore of the St-Lawrence River. It will be below freezing and headwind from the NE, but at least it will be sunny!
Mission:
-Solo, un-assisted, ride the "Bike" across Canada (not just by me)
-Travel light & fast (Accomplished by using only a Bivy Sac, 5°c Sleeping Bag, Blue foamy, Mini Tarp, a handlebar bag, 2 paniers in the front, & a 3rd panier in the back for bodily fuel storage (trail mix/gummy bear/chocolate/banana/nutella/...)
-Goal of averaging 180km/day
-Ride as much as possible, as long as possible, weather permitting.
-No spending on accommodation, unless impossible due to weather
Journey Completed: (Over 6300km & counting...)
Kristin, Summer 07' (Winnipeg, MB - Montreal, QC ~2400km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...3633&sspn=18.165441,33.881836&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5
Maria, Aug 15th-31st, 08' (Montreal, QC - Amhearst, NS ~1800km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...15588&sspn=0.585839,1.058807&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=10
Me, June 3rd-5th, 09' (Vancouver, BC - Keremeos, BC ~350km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...58298&sspn=0.275279,0.529404&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=11
Me, September 21st-October 06th, 09' (Revelstoke, BC - Winnipeg, MB ~1750km):
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...3,-107.666016&spn=17.136909,33.881836&t=h&z=5
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