My Activity Tracking
6,114
kms
My target 6200 kms
Your donation will provide bicycles that change lives.
According to the World Bank, over 60% of the 1 billion people living in sub-Saharen Africa are living in rural areas - that's 600 million people whose primary means of getting around is walking. We believe in providing Bicycles as one of the most basic means of transportation and for their ability to create new opportunities and a better future to many. Please consider supporting our fundraising efforts to help mobilize individuals in rural developing countries. Just 205 can $ helps put a brand new bike in the field and it might forever change the trajectory of an individual's life.
Spread the word by sharing this page with others who may want to donate to help individuals that hope to go the distance.
Thank you for your support! Norbert
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Für die meisten unter uns ist der tägliche Transport, zur Schule, zur Arbeit, zum Einkauf, zum Arzt Selbstverständlichkeit. Kein Problem, ob nah oder fern. Unsere Garage steht voller Fahrzeuge, bereit jede Distance fraglos zu hinterlegen. Die "World Bicycle Relief" ist eine "not for profit" Wohltätigkeitsorganisation, die in abgelegenen Regionen Africas Fahrräder an Mitmenschen verteilt, für die solche Transportmöglichkeiten keine Selbstverständlichkeit sind. Etwa 205 can $ bringen ein neues Fahrrad auf den Markt. Sie bieten neue Möglichkeiten, Zugang zu Schulen, Ausbildung, Arbeit, Krankenpflege und vieles mehr.
Bitte gebt diese Nachricht weiter and die die helfen wollen anderen den Weg zu einer besseren Zukunft zu erleichtern. Zusammen mit der WBR danke ich Ihnen für Ihre Unterstützung. Norbert
My Updates
The video
Tuesday 23rd Jul Before I forget:A video of the trip with a recount and additional go-pro footage is in the works.
Cheers
Share
The rest of the gear
Saturday 20th Jul
The most useful piece of gear was the waterproof raincoat from Decathlon. The MH 900 hiking jacket is resistant to all weather conditions with a fully waterproof and breathable membrane and waterproof zippers plus lots of pockets. No need to spend more money on fancy brand names.
The MSR Hubba Hubba tent and their whisper light camping stove are excellent. If more trips are in the cards, I might go for an even smaller cooking setup however to save on weight and space. As for pots and pans, make it depend on the type of food you want to cook and eat. If all you need is to boil water to make coffee and rehydrate your food, one do it all pot plus a cup and a spoon is a great minimum. Eating in restaurants will cost more so weigh your options, especially on longer trips. Many supermarkets will offer fresh ready to eat meals, salads, sandwiches or other foods that can easily do the trick on the fly. They are still not inexpensive but represent a great in between cooking yourself or going to the restaurant.
A disappointing piece of equipment was the VectAir LT comfort sleeping pad from MEC. It started leaking after only 5 days and quickly got worse due to a bad valve seal. ( this pad model has since been replaced by the VectAir UL 4S) Faced with a luck of options to replace the pad on the road, I opted for the Woods O’Hara expedition Revo thermal inflatable sleeping pad from Canadian Tire. This turned out to be an awesome choice that I did not regret. Just make sure you pump it up well as it is not very thick and it will be fine. (It has been for me)
My down sleeping bag, the MEC Draco 0C was okay on the other hand, though it does shed down through the seams somewhat. As in most cases for sleeping bags, you need to add 5 degrees or so to the temperature rating. If you are to encounter 0 degrees, get at least a minus 5 degree model or lower.
My Marmot 800 down-fill jacket is excellent, especially in camp and in the mountains or as an extra layer. Just make sure you keep it dry. It weighs nothing and packs very small. I would get the model with the hood however if I’d be buying another one. With regards to your basic set of clothes, generally 2 sets of everything is enough as most of us prefer washing them on a regular basis rather then carrying more. Your extra creature comfort items are important but don’t overpack. For extras make your choices based on the route and the season you are travelling in.
And this should be it for this trip. Thank you all once again for sharing the experience and contributing to a great cause. Other travels might follow. Until then, save travels everyone and take good care of each other. cheers Norbert
The bike debrief
Thursday 18th Jul
My Specialized “Stumpjumer “, a full carbon 29er mountain bike with front suspension that dates back about 20 years.
In short, it was an excellent choice and I would do it again without any hesitation. Or maybe I should say that it was the perfect choice for me because after 5462 kilometres on the road the 29er never complained and performed flawlessly. It was before and still is my favourite ride. The carbon frame is very strong and though it has a little more flex to it then a dedicated steel frame under load, it does not disappoint. The ride and feel even improved after I had sent back home at least 5 kg of stuff in week 2. The SRAM X9 MTB group set was exactly what I needed. I love the trigger shifters and the granny gears saved me multiple times. Having gone through all the gears I think several thousand times, they haven’t missed a beat. No problems also regarding the original MTB wheel's. With a 32 spoke count they are as strong as any touring wheel out there. Flat handlebars and pedals worked great for me though the very straight bars could have a little more of a curve to them, changing the angle of the hand position slightly, reducing pressure on the thumb. For touring, the Jones H-Bar or the Surly Moloko bar for example could easily eliminate the problem. It may be the only thing that I would seriously consider changing.
As you might have noticed from the pictures the bike was set up with two racks. A Surly CroMoly front rack 2.0 (a perfect fit that I simply clamped onto the lower front fork) plus the Axiom DLX Streamliner rear rack designed for 29ers with disc brakes. Both of these racks transfer the weight they carry directly to the axle and the wheel so the frame is not loaded up. I can only recommend both of these models as they work great and did not budge. They are very strong and well adapted to receive the classic Ortlieb Panniers I have been using. Thumbs up also for the four Ortlieb Panniers. They are the best and I have done river crossings and rough mountain passes to prove it.
The tires I had selected were the Schwalbe Marathon Plus MBT tires 29X2.1. They are bombproof but not the fastest. The tires never felt sluggish or slow on pavement and performed particularly well on the often rugged rail trails and the long stretches of gravel encountered. If you’re looking for a trouble free do it all ride for a heavy bike, go for it. I did not touch them once and they are good for at least another 6 to 8000 kilometres of the same, probably more. Schwalbe has a great selection of different types of tires to choose from with something for every occasion if you’re looking for something more performance oriented.
As for the saddle, I would be tempted to give the Brooks another shot though I wasn’t keen on them in the past. For this trip I used the Specialized Rivo Sport I use for most of my bikes. Oh, and does your bum not get sore on such a long ride I hear you ask? Of course it does, it took 5 days to develop and 5 weeks for it to go away. I don’t use “Chamois Cream “ but will definitely use “wound healing ointment “ instead or when required. I shall let you figure this one out.
All in all I have not a single failure to report with regards to my bike and its setup. I plan to get a tuneup done to evaluate the wear and tear of all the moving parts and replace what is needed to get the bike ready for more.
Among the many riders I have encountered along the way I would say that about 60% of them were on dedicated touring bikes with Surly being the most popular among them. The majority of the other 40% were on bike packing, endurance or gravel type of bikes that can carry stuff one way or another.
Share
Food, Nutrition = fuel
Tuesday 16th Jul
While I am far from this kind of a competitive race level, I perfectly understand what he means. The average rider in the Trans Continental Race cover’s about 250 - 280 kilometres a day with the winners staying above 400 kilometres a day.
To put this into context: my 100 kilometre a day trans Canada trip is a ride in the park (not with respect to the total distance travelled, but with regards to the daily average) and to compare the two is bit far fetched. But the principles of fuelling your effort day in and day out, or week in and week out, are the same.
I would like to be clear here, that I am by no means a specialist on sports nutrition or a fitness guru, though I do know a thing or two about food from a culinary standpoint. I have not compared my VO2-max, before - during and after the trip, nor do I know if my lactate threshold or my power output has improved. My point here is to share my personal “ fuel the ride “ experience from a practical standpoint in a way that it can be helpful for other riders of my level.
The question is what to eat, how much or how often do I need to eat and how much is enough for the type of physical activity that you are planning on doing for your trip. Counting calories, replacing what you have used up can help, but there is more to it than just calories and a “ride by numbers “ approach. Listening to your body is key.
In a nutshell, the way your body sees it is simple. From the start, he will burn the stored energy accessible directly from your food intake first. If you want to push beyond, keep cycling or running even once all the stored direct energy is consumed you need to keep adding fuel in form of easily absorbed energy ( gel’s, bars, sports drinks, bananas and so on) If still more energy is needed because you have decided to keep going, the body will start burning fat to compensate if the food intake is insufficient. ( hence you should not be to lean) Burning fat is slower so it will not be a quick fix but it will help you to keep going longer especially in endurance type of events. Once all your body fat has been burned up and you are still asking your muscles to keep working, they will start burning muscles cells if again not enough fuel is added in from of nutrition. ( a scenario that you want to avoid) This, of course can be spread out over a period of days, weeks or even months depending on multiple factors.
So first and foremost I found it very important to keep your stomach healthy and happy if you are in it for the long haul. Therefore trying out what works best for you should always be done before starting your trip. For example, I have had a hard time digesting freeze-dried meals often used by campers or consuming gels or using sports drinks. It was not a problem at first, but became increasingly apparent after a few weeks on the road. It goes without saying that you should watch out for bad food or water at all times. In large parts of central Canada tap water is not recommended for drinking for example. Others might find different foods to be problematic, and it is rarely a good idea to experiment with new things you are not familiar with like I did, once you’re on the road.
Towards the end of the trip I had gone back to eating “normal “ foods that I always eat to get my complaining stomach feeling better. My favourite sports drinks are, in the order: Chocolate milk, Root beer, and Ice tea for example. My body was craving cheese, protein, fruit, nuts, salad and of course cereal, not to forget pizza and ice cream.
While I got my stomach back on track with giving him what he knew plus a little help from the pharmacy. The quantities required were still a bit of a stretch and force feeding was a little odd to say the least. You should not wait until you are starving before eating. Regular snacks are recommended to keep your energy levels up. If these snacks are composed of chunky granola or energy bars for example, make sure you chew them properly to help getting the most out of them quickly and again make it easier for your stomach to process. Split your biggest meals up into smaller stages not to feel too full. A large meal might be needed, but can make sleeping more difficult for example. To eat more than normal and often at odd hours is probably a new routine that takes your body some effort to compose with.
Over the 54 days I was on the road I lost 8kg, or a little over 10% of my body weight. While I had not been this slim since my twenties and thirties, some fat needs to go back, but I definitely don’t want to regain all of it.
As for rest days, again we are all different. Your requirements will vary depending on endurance fitness, the route, the duration of the trip and the time you have available as well as your overall ambitions. For this 54 days Adventure I only took 3 full rest days and even these were often more weather related than otherwise. This worked fine for me, but it may not be enough for everyone. After all if you’re not racing say the Trans Continental, or the Tour Divide for example, going fast and far day in and day out is not required. Here too it is important to make the fun factor a priority and staying within your limits is a big part of making it enjoyable.
Always remember to savour your time, enjoy the journey and this lovely blue planet of yours as the final destination for most of us almost always is home anyway.
5462 kilometres
Saturday 13th Jul
At the beginning of this adventure I was wondering if stubbornness had anything to do with making it when you first decide to undertake such a journey. Was it just about proving to yourself that you are able to do it? If you have a look at the numbers it certainly does seem that way. 5462 km over 54 days perfectly fits with my objective. It is not clear to me why I hold myself to any schedule or objective having all the time I want to do the trip. I have come to the conclusion that there must be a certain competitive nature at work that has me counting. Wanting to set a good time I can be proud off is certainly part of my results oriented nature.
The original planned route was actually a little longer than that but while it seemed fine on the GPS route planner, I have stuck to it roughly only 50% of the way for various reasons. The main reason being that the Famous TCT was a bit more of a random affair than anticipated, mostly related to ride-ability, or the absence of the latter plus better options presenting themselves along the way. Whatever choices you make have your safety be a primary concern especially on busy roads that offer little protection to cyclists. In many areas across Canada, like a big part of Ontario for riders doing the coast to coast, route choices leave you little option but to stick to the mayor highways. Secondary roads, if available, often are more fun but they are also frequently more challenging to navigate, more remote and add to the distance in places. One of the worst corridors is the Sault Ste Marie- Sudbury- North Bay- Pembroke, highway 17 section. This is a big chunk of road with a very bad or an often non existing safety shoulder for cyclists. It is narrow and very busy with sketchy sections of bad pavement. It might be worth looking at secondary roads through Algonquin Park for safety for example, if more kilometres are not a problem. Make yourself visible, stay alert, anticipate potential threats, avoid riding at night or in heavy rain on bad stretches of road if you can.
But don’t over think it, keep the fun factor in the game.
Yes, it is most about the journey, not the destination when you set out to measure every kilometre of any continent with your boots as we say. I suppose doing a proper Canada coast to coast would put me in the official league of trans Canada cyclists. All I have to do is add another ride from Montreal to the Atlantic coast for example. But here two, fitting any specific category was not my point.
It has been an absolutely fantastic trip but it requires a lot of what you’ve got to make it the distance. Essential are proper mindset, planning, training, knowing your limits and required comfort levels with the appropriate equipment that will allow you to achieve such a goal. When I say “know your limits “ I mean have realistic goals and expectations, get body and mind to work together while listening to both of them. Never force yourself beyond your limits, don’t go into the red as we say, unless you are a highly trained and experienced rider. If you over do it, it almost always creates issues that could become problematic and put the whole project at risk. This limit will probably be different for everyone. Stay humble and motivated on the tough days, thrive and fly high when the going is easy, or when the wind is pushing you along.
With regards to taking more or less time to do rides like this I would like to note that while this is a first for me and I had something to prove to myself ( whatever that may be) this is by no means a standard I intend to adhere to in the future. It’s all about keeping the fascination alive and make life memorable.
“Live is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving “ Albert Einstein.
Day 54 Vancouver
Thursday 11th Jul
What an amazing feeling and I have yet to fully realize the scope of this project.
I met up with Antoine and Uli in Stanley Park where they were playing in the pool by mid afternoon after a last 70 kilometres ride from Fort Langley. We switched over to the beach and of course I had to go for the official swim in the ocean. The water was calm and warm. We played with Uli in the water and live was beautiful.
I need some time to wrap my mind around things so I will keep it short for now.
The plan is to do a proper debrief with a few more posts on various aspects of the project in a week or so.
Time for a break.
Over and out. Norbert
Share
Day 53
Tuesday 9th Jul
But cycling in the heat is no easy feat.
After another very pleasant evening we said farewell the next morning. He was staying with friends in Abbotsford and I had planned one more stopover in a place called Fort Langley.
Another hot day was in the cards and I took it easy and slow on a mix of routes, part rail trail, part forest trail, part gravel plus some road. This was all still part of the TCT.
Fort Langley turned out very pretty and tourist oriented. Lots of restaurants, cafes, antique shops in a lovely town centre. Anything you need to take a break and enjoy the good life, but pricey as well . I had added another 70 km towards my ultimate goal today. Vancouver was just down the road. I am hoping to take as many bike lanes as possible into downtown from Fort Langley along the river to Stanley park, Vancouver.
Once in town I am meeting up with Antoine, Maria and Uli and what a wonderful celebration that is going to be. Is it not unbelievable to have the luck and mindset to do something like this?
Day 51
Monday 8th Jul
The next morning I was on the road at 7h. It was uphill for the first few hours, reaching the pass called Sunday Summit, at 1282 meters. It was slow going up the hills and after 73 kilometres I had made it over the first pass to Manning Provincial Park. The park is just over half way to Hope and offered a full service campground. Having made it there on eating ice cream whenever I could get my hands on some , mostly nourishing the illusion it was going to cool me off, I decided to camp once more in this beautiful spot, leaving the last pass for the next day. It was one more night in these amazing mountains that were soon to be behind me. Vancouver was just down the hill and the big city was looming. I again spent the evening with another rider. Terry was from South Africa, cycling and visiting the Rocky’s. Having worked in Vancouver a few years back he still had connections to this part of the world. We were both planning to get to a town called Chilliwack the next day. After chatting for a long time over a glass of wine, trying to change the world, we decided to do it all again in Chilliwack.
Share
Day 49
Saturday 6th Jul
But let’s backtrack a little.
Day 48 was a 106 kilometres from Midway to a town called Oliver. I stayed on the main road, going through Osoyoos and then up the Okanagan valley. The roads are amazing and this one took me over a pass called “Anarchist Summit “ at an elevation of 1233 meters. The KVR on this stretch had some washouts around Myra - Bellevue provincial park and would have required detours.
Up the Okanagan Valley I tried to take secondary routes through the wine yards and along the lake, eating cherries and apples from roadside stalls, enjoying the countryside that reminded me of Sonoma California. One of those roads called the Black Sage Road was also very popular with local cyclists not surprisingly. Plenty of black sage, but also silver sage grows wild in this region though some orchards seem to grow it commercially.
Having spent the night in Oliver , I left early in part to avoid the midday heat and made my way through Okanagan Falls to Penticton. Time for a break and a swim at the local beach. The plan was to get back to the KVR trail in a town called Summerland later in the afternoon and start my way up to Ospray lake station. Ospray Lake is the summit of the next pass to Princeton and tops of at 1093 meters. I planned to camp on the way up. Summerland was beautiful, nestled on a hillside overlooking the lake and Okanagan valley. There were coffee shops a plenty with great dessert to choose from and I could not resist.
Once back on the KVR, I discovered a different type of trail. The surface was rough and loose from the frequent use by some 4wheel ADV vehicles that are now allowed to use the trail. This is to bad really as it was slow and unpleasant to ride to say the least. I stopped halfway to the top of the pass with 86 kilometres on the counter and called it a day. With no cell reception of any kind I again hung up my food out of reach of bears , away from the tent and got to bed early. This would get me going at a decent time next morning to make it to Princeton before the heat set in.
Day 47
Wednesday 3rd Jul
From Nelson, the first stretch was road, getting me to Castlegar where I bumped into two more riders from the BC Epic. Ben and Brian, originally from England, were old friends from high school. We had lunch together, sharing a good laugh.
Share
From there the rail trail would slowly make its way up along the side of the mountain in the direction of Christina lake and Grand Forks. The rain was on and off whole day, yet this part of the world is wonderful to visit and ride through regardless. It was great to have such a manageable gradient of no more than 2% on these trails, something I would take anytime. I got to the top of the pass quite late again, around 18h when I ran into another rider from the BC Epic coming the other way. There are a bunch of guys camping just a few kilometres down the trail he said. It’s a small camp site with minimal service, but I am sure there is room for one more tent. This was perfect timing, having done 106 kilometres once at the camp. Might as well sleep on the mountain again. To keep going would only mean arriving in the next town too late to get organized. The group was also part of the race but they felt no need to hurry. We shared stories again and after having made our food bear save by hanging it up in the trees we all hit the sack early.
Despite the cold temperatures, everyone was up at 6 a clock sharp next morning getting ready for another stage. After a friendly fair well we set off in opposite direction.
Being on the trail early, I went straight through to Grand Forks, a quaint little town right next to the US border. It turned out to be a great place to take a long lunch and resupply before heading back to the KVR. Another pass was on the menu for the day. This one not as high but certainly no less stunning. One can really ride these rail trails for days on end.
After 109 kilometres, the next stop over was a little place called Midway. The 10$ campsite was hard to beat, especially right next to the Kettle river. Good news, looks like the sunshine and warmer temperatures are promising to stick around for the next week or so. Depending on trail conditions on the KVR, I might go straight to Osoyoos along the road and on from there.
Day 45
Monday 1st Jul
My mind was set on taking on Gray Creek Pass the next day.
From Cranbrook, the route to Kimberley was great fun. A paved rail trail partially parallel to the highway got me there in good time. I could have turned off in Maryville but the trail made me overshoot target. I used the opportunity to buy extra food for what was ahead.
What was ahead was the mighty Gray Creek Pass. It was almost 14h when I got to the route taking me up the valley. The eastern side of the pass was the long one, with about 60km of a run up until you reach the climb proper. The first 15 km were pavement, followed by a long stretch of gravel before it turned into a forestry service road. The scenery was beautiful to the point where you forgot about the roads and the weather. When I got to the final turn off for the pass, my GPS announced 13 more kilometres with over 800 metres of climbing, including gradients of up to 16%. I knew that the top of the pass stood at 2083 meters but I had ignored the gradient. Having met cyclists coming in the opposite direction, I was aware that I was able to stop and camp in several places on my way up and that I would find an area to camp even at the top. I decided to keep going. The road had indeed turned from easy gravel to a very rough, rocky and mostly steep climb. I am a fairly good hiker but pushing up a fully loaded touring bike on these gradients was on another level. There was no way to ride up other than very short stretches. It was starting to get a little late. I am not sure what kept me going, but I did. No, it’s not stubbornness. I guess it’s assuming the challenge and leaving once comfort zone behind. Mind and body will do the rest.
Is it not then that fond memories are created, memories that will stay with you forever?
It was getting dark when I got to the top. There was snow on the road still. I found the camp spot and quickly set up. I changed all my clothing because I was wet inside out. Spent, but very satisfied with my achievement I crawled into my sleeping bag for the night.
This same weekend there was an endurance cycling race happening, the BC Epic 1000. I had heard that the leaders were coming across the pass that night, going in the opposite direction. Up early next morning I noticed a rider making his way to the top around 8h. He stopped and confirmed that he was in second position in the race. His name was Owen I think. Three riders had managed to catch the last ferry the night before and were pressing on he said. Number one had passed earlier I presume. He was tired, explaining that having tried to get some sleep on the way up had made him waste precious time. He was still there, talking on the phone when I left and started my decent. Then only five minutes down the hill I came across the next rider.
You must be in third position I inquired? He stopped with a big grin on his face. In my mind I am always first he replied. We chatted briefly about his race strategy and he got on his way chasing down number two. No, he was not pushing his bike up the hill, he rode it. Impressive to say the least.
The western side of the pass was very short. Only about 17 km would get you from the lake to the top. A seriously tough nut to crack.
For me it was downhill all the way. The road surface was better on this side of the mountain. My brakes started acting up under the heavy load towards the end but luckily nothing serious happened and all was good at the end. Once back on the main road I made my way to Kootenay Bay where I caught the next ferry across the lake.
Many more riders form the BC Epic, having caught the early morning ferry, were making their way to the start of the pass that morning. Good luck with this one I thought to myself.
My counter up to the top of the pass had stopped at 102 km for day 44 and it was time to enjoy a slow day with a cool 75 km on day 45, taking me to beautiful Nelson. Canada Day celebrations were under way and big BC salmon burgers were waiting.
Day 43
Saturday 29th Jun
But rain was announced for later that afternoon and I could see the clouds moving in from the east. With the train taking the same route, I figured there would not be any tough gradients if I stuck to the main road.
I was right about the road up the pass but the incoming rain clouds were urging me up the valley once I got going.
Maybe the narrowing valley and the high mountains surrounding it would keep the rain in Alberta and British Columbia would welcome me with sunshine? I was lucky and I just about got away with it. With the first drops falling I hurried to take a few pictures to mark the crossing. There was no time to linger on however and looking back over my shoulder, it was getting very dark.
BC greeted me with a nice long 10 kilometre downhill run and clearing skies. I arrived in a coal mining town called Sparwood rather quickly and the temperature had increased enough to take a long break at the town centre information centre. There were food trucks, including some excellent sushi i could not refuse, a small open air market with interesting stalls selling all sorts of things, and then there was the world’s biggest mining truck you have ever seen. Everyone would stop to take pictures and so did I of course.
From there it was on to Fernie. What a great start to my crossing of the Rocky’s I thought. The scenery was amazing, weather was improving and the 96 kilometres to this popular mountain biking destination had more than made my day.
All of the campgrounds in Fernie were full however on this Canada Day weekend. But luck was to be on my side one more time. Circling around town looking for options I was invited by a lovely couple to come and pitch my tent in their backyard. What else can I ask for.
The next day, sitting in the morning sun we all had breakfast together on the porch sharing stories. You can stay longer if you want to visit, but don’t tell anyone about how nice it is out here I was advised laughingly. I did spent some time visiting that morning and getting resupply but decided to move on despite the obvious temptation to stay longer.
Now, I might get into trouble for this, but may it herewith be said: Montreals bagels are better than the once proposed bye the hugely popular “Big Bang Bagels “ in Fernie. (Sorry)
This was more than compensated by the excellent Fernie Brewing Co.
I made it all the way to Cranbrook in good time and good spirits that afternoon. Still having added another 98 kilometres to the counter I had more luck with finding a campsite with time to spare to settle in.
Share
Day 41
Friday 28th Jun
Making it to Cardston on day 39 felt good. I was not sure I was going to get there, but the weather again played its part.
From there it was on to Waterton Lakes the next morning. A short day of just under 60 kilometres was in the books. It turned out the detour was well worth it. The sky cleared up after arriving around lunchtime. What a beautiful sight and the somewhat touristy town located at the beginning of the lake was bustling with visitors. The large provincial campground was within walking distance of Waterton centre and the tent section slowly filled up in the course of the afternoon. I had never seen so many long distance cyclists all in one place. Tom from Seattle was on his way to Maine. A couple from England were on their way from Los Angeles to Alaska. Two American cyclists also having started around Seattle where making their way to Banff and a father and son team on a tandem where making their way to the east coast. Just amazing to see.
The weather window was unpredictable however, with rain in the forecast for the night once more and a good part of the next two days.
The clouds seemed to be stuck in the valley the next morning. Having decided to move on despite the temptation to stay longer I packed my bags as soon as the rain let up and set off. The moment I was out of the valley, the clouds cleared up somewhat.
My first objective was Pincher Creek. Fairly doable with a wind from the south west. “It is all down hill from here to Pincher Creek “ the lady at the coffee shop told me at the half way point. Never trust car drivers to have a proper grasp on the topography of the landscape they cross.
But things were less obvious ones I got there. The wind had turned west, gusting at over 35 kilometres a hour by midday. Exactly what I didn’t need. To continue going towards Crowsnest Pass would be great. It was still early afternoon and I decided to attempt the additional 35 or so kilometres, knowing it would be an upwind battle for most of the way to Hillcrest Mines.
With no options to camp along the way it would be difficult to wild camp or stopping along the way. What a struggle to say the least, one of the toughest stretches I have done despite the obvious beauty of the surroundings.
It must have been visible. Twice a pickup slowed down next to me, offering me a ride. I proudly declined both times as the driver’s offered a fare well and thumbs up. It was only when I made it into the campground late in the evening that I stopped questioning my decision. No cheating I mumbled to myself, come hell or high water.
Temperatures had dropped and I hurried to set up camp. I spent part of the evening in the guest accommodations building, warming up and keeping up with routine.
After 98 kilometres I was spent, but a sign on the road just before Hillcrest Mines confirmed that I managed to get a head start on Crowsnest Pass. I had only 25 kilometres left to get to the 1358 metre summit of the pass, that also represents the continental divide. Was it not going to be all downhill from up there ?
I hereby announce that the 100 kilometre daily average held so far was not going to be sustainable through the mountains.
Share
Day 39
Tuesday 25th Jun
With a population of around 650, the little town seems to be thriving just the same, sporting a golf course and many recent constructions.
I got up early the next morning, planing to make good use of the more favourable weather conditions promised. It was still cold at 6:30h in the morning but all was good. The grasslands were slowly disappearing, with bright yellow canola fields and soya crops tacking over the further west I pedaled. Farmers were relying more and more on irrigation, using clear jade blue water I presume is channelled down directly from the mountain near by.
Having decided not to cross the Blackfoot Indian reserve, I had the option of taking the northern route through Lethbridge or stay south and visit the Waterton National Park in the next few days. This would add some kilometres but it is considered one of the hidden gems of Alberta. Taking the southern option, the riding was good and after 158 km I managed to reach a town called Cardston. Hills and valleys were once again part of the landscape and the monotonous strait roads were disappearing.
And slowly, as the day went on, the silhouette of snow covered peaks would appear on the horizon. There they were, the mighty Rocky Mountains at last. Stretching from north to south as far as the eye could see, quickly rising to over 3000 meters it is a spectacular change of scenery.
This will also mean a new set of challenges for me.
Share
Day 37
Sunday 23rd Jun
The next two days were going to be quite remote roads again. Just like most of last week, the landscape was wonderful with grasslands as far as the eye could see. Gravel was on the menu again. To the south there was a small mountain range called sweet grass hills, located in northern Montana. Weather conditions were favourable and the 110 kilometres to a place called Manyberries were once again a charm to ride. One of the highlights was of course the change of province, leaving Saskatchewan behind and entering Alberta.
In Manyberries the options for camping where limited. You can camp down by the rodeo grounds I was told, and so I did. One of the rustic cabins was unlocked and big enough for me set up inside. Cabin camping was herewith invented.
I had been making good progress the last few days but the next day was going to be hot, with the wind blowing in the wrong direction. At the halfway mark I stopped at the historic museum in Etzikom. What a lovely collection, showcasing the local ways of life from the past. Besides, they had ice cream and all kinds of other snacks with a couple of tables and chairs, perfect for a midday break and a nice chat with the friendly staff. I strongly recommend you check out this museum including the outdoor gardens if ever you are in the region.
But it was time for a short day, make it to a proper campground, get myself cleaned up and sorted. I arrived in a place called Formost after about 70 kilometres by early afternoon and had all the time I needed to clean ship before heading out for a fish and chips dinner.
I am once again considering taking a day off. Wind from the west will be blowing quite hard hard tomorrow and it should be hot again. A good opportunity to rebuild energy levels and explore. So we shall see.
Share
Day 35
Saturday 22nd Jun
Having gone past the east entrance of grassland national park the day before when thunderstorms pushed me on, I decided to take the route around the northern end of the park. There is no road east to west through the park one can take.
It was still early morning when I got going and with the sun shining, the 130 kilometres to my next stop where champagne cycling. Getting closer to the west end of the park I decided not to go straight into the park, but make my way to Val Marie where the park office was located. Having spent the night at the local campground I inquired about the options of spending some time in the area. Travelling through the park is more adapted to cars this time of year I was told. The 60 kilometre loop to see the buffalo was muddy and in any case I was not quite prepared to do away with the safety a car would offer with buffalo roaming. But there was a lovely hike one can do up to the top of 70 mile butte, giving you an unobstructed 360 degree view of the area. Going for a hike felt great after almost 5 weeks of cycling and it turned out to bea wonderful spot that I greatly recommend.
It was lunchtime by the time I reached the trailhead again. The weather gods were promising another great day of champagne cycling and it was all I needed to get motivated. The usual game of cat and mouse with the slowly moving thunderstorms started at the end of the afternoon. I dodged the first one, got caught by the second and the third one later that evening seemed to give me a “rain check “ , in order words no worries, I get you next time. Despite the long day in the saddle the 170 kilometres I did that day turned out to be some of the best I had done so far. Riding on gravel again I crossed no more than half a dozen of cars. This area is quite remote and I rode with the sentiment of having the whole world to myself with stunning views all around me. What better to do than just keep going.
It was getting dark by the time I got to a little town called Consul. Some of the locals I met on the street pointed out a place I could pitch my tent and I was glad to hit the sack.
This type of long day puts me ahead of schedule and another rest day is in the books. But hey, who’s counting.
Share
Day 33
Thursday 20th Jun
The night had been cold again and the locals said that southern Alberta had received snow. My enthusiasm took another hit but I got going just the same after lunch . Like the day before I only managed 90 kilometres, but all things considered it was better than staying put.
I pulled into a small town called Big Beaver. It was nicely nestled in a little valley away from the main road. The biggest attraction seemed to be the rodeo arena ( seen in the photo) that would see action later in the year. There are more and more of these rodeo venues visible the closer you get to Alberta.
After another cold night, the next day seemed more promising. The somewhat monotonous and flat landscape had definitely turned into something more exciting. Slowly the grasslands were taking over with stunning views of rolling green hills and valleys. This was definitely more to my liking and after a brief break in Coronach mid morning, things kept getting better. There is a surprising amount of deer in this area and I saw several rather shy coyotes and foxes that at the sight of this pack mule on wheels, also called a touring bike, did not hang around and scrambled out of sight.
As I approached the Grasslands National Park, the afternoon brought back the thunderstorm clouds I have learned to expect. A warning again received on the phone made me wonder just how bad it was going to be this time around. The cloud formations were impressive, beautiful and menacing at the same time in this immense sky. It was enough for me to decide not to enter the east sector of the park and after having to take shelter once I decided to keep going to the Wood Mountain campground that was close to a place by the same name. With about 130 kilometres done I had the impression that evening that the worst of the bad weather was behind me and cycling conditions were to improve over the next few days.
Day 31
Monday 17th Jun
Lake Alma is a tiny town in southern Saskatchewan not far north from the border with Montana. The last population count dating back a few years would only find 30 souls permanently living there.
It was just after 12 a clock when I got to Lake Alma and having pedalled whole morning on two candy bars and a large gas station coffee I was eager to find a place to take a break and eat. Not expecting a lunch counter or even a coffee shop, I was searching for a place to pitch the tent and cook before the rain started. The man at the car repair shop pointed out the small diner on the edge of the town,attached to the skating arena. Boy that daily special of Hamburger soup, a BLT sandwich with sweet potato fries was just perfect.
I managed to set up camp next to the local ballpark and picnic area doubling as a campground before the rain came, praying for better weather on Tuesday.
Share
Day 29
Saturday 15th Jun
Almost all of these small towns have campgrounds usually run by the local administration. This makes route planning easier as it multiplies the options for spending the night. Having decided to stick to the pavement, the so called highway #3 turns out to be a good choice. The designation “Highway “ must have been adopted a while back, when ordinary roads would be smaller and unpaved. In fact, they still remain unpaved for the most part. So yes, less traffic and good pavement, including a decent shoulder for cyclists do the trick for me through the Great Plains. My initial idea staying on gravel was to slow going , especially when freshly grated or hardened with a washboard type surface.
The landscape is slowly changing, showing a few valleys and rivers with grasslands were small herds of cattle roam freely the further west you go.
From Melita to Estevan turned out to be another good day of riding with the counter having stopped at 160km. The forecast is for thunderstorms again ( no tornadoes this time) during the night. Strong winds from the west are expected for tomorrow and with a good day in the bank today I might put in another rest day. No rush and it is a good place to resupply and review my route plan. I might choose a different route a little further north from here on going west. I will see. Besides, it’s Father’s Day after all.
Day 27
Thursday 13th Jun
As so often in these plains, rain clouds would form as the day went on and a seriously menacing thunderstorm was cooking just north of me by the end of the afternoon. I had decided to push hard to make it to Pilot Mound in case things would turn bad. And turning bad it did. My tent was up at the local campground and I had barely finished cooking when my phone received a tornado warning for the area. My eyes were fixed on the sky to the north. With the storm traveling east I felt safe…… until the wind picked up and suddenly the landscape to the north disappeared. I rushed to move my stuff into a partially closed storage area belonging to the campground. The tent was the last item that needed moving. No time to disassemble. Just pull up the pegs, grab the whole thing and save what you can. I don’t know how I did it but I managed to drag it into the protected area without breaking anything. Having tight things down as best I could, the worst was over in less than an hour. The gusts of wind would rattle on for a while longer and the rest of the night was a little unnerving.
Local newspapers the next day showed images of the tornado having touched down in an area I had passed through only half a day earlier. Luckily no major damage was done, despite hailstorm and all. And me too I felt lucky to say the least.
Count your blessings and take it easy today, I told myself the next morning. So much can happen that you don’t have control over. Somewhat relieved I set off once more. The headwinds would be tough to handle that day and in the late afternoon with only 80 kilometres in the bag I turned into Killarney.
That will have to do.
A quiet evening at the local muscle car show, with country music and burgers where just perfect.
Day 25
Tuesday 11th Jun
The plan was to cover the short (about 65 km) stretch south of “ lake of the woods “ on Sunday and cross back into Canada.
All went according to plan and progress was good. 130 km on Sunday and again 120 km on Monday felt good. The weather gods where in good spirits and they get a big part of the credit for the good progress I have made the last few days.
Then came Tuesday. After a night of rain I managed to get going early. The rain stopped long enough to break camp and when I turned back onto the road the wind had put up some barriers as a reminder that he needed reckoning with. It was to be slow going and a battle that lasted for the whole day.
The roads stretched out in a straight line all the way to the horizon, something I surely will get to see more of. The fields grew larger and the trees disappeared bit by bit, leaving nothing to slow the wind blowing across the plains. I managed a 110 km due west to Dominion City and called it quits. It is a remote stretch of road with little or no towns. Towns only outnumbered in loneliness by the many cemeteries that remind us of times past.
For lunch I stopped in Vita where I had spotted the usual gas station diner, expecting the same old bacon and eggs or burgers and fries. The surprise made my day. The owners where a South Korean couple that had insisted on proposing their home cuisine besides the usual local staples. This made good business sense on their part. I was more than pleased to order their maki rolls, gyoza, miso soup, tempura style chicken, finishing with a local cheesecake and a desire to stay longer. Everything was delicious and the prospect of heading back out into the wind after this unexpected treat was less than inviting.
The end of the day in Dominion City turned out pretty relaxed and a promising two days of sunshine with less wind seemed to lay ahead.
Share
Day 22
Saturday 8th Jun
Having turned due west after Thunder Bay felt good. Of course the wind did not fail to remind me of this fact by turning squarely against me. With weather conditions having improved, and the long daylight hours, making up time was not a problem. 380 kilometres in last 3 days isn’t bad at all. Turning onto Highway 11 west proper, my garmin announced the next turn left in 198 km. I double checked …… looks like I got my work cut out for me.
For the cyclists, this stretch of highway 11 from Thunder Bay to Fort Frances turned out to be very rideable, with less traffic, good pavement and an almost continuous large safety lane.
Share
It is also a very remote area and the frequent sighting of moose and even a black bear two days ago reminded me of the ever increasing distances between service points.
Going through Fort Frances tomorrow, I will need to resupply and then it’s on to Rainy River.
Day 20
Thursday 6th Jun
For the next morning, my plan was simple. If it was not raining, I would get up early and go, somewhat ignoring the weather forecast. It kept changing all the time anyway and at 6h30 I was on the road. Besides, this low pressure weather system seemed to have decided to stick around the northern tip of Lake Superior for a while longer, so I decided not to.
The road around the lake is being upgraded to a split-lane highway, especially between Thunder Bay and Nipigon. Though the road conditions have much improved after Sault ste Marie going west, the new highways are generally safer for everyone, including cyclists. Again yes, cyclists are allowed on these highways as there are simply no other options to choose from.
It was a good call to start early on day 20 and I made good progress only seeking shelter once at the Flying-J to let the rain pass and then move on. In Thunder Bay I only stopped to pay homage to Terry Fox. His memorial is located on a hilltop coming into town, overlooking the beautiful Bay Area. Thunder Bay was born only in 1970 of the amalgamation of Port Arthur and Fort William. Counting over 123000 souls and with its many attractions it is well worth the visit.
For those of you wandering about my kilometre count so far on this journey. As per plan, I have managed to stick to averaging 100km per day. When I take a rest day, I make up for it, like today, by doing 130km or so for a few days. With today being day 20, I am therefore close to the 2000km mark .
Share
This is quite the milestone in my book of personal bests.
Day 18
Tuesday 4th Jun
The rain started as expected mid afternoon that day and I just managed to take cover in the entrance shelter of a nearby provincial campground. The campground provided self registration and I decided to call it a day, hiding in the registration booth waiting for the downpour to stop. Others had the same idea and that was where I met Sue and Ross, a charming couple on their way east with their camper. After some chatting I was quickly invited to join them for a drink, once all settled in and showered of course. Having done long distance cycling in the past themselves we had plenty of stories to share.
I have been managing to put off the second rain-rest day with weather turning in my favour last minute but I might just be out of luck tomorrow. TBD
Share
Day 15
Saturday 1st Jun
Taking route 17 north along Lake Superior is a great way to meet other travellers, on bicycle and otherwise, and what a lovely stretch of road it turned out to be. Day 16 was a big day. Made it to White River Ontario in one day, just over 150km. Some serious hills in the morning on my way to Wawa. I had started early, hoping to make it to Wawa before the post office closed. On Saturday it closes at noon and I knew it would be just. Had to burn a few matches on the last kilometres but I got there 5 minutes before closing. My point here is to ship back some things I am dragging along that I don’t use. Remember I said I was packing to much stuff. So , the lab-top computer went home (no way I can edit things I am filming in the tent) so did the solar panel that is not working anymore. Maybe I can fix it later. Together with some kitchen stuff, the box quickly filled up. Just over 4kg went home . The lady at the post office was patient and she gave me just enough time to get things sorted. The result was a great improvement for both, the rider and the handling of bike.
Share
The forecast is for rain whole night but sunshine is promised for tomorrow, Sunday. I will try to be reasonable tomorrow and stay closer to my daily km average. Next objective is a town called Marathon , a little less than 100km from here. Monday we have rain in the forecast and if so, I will probably make it a rest day.
Day 13
Wednesday 29th May
After the rain-rest day on Monday it was time to get back on the road. Some rain was still in the forecast for Tuesday and the whole day dark clouds were circulating all around. Hard to avoid getting wet again, but it was short lived. My solar panels got wet. I was not quick enough to get them back in the bag when the rain started. It is not working right now and I have to see if I comes back to life again when dry.
Km were good on all days, 11, 12 and day 13, making it past my 100km mark with the sunshine helping things along. Wind direction was from the north, cold as you can imagine, with a high of only 14 degrees on day 12. The good weather is to stay over the course of the next few days, with temperatures improving.
On one of those evenings I pulled into a lovely independent RV resort, gaz station, general store, motel, souvenir shop appropriately named the Voyageurs Lodge. Run by its owner Frank O’Connor and his wife, I was invited to pitch my tent in the garden out back without hesitation. Coffee will be ready starting at 7 in the morning he said. And not only was the coffee ready, they were preparing the best apple fritters I had ever had. Fresh made every day, we sell over a 110000 of them a year Frank proudly explained. These fritters where huge, sweet and delicious. It’s going to keep me going for a good part of the day for sure. Thank you Frank, for your kind hospitality.
Share
Day 9
Sunday 26th May
Things are just as expensive as further south, a local fellow with a cowboy hat explained. I met him at the coffee shop in the morning where we shared a table. His best year's as a professional rodeo rider in Calgary behind him and with his back shot, he lived in a motel outside of town, not being able to afford the rent one had to pay these days for an apartment.
Share
Barely making ends meet jobbing and with a smal pension, things are tough for many.
I spent a quiet evening at a local campground by a small lake whose name I ignore. The forecast is for rain again tomorrow, maybe Tuesday as well with night temperatures dropping to around 4 degrees. If the weather is really bad, i might just stay put and wait things out. Did about 115km today so the pace is still good when the weather gods play along.
Next objective is Sault Ste. Marie. I recon that it will take me about 3 days ( that is including the rain day). I again will stay on the highway, or main road.
Ever road a bicycle on a dedicated 4 lane split highway? Up here it is normal. It is more often than not the only option available. Being European I was hesitant at first. Actually the way the rules are written, highways are okay, freeways are not. All one needs to do is figure out where one stops and the other starts.
The actual “trail “ between Sudbury and SSM is best resumed as side roads trough residential neighbourhoods. (unnecessary mileage at this point in time) To be determined.
Day 7
Friday 24th May
Day 6 brought me to the much anticipated connection with the official TCT, the trans Canada Trail.
This did not go according to plan. On my first attempt on the trail, I did barely 3km in one hour. It was 50% hike a bike, 30% rely ridable and 20% so so. That makes 100% of ((@§?#&)). At that pace I should be in Moosejaw bye Christmas……so that is a definite no. Besides, there is no need risking a fall, or breaking things on the bike. A second attempt got me on a trail of soft sand and again a no go on a fully loaded touring bicycle. Try riding a loaded bike on the beach.
After making it to Parry Sound that evening, it was time to rethink day 7. My route to North Bay will have to be on road, even if it means I have to backtrack.
Share
Day 4
Tuesday 21st May
Here is a short update after day 4, but first and foremost I want to say thank you so much for the donations already received. This is fantastic.
Things have been going well for the first few days of the adventure. Leaving last Saturday, the 18th as per plan, I had some friends join me for the first day. Florent, Bruno, Yves and Philippe all were eager to join on the first day and see me off in style. On the first day I was motivated and did about 175km. That is a lot you might say but I was greatly helped along by the flat terrain and a tailwind. Same was the case for days two and a good part of day three, with about 140km and 120km to show for. On day two I passed through Gatineau on the trail along the Ottawa river with a perfect view on our Canadian capital. It was lovely. Day three brought a first glimpse of great trails to come. A mixture of old rail trails and lovely farm gravels roads taking me past Pembroke into Ontario, only occasionally interrupted by a busy route 148. Then came day 4. My route took me along the southern edge of Algonquin Park. Wanting to avoid big parts of the major through roads, I again took the path less travelled. To no surprise, back country roads and long stretches on gravel login roads on a rainy day are no easy go. On top of that, the flat roads encountered on the first few days where gone and for the first time the “granny “ gears on my mountain bike got a workout. So did I for that matter. Around 75km to Madawaska is all I could muster considering weather and terrain. It’s time for a full service campground tonight with some time to catch up and clean up and getting ready to do it all over again tomorrow. Day 5 should get me all the way to the western end of Algonquin Park along a pretty and well maintained road with a large shoulder for us cyclists to ride with confidence. The weatherman has promised rain again with a possibility of thunderstorms. Sounds like great fun and it will probably mean a short day again. Cheers , Norbert
Share
Vancouver or Bust
Friday 17th May
This is it. All systems go. The weather window went from red to yellow to good enough.
The first day should get me out of Montreal going first north though the city to Laval, and then west along the lake of "Deux Montagne”, then Oka where I will meet up with Philippe for a days ride heading west along the Ottawa River.
Making it to Montebello might be a little ambitions for the first day. It is well past the 100km mark. I also hope to clear Ottawa on day two ….. a little ambitious as well on a fully loaded bike. But hey, who is counting?
Which me luck and good fortune.
Share
J-14 ready-set-hold
Tuesday 23rd Apr
Gear choices plus some
Thursday 25th Jan
Wanting to be budget friendly and environmentally conscious made bike-camping the obvious way to go. Wild camping that would be for the most part, with the occasional exception to prove the rule. It is a little ambitious, but the fact that I own most of the gear needed to be self sufficient and even comfortable on the bike-trip ticked all the boxes. Paniers are fitting to pack what is needed, and yes I know that I will be guilty of over-packing and even some over-planning. My bike choice forces me to be weight conscious and I treat this as a good thing. For the rest, staying close to civilization does away with the need to cover for every possible misfortune and luck of creature comfort on the road.
I will have pots, pans and a camping stove to play with. For shelter, I selected a 2-person MSR backpacking tend. It is light and I prefer it over a bivy because of the extra space for storage when waiting out a storm. Sleeping equipment is crucial and one should not skimp on quality for comfort. Nights tend to be cold, even in the dessert and that certainly goes for camping at altitude. You do not need the latest and greatest, but bring what it takes if you are out there for more than a few days.
A good camera and a laptop are a basic must. Always focus on the hard to see, collect your thoughts on the less then obvious, frame your impressions. A Garmin GPS will lead the way and report progress, or the absence of the later, back to the mothership for you generations to judge. Traveling only with a 13W solar panel is probably not enough to keep all systems going full time, including the lights that is. We will see how things go.
I hope to keep it simple, largely because the contrary is too much trouble, time consuming and against the purpose of the trip. That also goes for you-tube and so forth. I will always enjoy a good you-tube story, but have little need nor the necessary talent to add to the already abundant go-pro, phone and drone adventures out there for you to like. Supporting a good cause, giving something back will be just perfect. In general, social media platforms are not my cup of tea but feel free to share for a good cause. If anything, this trip is to clear my mind rather, take a step back. Not add to the wheels of profit-making with more contend that is to often just cleared to numb our collective minds. I Hear you, "good luck with that one".
Share
Bike choice
Thursday 25th Jan
Bike choice is a tricky one for me. Bikes are fun and if money where no object, I would own a bike for every task at hand. With gravel and touring in mind, I bought myself an aluminum frame gravel bike with a strong bike-packing DNA. A Canyon Grizl that is. Great I thought, I am all set ……. until I did a reality check. While the bike did exactly what it was designed to do, it did not turn out to be the unicorn I had imagined. The thing is, there is more than one way of “packing” a bike and the Grizl had it's limitation. Despite the obvious versatility I was asking too much of the bike. While the frame seemed strong the wheels would need to be upgraded to something stronger. More appropriately put I had underestimated the amount of gear I needed for 3 to 4 months on the road. Now, there are plenty of double and triple butted steel or dedicated aluminum frames out there that can handle the loads I plan to pack. So, what to do. Get yet another bike, or take a chance on stronger wheels that could include the missing dynamo hub, just to do the TCT? And what if it turns out that I do not want to do more touring after having tested myself on trails less traveled?
It was the fun-factor that was once again pointing towards one of my favorite go to bikes, my Specialized 29er hardtail MTB. You are not seriously planning to tour on a carbon MTB I hear you say, no matter how much you cherish the ride it provides? Yep, I am serious about bringing the fun-factor along for the trip this time around and no, I promise I won’t do it again if it really turns out to be a silly idea. The aero bars are not coming along, but the set of extra handles added to the flat-bars are a welcome treat. Flat-bars are more comfortable then drop bars on long rides away from the races as far as I am concerned. The same goes for the pedals. I will keep my SPDs for the fast days and I shall enjoy the ease of the flat pedals on the slow days ahead. Am I setting myself up for trouble with this bike choice, stubbornly ignoring the obvious or is it just me getting tired of being told what to do by the industry bike-gurus remains to be seen? ( it is probably a bit of both) To be clear, it is not so much the type of bike that is the issue here, but the carbon frame material. Many of us have taken note, that in the world of ultra bike racing, the bikes of choice for when the going gets rough look more and more like MTB hard-tails including the 29er wheels. In any case, things are probably not all that rough on the TCT and carbon is a risk I herewith assume. Time shall tell the story and I will make sure to keep you posted on how things go.
Share
Waiting out winter
Wednesday 24th Jan
February. Snow, ice, freezing winds galore and no, I did not install winter tires with spikes on my bike. Cycling to work year round has been part of my routine for many years but this routine changed when work changed. For the last few years winter has become a time to focus on the rest of the muscle groups. The once that make up the support team for the unilateral pedal pushers. I run a little and cross country ski a lot at this time of year. Get in shape, stay in shape, up the game where still possible and of course loose some weight. A few kg less go a long way. Having tested my bike fully loaded proved the point. Less is more and I can’t ignore that I have been inching towards the L where M has always been the unquestionable standard.
That said, I am no training freak. Exercise comes to me in form of a basic need, not to outperform, but to feel good both physically and mentally. Numbers are great fun, distracting and I agree, helpful in many ways. But do I really need to know my VO2 max when my endurance is best served by long (or short) rides, including some sustained and repeated efforts your body and mind have learned to memorize? Usually, my numbers only confirm the other M, my obvious middle of the pack performance when comparing. The fun-factor for me has always been on the slower endurance end of things. No Zwift then for me to push the numbers or be challenged by titans, no Strava record to write home about. Just a shoebox full of event-medals that have since gone to the salvation army. I enjoy playing outside but I have yet to put myself to the test in more difficult conditions like on the TCT. To date, motivation is high and not really knowing what I am getting myself into is allowing the excitement to slowly build.
Share
The TCT for a good cause
Wednesday 24th Jan
So, here is the deal. Crossing Canada Montréal to Vancouver on a bicycle…. a little over 6000km, starting in May 2024. The "Trans Canada Trail" map you see on the picture is serving as a main starting point and it was the original inspiration. I contacted WBR a little while back to partner up for a good cause. They loved my idea of doing the ride on one of their Buffalo bicycles, but unfortunately, these bikes are not available to traveling cyclists from this part of the world. That’s fair and it is not like I am short of bicycles. Yep, east to west is the plan, and more about that later.
It has been a long time in the planning. Like for most of us, time flys and other midlife adventures had taken front and center stage. Regret’s…… not at all, but it is time to test other waters.
Wow, the TCT. What a great idea. Just get on in Montréal and off again once you arrive in Vancouver. All I need to do is manage my effort and take care of my creature comfort. It turned out however, that the TCT is still a work in progress in some places. Both the eastern and western cycling routs seem well developed, but things look less clear in the middle. That middle, I was told, is endless and flat as far as the eye can see. With boring roads straight as an arrow that fall off an horizon you may never reach. Unforgiving to the unprepared. (especially if you are going the wrong way) It turns out that there is no better way to get me interested. We have to forgive Canada for being such a big place and take off our hat to the TCT for striving to cross it coast to coast without a flaw. The term "endless" should be considered an understatement that mostly calls for the respect of the cyclist. I leave the northern part of the official TCT route shown on the map, going up all the way to the arctic ocean, to others to attempt.
So rather then finding myself hunting for this elusive trail scattered across the vast plains, I decided to trace my own route, staying further south then the official TCT suggests trough the prairies and the badlands. Is the whole thing not a bit of a crazy idea? “If you are not a little anxious about your plans, then it is probably because you did not bite off enough” someone once said.
No, I am not intimidated.
ShareThank you to my supporters
$52.20
Josée Boutin
$26.10
Anonymous
Bravo pour ce défi et ce beau projet
$26.10
Anonymous
$78.30
Dki
Hi Norbert, overwhelming, masterful performance, Respect, congratulations. I am very impressed with you, your tremendous mental and physical strength! You can drop a postcard, but you can't drop a project like this...keep it up..... Best regards from Eicherscheid...Dieter
$214.02
Anonymous
Supporting people in Africa What a great idea People for people
$88.74
John Allard
Glad to see you made it to BC, hope this donation helps you hit your goal!
$52.20
Catherine & Andrzej
Way to go Dad! You're almost there!
$26.10
Jacky
Wow, what an amazing adventure you are having! Enjoy it!
$52.20
Ilse Und. Berthold Lennartz
Motivationshilfe für die Berge
$52.20
Erwin Lennartz
$214.02
Alex
Keep it up Norbert! You are doing amazing. We've found a good way to keep the Magog hostel reasonably cool this year :) Hopefully you'll be with us next year and we can show you the secret ;) I've been following your blog ever since Antoine shared it with me. You are inspiring me to attempt something similar one day!
$26.10
Lorraine Côté
What a great adventure and hear cause! Congratulations on your retirement. You write beautifully. All the best, Lor
$110.66
Phoebe Liang
Have fun and take care Norbert:)
$104.40
Jean Patenaude
$234.90
Alain Côté
Hey Norbert! Keep on truckin'. I figure that if the first 1,500km were worth about 10 cents each, the next 1500 km must be worth at least 15! So don't let your guard down, it sounds like experience along the way is improving both judgement and stamina. I'm a believer, Vancouver here we come!
$156.60
Florent Vilotte
Way to go Norbert, an exciting travel with a great cause. Enjoy my friend
$156.60
Alain Côté
Very inspiring, Norbert. You should post total kms when you write something!
$52.20
Sussn Mullen
Safe travels! Maybe see you in WR.
$52.20
Caroline Briand
I loved reading your story, such an example!! Take care.
$31.32
Anonymous
Hint von Berthold bekommen
$52.20
Pierre-etienne Pilon
$100
Flor Del Pilar Arana Sanchez
Inspiring effort to improve the world one pedal at the time! Go, Norbert Go!!!
$165
Bruno Besset
$26.10
Francine Michaud
$31.32
Guido Lennartz
$52.20
Ilse Und. Berthold Lennartz
Viel Erfolg bei deiner Tour und vorallendingen komme Gesund zurück
$214.02
Neil Simmons
way to go Norbert, keep pedaling!!
$100
Antoine Maria & Uli
$52.20
Stefan Kirch
Hallo Norbert, alles Gute zum Rentenruhestand und viel Spaß auf Deiner Tour. Respekt!!! Viele Grüße aus der Eifel Stefan
$52.20
Patrick Côté
$26.10
Philippe Richer
$52.20
Anonymous
$104.40
Dorota J
GO NORBERT!
$52.20
Erwin Lennartz
$26.10
Félicitations Norbert!