OT (slightly) Canada tour
hisoka
Posts: 541
Yeah I know there is a touring section, but I was going to ask more a holidaying and touring and just general question of this
What is Canada like to visit?
I have no clue where i want to go, I just had a thought of places I want to visit for a cycle tour and for some reason Canada came to mind. Anyone been and cycled or just went? I hear the countryside is breathtaking and big wide open spaces, which would be amazing to cycle through I'm sure.
Just a random general question if anyone has anything to put up their hand to say "blah" I would be grateful.
P.S. Waiting for first person to say BLAH
What is Canada like to visit?
I have no clue where i want to go, I just had a thought of places I want to visit for a cycle tour and for some reason Canada came to mind. Anyone been and cycled or just went? I hear the countryside is breathtaking and big wide open spaces, which would be amazing to cycle through I'm sure.
Just a random general question if anyone has anything to put up their hand to say "blah" I would be grateful.
P.S. Waiting for first person to say BLAH
"This area left purposefully blank"
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
FCN: 11 (apparently)
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
FCN: 11 (apparently)
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Comments
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BLAH!
Do I win a prize?
Ok. My experiences of Canada are of some of the bits west of Calgary. Once when picking up a car at Calgary airport I was told that were I to head east by mistake, the first thing of importance I'd hit would be Montreal.
So the middle is flat, flat, flat farmland as far as I can tell. And really cold in winter. There are some places on the east Coast I'd love to visit: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Montreal for example. Toronto I reckon I could skip.
Overall comments on the bits I've been to: lovely. Just .... lovely. Some really amazing scenery (don't assume it's all really beautiful though). People are friendly, it's safe, clean, all good. A lot of the time I wonder whether people lock their doors at night, then I conclude that if they do, it's to keep the wild animals out.
Calgary & the Rockies: Calgary's a grid iron cowboy/oil town on the edge of the plain. You can see the Rockies on the horizon from it, but it's a good hour plus drive before the road kicks up. Google images for Lake Louise (the lake itself rather than the town) and you get a sample of the views.
Banff is the main town to aim for from Calgary, and there's a million things to do from there. Or you you head further north to Jasper via the Columbia Ice Fields, or, well, lots of stuff.
So now if you're reaching for the map, you're about 30 secs from realising Canada is big. If I was going to ride from Calgary to Vancouver (the two international airport cities that side of the country), I'd allow two weeks minimum and regard that as a straight line relatively hard riding holiday with not much sightseeing bolted on. What I'd suggest would be to drive between the two cities, and take your bike to do day trips from stop offs (or, if you have a co/support driver, do some day long rides from A to
.
Between Cal and Van there are lots of smaller towns, some of which are completely beguiling and some of which are hideous (Kamloops. Avoid it. It's not so much the appearance as the location). We've never done the big north loop from Jasper though the little towns to Prince Rupert on the coast, then down by ferry, but that's supposed be excellent. We have done a north run from Kamloops to Lilloet to Pemberton to Whistler to Vancouver, which has some amazing changes of scenery. Again, not something I'd choose to ride without a support car.
Vancouver is, plain and simple, my favourite city on earth. Apart from the precipitation. But that's really just a small blemish.
Vancouver Island is pretty good - Victoria is a weird-ish pastiche of anglofied ideas. Cross the island (via the very twisty and up/downy road) to Tofino and you're standing on the edge of the Pacific rim looking out across half a world of ocean. There are a couple of hotels here where people come to stay in the winter just to watch the storms blow in from the Pacific. I can imagine why.
It's not as cheap to go there as it used to be, now the £ is so weak (now 1.70-1.80 or so; used to be 2.10-2.20). But it's still a lot cheaper to get through your days there than it is in here.
If you're serious, PM me with whatever. What'd I suggest though is first: how long do you want to do for; secondly, east or west side (if east, there's no point PM'ing me); thirdly, an A to B trip with stops, or an A to A loop with stops; fourthly, car plus rides, rides only or car only?
The Rockies (which run past Calgary) and the Coast Mountains (which run up the coast near Van) are both proper mountain ranges. There are others in between, but bear in mind riding these will be not dissimilar to riding in the Alps in terms of elevations (though I reckon the Canadians generally go for longer climbs with a more moderate overall gradient, insofar as one can generalise about these things).
I am pretty certain of one thing: you won't regret it if you go, however you choose to travel around.0 -
avoid Toronto, like London the motorists see cyclist as some sort of prize game ripe for the hunt. :shock: Officers don't run, it's undignified and panics the men0
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A bit like Greg, Vancouver is probably my favourite city on the planet. It's great. I'm from Cardiff, so rain isn't an issue. However, what I did find a little more visible there, compared even to London, was the large number of homeless people. Vancouver Island was a good place to visit too - not much there, so I'd ventured further north of Vancouver next time.
The Grouse Grind in North Vancouver is a big attraction. The view from the top is well worth the slog. 8)
I think there's a wine region between Calgary and Vancouver - Kananaskis, I think.
Montreal's cool. I've come to like it more the last three years I've been there.
Calgary's nice. As Greg said, two weeks is about right - it took Mrs CJ and I 10 hours to drie to Vancouver from Jasper. However, the better places are north and south of Calgary. North, you have Canmore (a bit like Boulder, Colorado in that it's an outdoorsy place; has Scottish roots), Banff, Lake Louise, Columbia Icefield, Jasper and stuff. Camped there. It doesn't really warm up properly until July though. Bears will wander through the campsite, so go prepared if you want to camp. I wouldn't fancy riding the Icefield Parkway though. Long, lonely, traffic wouldn't make it much fun.
Go south a few hours and you'll reach Waterton National Park, which borders/seems to be the Canadian part of what is Glacier National Park in the US. The scenery is beautiful. Even if you go there in June, the Going to the Sun Road should be open. You could hire a car and drive it. You won't be disappointed.
Toronto is just another city.
In the middle, as Greg says, there is a sh!tload of nothing. If you wanted, you could take the train across.
Tbh, the place is so damn huge, if you're on a short timescale, I don't think you get as much out of a cycle tour in Canada as you would in, say, Italy or France.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Canada....
DON'T GO.......you will never want to come back!
Simples!I can afford to talk softly!....................I carry a big stick!0 -
Mithras wrote:Canada....
DON'T GO.......you will never want to come back!
Simples!
Not necessarily.
My experience is that they get more holidays than the US, but not as much as us, so don't really get the time to see their country.
Ah, who am I kidding? FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
+1 for the west coast (yet to visit the rest). There's some awesome mountain biking around Banff, and some pretty scary road climbs as well. I remember doing a cross country route that involved 8km on the road, stopped at an information kiosk and was told "just take the next left, follow the road and the path carries on at the top". What she didn't mention was that the road averaged about 9% - not good on a slightly too small rental MTB when I had no road miles in my legs. Still couldn't help myself when two roadie girls overtook me - I had to save my scalp so got their wheel then attacked - got round the next corner, road ramped up again and no end in sight, I practically fell off sideways... :oops:
Needless to say, I lost my scalp that day.0 -
That is some good reading for ideas. West or East I am unsure but sounds like west has more advice and everything so might look to that.
One problem with hiring a car is that I don't drive, I really should finish learning someday but just haven't gotten round to it yet.
Time isn't too much of an issue, I have plenty of holiday coming up and I plan this trip to be my "remember this one for good" trip of the year. I want to have at least one of those a year, so much so I even bought more holiday at work (Siemens has a way to buy an extra 5 days of holiday, so this year I have managed to get up to 34 working days I can book off paid).
Ok, just googled Lake Louise, images made me go "Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". I am getting more excited with this idea.
I am looking to camp the way through, I just plain like camping and like to feel a bit closer to nature in some ways."This area left purposefully blank"
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
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The absence of a driving licence would certainly inhibit a car-based holiday.
If you're camping, at some point you'll need to read about camping tips in Alberta and British Columbia. Mostly they involve how to store your stuff and your food in a way that won't attract bears.
Which is important.
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Definitely going to read up about not attracting bears. Wonderful creatures, wouldn't want ot have one eat all my breakfast/dinner/limbs."This area left purposefully blank"
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
FCN: 11 (apparently)0 -
My first ever ride on a decent MTB was a loop from Canmore to Banff. It's certainly beautiful scenery around there.
Mind you , I spent the whole journey looking out for bears - though I had no idea at all what I would do if I saw one. Every recommended safety plan that I ever heard had counter evidence. Climb tree - bears climb trees. Stay still or curl up on the ground - bears aren't fussy how or who they attack if they've a mind to. Zoom downhill - bears have been known to catch horses downhill.0 -
deptfordmarmoset wrote:My first ever ride on a decent MTB was a loop from Canmore to Banff. It's certainly beautiful scenery around there.
Mind you , I spent the whole journey looking out for bears - though I had no idea at all what I would do if I saw one. Every recommended safety plan that I ever heard had counter evidence. Climb tree - bears climb trees. Stay still or curl up on the ground - bears aren't fussy how or who they attack if they've a mind to. Zoom downhill - bears have been known to catch horses downhill.
Know what I did? Instantly turned on my heels and ran like the feckin' clappers. (This was after I'd walked round a corner on a trail, spotted two bears about 20 yards, who spotted me, and Baby Bear duly legged it, with what turned out to be Mummy Bear looking straight at me.)FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Best trick is to point at something just over the bear's shoulder, and shout "OH MY GOD! LOOK AT THAT MASSIVE GRIZZLY!", and leg it when the bear turns round.
Unless you're confronted by a grizzly. Then maybe pretend there's Jaws, or a T Rex behind it. 0 -
I'd concur with a lot of what has already been said. The west coast is lovely, for touring and camping I'd have a look at Vancouver Island and maybe the Gulf Islands - all well linked by ferries, and you can camp on pristine beaches right by the Pacific. You will need to bear-proof your food though, but tbh it's more raccoon-proofing, thieving little bugers!
As an alternative, Montreal is very cycle-friendly, has culture and good food. Mmm poutine.
Enjoy !Misguided Idealist0 -
Yay lot of advice (I shall prepare my best point over the bear's shoulder routine, thanks Greg).
Camping on the beach, sounds awesome "This area left purposefully blank"
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
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Hi, so as a Canadian Living in the UK lets just say this, BC is the best province, most stunning landscapes, followed closely by Alberta IMO, Banff National park is unbelievable! Calgary is worth a visit although not in winter (yesterday it was -18 degrees centigrade)!
Vancouver Island is a good place to explore, not very many people around compared to the UK even though it is a very popular spot for tourists. it's best if you are visiting Canada to look at one area to visit so either Banff, Vancouver, Vancouver island etc, otherwise it is so big you will spend all your time travelling. set yourself one area to look around and stick to it, there is so much to do in the popular parts, most of Canada is just farmland and prairie.
good luck!Carbon fibre, it's all nonsense. Drink beer. Ride a steel bike. Don't be a ponce.0 -
I've done Montreal, Quebec City and Vancouver - and have skied north of Montreal (in Tremblant). I love Canada, but Quebec especially. If you do go there do be prepared for some of the more belligerent locals to only speak French!
Montreal is one of my favourite cityes - loads going on and it's a very friendly place. The Underground City has to be seen to be believed.- 2023 Vielo V+1
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So all this talk about it, when is best time to visit between the cities of Calgary and Vancouver?"This area left purposefully blank"
Sign hung on my head everyday till noon.
FCN: 11 (apparently)0 -
deptfordmarmoset wrote:My first ever ride on a decent MTB was a loop from Canmore to Banff. It's certainly beautiful scenery around there.
Mind you , I spent the whole journey looking out for bears - though I had no idea at all what I would do if I saw one. Every recommended safety plan that I ever heard had counter evidence. Climb tree - bears climb trees. Stay still or curl up on the ground - bears aren't fussy how or who they attack if they've a mind to. Zoom downhill - bears have been known to catch horses downhill.
If a Grizzly runs at you stare it out, it should stop. If it keeps coming, play dead, they like to kill fresh food. If it still keeps coming, throw a lump of sh1te at it. "What if there is no sh1te?" I hear you say.... well, believe me, there will be plenty!!"Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"0 -
I covered 2200 miles in 10 days out there (Canadian Rockies) - most road signs list the next community as more than 100km away! It is, as CJCP says, huge!
Banff to Jasper, Ice Fields parkway - stunning scenery but, tbh, I wouldn't want to ride it. Long, endless, gradual climbs. Long, endless straights - the roads aren't like alpine ones. I think I'd get bored! But then I prefer hiking in mountains to looking at them from a road.
No wildlife in October! But easy accomodation (can get difficult to find accomodation in summer apparently). Next time I might try Spring.
I think the Kootenays might be nicer to cycle in than the Rockies - smaller, windier roads and stunning with the Autumnal colours.
I enjoyed Canada and want to go back - to the Northern Territories. However, I think that the Colorado Rockies are more interesting. There is much more history there (eg old Wild West towns like Silverton and Leadville - where Doc Holliday fought his last gunfight) - in the Canadian Rockies the towns have little charm and little surviving history.Faster than a tent.......0 -
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deptfordmarmoset wrote:My first ever ride on a decent MTB was a loop from Canmore to Banff. It's certainly beautiful scenery around there.
Mind you , I spent the whole journey looking out for bears - though I had no idea at all what I would do if I saw one. Every recommended safety plan that I ever heard had counter evidence. Climb tree - bears climb trees. Stay still or curl up on the ground - bears aren't fussy how or who they attack if they've a mind to. Zoom downhill - bears have been known to catch horses downhill.
MOUntain biking in the rockies has some ADDITIONAL risks late summer and autumn when the berries are ripe. The grizzlies concnetrate on the high energy food and can be easily surprised by a fast moving mountain bike. This surprise can be fatal (for the rider - seriously). I know people go to wilderness areas to take in the silence but tis a good idea to hoot and holler when you decend (I figure the slow speed and puffing will warn the bears when going uphill) to give fair warning to the bears.
BTW Canmore is a bit larger then Banff and is just East of the park entrance. Its a fantastic place to base yourself for skiing, hiking and biking.0 -
I spent 30 years living in Canada. Vancouver, Victoria, Montreal and Toronto.
All offer something unique and different.
West Coast is great for the outdoor life. Whister is beautiful and a mecca for MTB. Vancouver Island (where my mother still lives) also offers a lot.
East Coast - Montreal has the best nightlife in Canada and the best-looking women. So many outdoor festivals in the summer (think Jazz and comedy - not rock concerts).
My personal fav was Toronto - but I like the concrete jungle.
It's a MASSIVE country and hard to see it all in one trip. I recommend picking one major city and 'going to town'.0 -
I was lucky enough to spend seven months out in Canada. I was just outside a little place called Medicine Hat... Rudyard Kipling said:
This part of the country seems to have all hell for a basement, and the only trap door appears to be in Medicine Hat. And don’t you ever think of changing the name of your town. It’s all your own and the only hat of its kind on earth.
But that doesn't mean you should visit it.
However it's just a couple of hours drive east of Calgary and then into Canmore, the gateway to the Rockies.
Whilst out there I used the Same Sun hostels, relatively cheap, good quality hostels as a base for my snowboarding trips. Highly recommended!
[urlhttp://samesun.com/[/url]
Given the choice I would be moving out there like a shot. Calgary Police are actively recruiting British Officers and Mr M is a Nurse. Getting in would not be a problem. Unfortunately I don't have the choice!I can afford to talk softly!....................I carry a big stick!0 -
Even more awesome information there chaps. Thanks
Going to be touring bike, and with how noisey my breathing is (well huffing and puffing) I don't think anything will be ever classifying me as sneaking.
I don't imagine I will be even close to seeing it all, that is for many a trip to do. I just think I will look towards Calgary/Vancouver and the time between. Might just stay in Vancouver and from a base go out and about but unsure at the moment, got plenty of time to decide and plan, and then change the plans some more too"This area left purposefully blank"
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