Frequently Asked Questions
These are a few of the most common things we are asked. If you need more, reach out to us!
The most common questions are in the tabs below. Additional questions are listed at the bottom of the page.
Date | Day | Route TO / FROM | Activity | Distance (KM) |
28‐May‐21 | Friday | Sooke to Victoria (Mile -) to Sidney | Ride Day | 75.4 |
29‐May‐21 | Saturday | Sidney to Hatzic Lake ‐ (Mission) via ferry Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen | Ride Day | 89 |
30‐May‐21 | Sunday | Hatzic Lake (Mission) to Harrison Hot Springs | Ride Day | 51.2 |
31‐May‐21 | Monday | Harrison Hot Springs to Hope | Ride Day | 41 |
01‐Jun‐21 | Tuesday | Hope to Manning Park | Ride Day | 66.3 |
02‐Jun‐21 | Wednesday | Manning Park Resort to Princeton | Ride Day | 68.4 |
03‐Jun‐21 | Thursday | Princeton Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
04‐Jun‐21 | Friday | Princeton area event day | Event | – |
05‐Jun‐21 | Saturday | Princeton to Keremeos | Ride Day | 66.4 |
06‐Jun‐21 | Sunday | Keremeos to Osoyoos | Ride Day | 54 |
07‐Jun‐21 | Monday | Osoyoos to Midway | Ride Day | 69.1 |
08‐Jun‐21 | Tuesday | Midway to Grand Forks | Ride Day | 52.1 |
09‐Jun‐21 | Wednesday | Grand Forks to Nancy Greene Provincial Park | Ride Day | 75.7 |
10‐Jun‐21 | Thursday | Nancy Greene Provincial Park to Marsh CG | Ride Day | 57.7 |
11‐Jun‐21 | Friday | Marsh Creek Campground to Ymir | Ride Day | 35.3 |
12‐Jun‐21 | Saturday | Ymir Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
13‐Jun‐21 | Sunday | Ymir to Nelson for event and then ride toward Balfour | Ride Day | 59.2 |
14‐Jun‐21 | Monday | Balfour to Creston | Ride Day | 83 |
15‐Jun‐21 | Tuesday | Creston to Yahk | Ride Day | 41.6 |
16‐Jun‐21 | Wednesday | Yahk to Wycliffe | Ride Day | 84.1 |
17‐Jun‐21 | Thursday | Wycliffe to Canal Flats | Ride Day | 75.8 |
18‐Jun‐21 | Friday | Canal Flats to Radium Hot Springs | Ride Day | 64.9 |
19‐Jun‐21 | Saturday | Radium Hot Spring Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
20‐Jun‐21 | Sunday | Radium Hot Springs to Kootenay Park Lodge | Ride Day | 63.6 |
21‐Jun‐21 | Monday | Kootney Park Lodge to Canmore | Ride Day | 94.6 |
22‐Jun‐21 | Tuesday | Canmore to Ghost Lake Recreation Area | Ride Day | 55.8 |
23‐Jun‐21 | Wednesday | Ghost Lake Recreation Area to Calgary | Ride Day | 57.7 |
24‐Jun‐21 | Thursday | Calgary Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
25‐Jun‐21 | Friday | Calgary event day (Start of Stage 2) | Event | – |
26‐Jun‐21 | Saturday | Calgary to Beiseker | Ride Day | 75.4 |
27‐Jun‐21 | Sunday | Beiseker to Michichi | Ride Day | 92.9 |
28‐Jun‐21 | Monday | Michichi to Youngstown | Ride Day | 98.9 |
29‐Jun‐21 | Tuesday | Youngstown to Alsask | Ride Day | 89.1 |
30‐Jun‐21 | Wednesday | Alsask to Kindersley, SK | Ride Day | 63.1 |
01‐Jul‐21 | Thursday | Kindersley Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
02‐Jul‐21 | Friday | Kindersley area event day | Event | – |
03‐Jul‐21 | Saturday | Kindersley to Rosetown | Ride Day | 84 |
04‐Jul‐21 | Sunday | Rosetown to Outlook | Ride Day | 74.5 |
05‐Jul‐21 | Monday | Outlook to Kenaston | Ride Day | 55.6 |
06‐Jul‐21 | Tuesday | Kenaston to Nokomis | Ride Day | 88.7 |
07‐Jul‐21 | Wednesday | Nokomis to Punnichy | Ride Day | 62 |
08‐Jul‐21 | Thursday | Punnichy to Ituna | Ride Day | 67.8 |
09‐Jul‐21 | Friday | Ituna to Melville | Ride Day | 56.3 |
10‐Jul‐21 | Saturday | Melville rest day | Rest Day | – |
11‐Jul‐21 | Sunday | Melville to Russell, MB | Ride Day | 113 |
12‐Jul‐21 | Monday | Russell to Shoal Lake | Ride Day | 75.7 |
13‐Jul‐21 | Tuesday | Shoal Lake to Neepawaw | Ride Day | 88.8 |
14‐Jul‐21 | Wednesday | Neepawa to Portage la Prairie | Ride Day | 101.1 |
15‐Jul‐21 | Thursday | Portage la Prairie to Winnepeg | Ride Day | 98.3 |
16‐Jul‐21 | Friday | Winnipeg Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
17‐Jul‐21 | Saturday | Winnipeg area event day (Start of Stage 3) | Event | – |
18‐Jul‐21 | Sunday | Winnipeg to Elma | Ride Day | 90.4 |
19‐Jul‐21 | Monday | Elma to Whiteshell | Ride Day | 69.8 |
20‐Jul‐21 | Tuesday | Whiteshell to Kenora, ON | Ride Day | 55.9 |
21‐Jul‐21 | Wednesday | Kenora to Sioux Narrows | Ride Day | 78 |
22‐Jul‐21 | Thursday | Sioux Narrows to Nestor Falls | Ride Day | 84.5 |
23‐Jul‐21 | Friday | Nestor Falls to Fort Frances | Ride Day | 94 |
24‐Jul‐21 | Saturday | Fort Frances rest day | Rest Day | – |
25‐Jul‐21 | Sunday | Fort Frances to Mine Centre | Ride Day | 68.1 |
26‐Jul‐21 | Monday | Mine Centre to Atikokan | Ride Day | 85.2 |
27‐Jul‐21 | Tuesday | Atikokan to Kashabowie | Ride Day | 97.3 |
28‐Jul‐21 | Wednesday | Kashabowie to Shabaqua | Ride Day | 47.7 |
29‐Jul‐21 | Thursday | Shabaqua to Thunder Bay | Ride Day | 65.6 |
30‐Jul‐21 | Friday | Thunder Bay rest day | Rest Day | – |
31‐Jul‐21 | Saturday | Thunder Bay event day | Event | – |
01‐Aug‐21 | Sunday | Thunder Bay to Shunia | Ride Day | 59.1 |
02‐Aug‐21 | Monday | Shuniah to Nipigon | Ride Day | 84 |
03‐Aug‐21 | Tuesday | Nipigon to Schreiber | Ride Day | 91.2 |
04‐Aug‐21 | Wednesday | Schreiber to Marathon | Ride Day | 96.2 |
05‐Aug‐21 | Thursday | Marathon to White River | Ride Day | 91.7 |
06‐Aug‐21 | Friday | White River to Wawa | Ride Day | 92 |
07‐Aug‐21 | Saturday | Wawa rest day | Rest Day | – |
08‐Aug‐21 | Sunday | Wawa to Agawa Bay Campground | Ride Day | 89 |
09‐Aug‐21 | Monday | Agawa Bay to Goulais River | Ride Day | 94 |
10‐Aug‐21 | Tuesday | Goulais River to Sault Ste. Marie | Ride Day | 39 |
11‐Aug‐21 | Wednesday | Sault Ste. Marie rest day | Rest Day | – |
12‐Aug‐21 | Thursday | Sault Ste. Marie area event day (Start of Stage 4) | Event | – |
13‐Aug‐21 | Friday | Sault Ste. Marie to Thessalon | Ride Day | 84 |
14‐Aug‐21 | Saturday | Thessalon to Spragge | Ride Day | 84 |
15‐Aug‐21 | Sunday | Spragge to Espanola | Ride Day | 71 |
16‐Aug‐21 | Monday | Espanola to South Baymouth | Ride Day | 111 |
17‐Aug‐21 | Tuesday | Ferry from South Baymouth to Tobermory, bike to Wiarton | Ride Day | 75.7 |
18‐Aug‐21 | Wednesday | Wiarton to Owen Sound | Ride Day | 41.8 |
19‐Aug‐21 | Thursday | Owen Sound Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
20‐Aug‐21 | Friday | Owen Sound to Wasaga Beach | Ride Day | 78 |
21‐Aug‐21 | Saturday | Wasaga Beach to Orillia | Ride Day | 81 |
22‐Aug‐21 | Sunday | Orillia to Coboconk | Ride Day | 57 |
23‐Aug‐21 | Monday | Coboconk to Bancroft | Ride Day | 101 |
24‐Aug‐21 | Tuesday | Bancroft to Cloyne | Ride Day | 80.6 |
25‐Aug‐21 | Wednesday | Cloyne to Christie Lake | Ride Day | 79.7 |
26‐Aug‐21 | Thursday | Christie Lake rest day | Rest Day | – |
27‐Aug‐21 | Friday | Christie Lake area event day | Event | – |
28‐Aug‐21 | Saturday | Christie Lake to Ottawa | Ride Day | 104 |
29‐Aug‐21 | Sunday | Ottawa, ON to Grenville‐sur‐la‐Rouge, QC | Ride Day | 95 |
30‐Aug‐21 | Monday | Grenville‐sur‐la‐Rouge to Oka | Ride Day | 72.4 |
31‐Aug‐21 | Tuesday | Oka to Montreal | Ride Day | 53.8 |
01‐Sep‐21 | Wednesday | Montreal Rest Day | Rest Day | – |
02‐Sep‐21 | Thursday | Montreal area event day (Start of Stage 5) | Event | – |
03‐Sep‐21 | Friday | Montréal, QC to Lanoraie | Ride Day | 71 |
04‐Sep‐21 | Saturday | Lanoraie to Trois‐Rivières | Ride Day | 71 |
05‐Sep‐21 | Sunday | Trois‐Rivières to Portneuf | Ride Day | 73 |
06‐Sep‐21 | Monday | Portneuf to Quebec City | Ride Day | 71.4 |
07‐Sep‐21 | Tuesday | Quebec City rest day | Rest Day | – |
08‐Sep‐21 | Wednesday | Québec to Saint‐Jean‐Port‐Joli | Ride Day | 95 |
09‐Sep‐21 | Thursday | Saint‐Jean‐Port‐Joli to Rivière‐du‐Loup | Ride Day | 94 |
10‐Sep‐21 | Friday | Rivière‐du‐Loup to Rimouski | Ride Day | 100 |
11‐Sep‐21 | Saturday | Rimouski to Sayabec | Ride Day | 85 |
12‐Sep‐21 | Sunday | Sayabec to Causapscal | Ride Day | 53 |
13‐Sep‐21 | Monday | Causapscal to Campbellton, NB | Ride Day | 81 |
14‐Sep‐21 | Tuesday | Campbellton rest day | Rest Day | – |
15‐Sep‐21 | Wednesday | Campbellton, NB area event day | Event | – |
16‐Sep‐21 | Thursday | Campbellton to Bathurst | Ride Day | 109 |
17‐Sep‐21 | Friday | Bathurst to Bathurst to Black River Bridge | Ride Day | 100 |
18‐Sep‐21 | Saturday | Black River Bridge to Shédiac | Ride Day | 115 |
19‐Sep‐21 | Sunday | Shédiac, NB to Borden‐Carleton, PE + Confederation Bridge | Ride Day | 72 |
20‐Sep‐21 | Monday | Borden‐Charleton, PE to Charlottetown, PE via Confederation Trail | Ride Day | 67 |
21‐Sep‐21 | Tuesday | Charlottetown rest day | Rest Day | – |
22‐Sep‐21 | Wednesday | Charlottetown, PE event day | Event | – |
23‐Sep‐21 | Thursday | Charlottetown, PE to Pictou, NS | Ride Day | 92 |
24‐Sep‐21 | Friday | Pictou, NS to Antigonish, NS | Ride Day | 74 |
25‐Sep‐21 | Saturday | Antigonish, NS to Whycocomagh, NS | Ride Day | 104 |
26‐Sep‐21 | Sunday | Whycocomagh, NS to North Sydney, NS | Ride Day | 93 |
27‐Sep‐21 | Monday | Ferry North Sydney to Port aux Basques | Ferry | – |
28‐Sep‐21 | Tuesday | Channel Port‐aux‐Basques, NL to Robinson’s junction, NL | Ride Day | 106 |
29‐Sep‐21 | Wednesday | Robinsons to Corner Brook, NL | Ride Day | 119 |
30‐Sep‐21 | Thursday | Corner Brook rest day | Rest Day | – |
01‐Oct‐21 | Friday | Corner Brook, NL to Deer Lake, NL | Ride Day | 65 |
02‐Oct‐21 | Saturday | Deer Lake, NL to Sheppardville, NL | Ride Day | 96 |
03‐Oct‐21 | Sunday | Sheppardville, NL to Grand Falls‐Windsor, NL | Ride Day | 116 |
04‐Oct‐21 | Monday | Grand Falls‐Windsor, NL to Gander, NL | Ride Day | 101 |
05‐Oct‐21 | Tuesday | Gander, NL to Mallorytown, NL | Ride Day | 101 |
06‐Oct‐21 | Wednesday | Mallorytown, NL to Arnold’s Cove, NL | Ride Day | 119 |
07‐Oct‐21 | Thursday | Arnold’s Cove, NL to Whitbourne, NL | Ride Day | 50 |
08‐Oct‐21 | Friday | Whitebourne to St. John’s | Ride Day | 89.1 |
09‐Oct‐21 | Saturday | Final day events | Event | – |
Number of Days 135 | Total Distance (KM) | 8292.3 |
The daily trip plan and activities are adventurous and fun. The trip is all about enjoying the bike travel experience – we will pack what we need, eat well, and connect with each other and the locals along the route.
All group members are part of the team. Everyone will agree to participate in group activities, food preparation, shopping, camp setup/cleanup, and telling the story. Regular rotation of trip activities will include:
- Green team – minimizing our impact on the places we visit and stay
- Journal team – documenting and sharing our daily activities with the group and broader community
- Hospitality team – keeping the group in good spirits
- Cook team – meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping and cleanup
Our home on the road will be a mix of camping (sometimes not in official campsites) and home-stays as guests of friends and family or communities. As much as possible, we will choose well-maintained campgrounds and local stays with comfortable arrangements including indoor facilities and showers. In more remote backroads camping scenarios, we may have to improvise portable toilets and water features for cleaning up. For indoor accomodations, shared rooms may be of mixed gender with two or more people per room.
Those who prefer not to camp are free to stay in hotels or AirBnBs along the route, at your own expense. We will communicate with you each day about meeting points and other logistics.
Here is some advice from the Adventure Cycling Association. It is entirely possible to tour on nearly any bike — grab your cruiser, strap on a backpack, and go! — but there’s a whole world of bikes and gear created by passionate bicycle travelers that can make life easier and more comfortable on the road or trail (for starters, backpacks are best avoided in favor of on-bike luggage or panniers). Here are some bike options:
Classic touring bike
A classic touring bike sports a steel frame, dropbars, a wide-range drivetrain of up to 30 gears, 700c wheels with 35mm tires, and mounts for front and rear racks onto which you could mount panniers. Built with heavier tubing to accommodate big loads, these bikes are the pickup trucks of the cycling world — rugged, reliable, and able to haul nearly anything from here to there.
Hybrid touring bikes and mountain bikes, “go-anywhere bikes”
A go-anywhere bike share many traits with mountain bikes where simplicity, durability, and efficiency is preferred. They can utilize dropbars or flat bars, front suspension or rigid forks, and can come in a range of shapes and wheel sizes – 26”, 27.5”, 700c or 29er. Typical features include a wider mountain bike tire or touring tire and low gearing. There are typically frame mounts for front and rear racks onto which you could carry panniers.
Gravel Bikes
Gravel bikes range wildly, from high-performance carbon machines built for racing to relaxed adventure bikes well-suited for tours. These bikes often feature dropbars, clearance for wider tires (up to 50mm), and are suited for racks and panniers or bikepacking-style bags depending on the model. These machines are extremely versatile and can offer an excellent compromise between loaded and unloaded riding on a variety of surfaces. Compared to a classic touring bike, gravel bikes are not typically as over-built and rugged as a classic touring bike and may require more maintenance on a long trip.
eBikes
Sometimes a little assist is what it takes to get on tour, and eBikes offer an intriguing option. Premium models aren’t cheap (and cheap models aren’t as reliable for touring), but the modern era of ‘pedelec’ (pedal assist, no throttle) eBikes provide some extra oomph for any tour with reliable motors and long-range batteries. While many models are made for commuting or recreational cycling, touring eBikes are available from most major manufacturers.
Whatever bike you ride, it will be important to be comfortable. Important things to consider are, having the right saddle for you, clip or clipless pedals depending on your riding style, the right bike fit, and many other considerations. Our group leader, Rick McFerrin and his partner Tanya have done multiple around-the-world bike trips. Other members of the team have extensive experience in long-distance cycle touring. We can help you with your bike.
Packing List – ConnecTour_2021 >>
Use this packing list as a guideline to make sure you bring just what you need for on and off the bike. We want you to be prepared for your trip.
VIDEO: Rick Shows you how to pack and mount your panniers.
Keep in mind that you have to carry everything on your bicycle. There is no support vehicle on this trip. Unlike backpacking, you don’t want to carry a lot of weight on your back. Instead, most of your gear should be placed in bike panniers or bikepacking-style bags. We carry a limited selection of panniers and bags for any length tour. Order direct from our store >>.
Climate
The weather conditions across Canada can vary greatly depending on where you are. Days can be warm and pleasant, night time temperatures can drop to close to zero depending on the elevation. Daytime temperatures can allow for shorts, short-sleeved shirts, and dresses. Be sure to pack a sweater, long pants, and a light jacket for cooler climates and mosquitos. Always be prepared to dress in layers, and bring your rain gear.
Please check the current weather forecast for the region you are travelling.
Other Considerations
You will have the opportunity on the rest days to do laundry. You can always hand wash your clothes (underwear, cycling shorts, etc.) in a bucket and hang to dry overnight or hang off your bike.
Tips for Packing
Staying Warm and Keeping Cool: We recommend layering as the best way to stay warm and keep cool. Though we can’t guarantee perfect weather, we can guarantee that the sun may not always shine. To keep you protected from the elements and feeling cool on a hot day, always carry rain gear and start with a breathable synthetic shirt to layer under a vest, windbreaker, or fleece jacket. Avoid cotton fabrics while exercising–the absorbent qualities prevent wicking and insulate poorly when wet.
Biking Clothing: To ensure your comfort on the bike, it is important to wear the appropriate clothing. Padded shorts or cycling specific shorts are recommended to help prevent chafing and soreness after a long day in the saddle. As well, we encourage you to wear a cycling jersey or a breathable synthetic shirt. This will help wick moisture away from your skin and prevent you from becoming chilled or overheated.
Many people wonder if they should bring things like cycling gloves and cycling shoes. Gloves provide much-needed padding for your hands and will prevent them from getting sore and tired as the day goes on. Cycling shoes that come with cleats and special pedals should only be used if you have been riding with them on a regular basis and are comfortable using them on long riding days. We encourage you to take the time to learn how to ride with them before using them on your trip.
Evening Clothing: The evening activities on this trip will be casual. Bring something to wear in the evening that is not biking clothing.
Suggested Packing List
Documents and money
- Waterproof Document Case / Zip lock bag
- Identification, passport (if not from Canada)
- Travel documents: flights, reservations, etc
- Health Care/Medical insurance card
- Prescriptions
- Credit card numbers and phone numbers (or a copy of your credit cards)
- Cash
Suggested clothing and personal items
- Dry bags for packing – 20L to 30L dry bags/sacks available at outdoor stores or heavy weight plastic bags.
- Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb, brush, contact solution, razors, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, conditioner, feminine product, etc.
- Towel: Small light weight/quick dry camp towel.
- Bandana or hand towel.
- Hand sanitizer / Face mask
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- 5 Underwear: change daily and wash as necessary along the way
- 2 T-shirts or cycling jersey: quick dry, lightweight material
- 1 long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt or layer that you would be comfortable wearing on the ride or after cycling, out to eat, or walking around town or camp
- Cycling pants: lightweight, quick dry type pants that you can wear while cycling or for warmth.
- 2 short pants: biking shorts or whatever you are comfortable cycling in.
- 4 pair socks
- Bathing suit
- Rain jacket: lightweight – for warm rain
- Rain pants: lightweight pants that you can cycle in
- Gloves and toque: there can be cool mornings and evenings.
- Pajamas or something comfortable to sleep in.
- Closed-toe shoes/sandals: something to wear when you are not cycling – wet conditions may exist.
- Sunglasses: good to have eye protection while cycling.
- Sun hat / Ball cap / Visor
- Phone/Charger/Adapters
Camping Items
- Tent – light weight and small when packed
- Tarp (optional)
- Sleep bag / Sleeping sheet: Pack in a compression bag.
- Sleeping pad and repair kit: Self-inflatable mats are the most common choice that are usually lighter and more compact
- First aid kit / Rx
- Clothes line
- Headlamp/flashlight and extra batteries
- Dishes and cutlery – The core group of ConnecTour trip leaders will have a basic camp kitchen, stove(s) and utensils for food preparation. Bring your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery and favorite spices.
Bike Specific Items
- Panniers / Handle bar bag
- Bungee cords
- Bike shoes: sturdy pair of closed-toe shoe for cycling.
- Helmet
- Multi-tool
- Chain lube
- Patch kit / tire levers / pump / spare tubes
- Zip ties
- Water bottles
- Cycling gloves
- Bike lock
- Spare parts as required. e.g. brake pads, cables, cable housing, extra screws, spokes, etc. The ConnecTour trip leaders will be able to provide basic bike mechanical service and repair.
Other items you might want to consider
- Camera, USB drive, extra HD card, battery charger
- Book/journal: paperback or lightweight
- Pens: for writing in the group journal and your personal journal.
- Pocket knife
- Maps
- Discs for disc golf
- Handle bar mounts for phone or GPS devices
- Playing cards
- Cribbage board
- Dice
- Ear buds
- Reading glasses
Download PDF: Packing List – ConnecTour_2021 >>
Other Frequently Asked Questions
The COVID-19 pandemic has left us questioning our assumptions about what community is and what we want from ourselves and our society. Canadians are reeling from this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Travel has the power to connect us, to enrich our lives and to inspire us. Traveling fundamentally transforms us. A bike tour across Canada at the speed of life is a way to encourage all of us to, as Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
- ConnecTour will create opportunities for us to share, express and appreciate our Canadian identity.
- ConnecTour will contribute to building a sense of pride and attachment to Canada.
We recognize the uncertainty of making travel plans with this rapidly evolving situation. To minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission, we will follow government health protocols, and will monitor developments closely. Our top priority is to safeguard the health and safety of the group and the communities we visit. We will be smart, be kind, and be healthy.
This is not a race! We truly mean to travel at the speed of life. Traveling by bicycle is a lot of fun, but let’s be real – not every day will be amazing. There will be difficult and challenging days because of the weather, road conditions, terrain and/or group dynamics. For this cross Canada ride, you should be relatively fit and comfortable with riding 65 km/day and up to 115 km/day on a long day. We would also expect that you be cooperative and attentive even in difficult situations.
You can go at your own speed – the important part is communicating with the group about your speed and expectations. As a group, we will have regular check-ins to talk about the daily plans and to manage healthy group dynamics. Each member of the ride team will be expected to participate in activities to support the well-being of the group, e.g., route planning, safety, grocery shopping, meal preparation, camp set-up, bike mechanics, and fun and games.
From past experiences with groups on bike trips, most people end up riding together with others at their own speed. Faster riders can enjoy riding faster; slower riders can enjoy riding slower. Depending on the weather and terrain, an average day will be about 80 km at an average speed of around 15 km/hour. Our goal is to be in the saddle no more than about five hours a day – taking breaks about every hour for snacks, sightseeing and letting our bodies get some rest.
No. The beauty of this is that, although we’d love to have you along for the entire ride, that may not be feasible for you. So, you can join us for a few hours, a day or three or five. Or, if you have the time, you can ride with us for a week or a month. A pre-determined route with planned stages and events is set up for the ride across Canada. See our Route page for a description of each stage.
We can help. Do you need a bike tune-up or overhaul? Racks, panniers, new tires, new drive train? We work with a number of bicycle industry wholesalers and can offer competitive prices on bicycle touring setups. Contact us for details info@connectour.ca or (403) 402-1688. Visit our online Shop for panniers and other items.
Your bicycle touring and camping gear should include the usual camping items, such as a sleeping bag, tent, outerwear and other essentials that you would bring on any outdoor adventure. Because this is a bike tour, you should also carry some basic bike items: helmet, tire repair kit, spare tubes and a multi-tool.
In summary, these are some essential items you should have for the trip.
□ Tent – lightweight, small when packed
□ Sleeping Pad – Self-inflatable mats are the most common choice that are usually lighter and more compact
□ Sleeping Bag
□ Panniers or bike-packing-style bags – Unlike backpacking, you don’t want to carry a lot of weight on your back. Instead, most of your gear should be placed in bike panniers or bikepacking-style bags. We carry a limited selection of panniers and bags for any length tour. Order direct from our store. Free pickup or delivery in Calgary.
□ Headlamp
□ Multi-tool – The core group of ConnecTour trip leaders will have tools for on-the-road repairs and maintenance and a few spare components
□ Dishes and cutlery – The core group of ConnecTour trip leaders will have a basic camp kitchen, stove(s) and utensils for food preparation. Bring your own plate, bowl, cup and cutlery
□ Rain gear and outerwear for a variety of weather conditions
A complete list of bicycle touring and camping gear will be provided prior to your trip to make sure you have the right stuff. We work with a number of bicycle industry wholesalers and can offer competitive prices on bicycle touring setups. Contact us for details info@connectour.ca or (403) 402-1688.
There is no support vehicle. This is a self contained bike tour and you will have to carry all of your own gear.
It is important that you have the right clothes, camping gear and essential bike components for the trip. Please contact us if you have specific questions about what to bring or not bring. We want you to be prepared. Keep in mind that you have to carry everything on your bicycle.
Download the suggested packing: Packing List – ConnecTour_2021 >>
Yes! Yes! Yes! We welcome local volunteers along the route, as well as people with specific areas of expertise (e.g., medical or photo/videography) to join us on the ride. Contact us at info@connectour.ca.
There are many, and here’s a great one:
If your bike computer includes cadence, use it to find the gear that let’s you ride comfortably at about 80-pedal-revolutions per minute. Uphill, downhill or over a long flat, it doesn’t matter. Keep your cadence at that tempo and it will help you achieve your goals with maximum efficiency.