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 >>