UPDATED April 27, 2020

BY Michael Coo

IN Company

39 comments

UPDATED April 27, 2020

BY Michael Coo

IN Company

39 comments

Michael’s Canadian Pop-Up Menu: 4 Cycling Courses To Choose From

 

Please click here to see our current Canadian route, Canada Coast to Coast.

Given the current situation around the world, it looks like cyclists may have to stay closer to home in 2020, at least until the summer or fall. To that end, we have started to plan some ‘in-country’ trips for our riders, if local health conditions allow. First up, Canada…

Please vote for your favourite course at the end of this blog. That will give us an idea which of these amazing cycling adventures we should start working on.

Amuse-Bouche – Kissing The Cod

This Trans-Atlantic trip would cover all 4 of Canada’s Eastern provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland), taking the cyclists over 1635 kms from Halifax to St John’s. There would be 14 days of riding, 4 rest days and 1 travel day on the ferry across the Bay of Fundy from Digby to Saint John.

Highlights

  • Halifax harbour
  • Peggy’s Cove
  • Digby scallops
  • Bay of Fundy
  • Reversing Falls
  • PEI beaches
  • Cabot Trail
  • Kissing the Cod in St John’s

Appetizer – Québec: Je t’aime

This circular tour of the province of Québec begins and ends it in beautiful, cosmopolitain Montreal. The route, covering 2460 kms and including 22 days of cycling and 4 rest days, traverses some of the province’s iconic regions – the Eastern Townships, the Gulf of St Lawrence, Gaspé & Lac St Jean.

Highlights

  • Montreal
  • Route Verte
  • Quebec City
  • St Lawrence River
  • Whale Watching
  • Gaspé/Perce Rock
  • Lac St Jean/Route des Bluets

Entrée – In The Footsteps of the Voyageurs

Following one of the main historic routes of Canada’s fur-trading Voyageurs, on bicycles instead of in canoes, this cycling adventure will take riders on a 2450 km odyssey from the Limestone City of Kingston to Thunder Bay, the Land of Nanabozho, the Sleeping Giant. There are 23 riding days, 5 rest days & 1 travel day on the ferry from Tobermory to Manitoulin Island.

Highlights

  • Kingston
  • Prince Edward County & Lake Erie Vineyards
  • Toronto
  • Niagara Falls
  • 4 Great Lakes – Ontario, Erie, Huron & Superior
  • Tobermory
  • North shore of Lake Superior
  • Nanabozho – The Sleeping Giant

Dessert – Beautiful British Columbia

This circular tour of Beautiful British Columbia begins in the province’s capital, Victoria and ends 1845 kms later in one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Vancouver. The route includes 16 cycling days and 5 rest days. The 2 travel days include a beautiful daylight cruise through the stunning Inside Passage and another day of train travel along the scenic Skeena River from Prince Rupert to Prince George.

Highlights

  • VictoriaVancouver Island
  • Inside Passage
  • Cariboo Highway – BC
  • InteriorVineyards in the Okanagan
  • 3 days cycling the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (trestles)
  • Fraser River
  • Harrison Hot Springs
  • Vancouver

Please click here to see our current Canadian route, Canada Coast to Coast.

Vote Now

 

 

39 Comments for "Michael’s Canadian Pop-Up Menu: 4 Cycling Courses To Choose From"

Hope these trips happen as I’m having to give the Silk Route in 2021 a reevaluation. Regards.

    Hi Tom, We hope so too. Do you have a favourite amongst them?

Hi Michael…..Dace and Jetje are very excited about what you are putting together…..in particular the Beautiful British Columbia Dessert route. We are spreading the word to our friends. Also hope the trip includes camping.

    Hi Dave, Glad to hear you are interested and thanks for spreading the word. We are still deciding on camping vs hotels. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

Add on a few cycling days to BC loop. Nice!

    Hi John, Where should we add in some more riding days?

Have done most of it and I think the Prince Rupert to Prince George is a better cycle than train! I would suggest stay away from hwy 97 wide shoulder but way too much traffic and Trucks ++++++
The most beautiful part not here would be Vernon to Nakusp to new Denver to Nelson. Beautiful road, (rated top 4 Motorcycle rides in Canada) Lots of climbing lots of history. Future thoughts.

    Hi Clyde, Thanks for the suggestions!

    I am most interested in the Kissing the Cod and Dessert routes.

    To add to Clyde Smith’s comments regarding the West Kootenays from Vernon to Nelson. Part of that route is the “silver triangle” ride. Much nicer than the “golden triangle” ride in the Rockies – very light traffic and good shoulders. Very popular cycling route with stunning scenery and vistas. The “silver triangle” ride goes through historic silver mining areas, in particular the segment from New Denver to Kaslo (70 km from Nelson), which goes over the Monashee Mountain Range (very close to where Michel Trudeau dies in an avalanche).

      Hi Bob, Thanks for the suggestions. If you want to stay in the loop regarding the tours please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

Hi Michael and TDA guys,
The Beautiful British Columbia trip sounds dreamy. That’s a part of Canada that most of us never see, and this is the best way to see it. I know that there are many TDA alums in Vancouver. Maybe we could have a big reunion when we’re there. Maybe a big BBQ. Maybe book BC/DC (a local AC/DC cover band) to play the BBQ. Maybe end the night with a recreation of “Burning Man!” What a way to celebrate the end of a pandemic! Thanks, TDA, for once turning lemons into lemonade.

    Hi Dan, Love the idea of a TDA reunion! Would you be interested in joining the trip? To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

Like to see more details on BC trip. Can we use ebikes too?

Michael

    Hi Michael, Glad to hear you are interested. We would certainly consider allowing e-bikes. To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

As I am from BC, this would be an amazing trip visiting so many beautiful parts of the province. Hope it happens!

Have not participate in a TDA cycling course, try-out a course in Canada, North America closer to home would be great.
AMUSE-BOUCHE – KISSING THE COD – 1635 kms from Halifax to St John’s, is that land km, or including ferry trip?
For the 14 days of riding, approximately how many km per day? 1635 + 14 = 117 km?
Look forward to this!

    HI Antonio, 1635 km is the land portion so, yes, about 155 kms/day. Hope you can join us. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

I have ridden the section from Kelowna to Prince George. It is absolutely the best. Wide open roads with drop dead gorgeous scenery. I cannot wait to do this route!

    Glad to hear you are interested. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

BC route. Might want to consider instread of up the busy Malahat. Galloping goose trail to Swartz bay ferry —> to salt spring island across salt spring island then ferry from Vesuvius bay to crofton.
Or Victoria—>Sooke—>Port Renfrew—>Lake Cowichan—>North Cowichan.

    Hi Andrew, Thanks for that suggestion. It looks great.

I’ve driven much of the BC route already, so I’m familiar with a lot of it, but I agree with some of the other commenters – I’d want to cycle from Rupert to Prince George, not take the train.

Remi.

I am looking for bike tours closer to home. Home being Saint John!
I would be keen on doing the kissing the cod through to St John’s but then continue self supported back to Cornerbrook and back to Saint John. That would take another minimum 10 days.

    That sounds like a great plan. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

Thanks Michael
You are always on top of everything. I would do any of the Canadian routes but Quebec would be my first choice. I hope you can do at least one!!

    Glad to hear you are interested. Being from Montreal myself, I have to agree with you. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

each course has appeal but the important point for me is starting/finish dates?

like to do all four but dependent on dates ?

    Glad to hear you are interested. Dates will depend on the evolving health situation but hopefully later this summer! To stay in the loop please contact eva@tdaglobalcycling.com

Monitor the Kettle Valley section as I believe there was a washout the other day

    Hi Barb, Yes, we saw that. Should be up and running by the time we get there.

Hi Michael

Would love to do the Kissing the Cod or even the Voyageur route. Probably going to stay in Canada for a bit and would love a trip such as these…

As these trips are not “crossing a continent”, I would love to have the daily average drop to encourage tourist stops along the way (smell more roses). Daily average maybe 80 – 100 km.

    Would love to join my TdA friends somewhere in my beautiful CANADA. Agree with Keith that 150km cycle days are a bit too long to enjoy where you are …. Also a tour across the Rock would be awesome St. Johns to Cornerbrook or the othervway around ….

These all look amazing!!!!! While it’s long been a dream for me to go to BC, the other tours are more accessible from a travel standpoint (re: as an east coast American (sigh….please let the border be open) I can train/bus/drive for a lower cost) so I’d love to see one of those offered. Bay of Fundy is another dream destination for me, so I’d be thrilled to join on that one. But really each of these look just fabulous. Props to the whole TDA team on being so agile through all this, quickly creating online community when tours had to end and then coming up with some fantastic alternatives.
PS If you’d be down for a tour south of your border, I would be more than happy to help coordinate, lead, cook, entertain…whatever! Though if the border is open, I would prefer to play in your house 🙂

As these trips are not “crossing a continent”, I would love to have the daily average drop to encourage tourist stops along the way (smell more roses). Daily average maybe 80 – 100 km.

Hi Michael!!
All those trips sound fantastic :). I like that TDA is putting together cycling courses in Canada……I haven’t seen lots of this country. Look forward to this!

I’m keen and quebec is easy cuz I can drive to Montreal . I agree with shorter days so we can actually tour a bit instead of only riding !! I’d prefer 80 -100 a day

Thanks

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