Thoughts on Cross Canada Solo Bike Tour

[Master Ed]

Long time lurker, rare poster.

I wanted to get a few thoughts and opinions on a possible bike trip across Canada from June to whenever I finish.

Obviously my main concern is the pandemic and how it might affect me and others as I travel. My thoughts are to be as self-sufficient as possible, with a tent and basic cooking supplies. Some stops at gas stations, grocery stores and take out restaurants would be required.

I'd like to either find campsites as I go, maybe the rare motel and sometimes wild camp if possible.

I've been running through possible scenarios and considerations in my head so that I can be as prepared as possible, but obviously the current health situation is so uncertain.

What are some thoughts, considerations and perceptions on someone who might undertake a solo bike trip during COVID times (bathrooms, quarantine rules, provincial border crossings, angry locals...)?

Haven't made up my mind yet, so your feedback would be helpful!

[morgin]

Motorbike or human powered bike?

[troutman]

Are you riding around Lake Superior? It can be a long way between settlements.

https://gearpatrol.com/2016/01/06/dr...ontario-shore/

[topfiverecords]

Campgrounds in Saskatchewan are only open to provincial residents and this may apply in other provinces too.

[skudr248]

Dude why the hell not, sounds fun. If you got time and sufficient resources... go for it, don’t let others influence your decision.

[Snuffleupagus]

There's access problems with covid in some provinces with mandatory 14 day isolation.


When it does open up try to break the record, it won't be easy though!

This grandfather did Vancouver to Halifax in 13 days, 6 hours and 13 minutes.



It would take me 13 days to go thru BC alone

[Master Ed]

Originally Posted by morgin

Motorbike or human powered bike?

Human powered. Got the bike and most of the gear ready to go. Just have to make the decision!

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Maybe I'm just feeling a little more cautious than normal, but doing a trip like that without at least a partner sounds dangerous to me. I surely hope that you at least have someone tracking your movements twice daily in case something goes wrong. Call in to someone and give them your GPS location at lunch and dinner time. This also begs the question, what are you doing for electricity? Obviously you wouldn't do this without taking at least a phone, right?

Doing things like this solo makes me pretty nervous. Always have backup of some sort.

[Ryan Coke]

Sounds awesome to me. If you do it keep us posted on here.

Last I checked a few days ago, there are several provinces that have interprovincial 14 day isolation requirements. Manitoba, then the socialist states of Canada out East...Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. Not sure about Newfoundland.

Considering they have almost no cases, hopefully they reintegrate themselves with the rest of Canada soon and lift those restrictions against their fellow countrymen.

[Howie_16]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Sounds awesome to me. If you do it keep us posted on here.

Last I checked a few days ago, there are several provinces that have interprovincial 14 day isolation requirements. Manitoba, then the socialist states of Canada out East...Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and PEI. Not sure about Newfoundland.

Considering they have almost no cases, hopefully they reintegrate themselves with the rest of Canada soon and lift those restrictions against their fellow countrymen.

Ironic statement from an Albertan who refers to the Maritimes as "socialist"

[AltaGuy]

I've thought often about the trans-canada trail and how cool it would be.

I think you will have a tough time with many campgrounds right now.

Bring some spare battery packs for your cellphone that you can keep charged, get a GPS app that tracks your movement in case something happens. An extra cell isn't a bad idea.

Bring serious bug spray, a water filtration kit, and a good first aid kit.

And go for it! Take pictures and keep us updated.

[Johnny199r]

For inspiration go to crazyguyonabike.com. This retired husband and wife team from Edmonton have rode across South America, Asia and Africa. The website details every day of each trip with lots of pictures.

[mikephoen]

This seems like a great idea... any other year than this one. Just my opinion, but put it off for a year.

[Master Ed]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Maybe I'm just feeling a little more cautious than normal, but doing a trip like that without at least a partner sounds dangerous to me. I surely hope that you at least have someone tracking your movements twice daily in case something goes wrong. Call in to someone and give them your GPS location at lunch and dinner time. This also begs the question, what are you doing for electricity? Obviously you wouldn't do this without taking at least a phone, right?

Doing things like this solo makes me pretty nervous. Always have backup of some sort.

Certainly all good points. I will have a couple ways to charge my phone - small solar panels and a dynamo hub that generates electricity with the spinning of the wheel to feed a power bank.

[OMG!WTF!]

I'd leave asap. There's probably much less traffic now than normal.

[GGG]

What route?

If it’s all well travelled highways I don’t see any safety risk. If it’s less travelled, no cell access areas a Spot or Satphone would be useful.

From a Covid standpoint I would commit to Bush camping, going from motel to motel to motel seems like a risk to communities along your route. I’d also focus on longer gaps between resupplies (7 days) as symptoms will usually show up in days 3-5. And where a mask when resupplying in grocery stores. And finally understand who to call in each province to get tested in if you show symptoms and be prepared to isolate in your tent until you get results back.

So if you can do it in a back country style I don’t see any reason not to.

[Master Ed]

Originally Posted by GGG

What route?

If it’s all well travelled highways I don’t see any safety risk. If it’s less travelled, no cell access areas a Spot or Satphone would be useful.

From a Covid standpoint I would commit to Bush camping, going from motel to motel to motel seems like a risk to communities along your route. I’d also focus on longer gaps between resupplies (7 days) as symptoms will usually show up in days 3-5. And where a mask when resupplying in grocery stores. And finally understand who to call in each province to get tested in if you show symptoms and be prepared to isolate in your tent until you get results back.

So if you can do it in a back country style I don’t see any reason not to.

Yes, it would be mostly highways and travelled roads so cell service should be fine for the most part. Carrying a few days worth of food and water is definitely high on the priority list so that I can avoid stopping every day in small towns.

Good point about finding out where to get tested.

I appreciate all the good suggestions so far! Still lots to think about and who knows how things will progress over the next couple of weeks.

[wwkayaker]

Check out this couple who are biking from Alaska to Argentina. https://theplacesipee.com/

Some posters are making Canada sound like a scary place to be alone without cell service or quick access to services. If you were planning to bike through Honduras, I would question your plan but not Canada. I say go for it and expect to be uncomfortable and scared. That is probably what you are going to remember the most.

As far as camping goes, there shouldn’t be issues. One guy I encountered a couple of times (can’t remember his name but I recall he was Japanese), was biking from Alaska to Argentina set up his tent in the ditch when needed.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Maybe I'm just feeling a little more cautious than normal, but doing a trip like that without at least a partner sounds dangerous to me. I surely hope that you at least have someone tracking your movements twice daily in case something goes wrong. Call in to someone and give them your GPS location at lunch and dinner time. This also begs the question, what are you doing for electricity? Obviously you wouldn't do this without taking at least a phone, right?

Doing things like this solo makes me pretty nervous. Always have backup of some sort.

You can get a decent solar powered charger for pretty cheap .a friend has one he spent $70 on, and it works really well and folds up small.

The trip sounds pretty cool. If the OP has a chance to go now he should. If he doesn't go now, maybe he'll never get another chance. As Covid has shown us, you never know when #### will happen and change everything.

[Master Ed]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

You can get a decent solar powered charger for pretty cheap .a friend has one he spent $70 on, and it works really well and folds up small.

The trip sounds pretty cool. If the OP has a chance to go now he should. If he doesn't go now, maybe he'll never get another chance. As Covid has shown us, you never know when #### will happen and change everything.

The idea that I might never have another opportunity to spend a couple months doing this has definitely crossed my mind. With a job starting in September, this would be the last time to get three months with no commitments to be here for. I figure if things are working out I can make the decision to come back early without having given up too much.