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| What motivated you to bike across Canada? |
| I did the Tour for several reasons. I wanted to be a better cyclist, I wanted to see my country and I
love a good adventure. I enjoy meeting new people and I like camping. All of this put together made for the most memorable summer
of my life. |
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| What kind of bike do you have? |
| I have a Trek 2000 road bike made of aluminum with Shimano components and a 9-speed cassette. I bought
it in June 2001, about a week before the trip. I upgraded to 23mm kevlar bead tires because they are easier to change on the
roadside. It was really reliable and the only trouble I had was 5 flat tires. Mechanically, it didn't let me down at all. I had
an entry-level road bike before the Trek, and in retrospect, I'm really glad I upgraded when I did. |
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| How much does the trip cost? |
| Current fees can be found at TourduCanada.com.
It covers food, camping fees, route maps, and the
convenience of having your bags trucked from one campsite to the next.
Airfare to BC in June and from Newfoundland in September is not included
in the price. I also spent about $20 a day on food. Despite the fact that meals are provided (and filling ones usually), most
people find they're still hungry all the time on this trip because they're burning thousands of extra calories each day. |
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| If you were to do it again, what would you do differently? |
| I'd bring a warmer sleeping bag, I'd eat more healthy food and less junk food, and I'd carry less
on the bike - I wouldn't wait until Day 48 to remove the rear rack and trunk bag. We were very lucky with the
weather; there was so little rain that summer that we didn't have to bother bringing extra layers. |
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How did you train for it? |
| I started cycling in May 2000 and cycled constantly all summer and all fall. I loved it so much that
I even cycled through the winter on an old mountain bike to stay fit. I covered 6000 km that year in preparation for the Tour,
and a lot of it was distance riding which builds aerobic endurance. |
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How do I know if I can do it? |
| The Tour du Canada certainly isn't easy. Most days I loved it, some days I didn't. Physically it was
tough, and psychologically it was even tougher. But if you are athletic and you have the motivation to do it, there's nothing
stopping you from going coast to coast. It requires 3 things: |
- Mental Stamina
- A Positive Attitude
- A Reliable Bike
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If you have any other questions or comments regarding this journal, I welcome your feedback. Email me anytime at |
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