biking across Canada.. solo? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-26-2005, 07:15 PM

Hey all,
I'm in a crappy situation here. I had been planning on riding across Canada
(west to east) for a few months now.. purchased about $1200 worth of gear,
etc. I had planned on going with 2 friends, but I just talked to one today
who said he can't go and the other is still "not official" since he has a
good job and all.

I obviously want to do this.. EVERYBODY I talk to (people that have done it
or not) says "you gotta do this..".

The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a city boy, and
I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do it 'on the
cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc. But, not having
2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot more scary. If
something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed without other people
around.

Anyways, I'm obviously hugely disappointed right now.. just asking for some
advice.

Mike

01-26-2005, 07:55 PM

"Mike Beauchamp" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a
city boy, and
> I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do
it 'on the
> cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
But, not having
> 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot more
scary. If
> something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed without
other people
> around.
>
Here's a guy who left Vancouver on February 2 and headed east.
5000+ miles. Solo. In the winter.
It's a good read, whatever your final decision.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-26-2005, 07:55 PM

"Mike Beauchamp" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a
city boy, and
> I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do
it 'on the
> cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
But, not having
> 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot more
scary. If
> something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed without
other people
> around.
>
Here's a guy who left Vancouver on February 2 and headed east.
5000+ miles. Solo. In the winter.
It's a good read, whatever your final decision.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-26-2005, 07:55 PM

"Mike Beauchamp" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a
city boy, and
> I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do
it 'on the
> cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
But, not having
> 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot more
scary. If
> something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed without
other people
> around.
>
Here's a guy who left Vancouver on February 2 and headed east.
5000+ miles. Solo. In the winter.
It's a good read, whatever your final decision.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-26-2005, 07:56 PM

Mike Beauchamp wrote:

> I'm in a crappy situation here. I had been planning on riding across
> Canada (west to east) for a few months now.. purchased about $1200
> worth of gear, etc. I had planned on going with 2 friends, but I just
> talked to one today who said he can't go and the other is still "not
> official" since he has a good job and all.
>
> I obviously want to do this.. EVERYBODY I talk to (people that have
> done it or not) says "you gotta do this..".
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a city boy,
> and I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do it
> 'on the cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
> But, not having 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot
> more scary. If something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed
> without other people around.
>
> Anyways, I'm obviously hugely disappointed right now.. just asking
> for some advice.

Long story short, Mike: go. Just go.

In '95, I took my car and my camping gear, left Florida (headed for
California), and camped my way up the mid-Atlantic states, through the
Catskills, into the Allegheny's, then stopped for a beer at a friend's bar
where I . . . met my eventual wife ;-)

All my camping was alone, but I was only alone when I wanted to be.
Canadians are (if you can ever stereotype so blatantly) an incredibly
friendly lot. I spent a few weeks in British Columbia years ago and their
hospitality was incredible. Cyclists, too, are quite the gregarious breed.
I'm sure you wouldn't lack for either company, if wanted, or help, if
needed.

You'd have some lonely times, to be sure, but those are the times where you
figure out who you are and what you're made of. You hang a lantern in your
tent and read any of a thousand books that are just /perfect/ for that kind
of trip.

Alternately, you can start posting on some of these NG's that you're looking
for a riding partner to join up with. That introduces its own set of risks
and issues, but . . . if the alone thing doesn't work . . . it's an option.
So is just shortening the trip--concentrating on just one or two provinces
or a particular region. Again, I remember BC as being incredibly
picturesque. Always wanted to go back there on my m/c, but I think it'd be
equally spectacular on a bike. You could do this thing in two or three
separate pieces. Once you start, you may just get the bug.

Take a cell phone set up for Canadian use. Let people hear from you
periodically. Talk to the locals when picking campgrounds. Don't be afraid
to get a dive hotel periodically. If it's bears you fear, learn all there
is to know about avoidance, safety, and response.

Life's an adventure. A solo trip through Canada would be the epitome of
that. If I could . . . I would!

Neil

01-26-2005, 07:56 PM

Mike Beauchamp wrote:

> I'm in a crappy situation here. I had been planning on riding across
> Canada (west to east) for a few months now.. purchased about $1200
> worth of gear, etc. I had planned on going with 2 friends, but I just
> talked to one today who said he can't go and the other is still "not
> official" since he has a good job and all.
>
> I obviously want to do this.. EVERYBODY I talk to (people that have
> done it or not) says "you gotta do this..".
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a city boy,
> and I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do it
> 'on the cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
> But, not having 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot
> more scary. If something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed
> without other people around.
>
> Anyways, I'm obviously hugely disappointed right now.. just asking
> for some advice.

Long story short, Mike: go. Just go.

In '95, I took my car and my camping gear, left Florida (headed for
California), and camped my way up the mid-Atlantic states, through the
Catskills, into the Allegheny's, then stopped for a beer at a friend's bar
where I . . . met my eventual wife ;-)

All my camping was alone, but I was only alone when I wanted to be.
Canadians are (if you can ever stereotype so blatantly) an incredibly
friendly lot. I spent a few weeks in British Columbia years ago and their
hospitality was incredible. Cyclists, too, are quite the gregarious breed.
I'm sure you wouldn't lack for either company, if wanted, or help, if
needed.

You'd have some lonely times, to be sure, but those are the times where you
figure out who you are and what you're made of. You hang a lantern in your
tent and read any of a thousand books that are just /perfect/ for that kind
of trip.

Alternately, you can start posting on some of these NG's that you're looking
for a riding partner to join up with. That introduces its own set of risks
and issues, but . . . if the alone thing doesn't work . . . it's an option.
So is just shortening the trip--concentrating on just one or two provinces
or a particular region. Again, I remember BC as being incredibly
picturesque. Always wanted to go back there on my m/c, but I think it'd be
equally spectacular on a bike. You could do this thing in two or three
separate pieces. Once you start, you may just get the bug.

Take a cell phone set up for Canadian use. Let people hear from you
periodically. Talk to the locals when picking campgrounds. Don't be afraid
to get a dive hotel periodically. If it's bears you fear, learn all there
is to know about avoidance, safety, and response.

Life's an adventure. A solo trip through Canada would be the epitome of
that. If I could . . . I would!

Neil

01-26-2005, 07:56 PM

Mike Beauchamp wrote:

> I'm in a crappy situation here. I had been planning on riding across
> Canada (west to east) for a few months now.. purchased about $1200
> worth of gear, etc. I had planned on going with 2 friends, but I just
> talked to one today who said he can't go and the other is still "not
> official" since he has a good job and all.
>
> I obviously want to do this.. EVERYBODY I talk to (people that have
> done it or not) says "you gotta do this..".
>
> The problem is, the idea of doing it solo scares me. I'm a city boy,
> and I've never encountered bears before, etc. The plan was to do it
> 'on the cheap' and camp as much as possible.. side of the road, etc.
> But, not having 2 other people with me makes the whole prospect a lot
> more scary. If something goes wrong, it seems like I may be ****ed
> without other people around.
>
> Anyways, I'm obviously hugely disappointed right now.. just asking
> for some advice.

Long story short, Mike: go. Just go.

In '95, I took my car and my camping gear, left Florida (headed for
California), and camped my way up the mid-Atlantic states, through the
Catskills, into the Allegheny's, then stopped for a beer at a friend's bar
where I . . . met my eventual wife ;-)

All my camping was alone, but I was only alone when I wanted to be.
Canadians are (if you can ever stereotype so blatantly) an incredibly
friendly lot. I spent a few weeks in British Columbia years ago and their
hospitality was incredible. Cyclists, too, are quite the gregarious breed.
I'm sure you wouldn't lack for either company, if wanted, or help, if
needed.

You'd have some lonely times, to be sure, but those are the times where you
figure out who you are and what you're made of. You hang a lantern in your
tent and read any of a thousand books that are just /perfect/ for that kind
of trip.

Alternately, you can start posting on some of these NG's that you're looking
for a riding partner to join up with. That introduces its own set of risks
and issues, but . . . if the alone thing doesn't work . . . it's an option.
So is just shortening the trip--concentrating on just one or two provinces
or a particular region. Again, I remember BC as being incredibly
picturesque. Always wanted to go back there on my m/c, but I think it'd be
equally spectacular on a bike. You could do this thing in two or three
separate pieces. Once you start, you may just get the bug.

Take a cell phone set up for Canadian use. Let people hear from you
periodically. Talk to the locals when picking campgrounds. Don't be afraid
to get a dive hotel periodically. If it's bears you fear, learn all there
is to know about avoidance, safety, and response.

Life's an adventure. A solo trip through Canada would be the epitome of
that. If I could . . . I would!

Neil

01-26-2005, 08:47 PM

I'd say it's actually easier to guerrilla camp solo - you're less
obvious when you're alone. Just don't buy a bright pink tent.

If you want to read a *lot* of inspirational bike trip journals, try
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] - there's about 475 tour journals there (and
counting.)

While I've yet to go trans-Canada, I've done solo tours of about a
week's duration each summer for the last several years. There are
places in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where you won't see a car for
half a day. Heck, even in Ontario, hours can go by. Out there by
yourself, it's wonderful. But when I broke a derailleur in NB, I
eventually got a ride, and I have to say that was one of the most
interesting days I've spent on a bike (and in a pickup) so far.
So go for it, and keep a journal.

01-26-2005, 08:47 PM

I'd say it's actually easier to guerrilla camp solo - you're less
obvious when you're alone. Just don't buy a bright pink tent.

If you want to read a *lot* of inspirational bike trip journals, try
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] - there's about 475 tour journals there (and
counting.)

While I've yet to go trans-Canada, I've done solo tours of about a
week's duration each summer for the last several years. There are
places in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where you won't see a car for
half a day. Heck, even in Ontario, hours can go by. Out there by
yourself, it's wonderful. But when I broke a derailleur in NB, I
eventually got a ride, and I have to say that was one of the most
interesting days I've spent on a bike (and in a pickup) so far.
So go for it, and keep a journal.

01-26-2005, 08:47 PM

I'd say it's actually easier to guerrilla camp solo - you're less
obvious when you're alone. Just don't buy a bright pink tent.

If you want to read a *lot* of inspirational bike trip journals, try
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] - there's about 475 tour journals there (and
counting.)

While I've yet to go trans-Canada, I've done solo tours of about a
week's duration each summer for the last several years. There are
places in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick where you won't see a car for
half a day. Heck, even in Ontario, hours can go by. Out there by
yourself, it's wonderful. But when I broke a derailleur in NB, I
eventually got a ride, and I have to say that was one of the most
interesting days I've spent on a bike (and in a pickup) so far.
So go for it, and keep a journal.