First 100 mile ride

[Arch]

How sad is it that I actually looked up what 50 canadian dollars was in kroner....

 

[Perfect Virgo]

I've read that if surprised they will charge people.

I imagine cycling quietly up behind one would give it quite a scare.
Have you ever had a run in with a moose PV ?

Luckily not - and they are very aggressive if surprised or cornered! It is common for them to be ploughed down on the roads by trucks and the giant tell-tale brown circles and smears bear testament to that in nearby Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. If I hit one in a car I wouldn't fancy my chances.

 

[Arch]

Prince Edward Island is the smallest Province by far. It's only a few times the size of the Isle of Wight and is positively dwarfed by the likes of Yukon and British Columbia.

Cut off from the mainland, it's the only Province where there are no large mammals. However, we went camping in Ontario last month (a mere 2,000 mile round trip drive) and saw both Moose and Black Bear!

And as for the language... it's hilarious how they abuse English and there are hundreds of examples!

How do you find they regard cycling over there? My Mum is just back from a visit to family on Vancouver Island, and said it was so car-centric, she really had to insist when she wanted to walk down into the local town (mainly to stretch her legs the day after the flight). And her brother in law (english ex-pat) wouldn't let her take the bus to Victoria, she got the impression it was considered a sign of poverty....

 

[Arch]

Luckily not - and they are very aggressive if surprised or cornered! It is common for them to be ploughed down on the roads by trucks and the giant tell-tale brown circles and smears bear testament to that in nearby Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. If I hit one in a car I wouldn't fancy my chances.

Well, don't Saab and Vovlo test their cars' safety by simulating hitting an elk?

 

[CopperBrompton]

Congrats - having done my own 100 on Sunday, I can very much appreciate the achievement

 

[Perfect Virgo]

How do you find they regard cycling over there? My Mum is just back from a visit to family on Vancouver Island, and said it was so car-centric, she really had to insist when she wanted to walk down into the local town (mainly to stretch her legs the day after the flight). And her brother in law (english ex-pat) wouldn't let her take the bus to Victoria, she got the impression it was considered a sign of poverty....

Arch, in the small corner of Canada I am familiar with, you take your chances around town. Cyclists are a rare sight, at least here, and car drivers are just not used to sharing the road. The shoulders are pretty wide, if gravelly and the potholes are outrageous. You can only realistically ride for 5 months of the year too. I do find drivers to be mostly courteous and considerate. Even as a pedestrian you can expect cars to stop for you and let you cross almost anywhere in town.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Congrats - having done my own 100 on Sunday, I can very much appreciate the achievement

Well done indeed Ben. A tough but rewarding day, eh!

 

[Arch]

Arch, in the small corner of Canada I am familiar with, you take your chances around town. Cyclists are a rare sight, at least here, and car drivers are just not used to sharing the road. The shoulders are pretty wide, if gravelly and the potholes are outrageous. You can only realistically ride for 5 months of the year too. I do find drivers to be mostly courteous and considerate. Even as a pedestrian you can expect cars to stop for you and let you cross almost anywhere in town.

Yeah, I got the impression cycling wasn't very mainstream. I know Vancouver is a bit more 'hippy' in that respect, just like Portland, Oregan bucks the US trend a bit.

Do they know how to make a proper cup of tea?

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Do they know how to make a proper cup of tea?

No chance but I am painstakingly teaching my wife!

Following your point about cycling or walking implying poverty, I have to say that the only cyclists I see are either storming past "Lycra clad" or rolling by in holed jeans with their knees touching their chins. Seems to show some kind of gap!

 

[HLaB]

Congrats PV and you take a good photo too.

 

[CopperBrompton]

A tough but rewarding day, eh!

Indeed :-)

I was fortunate in having some good company on mine, including a couple of CycleChatters:
http://www.benlovejoy.com/cycle/tripreports/century/

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Thanks HLaB, and glad you enjoyed the photos.

Thanks for the link Ben, I have just finished reading your superb report. Very well done indeed. Sounds like you had a long day in good company. Your photographs tell their own story of the day too. On my own solo effort I got off the bike just once to refill bottles. I wasn't looking to break any records but I had set a personal target to beat 8 hours and felt better than expected in the sadddle.

I am a fairly determined person and had no mental problem facing the challenge alone. I really should have taken more food. It's too easy to underestimate the calorie requirement and although travelling light is appealing it could also be disastrous a very long way from civilisation and home... and in a country I am still getting used to!

 

[Apeman]

Well done PV. Great report and pics. A bit risky though if it took 75 miles before a refill point was reached. More food is the key and possibly larger drinks bottles. All the same good going and good luck for the future.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

Thanks for the encouragement Apeman. I completely agree the dehydration risk was high though and could have been disastrous. I will take twice the food next time and plan a pitstop by halfway at the lastest. I still like the idea of carrying all my food and only getting off to refil with water but 100 miles is not to be underestimated and next time I will be smarter.

 

[willhub]

Canada really looks better for cycling than the UK.