Congratulations on making it, I was glad to hear about the head winds, I'm planning on riding from Toronto to the West Coast this summer, I did a 7000 km loop from Toronto to New York and up the East Coast to Newfoundland and back to Toronto last summer.
I know right! Too bad the weather was awful when I biked through! I went back this summer for some car camping, it was perfect weather and ever so stunning.
This is truly awesome! Your video inspires me of going another super long distance cycling trip. The last one I had was about 11yr ago riding from Shanghai to Tibet, almost died at 4900m above the sea....it was great anyway.
Awesome video and beautiful scenery. I never cease to be amazed by people who film themselves only to have to go back for their camera repeatedly. That’s one way to get more miles, like you need more exercise.
Love this doc! I Wished I’d done some of the great bike paths you rode on! I just finished a doc of cycling across the same year! Too bad we didn’t bump into eachother, Cheers!
Wow! I'm more of a city-cyclist (endurance cyclist-work out at gym too) and have done some country roads here and there but nothing like this. ! I like to see a convenience store in the not- too-away distance for me :) Thank you ... this is inspiring.
Ah! So was I at first! I was quite inspired myself by Sean Conway's story. I can't remember where I read it, I think it was in Cycling the World - Stripped bear. He basically talks about how he just grabbed his bike and started biking down the road, with no end in sight. Eventually got defeated and took a train back home as he was un prepared, but he was determined to go back at it. Anyhow, as he said, ultra endurance is pretty easy, you pedal forever, you find food/water and a place to sleep at night. I was actually pretty stressed out about riding a one way trip into the unknown when I left Vancouver. Now I get super excited just by the idea of taking my bike and not knowing where I'll spend the night😃😃
Thanks for sharing this great trip. As a beginner cyclist, your trip makes me want to go further. My family landed in Port Royal in the 1600's. We both share the same last name. Nice to see this trip during these trying times. Stay safe.
Great report. Saved in the TRIP FILE. Raw numbers you did some 200 Km days I expect?? You trained hard for this too? You were packed for hammering time. Physically not anymore... mentally I'd need another week or two to savor the good camp and nature spots more. Prairies I might look for a stealth train hop.
It averaged out around 155-160, but yes, some days were longer, around 200. I wouldn't try to hop on trains in Canada, there are inspection stations along the way, might be hard to hide with a bike, but you do you. I would recommend taking a bit of extra time indeed, so you can chill and wait out the bad weather when possible.
@@alexmartin4637 after couple of hours of wheat and hay (and knowing a hundred more is coming) might be mentally draining.... train was half joke! Train cops are called BULLS amongst the real hoppers for a reason. Another vlog with a petite lady with traditional ride kit claimed 46 TOTAL days. Skeptical. Any ride time is a great accomplishment - will be in your memory til death.
That's awesome. You have to start somewhere! You might want to make sure you have an open schedule when you do your trip, who knows, you might want to keep riding down to Quebec City or beyond!
That near constant wind from the West that comes off the mountains only lasts until Calgary or so, we call it the Chinook. It's known to bring warm weather from BC. I bet you had fun with the wind in Saskatchewan!
Last year I was driving all the way east from Edmonton, middle of Aug start. The wind was making white caps on sloughs. LOL It blew me all the way to Kenora. Could have done 28+ mph on my bike.
it does seem like your journey would have even been better with some company. I know I would. However, you made it happen! I wish you wrote a book, about your trip, and all of the challenges. God Bless. T L Holmes of North Carolina
Solo vs group travels are very different experiences. I'm glad I did it alone for various reasons, but doing it as a group or a pair has its benefits too for sure. Cheers
Great journey for you but for me there slot of places to ride without going through hell in saskatchewan why why why too many great roads with views to see rather than do a suffwr fest into headwinds but you did it shows major fortitude and perseverance builds character for those tough days.
Haha I agree with you, many other beautiful places to see! However, I am glad I did it. As you said it does build up your character for future times in rough conditions. Truthfully, I could have been way worst. Imagine 70km winds in the Prairies, but stuck in a could front pouring rain and 3 degrees. Ah! I hate riding in the rain! After this, Northern Ontario seemed like paradise, with lakes, trees, rolling hills and endless great camping spots!
Hey Alex! Great video! I am planing on doing a long distance bike trip in the future. I have a couple of questions 1) did you find out accommodation locations and food/water stops before starting every day? Or did you find them as you went? 2) was it difficult or a pain to find food/ accommodations 3) Did you use Google maps to map everyday out? Sorry for all the questions (:
1- usually the evening before. I'll try to gain an idea of what's coming ahead in order to figure out the best place to sleep and get food in the next few hours and fir the following morning. So I'll usually plan where to sleep a few hours before sundown. I won't plan where to stop during the day though, but I know where I could stop so I don't end uo without food for 100km. No point planning more than 12h /200km in advance, as you never know what challenges are coming ahead. It's always a good idea to know what resupply opportunities are down the road when biking in remote areas. 2- food, no; good food, yes. I only struggled with food one day in Sask, the headwind prevented me from making the mileage I had hoped for. Won't make that mistake again. On the TC, gas stations are pretty much open 24h. As per point 1, when you look at what's down the road, don't forget to look at opening hours! For accomodation, no. If you can't find accomodation, it means you are in the middle of nowhere, just pitch a tent! 3- Google Maps is my best friend on the bike!
Hi! Thanks for your comment. Totally, my future videos will show more of the overall life aspect of bikepacking. On my most recent trip, I made sure to film my a few of my bivy spots. Cheers
Salut! Je planifie ce genre de voyage cet été et je me demande si t’as eu de la difficulté a avoir accès a de la nourriture ou eau sur ton chemin? Surtout dans le nord de l’ontario hihi Je m’enligne pour 130-160 km de moyenne par jour, merci!
Nice footage but would have been better with additional footage of the people you stayed with, your sleeping arrangements, your food, etc. More B roll basically instead of just landscapes.
Hey thanks for the feedback. I agree, a lot of people are interested in sleeping arrangements and seeing more of the "life" though it. I've got two other trips on film now and I try to show more of this stuff. Just need to put the video together! Cheers!
wow nice 2800 km, what tires are those? Marathons? 35mm? thx. I have 1000 miles on my vittorio touring tires, 40mm, commuting, tubed, love them. Also, did you go up highway 1 or coquihalla? Looks like you were at Robson, that can't be right. I saw the three rivers red roof. I was thinking of going up #5 this summer, just wondering how it went. Maybe next summer for me. thx.
Thank you for a great video. It was truly inspiring!... were you carrying a tent etc? Any advice in hindsight for one that are considering taking the trip? (possibly in the other direction) Once again, thank for an amazing trip. :-)
Wonderful trip Brother. I can't get a day in here without a storm, oppressive heat+humidity, a puncture or an attempted murder. Maybe I should try my cross-continent in the Great White North... "they" say it's a beauty way to go...
Easy to fill up on water along the way? What about food? Did you camp a lot? Were the rest days every 5 days or something? Did you use a tent? Any scary moments?
No issues with water, in Canada just ask anyone and they happily fill up you bottle, its basically free everywhere. I did camp with a one person tent where I couldnt find Warmshower hosts or Couchsurfing hosts. In cities I was often with friends or friends of friends that live along the route. I took a rest day about once a week. No scary moments really, Canada is a beautiful and safe country
Well done, Alex both on the journey and the video. I would like to do the same journey as well, but possibly slightly quicker (not to compete with you, just because I can’t take loads of time away from work!🙂). Do you think you could have trimmed it down to 35 cycling days and 4 rest days? Did you camp at all? Were saddle sores a problem at all? What kind of chammy cream did you use, if any?
Most challenging? Probably Saskatchewan, but it's hard to tell really as every province had it's own challenge. I would sum up the different provinces : British Columbia: Getting used to the life style and long hours on the bike, but full of energy and ambition. Biking is a beautiful way to see the mountains. Alberta: Down hill and tailwind, only 2 and a half cycling days. Probably the easiest. You feel like your flying after the Rockie Mountains! Saskatchewan: Brutal head/side wind. Blazing heat 30+celcius, no shelter, nowhere to hide from the wind or sun. Very little food supplies between Medecin Hat-Swift Current-Moose Jaw. But I've learned a lot from it. I wasn't in the right mindset. Next time, I get more electrolytes, I'd get more food (I was carrying only enough to get me to the next town, which proved problematic when you get to a town at 7pm with no food stores or restaurant haha) and I take it more easily. I was too much in a rush to push forward. Manitoba: very friendly people/hosts, not much going on though. I never thought I'd be so happy to see a forest in my life ;) Ontario: High 17 for 2000km, what else to say... But seriously most of it has a decent shoulder and there wasn't a lot of traffic between Nipigon and Sault Ste-Marie. It's beautiful, the smalls lakes, lake Superior, the wild life, etc. I got stuck in a tropical depression for a few days, so it got wet and cold. Worth it still, such great wilderness. Quebec: Flew by really quickly. Nice weather and tail wind. Awesome views along the Saint-Laurence River. I must say, I have a little crush on the small town of Kamouraska. New Brunswick: My knee was starting to fail. I couldn't walk one day as I stepped off my bike for lunch. I almost quit then. The weather wasn't nice, I was getting tired. I started thinking about the finish line too much instead of taken it day by day. That was hard for me. the city of Saint Jean is REALLY hilly, but beautiful! Nova Scotia : So close to the finish line, went by quickly. It was nice. Called it off in Halifax. Do I wish I had continued? Looking back at it, yes definitely. But it was the right decision for me then. How much weight? Honestly I can't remember. Always too much if you ask me... I got ride of a bunch of things half way through. I go even lighter now. If you have any gear related questions, just shoot me a DM on instagram @the_flying_frenchie. Cheers!
You did amazing. I'm happy you pushed through to Nova Scotia. I suffer with knee problems at unexpected times.(left knee) I thought you might be forced to either rest a few days or end early. I learned a lot watching this. Great video ❤
Awesome video and great achievement. What equipment are you using to record your adventure? Which editing program are you using. I'm planning my around the US tour in 2024.
Mix of everything: friends and familly, camping (in strangers' back yards, wild camping, an a few camp grounds), 1 hostel (Banff), 3 motels (after miserable days), 11ish warmshowers, 3 couchesurfing...
Hey Alex! Great video, I've watched it a few times already. I'm planning to do a trip from Calgary to Montreal this summer. What resources do you suggest using to plan out my route? I would love to avoid crossing CAN/US border at all costs. This is my first go at long distance cycling as well, and any additional recourses/info is welcome!
I didn't think it was useful and didnt use one until Ontario. The shoulder was wide and it was double lane. That being said I did buy one in Thunderbay and wouldn't travel without it now. I'd say it's a must for Ontario. I just use one of the small roadie type ones that insert in the dropbar end. Definitely worth the 20$!
@@alexmartin4637 - I use an eyeglass arm mounted Third Eye brand mirror in Manitoba on those dual lane wide shoulder roads here . Wouldn't leave home without it . Stay well and happy trails .
I don't have a precise map. You can find my overnight stays here tho: www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ&usp=sharing This will give you a good idea of where I've been. If you have any questions, simply send me a DM on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
It's a Profile Designs aerobar mount bottle holder. See the link below. www.amazon.ca/Profile-Design-Mount-Waterbottle-Cage/dp/B003TNTDP8/ref=asc_df_B003TNTDP8/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341799642624&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8928608106937168488&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1002554&hvtargid=pla-442168086898&psc=1
I didn't encounter any actual tunnel, only a few avalanche shelters. They have a service road on the side, so I rode on that. When going down hill it's not a concerne, since you go fast enough to ride the lane (just have your lights on ;))
Hello, Alex. This was an amazing video. This Summer i will be cycling from Vancouver to Toronto to fundraise money for the CMHA. This was inspired by your video actually. I wanted to ask you some questions about your trip. Did you cycle almost entirely on the Trans-Canada hwy? Is there any special equipment you would recommend for a bike? And how much time would you recommend for training prior to a trip like this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
2000km, so I would imagine anywhere between 16 days and 1 month, depending on how many km per day you do and off days you take. If it's your first time, I would aim for the longer end so you don't feel rushed.100 km à day is not that hard when you have nothing else to do...
Hi great video, is there a app or route download that you used, would like to mirror your tour. Is it mostly highway riding compared to bike trail? Thanks
Hey Craig, I didn't map the exact route, but I stayed on the TC most of the way. I did make a map of the places I slept however. It's a public Google map : www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ&usp=sharing This should give you a good sense of where I went. As always, if you have any questions, send them my way and I'll gladly answer them!
Also, I wouldn't just copy my route just because it's the route I did. They are many ways to go about it, and the kind of journey you want will affect your route choice quite a bit. The route I took is probably the "quickest" way, but certainly not the only/best way (apart from Hwy 17 in North-Western Ontario, no way around that one in Canada!)
Train was super easy. Walk up to the platform, employee puts a tag on it, gives you the other half of the tag. They put the bike in the luggage car on a bike rack. At destination, they wheel the bike out, you hand over your tag and you are good to go!
@@mosheanidjar4642 it's a hard question. I've been wondering this myself. I like the Gopro, it's convenient to carry around and put it anywhere. I would however consider something with a zoom to give more flexibility to the shots tho. Phones can pretty much do the same thing as gopros now, so I don't know if it's really worth getting if you have a top of the line phone. I'm also considering getting a small mic
No, I did not. The day I left Fredericton I was heading down toward Moncton, but instead decided to follow HWY 102 along the Saint John River. I was in Halifax two days later, where I decided to stop.
Did the Pan Celtic Race last month. Biked through Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I have some footage of that. It'll probably take me a few weeks/month before I get down to editing it though...
Started at the Vancouver Airport, finished at the Halifax Harbour. Mostly took the highway or roads along it whenever possible. I did small chunks of TC trail, but only when it was conveniently along my route. You have to be careful with the TC trail, sometimes (especially outside major centers) it's in pretty rough condition and not ideal for road/touring bikes. I would advise looking up the route properly before taking on a stretch of the TC trail in the middle of nowhere
You left Newfoundland out . Newfoundland is alot like Brittish Columbia but the mountains and trees are smaller with very few cars . Newfoundland is far from boring .
Hey Brian, I don't have a map that shows the exact route, but this one shows where I've slept every night. It should give you a good idea on the road I took. If you have any route questions, feel free to reach out to me. Cheers! www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22114011379406853147345%22%7D&usp=sharing
I’m at an intermediate bike riding level and pace, I would like to do a cross-country bike trip in a few years. Would you say for the 39 days of riding that this took, this was at a decent pace? How many hours a day were you biking? Would you say biking for 6-7 hours a day, and doing it in 45 days, is a reasonable estimation for someone of my level?
It depends, what's your average speed? How much are you bringing? How many days off are you taking? Personally, I think you can definitely do it in 45 days, but it'll require more than 6 hours a day (unless you are really fast). I would consider myself an average cyclist when I started this trip. My longest ride to date then was 88kms. I think you'll find yourself impressed by how long you can actually go for when you have nothing else to do with your day. By the end of the trip, my longest day was 225kms.
Hey Andrew, hard to tell, it depends on the way you look at it. The trip itself isnt very expensive, pretty much only spend on food and accomodation. I personally don't mind to cheap out on accomodation, but I always want to make sure I can buy lots of food to fuel myself. For food, you are probably looking around 15 to 30$ a day, depending on where you are (city vs middle of nowhere) and if you managed to find a generous host. Accomodation is free if you wild camp, around 10 to 35$ if you stay at a legit camp ground (depending if they've got special bike pricing or not), and 50-90$ for a motel. Keep in mind you genrellay don't have to stay at a camp site to use their coin operated machines (and you can usually sneak in the shower room as well, probably best to ask the owner tho;)) then, add the cost of the flight(s). Finally, the biggest expense is the equipement. Anywhere between 0 and 3k$ depending what you already have and the quality you want to get. In the end, sorry for the disapointing answer, but anywhere between 1k and 5k$ really. I'd gladly help you figure out a more personnal budget if you dm me.
That is really amazing man. i'd like to have such experience one day soon. But actually, i am curious to know, where have you been sleeping all those days and how ? wish you all the best, and thanks for the motivation you gave me ^-^
It's a combination of different sleeping setups. Sometimes I tented, sometimes I stayed with strangers, sometimes I stayed with friends or familly, there was also 1 hostel and 3 motels.
Hey buddy, I am going on a bike tour from Chicago to Vancouver sometime this year. I will be traveling alone like you did, however I have a little fear. I will cross the The Sault Ste border through the Marie International Bridge. And then from The Sault Ste to Vancouver, I would like to follow travel route you went through. It will be more than happy if I can get tips and information from your travel experiences. I will mainly travel wild camping, and consider to use camping grounds as well as warmshowers app for the case I get in troubled circumstances. So please provide me with the information of places you were camping. Can you share with me of the information you marked on Google Maps while traveling?
Hi, sounds like a nice trip! In Ontario you be able to pitch a tent almost anywhere, just get off the road, pitch your tent away from car sight. There are plenty of rest areas to along the way, tho usually you aren't allowed to camp there. You can usually just pitch a tent slightly outside the rest area and avoid being disturbed by people stopping at night. Make sure to educate yourself on how to protect yourself/your food from wild life if stopping in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of video out there will show you how to camp in "bear areas". Fear not though, 10 minutes of work and a rope will allow you to sleep soundly! As per the prairies, it's a little harder to find a place to wild camp (lots of fields), but those spots do existe if you have an eye out for them. Otherwise people are usually friendly, si if you ask you can probably pitch a tent on their (massive) property. Otherwise, plenty of warmshower hosts and campgrounds along the way. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to send me a private message on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
I didn't have time to finish the video.. How long did take you to cross Canada the reason i ask is it took me almost 11 months cuz i stopped at alot of places and rilly took in the sights.
45 days. I believe there's no right amount of time to do it in, everyone has their own pace! 11 months sure is the longest I've seen so far. Bet you have some amazing stories!
I tried to time my off days with the nasty weather days. Rain sucks, but once you are wet, well you are wet! You dry quickly on the bike tho after showers. In really bad weather and cold temperature, I usually try to find a motel/warmshiwer host to spend the night at, that way I can dry my stuff and sleep comfy.
![Quando Rondo - Life Goes On [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eIf3fhMXAow/mqdefault.jpg)
23:00 don't know what happened to the sound, turn CC on if you care about what I'm saying.
I just thought you considered your talk banal, and saved us the torture. :)
thank you for sharing this dream, it inspires my son and i to do the trip ourselfs, hope to do in 2023
Awesome, let me know if you have any questions :)
Great video, you are the only content creator that shows how you run back to get your camera haha. Good stuff.
Plus he''s impervious to sunburn. Great stuff.
Alex - I am planning to do this trip next year with a friend - can you share you actual map you followed?
Sorry mate but you obviously don't watch too many cycling videos, virtually every second person shows themselves going back for cameras
You just cross Canada in a single RUclips clip. Nowadays people would have posted 3 times per province.
Congratulations on making it, I was glad to hear about the head winds, I'm planning on riding from Toronto to the West Coast this summer, I did a 7000 km loop from Toronto to New York and up the East Coast to Newfoundland and back to Toronto last summer.
Awesome, yes headwind! But the thing is, it can swing both ways! May the wind be at your back!
I like how you kept it real,, going back for your cam; us viewerssss.. Talking through your journey is very nice too, makes it more personal.
Lake Superior was one of the best surprises of my cross Canada cycle as well. I had no idea it was so beautiful there.
I know right! Too bad the weather was awful when I biked through! I went back this summer for some car camping, it was perfect weather and ever so stunning.
This is truly awesome! Your video inspires me of going another super long distance cycling trip. The last one I had was about 11yr ago riding from Shanghai to Tibet, almost died at 4900m above the sea....it was great anyway.
That's awesome! Sounds way more hard core than Canada!
I have to say that I am so proud of you for this journey. It is on my bucket list to go from St John's to Victoria
need company?
I just purchased a bike today, going to be doing this in the future
That's great!
Newfoundland is also part of Canada and is FANTASTIC
Awesome video and beautiful scenery. I never cease to be amazed by people who film themselves only to have to go back for their camera repeatedly. That’s one way to get more miles, like you need more exercise.
Haha I know it's kind of stupid, but it gives better footage! The worst is when you have to climb a hill twice!!
Love this doc! I Wished I’d done some of the great bike paths you rode on! I just finished a doc of cycling across the same year! Too bad we didn’t bump into eachother, Cheers!
Wow! I'm more of a city-cyclist (endurance cyclist-work out at gym too) and have done some country roads here and there but nothing like this. ! I like to see a convenience store in the not- too-away distance for me :) Thank you ... this is inspiring.
Ah! So was I at first! I was quite inspired myself by Sean Conway's story. I can't remember where I read it, I think it was in Cycling the World - Stripped bear. He basically talks about how he just grabbed his bike and started biking down the road, with no end in sight. Eventually got defeated and took a train back home as he was un prepared, but he was determined to go back at it. Anyhow, as he said, ultra endurance is pretty easy, you pedal forever, you find food/water and a place to sleep at night.
I was actually pretty stressed out about riding a one way trip into the unknown when I left Vancouver. Now I get super excited just by the idea of taking my bike and not knowing where I'll spend the night😃😃
Thanks for sharing this great trip. As a beginner cyclist, your trip makes me want to go further. My family landed in Port Royal in the 1600's. We both share the same last name. Nice to see this trip during these trying times. Stay safe.
Going further isn't much harder, it just takes more time! Have fun exploring! Cheers
Amazing, my buddy and I did Toronto to Vancouver between May and July 2019. Life-changing experience to say the least.
I'm sure it was amazing, good job!
Great video, great adventure....thanks for the share!
Great report. Saved in the TRIP FILE. Raw numbers you did some 200 Km days I expect?? You trained hard for this too? You were packed for hammering time. Physically not anymore... mentally I'd need another week or two to savor the good camp and nature spots more. Prairies I might look for a stealth train hop.
It averaged out around 155-160, but yes, some days were longer, around 200. I wouldn't try to hop on trains in Canada, there are inspection stations along the way, might be hard to hide with a bike, but you do you. I would recommend taking a bit of extra time indeed, so you can chill and wait out the bad weather when possible.
@@alexmartin4637 after couple of hours of wheat and hay (and knowing a hundred more is coming) might be mentally draining.... train was half joke! Train cops are called BULLS amongst the real hoppers for a reason. Another vlog with a petite lady with traditional ride kit claimed 46 TOTAL days. Skeptical. Any ride time is a great accomplishment - will be in your memory til death.
Was think of riding from Toronto to Montreal...you did across Canada lol, man that's awesome! congrats.
That's awesome. You have to start somewhere! You might want to make sure you have an open schedule when you do your trip, who knows, you might want to keep riding down to Quebec City or beyond!
That near constant wind from the West that comes off the mountains only lasts until Calgary or so, we call it the Chinook. It's known to bring warm weather from BC. I bet you had fun with the wind in Saskatchewan!
Lol Saskatchewan was pretty brutal
Last year I was driving all the way east from Edmonton, middle of Aug start. The wind was making white caps on sloughs. LOL It blew me all the way to Kenora. Could have done 28+ mph on my bike.
Bro do you have a list of your gear? Food rations and pertaining info. Thanks
Great videos Alex I wish you had shown some please where you camped this is one of my dream
it does seem like your journey would have even been better with some company. I know I would. However, you made it happen! I wish you wrote a book, about your trip, and all of the challenges. God Bless. T L Holmes of North Carolina
Solo vs group travels are very different experiences. I'm glad I did it alone for various reasons, but doing it as a group or a pair has its benefits too for sure.
Cheers
Great vid... very inspired to do the same some time. Probably when I retire though!
Great journey for you but for me there slot of places to ride without going through hell in saskatchewan why why why too many great roads with views to see rather than do a suffwr fest into headwinds but you did it shows major fortitude and perseverance builds character for those tough days.
Haha I agree with you, many other beautiful places to see! However, I am glad I did it. As you said it does build up your character for future times in rough conditions. Truthfully, I could have been way worst. Imagine 70km winds in the Prairies, but stuck in a could front pouring rain and 3 degrees. Ah! I hate riding in the rain! After this, Northern Ontario seemed like paradise, with lakes, trees, rolling hills and endless great camping spots!
amazing love you from Iran
I rode from Belleville to Trenton once.
Along hwy 2 ?
Hey Alex! Great video! I am planing on doing a long distance bike trip in the future. I have a couple of questions
1) did you find out accommodation locations and food/water stops before starting every day? Or did you find them as you went?
2) was it difficult or a pain to find food/ accommodations
3) Did you use Google maps to map everyday out?
Sorry for all the questions (:
1- usually the evening before. I'll try to gain an idea of what's coming ahead in order to figure out the best place to sleep and get food in the next few hours and fir the following morning. So I'll usually plan where to sleep a few hours before sundown. I won't plan where to stop during the day though, but I know where I could stop so I don't end uo without food for 100km. No point planning more than 12h /200km in advance, as you never know what challenges are coming ahead. It's always a good idea to know what resupply opportunities are down the road when biking in remote areas.
2- food, no; good food, yes. I only struggled with food one day in Sask, the headwind prevented me from making the mileage I had hoped for. Won't make that mistake again. On the TC, gas stations are pretty much open 24h. As per point 1, when you look at what's down the road, don't forget to look at opening hours! For accomodation, no. If you can't find accomodation, it means you are in the middle of nowhere, just pitch a tent!
3- Google Maps is my best friend on the bike!
@@alexmartin4637 Thank you so much! Really appreciate it! (:
You didn't film how you eat, do laundry and sleep at night. It would also be interesting to know how your bikepacking setup looks like.
Hi! Thanks for your comment. Totally, my future videos will show more of the overall life aspect of bikepacking. On my most recent trip, I made sure to film my a few of my bivy spots. Cheers
Nice... did you ride on the Trans Canada Highway most of the way?
Great journey.Greetings from Greece....
Great video, moreover great achievement. Thanks for sharing!
Salut! Je planifie ce genre de voyage cet été et je me demande si t’as eu de la difficulté a avoir accès a de la nourriture ou eau sur ton chemin? Surtout dans le nord de l’ontario hihi
Je m’enligne pour 130-160 km de moyenne par jour, merci!
Nice footage but would have been better with additional footage of the people you stayed with, your sleeping arrangements, your food, etc. More B roll basically instead of just landscapes.
Hey thanks for the feedback. I agree, a lot of people are interested in sleeping arrangements and seeing more of the "life" though it. I've got two other trips on film now and I try to show more of this stuff. Just need to put the video together! Cheers!
@@alexmartin4637 Thanks for the response! See Ryan Van Duzer's videos on the Baja Divide bikepack to see what I am talking about.
wow nice 2800 km, what tires are those? Marathons? 35mm? thx. I have 1000 miles on my vittorio touring tires, 40mm, commuting, tubed, love them. Also, did you go up highway 1 or coquihalla? Looks like you were at Robson, that can't be right. I saw the three rivers red roof. I was thinking of going up #5 this summer, just wondering how it went. Maybe next summer for me. thx.
Thank you for a great video. It was truly inspiring!... were you carrying a tent etc? Any advice in hindsight for one that are considering taking the trip? (possibly in the other direction)
Once again, thank for an amazing trip. :-)
You can DM me on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
Wonderful trip Brother. I can't get a day in here without a storm, oppressive heat+humidity, a puncture or an attempted murder. Maybe I should try my cross-continent in the Great White North... "they" say it's a beauty way to go...
I would recommend it!
Easy to fill up on water along the way? What about food? Did you camp a lot? Were the rest days every 5 days or something? Did you use a tent? Any scary moments?
No issues with water, in Canada just ask anyone and they happily fill up you bottle, its basically free everywhere. I did camp with a one person tent where I couldnt find Warmshower hosts or Couchsurfing hosts. In cities I was often with friends or friends of friends that live along the route. I took a rest day about once a week. No scary moments really, Canada is a beautiful and safe country
Well done, Alex both on the journey and the video. I would like to do the same journey as well, but possibly slightly quicker (not to compete with you, just because I can’t take loads of time away from work!🙂). Do you think you could have trimmed it down to 35 cycling days and 4 rest days? Did you camp at all? Were saddle sores a problem at all? What kind of chammy cream did you use, if any?
Definitely doable in less time. You can direct message me any questions!
Thanks, Alex. I had never noticed, but apparently Google have decided to remove the direct message option on RUclips...?!
@@paulgatenby2453 you can DM me on Instagram if you want @the_flying_frenchie
Hey Alex, great trip. May I ask if you could give any some advice, I plan to solo cycling the same route during May-June.
Hey Joe, happy to help. Just send me a DM on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
i wish I can get this trip someday..
thank you Alex for share.
have anyone who want a company to do it?
Thank you for sharing your journey!
1) What province did you find the most challenging?
2) How much weight did you carry with you in terms of gear?
Most challenging? Probably Saskatchewan, but it's hard to tell really as every province had it's own challenge. I would sum up the different provinces :
British Columbia: Getting used to the life style and long hours on the bike, but full of energy and ambition. Biking is a beautiful way to see the mountains.
Alberta: Down hill and tailwind, only 2 and a half cycling days. Probably the easiest. You feel like your flying after the Rockie Mountains!
Saskatchewan: Brutal head/side wind. Blazing heat 30+celcius, no shelter, nowhere to hide from the wind or sun. Very little food supplies between Medecin Hat-Swift Current-Moose Jaw. But I've learned a lot from it. I wasn't in the right mindset. Next time, I get more electrolytes, I'd get more food (I was carrying only enough to get me to the next town, which proved problematic when you get to a town at 7pm with no food stores or restaurant haha) and I take it more easily. I was too much in a rush to push forward.
Manitoba: very friendly people/hosts, not much going on though. I never thought I'd be so happy to see a forest in my life ;)
Ontario: High 17 for 2000km, what else to say... But seriously most of it has a decent shoulder and there wasn't a lot of traffic between Nipigon and Sault Ste-Marie. It's beautiful, the smalls lakes, lake Superior, the wild life, etc. I got stuck in a tropical depression for a few days, so it got wet and cold. Worth it still, such great wilderness.
Quebec: Flew by really quickly. Nice weather and tail wind. Awesome views along the Saint-Laurence River. I must say, I have a little crush on the small town of Kamouraska.
New Brunswick: My knee was starting to fail. I couldn't walk one day as I stepped off my bike for lunch. I almost quit then. The weather wasn't nice, I was getting tired. I started thinking about the finish line too much instead of taken it day by day. That was hard for me. the city of Saint Jean is REALLY hilly, but beautiful!
Nova Scotia : So close to the finish line, went by quickly. It was nice. Called it off in Halifax. Do I wish I had continued? Looking back at it, yes definitely. But it was the right decision for me then.
How much weight? Honestly I can't remember. Always too much if you ask me... I got ride of a bunch of things half way through. I go even lighter now. If you have any gear related questions, just shoot me a DM on instagram @the_flying_frenchie.
Cheers!
@@alexmartin4637 you are a champ. Thank you.
You did amazing. I'm happy you pushed through to Nova Scotia. I suffer with knee problems at unexpected times.(left knee) I thought you might be forced to either rest a few days or end early. I learned a lot watching this. Great video ❤
Awesome video and great achievement. What equipment are you using to record your adventure? Which editing program are you using. I'm planning my around the US tour in 2024.
Thanks! Just a good old Gopro 5 and I used Shotcut for editing.
for north western Ontario if they would just make the paved shoulder just about a foot wider that would make riding and hiking allot safer
For sure!
awesome! what kind of accommodation did you stay in mostly?? thinking of doing this myself.
thanks in advance
Mix of everything: friends and familly, camping (in strangers' back yards, wild camping, an a few camp grounds), 1 hostel (Banff), 3 motels (after miserable days), 11ish warmshowers, 3 couchesurfing...
This is really cool! What Bike did you use?
I ride a Provincial 222 by Mountain Equipment Co-op. I love it!
What was your average distance per day!?
Hey Alex! Great video, I've watched it a few times already.
I'm planning to do a trip from Calgary to Montreal this summer. What resources do you suggest using to plan out my route? I would love to avoid crossing CAN/US border at all costs.
This is my first go at long distance cycling as well, and any additional recourses/info is welcome!
Hey, send me a DM on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie I'll be glad to give you some pointers
Great video Alex ...
Wondering if you would ever choose to use a mirror , either eyeglass or other mount ?
I didn't think it was useful and didnt use one until Ontario. The shoulder was wide and it was double lane.
That being said I did buy one in Thunderbay and wouldn't travel without it now. I'd say it's a must for Ontario. I just use one of the small roadie type ones that insert in the dropbar end. Definitely worth the 20$!
@@alexmartin4637 - I use an eyeglass arm mounted Third Eye brand mirror in Manitoba on those dual lane wide shoulder roads here .
Wouldn't leave home without it .
Stay well and happy trails .
hey man awesome ride! do you have a map of your route available? im planning to try a cross Canada trek in July
I don't have a precise map. You can find my overnight stays here tho: www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ&usp=sharing
This will give you a good idea of where I've been. If you have any questions, simply send me a DM on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
Good video, great ride,
Hey! do you still have your route? I'm looking to make the same trip!
What bottle holder do you use between your aero bars? Great video and ride!
It's a Profile Designs aerobar mount bottle holder. See the link below.
www.amazon.ca/Profile-Design-Mount-Waterbottle-Cage/dp/B003TNTDP8/ref=asc_df_B003TNTDP8/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341799642624&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8928608106937168488&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1002554&hvtargid=pla-442168086898&psc=1
What did you do when you encountered tunnels with little to no shoulder to drive on?
I didn't encounter any actual tunnel, only a few avalanche shelters. They have a service road on the side, so I rode on that. When going down hill it's not a concerne, since you go fast enough to ride the lane (just have your lights on ;))
Hello, Alex. This was an amazing video. This Summer i will be cycling from Vancouver to Toronto to fundraise money for the CMHA. This was inspired by your video actually. I wanted to ask you some questions about your trip. Did you cycle almost entirely on the Trans-Canada hwy? Is there any special equipment you would recommend for a bike? And how much time would you recommend for training prior to a trip like this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey Fred, if you want we can take over this conversation on Instagram chat or have a call. You can find me at @the_flying_frenchie Cheers!
If you go again what size of the tire world you use? O
What bike would you use? Gravel bike or road bike or mountain bike?
Gravel bike all day everyday, I would road tires, something between 32-35 mm.
I would think so too, I guess there is not much off road, and 32-35 mm can handle some gravel road
Thinking of biking from Winnipeg to Toronto. Any idea how many days it would take? It will be my first attempt at long distance biking.
2000km, so I would imagine anywhere between 16 days and 1 month, depending on how many km per day you do and off days you take. If it's your first time, I would aim for the longer end so you don't feel rushed.100 km à day is not that hard when you have nothing else to do...
@@alexmartin4637 Thanks. I hope to do at least that much. Trans Canada is my choice. Don't want to venture into the U.S.
i drove from edmonton to london ont the same way about the same time. June 1st to June 8th
Our paths have probably crossed North of Lake Superior!
Im gonna attempt to bike all around the edges of canada in the shortest time possible
Hi great video, is there a app or route download that you used, would like to mirror your tour. Is it mostly highway riding compared to bike trail? Thanks
Hey Craig, I didn't map the exact route, but I stayed on the TC most of the way. I did make a map of the places I slept however. It's a public Google map : www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ&usp=sharing
This should give you a good sense of where I went. As always, if you have any questions, send them my way and I'll gladly answer them!
Also, I wouldn't just copy my route just because it's the route I did. They are many ways to go about it, and the kind of journey you want will affect your route choice quite a bit. The route I took is probably the "quickest" way, but certainly not the only/best way (apart from Hwy 17 in North-Western Ontario, no way around that one in Canada!)
Nice work
specs on the things you brought with you like bike helmet camera etc
Epic ride. Inspiring!
Amazing video and achievement! Well done my friend stay safe and keep pedaling 👍
Thanks Kevin! Glad you enjoyed 😀
Did you find it challenging taking the bike on the train?
Train was super easy. Walk up to the platform, employee puts a tag on it, gives you the other half of the tag. They put the bike in the luggage car on a bike rack. At destination, they wheel the bike out, you hand over your tag and you are good to go!
great video wich camera are you using
I carry a Gopro Hero 5
@@alexmartin4637 thanks...if you had to buy a new camera which one would you buy
@@mosheanidjar4642 it's a hard question. I've been wondering this myself. I like the Gopro, it's convenient to carry around and put it anywhere. I would however consider something with a zoom to give more flexibility to the shots tho. Phones can pretty much do the same thing as gopros now, so I don't know if it's really worth getting if you have a top of the line phone. I'm also considering getting a small mic
Great Trans-Canada trip, love seeing these. I was wondering if you ever made it to Newfoundland. Got a little confusing after you hit Fredricton.
No, I did not. The day I left Fredericton I was heading down toward Moncton, but instead decided to follow HWY 102 along the Saint John River. I was in Halifax two days later, where I decided to stop.
@@alexmartin4637 Awesome! Any current trips planned?
Did the Pan Celtic Race last month. Biked through Scotland, Ireland and Wales. I have some footage of that. It'll probably take me a few weeks/month before I get down to editing it though...
@@alexmartin4637 Oh that's cool. I'll be waiting for that
Where did you start and where did you end your ride? Did you do any of the Trans Canada Trail or just the highway?
Started at the Vancouver Airport, finished at the Halifax Harbour. Mostly took the highway or roads along it whenever possible. I did small chunks of TC trail, but only when it was conveniently along my route. You have to be careful with the TC trail, sometimes (especially outside major centers) it's in pretty rough condition and not ideal for road/touring bikes. I would advise looking up the route properly before taking on a stretch of the TC trail in the middle of nowhere
You left Newfoundland out . Newfoundland is alot like Brittish Columbia but the mountains and trees are smaller with very few cars . Newfoundland is far from boring .
Oh, I know! I want to go back and do it one day. I had to stop in Halifax as my knew wasn't feeling very strong anymore.
terrific stuff! Do you have a map of your route anywhere?
Hey Brian, I don't have a map that shows the exact route, but this one shows where I've slept every night. It should give you a good idea on the road I took. If you have any route questions, feel free to reach out to me. Cheers! www.google.com/maps/d/drive?state=%7B%22ids%22%3A%5B%221gJeX53dRYYe7qX0s-9_JAmuE9hL55tqZ%22%5D%2C%22action%22%3A%22open%22%2C%22userId%22%3A%22114011379406853147345%22%7D&usp=sharing
Cool Video, Looks like a great ride.
Amazing ride!! How many kilometres were you riding a day on average?
Probably around 165km per day on average
Did you bring two set of cltho8? Did you also camp on the road?
Yes, two bibs, two jersey. Tho, Now I only carry one kit when I travel and wash as I go. Merino is wonderful!
@@alexmartin4637 thanks
Great video! What was you’re average kms per day? Also what date did you leave on? Thinking about doing it myself!
Depends on the section. Beginning around 160, by the end 185 average per today.
Left on at the end of the first week of May.
Cheers!
Alex Martin that is mental
I’m at an intermediate bike riding level and pace, I would like to do a cross-country bike trip in a few years. Would you say for the 39 days of riding that this took, this was at a decent pace? How many hours a day were you biking? Would you say biking for 6-7 hours a day, and doing it in 45 days, is a reasonable estimation for someone of my level?
It depends, what's your average speed? How much are you bringing? How many days off are you taking? Personally, I think you can definitely do it in 45 days, but it'll require more than 6 hours a day (unless you are really fast). I would consider myself an average cyclist when I started this trip. My longest ride to date then was 88kms. I think you'll find yourself impressed by how long you can actually go for when you have nothing else to do with your day. By the end of the trip, my longest day was 225kms.
Not sure if it was mentioned, but how much would an adventure like this cost ? Cheers from Ontario.
Hey Andrew, hard to tell, it depends on the way you look at it. The trip itself isnt very expensive, pretty much only spend on food and accomodation. I personally don't mind to cheap out on accomodation, but I always want to make sure I can buy lots of food to fuel myself. For food, you are probably looking around 15 to 30$ a day, depending on where you are (city vs middle of nowhere) and if you managed to find a generous host. Accomodation is free if you wild camp, around 10 to 35$ if you stay at a legit camp ground (depending if they've got special bike pricing or not), and 50-90$ for a motel. Keep in mind you genrellay don't have to stay at a camp site to use their coin operated machines (and you can usually sneak in the shower room as well, probably best to ask the owner tho;)) then, add the cost of the flight(s). Finally, the biggest expense is the equipement. Anywhere between 0 and 3k$ depending what you already have and the quality you want to get. In the end, sorry for the disapointing answer, but anywhere between 1k and 5k$ really. I'd gladly help you figure out a more personnal budget if you dm me.
@@alexmartin4637 really appreciate the reply and all the info, lots for me to consider! Thank you and safe travels
Hi did you use a app? If so which one.
Thanks Craig
Nothing in particular, simply Google Maps for navigation
Man this trip is my life dream please tell me what circuit you made exactly?
Mostly the Trans-Canada Highway. You can find a map of my overnight stays in some of the comments. Hopefully you get to make this journey yourself!
Hey man! This is full on, I’m considering a similar trip but the other way. Is there any way I could email you?
Hey! Sure thing, cycling.frenchie@gmail.com
That is really amazing man. i'd like to have such experience one day soon. But actually, i am curious to know, where have you been sleeping all those days and how ? wish you all the best, and thanks for the motivation you gave me ^-^
It's a combination of different sleeping setups. Sometimes I tented, sometimes I stayed with strangers, sometimes I stayed with friends or familly, there was also 1 hostel and 3 motels.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hi, friend have You a blog or something with the details?
Where did u get that touring road bike
That is a Mountain Equipment Coop Provincial 222
Hey buddy, I am going on a bike tour from Chicago to Vancouver sometime this year. I will be traveling alone like you did, however I have a little fear. I will cross the The Sault Ste border through the Marie International Bridge. And then from The Sault Ste to Vancouver, I would like to follow travel route you went through. It will be more than happy if I can get tips and information from your travel experiences.
I will mainly travel wild camping, and consider to use camping grounds as well as warmshowers app for the case I get in troubled circumstances. So please provide me with the information of places you were camping. Can you share with me of the information you marked on Google Maps while traveling?
Hi, sounds like a nice trip! In Ontario you be able to pitch a tent almost anywhere, just get off the road, pitch your tent away from car sight. There are plenty of rest areas to along the way, tho usually you aren't allowed to camp there. You can usually just pitch a tent slightly outside the rest area and avoid being disturbed by people stopping at night. Make sure to educate yourself on how to protect yourself/your food from wild life if stopping in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of video out there will show you how to camp in "bear areas". Fear not though, 10 minutes of work and a rope will allow you to sleep soundly! As per the prairies, it's a little harder to find a place to wild camp (lots of fields), but those spots do existe if you have an eye out for them. Otherwise people are usually friendly, si if you ask you can probably pitch a tent on their (massive) property. Otherwise, plenty of warmshower hosts and campgrounds along the way. If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to send me a private message on Instagram @the_flying_frenchie
@@alexmartin4637 I will follow you
I didn't have time to finish the video.. How long did take you to cross Canada the reason i ask is it took me almost 11 months cuz i stopped at alot of places and rilly took in the sights.
45 days. I believe there's no right amount of time to do it in, everyone has their own pace! 11 months sure is the longest I've seen so far. Bet you have some amazing stories!
@@alexmartin4637 it was an amazing time one ill always cherish...
What did you do if the weather is in bad condition? Like rain?
I tried to time my off days with the nasty weather days. Rain sucks, but once you are wet, well you are wet! You dry quickly on the bike tho after showers. In really bad weather and cold temperature, I usually try to find a motel/warmshiwer host to spend the night at, that way I can dry my stuff and sleep comfy.
@@alexmartin4637 is that easy to find a motel on the way?
@@vannic713 on the TC hwy, there are motels everywhere given all the travelers that take that road
Merci pour la vidéo!
Nice trip! Is the kilometer standard all over Canada?
Not sure if this is what you are asking for, but yes the use of the metric system is generalised in Canada
@@alexmartin4637 Yes, this is what I asked. Didn't know this. That's cool!
@@danielmusat597 .. I am 66 and still have only used miles on my bikes. LOL . Farm roads can't change to metric.
Same when I went to SE Asia.
Good luck nice beautiful 👍 well done
What was your total distance traveled? Did you map your trip out yourself, or use an existing route/map?
Just kinda winged it. Mostly along the Trans-Canada Highway, with some alternate route decided on the fly. Total of 6000 km
Last question, did u list weight after the tri
p
I didn't weight any of my kit
Sorry, for my typos, I meant you, did you lose weight after the trip?
@@vannic713 oh, definitely, it's hard to keep up weight when biking so much. Got to eat constantly
Thanks for replying! Alex
very cool , Thanks for the VID !
You're a great man,,
Why no wheelguards? don't u get urself and ur bike very dirty ?
Never had much problem with that. My bag set-up provides enough coverage.
new fan here.
How did you charge the devise?
Just charging as I go. I had a battery pack but only needed once I think. Fast chargers are wonderful!
Struggle is real ❤️🔥🙏
Good
1:33 5 seconds is lots of time to to avoid semis to get the perfect shot.
more like 4 seconds actually.
Hello Alex .I want to talk with you sir .I need your support for my cycle Canada tour
Send me a DM on Instagram @theflyingfrenchie
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