Canada - east to west
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Canada - east to west
I have only done one bicycle tour since rediscovering the bicycle this past fall. I rode from regina to valemont BC which was a little over 1300km. It was East to west, and the one thing that sticks out in my mind was that every day was a headwind[or cross/headwind]. I mean it. There was one 50km stretch that went North where I had a tailwind, but thats the extent of that.
Anyway, my thoughts involve cycling from the East to West coast this May. I have read many a travelogue where folks have ridden West to East, but can't recall reading East to Westers.
I figure if anyone has ridden from east to west, that the probability of them hiding out on this forums is pretty good. If so, would you strongly advise against it? I can't really see it being overwhelmingly negative, but it's just that I see hardly no one out there doing it, and I figure theres got to be a reason for this. Either that or they're just not putting it online or talking about it.
Any comments or suggestions would be helpful.
thanks
Aaron
Anyway, my thoughts involve cycling from the East to West coast this May. I have read many a travelogue where folks have ridden West to East, but can't recall reading East to Westers.
I figure if anyone has ridden from east to west, that the probability of them hiding out on this forums is pretty good. If so, would you strongly advise against it? I can't really see it being overwhelmingly negative, but it's just that I see hardly no one out there doing it, and I figure theres got to be a reason for this. Either that or they're just not putting it online or talking about it.

Any comments or suggestions would be helpful.
thanks
Aaron
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As Bob Seger said, "Against the Wind"!
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actually yeah, I don't really care. I think I'll probably just do it anyway. East to west that is.
Also, that is a damn good song.
Also, that is a damn good song.
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Yes, I know of one person who has done it ... the SO of an acquaintence of mine. I've seen his webpage somewhere, I'll have to look for it again, but as I recall it was quite a challenge ... especially with the wind.
But maybe you'll luck out and there will be east winds!! Of course east winds bring some nasty storms in the prairies, but usually at night, not so much while you're still riding. A friend of mine from England cycled across the country from west to east, thinking he'd have a tailwind, because that's what everyone said, but he faced east winds (and those storms) all the way from Calgary to Winnipeg!!
But maybe you'll luck out and there will be east winds!! Of course east winds bring some nasty storms in the prairies, but usually at night, not so much while you're still riding. A friend of mine from England cycled across the country from west to east, thinking he'd have a tailwind, because that's what everyone said, but he faced east winds (and those storms) all the way from Calgary to Winnipeg!!
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I read this recently. It is a long, but interesting account of a reporter who rode from the DC area to the west coast. I don't know how wind patterns may differ up in Canada. I've been to BC, but never to the eastern parts of Canada. Perhaps people go west to east because the terrain gets easier? I'm just guessing and have no idea what I'm talking about.
https://www.happynews.com/news/122920...backroads-.htm
https://www.happynews.com/news/122920...backroads-.htm
Last edited by jimmuter; 01-24-06 at 01:05 PM.
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Haven't yet, but I am heading from Toronto to Vancouver this coming May. Hopefully I'll add another to the few east-to-west travelogues.

Last edited by Nicholas Kokar; 01-25-06 at 10:46 AM. Reason: typo
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When I asked guys coming west to east, they claimed the wind was agaisnt them at least as much as for them, and also a lot acorss them. I cycled toronto to the east coast, and had head winds almost the whole 2 weeks. I still believe the mega pattern is in the west east favour, and that one doesn't notice a mild tail wind, even puts it down as a head wind.
Other than that. some folks say the setting sun is an advantage to the east west traveler, though I would have thought the opposite. The best thing from were you are seems like it would be getting you4 guns run in for the mountains.
If you go to crazyguyonabike.com you should get lots of east west. Look up single speed. there is a guy who went east west in the states on a single speed, and thought it was better that direction. Good log too.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...ed&context=all
Other than that. some folks say the setting sun is an advantage to the east west traveler, though I would have thought the opposite. The best thing from were you are seems like it would be getting you4 guns run in for the mountains.
If you go to crazyguyonabike.com you should get lots of east west. Look up single speed. there is a guy who went east west in the states on a single speed, and thought it was better that direction. Good log too.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...ed&context=all