david.l.k

I'm in my last year of highschool. Next year instead of going straight into college (paramedic) I'm going to live with my friend (he's going to university though), I'm going to work in a bikeshop. And then I'm going to ride across Canada. I live in Toronto and plan to do a door to door trip. I will bike to the East coast then to the West Coast and then back (to Toronto). I'm guessing it will take me around 4 months for the whole thing but that's just an uneducated guese. I need to be back in Toronto by september to start college.

I'm planning on going lightweight to maximize my daily distance.

Jinker

One way is ~6000km. Two ways ~12000km.

4 months is 120 days. ~100km/day

You're looking at 5 hours in the saddle for 4 months straight with no days off assuming an ave speed of 20kph. (Easy speed to maintain in the flats, not so easy in the rockies)

That'salottariding.

-Greg

Michel Gagnon

Considering the lack of alternate roads in Northern Ontario especially and the time you'll need, I would suggest this:

– Take the train to Vancouver. Not too expensive in economy class.

– If you want more sightseeing, take the train from Toronto to Winnipeg, then ride Winnipeg - Vancouver - Winnipeg

– Scenery wise, avoid the Transcanada in the Prairies.

– Do only one side of the country. Keep the rest for 2008.

– If you have never spent more than 1-2 weeks on a bike, do a shorter trip that you'll enjoy.

BigGuy

There's some good advice here, David. In fact my bike registered 7,150 kms Victoria to St. John's NL. The 6,000 kms may be the more accurate distance, but I wouldn't recommend you stick only to the roads that are the absolute most direct. And there will always be extra kms to camp, eat, motel, whatever.

Have a great trip! ...and lotsa fun planning!

david.l.k

I want to do the coast to coast thing but maybe I'll allow more time. Thanks for your recomendation. Maybe if I left in March then I would have 6 months to do it. Because I have to be back for september. I want to try to pull off some big daily distance by traveling ultra light as well as starting earily, and leaving late plus taking plenty of breaks to hydrate and fuel up so I can keep up a good energy level all day. What is a reasonable basic touring pace. I.E. for estimation. I think I'm going to spend a good 12 hours pedaling per day. I want to do a few training tours around the province to build up my endurance and saddle butt. I have pretty good power and endurance and I think especially with training my goals are certainly attainable.