NOW that you've been riding to work a couple of days a week and the weather is fine again, you may be interested in trying bike camping.
Bike camping is not some sort of yoga thing with your tent mounted on a bike, really it is better described as transporting too much camping stuff using only human power.
Route planning is critical! Your first inclination may be to cycle from North Vancouver to San Diego, Calif., which to be sure is an excellent route - if you have a couple of months on your hands. If you only have a three-or four-day weekend though, it's time to scale back.
Think about all the trips you can take starting from your front door.
From North Van, cycle to Horseshoe Bay and take the ferry to Nanaimo or to Gibsons where you will encounter the first law of ferries: Terminals are located at the bottom of a hill. Either way is a good choice. From Nanaimo, cycle north to the ferry at Comox which will carry you across to Powell River on the mainland side. Then cycle back down to Gibsons, taking the ferry across Agamemnon Channel. Reverse course if you start in Gibsons. This is a harsh three-day trip, or a way less harsh four-day trip, totalling 255 kilometres. The great thing about this route is the three ferry rides, which provide unavoidable and legitimate rest followed by hills.
Another option is to take the Sea to Sky Highway up to Paradise Valley just past Squamish. Most people try to get in to Alice Lake, but it can be very busy. Check out the beautiful valley along the Squamish River instead. There are a few campgrounds down there. If you do cycle the Sea to Sky, wake up super early in the morning to avoid traffic. That highway is busy.
If this is truly your first time bike camping, consider something less ambitious as a test of your equipment and any family or companions who are planning to come along. Pack way too much stuff on your bikes and on a rainy day ride to the nearest campground you can find, or failing that, a friend's house with a backyard across town. Do two laps of Stanley Park to get the wilderness component. Set up your tent, use your stove and all the other items to make sure you really need them.
A cycle tour is mostly about three things: eating, sleeping and riding - especially if you are camping. If you are travelling 80 km that will take five hours at 16 km/hour, an average speed for most touring cyclists. Tip: Count the ferry distance in the 80 km. Anyone who has ridden an exercise bike will know that five hours on a bike is an extraordinarily long time to pedal. The total time for an 80 km travel day takes eight hours with pit stops foraging for food, water, rest and site seeing. Most people will not want to spend that much time on the bike, especially if there are kids involved, so plan accordingly.
At the end of the day, setting up the tent, cooking dinner and cleaning up takes at least an hour, more likely two and then the sleeping bag calls. In the morning, breaking camp, packing up and getting on the road will take an hour minimum. Does this feel monotonous, or boring? Hardly! The thrill of the wild beckons.
You may be wondering what to take on your two-wheeled sojourn.
The answer is startlingly simple: as little as possible. But, of course the simplest things are the hardest to achieve. You'll need a tent to keep the bugs out. Make this item as small, light and waterproof as possible. A good sleeping bag and a sleeping pad are essential.
If you are cooking, take a small stove, a light pot set and matches. Keep your can opener, mug, bowl (plates are too heavy and you don't need them) and knife-fork-spoon clean with Campsuds, an old tea towel and a scrubber. Carry only enough food to get to the next store as food is heavy.
Now the difficult part: Clothing and personal hygiene. You need clothes for riding in all potential temperatures and for any galas you might be invited to en route. The absolute minimum we suggest is to bring one pair of long tights and one pair of cycling shorts, a warm cycling shirt and a cool cycling shirt and one pair of socks for cycling. Hardcore bike campers say "No underwear" to save weight. But, we suggest one pair for riding and one pair for evening use (remember turn them inside out for day two).
For the galas (which happen every night) we carry a non-cycling pair of pants, a non-cycling shirt and a warmer pair of socks for evening to go with our evening underwear.
For outerwear we suggest a warm sweater, windproof/ waterproof jacket, rain pants and booties, toque and gloves (yes in August, you will thank us later). Shoes are heavy so look long and hard before you bring any more than the pair you ride in.
Now to the personal care items. Use a washcloth for a towel. It will dry more quickly. Bring a comb, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo in a mini-bottle and loonies for most showers. Don't forget mosquito repellent, a headlamp, and a map or cell phone with GPS. Oh, and don't forget medicine for aches and pains caused by actually using your muscles for more than an hour.
Luxuries include tea and a book. But, the best luxury of all is a companion to share the adventure with and who will, moreover, carry some of the gear.
This person will not notice that you are on day four of your only pair of underwear because they forgot theirs completely and, impossible as it may seem, your route has not yet taken you past a mall where new attire can be purchased in preparation for burning what you are currently wearing.
The road awaits. You will never forget the experience, however hard you try.
The Pedal Pushers are Dan Campbell, Antje Wahl, Anita Leonhard and Heather Drugge, four North Shore residents who use their bikes for transportation. They can be reached at bike@ northshore-pedalpushers.com.
