BC - Bicycle Touring Statistics

Information

Info:
Formed: 1871
Population: 4,494232 people
Area: 944,735 sq/ kilometres

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu ("Splendour without Diminishment"). Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858. In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the fifteenth largest metropolitan region in Canada. The largest city is Vancouver, the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada and the second-largest in the Pacific Northwest.Much of the province is wild or semi-wild, so that populations of many mammalian species that have become rare in much of the United States still flourish in British Columbia. Watching animals of various sorts, including a very wide range of birds, has also long been popular. Bears (grizzly, black, and the Kermode bear or spirit bear—only found in British Columbia) live here, as do deer, elk, moose, caribou, big-horn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, beavers, muskrat, coyotes, wolves, mustelids (such as wolverines, badgers and fishers), Cougar, eagles, ospreys, herons, Canada geese, swans, loons, hawks, owls, ravens, Harlequin Ducks, and many other sorts of ducks. Smaller birds (robins, jays, grosbeaks, chickadees, etc.) also abound.BC Government Webpage Wikipedia Entry Tourism BC Webpage

My Experience

I cycle toured through British Columbia, my home province on a few seperate tours:

The first tour involved traveling from Vancouver through the Fraser Valley to Abbotsford and back to see if I actually liked riding a bike after not riding one for close to 20 years. The weather was a mixed bag, and I was exhausted at the end of it, with multiple flat tires. I was frustrated, but not going to let that deter me from further tours.

The second tour was a shakedown test to get on the bike and test equipment. I rode this tour with a partner and cycled up the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, taking multiple ferries across different passage ways trekking to a beach on one of the farthest western points of Canada to celebrate my 31st birthday and to partake in the Soundwave Musical Festival that occurred from July 10-12, 2009.

The intent of this tour was to shake out any issues with equipment, understand logistics of cooking, camping, and water consumption.

The path taken is partially based upon the book Bicycling the Pacific Coast: A Complete Route Guide, Canada to Mexico. An excellent resource detailing distance, elevation, sights and waypoints such as campgrounds and hostels. Highly recommended.

The next tour was very brief. Less than 35 km as I traveled through on the way down to Mexico via Washington, Oregon, and California.

Finally, on the fourth round going across Canada, I took the long way and spent the most time out of any province or territory exploring the beautiful gulf islands, Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and visiting the pristine Kootenays, capturing a couple thousand photographs of beautiful landscapes, rare wildlife like the Kermodei Bear (Albino White Black Bear), and stopped in to say one final goodbye to family members and friends. The weather was great for the majority of time, however the climbs were some of the toughest of the entire trip.

For the most part, BC roads are reasonable for cyclists, most have proper shoulders and traffic generally gives you ample space, unless of course when you are riding through cities. Many cities are now including dedicated Bicycle Lanes to ensure your safety.

Photos

Journal Entries

The following is a list of journal entries I wrote while traveling through BC. Click one to read!

2013-06-16

Statistics

Totals

Distance Traveled: 5119.77 km Distance Ascended: 41,489 m Distance Descended: 40,598 m Energy Consumed: 193,439 calories	Overall Cost: $2,720.37 Food: $1,341.58 Drink: $452.47 Transport: $573.42 Entertainment: $15.00 Equipment: $137.20 Misc: $94.75
Longest Day: 2010-05-09 - 169.54 km Most Climbed: 2010-05-21 - 1470.00 m	Most Energy Burned: 2010-05-12 - 6460.00 calories Most Expensive Day: 2010-05-27 - $ 356.11

Daily Statistics

Date	Location	Distance (km)	Cost ($CAD)	Map
2011-09-13	Surrey, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-06	Crooks Meadow, CA	95.50	$79.29	Map
2010-07-05	Fairmont, CA	115.59	$63.13	Map
2010-07-04	Cranbrook, CA	75.71	$49.15	Map
2010-07-03	Kragmont, CA	0.00	$0.00	Map
2010-07-02	Kragmont, CA	0.00	$0.00	Map
2010-06-13	N59 35.826/W123 06.925, CA	119.94	$38.00	Map
2010-06-12	Fort Nelson, CA	3.57	$152.77	Map
2010-06-11	Fort Nelson, CA	103.95	$120.88	Map
2010-06-10	Tetsa River Regional Park, CA	96.30	$42.25	Map
2010-06-09	Toad River, CA	114.06	$14.25	Map
2010-06-08	Liard Hot Springs, CA	114.84	$18.50	Map
2010-06-07	N59 52.580/W127 24.341, CA	103.33	$28.11	Map
2010-05-28	Vancouver, CA	2.58	$93.50	Map
2010-05-27	Cranbrook, CA	10.86	$356.11	Map
2010-05-26	Cranbrook, CA	112.20	$19.65	Map
2010-05-25	Creston, CA	96.66	$20.00	Map
2010-05-24	Riondell, CA	32.65	$35.00	Map
2010-05-23	Nelson, CA	106.60	$68.55	Map
2010-05-22	New Denver, CA	105.55	$63.50	Map
2010-05-21	Fauqier, CA	122.93	$16.00	Map
2010-05-20	Lavington, CA	74.37	$22.00	Map
2010-05-19	Westbank, CA	68.98	$32.50	Map
2010-05-18	n50.17.531/w119.23.599, CA	120.90	$16.50	Map
2010-05-17	Kamloops, CA	85.39	$23.00	Map
2010-05-16	Barrierre, CA	131.73	$25.60	Map
2010-05-15	Avola, CA	132.10	$60.00	Map
2010-05-14	Valemont, CA	86.00	$20.00	Map
2010-05-13	McBride, CA	100.00	$41.00	Map
2010-05-12	Dome Creek Rest Stop, CA	134.90	$28.50	Map
2010-05-11	Prince George, CA	2.86	$12.75	Map
2010-05-10	Prince George, CA	145.17	$22.25	Map
2010-05-09	Fort Fraser, CA	169.54	$27.50	Map
2010-05-08	Houston, CA	94.74	$24.55	Map
2010-05-07	Moricetown, CA	103.80	$24.40	Map
2010-05-06	Kitwanga, CA	110.00	$21.50	Map
2010-05-05	Terrace, CA	63.38	$22.00	Map
2010-05-04	Exchamisks River, CA	95.33	$23.36	Map
2010-05-03	Prince Rupert, CA	20.38	$72.00	Map
2010-05-02	Queen Charlotte, CA	137.10	$6.75	Map
2010-05-01	Agate Beach, CA	90.32	$28.00	Map
2010-04-30	Port Clements, CA	95.88	$12.00	Map
2010-04-29	Queen Charlotte, CA	17.97	$101.30	Map
2010-04-28	Ocean, CA	11.88	$151.00	Map
2010-04-27	Port Hardy, CA	100.12	$15.05	Map
2010-04-26	Woss, CA	67.00	$18.25	Map
2010-04-25	Sayward, CA	95.76	$42.70	Map
2010-04-24	Miracle Beach, CA	100.26	$18.95	Map
2010-04-23	Parksville, CA	79.73	$51.00	Map
2010-04-22	Chemanius, CA	105.22	$15.22	Map
2010-04-21	Port Renfrew, CA	68.74	$10.25	Map
2010-04-20	French Beach, CA	73.85	$5.25	Map
2010-04-19	Victoria, CA	24.00	$26.00	Map
2010-04-18	Victoria, CA	0.00	$40.00	Map
2010-04-17	Victoria, CA	7.79	$11.00	Map
2010-04-16	Victoria, CA	11.52	$32.00	Map
2010-04-15	Victoria, CA	6.09	$63.00	Map
2010-04-14	Victoria, CA	10.03	$42.00	Map
2010-04-13	Victoria, CA	42.99	$44.50	Map
2010-04-12	Galiano Island, CA	51.80	$64.50	Map
2010-04-11	Galiano Island, CA	34.62	$18.90	Map
2010-04-10	Mayne Island, CA	40.62	$46.70	Map
2010-04-09	Saturna Island, CA	27.67	$28.00	Map
2010-04-08	Saltspring Island, CA	0.00	$0.00	Map
2010-04-07	Saltspring Island, CA	73.72	$30.00	Map
2009-07-08	Ucluelet, CA	25.00	$0.00
2009-07-07	Port Alberni, CA	45.00	$0.00
2009-07-06	Coombs, CA	102.00	$0.00
2009-07-05	Saltery Bay, CA	82.00	$0.00
2009-07-04	Robert's Creek, CA	66.00	$0.00
2009-05-25	Vancouver, CA	61.70	$0.00
2009-05-24	Abbotsford, CA	55.70	$0.00
2009-05-23	Surrey, CA	35.30	$0.00

One Comment

christine
May 28, 2011 @ 15:09:04
My family and I have a cabin in Eagle Bay on the shuswap. The neighbours have been complaining of HUGE raccons along our bay. This is the first I’ve heard of them around the shu? Thought they were more common towards Vancouver. Are they moving inland?