Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Spring/Summer 2019 | Page 31

ADVENTURE
While relatively new in this country, cycling tourism
is firmly entrenched in Europe. The European Cyclists’
Federation estimates that cyclists take about 2.3 billion trips
across Europe each year, generating about 44 billion euros of
economic benefit in the process. In comparison, our country
is a sleeping giant in global cycling tourism.
The Route Verte in Québec, at 5,300 kilometres, is
the largest network of bicycle trails in North America.
Meanwhile, something called Cycling Vision has been
launched; it’s a 20-year plan to elevate Ontario to become the
best province for cycling in the county and one of the top-
10 destinations in the world. Over half of this year’s Cross
Canada Tour riders, according to the Jorgensons, are from
outside Canada: “The Internet has changed our business.”
A month after the riders of the Cross Canada Tour begin
their journey in Vancouver, another group of cyclists will
begin an even more mind-boggling ride. Starting from
Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, TDA Global
Cycling’s “North American Epic” takes cyclists on a
14,500-kilometre journey ending in Panama City on or
around mid-December. This is TDA’s first tour in North
America and its arrival speaks to the potential for Canada
as a cycling tourism destination. Andreas Pakenham of
Victoria, British Columbia, will serve as tour leader for the
trip. At nearly US$25,000 per rider, the tour isn’t cheap, but
riders need only worry about riding, full stop —Andreas
and his staff of 10 will take care of the rest.
“We handle all the on-road logistics, from water to food
stations, to organizing paperwork for border crossings,”
Pakenham says. “Safety is another area I worry about.
The routes are planned ahead of time to minimize vehicle
traffic, but it can’t be avoided. Riders from the Netherlands
have a different experience with traffic than riders from
New York City, say.”
Unlike travelling by car, where the destination is the goal,
travelling by bicycle is more about enjoying the journey.
For example, the riders of the Cross Canada Tour can
expect the people of Youngstown, Alberta, to greet them
with a community potluck dinner. “The little towns they
ride through have a real magic about them,” Margot says.
And the last day can be especially surreal. “My family had
flown in to greet me,” Thompson says. “Coming into Signal
Hill at the end of the ride, you’re filled with such pride and
such gratitude.”
Across Canada on two wheels—who knew it would be such
a fantastic ride?
PHOTOGRAPHY: (COVER PAGE) TDA Global Cycling; (THIS SPREAD) (left to right, top to bottom) TDA Global Cycling,
Cycle Canada, TDA Global Cycling, Cycle Canada, TDA Global Cycling, Cycle Canada, TDA Global Cycling
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