The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society March 2016, Volume 33, Issue #3
President’s Report — John Pringle
A glorious sunny day it is as I craft this March message. My touring bike is yet in pieces on the garage floor where it has been since unpacking it about mid-February. This is noted as even were I so inclined I could not be on it joyously pedalling Saanich Peninsula roads on this lovely afternoon. Frequently Club members and others don’t take bikes abroad for a range of reasons, including airline transport costs, the industries sometimes careless treatment of bicycles and a general airline attitude that bikes are a nuisance. As well, there are legitimate concerns about availability of spare parts in certain developing nations. Thus, bicycle renting has become a frequent approach when touring cyclists travel to Europe, and even China and Viet Nam. Just having 12 Club members arrive back from cycling in Tanzania, where all took their own bicycles (bicycle renting here is but a fledgling industry) I offer the following observations. My ten year old Marinoni turismo served yeoman service on the rough and difficult “roads”/trails of north eastern Tanzania following a tune up by a credible Victoria area bike shop: Most members bikes faired as well. Incredibly, we suffered nary a flat over the many days of cycling the rugged Usambara Mountains; even while crossing Tour Coordinator Max McClanahan’s “flat paradise” on the Masai plains, where thorny Acacia trees [named Akakia (Greek for thorn) by Greeks Theophrastus and Dioscordes] dominate the flora. Interestingly, the lads who did have problems, our tour guides, may not have access to Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires, green slime (tire sealant) or ribbon liner; some of the tricks we used to avoid the dreaded flat. We were so concerned with, not only flats, but other breakdowns, that for the most part our bikes were well serviced before departure, and we had a “ton” of spare parts that allowed us to assist the guides with their bikes. Some of us donated such parts and tools when we climbed off our bikes to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro. In fact, our cycling tour contractor, Friends of Usambara Society, gained four bicycles from participants who gladly donated them to the Society.
One couple did have bicycle problems stemming from their approach that “surely any bicycle shop should be able to pack a bike for long distant air transport”. Not so. The box opened up; unattached parts fell out and one wheel arrived in Zanzibar with an incorrect skewer. Fortunately, with help from fellow participants and our clever tour guides even these problems were quickly resolved and the couple was able to take part in the first day’s ride.
I heard few complaints from tour participants on airline treatment of bicycles other than a few minor scrapes and one torn box. Interestingly there was a range of airline charges and approaches to bicycle transport that was puzzling. Out of Victoria BC one couple was charged $50.00 per bike to fly to Tanzania; another $150.00 by the same airline. In countries such as Tanzania where bicycle touring is rarely offered airline officials may be perplexed and unsure of procedures and costs when you arrive with your bicycle in an ungainly appearing box or bag. This was the case for some of us at Kilimanjaro International Airport where airline personnel, after 45 or more minutes of attempting to discern costs and procedures finally charged four of us nothing for bicycle transport from Tanzania to North America’s Pacific Northwest; An extra piece of luggage did, however, cost one participant $230.00 US. Thus CCCTS members, be brave; be daring: Don’t be unduly frightened of developing-nation cycling tours. Step up. Take a chance. Some of us having signed up for Tanzania, were most worried about what we’d gotten ourselves into. The worry was for naught; all went well in a nation where bicycles are rarely observed on city/country roads, say nothing of being ridden by seniors from half a world away. A big thanks to Max for having the interest and inspiration to create this most interesting tour. For more on this trip, see Paddy Miller’s tour report in the Club’s April Newsbrief.
Please note that the Club’s website is in the process of big changes. You’ll be receiving, or have already received, a note from Webmaster Max McClanahan, who along with Jeanie Bates, has been most creative in designing/developing a new approach/system that will allow us to communicate more easily over the internet. Please watch for Max’s note. And thanks to James Spears and, before him, Penny Estabrooke who served the Club well in their roles as Webmaster.
The Spring (Extraordinary )General Meeting will be on Monday, April 11th at 11:00 am in Sidney, B.C. Location is: 9691 Fourth St. Details in the April Newsbrief.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
| Don | Middleton | Burnaby | BC |
| Rhonda | Ryan | Courtenay | BC |
| Eamonn | Ryan | Courtenay | BC |
| Maureen | Scott | Delta | BC |
| Tracy | Dixon | Furry Creek | BC |
| Ron | Guidotti | Minden | NV |
| Nancy | Barker | Vancouver | BC |
| Jane | Huijsmans | Victoria | BC |
| Sheila | Kerr | Vancouver | BC |
Twenty Second Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Trek
Online applications and information are available for the 22nd Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Trek. This non-profit road tour from Santa Fe, New Mexico to New Franklin, Missouri departs Sept. 11, 2016 and arrives in New Franklin 1,100 miles and 3 weeks later. During the adventure, participants, some of whom have been CCCTS members, ride through northern New Mexico, over Raton Pass, across southeast Colorado, diagonally across Kansas, and into Missouri. The route takes riders past old forts, national monuments, historical markers, historic Santa Fe Trail tracks, and museums and through small towns and major cities, all on paved roads.
A reasonable cost of $58 per day (US $) includes all breakfasts, 3 lunches, all dinners, T-shirt, sag support to carry group and personal equipment, some historic tours, camping, showers, and water and ice on the support vehicles. (Motel rooms are available in many stopover towns but participants make their own arrangements.) Riders and companions with their own support vehicle pay less. (See the website for details.) Not included are other lunches and personal expenses such as laundry fees and admission fees. There is a fee based shuttle from where the trip ends in New Franklin back to the Kansas City Airport or AMTRAK station for rider, bike, and gear.
A $250 (US$) deposit is required and if the minimum of 30 registrants is not reached by the end of March, deposits will be fully refunded. Riders must start the Trek in Santa Fe but may do less than the full 3 weeks. A 40 rider maximum is accepted for the Tour.
Full details, forms, itinerary, and ride schedule are at www.SantaFeTrailBicycleTrek.com. If you need more information, email Willard Chilcott at Willard@cybermesa.com or CCCTS member Ken Levine at KLEVINE2@aol.com.
The Santa Fe Trail Bicycle Trek is endorsed by the National Park Service and the Santa Fe Trail Association as an appropriate non-profit educational and recreational event that is in keeping with the resource protection and public use objectives of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. However, the Tour is not CCCTS affiliated or endorsed
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