The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society       May 2023,  Volume 40, Issue #5

From the Tour Director’s Desk – May 2023

Two more successful 2023 tours have recently completed – Mallorca and Arizona. We heard that Mallorca was fabulous and I can attest personally that the Arizona tour went well and provided a good opportunity to enjoy some Southwest scenery and sunshine. I would like to extend a big note of appreciation to the leaders of these tours – Linda Graupner and Beverly Wagner.

Here’s what’s new in the Tours world:

• The Portugal tour is currently underway.
• The lottery registration completed for our 2024 tour to the west coast of Ireland and it oversubscribed right away.
• The lottery completed for 2023 Columbia River Loop and the tour is fully registered with one person on the waitlist.

Stop at roadside pecan stand on the way to Benson, Arizona

Mallorca group at the beach

Mallorca hill climbing

 Mallorca field of flowers

Details for each tour will be posted when tour proposals and budgets are finalized and have been approved by the Board. Watch your CCCTS emails and the website since tours will be posted one at a time as they are ready, and all members will be notified via email when a new tour posts. Tour plans are always changing. As of today, here is the best information that I have on the tours that will be offered for the remainder of 2023 and some for 2024 too:

• Georgian Bay (May 28 – June 4)
• Okanagan (June 3-12)
• Central Europe – Prague to Budapest – (August 21-September 5)
• Columbia River Loop – (September 5-13)
• Croatia (September 18-October 4)
• Japan – Kyoto and Noto Peninsula (October 8-23)

2024

• Portugal – Alentejo and Algarve – beginning April 15
• South Korea – springtime
• Slovenia – beginning July 1
• Going to the Sun – Glacier/Waterton Park – September
• Ireland – Mizen to Malin (September 6-20)
• Sri Lanka – September or October

Please give me a call or send an email if there is a tour you would like to lead. I am open to any tour idea you have as long as it is a safe place for cycling. (robincooksandsews@gmail.com, 206.899.7255)

Copper mine tour in Bisbee, AZ

Assessment of Interest in a Cross Canada Tour in 2025

Several few weeks ago, we sent out an email to assess members’ interest in running a Cross Canada tour in 2025. We asked for persons with a serious interest in going on the tour to respond to the Tour Director, Robin Howe, at robincooksandsews@gmail.com. Some members responded they were interested, and we have begun a list of names. However, we need quite a few more people to respond in the affirmative before we will entertain the idea of pursuing this large project. If you want to ride across Canada with CCCTS, you need to step forward by May 15^th and let us know.

Here are some preliminary details on a potential Cross Canada 2025 tour:

• Timeframe – About 3 months or 90 days over the summer,
• Route – Begin in Sydney, B.C. and end in St. Johns, Newfoundland,
•  Daily Distances – Average about 90 to 120 kilometers, but there will be a few days that are longer and some days that are shorter,
• Cost – Cost of the tour is unknown at this early stage but a rough estimate is $8,000 to $10,000 CAD per person. Efforts will be made to economize whenever possible but without sacrificing comfort.
•  Group Size – Minimum 16 and maximum 24,
• Method of Travel – Follow the “CCCTS camping system”, which involves renting a truck to carry gear and for emergencies, group cooking in teams, use CCCTS camping equipment, etc.,
• Camping vs. Motels – Camp about 5 nights per week and stay in motels about 2 nights per week or possibly sometimes 3 nights a week,
•  Rest Days – Rest days, averaging 1 day per week, usually following the first night in the motel,
•  Food/Meals – This tour will eat well. All tour members will serve on a cook team and each team will cook approximately 1 day per week. There will be plenty of nutritious and delicious food provided as part of the tour (no scrimping on the food budget) for 3 meals per day plus snacks, except for layover days when tour members will have the opportunity to eat out.
• Driver – Hire a dedicated driver so tour members can ride entire distance,
• E-Bikes – E-bikes welcome, since we will use campgrounds set up for power plug-ins. Spare battery(ies) on the truck will be required,
• Planning Committees – All participants will be required to serve on one or more planning committees (e.g., Route, Accommodations, Safety, Equipment Management, Food)
• Senior Advisory Committee – A Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) will be formed with a few longtime club members who have led CCCTS camping trips and/or ridden the Cross Canada tour with our club. This committee will review and provide guidance on all aspects of planning for the tour.

We understand that it is not possible to know for sure whether you will be able to participate in a major ride like this 2 ¼ plus years in the future. Things can change in our lives, such as unplanned health conditions. But, if you seriously think you would like to go and will have the time, the funds, and the fitness/cycling ability, then the Tour Director would like to hear from you.

Happy spring cycling!

Robin Howe, CCCTS Tour Director.

From The Legacy Directors Desk

LEGACY PROGRAM UPDATE

BC Cycling Coalition (BCCC)

With and on behalf of members and community stakeholders, BCCC works with levels of government and agencies to influence changes that make active transportation and mobility safer, more equitable, and more accessible. In 2019, our club donated $10,000 to support the organization in advocating changes to the Motor Vehicle Act for safe passing legislation. The uses of roadways have changed significantly since the act came into effect in 1957 yet there have been no substantive changes to the act to reflect this. BC Cycling Coalition staff and board members met with provincial ministers and senior staff responsible for roadways, laws, and enforcement and well as climate change.

Changes to the BC Motor Vehicle Act

Our donation to the BC Cycling Coalition went a long way in making this advocacy work happen. In April of this year, the Motor Vehicle Act was amended to require drivers to use appropriate care when sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers must be a minimum of one meter away when passing and stay 3 meters behind cyclists when sharing the lane. These changes to the Motor Vehicle Act are a start in changing driver’s behaviour to make our roads safer.

Initiatives with more results

Research indicates other initiatives will have a greater impact on safety than a safe passing law. The BC Cycling Coalition has several initiatives they are working on and include:

Lower default speeds on all local residential streets

Higher speeds increase both the likelihood of collisions and the severity of those collisions. When motor vehicles are traveling at speeds greater than 40kph, both drivers and pedestrians are more likely to make mistakes judging the time required to stop or cross the street safely. If the Motor Vehicle Act were amended to lower the default speed in municipalities throughout BC, our streets would be safer for cycling. Several areas on Vancouver Island, along with the city of Vancouver and Delta have lowered the residential street speed to 30kph.

Safe routes

Cities and Municipalities are required to have Active Transportation Plans which include a range of safe cycling routes. These safe routes include dedicated, separated bike paths, protected bike lanes, green zones at intersections which highlight the intended path of cyclists and a potential area of conflict as the basic road shoulder with a white line. Local governments see the value in getting people out of cars and on to their bikes. These incremental changes make people feel safer and more likely to get on and stay on their bikes. See what exists in your community: https://bccycling.ca/bc-safe-routes-now-1

Education

Incremental changes are being made to driver training and testing. Virtual scenarios now include cars, cyclists, and pedestrians.

More schools are including cycling in their curriculum and courses are offered by various agencies with trained/certified instructors. Safe cyclists grow up to be safe drivers.

Ask yourself

• If I park on the street, do I consistently use the Dutch Reach before opening the car door?
• When turning right at a red light or stop sign or, do I complete a right shoulder check to ensure there are no cyclists coming up on my right or pedestrians entering the intersection?
• When passing a cyclist, do I pass slowly and give them plenty of room?

Janet Whitehead  Legacy Fund Director

Trip Reports

Follow the link below to the newly published Arizona Trip report.

Arizona Tour 2023

Upcoming Tours

• 2023 Columbia River Loop
  Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
  Dates: Tue, 5 Sep 2023 ‐‐ Wed, 13 Sep 2023

  Cycle in beautiful inland Washington and Oregon – through mountain, desert, and high-plateau farmland areas. Ride along the mighty Columbia River and through Washington wine country. Stay in the scenic towns of Hood River and The Dalles, Oregon. Weather is normally sunny and warm this time of year.

• 2024 Ireland Mizen to Malin
  Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
  Dates: Fri, 6 Sep 2024 ‐‐ Fri, 20 Sep 2024

  The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters, and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends, and a thirst for more!

• 2023 Georgian Bay Pannier Tour
  Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
  Dates: Sun, 28 May 2023 ‐‐ Sun, 4 Jun 2023

  Self-supported tour that will take us through that section of Ontario south of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. We will explore several interesting regions; the western shore of Lake Simcoe and the city of Orillia, the historic Huronia region around Midland and Penetanguishene, the Georgian Bay/Wasaga Beach coastline, the Blue Mountain escarpment near Collingwood, and the Big Bay coastline near Owen Sound.

• Central Europe 2023
  Status: 1 slots are available.
  Dates: Mon, 21 Aug 2023 ‐‐ Mon, 4 Sep 2023

  Cycle through the heart of Europe through parts of the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Our route meanders by castles, through rustic villages, and along waterways as we enjoy the former territories of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

• 2023 Japan Tour – Kyoto and Noto Peninsula
  Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
  Dates: Sun, 8 Oct 2023 ‐‐ Mon, 23 Oct 2023

  This tour is about enjoying cycling, Japanese culture and heritage, stunning fall color, and Japanese cuisine! You surely will not want to miss it.

• POSTPONED TO 2024 – Going to the Sun Tour – Glacier and Waterton Parks
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Wed, 6 Sep 2023 ‐‐ Sat, 16 Sep 2023

  Cycle through some of the most fabulous mountain scenery on the planet. Tour visits both Glacier and Waterton National Parks. Self-supported tour.

• 2023 Portugal – Algarve and Alentejo
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Mon, 17 Apr 2023 ‐‐ Wed, 3 May 2023

  With its mild climate, 3000 hours of sunshine per year and 850 kms of splendid beaches bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is the perfect holiday destination all year round.

Upcoming Hub and Spokes

• Napanee Hub and Spoke 2023
  Status: Registration opens Sat, 29 Apr 2023 5:00 PM
  Dates: Sun, 17 Sep 2023 ‐‐ Sat, 23 Sep 2023

  Join us for a fall Hub and Spoke based out of Napanee Ontario, located midway between Toronto and Ottawa. Enjoy a variety of rides south of Napanee to Prince Edward County and Lake Ontario, as well as north of Napanee into the rolling hills of the Canadian Shield.

• 2023 Fraser River Canyons and Grasslands Hub and Spoke
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Tue, 23 May 2023 ‐‐ Sun, 28 May 2023

  Explore five scenic areas following roads less travelled along and near the mighty Fraser River on the dry side of B.C.’s Coast Mountains. Building on our Club’s June 2022 Hub and Spoke gravel roads cycling experiences and September 2022 cycling recces, this group supported camping and four cycling days Hub and Spoke ride will be based from a campground hub in Clinton for two nights, followed by a 3-night hub based at Lillooet’s Seton Dam Campground. Bring your camera, binoculars and mountain bike, gravel bike or wide-tire hybrid bike for a BC backroads cycling adventure!

• Victoria Hub and Spoke 2023 VOLUNTEERS
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Mon, 1 May 2023 ‐‐ Fri, 5 May 2023

  Come and enjoy Canada’s most beautiful city during spring blossom time. Victoria has something for everyone: a network of walking and cycling trails, many on former railroad routes; history galore; gorgeous seascapes everywhere, magnificent gardens, and quaint old English charm (think double-decker buses and tea at The Empress Hotel).

  THIS REGISTRATION IS ONLY FOR VICTORIA CHAPTER CCCTS MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS FOR THE VICTORIA HUB AND SPOKE. THIS IS AN OPEN REGISTRATION PROCESS (NO LOTTERY).

• St. Augustine, Florida 2023 Hub and Spoke
  Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
  Dates: Tue, 7 Nov 2023 ‐‐ Wed, 15 Nov 2023

  St. Augustine ranks as the oldest city in the US, and has plenty to offer the history buff and recreational cyclist, including Spanish architecture, sandy beaches and seafood feasts. Our 8-day hub and spoke will enable us to explore iconic landmarks such as Flagler College and the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and to take in sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from our bicycle saddles.

• Victoria Hub and Spoke 2023
  Status: Registration closed
  Dates: Mon, 1 May 2023 ‐‐ Fri, 5 May 2023

  Come and enjoy Canada’s most beautiful city during spring blossom time. Victoria has something for everyone: a network of walking and cycling trails, many on former railroad routes; history galore; gorgeous seascapes everywhere, magnificent gardens, and quaint old English charm (think double-decker buses and tea at The Empress Hotel).

Marketplace

2017 Felt VR3W Women’s Endurance Road Bike(XS) – $2500

Various Seats and Parts

 

A Bike Rack and a  bike.

Saris Bike rack 50 dollars
Trek Lemond  ladies bike. Excellent condition. Low mileage. Only $1100.

New Members

Wow.  It must be something in the water.  That’s a lot of new members!

Published at least ten times a year by The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society, a non – profit organization for retired people and others who enjoy recreational cycling. 

Items for the NEWSBRIEF must be received by the 28th of the month. The Editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity and suitability of publication. The views expressed in the “NEWSBRIEF” are not necessarily those of the CCCTS or the Editor.

Submissions for NEWSBRIEF should be emailed to alaird212@gmail.com