A friend had an idea that we should bike the Cabot Trail, NS, Canada, 300 km (186 miles) of mountainous terrain, with an elevation change (many times) from 0 to 445 m (1460 feet) above sea level.

Items required:

Bicycle - well maintained and serviced

spare tires

proper clothing for the weather and be prepared for weather changes

sunscreen

sunglasses

water

food

more water, you really can't have enough (once we had to stop at a house to get bottles filled)

Planning:

You can not take on a major bicycle road trip without proper training. In order to cycle 300km you need to build up endurance on a bicycle. I would suggest starting in the spring with 30 min every second day, building up to 60 min every second day and taking long 1-2 hr rides on the weekend. If you had 1500km of training under you belt I would think that would be sufficient to take on this type of challenge, as long as you had a very hilly training route. If you were mostly flat cycling you would need to build up hill climbing stamina as well. This surprisingly can be accomplished very fast. We started training in March and we were up to the challenge in late July.

Plan for the unexpected, sounds like an oxymoron, yes, but the weather in the highlands will be your biggest enemy. Even in July we had sun, rain, fog, cold and hot. Keep in mind you are changing elevation a lot and the weather can change in a minute. You go up one hill in the sun and come down the backside in the fog and drizzle, yes even in July.

Step 1: Safety First

As we would be travelling on a major highway with lots of car and truck traffic. We had a car travelling behind us with a sign "Slow Bicycles Ahead". Because the cars and trucks had prior warning, they gave us a wide berth when they passed. We had food and water in the car and could stop for refreshments when needed. I would suggest travelling with a car otherwise you will have to pack water and food and the extra weight will add time to your trip.

Step 2: Counterclockwise

We traveled counterclockwise so we could be on the road lane closer to the ocean and edge of the cliffs for a better view.

Day 1 100km

Day 2 75km

Day 3 125km

Step 3: And It Rained

Day 1 started out misty and then turned to rain, and it rained some more.

Left Margaree and headed along the Cabot Trail toward Cape Smokey. We traveled on the Englistown Ferry for free as we were on bicycles. We stopped at the base of Cape Smokey with the thought of starting at the base in the morning. Well having said that, it sounded like a great idea, but in reality it was very stupid. Stop at the top or back side of a mountain, not the base.

We had planned to camp along the way but due to the rain, we rented a cottage for the night.

Step 4: Cape Smokey

Day 2 started with a climb up Cape Smokey, 350 m, it took a little better than 30 minutes to do the climb. Got to see some wildlife along the way to our next rest stop in Cape North.

Due to the morning mountain climb we didn't travel as far as we had hoped this day and ended after only going 75 km, we were dog tired.

We learned our lesson from Day 1 and ended our day on the back side of North Mountain after another 445 m climb.

Step 5: Faster

Day 3 Started out foggy and then the sun came out and it got hot.

Managed to get a top speed of 78.9 km/h going down French Mountain! To fast for someone to be going on a bicycle.

Step 6: Scenery

I have traveled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton out rivals them all! Alexander Graham Bell

Things to do in Cape Breton

Louisbourg Museum

Salmon fishing in Margaree, contact me for a guide

Alexander Graham Bell Museum

Giant McAskill Museum, his grave is at the Englishtown ferry landing

Hiking, Skyline trail a must do

St Michael Church Margaree

Cape Breton Miners Museum

Ingonish Beach, was once a dump but now one of the best beaches in the area to pick beach glass

Meat Cove

Glenora Inn and distillery

Celtic Music Interpretive Centre