Scottsdale is probably not the first city you think of when it comes to mountain biking. But it should actually be on your radar. Scottsdale is home to 200 plus miles of trails in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve ALONE with trails ranging from beginner through to advanced. Some trails like the ones we did at Brown's Ranch are made with crushed granite and compacted soil while others are rocky with loose gravel (and so more…
The Magdalen Islands or their French name - Îles de la Madeleine are an archipelago of more than a dozen, almost treeless islands, linked by kilometres of sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Plunked down in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, they take up a mere 206 square km (80 square mi), so there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them. Although French is the first language for most of the…
Three days of cycling in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic merely whet my appetite for what's available in the country. Lots has been written about the Prague to Vienna bike ride, especially with so many outdoor-adventure companies offering the tour. But the lesser known parts of the Czech Republic like the South Bohemian region are not nearly so well represented online. Our group of cyclists, made up of five young males and…
If you own a mountain bike, chances are you’ve heard of the riding in British Columbia. It’s legendary for good reason. But the fact that there’s a lifetime’s worth of riding in such a small area makes it hard to plan a shorter trip there. So what’s the ultimate three-day crash course, the riding that you just can’t miss? We’ve “sacrificed” a bunch of our own precious personal time testing and riding BC’s best trails,…
A week long trip cycling through Jordan is a fun way to see this safe and peace-loving country, often referred to as the Switzerland of the Middle East. While it's surrounded by noisy neighbours including Iraq, Syria, Saudia Arabia, Israel and the West Bank, don't let that deter you from visiting. I'm serious. Over the 10 days I was in the country I never felt unsafe for a second. You can expect to be greeted…
The North Island has a hold on me, and I keep going back. Northern Vancouver Island is vast, sparsely populated, and you’re more likely to meet a bear than a tourism spot. A super destination if you like the great outdoors. This article shares three favourite spots. Two are rough and remote (don’t expect pavement!), while the third is a mellower cluster of tourist gems. I’m a cycle tourist and bikepacker (a rare breed up…
If you'd like to go biking through an otherworldly landscape of canyons, hoodoos and coulees with the added attraction of seeing the world's largest dinosaur, then you need to bike the Dinosaur Trail near Drumheller. The city of Drumheller is just 90 minutes from Calgary but with its badlands scenery it feels a world away. On the drive there make the short-detour to see Horseshoe Canyon. It will whet your appetite for what's ahead. Biking the…
“My revenge is just begun! And I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side!” You may recognise this line from Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula novel. And Dracula may be the only thing that comes to mind when thinking of Romania, right? In fact, there’s so much more to discover about this Eastern European destination. With low tourist numbers and few marketing campaigns to promote the country, no wonder people have no idea…
Le Petit Train du Nord, a 200 kilometre multi-use trail in Quebec's Laurentian region checks off almost every box cyclists dream about. Cue the beautiful countryside, delicious local food, charming small towns and villages, excellent signage and relatively easy cycling - especially if you bike from north to south. Throw in the option of getting a shuttle to the start pointing point in Mount-Laurier and a daily luggage transfer and you've got one winner of…
If you're someone who loves a good bike ride but hates biking on roads then I think you'd love what I consider to be 19 of the best bike rides in Canada. Most you can do in a day, two max. They all travel on dedicated trails and while you may have to cross the occasional road you won't have to worry about big trucks flattening you into a human pancake. Those that are longer…