Distance cyclist loves Canada
Scott Currie’s 50-day, coast-to-coast biking tour of our vast nation was inspired by the Canada 150th.
“I thought what a great year to finally do this. I love this country and I love Canadians. It feels great to be out there every day on the bike,” said the 59-year-old carpenter from Cochrane, Alta., during a stop in Penticton on Wednesday.
“I have lived all over Canada including Ontario and the East coast and I thought there’s no better place to get inspired at the start of a long ride than in B.C. It’s hard to beat this, it doesn’t get much better.”
Currie spent 18 months of his life in Penticton dating back to 1980. That year he became involved with a local cycling club organized by Chris Prowse. That year he did a bike tour from Penticton to San Francisco.
The Canada-wide trip is his most ambitious ride ever. The internet is helpful, he said, but it doesn’t save as much time as one would expect.
“It has a little bit but not a whole lot. There’s talk about a Trans Canada Trail for cyclists but that’s not a reality. Once I get out of B.C. and Alberta, it’s basically the No. 1 highway the rest of the way.”
Unlike many distance cyclists, he’s not collecting pledges or promoting a cause.
“I have friends all over the country and I’m not afraid to take them up on their offer for a free night’s shelter,” he said. “There’s no better way to get around and see things than on a bicycle. I find that people trust cyclists. When you’re on a bicycle, people offer you help more often.”
His journey began in Stanley Park in Vancouver and it will end in Halifax. In total he expects 50 days of riding with a handful of off days for rest. He will average 120 km per day on the bike.
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