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Come ride with us. We offer two tour options: pre-arranged and custom

Three or four day Velo Max pre-arranged tours

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All the decisions have been made for you. Choose to ride the 296 km (185 mi.) Cabot Trail loop in either 3 or 4 days. All tours are limited to 6 riders. Please review the 'About our tours' section below for more information.

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4 days

day 1: 45 km with rolling terrain and one 6 km climb at about 7%. Take it easy on your first day to get accustomed to the climbing and save your legs for the rest of the journey.

day 2: 75 km with a very challenging 4 km climb at about 12%. You will meet up with the 3-day riders.

day 3: 96 km with one relatively easy climb followed by moderately rolling terrain.

day 4: 88 km with one relatively easy climb early on followed by some lumpy road.

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3 days

day 1: 116 km - the queen stage. Combine day 1 and day 2 of the 4-day tour and take on two challenging climbs within the first 60 km. You will meet up with the 4-day riders.

day 2: 96 km with one relatively easy climb followed by moderately rolling terrain.

day 3: 88 km with one relatively easy climb early on followed by some lumpy road.

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2018 Dates: no more planned tours for 2018. Please contact us for custom tour information.

 

Custom tours

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Form your own group from 1 to 6 riders and we'll do as much or as little as you want.

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Please contact us for more details and pricing.

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About our tours

 

Our tours are primarily suited for, but not limited to, cycling enthusiasts who enjoy riding for sport and are interested in improving as cyclists. You don't need to be a racer or an elite athlete but we do suggest having a good level of fitness and, as a minimum, be capable of riding 100 km (60 mi) within four to five hours. And, as with any new challenge, we suggest consulting with your physician to ensure you are capable of handling vigorous physical activity. Don't worry, there will be time to take pictures.

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Our mission is to deliver the same incredible cycling experience that I had each time I came to the area for training prior to moving here in 2012. The amazing scenery, the climbing and decents, as well as the feeling of really getting away from it all, makes riding the Cabot Trail an unforgettable thrill.

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Our support vehicle is never too far away to assist should there be a problem on the road; be it for refreshments or for mechanical issues, we've got you covered. The support vehicle is not however a 'sag wagon' to transport riders who may find some sections difficult but is available to transport riders should there be an emergency.. Riders are expected  to complete each day's ride within a reasonable time span; barring any unforeseen circumstances such as extreme weather or medical issues.

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Given the challenging climbs along the Cabot Trail, riders should have sufficient fitness and/or climbing ability to ride all the hills. We suggest an honest evaluation of your bike's gearing for climbing. And remember, what goes up must come down so riders should be comfortable with descending slopes with turns.

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We prefer small groups of no more than six riders to offer the best possible service with a personal touch and to foster an atmosphere of camaraderie among the riders. We highly encourage and participate in discussions touching on cycling experiences as well as riding and technical tips as our goal is to have all riders become better and more confident cyclist by the end of the tour.

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What's included in the price?

  • Accommodations: we cover those for the evening before the tour begins as well as those while on the road. However, accommodations are not provided for the evening the tour returns to Cheticamp but can be arranged at an additional cost. Accommodations are based on double-room occupancy.

  • On-the-road support includes in-depth knowledge of the route, experienced mechanic support, supply of miscellaneous parts, and other little extras that will help you stay at your best.

  • baggage shuttling: just carry what you absolutely need to and we will transport the rest. Your bags will be available in the support vehicle should you require access to them en-route and will be waiting for you when you arrive at the day's destination.

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Payments

  • 50% of the total tour fee is required upon reserving your spot with the remaining portion due two weeks before the tour start date.

  • Payments can be made by credit card, e-transfer (within Canada) or PayPal.

  • Cancellation and refund policy: see attached 'refunds' document.

Getting here

 

The old saying: "it may not be the end of the world but you can see it from there" may apply here but, is that necessarily a bad thing? What better than to really get away from it all and to ride with none of your day-to-day worries zapping your energy? Come experience the slower paced relaxed lifestyle that endears so many to wonderful friendly Cape Breton. Cheticamp is a fishing village with a population of 3,000 on the west coast of Cape Breton Island which is the northernmost section of Nova Scotia on Canada's Atlantic coast. Below are some of the most popular ways of getting here.

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Flying in

Halifax Stanfield International Airport is the closest major airport at 370 km from Cheticamp. There are several car rental agencies operating from the airport to consider for the 4 hour drive to Cheticamp.

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Alternatively, the JA Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport at 177 km from Cheticamp has daily connecting flights from both Halifax and Toronto. There are car rental agencies operating at and near the airport to consider for the 2 hour drive to Cheticamp. We can provide shuttling service to and from the Sydney airport for a reasonable charge.

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Pickup on Cape Breton Island

We offer shuttling service for tour customers to and from arrival/departure locations within a 2 hours drive from Cheticamp for an additional charge.

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Driving here

To put things in perspective, here are some distances to Cheticamp from major North American cities.

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  • ​From Montreal, Quebec: 1,450 km / 900 mi.

  • From Toronto, Ontario: 2,000 km / 1,250 mi.

  • ​From Winnipeg, Manitoba: 3,700 km / 2,300 mi.

  • From Boston, Massachusetts: 785 mi.

  • From New York, New York: 990 mi.

  • From Chicago, Illinois: 1,750 mi.

  • From Charlotte, North Carolina: 1,600 mi.

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