Category: cycling

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Outdoor Adventure on Vancouver Island

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

I’d argue that the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is the best place to live in Canada — for year round outdoor recreation.

My parents live in Parksville. And — when visiting — I can cycle and hike year round.

Protected by Mt. Arrowsmith, the coast gets very little snow. And temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

Of course this is a rain forest. 😀

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.

It was designated in 2000 by UNESCO to protect a large second-growth coast Douglas fir ecosystem in the watersheds of the Little Qualicum and Englishman Rivers from being developed. …

Protected areas located within the biosphere reserve include:[5]

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Cycling, Hiking Lofoten Islands, Norway

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

HIGHLIGHTS of 2 weeks on the Lofoten Islands, Arctic Norway. Summers of 2022 and 2023.

Lofoten is my favourite destination in that wonderful nation.

You can camp FREE almost anywhere. And most ferries are FREE for cyclists and pedestrians.

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Cycling / Hiking the Faroe Islands

Challenging Logistics

Expensive.

The best way to travel the 500km of roads over 17 islands is by personal vehicle. This gives you the flexibility to go when the weather forecast looks … better. 😀

Otherwise you are limited by the infrequent public buses and ferries. AND ferries often don’t run when it’s too windy.

On the other hand, with a motor vehicle, you pay a fee for every undersea tunnel you drive through, and any ferry you need to take. It adds up quickly.

I went with gravel bike — but was too cowardly to cycle through most of the many narrow tunnels. It is allowed, however. Locals told me they don’t mind bikes in tunnels.

I did cycle 2 of them.

It’s easy to put your bike under the bus — and I did it every day.

BUT the buses run infrequently, especially on weekends and holidays. There are very few locals on them, only a few cheapskate tourists.

If you like coastal scenery, there is no place on the Faroe Islands more than 5km from the seas.

I had a bike shop in the capital do a tune-up and replaced the chain. Bike ran great — until the new chain broke. It was Sunday and there was no bus service. I had to hitchhike with my disabled transport.

Note: A number of the most famous hikes on the Faroe Islands cross privately owned land and have expensive fees. Similar attractions in Norway and Iceland are free.

There are campgrounds, but I’d recommend booking a roof over your head. I had an inexpensive room in a Vestmanna guesthouse, happy to be warm and dry my clothing every night.

Vestmanna

The Faroe Islands are great. But logistics are challenging. Book as many days as possible.

The easiest way to hike is with your own motor vehicle. Either rent — or take the only ferry to the Faroe Islands.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – 15 things to know before visiting the Faroe Islands

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Cycling Vancouver Island

One of the main attractions of the Pacific Northwest is the opportunity to hike and cycle year round.

The climate is relatively mild, even on Vancouver Island.

Getting ready for my hiking / cycling adventures in Europe summer 2024, I put together this video in Parksville, B.C.

Mainly I wanted to test my NEW DJI Mini 4 Pro Drone “follow me” capabilities — as well as the obstacle avoidance.

Does it work? 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube to find out.

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Adventure Racing World Championship 2025

The extremely harsh World Championships of Adventure Racing will be hosted by Canada in British Columbia. Host city Penticton.

Adventure Racing World Series Announces Canada as the 2025 World Championship Destination

I’d love to be involved somehow as a volunteer. Perhaps roving VIDEO crew.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Here’s a good documentary of the 2023 Worlds in South Africa.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (41min)

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Hiking in ‘Salvage Logging’ Forest

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

In the temperate rain forest of Vancouver Island you can hike almost anywhere, year round.

It’s fantastic.

One local hike I’d avoided is Roosevelt – Chinook – Channels – Clay Banks near the excellent Englishman River Provincial Park.

I’d heard it was mainly used for mountain biking.

Home made mountain biking trails tend to be rugged, muddy — and not all that hiker friendly.

Turned out that wasn’t the BIG problem.

Very close to the Provincial Park, logging companies have been Thinning.

In this area, they claim to be removing about half the trees so the other half will grow faster.

It’s a kind of salvage logging.

Not clearcut — but still ugly and muddy.

There were a few good moments — but I won’t again be hiking in any area that has been thinned.

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Portable Wind Turbine on the Trail

At 3 pounds, it’s doubtful I’d carry the Shine ultra-compact wind turbine on a hike.

Cost November 2023 is CAD $400 (US $290).

At this time it’s only available in Canada and the USA.

BUT I’m thinking it might be ideal for bikepacking central Iceland summer 2024.

AND ideal if I were to camp out in one place for a number of days.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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I’m BOOKED ➙ Faroe Islands, Summer 2024

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Postponed in 2023 … this time I made my reservations 10 months in advance to get the ferries I wanted. And inexpensive accommodation.

I can cancel accommodation at no cost.

If I eventually have to cancel the ferries, I’ll pay 10% of the € 337 total cost for me, my bike, and a bunkbed on the ship.

The Faroe Islands are expensive and in high demand, high season. Far less so if you book long ahead of time.

Mulafossur waterfall in Gasadalur

July 27th – depart Hirtshals (Denmark) on the Smyril ferry

July 28th – arrive Tórshavn (Faroe Islands)

Aug 7th – depart Tórshavn

Aug 8th – arrive Seyðisfjörður (Iceland) at 8:30am

That gives me 9 full days for cycling and hiking. Weather is a factor, of course. Faroe Islands are just south of the Arctic Circle.

Cycling Faroe Islands – Generated with AI ∙Dall-E 3

The more days, the more opportunity for clear skies. 😀

I booked during the Olympics.

IF it rains 😀, I’ll instead be following the action in Paris online. Indoors.

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Cycling / Hiking Norway 2023

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Summers 2022 and 2023 I cycled and hiked the west coast of Norway.

Mostly on the Eurovelo 1. Perhaps half of the Norway section.

On my personal website, I posted 3 trip reports and VIDEOS. Cycling is a great (and inexpensive) way to get to the wonderful hikes in Norway. 😀

Wild camping is free by law almost everywhere in Norway.

1. Cycling Arctic Norway ➙ Lyngen Alps to Lofoten

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

2. Cycling / Hiking Arctic Norway ➙ Lofoten

Trip report

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

3. Cycling Norway – Bodø to Trondheim

+ Kristiansund & Atlantic Road

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.