Bicycling Nova Scotia

[Sentersu]

Next summer we are hoping to do a self-contained tour of Nova Scotia beginning in Halifax and going Northeast to include Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail.  We are interested in any input from someone who has done this ride regarding camping, possible hotel accommodations, and preferred route.  Our plan is to fly with our bikes to Halifax.  Do you know of a bike friendly hotel who might be willing to shuttle us from the airport and store our bike boxes for the return trip?  Any tidbits of information would be greatly appreciated!

[FredHiltz]

While planning our first trip there this summer, I bought Gary Conrod's 1994 "Nova Scotia Bicycle Book." He says, "Every road in Nova Scotia has been evaluated. Most have been covered many times, in both directions in all seasons. Feedback has been observed from participants during 16 years of tour leading and from several thousand touring inquiries. No anecdotal information has been included. Every suggestion has been investigated personally...[all] without ever owning an automobile."

http://atl-canadacycling.com/ sells it on their Tour Planning page. That site is a great resource. Do spend some time there.

Fred

[bentrider]

I live and ride in Nova Scotia and am a member of a Local bicycle club that you may find someone that might like to tag along with you for your ride;
http://www.velohalifax.ca/
I've done the Cabot Trail 4 times myself and there are others that have done it at least 20 or more times. Good ride and I prefer going clockwise, expect grades of 9-12%.
As for an hotel there is the Airport hotel about 1km from airport with shuttle service available you might be able to get them to hold the bike box for a fee.
60 Bell Blvd
Enfield, NS B2T 1K3 CA
1-877-997-9600
When do you plan to start your tour?

[BobG]

Last summer I cycled from Yarmouth up to a folk music festival in Canso at the northeastern tip of mainland Nova Scotia. I rode up the Annapolis Valley on the Bay of Fundy side, across the Rawdon Hills to Musquodoboit Harbour just above Halifax, and up the Atlantic coast to Canso. The coastal cycling up from Musquodoboit Harbor was great with only light traffic in late June. I drove the section from Queensport to Guysborough in a rental car to get back to Yarmouth after the festival............wish I had been cycling it!

I stayed at good simple campgrounds at Musquodoboit Harbour, Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke. The one in Sherbrooke is at a convenient, in town location. Carry some food between Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke. You won't find many stores on this stretch.

There is a particularly scenic campground 10K beyond Canso at Fox Island, with great tent sites right on the water of Chedabucto Bay.(Sea Breeze Campground) Should you arrive in Canso during the July 4th weekend you'll find accomodations full everywhere due to the annual Stan Rogers Folk festival.

Warning: Shoulders are rare on the roads of Nova Scotia. Cycling can be treacherous when you get into traffic. The back roads are rough and pot holed.