Cousins - Easy Cycling Around Vancouver: Fun Day Trips for All Ages

FUN DAY TRIPS
FOR ALL AGES

EASY CYCLING

aroundVANCOUVER

Expanded and Updated

JEAN & NORMAN
... COUSINS

D&M PUBLISHERS INC.
Vancouver/Toronto/Berkeley

Copyright 2011 by Jean and Norman Cousins

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777

Greystone Books
An imprint of D&M Publishers Inc.
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver BC Canada V5T 4S7
www.greystonebooks.com

Cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada
ISBN 978-1-55365-582-4 (pbk.)
ISBN 978-1-55365-829-0 (ebook)

Editing by Lucy Kenward
Copyediting by Maja Grip and Lara Kordic
Cover design by Jessica Sullivan
Cover photograph by Toby Adamson/Axiom Photographic Agency/Getty Images
Photos by Norman Cousins
Maps by Eric Leinberger
Distributed in the U.S. by Publishers Group West

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts,
the British Columbia Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia through
the Book Publishing Tax Credit and the Government of Canada through
the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information in this book is accurate and up to date; however, the authors and publisher assume no liability for any loss, damage, inconvenience or injury that may occur to anyone using this book. All outdoor activities involve an element of the unknown and thus an element of risk, and you are solely responsible for your own safety and health at all times. Always check local conditions, know your own limitations and consult a map.

CONTENTS

.....

SQUAMISH/VANCOUVER/EAST OF VANCOUVER

SOUTH OF VANCOUVOER

PITT MEADOWS/MAPLE RIDGE/MISSION

LANGLEY/ALDERGROVE/ABBOTSFORD

MISSION TO HARRISON

ABBOTSFORD/CHILLIWACK

SOUTH OF THE BORDER

In revising and updating this book we have explored new roads and trails and combined them to form new routes that fit our criteria for Easy Cycling around Vancouver. We have re-routed existing rides that have been altered by development or changes in road usageeverywhere becomes busierand we have taken out some rides that are no longer satisfactory. We have added some more off-road cycling by making use of the expanding network of greenways and trails around Vancouver. We have also introduced one or two urban routes.

Like the previous edition, this book is designed to encourage beginning cyclists, families and older or perhaps rusty cyclists to get out on their bikes and explore at whatever level is appropriate for them. Our cycling philosophy remains the same: We cycle for pleasure and discovery. We do not aim to reach our destination in the shortest possible time; we stop when the fancy takes us. We dont regard cycling as a sport or a challengealthough effort does go into it. Cycling is fun, inexpensive and kind to the environment. Best of all, it lifts the spirits to travel at the leisurely pace unique to this activity, exploring the byways on a personal journey of discovery.

The routes in Easy Cycling are just an example of the many options available. Perhaps some of you, after gaining experience and confidence from these rides, will be encouraged to join a local cycling club. Community centres, outdoor clubs and some bicycle shops organize group rides similar to those described in this book. The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition organizes a series of Great Rides and other bike events throughout the year. Through organizations such as these, you will be introduced to the cycling possibilities around the city.

Do not be afraid to put together your own cycle tour, perhaps based on one or two of our rides in the Fraser Valley or Washington. Arm yourself with a detailed map (International Travel Maps & Books, 12300 Bridgeport Road in Richmond is a good source) and pick out some secondary roads to link up with the routes in Easy Cycling. Arrange convenient overnight accommodation along the way, pack your panniers and set off. You will have embarked on a freewheeling style of holiday that knows no boundaries.

The forty-five rides presented are shortbetween 10 and 45 kilometres. They are routed on paved roads, on good gravel surfaces and occasionally on informal trails. Most use safe, rural roads and avoid areas of heavy traffic as much as possible. Many are circular tours. You will notice that many of the rides are located in the Fraser Valley and northwestern Washington. Weve tried to cover most areas around Vancouver in our collection, including Squamish to the north and Harrison to the east, but some parts of the Lower Mainland, though delightful, do not lend themselves to easy cycling. Similarly, we omit popular city cycle routes and paths (which are well covered in other books) because they fall outside our category of countrified tours.

A descriptive summary precedes each ride, enabling you to find a route thats appropriate for your riding ability. A following paragraph gives an overview of the area or mentions places and facts of local interest. Sometimes optional routes or side trips are suggested. In most cases, the recommended lunch stop offers a picnic table or bench, often in a park. The Bicycles and Equipment section offers practical advice on bicycles, equipment and clothing, with hints on comfort for the beginning and out-of-practice cyclist. An important section on safety will help to reassure the fearful and encourage responsible cycling.

Researching and revising these rides has been a pleasurethere have been new neighbourhoods and byways to explore and beautiful parks and picnic spots to discover. What you make of the rides is up to you. The French have a delightful expression for being out and about on a bicycle: They describe it as being en vlo. We hope that you will enjoy being en vlo around Vancouver.

We hope you will start by reading and becoming familiar with the following introductory chapters. If youre an experienced cyclist, the advice may be unnecessary; but if youre a novice, you will benefit from the recommendations, at least in the beginning.

Until you have some experience cycling, it is a good idea to start with short and easy rides, building your confidence and ability until you can judge what you are capable of.

How do you choose a short, easy ride? At the beginning of every ride description is a list of features:

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: The rides in this book range from 10 to 45 kilometres.

TERRAIN: Our routes mainly follow paved roads, but this section tells you if you will also encounter gravel dykes or shared footpaths and whether the ride is level or hilly.

TRAFFIC VOLUME: We try to avoid busy roads, but it isnt always possible. Here we tell you how much car traffic to expect.

TIME TO ALLOW: This section suggests the approximate length of time you will need for the round trip. Our estimate includes a lunch break of 30 minutes plus up to 30 minutes extra if there are unpaved roads, hills or other features that might slow you down. The range indicatede.g., 2 to 3 hoursallows for riders different paces.