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Rest Stop

Judy Arriving at a rest stop

Cabot Trail 2008
Thank you for your interest in the Cabot Trail!

The Cabot Trail Bike Tour is a life changing experience! It is a trip of a lifetime you don't want to miss out on! This trip is a challenge, physically and mentally and TJ Fit will prepare you to workouts, and motivation, this is a great way to change all that! Having a goal that you are working towards helps you stay focused and helps you stay committed to your training!

The TJ Fit Cabot Trail Bike Tour is completely different then most Bike tours as we train you before hand and you have an opportunity to meet your fellow cyclists and train together as a group!

The Cabot Trail is a mini version of Climbing Mount Everest! Think about how you would feel to accomplish such a feat? Well Cabot Trail is your next Everest!

Keltic Lodge

Islands behind Keltic Lodge

Cabot Trail Bike Ride
Come challenge yourself, and experience the beauty of the Cabot Trail during this 4-day cycling trip with TJ FIT.

The Cabot Trail is all about achieving your goals. It is about the wonderful friendships you will develop while you challenge yourself both mentally and physically.

Don't pass up this opportunity of a lifetime!

The Cabot Trail is a 4 day bike trip, which includes 6 nights accommodations and all the training prior to the trip.

The training involves two workshops; rules of the road workshop and a maintenance workshop. Training is mandatory and will involve 9 rides of varying distances and terrain.

We cycle the Cabot Trail counter clockwise, starting and finishing in Baddeck. The trail itself is about 300km in length. The last two nights are for celebrating this amazing accomplishment!

I discovered the Cabot Trail in the summer of 1998. I loved it so much that I continued to return every year. I have lead 7 groups in the last 10 years. Come and discover the beauty and vastness of this land and its people with us in 2008.

Beach

Ingonish Beach

CABOT TRAIL CYCLING TRIP 2008

Description:
TJ FIT’s Cabot Trail cycling trip takes individuals around the trail in 4 days. We travel counter clockwise, starting from Baddeck, and traveling through Ingonish, Pleasant Bay, Cheticamp and completing our loop back at Baddeck. We travel between 45-93km per day, and stay in Inns and Motels along the way. Our speeds vary each day, depending on the terrain and the conditions, but normally the average speed on flat sections is 18-22km/h.

This cycling trip is a challenging ride, consisting of climbs with grades of 7-14%. TJ FIT provides training rides before the trip to prepare you for this challenge. The training rides are mandatory and training outside of these rides is a must. TJ FIT will provide you with a training schedule to follow.

The Cabot Trail is known to be one of the most difficult rides in Canada. With the proper training, this ride will be the most rewarding and empowering trip you will ever experience.

Looking forward to sharing this experience with you!

DATES:

Thursday July 10^th- Wednesday July 16^th, 2008
Minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 20.

Accommodations:

Thursday July 10^th– Hunter’s Mountain Cottages, Baddeck
Friday July 11^th– Castle Rock Inn, Ingonish
SaturdayJuly 12^th–Mid-Trail Inn, Pleasant Bay
Sunday July 13^th – Auberge Doucet Inn
Monday and Tuesday, July 14 and 15^th – Keltic Lodge, Ingonish.

Meals:

New this year, we have breakfast included at Castle Rock Inn in Ingonish and Auberge Doucet Inn in Cheticamp.

As always 4 meals at the Keltic Lodge are also included in your trip costs. This includes 2 deluxe breakfasts, and 2-4 course meals during our stay at the Lodge on our last two days.

All other meals are not included.

We will have scheduled stops along the way each day to eat lunch and get more water. You will need to pack snacks such as power bars, fruit, bagels, trail mix, and water or Gatorade for the beginning of each day.

Each of our Inns/Motels has licensed restaurants except for on Day 1, Hunter’s Mountain Cottages. (They do have full Kitchens if you wish to prepare a meal). Once everyone arrives on the 10^th, we will go to Baddeck and have our meal to celebrate the start of our trip!

Transportation:

Transportation is not included.

Many individuals drive. It is approximately an 18-22 hour drive typically spread over 2 days.

Flying to Halifax or Sydney are also options.

Cheticamp

Cheticamp sunset on the mountains

Gear and Accessories:

(Pack light)
You will need the following items:

Clothing:

Bike Rain Gear-pants and shell
Wind resistant and breathable
Gloves
Fleece
Moisture wicking shirts
(both long sleeve and short sleeve)
Socks
Booties if you have them
(Plastic bags work too)
Bike shorts and long tights

Bike Tools/ Accessories:

Saddle Bags
Tubes to fit your bike
Patch kit and Bike Tool
Brake pads
Tire levers
Spare tire
Bike pump
Head light
Rear flashing light
Bike lock
Odometer

Miscellaneous Items

First Aid Kit
Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Camera
Sunscreen Lip Balm

Food:

Water bottles
Gatorade or homemade version
trail mix
power bars/granola bars/fruit

Cost:

2000+gst per person for double accommodations
2500+gst per person for single accommodations.

50% due to confirm your spot.

Remaining 50% due June 7^th 2008

10% discount for individuals who have participated in previous Cabot Trail trips.

The above cost includes 6 nights accommodation, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts at the Keltic Lodge, 2 other breakfasts on route and all 9 training rides* ( not including the overnight weekend to Westport) , Cabot Trail cycling jersey, maintenance workshop, rules of the road workshop and a security check on your bike prior to our departure. Your bike club membership and insurance will also be included.

Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel your trip before June 10^th 2008 TJ FIT will refund your trip cost, minus the training ride fees, bike club membership fees, jersey fee, maintenance and rules of the road workshop fees.

TJ FIT will not issue any refunds after June 10^th, 2008.

Waivers/Consent Forms/Medical

All waivers/consent forms must be completed prior to our first bike training ride on Saturday April 5^th. A complete physical by your family physician is also highly recommended before the trip.

Training:

The Cabot Trail is an absolutely stunning adventure and in order to enjoy it you must train for it.
TJ FIT will provide a maintenance workshop, rules of the road workshop, and a security check of your bike just before our trip. The maintenance workshop will ensure that you are familiar with your bike and its components, changing a punctured tube, using your gears, and how to place the chain on its cogs.

The rules of the road workshop will ensure that every rider is familiar with the signals in cycling, how to change lanes safely, how to ride in a group, how to draft in a group, and how to be a defensive cyclist. Both of these workshops are mandatory. The bike security check must be done before the trip and all necessary maintenance done to your bike, otherwise TJ FIT will not allow you to participate. You will be required to show TJ FIT that the security check was done and your bike passed the test prior to leaving.

Cliff from lookoff

Cliff from lookoff

Training Schedule*

Saturday March 28^th 12:30:3:30pm Maintenance Workshop at the Studio

Saturday April 5^th at 12:30-3:30 pm Rules of the Road and 30km Ride to Richmond and back. Meeting at the studio.

Saturday April 12^th Pinks Lake Ride 50-60km. Meeting at the studio at 12:30pm.

Saturday May 3^rd Champlain Lookout 70-80km Meeting at the studio at 9am

Wednesday May 14^th Pinks Lake Ride 6;30pm Meeting place Island Park/Champlain bridge/Western Parkway Parking lot. 30km

Saturday May 24^th Hill Repeats Ride- Meeting Place Island Park/Champlain Bridge/Western Parkway Parking lot at 9:30am.

Saturday June 7^th, Wakefield Ride- 120-130km, Meeting Place TJ Fit, 8:30am.

Friday June 13^th and Saturday June14^th- Westport Overnight Ride. 100km each way. 9am start time. The cost for this weekend is not included in the cost of the trip.

Wednesday June 25^th Pinks Lake Ride 50-60km. Meeting Place, the studio 6pm.

Saturday July 5^th, Hill Repeats and Security Check on Bikes. Meeting Place Tj fit at 9am.

*All rides are mandatory.

The Westport Weekend cost ranges from 120+gst per room ( queen or double bed ) to 165+gst per room ( jacuzzi tub ) and that includes breakfast. I have currently 10 rooms booked and will need you to confirm your attendance with payment.

These rides are not the only training that should be done. It is absolutely crucial that you train on your own outside of these rides.

During our rides and trip, we will have a leader and a sweeper. Again depending on the conditions, we will try to lead a group at an average speed of 18-22km/h. If for any reason you do not wish to travel with the group, please let us know and you will be left to travel on your own and TJ FIT will not be responsible for your safety!

Cape Smokey from Green Cove

Cape Smokey from Green Cove

Saddlebags/ Panniers

Saddlebags or panniers are a part of TJ FIT’s Cabot Trail Cycling Trip. You must train with them at all times for two reasons. The first reason is simply to get used to riding with them on your bike and the second reason is to ensure that you are used to cycling with the extra weight. So pack light!

If there is a reason you cannot ride with saddlebags, please notify us and we can look at your specific situation.

Walkie Talkies/Sag Wagon

For safety reasons we will have walkie-talkies and a sag wagon during our trip. During the trip, we will have 4 walkie-talkies with us. The leader will also be carrying a first aid kit.

The sag wagon is for emergency purposes only and will not carry any personal belongings.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE THIS AMAZING EXPERIENCE WITH YOU!!

CABOT TRAIL TRIP DESCRIPTION

ABOUT THE CABOT TRAIL

The Cabot Trail is an experience you do not want to miss!

The Cabot Trail is 300km in length. This ride is a challenge and anyone at any age can do it. Be prepared for loads of fun, new friendships and a wonderful sense of accomplishment.

This will be our 5^th consecutive group lead trip.

This year we will be offering one trip with a maximum of 10 participants.The trip is 4 days of biking and we average 55 93km per day. The weather combined with the elevation make the Cabot Trail one of the most challenging bike rides in Canada. The Cabot Trail is known for its gruelling and challenging hills and mountains. The mountains have grades ranging from 7%-14%.

There will be 6 nights of accommodation and the last two nights are spent at the luxurious Keltic Lodge Resort in Ingonish. Your dinner and breakfast will be included at the Keltic Lodge. You are responsible for your other meals and your transportation.

TRIP DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 Baddeck to Ingonish 93km

Cape Smokey looms

Cape Smokey looms

We travel counter clockwise and begin our trip in Baddeck, Nova Scotia.

Our first day of biking consists of traveling on the TransCanada Highway for approximately 30km. We turn off the Trans Canada Highwayand head towards the Gaelic College ( the only one in North America ). We travel along the east coast of the island until we reach Piper's Campground. We will stop here at the 60km mark for lunch. On a warm day you can paddle in the ocean. On a cool day you will be happy to have something warm to eat inside the restaurant.
You will find the Wreck Cove general store at the 77km mark (the only one on route) to refuel or get Gatorade or water. About a kilometre from the Wreck Cove Store there is the first of many coastal picture opportunities.

You are now about 8km from the base of Cape Smokey. Cape Smokey is 2km in length and 902 feet. A grade that is steeper than some of the Tour de France climbs.

You will be able to see vehicles climbing Cape Smokey in the distance. You will only be able to see part of the climb and the rest heads into the mountain. The trick with climbing hills is to pace yourself and to not attack to fast to soon. You will be traveling at speeds anywhere from 4-7km per hour. Your focus should be on pacing yourself and simply making it through each pedal stroke. Try not to look up, that can be discouraging. Just look a few meters ahead. Use your speedometer to ensure that you are traveling at a consistent pace. I suggest you try to remain seated through the climbs. We all wait at the top of the hill and do our celebratory dance! Take a few pictures in front of the Green Sign that says that we are at the top of Cape Smokey and we have climbed 902 ft. After this celebration, we head down hill to the Castle Rock Inn. The inn overlooks the ocean and the Keltic Lodge. We celebrate on the deck with a refreshing beer!

Day 2 - Ingonish to Pleasant Bay - 80km

Green Cove

Lobster fishing at Green Cove

Murray climbing north

Murray climbing north

We will set out and leave the Castle Rock Inn and head down towards Cape Smokey ski hill. Around the bay and up towards the town of Ingonish. We enter the Cape Breton Highlands Provincial Park and also pass by the entrance to the Keltic Lodge. ( where we will be celebrating the completion of our trip ). The road travels north along the ocean and our first stop is at the 26km mark and is Donna's favourite place on the trip, Green Cove. Green Cove is a large pile of rocks that overlook the ocean, somewhat similar to Peggy's cove. This section of day 2 is filled with many hills, up and down. Not mountains but hills.

At 34km we will head inland towards the west coast of the island. If you continued traveling North, you would reach the village of Neil's Harbour, a typical Cape Breton fishing village. Even though you do not appear to be climbing you are. This section is a long and gradual climb. Wind can present an even greater challenge

After this long and gruelling gradual climb we get to go down! What goes up, must come down. There are a few hills and one very steep small hill just before our lunch stop at Food Town, 51km. Food Town is a corner store that has sandwiches and ice cream. I would not recommend the ice cream just before we climb North Mountain though.

One of my favourite spots on the trail is at the 55km mark. It is not a lookout per sae, but it is just the shear beauty of the highland mountains and ocean in the distance coming together as one. In the distance you can see a snake like figure jutting through the mountain ahead, this is North Mountain. This is only half of the climb.

We will descend some more and at the 65km mark you are at the base of North Mountain. North Mountain is 5km in length, 455 meters high and starts off by climbing and levelling off with many opportunities to stop and take pictures at the lookouts to your left.

After about 2km, you will be at your last lookout. One of the last opportunities for a break before the 2km of switchbacks. You are able to see where you came from at this lookout and also where you are headed. Remember to keep your head down and focus on moving the legs at a consistent steady pace.

We have experienced severe heat, pedal stopping wind and extreme wet cold temperatures in the past 4 years of doing the Cabot Trail! It is very important that you participate in every training ride and train on your own outside of these rides. It is a challenge as it is without these environmental issues. Please be prepared for it all.

At the top, again we will celebrate our accomplishment. 2 down and 1 to go!

We have one more hill to tackle before we go down into Pleasant Bay. The top of North Mountain is a very common place to see Moose.The day is done after going down North Mountain and heading to one of two Motels in Pleasant Bay. Pleasant Bay is in between North and Mackenzie Mountain. It is always sunny, hence the name Pleasant Bay.

DAY 3 Pleasant Bay to Cheticamp 41km

Cheticamp sunset

Cheticamp sunset

Even though day 3 is a relatively short day in terms of distance, it is also your third consecutive day. We begin the day with Mackenzie Mountain. This mountain is the same length as North Mountain but it has much longer switchbacks and is not as steep, 355m. You will want to stop and take pictures at each of these lookouts. It is absolutely incredible. The ocean, land is absolutely breathtaking!!

We reach the top of Mackenzie and travel above sea level for about 15km. There is a lot of great hiking in Cape Breton highlands. You will pass many bogs on this section before descending French Mountain, yes descending! Down French Mountain is stunning. Remember that you should be pumping your brakes as you descend the mountain. You want to avoid over heating your rims and possibly causing a flat, or wearing your brake pads completely because of the heat! Most of the photographs taken of the Cabot Trail are on this descent! Enjoy it and take it all in.

As I mentioned before, this is a short day, but not without any hills. After descending French you will run into 3 long steep hills to climb. Again you are right along the coast here and it is unbelievably beautiful! We don't stop for lunch until we reach our destination, which is the Acadian village of Cheticamp. We reach Cheticamp after 41km.

DAY 4 Cheticamp to Baddeck 77km

Highland Links

Highland Links

When we leave Cheticamp, we know that we have climbed all of the most difficult Mountains on the Cabot Trail. We will hope for no prevailing winds, which can make this day quite gruelling.

Without the wind, this ride is along the coast and we travel away from the Highlands.
Our first stop is at 15km. This stop is a bit bizarre. It is known as "Joes Scarecrow"

You will have to see it to understand. After Joe's Scarecrow, we will head in land towards Baddeck.

We will have packed a lunch prepared by our motel and will stop at a bakery around 44km. A wonderful family runs this bakery. They have very little money and I am not sure just how they survive. I don't know that I have ever seen anyone stop in other than us. I like to give them as much business as possible.

Traveling through Margaree Valley is very picturesque. This area is very popular because of its fishing.

The only challenge to this ride in terms of hills is the last climb up Hunter's Mountain. It is what I call a "gatineau hill". The base of Hunter's Mountain is at 66km. Once you climb this hill, we again go downhill back to our original starting point, Hunters Mountain Cottages! You will have an unbelievable sense of accomplishment and empowerment. Off to the KELTIC LODGE for our celebration!