Vancouver Highlights

The last few days have been tiring, and I have only just found the time to muster some energy to get back up to speed on the blog, so here we go.


Our final day in Vancouver was brilliant. We headed to La Bicicletta to pick up my bike, and at the same time I gently pestered Tim into trying the same bike. Tom, the manager was a brilliant guy with a world of patience, and spent hours with us setting our bikes up to fit like gloves. Tim popped out for another test cycle and we had lift off - Tim had decided he would also go with the Marinoni. Part of the decision wasn't just the bike but also the amazing service we got. The younger guys kept giving us good tips for places to eat and how to deal with our bikes whilst staying in motels at the start of our journey - they even threw in a lightweight bike bag to go some way to solving our bike lock disagreement which is still on going...;-)


On the way to the bike shop in the morning we had the funniest bus trip. Not only did the bus driver utter more than grunts at us (as you would receive in London) he proceeded to ask us what we were up to and how much fun we would have. As new people got onto the bus his chatter continued, flowing into a description of all the bus stops along the road - including 'Starbucks Corner' where there was one on each side of the corner! You can't escape them.


Best quote so far: 'If you want to lighten you bike, you have to lighten your wallet' as one of the young guys in the bike shop said to a customer who could only have been complaining about the weight of his bike. I thought to myself he should try lifting my tourer up but i was laughing too much to be able to speak.


Bikes sorted, camping gear bought and panniers packed we went in hunt of a big bowl of pasta in a vain attempt to carb load for our first days cycling. This was the first HUGE meal I have come across - there must have been a whole packet of pasta in my meal, and yet i still managed to wolf it down. There is no way I am going to be bonking (I promise this is a cycling term for hitting the wall) on my first day!