Swoosh. That was the only sound giving them away. In a flurry of spandex, a blur of colour, and a rhythmic clicking of gears, five finely tuned speed-cyclists brushed past me toward the highway in mechanical synchronicity. Me? I am not a cyclist. I am a bike rider. I would be choosing the road less traveled. I warily eyed the vehicle that was to be my main mode of transportation for the next five days. Victoria, B.C., was recently declared the “cycle capital of Canada.” My friend and I were here to discover why.

Day One: Ferries, Sidney, and South Half of the fun visiting Victoria is getting there. I always enjoy B.C. Ferries, as it offers a pleasurable trip through a feast of forested islands. The main appeal of this journey is the scenery: a constantly changing vista of mountains, wildlife, and passing ships. Disembarking the ferry in Swartz Bay, we spotted the well-marked bike path with a sign welcoming us to the “cycle capital of Canada.” Following the map on the sign, we cycled six kilometres to the seaside town of Sidney, located on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula. Surrounded on three sides by the sea, Sidney began as a farming settlement in 1858. Today, with its proximity to the picturesque islands of southwest British Columbia and northwest Washington State, this is a popular destination as well as an important midway point in the connection between Vancouver and Victoria. Sidney is an ideal launching point for wilderness recreation and sightseeing in the islands, beaches, and parks nearby. The town is small enough to explore on foot, and boasts museums with interactive learning as well as unique shops and markets. Lovers of good bookstores could spend days browsing here. The Lochside Trail, a 27-kilometre route connecting Sidney to Victoria, is a natural way to cycle to British Columbia's capital city. The trail travels along coastal roadways, between farms, under canopies of trees, and through oceanview communities. Riding along, we shared the path with walkers, joggers, even horseback riders. At Mattick's Farm, we stopped for locally grown veggies and fresh apple pie. When you are traveling by bike, stopping to “fill up” the gas tank is the best part of the trip. At Royal Oak Drive, we left Lochside Trail in search of the new Seaside-Touring Route that would follow the coastline and lead us directly to our inn in the village of Oak Bay.

Day Two: Victoria and Oak Bay After awakening to the blessing of a sunrise over Mount Baker, we reluctantly left our plush rooms (with their own resident stuffed teddy bears!) and were off to check out Canada's cycling capital. Overflowing flower boxes and green parkways allow Victoria to live up to its reputation as “the city of gardens.” We wended our way through Oak Bay on our way to the treasures of Victoria's inner harbour. Oak Bay has quiet seaside marinas, meandering coastal roads, and a town core that has been called “more British than the British.” Stop at Blethering Place for afternoon tea or visit the Tudor Sweet Shop for a more decadent treat. In downtown Victoria, I felt like a chameleon. Alternating between road riding and walking our bikes, we blended in with pedestrians and car traffic alike. Parking? No parkade line-ups and daily fees for cyclists. In Victoria, bike racks abound. You can ride along the harbour marina, tour the Parliament buildings, shop along Government Street, or picnic among the rose gardens of Beacon Hill Park. Heading home that night, we felt a sense of belonging as we traveled alongside Canada's highest percentage of city cycle-commuters.

Day Three: Cowichan Wine Tours Oh, my aching bones. Or was it my muscles? With a sigh of relief, I settled into the tour van for a 40-minute drive to the Cowichan Valley. Cycling between the farms was optional. I was tempted but I willed myself to get back on my bike. The word “Cowichan” is a native word meaning “land warmed by sun,” and the valley certainly lived up to its name that day. Our first stop was a 24-year-old organic farm selling slow foods (the opposite of fast food, an international movement very much embraced by Cowichan's food purveyors). We sampled peas and grapes off the vine and then collected fresh garden vegetables for our noon meal. At the Godfrey-Brownell Vineyards, eagerly awaited cheeses, bread, garden salad greens, tomatoes, and an assortment of half-full wine glasses cluttered the table. The wine was rich and flavourful as it trickled slowly over our tastebuds. Slow cycling, slow food, and the slow savouring of our midday meal suited me just fine. Our inn's guide loaded us back into the van for a leisurely ride “home.”

Day Four: Sooke Region Cycle touring is not for the faint of heart. Or is it? Packing a set of evening clothes and a credit card, we set off along the Galloping Goose Trail for Sooke, B.C., a winding route that is about 55 kilometres from Victoria in the Sooke Region. The warm, genuine community of 11,000 people is situated between a wild, towering rainforest and the dramatic Pacific Ocean. Sooke offers visitors the untamed but comfortable experience that Vancouver Island's Far West Coast is famous for-and, thankfully, you can skip the 300-plus-kilometre cycle to Tofino, or not depending on your schedule and sense of adventure. That evening and the next morning at Mrs. Lewer's B&B, the china cups, fresh flower garnishes, and decadent breakfast made us feel delightfully pampered. However, it was the availability of a washer and dryer and self-serve snacks that, in particular, made us bike riders feel right at home. In my room, I looked at the mirror in disbelief. Was that me? Flat helmet hair, glowing red cheeks, and grease-streaked hands? Then I made true eye contact with the reflection and grinned. I had cycled more than 150 kilometres on my bicycle in just five days and loved it! Sadly, this tour was nearing its end, but the peaceful trails and easy access to further cycling adventures had indeed proved Victoria to be “the cycle capital of Canada.” The islands were already calling me back.

Who's Who in Victoria… Victoria, B.C., is not only a fabulous and quaint seaside community with lots to see and do, and a great cycling choice for the casual set, it's also the home of some of  Canada's best athletes and top cyclists. Victoria's truly great cycling, both road and offroad, along with its wonderful ambience have drawn the likes of Alison Sydor (3-time World MTB champ), Elladee Brown (Canadian downhill champion numerous times) and Roland Green (current World MTB champ) to live there at various times. In 1996 the PacificSport National Cycling Centre was established in Victoria as year-round, multi-sport, training facility. The centre has quickly become Canada's flagship for training, competition and development in cycling and the hub for many of Canada's top Olympic cyclists and national team members. So while you're whisking around on your bike, or dabbling in some of Victoria's flavourful activities don't be surprised if you find yourself rubbing shoulders with some of Canada's best-you might pick up some unique cycling tips or special secrets about Victoria from the “locals.”

mo' info
Check out these websites if you plan to visit the “cycle capital of Canada”:
www.cyclevancouverisland.ca
www.oakbaybeachhotel.com
www.sookenet.com
www.cowichan.bc.ca
www.bcferries.com