Ever wonder how much biking you could consolidate into a couple week’s vacation? Did you ever want to explore another country and still keep up with your biking regimen?

Thanks to Canada’s VIA Rail bike train, it’s now possible to see their country and take your bike with you. The bike train travels to many cities in the Windsor to Quebec corridor and it’s a completely hassle-free way to travel. No disassembly or packing is required. Just bike up to the baggage department and they’ll walk it aboard for you. There’s a flat charge of $20 per trip in addition to your passenger fare.

Riverfront Trail in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Follow along; I’ll be posting daily as I explore most of the bike train’s stops. I’m actually posting this from the train in the VIA Rail’s wireless Wi-Fi enabled cars. This is my first ride, but so far I’m blown away with the quality of the Internet service. Web pages load quickly and I was able to make a video Skype call earlier.

The Internet service is available for free (yep, you heard that right) in all cars – business class and economy. They claim to have almost 100% coverage for all routes and all cars in the Windsor to Quebec corridor.

WHERE AM I GOING?

So where can you go with your bike?  I’m off on a nine-day trip starting at Windsor, then on to Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and finally way up north of Quebec to Jonquiere. I timed their schedule to allow one, two or three days biking in each city.

Timing is everything, and as luck would have it, I’ll be in Montreal just in time for Bike Fest Montreal. On Saturday, they have their big ride known as Tour de Ille de Montreal, which is where you’ll find me. Hoping for great weather and great photos.

DAY ONE

I arrived in Windsor just in time for a dinner-time ride on the Riverfront Bikeway. The river separates Detroit in the US from Windsor, Canada. From the Canadian side, you get great views of the GM’s Renaissance Towers, gleaming in the setting sun along the river.

The bikeway is really an all-purpose trail that’s well used by runners, walkers, rollerbladers as well as bikers. There’s a nice complement of public art along the path, as well as local playgrounds for the kids. It’s easy access to the path from Caesar’s casino and the  Hilton Hotel, as well as many of the other downtown hotels.

Watch this space tomorrow for an update of Day Two in Toronto. For more information on the VIA Rail system, consult their Website or call them at 1-888-VIA-RAIL.

Continue to Day Two