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Touring
Q: I’m visiting from out of town and don’t have a bike with me. Where can I rent a bike to do some riding around NS?
A: There are many places to rent bicycles around the province. Nova Scotia’s tourism website has some info on where to rent bicycles. Just click here. It’s always a good idea to do your research in advance in case there are no rental outlets where you are going and you need to take a bike en route to bring with you.
Q: Where are the best places to cycle in Nova Scotia?
A: There are many incredible places to ride all around Nova Scotia. Where do we start??
- Where to Cycle in Nova Scotia is the definitive guide to cycling in Nova Scotia! Written by Adam Barnett, Where to Cycle in Nova Scotia is a collection of some of the best routes and trails in Nova Scotia. Be sure to grab a copy when planning your Nova Scotia Adventure!
- Not sure what businesses or accommodations are best to check out during your tour? Our Bike Friendly Business network will help you plan your trip around businesses that go above and beyond to cater to cyclists. Nearly all bike shops are available on our Bike Friendly Network. Locals are always happy to share their best routes and tips.
- We also suggest you visit the Cycle Nova Scotia main page where you will find a number of select routes in each region of the province. Route maps, descriptions of the area, and a link to download the GPS coordinates can all be found at Cycle Nova Scotia.
- Reach our to a local club and join them for a spin. To do so, you will most likely need a BNS membership. Along with the membership, you will benefit from our rider insurance that covers you Anywhere in Canada, Anytime in the present calendar year. You can find a list of CNS Insured clubs here.
- Ride w/ GPS is a great website that has a large community of riders who have plotted out their routes with comments and waypoints. https://ridewithgps.com/find
Q: What is the best time of year for touring in Nova Scotia?
A: You can usually start comfortably riding in May, but the weather starts to become more stable in June. Bring along a warm layer in the shoulder seasons as weather can change pretty quickly in these parts.
For many people, fall (September – October) is the best time to be on your bike in Nova Scotia. The weather is a bit more stable, the air is clear, there are no more bugs, and the colours are fantastic. November is like May – not very predictable!
Q: What’s happening with the Blue Route? Is it up and running yet?
A: The Blue Route launched its first section of road in August 2015. There is a lot of work going on in the background to get more sections of road and trail opened in the coming years. The best place to go to find any news is at www.blueroute.ca.
We can’t continue to build the Blue Route without your support. Contact us at [email protected] to find out how you can help this incredible Nova Scotia cycling network!
Q: What are the road conditions in NS like?
A: Road conditions vary around the province. Most roads are suitable for all types of bicycles as long as you are willing to work around potholes, especially in the more rural roads. It’s worth contacting bike shops in the area you are looking to travel to find out what the road conditions are like.
Q: Are cyclists allowed to ride on the highway in Nova Scotia?
A: Bicycles are allowed on 100-series highways unless the highway has posted “no bikes or slow moving vehicles” signs. Restricted highways include stretches of 111, 103, 102, and the Bedford Bypass. We would recommend getting off of the highway and onto the quieter roads whenever possible. Where there is a highway, there is a usually a quieter road in parallel that will provide a much more enjoyable ride.
Q: We are coming to visit NS for a couple of months and would like to buy some second hand bikes. Any suggestions for us?
A: It might be a good idea to call around to the bike rental businesses as they often have second hand bikes that they are willing to sell or to rent long term. The other option is to go online to www.kijiji.ca and look there. This is a site that allows people to sell their gear to others. Use at your own risk!