Bicycling Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands

G. Sheldon Fischer was a Toronto-based editor.

It must have taken the co-authors hundreds of hours to investigate the routes presented here, but cyclists with West Coast touring on their minds will appreciate their work.

Bicycling Vancouver Island divides the area into eight regions. For each region, about a dozen tours are described, including several on the smaller Gulf Islands. A clearly labelled map accompanies each description, as well as a list of interesting sights, look-out points, grocery stores, local bicycle shops (exact addresses would have been helpful), and warnings for steep hills. Each route is also graded for difficulty with special attention to traffic density. The tours, as described, can all be done easily in one day’s ride. But the rider with more time can connect various routes into a longer tour.

The authors assume some knowledge and experience on the part of the rider who uses this book. Aside from a few commonsense safety tips and a list of tools to take along, there is no background information on repairs, clothing for cycling, etc — and no prosy come-ons to persuade the reader of the joys of cycling. The few token photos are, in fact, poorly reproduced. This is, in effect, an atlas, a no-nonsense handbook to touring this scenic region, with a lot of pertinent information concisely and clearly presented.

The one other annoying omission is overnight recommendations. Although camping spots are noted, the out-of-province tourist would probably appreciate more data on suggested motels, hostels, or bed-and-breakfast homes, if any, along the routes.