Meet Sarah, our Bicycle Queen in Nova Scotia

By Robin Esrock

Great Canadian Trails itineraries are assisted by wonderful people on the ground who make it all happen, providing the gear, shuttle services, accommodation, and local knowledge, like Sarah. She'll set you up with high quality bikes or e-bikes on our Rum Runners Trail and the Best of Nova Scotia by Bike and shuttles your bags to the next inn while comfortably transferring you and your bike to the most beautiful parts of the province. Sarah has a beaming smile and is full of stories, providing insider tips, trail recommendations, bike instruction and regional history along the way. She spoke to travel writer Robin Esrock while shuttling him between the trails.

What made you get into cycling? 

I grew up outside the city, and studied commerce and environmental science. I always wanted to do something that would be sustainable and positively impact the community. I felt inspired to make Nova Scotia more bike-friendly, while spreading a positive message. Advocacy groups can be polarizing, I just want people to just smile, ride, and get along.

Why is Nova Scotia such a great province to explore by bike? 

We have incredibly beautiful countryside and rural towns that are easily accessible by bike, with low traffic on the roads or on our network of fantastic trails. The food and wine in our province are simply amazing. There’s a much better appreciation for food when you’re riding! And then there’s our famous maritime hospitality.

How has demand for e-bikes changed since you started?

More than half of Great Canadian Trails’ bookings are for e-bikes. They provide so much more accessibility, for older riders, couples with an imbalance of experience, or people with injuries. There are so many ways the e-bikes can help. A lot of people don’t want the exercise to require as much physical effort. They’re coming for the food, the destination and the experience. Bike touring is so different from being in a car or on a tour bus. E-bikes are a big part of our future, but for those who prefer to ride unassisted, standard bikes will always be popular too.

Who tends to choose an e-bike over a standard bike? 

I’ve found there’s no specific demographic that chooses an e-bike over the other, although it certainly suits older riders. The province wants to put an age limit for e-bikes at 14, but for us it’s a height requirement. We’re all about safety for the rider and we don’t want anyone to get hurt.

For someone who's never ridden an e-bike, what's your best advice for their first time out on a trail?

You can still get a great amount of exercise on an e-bike. First, try riding the bike without assist, just like a regular bike. When you turn on the assist, our models don’t pedal for you. They just help you pedal. Apply your brakes evenly, and take a break if you need to. The battery has up to 150 km (93 mi) of range, so you’ll have plenty of battery life for our Great Canadian Trail itineraries. We use high-quality Norco e-bikes with Shimano components. They’re extremely dependable, with wider tires for smoother riding on gravel stretches. Our bikes are also checked and serviced for every customer, and if anything comes up, we’re just a phone call away.

Who are your typical Great Canadian Trails guests? 

We often see couples, or friends travelling together. We get groups of both men and women, definitely a lot of boomers, but younger people as well. They come from across Canada, the USA, the UK and Europe. We’ve also had families who particularly love the ease of our e-bikes. Our Nova Scotia itineraries make great first multi-day cycle trips, and hopefully we’ll be able to add the Harvest Moon Trail as a third itinerary, which will be another great reason to come back.

What kind of feedback do you get from GCT guests?

They love the people they meet on the journey, and are struck by how friendly Maritimers are. We see guests who were inspired to visit by a show like Sullivan’s Crossing on Netflix, and then arrive to see that’s how it really is out here. Guests often have the biggest smiles on their faces. There’s something about cycling that just makes people happy.

What's one thing you wish every guest knew before setting out? 

There’s always someone to help. While we rarely run into problems, most things can be addressed fairly quickly and we’ll always do our best to help. Don’t stress, just enjoy yourself!

Looking ahead, where do you see cycling tourism in Nova Scotia in five years?

As a cycling destination, we’re still relatively unknown, but that’s changing fast. Cycling in this province is going to boom. We’ll have new vineyards, and the foodie scene will continue to grow with unique culinary experiences.

When is the best time to visit?

Our busiest times are the last three weeks of August, and the first two weeks of September. But I highly recommend visiting outside of those periods too. For example, June is a great time to travel, as well as late September or early October. You might not have the hot days, but it’s absolutely gorgeous.

If you’re interested in learning more about cycling in Nova Scotia, visit our Rum Runners Trail by Bike and the Best of Nova Scotia by Bike itineraries. 

Robin Esrock is the bestselling author of The Great Canadian Bucket List