From Quebec to Vancouver on a Spyder

The ingenuity with which some people approach long-distance treks never fails to amaze me.

Such was the case when I met François Guité, his wife Murièlle and brother Jacques when they arrived in West Vancouver at the end of their trip from their home in Saint Charles-sur-Richelieu, Québec.

At first, all I noticed were two low-slung, alien-like machines that looked ready to devour passersby. That time, I just marvelled at the beasts and kept walking.

When they were still camped in the park the next day and I saw one of the owners tidying up, I couldn’t resist a chat.

What I learned was that, with the objective of attending the Calgary Stampede and touring British Columbia after that, the three set out from home in early July—not on planes, trains or automobiles—but riding two Bombardier-built, three-wheel 2014 RT-Ltd Spyders.

François and Murièlle had ridden in on a gleaming bronze Spyder, while Jacques arrived on a creamy-white version. Both vehicles sported similarly designed trailers in tow.

My favourite colour? One of each.

When François agreed to chat, we pored over the vehicles’ features and specifications.

“Although they have three wheels,” he began, “these vehicles are very different than trikes.”

He explained that, while a trike has one wheel in front and two at the back, the reverse is true of the Spyder.

“That gives more stability on the curves, which is important for safety reasons; all three wheels remain firmly on the road as you steer,” he said.

Travelling only in a straight line from A to B, the distance from St. Charles-sur-Richelieu to Vancouver still would be over 5,000 kilometres, and that’s where the Spyder’s unique seating position shines when compared to motorcycles or most trikes.

“The suspension is comfortable and the rider is able to sit more or less upright rather than leaning forward all the time, which is much better for long journeys,” François explained. 

The only word of caution, “Riders still need to take care on the roads because other drivers treat them like motorcycles,” he said.

The specs on the Guité’s two Spyders are as follows: a six-speed transmission and three-cylinder 1,330-cc engines. Fuel consumption is around 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres. At an average gas price of, say, $1/litre, that’s not bad economy for a cross-country trip, especially when two people are aboard.

To top off their planning, François had built a small “refrigerator” box in his storage trailer that he connects to his vehicle’s battery for power.

“That keeps the essential items cool for about 12 hours,” he said.

All-in-all, between the two Spyders, the three had enough storage space for clothes and other personal gear, their spacious tent, a small Coleman stove and other kitchen items; in other words, everything a traveller needs to camp from Québec to British Columbia.

As for the trip itself, “The scenery was manifique, people were friendly and many said ‘Oh, wow!’ when they saw the Spyders," François said. "The vehicles gave us no trouble at all. The only time we had any sort of problem was when we came close to hitting a bear that ambled out onto the highway in Northern Ontario."

Fortunately, the remainder of their trip was safe and enjoyable. They had a grand time in Calgary, walked safely across two suspension bridges—in Kelowna and North Vancouver—and thoroughly enjoyed their meal at the Keg Steakhouse on Vancouver’s Granville Island on their last night before setting out for the long trip home.

If you’re curious about specifications, colours and the latest in Spyder technology, go to http://www.brp.ca/spyder/.