I’ve always dreamed of doing a road trip without worry for the planet or my waistline. Lo and behold, Tour d’Afrique, a Toronto-based bicycle touring company, has introduced a new cross-continent cycling adventure. The North American Epic starts at the Golden Gate Bridge and ends at Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Starting May 29^th, 2011 and ending August 28^th, the journey will be split into five portions which can be done separately or in any combination. These include “The Wild West” (San Fran to Flagstaff, AZ,) “Across the Great Divide” (Flagstaff to Wichita, KS,) “The Land of Oz” (Wichita to Chicago), “Urban Pleasures” (Chicago to Quebec City) and “Maritime Charm (QC to St. John’s.) The yellow brick road and spandex? Sign me up.

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The 7^th annual edition of Les Escales Improbables kicks off today. The festival is a celebration of the arts (with a penchant for the kooky) and will bring 70 artists from around the world to Montreal. During the day, the Old Port will by dotted with installations of visual arts, theatre and music. The night program is eclectic: Jacques Poulin Denis will perform his new opus, New York theatre group Banana Bag and Bodice presents their zany interpretation of Beowolf, and a DJ set from art-punk group Chicks on Speed.

Runs Sept 8 to 12, various venues, escalesimprobables.com 

No doubt about it: Being a professional musician means being a professional traveler. As lead singer of the band The Stills, Tim Fletcher gets to see cities all over the world, and from a pretty unique vantage point too. The fly in all that ointment, however, is having to wake up at ungodly hours for long flights into strange cities and then do it all over again the next day. It can’t be great for the immune system. Tim says going on tour is like being sneezed on by a kindergarten class in the middle of January.  But Tim makes sure he's well armed in the battle for his health. With an arsenal of tools, tips and vitamins for fighting fatigue, jetlag, colds, hangovers, and the occasional bandmate induced headache, this guy is a veritable treasure trove of healthful hints. Here's a glimpse into what here's learned about being on the road.

Well, I definitely have a rolling technique to keep things tight. Real estate in that bag is at a premium. Same goes for laundry. Even with your dirty clothes, you gotta fold them up too. 

What’s the first thing you do in a new city?
First thing: Check into the hotel, so it’s out of the way.  Check in, put my bag somewhere, take out my toiletry kit. The moment that the anchor has been dropped is when you put your toiletry kit in the bathroom. It’s like, Ok, here we are. Now what?

And now what?
Usually we’ll go to sound check or get something to eat or chill out. 

©RICHMOND LAM 

Have you ever been to your first stop, St.Louis before? Yeah, St. Louis is interesting. Musically, and in terms of the conquest and development of America, St. Louis is really the gateway to the West. But it’s been in decline – like a lot of American cities that are sort of dilapidated, with weeds growing through sidewalks that are crumbling and buildings that aren’t being used. If Detroit’s the most extreme version of that, there are lesser versions too: lonely, forgotten American cities whose hay day is long past. But that’s also what’s so awesome about it – there’s a lot of ghosts. There’s charm to it because of that. 

PHOTOS: RICHMOND LAM 
WORDS: SARAH STEINBERG 

Look for the next installment of  Leaders of the Pack in October, only online. Check out our previous traveller, Charlotte, here.

At the first pride parade in Calgary back in 1990, the few participants marched with paper bags over their heads. Now in its 20^th year, the event has become a celebration, growing more open and fabulous with age. The festivities kick off Saturday with a dance party at Spur featuring DJs Mollyfi and Lisa Delux working the decks. On Sunday, the parade will proudly wind through downtown along Stephen Avenue before ending at Olympic Plaza for a street festival.

Runs September 4 to 5, various venues, pridecalgary.ca

PHOTO: CC

Imagine going to university and getting a degree in ice cream. That’s what James Coleridge, co-owner of Bella Gelataria, did at the Gelato University in Carpigiani. His studies weren’t just an excuse to spend an easy semester in Italy; the fruit of his labour is some of the best gelato in the city. Bella Gelateria’s creamy delights are made from fresh, raw ingredients using a 12-hour flavour-infusion process. This is the place to cool down while the sun is still hot.

1001 West Cordova Street, 604-569-1010, bellagelateria.com

Parts&Labour, Parkdale’s newest restaurant, is shaking up the scene by doubling as a hub for all things cultural. The eatery acts as music venue, art gallery, community rooftop garden and wine bar – all in 5,000 square feet. And with its industrial-chic design, P&L’s multipurpose space also mixes styles. Take the dining area; it consists of eight large, communal tables illuminated with fixtures fashioned from bunched fluorescent tubes lit from within. The lamps along the 30-foot bar are made from colourfully painted fire extinguishers. Its design and community vibe aside, P&L does serve food, sticking to the casual gourmet dining precedent set by its neighbours, Cowbell and Mitzi’s Sister. Main dishes include horse tenderloin with tarragon cognac sauce and bone marrow and salads made from the greens grown on the rooftop.

1566 Queen St. W., 416-588-7750, partsandlabour.ca

PHOTO: LORNE BRIDGMAN

Photo: Brian Losito

Q: How does wingspan affect flight?
S. Shahin, Ancaster, Ontario

Lift is directly proportional to wing area: double the area, double the lift. Our aircraft’s widest wingspan belongs to the Boeing 777, with both the 200LR and 300ER series’ wingspan stretching to 212’ 6”. Yet at 242’ 4”, the 300ER’s fuselage is 33 feet longer than the 200LR’s. The aircraft in the narrow-body Airbus fleet, which come in three sizes – the A321, A320 and A319 – also have the exact same wingspan of 111’ 10”, with engine thrust factoring in the equation to compensate for wingspan. 

Q: How long does it take to build an airplane? 
K. Abhiti, Ancaster, Ontario

Boeing’s production rate for the Boeing 777, the largest aircraft in Air Canada’s fleet, is about five to seven aircraft per month. As for my airplane, the Airbus A320, about 32 to 38 are built per month. But production rates change based on demand. And similar to a car, many components are built off-site. Boeing’s Dreamlifter and Airbus’ unique-looking Beluga are oversize cargo aircraft used to transport prebuilt parts. As well, many aircraft manufacturers offer must-see tours of their assembly plants.   

Photos: Brian Losito

Q: I’ve noticed that pilots usually wear short-sleeve shirts. Is there a reason for this? 
Mark Smith, Saint-Lazare, Québec

At Air Canada, it’s based on preference, and for me, I find a short-sleeve shirt more comfortable. Plus, it’s a lot easier to iron! A small percentage of pilots prefer long-sleeve shirts; some switch to long sleeves during the winter months. No matter what, all shirts come with shoulder straps to sport a three-stripe (first officer) or four-stripe (captain) gold-embroidered epaulette. Also, we have a small pouch in the chest pocket for a pen. 

Aimed at the busy business set of the surrounding Financial District, the hotel’s time-saving philosophy is everywhere, starting with the open-concept (and deskless) reception area, where Andaz Hosts are ready to help with everything from check-in to concierge services.

What we loved The weekend breakfast buffet, which includes the best berry crumble ever (sorry, mom), an array of artisanal cheeses and all the oysters you can manage.

If you only have one night Raid the complimentary minibar. (Terra chips, anyone?)

Bonus Its proximity to Pier 17, a hopping waterfront nightclub strip that reminds us we are, indeed, on an island.  

212-590-1234, newyork.wallstreet.andaz.hyatt.com

Photo: Andaz Wall Street

It’s no wonder the Vancouver-based fashion label Lily & Jae has found fans in celebs like Sarah Polley and Lily Allen – the brand is known for compromising neither comfort nor elegance. While its duds are stocked in stores around town, the shop has a new pop-up store at One of a Few. The store-within-a-store features samples from the past six seasons, a vintage rack and the autumn 2010 collection.

354 Water Street, 604-605-0685, lilyandjae.com

What’s the best thing since sliced artisan bread? Freshly baked artisan bread, of course. The good news for Calgary’s Inglewood residents is that the Wilde Grainz Artisan Bakery has set up shop in their neighbourhood. And who wouldn’t want a bite of the bakery’s wholesome loaves, which include seasonal ingredients and take three days to make from start to finish? Wilde Grainz also sells tortes, tarts and other treats – for those with a sweet tooth.

1218c 9 Ave. S.E., 403-767-9006, wildegrainz.com

PHOTO: CC