World Cycling Trips
My name is Kevin Rodger. I was born in 1957 in southern Ontario (Canada), and have lived in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as both northern and southern Ontario.
I was always interested in flying. I obtained my glider licence in 1972 through the Royal Canadian Air Cadet program. In 1975 I graduated with my Power Flying Scholarship out of London, Ontario. I attended Confederation College's Aviation Management program from 1976 to 1978, after which time I started my aviation career as a flight instructor for the Nighthawk Flying Club, based out of Iroquois Falls, Ontario. After six years of instructing, I was hired as a First Officer for what was then Canada's oldest continuosly running airline, Austin Airways. After four years of employment in Timmins, Ontario, Austin Airways purchased Air Ontario, and merged the two airlines together under the Air Ontario brand. Eventually, Air Ontario was purchased by Air Canada (which also owned Air BC, Air Alliance, and Air Nova). After the collapse of Canadian Airlines, Air Canada purchased the assets and merged the carriers together. The merger of the regionals, originally came to be called Air Canada Regional, and eventually Air Canada Jazz (I thought this was a brief history).
As a pilot for regional air carrier, Air Canada Jazz (and it's many "itterations") since 1983, I have flown over most of Canada, and much of the continental United States. I presently fly the 50 seat Canadair RJ regional jet, as well as its "big brother", the 75 seat Canadair 705. Air Canada Jazz was a wholy owned subsidiary of Canada's national airline, Air Canada. On February 2, 2006 Jazz went public, and is no longer owned by Air Canada. However, almost all of Jazz' present day income comes from "feeding" the Air Canada network.
Presently, Jazz is the second largest air carrier in Canada. It enjoys the most domestic departures of any airline in Canada, including Air Canada and Westjet Airlines.
I have vacationed extensively in Canada, Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean. My other passion is bicycling, and bicycle touring, in particular.
I used to own three bikes, all of which were set up for cycle touring: 1. A 1996 Cannondale Hybrid (H-400), 2. A 2001 Mikado d'Iberville Touring bike, and 3. A 2005 Bike Friday New World Tourist. In 2014 I did a general overhaul on the Cannondale (new tires and tubes, wash and wax, lube), then I sent it off to Cuba with some fellow cyclists. It is now being ridden by a Cuban university student. I hope he gets as many years of pleasure out of the bike as I did.
I cycle mainly with the London Cycling Club, and tour either by myself, or with a small group of colleagues that I met either through the London Cycling Club, or personal contacts.
I generally try to take at least one extended cycle tour every two to three years. As much as I would love to do more, the cycle tours are a trade-off with my wife. While I am off gallavanting, she is left with the task of looking after our two sons, both of whom are afflicted with developmental difficulties (autism, developmental delay, and siezures). This website will take you to the most recent trips I have documented.
If you want any additional information on any of the trips listed, or cycling in general, you can e-mail me at kevin@rodgerrealm.com.
Enjoy the journey ...