I like the Cycling route for two reasons: Crystal Crescent Beach is a great stop along the route and it's close to the city so I don't have to cycle through many city miles and traffic to get on the route. If you want to train hills, this is the route for you. Purcells cove road offers a certain brutality that I love when it comes to cycling routes. There are section of one good hill after another with some longer grueling hills along the way. The rest of the ride is really a walk in the park compared to the Purcells cove road section so if you want to avoid hills take the Herring cove road instead of the Purcells cove road turn off, up form the Rotary. Traffic is busy near the city and Purcells cove road is definitely less busy and has section of marked bike trails. The shoulder is fair most of the way but get bad in the Sambro road section which is car greedy and actually meets the line in places. I recommend taking a chunk of the road in the Sambro because some of the locals there have no respect for cyclists. Take caution! This is an experienced riders only route because of this fact. It helps a lot to be able to ride faster since cars tend to give you more respect being a moving object relative to them. There is a well stocked store at the turn-off for Crystal Crescent beach so you can always fuel up here for the return ride. If your out for a more leisurely ride you can find a number of places to relax, especially on Purcells cove road, but the Sambro side has a few lakes along the way. If you wanted to explore the area you can easily add 10-15K to you ride going in and out of little villages and side routes and Crystal Crescent has walking trails along it's shoreline including a walk past the infamous nude beach. Don't let the name entice you though. It is quite easy to see from a safe distance that it's inhabitants are mostly overweight older guys who had leather tanned hides....Yuck! If you are a guy alone, walk past the nude beach you will likely meet up with creepy men who work out far too much, looking for male companionship. I recommend either walking with friends or taking the other walking trail on the other side of the beach, left if you are facing the water. If you go this way, you will eventually come to a little beach all your own where you can do your own nude sun bathing....in private. Such are the treasures of our province, there for you to enjoy! read more