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In 1998 Jeremy Fisher found himself broke in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (SK), while on a bike tour. He and his friend collected and returned enough bottles and cans to get them to Regina, SK, and there he borrowed a friend’s guitar to busk for more money. He thought about how great it would be to have his own guitar, to be able to play for money anywhere, any time -- never again would he be stuck collecting bottles to get to the next town. When he recorded his first album in Seattle, WA, three years later it seemed only natural to do the cross-country promotional tour by bike.

Having done three tours across Canada by bike, Fisher then joined together with Said the Whale, Hannah Georgas and Aidan Knight to form The Malahat Revue -- named for the Malahat highway on Vancouver Island and a play on the literary magazine The Malahat Review. They are calling it the Bike to Work Tour, and while the main purpose of the tour is to have fun, they are hoping to raise awareness about cycling as well.

Fisher wants to send the message that anyone can do it, and believes that “if you can bike uphill to the store you can bike across Canada, if you want to.”

For Fisher, biking is more functional than recreational, but he loves touring on his bike because it allows him to get inside himself. Of all the places he has cycled through, he loves the Rockies most of all because “there is something about climbing a mountain that is more rewarding than pedaling into a headwind [on the prairies] for eight days.” But the best part about the Rockies for him? The hours of downhill that follow the climb. Fisher is not ashamed to admit that coasting is his favourite part of biking.

He is a self-described space-cadet, and doesn’t listen to music while he rides for fear of being hit. When he isn’t on his bike, Fisher enjoys a wide variety of music -- the new Phoenix album, Broken Bells, Old Man Luedecke, ACDC and Rush are all on his playlist right now.

The Bike to Work Tour will take the group 311 miles (500 kilometers), give or take a few, and will include stops in Robert’s Creek, Nanaimo, Saltspring Island and Vancouver, BC. They will carry all their gear on their bikes, with one support van, and will spend their nights camping. For a complete list of dates visit jeremyfishermusic.com.