Long distance bike rides - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sclitheroe · 11-22-2007, 11:50 AM

So, I've cycled the Golden Triangle multiple times now (for those unfamiliar with it, it's a 3-day ride between Castle Mountain Junction, Radium, and Golden), which is about 110-120km each day. Usually, I've felt like I could have squeezed in another 40km, to make a true century ride (100 miles), so this winter, I'm gonna start training up for that.

Any suggestions on a good century ride departing from Calgary? I'll most likely go solo, so having a few spots to stop and get food/water on the way would be ideal. I'm also thinking I'd like to generally head NW out of Calgary, as opposed to straight west or south.

160km one way, or 80 km out and back, if you have a suggested destination, I wanna hear it.

-Scott

4X4 · 11-22-2007, 11:57 AM

Heading NW out of calgary means crowchild, si? You can take the 1A all the way to canmore and it'll cut through cochrane.

4X4 · 11-22-2007, 12:02 PM

I was just playing with google maps and it seems that to banff via the 1A(canmore) is not quite the 160 km you seek. Rocky Mountain House might be better. Stopover in Sundre

Lurch · 11-22-2007, 12:13 PM

There are some great rides around here. I wouldn't go up towards Sundre as above - roads are not great and the traffic is heavy. I rode from Calgary to Jasper and back this summer and we went up that route on the way to Edson. The ride back from Jasper down the Parkway was stunning, but obviously that's not too directly accessible from Calgary. Jasper to SK Crossing is the single best day I've ever had road biking.

If you are looking for a century, there is a nice ride starting from Westhills. Basically, you leave from Westhills, ride to Bragg, Bragg to Priddis, south to Millarville, and back around to Bragg via Elbow Falls. Check out the map (along with a lot of others of various distances) on this site:

http://www.albertarandonneurs.com/maps.htm

FireFly · 11-22-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

I was just playing with google maps and it seems that to banff via the 1A(canmore) is not quite the 160 km you seek. Rocky Mountain House might be better. Stopover in Sundre

Why would you want to stopover in Sundre? Blech.

I only say that because I've lived there. However, it is beautiful country.