Cycling Thread

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by bossy22

NEZ, go to west Bragg creek. The new trails are a lot of fun. What trail did you ride?

We rode SHAFT. Rode was a misnomer for me as I mostly dabbed and slid.......we were passed by a couple of 20 something kids who were fully outfitted with knee and elbow pads who were just ripping up the trail.......

[bossy22]

I've never ridden that trail, but want to. I hear it's fun. From station flats, pneuma and ridgeback are fun. Pneuma actually starts at the Bottom of moose mountain road, but you can get to it if you climb up sulphur and hook in.
A popular ride is up sulphur, pneuma, down race of spades. Or up pneuma all the way to moose packers and down ridgeback.

[Northendzone]

^ we found all the above info out, when we got to the bottom of shaft, oh well live and learn.....it was still better than a god day at work.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by StormShadow

Good afternoon cyclers.

I am here to ask for a quick bit of advice. I have had enough of two things in my life; driving in traffic to work and, my treadmill. Thus, I have decided to become a bicycle commuter. I have a route planned (around 15km) that will keep me on pathways or low traffic roads. I also know very little to nothing about cycling. I have a budget of about a 1000 dollars and intend to buy my bike at the end of sept (hopefully when things are on sale).

I appreciate any advice anyone can offer.
Thanks

Id say figure out your route before you buy a bike / tires. If it's all pathway in, get your skinny tires, but if you're bashing a lot of curbs or going to be doing winter riding - I'd go with a semi-slick mountain bike tire. Your choice of steed/tires will differ by winter or summer.

If you do choose to ride in the snow (and it's very do-able if you're office is located in a good place downtown) know that no matter what you put on your bike it's going to take a beating. SLX, XTR - it's all going to bathe in salt. That said, discs were a godsend when I splurged for a set of mechanical discs.... (way less work).

Do a search for me in this thread, I have a big post about my winter riding advice in here somewhere.

This thread makes me sad... my job has changed and riding in is no longer practical....

[FLAMESRULE]

Looking at getting an indoor trainer in the next couple weeks. Read some solid reviews on Kurt Kinetic + Cycleops fluid trainers. Can get a trainers off Kijiji (including Elite Primo). Just wondering if anyone has experience with an indoor trainer (not rollers) and other required gear. Thinking I'd pound out a 1 - 3 hour ride while watching some hockey / football through the winter. Opinions/ideas/experience etc is all greatly appreciated.

[JMN]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I've never ridden that trail, but want to. I hear it's fun. From station flats, pneuma and ridgeback are fun. Pneuma actually starts at the Bottom of moose mountain road, but you can get to it if you climb up sulphur and hook in.
A popular ride is up sulphur, pneuma, down race of spades. Or up pneuma all the way to moose packers and down ridgeback.

Was looking for pneuma and ridgeback today but ended up on some other trail - also heard they are really fun. My friends and I must be blind cuz we couldnt find it all even though we parked at Station Flats.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by JMN

Was looking for pneuma and ridgeback today but ended up on some other trail - also heard they are really fun. My friends and I must be blind cuz we couldnt find it all even though we parked at Station Flats.

To ride pneuma from station flats, you need to go up Sulphur Springs first, climb up and before the road you will hit pneuma, about 20-30 mins.
Pneuma actually starts at the moose mountain parking lot at the base of the fire road, and parallels the road to the top.

For ridgeback you start o Tom Snow, and you will get to a sign to sow ou where to go. Ridgeback intersects Tom Snow a couple of times.

[Rudee]

Originally Posted by FLAMESRULE

Looking at getting an indoor trainer in the next couple weeks. Read some solid reviews on Kurt Kinetic + Cycleops fluid trainers. Can get a trainers off Kijiji (including Elite Primo). Just wondering if anyone has experience with an indoor trainer (not rollers) and other required gear. Thinking I'd pound out a 1 - 3 hour ride while watching some hockey / football through the winter. Opinions/ideas/experience etc is all greatly appreciated.

I own a Cycleops Fluid 2 trainer. Great trainer. I highly recommend it. I use it on days when I can get outside to cycle. I live in Evergreen and cycle from my house in Evergreen (Fish Creek Park) to the Zoo and back three times a week via the pathway system for exercise.

[Coys1882]

I was thinking about an indoor trainer but I think know I'm just going to get a spin bike for the winter. Seems easier to manage and then quickly stick in the furnace room.

[Temporary_User]

What resource is everyone using to learn the name of all of these trails?

[bossy22]

Nm

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

What resource is everyone using to learn the name of all of these trails?

Www.mmbts.com
Www.cmbalink.com

[Bill Bumface]

Just rode up the Mount Swansea road today (brutal, as steep as 30%) out by Windermere and down two of the blue trails (Hula Girl and Meat Grinder). The trails were fun but pretty challenging at parts. Those are the two easiest. They aren't kidding when they say bring a DH rig and armour up there, I don't think I'll try any of the others on my bike.

[macker]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

What resource is everyone using to learn the name of all of these trails?

For Station Flats side of Moose Mountain : http://www.mbts.com/ West Bragg Creek side : http://potlickermtn.blogspot.ca/p/west-bragg.html Both sites have easy maps to follow and many of these trails are new within the last few years and well after Eastcotts book. There are ways to loop all these trails into one big ride and there will be new easier ways to do this next year with a few more trail openings.

For weather
http://www.environment.alberta.ca/ap...StationID=EBRS

Trail conditions : http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listco.../?threadid=246

Other sites not specific to this area to check out : www.singletracks.com
http://www.mtbr.com/ http://www.bikepirate.com/ http://www.imbacanada.com/ http://www.imba.com/ http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/

[Old Yeller]

I've been commuting to work on my road bike all summer and am planning (and trying to be determined) to continue to commute all through winter.

I've got a mountain bike with studded tires for the winter, but I'm wondering how long into the Fall can I keep riding my road bike? Do you guys just put them away when there's finally snow on the ground, or does it just get too cold for those small/hard tires to continue to grip pavement even before it snows?

Ideally I'd like to ride the road bike as long as possible.

[habernac]

ride it until it snows. Studs will be overkill if it doesn't snow much. I've been riding year round for 10 years and have yet to run the studs.

[#22]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

I've been commuting to work on my road bike all summer and am planning (and trying to be determined) to continue to commute all through winter.

I've got a mountain bike with studded tires for the winter, but I'm wondering how long into the Fall can I keep riding my road bike? Do you guys just put them away when there's finally snow on the ground, or does it just get too cold for those small/hard tires to continue to grip pavement even before it snows?

Ideally I'd like to ride the road bike as long as possible.

Ride it untill the snow comes, just be a bit more careful on the corners. Usually I'll drop the tire pressures down a bit (from 110-120 to 90-100) to increase grip a little.

If it's in the budget, get yourself a cyclocross bike for when the snow flies. Then you're good all year 'round.

[Old Yeller]

Good to hear, my old mountain bike is about 17 times more heavy than the road bike, thanks guys.

[fundmark19]

I am sure this info is in here somewhere but I figure I will start at the end. I am planning on getting into road biking and triathlons next year and want to get a bike and trainer for the winter to start training. However I have no idea where to start looking for a bike. I would ideally like to stay in the 500 dollar range for a first bike but it seems I may be out to lunch on that one. Any help would be greatly appreciated on a decent entry level road bike that will get me hooked on the sport and be able to do some nice long rides.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

If you're looking into getting a road bike, and you're sure you'll be using it over the winter and next summer then don't skimp.
Buy the best one you can afford. (trust me, if you really enjoy it, you'll just end up buying a nicer one, it's a lot cheaper to buy 1 nice bike, then to buy a cheap one first then upgrade)
If your budget only allows for $500 that's fine, but start looking for a used one because any new one you buy in that price range won't be very good and you'll hate it almost immediately.