Cycling Thread

[skudr248]

Getting back in the bike game after a LONG hiatus. Picked up a Specialized SX 2 used, getting it tuned up a bit Wednesday at Cyclepath South, but going for a ride tonight, excited!

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

^ bossy any specific trail recommendations as i am heading tehre with the family in tow next week.

My son is interested in trying some of the easy runs at the ski resort.

I don't ride the ski resort. There are a lot of trails from the campground, as well as the ridgemont/coal creek/powerline area.
Easiest, I would say would be around the campground. Sherwoody Forest is family friendly. Old Stove, Dem Bones are both easy. Gorby is more of an old fire road that has grown over. It's good to use to climb to come down some of the other trails like Old Goat.
A fun ride, not for family from the campground is up stove, up s-bomb, down brokeback, up gorby, down old goat. A bit of a mix in there. Takes about 1.5 hours.
on the other side is roots and roots hyperextension are classics. The new trail, montaine, is supposed to awesome. Really flowy. That was my ride to do on sunday but the all night rain dictated otherwise.

if its a hot weekend, a day of riding, finished with some cliff jumping at silver springs by Elko is always good fun.

[Minnie]

We didn't get a chance to ride it, but Lazy Lizard, from the campground bossy is talking about, is supposed to be family friendly. They've apparently finished the upper part of the trail, or very nearly so. FB link

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i did not see this question before. for the most part i would say that it is ok - there are a few sections where you will likely have to push your bikes up. there is a fire road that runs along the middle part of the CNC that offers up a fantastic view of the bow valley.

a better option for you, because of your childrens age) would be the trail around canmore itself - it goes by some parks, so be prepared to make a couple of stops. very little elvation change on these trails, it is a nice way to ease the kids into biking.

Thanks so much - I appreciate the response. I've really thrown my kids into the mix when it comes to biking. We've done several close to 20km rides with the kids now and I'd like to try something a little different than a pathway. Just some gentle singletrack sounds really fun for them if it isn't too technical.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Getting back in the bike game after a LONG hiatus. Picked up a Specialized SX 2 used, getting it tuned up a bit Wednesday at Cyclepath South, but going for a ride tonight, excited!

Lovely bike - where did you go?

[Northendzone]

Cosy - have you taken your kids to either tunnel mtn or the spray river loop?

Would also highly recommend the trails along the river at lake Louise, and the ride the tramline up to the lake. It has two steeper uphill at the start, but it turns into a nice 3% grade.....it is fun coming down.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by skudr248

Getting back in the bike game after a LONG hiatus. Picked up a Specialized SX 2 used, getting it tuned up a bit Wednesday at Cyclepath South, but going for a ride tonight, excited!

this bad boy looks like it would be a beast to ride up anything and a missile going down

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Thanks so much - I appreciate the response. I've really thrown my kids into the mix when it comes to biking. We've done several close to 20km rides with the kids now and I'd like to try something a little different than a pathway. Just some gentle singletrack sounds really fun for them if it isn't too technical.

Nose Hill has some really nice gentle singletrack all over the place. There are some you wouldn't want to take them on, but many would be great for learning.

[Coys1882]

Guys - thanks for the ideas. Tunnel Mountain and Spray River are now on my hitlist!

Fuzz - funny, I never even considered Nose Hill!!

[Fuzz]

Sometimes the best option is local!

[cral12]

Friend recommended a Smith Forefront helmet - cool design.

Any other opinions, options?

[Northendzone]

Cool design, who in calagary sells the.

I have a fox flux with a sweat buster. Happy with it, but have not crashed on my head yet, so no idea if it works

[cracher]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Guys - thanks for the ideas. Tunnel Mountain and Spray River are now on my hitlist!

Fuzz - funny, I never even considered Nose Hill!!

Also, don't forget Jumping Pound Loop (and not JP-ridge because that one is tougher). If you do the segment east of the road, it's really gentle and you can use the main road to complete the loop. The segment west of the road is a bit more difficult.

[macker]

Originally Posted by cracher

Also, don't forget Jumping Pound Loop (and not JP-ridge because that one is tougher). If you do the segment east of the road, it's really gentle and you can use the main road to complete the loop. The segment west of the road is a bit more difficult.

JPL the segments are North and South of the road. The North side has more climbing and is more technical than the very easy segment to the South side of the road. On the topic of kid friendly I would always put to the top of the list any trail that sees very little traffic as this can intimidate kids when they are trying to learn and have to cope with other people trying to get around them or approaching them. There are many such trails in the Calgary area.

[cracher]

^my bad, you're right. Been "hiking" there since I was a kid (wearing flip flops some times) and my entire family refers to it as "east and west JPL". Likely because transcanada runs E-W and you turn south to get on the main road. Wait until I tell my family that they've been calling it the wrong thing all these years haha.

Also, just made a terrible impulse buy: new carbon Rocky Thunderbolt 799 MSL frame-only. Been hearing rumors that when 2016 stuff arrives, everything is going up in price because CAD is so weak. So I purchased my winter build project in August.

[Northendzone]

^ nice buy!! Have fun with the project.......

[bossy22]

I'm currently at the Nordegg Fat Tire Festival out at Frontier Lodge. Awesome little event. Lots to do all around biking. Downhill rides, guided cross country for all levels, slope style course and race, pump track, dirt jump course, north shore style trails too. Fun events like obsticle courses, lake jumps, bike toss, and a high jump. Extremely family friendly. Camping isn't great at the lodge but down the road a couple km is fish lake campground. The lodge does have bunk houses for rent and they provide a meal program too. It is a dry lodge so beverages must be discrete. A camper made a comment on how much coffee I drink.

[Coys1882]

We went out yesterday with the whole family (9 year old boy and 6 year old daughter) and because of the lineup into Banff decided have a go on the Legacy Trail. It's nice - great pathway, beautiful scenery but it was over the top busy and much to close to the highway for my liking. The worst part though is all the Tour De France wannabes trying to do 30+ kmh on a pathway flooded with kids and old people. WTF? No bells - no warning - just ZOOM.

[GGG]

In Jasper this weekend. Tons of family-friendly singletrack. Spent about 4 hrs cruising around the green trails around the town and athebasca river.

[Northendzone]

We are in fernie for a few days and this afternoon I snuck off for about 2 hrs and rode part of the lazy lizard trail......what an epic ride....the ride in is a steady, but manageable uphill and coming out it is a great flow trail......and it is some buff single track through old growth forest.....wish I would have had enough gas in the tank to finish the ride, going to hit it again before we leave.

As an aside, they sell those smith helmets at fernie alpine resort. They are $300 and they sure look cool though.