I will start up the bike parts bin thread tonight. Just need to take some photos.
I am LOVING the 10th street bike lane. Takes out the sketchiest part of my ride. Plus there is not one pothole the whole length of it in either direction.
Now if they could just fix the frikkin 10th Ave bike lane. Holy crap that is a brutal stretch.
I will start up the bike parts bin thread tonight. Just need to take some photos.
I am LOVING the 10th street bike lane. Takes out the sketchiest part of my ride. Plus there is not one pothole the whole length of it in either direction.
Now if they could just fix the frikkin 10th Ave bike lane. Holy crap that is a brutal stretch.
I don't ride 10 ave often, but everytime I do there's a car parked in the lane. If you see them, click a photo and post here: http://calgary.mybikelane.com/
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I was riding from Cranston to work and was just over halfway to my office (macleod and 50th ave se) when a bike just blows my doors off. I'm doing about 27kph which is not too shabby I think and this bike whizzed by. Pretty humbling considering the following:
Hot Chick
Riding a mountain bike
wearing jeans
HAHA
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Anyone here have the Garmin Edge 500? I want a good GPS device for my bike that can sync up with Strava. Seems to be about the best one.
Yup, it's awesome. Even for offroad use its super useful. You can load in GPS courses and it will alert you if you are off track if you are somewhere not very well marked. I've been very happy with it. All the screens are customizable too which is great.
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I was riding from Cranston to work and was just over halfway to my office (macleod and 50th ave se) when a bike just blows my doors off. I'm doing about 27kph which is not too shabby I think and this bike whizzed by. Pretty humbling considering the following:
Hot Chick
Riding a mountain bike
wearing jeans
HAHA
LOL.
Yep, I had that happen on my Carbon road bike last week. Riding around the reservoir, coming up the hill on the north side, and some 13 or 14 year old beanpole kid on a squeaky Walmart special MTB just passes me like I am standing still.
I wanted to punch myself in the face.
I could have blew past him on the straightaway, but I was too embarrassed to. My climbing is getting better every week, but at 220 lbs, there is only so much your legs can do to overcome gravity.
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Yup, it's awesome. Even for offroad use its super useful. You can load in GPS courses and it will alert you if you are off track if you are somewhere not very well marked. I've been very happy with it. All the screens are customizable too which is great.
We've ridden the pass the last couple of years, both times approaching from the South, and just riding to the summit and back. Eighty km round trip, should take about four-five hours.
Take the 541 from Longview to the gate. You can park on the road just outside the gate, it's not too busy, even on the weekend.
From the gate to the top of the pass is about 40km. For the first 20km, the road alternates uphill and downhill, but on average only rises slightly. After you pass the "Picklejar" recreation area, the climb becomes steady, but not too difficult, at about 3-4% gradient. The last three kilometers are tough, but even then no more than 6%. The climb itself would maybe rate a category '2' (don't know exactly what the criteria are).
To tackle this ride, obviously get some longer rides in on your bike prior. Anyone in reasonable shape can work up to doing this ride, even on a lower-end bike road bike, but it's still 80km to the top and back, and you need to get some kilometers in your legs. A series of 2-4 hour rides on the Calgary pathways, starting about now, will really help.
Make sure you have a proper repair kit and spare tires. The highway surface is actually pretty rough, and we've blown a few tires over the years. Walking back down would really suck, obviously. Also, it may be tempting to go light on the extra clothing that you carry, but this is a high alpine pass, and weather can be crazy. Every time I've ridden the Highwood, I've seen sun, rain, and snow/hail. At the very least, have a good windbreaker, full gloves, and long pants. On the descent, you will be very glad for these. A road cycling shirt is very useful also, because you can stuff the extra clothes in the back pocket. Alternately, you can carry a backpack, but that really adds to your workload, and is not comfortable.
Lastly, take a ridiculous amount of food. At least 1000 calories worth. Bars and gels are best, they have a lot of energy and are light. Most cycle stores sell these. It is not a pleasant experience to "bonk" (sudden drop of blood sugar levels) when you are still 25km from your car
My best advice: Just go out, recruit some friends, get properly prepared, and try it! On my first attempt, I didn't quite hit the top (in my own defence, I was hung over, and riding a 15-year old hybrid bike), but it just motivated me to come back. The scenery is mind-blowing, and riding on the highway has a surreal, almost post-apocalyptic feel to it.
Still snow up there and the road is completely covered in spots. Good for about 22kms and then you it is so bad you have to turn back. Might go again in early June just before the road opens. If anyone goes sooner give a snow report!
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^ True, I did an 80K ride this morning from Spruce Meadows into the Bragg Creek Townsite and back and for some reason didn't think to stop and eat a snack until 60K. I was dying for the last 20K and my average speed for the last stretch was brutal, dropped down to about 22kph.
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onetwo and threefour... Together no more. The end of an era. Let's rebuild...
^ True, I did an 80K ride this morning from Spruce Meadows into the Bragg Creek Townsite and back and for some reason didn't think to stop and eat a snack until 60K. I was dying for the last 20K and my average speed for the last stretch was brutal, dropped down to about 22kph.
Nice that they paved a parking lot in the ditch for a place to launch from. This is a good ride! The last 20k is a lot of work though and not steep but steady climb most of the way.
Also out that way......Moose mountain service road is opening on May 15th for shuttles etc. Anybody out there yet? Snow off the paths yet?
I bought a new commuter bike in July last year and had it re-tuned after about a month of riding in August. Afterwards, I rode it until the snow came and stored it throughout the winter.
Just pulled it out of storage and put air in my tires....am I okay to ride it now or should I take it in for a quick tune up regardless? I went for a 5 minute ride last night to test things out and things seemed to be okay.
Some info that may be relevant:
I'm doing a 100 KM Bike Tour fundraiser in Panorama/Inveremere on June 16 so the bike needs to be in good working condition.
I ride to work 2-3 times a week about 15 KM each way.
Do you guys know if there will be any more bike sales this summer? just got back in town from uni and missed the big bow cycle clearance that is usually the best.
searching for a 29er to ride to work then take to fish creek on weekends
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