Cycling Thread

[no_joke]

Originally Posted by Bunk

well, 7 blocks.

City is currently working on the Centre City (downtown and beltline) network with its (pretty great) group of consultants. The next route up for construction in 2014 will be decided by the end of the year and the full network plan will be completed by about February.

Are you able to divulge any information about future cycle track alignments? Say, the potential Streets and Avenues that cycle tracks that are in consideration? Should we expect an east-west track to be built next?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by return to the red

In Holland bikes have the right away over vehicles, so i've been told by my Dutch co-worker

Yeah not all roads have seperated lanes and when they don't pedestrians and cyclists have right of way. It's pretty cool to see it all work, the cycle lanes have their own set of signals as do pedestrians. And for parts of the tram ride pedestrians are literally walking right beside the tram. I wonder how often people get hit but no one did when I was there.

[Wormius]

Kelowna actually has very good bike lanes and is easy to commute and get from place to place without feeling like you're coming close to getting killed.

That said, any recommendations for good, inexpensive bike shorts, preferably with some padding around the skinny seat soreness area.

[Northendzone]

^MEC for shorts. You Amy find a better deal online, but getting the size right can be difficult.

More expensive shorts will have a thicker chamois.

[Devils'Advocate]

I agree on the MEC shorts. I really like mine.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

As mentioned above, I am coming to town and I think I'll take someone's suggestion of biking from Canmore to Banff. Although they say that the Legacy Trail has been virtually destroyed, I assume there a road one can travel?

Anyhow, my real question was about getting around Calgary at the moment. I'm thinking most of the pathways in town are pretty much all closed? I was thinking of getting a bike to get around town, but now I'm thinking the best thing to do is bus it given the state of the pathways.

[Wormius]

Which shorts from MEC are you guys sporting? Is the padding the same in all of them?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

As mentioned above, I am coming to town and I think I'll take someone's suggestion of biking from Canmore to Banff. Although they say that the Legacy Trail has been virtually destroyed, I assume there a road one can travel? .

Yes, but not an enjoyable one - actually it is a miserable stretch of the TransCanada Highway. Personally I would find a road around Longview or in the Kananaskis to ride and avoid driving on a busy highway.

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Bunk

well, 7 blocks.

I sit on the steering committee for this plan, so feel free to ask questions or provide some input.

What kind of drugs do they distribute around City hall?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I agree on the MEC shorts. I really like mine.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

As mentioned above, I am coming to town and I think I'll take someone's suggestion of biking from Canmore to Banff. Although they say that the Legacy Trail has been virtually destroyed, I assume there a road one can travel?

Anyhow, my real question was about getting around Calgary at the moment. I'm thinking most of the pathways in town are pretty much all closed? I was thinking of getting a bike to get around town, but now I'm thinking the best thing to do is bus it given the state of the pathways.

I would bike banff to lake louise over banff to Canmore. You can take the 1A from about 5km outside of banff all the way to lake louise. No shoulders but there are lots of cyclists and the speed limit is 50km/h.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by no_joke

Are you able to divulge any information about future cycle track alignments? Say, the potential Streets and Avenues that cycle tracks that are in consideration? Should we expect an east-west track to be built next?

Still early in the process - nothing yet to divulge. The goal is to have a grid of north-south and east-west routes both north and south of the tracks.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by GGG

I would bike banff to lake louise over banff to Canmore. You can take the 1A from about 5km outside of banff all the way to lake louise. No shoulders but there are lots of cyclists and the speed limit is 50km/h.

This is a beautiful ride, I would start with a loop around Minnewanka and then out to Lake Louise and Back. You just get a short bit on HWY 1.

[RatherDashing]

Originally Posted by GGG

I would bike banff to lake louise over banff to Canmore. You can take the 1A from about 5km outside of banff all the way to lake louise. No shoulders but there are lots of cyclists and the speed limit is 50km/h.

Has anybody been out on highway 40? I know it is closed to traffic south of Nakiska, but I've heard that it is passable by bike right now. Would make for an awesome ride if true.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by RatherDashing

Has anybody been out on highway 40? I know it is closed to traffic south of Nakiska, but I've heard that it is passable by bike right now. Would make for an awesome ride if true.

Is there a way to get to Barrier Lake by car, or close to it?

I was thinking of riding Prairie View/Jewel Pass.

Edit: Nevermind. Sounds like Jewel Pass is destroyed.

Where else can we ride beside W Bragg Creek?

[bossy22]

You can ride from West Bragg area as well as West Bragg over to moose mountain/station flats area
Canmore, the nordic center and highline
Those are the only areas that I know of firsthand.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Bunk

And pedestrians - much fewer cyclists on sidewalks when there's good bike infrastructure.

Still plenty of courier types ignoring the 7th st track. I haven't noticed a decrease in cyclists on the sidewalk near nexen.

[Northendzone]

for those looking for updates on bike trails - checkout www.bikepirate.com

also, for those looking for some cycling clothes, sportchek is having a 40% off sale on diadora gear. i picked up what appear to be a very comfy pair of spandex shorts (to wear under my baggies) for $22.

I have a pair of these shorts from MEC - they are a little heavy, but comfy:

http://www.mec.ca/product/5023-734/m...02+50089+50106

I bought a pair of pearl izumi shorts from jensen, but i hate them, they are a little long and the elastic in the waist kind of sucks. one day I'll take them to a tailor and see if they can replace the elastic with something beefier.

i'll likely not buy cycling gear on line, as i am a bigger guy, and generally cycling stuff fits small, so i really need to try stuff on first. of course the ultimate answer is to lose some weight.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

Anyhow, my real question was about getting around Calgary at the moment. I'm thinking most of the pathways in town are pretty much all closed? I was thinking of getting a bike to get around town, but now I'm thinking the best thing to do is bus it given the state of the pathways.

this is the link to the city's website:

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pag...-closures.aspx

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Which shorts from MEC are you guys sporting? Is the padding the same in all of them?

I wear the MEC Journey which have lasted me well over five years now.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Which shorts from MEC are you guys sporting? Is the padding the same in all of them?

cheaper shorts = less pading

more expensive shorts = more stitiching, more comfortable chamios (padding), better elastics.....

remember, you should be free-balling it inside spandex shorts - less chafing and whatnot.......

throw baggies over top if you are modest, or fat like me.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Another thing to note about bike shorts, a thicker chamois doesn't mean better.
Cheap shorts will often have a super thick chamois to make it look like they have a lot of padding, but it just compresses down to nothing, and doesn't do a thing except rub and make things worse.

A good chamois should be somewhat firm so that it actually provides cushioning once you put your weight on it.