Cycling Thread

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I'll probably be bringing my road bike. I have a wedding to attend but I don't have any other activities lined up and if I have time to myself, I was thinking I'd cycle around the city?

I usually do distances of 20-80KM inside Calgary.

The great thing about Vancouver, is there are lots of bike paths, lanes and sectioned off places. A ride I often do is from the Cambie Street bridge out to Steveston. It's about 45 km round trip. Here's my route: http://tinyurl.com/qx26q3j

I also enjoy biking around Stanley Park. The roads are 30 km/hr speed limit in the park, which cars are really good about, there are two lanes, and it is one way. Once you get to Prospect Point, it is downhill, and you can pick up a lot of speed going down hill. I ended the ride on the map where you can either turn left to go do another loop or two, or return home. Sometimes after work I'll go do two loops and then decide if the pain of going up the steep hill to get to Prospect Point is worth it in order to go down the fun hill. Here's my route: http://tinyurl.com/qd6mct6

Here is the route to Horsehoe Bay. http://tinyurl.com/oyzxujm It looks really nice, but I don't like bridges and the Lions Gate bridge terrifies me. It's a beautiful ride, with some challenging elevation changes, and very nice once you get to the point. Be very careful at both ends of the bridge, and on it, as there have been a few accidents.

For a short ride I do a loop up to UBC and back. There are some really good climbs and you can take multiple routes. I like taking 8th Ave for the huge hill up, which allows you to ride the road through the UBC golf course. If I feel like a longer ride I widen the loop and take Marine Drive back to Cambie, and then back to the bridge.

Hope that helps.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

The great thing about Vancouver, is there are lots of bike paths, lanes and sectioned off places. A ride I often do is from the Cambie Street bridge out to Steveston. It's about 45 km round trip. Here's my route: http://tinyurl.com/qx26q3j

I also enjoy biking around Stanley Park. The roads are 30 km/hr speed limit in the park, which cars are really good about, there are two lanes, and it is one way. Once you get to Prospect Point, it is downhill, and you can pick up a lot of speed going down hill. I ended the ride on the map where you can either turn left to go do another loop or two, or return home. Sometimes after work I'll go do two loops and then decide if the pain of going up the steep hill to get to Prospect Point is worth it in order to go down the fun hill. Here's my route: http://tinyurl.com/qd6mct6

Here is the route to Horsehoe Bay. http://tinyurl.com/oyzxujm It looks really nice, but I don't like bridges and the Lions Gate bridge terrifies me. It's a beautiful ride, with some challenging elevation changes, and very nice once you get to the point. Be very careful at both ends of the bridge, and on it, as there have been a few accidents.

For a short ride I do a loop up to UBC and back. There are some really good climbs and you can take multiple routes. I like taking 8th Ave for the huge hill up, which allows you to ride the road through the UBC golf course. If I feel like a longer ride I widen the loop and take Marine Drive back to Cambie, and then back to the bridge.

Hope that helps.

Thats fantastic. Thanks for the routes. I don't know any of the areas at all and this helps tremendously.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Thats fantastic. Thanks for the routes. I don't know any of the areas at all and this helps tremendously.

PM me if you want someone to ride with. I'm not sure what your schedule is like, but I might be around.

Note: I stop at all red lights and stop signs, and I wear a helmet during rides. I want others I ride with to do the same. Some people don't, so it's best I don't ride with them.

[flylock shox]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Thats fantastic. Thanks for the routes. I don't know any of the areas at all and this helps tremendously.

Really good routes.

I'd add Vancouver to Deep Cove, and Vancouver to Port Moody as good rides as well. Though not as scenic until you get there.

[Northendzone]

ugh - rode into the shop today and when I was getting dressed after showering, I realized I forgot to bring a pair of socks this morning......fortunately my riding socks are slightly higher rise and have some blue in them to match my jeans......

[terminator]

anyone have any knowledge of Sportcheck's Diadora Medona Hybrid??

Also how should I be placing my self on a hybrid, should i be seated higher then the handle bars?

Thank you

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

For a short ride I do a loop up to UBC and back. There are some really good climbs and you can take multiple routes. I like taking 8th Ave for the huge hill up, which allows you to ride the road through the UBC golf course. If I feel like a longer ride I widen the loop and take Marine Drive back to Cambie, and then back to the bridge.

Hope that helps.

Do you have a route for this as well? Sorry to bother you but it would help me plan out things being unfamiliar with the area.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Do you have a route for this as well? Sorry to bother you but it would help me plan out things being unfamiliar with the area.

Here is the route from the same starting point: http://tinyurl.com/pcqpwm4 It tries making you turn left on Heather and right on Arbutus. Don't do either. Google maps thinks both of these roads are blocked off at the intersection, but they are designated bike routes and are only blocked to cars. Once you are on 7th, bike straight until Yew St, turn left, and take your first right on 8th Ave. Alma is the last "major" intersection you have to get through. Just past there is a great climb. It goes all the way to Discovery St and flattens out for a bit. Then from Trimble to Blanca you get another climb. The reward is right after when you get to bike through the golf course roads. I put the end point here at the McDonald's, which is where I make my decision on how much more I want to bike. If I want to go right home, I turn left at Dalhousie and right onto University Blvd and head home.

If I feel like a long ride, I take this route: http://tinyurl.com/od87cuk Once you get to SW Marine Drive, it's the best part of this leg. The view to the right is great when you see the water, and you pass four golf courses. Be careful making the left on 57th Ave with traffic. When crossing 41st Ave, take the right from Willow on 41st and then left on Heather. There is a designated bike crossing, with a green stopping area and a light with an automatic trigger. Google maps won't let me make this action. You can take Heather all the way back to the starting point, and don't need to take the detour to cross 12th. Cars have to turn right there, but it is made as a bike crossing, with sensor as well.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by terminator

anyone have any knowledge of Sportcheck's Diadora Medona Hybrid??

Also how should I be placing my self on a hybrid, should i be seated higher then the handle bars?

Thank you

I looked at teh bike on line, and it is showing at sports experts for $279 - not much to say about a bike in that price range - it is what it is.

to me when your seat is about your handlebars your head tends to want to be positioned to easily look 20 to 30 feet ahead of your front tire - thus keeping your focus on upcoming changes to the riding surface - this is the position for mtn biking as it allows you to deal with terrain changes.

to me a hybrid is more about just cruising along and enjoying the scenery - so your head and upper body should be more upright.

to me, if you need to adjus teh seat hieght that much, then perhaps try a larger frame size.

[terminator]

Hey thanks man I ended up getting the gt transeo 2014.

[ranchlandsselling]

Sue Higgens Bridge open in case it wasn't mentioned....

One of many messes cleaned up

[Wormius]

Is Powderface pretty novice, and is it doable with a suspensionless mountain bike?

Am considering riding 66 to Elbow Falls, and looks like Powderface is just off of it. Only thing is, we're starting off at 3pm. Maybe its better to bike that loop trail around Nihani?

[Northendzone]

^ research trails in banff! kaninaskis and Bragg creek at bike pirate

http://www.bikepirate.com/x-country-...derface-creek/

Almost any trail can be ridden with a hard tail....FS just takes out some of the punishment.

[habernac]

Powederface is definitely not novice. It has a climb that will kick the butts of those who are unprepared. Nothing super technical on it, but you need to be in shape if you're going to enjoy it.

[Wormius]

We started biking from the start of 66 at 5:30pm, and managed to get to Little Elbow in about 2 hours. Got up to 67kph on the downhill just before there. Fun. Lots of hills on the way there, was feeling kind of exhausted when we got to Little Elbow, and dreading the possibility of having to walk up the hills on the way back, but fortunately caught our second wind though and made it back to the car before dark. Didn't see a lot of other cyclists, probably on account of leaving so late. Beautiful ride though along the road.

I guess Powderface would have been a bit crazy to throw in.

[Bill Bumface]

I haven't ridding Powderface since the flood because everything I heard is that it was ruined and no longer all that fun. Has anyone given it a shot this year?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I haven't ridding Powderface since the flood because everything I heard is that it was ruined and no longer all that fun. Has anyone given it a shot this year?

Apparently my co-workers were hiking part of it, and said they saw few bikes; mostly people on foot.. Maybe it depends on the section. I guess the trails that branch off from Moose Mtn Rd seemed pretty busy with cyclists though.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Apparently my co-workers were hiking part of it, and said they saw few bikes; mostly people on foot.. Maybe it depends on the section. I guess the trails that branch off from Moose Mtn Rd seemed pretty busy with cyclists though.

Moose Mountain is great. Lots of well maintained trails, and new trails being built all the time too. Powderface is one of the older more forgotten trails, but the short loop used to be a fun option for an after work ride.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Moose Mountain is great. Lots of well maintained trails, and new trails being built all the time too. Powderface is one of the older more forgotten trails, but the short loop used to be a fun option for an after work ride.

always hated that it started with that steep ass climb. I like a little warm up beforehand, that sucker is just straight up.

[Northendzone]

Looks like the bridge across the bow river that runs between douglasdale and diamond cove is now repaired and open......