Cycling Thread 2

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Lately I am feeling like I see a lot more modes of transport on the pathway:

. Yesterday we came acros a guy on a motorized moped/scooter thing. It had a Alberta plate on it
. I keep seeing this guy on onE of those one wheeled motorized boards. Guy can really haul it. He wears a full face helmet and leather pants and a jacket
. I have seen a guy in one of those recumbents with the full on outer fairing and it looked like a bullet

I think I saw that same guy on the moped by the zoo pathway on Sunday. Guy passed us, I just kind of looked at my friend and thought, “wtf was that?”

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Don Benji

Are Cargo bikes allowed on the pathways? I passed one today on the Bow River Pathway and he's clipping around a corner kind of out of control. Half on the path, half hitting the weeds. I wish I had my go-pro on. His rig looked like a black coffin on wheels.

If this is who I think it is, he was definitely under control and rides that thing for his work around 80-100km per day (year round). I've watched him slalom that thing through the train gates at Fox Hollow like nothing.

And yes, cargo bikes are allowed on pathways.

Edit: This the bike?

[KTrain]

If you can't stay on your side of the yellow line you're not in control and likely going too fast on the path. If you're cornering and go over the yellow line, regardless if someone is coming towards you, you're going too fast.

If he's on his side and going into the weeds, he's being considerate of the oncoming people on the other side of the line.

[Bigtime]

When I rode with him I also noticed he would tend to stay on the edges of the path since the rig is just so big. He knows his business.

[surferguy]

Was there a kid on the back? If so that could have been me I suppose, I was out on my bike but I wasn’t flying and out of control. Maybe there is another black cargo bike in the city now?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Was there a kid on the back? If so that could have been me I suppose, I was out on my bike but I wasn’t flying and out of control. Maybe there is another black cargo bike in the city now?

I've seen at least one that wasn't you!

[habernac]

Anything with a motor and a license plate should be reported. They aren't allowed on the pathways.

[Hack&Lube]

We have an upcoming event at the Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino. I was looking for creative ways to get in some cycling such as parking in Canmore and cycling to there but it looks like the only way is over the Bow Valley Trail which is a 2-lane road where I see 100km signs and small shoulders with the divets that let you know if you are swerving out of your lane.

Has anybody ever biked this road before or have any opinions on whether or not it is safe? I have biked on provincial roads before but it was 10 years ago and on relatively quiet rural ones down south like Longview, etc.

[habernac]

1A between Canmore and Cochrane is a little scary. Not a lot of room and it isn't quiet like the roads you talk about south of Calgary.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We have an upcoming event at the Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino. I was looking for creative ways to get in some cycling such as parking in Canmore and cycling to there but it looks like the only way is over the Bow Valley Trail which is a 2-lane road where I see 100km signs and small shoulders with the divets that let you know if you are swerving out of your lane.

Has anybody ever biked this road before or have any opinions on whether or not it is safe? I have biked on provincial roads before but it was 10 years ago and on relatively quiet rural ones down south like Longview, etc.

What day of the week? The road itself is fine to ride, not too busy. I've road Canmore to Seebee a few times. The problem is rock trucks run it Monday to Saturday, which makes it more sketchy. I have no issues doing it on a Sunday though.

[Don Benji]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

If this is who I think it is, he was definitely under control and rides that thing for his work around 80-100km per day (year round). I've watched him slalom that thing through the train gates at Fox Hollow like nothing.

And yes, cargo bikes are allowed on pathways.

Edit: This the bike?

No kid on the back that I noticed. Can't confirm 100% as we were going in opposite directions and my view was on a corner at the base of a hill but likely this was it. It was definitely a large black rig and at first glance I thought it was a motorized go cart that was partially on the grass. If he's pushing that around 80km every day I assume he knows his rig and the terrain well.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What day of the week? The road itself is fine to ride, not too busy. I've road Canmore to Seebee a few times. The problem is rock trucks run it Monday to Saturday, which makes it more sketchy. I have no issues doing it on a Sunday though.

Friday and this makes sense as google maps show all the rock quarries adjacent to it. I think I will skip this one.

[Fuzz]

Maybe get someone to drive you into K-country and do a one way back. That road is pretty good to ride on, though sometimes a bit busy.

[Deegee]

I bought a new bike this weekend. Nothing too fancy, but it's a bigger investment for me.

I was riding a Specialized Diverge gravel bike with a Claris groupset, moved to a Cube Attain SL with a 105 groupset. While it's still an aluminum bike. I finally got a chance to take it for a rip last night and am completely blown away how much easier it is to pickup and maintain speed on a road bike than a gravel bike, but I'm guessing it's just the difference in tires. Wish I would have known this from the start (I'm still a novice) - I would have made a different initial purchase for sure.

[KTrain]

Great to hear! New bike day is the best.

A lot of people I've spoken to about road bikes fear the "thin tires". They think they're going to fall over. It really is amazing how much quicker you're able to go on smooth tires and how much more you're able to see when you can add a few more kms to the time you have to ride.

[Flames0910]

^ I rented a "road bike" in Vancouver earlier this year but it was a bit of a bait-and-switch as the actual bike was setup with all-purpose gravel tires (heavy frame too). Was amazed at how much harder the effort was (definitely ended up bonking on that ride) so ya -- knobby tires add a lot of rolling resistance. And congrats on the new bike day!

You don't even have to go that thin for road speed, it's just about smoothness. 28mm and 30mm road tires are just as fast and more comfortable than the old skinny 25mm standard. Newer tires can also go with lower psi's for comfort (esp when setup tubeless) and still be just as fast because they hug the road better.

--

I mentioned in this thread that I'm doing the Whistler Gran Fondo Sept 10th. Well they just emailed about some openings in the Forte category so I bumped up a level. Basically adds on a Cat One climb (Cypress) before riding out to Whistler.

152km / 3100m. I might die lol.

My plan is to pace myself on the Cypress Climb, find a group to draft with for the 50-70km stretch up to Squamish, then pace it again on the final climb up to Whistler. Given the huge elevation I'm not so worried about timing but will just be happy to finish.

https://www.rbcgranfondo.com/whistler/the-ride/forte/

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Deegee

I bought a new bike this weekend. Nothing too fancy, but it's a bigger investment for me.

I was riding a Specialized Diverge gravel bike with a Claris groupset, moved to a Cube Attain SL with a 105 groupset. While it's still an aluminum bike. I finally got a chance to take it for a rip last night and am completely blown away how much easier it is to pickup and maintain speed on a road bike than a gravel bike, but I'm guessing it's just the difference in tires. Wish I would have known this from the start (I'm still a novice) - I would have made a different initial purchase for sure.

The actual quick fix is just to swap wheels and keep the same frame. That way you have a gravel + road.

I am actually thinking of going to the Diverge as my next bike and using it to fit both needs. Gravel bikes have wider forks and rears to fit wider tires whereas road bikes don't necessarily allow you to go the gravel route.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

You don't even have to go that thin for road speed, it's just about smoothness. 28mm and 30mm road tires are just as fast and more comfortable than the old skinny 25mm standard.

I think the standard was 23mm, all my road bikes came with that and I had many nasty accidents with the wheel getting stuck in a tram rail in downtown vancouver, getting stuck in a metal rail on the old Glemore Reservoir top track, and getting stuck in various other tight squeezes.

Sadly, the most I was able to go to was 25mm on my most recent swap since my front fork isn't wide enough and I'm doing 25mm in front and 28mm in the rear. Gravel bike is the next step so I can get a wide fork but have the option of fast tires.

[Khel]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

The actual quick fix is just to swap wheels and keep the same frame. That way you have a gravel + road.

I am actually thinking of going to the Diverge as my next bike and using it to fit both needs. Gravel bikes have wider forks and rears to fit wider tires whereas road bikes don't necessarily allow you to go the gravel route.

I got a diverge, and it's now my primary bike. I ride mostly gravel now, and it's an absolute joy to ride!

Does decent on road, but it really shines in the gravel. Works good on the pathway as well!

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Khel

I got a diverge, and it's now my primary bike. I ride mostly gravel now, and it's an absolute joy to ride!

Does decent on road, but it really shines in the gravel. Works good on the pathway as well!

Which model did you get? I think the $2,799.99 E5 Elite with GRX is probably the minimum because the $1,849.99 one is spec'd with Claris.

Stock of course is always going to be a problem, probably won't be until next year.

I don't have space for 2 bikes so a gravel frame + road tires/wheels (maybe even carbon wheels) seems like the best option for me and a wheel swap can transform it into a different bike.