Machka 

How many of you are coming up to, or through, the Canadian Rockies this year?

From other threads, it sounds like there are a bunch of you.

On the weekends in July I might be making some trips over to the Icefield Parkway (between Jasper and Banff), and we might be there in August as well. Maybe I'll meet some of you.

Newspaperguy

I'm considering cycling to Kamloops, taking the train to Jasper and then riding to Banff and home this summer, but things could get volatile in a hurry this year. None of my plans are set in stone.

valygrl

I'll be there, some time in mid-August, possibly riding both ways on the Icefields parkway, possibly returning some other route, TBD.

Thanks for starting this thread, Machka, great idea. Maybe we can all give this a shout-out when we are actually there and try to cross some paths.

nancy sv

We're planning on going through the Canadian Rockies - probably August. We're not sure though because it all depends on how fast the kids are able to travel. If they go slower than planned, we might end up taking a coastal route so we don't get caught in winter in the mountains.

SandLizrd

I'll be there mid-August. I'm riding the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route up from Mexico, and will intersect the Trans-Am for a couple hundred miles, I believe. I plan to hang out in Glacier Park for awhile, then work up to Banff.

From there I'm not too sure - Icefields Parkway sounds like fun and I might catch a train in Jasper. Or, I might loop down to Kelowna and check out the Kettle Valley Railway (rail trail) down to Hope. All the trestles are repaired in Myra Canyon and an extra 500k of dirt might be good for me!

I'll check out Vancouver Island, and I've heard there's this little hill climb in Olympic National Park in WA, but I'll have to see how that goes. See ya!

Machka 

Lots of August riders!

Joe Gardner

I'll be riding the CDT, starting in Canada on Aug 10th. Hoping to see a few bikeforums members on the trail!

vik 

The Icefield's Parkway is a stunning ride that is well worth doing in both directions - you won't get bored of the scenery!....

BlueDevil

July 24th through August 8th, my wife and I will be making our way from West Glacier to Jasper.

Machka 

Some photos of the type of scenery out there.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7605871338498/

These were taken on Hwy 11, just off the Icefield Parkway. My father and I headed out there yesterday to ride for the day. It's just beautiful out there!!

BlueDevil

Awesome photos Machka! Thank you very much for posting them. My wife and I just got back from what ended up being a very tough loaded 45-mile training ride (had 6 short, 250-350', but steep 10-14%, climbs). We are a bit tired, and felt a bit defeated, but your pictures sparked a ton of inspiration! We're so excited to get out there in the end of July!

Matthew A Brown

Machka! My friend Heather, her dog Nubis, and I will be out in about a month, maybe? Something like that. We just got a ride from Destruction Bay to Whitehorse. After three weeks on bikes, riding in a little Kia is a bit surreal.

I'm on an orange custom frame with a Bob trailer, Heather is on a Fuji Touring with a Burley for the lil fella.

Cheers!

papawizo

Machka,
I'll be heading up to Kamloops by train on the 8th, next week. Than will do some longer fully panniered riding to Jasper and arrive on the 11th. On the 12th I'll ride to Hwy 11. 13th to Castle ....and so on. I'm following some of the RM1200 route but will head to Elke and than east and into East side of Glacier and do Logan pass and end up in Kalispell on the 19th. Of course dates are only a prediction. But I try to stay close to it. Close to 850 miles. I'll certainly be there if you'd like to join me for some riding. I'll be riding a 1999 Green Cannondale t1000 with hydraulic brakes. Built for loads, this bike is. It would be a hoot to bump into you.
John "asleep on his bike" Vincent

papawizo

BTW Machka,
Your photos were incredible. I've never been there and this trip I'm heading out on is another dream of mine. I've wanted to do this ride for years as I've seen the pictures, only. It's a good thing I'm a teacher and have some time. I started to get a bit emotional looking at your photos knowing I'll be there in a week or so. I am getting a bit excited.
JV

BlueDevil

John-

Are you planning on blogging any of this journey? My wife and I will be going the opposite direction (up over Logan's pass, then on up to Jasper via Banff) starting July 24th, and I'd love to hear/see a little preview of the road conditions, etc.. if you were planning on blogging it.

Machka 

Are you doing this ride this month ... like leaving July 8th?

Machka 

I'm heading to the Lake Louise area for another day trip tomorrow. If all goes well, I should have another set of photos up by Sunday.

Turd Ferguson

Good topic !

I have questions for you westerners.

My wife is going to be in Edmonton for the third week of July on business. I was considering a bike tour starting from Calgary and meet he her Edmonton

I would fly into Calgary ( July 18 or 19 via westjet), ride through to Banff and Jasper then onto Edmonton for July25th, fly out July 26th ( HWY 93 & 16 ). What would the ride be like? I estimate it to be approx 800km...wondering if I can do it in 5 days, just unsure of the mountains and places to camp. Are the roads safe or full of drunken camper yahoos?

Here is the proposed route; https://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en...27&ie=UTF8&z=7

Alternatively, would it be better to fly to Kamloops then make my towards Edmonton?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Machka 

Sorry, I can't open your link ... for some reason I can't open Google mapping things at all anymore. However .....

From Calgary to Banff, I'd take Hwy 1, not Hwy 1A. Hwy 1 has wide shoulders and is a pleasant ride, while Hwy 1A has a scary 30 km section ... narrow with lots of rough pavement.

Shortly after Banff, you've got a choice of staying on the main highway to Jasper, or taking the Bow Valley Parkway to Lake Louise. It's a quieter choice than the main highway.

The highway the rest of the way to Jasper is pretty good ... decent shoulders, but a few rough patches, and lots of traffic ... especially in July. Watch out for RVs. When they see a rest stop area, they'll run down everything in sight to get there. Use a mirror and be careful.

You'll encounter a rather big hill right in the middle between Banff and Jasper ... up to the Columbia Icefields. Plan to take a little while on that one. The rest of the way is quite hilly as well.

From Jasper you'll be on Hwy 16 into Edmonton. As far as I can remember there is a decent shoulder on that highway ... there are decent shoulders on most of the highways in this province.

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As for camping ... there are camping spots all along through there. You've got a pretty good chance of finding something. Swing by the tourist info place in Banff and pick up a tourist map or something like it.

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And as for the drivers ... the drivers here in Alberta are generally very good. Almost frighteningly good. In general they'll give you lots of room, even though you're several feet away from them on the shoulder. In the park, there aren't too many drunken camper yahoos ... the Banff and Jasper national parks tend to attract families and international tourist.

But like I said, watch for the RVs. The people who drive those things spend the year in a compact car, and then suddenly drive a vehicle the size of a bus for a week or two on vacation. They don't know how to drive something that large, and it can be pretty evident! My mirror has saved my life on a couple occasions when I've been innocently cycling by an entrance into a look out point or rest area and noticed an RV bearing down on me.

papawizo

Machka and Blue Devil
I'm leaving July 8th to do a modified RM1200 course. I'll arrive at 2:00 AM in Kamloops on the 9th so I may just head out riding until something pops up for sleeping. My goal is to be done on the 19th and could blog through a public library. I'll try to do that along the way.

Machka 

papawizo and valygrl,

Just so you know ... there are no campgrounds at Saskatchewan River Crossing (Hwy 11). If you are planning to camp, I'd recommend aiming for either Thompson Creek on Hwy 11 (about 10 kms east of SRC), Waterfowl Lakes on Hwy 93 (20 kms south of SRC), or Rampart Creek on Hwy 93 (13 kms north of SRC).

papawizo, you're planning to cycle from Jasper to SRC area on the 12th?

Machka 

Yesterday (July 5th) I cycled the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise.

Here are some photos of that trip:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/1430288...7606010786530/

And the story is here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/438005-saturday-s-ride-july-5-2008-a.html

vik 

I saw you guys at Laggan's Bakery in Lake Louise. I was with a group of Bike Fridays, 2 Big Dummies and a LHT. I'm pretty sure the Bike Friday folks in your story were in our group as well. Glad you had a nice ride.... I didn't twig to the fact I knew you from BF until you were leaving on your bike and I couldn't give chase.

It was a great weekend to be out in the mountains...

Machka 

There was a guy with them pulling a trailer that sort of looked home made. Was he with you too? And yes, the Bike Friday couple arrived at the bakery shortly after I did.

I would have liked to officially meet you!

And it was a great weekend to be in the mountains.

vik 

Hmmm...nope nobody in our group had a trailer - just 2 Big Dummies...here is a pic of our Bike Friday riders Eddy & Mir:



We'll definitely have to meet up finally....