Sign-up available on June 15 @ 8 am
La Tour de Banff ~38-40km.
You can pay $100 for a two hour professional bike tour of Banff or you can sign up here for free!
This ride will be a very relaxing tour of our closest favourite mountain town, but without any mountain climbs, just coasting along valley floor trails, pathways and quiet streets avoiding crowds and traffic. We will be immersed in fresh air, mountain vistas as we ride to Vermillion Lakes’ viewpoint of Mt. Rundle, which is a great photo-op. Then we cycle back to town and ride along the Bow river, past all the historic Banff residences. We will cross over the Bow and make our way to the spot where our National Parks all started. Then it is back through the forest of local artworks to Bow Falls. From here we will venture onto the Banff Springs Golf Course loop road with views of the castle, the Banff Springs Hotel. On this loop we will stop at the famous signature number #4 golf green, the Devil’s Cauldron, of this world famous golf course! You do not have to be a golfer to appreciate the beauty of this scripted landscape.
We will continue on the golf course road loop and return to the Bow Falls for a photo op, then along and over the Bow River and commence our only climb to the “Surprise Corner Viewpoint”. We will return to town and ride along the vehicle restricted Banff Avenue. Then we venture the quiet back streets out to our last destination and lunch spot of the day at the Cascade Ponds, out along part of the Legacy Trail. Cascade Ponds – located in the heart of Banff National Park – consists of quiet, tree-covered pathways and crystal clear glacial water.
We will then return to our morning starting location, the Historic Banff Train Station between 2:00-2:30 P.M. You might want to take some time after the ride to view historic artifacts and pictures located inside the station or cycle downtown and check your bike at the town operated free bike valet service, with e-bike charging stations. Hopefully, after this ride you will call it a memorable and relaxing one. You are sure to see views of Banff that you haven’t seen before.
As we will be in bear country for some of the ride, if you have bear pepper spray I recommend that you bring it (and have it accessible during the ride). If we have 3 or 4 riders who have it we should be good, so don’t go out specifically to purchase some unless you would need it for other mountain or city dog deterrent activities!
Public Washroom facilities are located at the train station and in Banff and at the Cascade Ponds. In addition bring your helmet, sunscreen, bug spray, water, lunch, tools, inner tube, medical contact info, your National Park Pass and beer money if you are late arriving on time!
Meeting location in front of the Historic Banff Train Station, 327 Railway Ave. by 9:40 Banff Time. However, we leave at 9:59 sharp to start our ride. There is free all day parking right next to the station on the west side, or a half block to the east.
To plan you morning departure time from Calgary, the drive to the Train Station is an hour and thirty minutes from Winsport (COP) on the Trans Canada Highway. If you are buying a National Park Pass at the park gate, add 30 minutes to your travel time. If you are traveling highway 8 and 22 to get to the Trans Canada, add 30 minutes to your travel time due to construction. Should the ride have to be canceled you will be emailed by 7:00 AM the morning of the ride, so please check before you leave town.
Call me if you have any questions or the day of the ride at 403-585-5882.
Meeting Location: In front of the Historic Banff Train Station, 327 Railway Ave. by 9:40 Banff Time.
Leader: Stu Pritchard 403-585-5882
Sweep: TBA
There is a maximum of 14 riders on this ride.
It is now after 8:00am on the day of the ride. To cancel, please contact the leader directly.