Cycling Ride

  • This ride has been cancelled.

Level 3

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 9:59am

sign up @8:00 AM Wednesday June 14

Join us for a consistent 23-24 kph pace along this fantastic piece of the 1A highway with no motorized vehicles from Banff to Johnston’s Canyon and then further on for another 7 KM to Castle Junction, where traffic is allowed.  We will leave from the Historic Banff Train Station.

We will ride west to join the pathway on west side of the Mt Norquay Road and will proceed on to the Vermillion Lakes Road.  We will follow the lakes to the far end and join the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail which will take us to the 1A Highway (which is  closed to vehicle traffic).  Twenty-five (25) kilometres later we will have lunch at Castle Junction. After lunch we will return the same way that we came but the highway does split in a few places where the elevation is lower.

The entire trip will be approximately 65 km and will have an elevation gain of 300 metres, but the cumulative elevation will add up to 1,000 metres with two significant hills on the way out, with lesser up and downs. We will stop a few times to take in the spectacular views and catch our breath after every climb.   

Please ensure that you arrive early (9:40 AM) to enable a timely start and to allow for checklists, bathroom visits and introductions.  Wheels start rolling at 9:59 AM sharp and we should be back at the Train Station between 3:00-3:30PM. 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.

As we will be in bear country, if you have bear pepper spray I recommend that you bring it and have it accessible during the ride.

Public Washroom facilities are located at the train station, Johnston’s Canyon and Castle Junction.

Please make sure your bike and brakes are in good running condition.  In addition  bring your National Park Pass, helmet, medical contact info, sunscreen, water, lunch, tools, inner tube and money for beer should you be late arriving on time!

Meeting Location: We will meet in front of the Historic Banff Train Station at 327 Railway Ave. at 9:40 AM. There is free all day parking  west of the station and also on the east side.

 

Meeting Location: In front of the Historic Banff Train Station at 327 Railway Ave. at 9:40 AM.
Leader: Stu Pritchard 403-585-5882
Sweep: TBD