Thread: Banff area riding Q's

Heading with the family to Banff on Saturday.

Was thinking I'd pack my pedals and shoes and look to rent a decent mountain bike for a day or two and a road bike for a day or two.

I've been looking at some maps, but am totally unfamiliar with the area.

I'm an xc-type rider, love to climb, and don't mind rough stuff within reason. It'd be nice to keep some fitness, but mostly I'd like to get out and see the sights. Lake Minnewanka looks like a good one. Maybe Moraine Lake Highline. what else? Are the trails snow-free to a certain elevation? How do the trails do with moisture? I'm not down with mud-bogging or destroying trails.

Looks like the weather will be cool and wet.

Any advise the collective could give or direction to point me in would be much appreciated.

rentals:

skistop in banff will have some nicer rentals, hardtails for $40ish/day, and maybe road bikes too?
banff adventures has hardtails and some full suspensions too.
canmore nordic center rents NICE bikes (rocky carbons, etc) and are $90/day (they are renting $5K+ bikes keep in mind)

for trails: upper and lower stoney will be a good climb, and steep downhill. Upper is narrow, turny, steep and lower is rocky and has some fast parts.

lake minniwanka for a longer XC ride (go to cabin at km16 or camp grounds at 21ish and come back)

moraine lake highline is still under snow. wait 2-8 weeks I bet.

road rides: banff to lake louise is 60km each way, or from lake louise up the parkway is as long as you want to make it. Suffer fest = golden triangle in a day (300ish km) PM L7 or powslut for some more info on the skinny wheeled crowd. Also ask at the skistop for group road ride info.

http://www.bvmba.org/page/page/3408012.htm

way too much good info on bow valley area.

Thanks for the info - mntlion, much appreciated.

Good info mtnlion. Going to have to get over there a do a little riding soon.

gripen: the rides in LL are great. WELL worth checking them both out. very small window between snow bound, and closed for bears fall feeding. We usually ride them on CND day long weekend as no hikers use them, and great to get away from everyone...

PM me if you are coming up.

Originally Posted by mntlion

gripen: the rides in LL are great. WELL worth checking them both out. very small window between snow bound, and closed for bears fall feeding. We usually ride them on CND day long weekend as no hikers use them, and great to get away from everyone...

PM me if you are coming up.

I would be down for a quick trip. I have never ridden those trails. If its Sun or Mon I'm in. (if you'll have me) or any other time if its those days. Are the trailheads as straightforward as the guide books?
Gears required?

jetski: dont think that the LL trails are ready yet. I have a few phone calls in. Ross lake is fine on a SS, moraine lake, not so much...
I'll post, or PM you when they are good to go.

Keep us posted on what they look like. I am definitely down.

Canmore trails are in good shape also. Nordic centre trails have been changed round & I've found some new (I think?) fun sections.

lake louise update:

Ross lake is good to go now too. Has the SS so didn't try moraine lake highline, but thinking that will not be ready yet...

anyone want to go ride it? golden maggots? banff? jasper?

^I'd love too but cracked/broke a rib on Friday. No mtb riding for a bit, but going to try the road back at the end of the week.

thoroughly enjoyed our little trip up to Banff.

Weather was kinda crappy, but I got in two nice rides. One on the tunnel mountain / hoo doo system and one at Minnewanka. Seemed to be early for lots of stuff, but made the crowds manageable. Ski Stop set me up with a nice Giant Trance.

Drove up to Morraine - still seemed wet, but must be getting close.

It is with the usual great pleasure that I am letting you know that the Moraine Lake Highline Trail is now open for the 2010 mountain biking season.
The trail is almost totally free of snow now and Parks Canada's trail crew has removed the winter's fallen trees. Additionally Parks has also brush-cut small trees and bushes on either side of the trail to improve sightlines for riders and other trail users (2 and 4 legged). This was a huge amount of work and has visually opened the trail quite a bit while retaining the tight and challenging singletrack we all love so much.
And unlike Banff, Canmore and Calgary, Lake Louise has actually received very low rainfall recently and so the trail, and indeed all our trails are in stellar condition.
Happy riding everyone!!

Cut it out with the descriptions of fabulous trails to ride, what do you want, all us city folk coming out and clogging them up?