| Title: | Bicycling |
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun |
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER |
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 3214 |
| Total number of notes: | 31946 |
If any of you have done an exceptional bike tour, others may be interested.
Here are my favorites.
**The Icefields Parkway**
By far this is the best tour that I have done and my be the best 1-2 week
tour in North America. It starts in Banff, Alberta goes to Lake Louise and
then to Jasper. There is not one boring inch of scenery the entire 260
miles (roundtrip). It goes past high peaks, the Columbia Icefields ( a
glacier the size of Delaware ) and wild unspoiled rivers. There are 2 steep
passes which must be climbed, Bow pass and Sunwaptha pass. The views at the
top make the climbs well worth while. There is a wide 8 foot shoulder the
entire way and the pavement is in excellent shape. I have never seen more
bike tourists on one rode in my life. Many were doing xcontinental tours.
I would suggest doing the tour at the warmer times of the year. We did it in
early July and had perfect weather. Also, the sun did not go down until 10:15.
**Tour de San Juan**
The above name is an invention of mine. It starts in the small Southwestern
Colorado town of Telluride. On day 1 we climbed 18 miles to the top of Lizard
Head Pass and then went down hill 55 miles to Cortez. Yes, that's right
Martha, it was 55 miles downhill. Day 2 we went into Mesa Verde national
park and looked at the cliff dwellings. Although it was only 45 miles, this
was our hardest day because of steep hills and headwinds. Day 3 took us to
Durango. Day 4 was a rest day to prepare us for the most challenging day.
Day 5 had 3 mountain passes, Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass and Red Mountain
Pass at 11,250 feet. The day ended at the hot springs in Ouray, Colorado.
The last day took us over the Dallas Divide and back to Telluride for
a total of about 300 miles. This tour gave us the best mountain scenery that
Colorado has to offer. I would suggest doing this either immediately before
Memorial day or imediately after Labor day to avoid car and recreational
vehicle traffic.
Enjoy,
Keith
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | DR::BLINN | Wed Jan 01 1986 22:30 | 5 | ||
You must be in really good shape! Some of those passes are over 2 miles up, and the air really does start to thin out. I'd be really huffing and puffing! Sounds like fun! Tom | |||||
| 9.2 | NERMAL::WOESTEHOFF | Thu Jan 02 1986 19:48 | 15 | ||
Your right, both of the the tours I described are challenging. I guess I had somewhat of any advantage since I live at 6000 ft. in Colorado Springs and I'm somewhat used to high altitudes. If you come from the lowlands, it would help if you took 3 or 4 days to adjust before riding the Tour De San Juan. It may be interesting to note that there is an annual race on part of the tour. It is called the Iron Horse classic and goes from Durango (6,500 ft.) over Coal Bank Pass (10,600 Ft.), over Molas Pass (10,900 ft) and stops at Silverton (9,000 ft.) for a total of about 45 miles. Alexis Grewal won it 2 years ago with an unbelievable time of something like 2:15. I quess I should note that the distance I gave for the Icefields Parkway ride is more like 360 miles and not 260. I would love to go back and do that ride again. Keith | |||||
| 9.3 | "Women On A Roll" 33-mile tour | SYSENG::BITTLE | Nancy Bittle - Hardware Engineer; LSEE | Mon Sep 11 1989 00:52 | 72 |
Received in the mail yesterday - from CitySports magazine -
"Women on a Roll"
Boston - Sept 17 * New York - September 24
A benefit for the Women's Sports Foundation
A 33-mile women's bike tour
Easy-going, sociable, non-competitive cycling
(At a moderate pace of 10 miles an hour, the 33-mile route will
take about 3 hours to ride. You may decide to follow the 12-mile
alternative route after the ride has begun.)
Sunday, Sept. 17, 1989, 9:00 am start
DeCordova Museum, Lincoln, MA
* A beautiful ride on a thrilling route through the rolling hills
and historic villages of Lincoln, Sudbury, and Concord, starting
from and returning to the magnificent estate of the DeCordova
Museum in Lincoln.
* Free giant post-ride Cyclists' Exposition with a lively band on
state, a choreographed Cyclists' Fashion Demonstration, and
exhibitors displaying the latest bikes, clothes, and accessories.
* Free pre-ride Breakfast
* Free Lunch provide by Weight Watchers Frozen Foods.
* Free drinks along the route.
* Free all-cotton Lubriderm Women On A Roll T-shirt
* Free super cyclist's fanny pak from Lubriderm Lotion, stuffed
with Good Things.
* Nationally prominent women cyclists to guide small groups.
* Corporately-sponsored women's cycling teams to ride with and
learn from.
* Sag wagon for the weary and accompanying tech support by TREK
for on-route repairs.
* Route managed for cyclists' maximum pleasure and safety by
Benchmark Communications Inc.
* Participation limited, so register NOW.
$20 if post marked before September 12.
$25 to register morning of the event.
$10 for exposition and lunch only.
Sponsors on the flyer : CitySports Magazine, Lubriderm, Weight
Watchers Frozen Foods, Evian, Ocean Spray, Post Grape Nuts,
JanSport, Bellwether, Cannondale, Pearl Izumi, Bell, Peugeot
Cycles.
-----------------------------------------------------------
I travel frequently on the roads of the tour, and it definitely
looks like it will be a scenic tour!
This also sounds like a well-organized event with a very
reasonable registration fee...I think I'm going to give it a try
if I can get my bike fixed by the end of the week (though I've
hardly done any serious biking at all, let alone 33 miles!)
If you're interested, contact me for a copy of the application
form (which must be postmarked by Sept 12 for $20 application
fee; else application fee = $25).
nancy b.
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