A bicycle can carry you further in an hour than you can walk in several. There’s hardly a more well-paced and healthy way to explore the Canadian Rockies. Pedal casually along the town trail in Canmore, following the Bow River’s banks as it rushes by in June, spilling its banks with silty, grey runoff pouring down from the high snow-capped mountains. Wind your way along tree-lined paths and inhale the fresh mountain air. Bicycling is also a great way for families to spend a day outside together. Child bike trailers can be towed behind any adult-sized bike, with one or two small children sitting comfortably or quietly napping. Mountain bikes, town ‘cruiser’ bikes, children’s, road bikes and trailers are available for rent in the summer at hourly, half, full or multi-day rates. Many rentals include helmets, locks, water bottles, maps and carrier bags, with prices ranging from $8 an hour to $59 a day.
For those looking to test their pedal power, the Bow Valley is home to several classic road rides. Guided tours range from one to four-hour excursions along the paved Vermillion Lakes, Hoodoos or Sundance Canyon paths, to fully supported multi-day tours from Calgary through Kananaskis to Waterton Lakes National Park. A classic cycling tour is the multi-day, 300-kilometre (180-mile) Icefields Parkway ride between Banff and Jasper. The route follows Highway 93 north past tumbling glaciers, towering rocky peaks and jewel-toned lakes. Other guided tours include the Golden Triangle, which is traditionally covered in three days, following the scenic Highway 93 south through Kootenay National Park to Radium, winding along the gentle countryside north to Golden, British Columbia and continuing along the spectacular Kicking Horse Pass canyon on the Trans Canada Highway. Prices range from $200 to $1,000 per cyclist for multi-day trips and often include accommodation and vehicle support.
Running for 60km (36ml) from Banff to Lake Louise, the Bow Valley Parkway attracts many road bikers training for races or simply testing their leg power. Banff’s Maria Hawkins, who competed on Canada’s women’s cycling team in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, may even buzz you on the road. Or as you ride the 17-km, one-way distance between Banff and Canmore along the Trans Canada Highway, think back to June 8, 1888 when Christina Alexander pedalled 24km along the rugged CPR tote road between Banff and Canmore. Wearing the proper attire of the day – an ankle-length skirt – and accompanied by her husband, she became the first woman to ride a bike between the two towns.
