First long ride - Alberta Rockies

Hi all.  

Last weekend I decided to make a trip to see my mother (and get some road time on my 06 Swing) from Edmonton to Calgary and back (major highway route is about 600km (370mi) round trip.  Rather than major highway, I took a two lane through the foothills (Hwy 22, it's actually called Cowboy Trail) south to Rocky Mountain House, then west into the Rockies (Hwy 11) to the mid-point of the Bow Valley/Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93).  This is the road I really wanted to ride - down a valley between Jasper and Banff in the middle of the Rockies.  There were lots of other riders and rental RVs on the road. Then through Banff to Calgary (670 km).  Coming back, I went straight up the Cowboy Trail back to Edmonton (450 km).  Down on Friday, back on Sunday, just over 1100 kms (680 mi).

Weather was cool (10-15C / 50-60F) and damp/rainy on the way down, even colder and rainier on the way back (under 10C/50F).  Butt was hurting on a stock seat - time to investigate something better.  All in all, a tough ride, but worth it.  Swing ran well - better than I did, I'd say.  I highly recommend the Canadian Rockies for scenery, but dress for the weather!

Cheers, TonyO

I have ridden the Canadian Rockies several times=worth it.

Last year returning from Hyder AK----because of weather and changes professional quality bike clothes and rubber boots nice to have along, I pack feather jacket to wear under my riding jacket, too. Freezing not fun.

Airhawk seat pads add hours to the pain threshold. I've found that with the right mods, 300+ mile days are definitely do-able. My list is airhawk R seat pad, standard Crampbuster, spyder gel grips, heavy throttlemeister bar ends/lock, utopia backrest. As many have stated before the key is to get off and take a short walk every hour or 2 and drink lots of water.

TonyO

Stunning photo of the Crowfoot Glacier. Gee, if it were cropped to delete the tourists & car and some of the less eventfull landscape on the right it would make a awesome forum home page photo. Hint.

Tim

IM jealous, we may get 60 F in about 3 months!

Thanks all, for the comments and suggestions.

I knew seat comfort with the stock seat would be a bit of a challenge, but (perhaps stupidly) wanted to see how far I could manage. I made it, but just barely, even with frequent stops (I'm not cursing the small tank on the Swing so much now). Maybe an Airhawk would make a nice Christmas present...

As for the photo, I'll have to consider it for my profile - definitely more attractive than me...

Cheers,
TonyO