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COCHRANE TOURISM: BIKING DAZE

BIKING DAZE Autumn in Cochrane is shaping up to beat historical averages in the weather department.
20200812 SUMMER EXPLORER 0001
Sam Pickering, 15, takes on Cochrane’s First Bike Park on Wednesday (Aug. 12). (Chelsea Kemp/The Cochrane Eagle)

BIKING DAZE

Autumn in Cochrane is shaping up to beat historical averages in the weather department. Of course it wouldn’t be early fall without an early snowfall, but let’s put that behind us and break out the bicycles for some seasonal cycling.

Local trails

Mitford Park Loop via Riverfront Park is 2.4 km of easy and scenic bike paths along the Bow River. and the Cochrane Ranche trails will get you warmed up for the more challenging 9.3 km loop at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Here’s a great link to more of the popular routes in the Cochrane area: TrailForks.

New bike park!

Cochrane’s newest pump track/flow park in the lot behind the Garmin building on Bow Street broke ground a year ago and is now open –for bike enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. If you’re not familiar with the term, “pump track,” it’s usually a manmade circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden completely by riders "pumping"—generating momentum by up and down body movements, instead of pedalling or pushing (thank you, Wikipedia). As for “flow,” think down-hill pump track. Members of Bike Cochrane say the course is well worth the cost of membership: annual family pass is $80, $40 for individuals.

Group riders

There are a number of outfits that offer MTB riding experiences in the Cochrane area:

  1. Shred Sisters – dedicated to improving women’s mountain biking skills. Choose from weekly programs, weekend workshops and retreats. Private lessons are available if you want to polish your skills before hitting the trails.
  2. Calgary Mountain Biking Meetup Group – Join this meet up group and check the calendar for MTB riding events near you.
  3. Calgary NW Fatbike Group – Every Tuesday, this bunch gets together for a fun social ride around 12 Mile Coulee in Tuscany. Ride at your own pace and then finish off the evening at a local pub.
  4. Flow Mountain Bike Adventures – this group offers coaching and guiding services. Are you ready for a bike packing holiday?

Wild and wonderful

We are blessed to be so close to Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, which has lots of paved paths but also dirt and gravel paths to explore. Mark your calendar - less than a month away is the park’s Wild and Wonderful Wildlife Bike Ride, October 16th, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Riders will convene in the parking lot and then bike to the Quarry, stopping along the way to share stories of the wildlife that call Glenbow home. Prizes to be won and swag to be had! Bring the whole family but please know that children must be able to bike a 10 km distance. Electric bikes welcome. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Use this link to register:  ADULT REGISTRATION,CHILD REGISTRATION.

New in town

Big Hill Cycle, who recently opened shop at 1121, 116 Grande Boulevard is the newest addition to the Cochrane cycling scene. They specialize in bike servicing, soup to nuts, so after (or before) all your autumn cycling come on down and get that tune-up (and try not to drool over their extensive new and used inventory). This is a family bike shop - ask about their Junior Trade-In program.

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