Journey of a Lifetime: 300km Cycling Adventure Banff to Jasper! 

Thanks and glad you enjoyed!!

Thanks Mark! In terms of the ride itself, I think the climbs may just be a bit shorter but a bit steeper if you were heading from Jasper to Banff; particularly the climb to the Columbia Icefield and the climb to Bow Summit. They seem to be a bit gradual coming up from the Banff side. I think a main consideration for someone choosing would be where you're coming from - Jasper is accessed via Edmonton airport, and is about a 3-4 hour drive. Coming to Banff from Calgary is only about 1.5hrs. So that could be a factor. I would consider the ride in the context of an entire trip depending on where you're visiting from, and then also take a look at some maps that show elevation over the course of the ride (I think Parks Canada gave me a map at the gates that showed elevations for the whole road); you can probably find this or one like it online. Cheers and hope you get to do this awesome ride! - Dan McGuire Canmore & Cochrane REALTOR

@@canmore-cochrane-real-estate Thanks for your good answer, Dan. We'll be coming by car from the Fraser Valley of BC and will probably do the ride in out-and-back sections, so your comments about the climbs are especially useful. We'll look at that more closely as we plan. Thanks again.

Hi Joe - thanks so much for your kind words and thats so exciting that you're hoping to do the same ride as well! There are a few stops along the way that provide accommodations if you wanted to break it up a bit more. Moving West from Banff, you could stay at Lake Louise (lots of options), or even at Baker Creek just before LL. FYI the climb up to Lake Louise itself is very steep, busy and narrow - it may be better to stay in town and bus or hike up. From LL, your next place for a stop (with a bed) would be the Lodge at Bow Lake. Next stop would be where I stayed at Saskatchewan Crossing, then you would have the Icefields (Glacier View Lodge looks like an option) and then finally Sunwapta Falls Lodge before heading to Jasper. Some Distances I just roughly calculated: Banff>LL (65KM) Banff>Bow Lake (101KM) Bow Lake> Sask Crossing (42KM) Bow Lake> Icefields (91KM) Icefields> Sunwapta (48KM) Icefeilds>Jasper (103KM) Biggest climbs are: LL village to LL itself Bow Summit (basically a massive climb from the 93 to here) Athabasca Summit (to the icefeilds) Sounds like Banff to Bow Lake to Icefields to Jasper may be a good route if you're looking for 3 days! Thanks and I hope this helps - good luck and enjoy if you do come! Dan McGuire - Canmore & Cochrane REALTOR

Thank you, Dan. After watching - and sharing with friends - your very impressive adventure, I'm highly motivated. At 78, I'll probably do the longer-but-less-traffic route to the east, but I've driven that route a few times, and it's so spectacular. Your video is highly inspirational. Thank you! @@canmore-cochrane-real-estate

Sadly yes 😢

Thank you for the kind words!

@@bengt_axle thanks! I’m terrible with bike tech (but getting more into it), but I think it’s the standard on this bike 34/50 it says on the Giant website. It was fine for me, but I’m a strong climber and love it. Bow summit and up to LL are the biggest climbs, both on my day 1. This was my carbon road bike, which was good, but next time I do a multi day ride like this I will take my Kona Rove which I have setup like a touring bike. The more ergonomic position would have been more comfortable for these longer days. Hoping to do the Golden Triangle next summer… Cheers!

@@canmore-cochrane-real-estate The second number refers to the teeth on the rear cog. It looks like 32 or 34 but most old road bikes have 28. A 1:1 ratio is considered quite appropriate for climbs, but you're probably a lot stronger than the average urban cyclist.