I am now off the TransCanada and looking for a safe and efficient way to make my way around the northern part of Calgary. Google maps to rescue. Google provided me with some suggestions and I took one that got me off the main roads. But immediately upon leaving Cochrane I needed to climb because Cochrane is at the bottom of the valley. The climb was not too bad in terms of length or steepness and there was a good shoulder. Though I did have a slight encounter with a construction worker that wanted me to ride in the through traffic lane when I could have easily been inside the cones and out of through traffic. I compromised and rode in the traffic lane for about 50 yards and then moved over inside of the cones. This was at the bottom of the climb out of the valley and I did not want traffic to be pissed and follow me up the hill at 7 mph when the speed limit was 40.
The Google roads on this day were good. I knew almost immediately this would work because I saw cyclists ahead of me heading my direction and then when I got on the Google road I saw more coming toward me. However, after getting off the Range Roads and onto the Numbered highways traffic was heavier particularly with gravel trucks. In some stretches on the Numbered highways the shoulders were narrow but the traffic behind me was giving me lots of space.
Today was meant to be a short day after yesterday’s long one. It was also a night in a hotel room to take advantage of the air conditioning.
Today’s stats:
Total mileage: 30.09 miles
Average speed: 11.6 mph
Elevation ascent: 1519 feet
Elevation descent: 1640 feet
Maximum speed: 33.5 mph