Looking at the forecast on Friday night, I couldn't stomach another weekend where the high's were 0C and +7C for the two weekend days when only 3 hours away the corresponding figures were 16C and 18C. Simple choice - packed up the car and went west. Called mom and dad to see if they were busy, and surprise, surprise, they could fit the overnight trip into their retired schedule.
The temperature started to pick up past dead man's flats, the wall of the mountains was seperating the two air masses. Canmore and Banff actually looked respectable for riding, car was showing 7C as it was still warming up in the morning, but I was fixated on the other side of the continental divide.
We parked and got a motel room in Radium, then quickly suited up for our ride. Headed south towards Invermere together, then parted ways. I rode to Fairmont then back up the west side road to Invermere, stopped for a bagel, then rode up the hill to Panorama. Nice ride, although the road is a bit rough. Didn't even feel a chill on the coast back down. All in, a nice 4.5 hour ride without the added challenge of maintaining body heat.
We had dinner at a German restaurant down the road, typical heavy food, schnitzel and spatzle loaded up on my plate.
Sunday we rode from Radium back to Castle Junction. Dad broke his Radium hill climb record up to Olive Lake, and we rode together for 60km. Beautiful mountain views in that valley, pretty hard to beat. Snow capped peaks, lots of animals, wide shoulder that's cracking a bit, but all turned out well. Finished the day off at 103km in about 4 hours, not too bad considering the hills and winds. Riding the Cervelo instead of a 'cross bike with fenders was pure bliss.
It was reallly warm driving through Banff and Canmore, high teens. Lots of people out riding in shorts and jersies. Drove back on the 1A just to switch things up and saw Jon Nutbrown getting in some miles.
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