Cancelled Towers Trail Gravel Ride Maria

Coordinator:  Maria Saley

Type of Ride:  Backcountry roads,  pavement and  gravel, Intermediate, average speed about 17.5 kph  (faster on pavement, slower on gravel) .  This is a good ride to try out some gravel riding since there is also a fair amount of pavement.

Distance:  54 km   Duration:   Estimate 4+ hours total   

Elevation:  about 400 m

Join us for a ride through beautiful farmland on back roads with mountain views.   We will start in the Fireside Community in south Cochrane and then wind through some acreages  on quiet gravel to join up with Towers Trail, where we will go south, enjoying quiet farmland and mountain views.  After about 7 km, we will join up with 252 west (and say hi to the horse that is always looking over the fence at that corner) and then go on Jumping Pound Rd south over Hwy 1 to hook up with Springbank Rd where it is gravel, and continue  east on Springbank rd to Rge Rd 33, north to 250 (Airport Rd) and then east and north to Taylor Terrace (gravel)  to go west across Hwy 22 and join up with Towers Trail to get back to where we started.   A nice mix of gravel and paved surfaces.   We can stop at Springbank recreation complex to use washrooms and have a snack.   Please note that we will be riding on RR 33 to go over Hwy 1 and also we will be crossing HWY 22 at one point, so we will encounter more traffic at these points.    We will stop at all intersections so no one gets lost.  

You will need a bike with at least 38 mm tires (1.5 inches).  Knobby mountain bike tires over 2 inches will be really slow on the pavement so are not recommended unless you have an e-bike that can go faster.  Gravel bikes are ideal, cross bikes and touring bikes are good, or any bike that can maintain about 20 kph on pavement and also handle continuous gravel surfaces (at a slower speed).  Option for coffee in Cochrane after the ride.

Bring a helmet, water, snacks, spare tube and tools.