---I've discovered that most, if not all, great adventures begin with a simple question: 'What am I doing out here?' My start to the 2024 Golden Triangle cycle tour is no different.

I wake up at 4:30 a.

m.

to freezing temperatures and storm clouds to the west.

I drive out to the mountains through sleet and snow.

My spirits lift as the rain clears and I hear the familiar 'Hello, Bonjour!' at the Banff National Park gates.

Parking near Lake Louise, I spot familiar faces; the anxious pit in my stomach swaps with excitement.

I chat with Bob for a few chilly moments and entrust him with my luggage to deliver up the highway.

This three-day Rocky Mountain cycling tour kicks off with a smooth downhill stretch to Castle Junction.

I quickly warm up and turn onto Highway 93 towards Radium Hot Springs.

Settling in for the first big climb past Storm Mountain Lodge, I pedal onwards and upwards to the interprovincial border.

Spending a day on the Banff-Windermere Parkway offers the best of the Canadian Rockies: isolation, scenic views of hanging glaciers, pristine waterfalls, and an abundance of wildlife, including grizzly bears.

Thankfully, riders don’t have to tackle it alone, or all at once.

After cresting the Continental Divide, I meet volunteer Phillipe stationing the first of three designated fuel stops.

Following a quick snack, I zip downhill into British Columbia.

The weather suddenly turns; first comes a pounding headwind, then freezing rain.

At about kilometre 65, I hear the sound that all cyclists dread to hear: a loud “POP!” from my rear tire.

The rain clears, buying me a few minutes to swap in a spare tube.

I pedal on for another five minutes.

All I can do is laugh when my newly changed tire goes flat yet again.

Don, the tour director, pulls up.

He spends a good hour going over my bike with me on the side of the road and at a nearby rest stop.

Just as we finish patching things up, Jay spots a giant moose gently trodding through the nearby forest.

The rest of the day brings rain, a gruelling climb up Sinclair Pass, and a thrilling descent into town.

I end at the Prestige Hotel in Radium Hot Springs, where my luggage has been delivered.

My friend Ray has secured a comfortable room for us both.

This has been a “Type 2 fun” kind of day – not fun in the moment, but definitely fun to reminisce about.

On the second day, we ride to Golden with several welcome food stops along the way.

The gorgeous Columbia River Valley offers more spectacular views and a wide, well-maintained shoulder.

We get warm rain mixed with a tailwind – a fair trade, if you ask me.

I cruise into town in the early afternoon, with plenty of time to explore and prepare for the final leg.

I meet up with Ray for dinner.

I ask his friend Ken what brings him back to this ride, year after year.

His response: “It’s the fresh air and camaraderie.

” Then, a pause.

“Most of all, this gives me a goal to work towards during the year.

”The climb up Kicking Horse Pass is notorious.

But it’s much more manageable now, thanks to impressive road and shoulder improvements on Highway 1.

After a gruelling, 90-minute ascent up Ten Mile Hill, we enjoy our first snack stop of the day at the Yoho National Park entrance.

The skies threaten to rain but never follow through.

My ride through Yoho doesn’t disappoint.

As I pull into the final rest stop at Field, volunteer Liz readies me an amazing sandwich lunch.

I stay for a while to mentally steel myself for the climb up along the Spiral Tunnels.

After conquering the Great Divide, we enjoy a thrilling descent back down to Lake Louise, where we began.

Thanks to a great support crew, riders have completed one of the most scenic and demanding cycling tours in the world – 320 kilometres over three days.

The Elbow Valley Cycle Club’s Golden Triangle Tour is a bucket list item, offering well-organized support, camaraderie, and an unbeatable sense of accomplishment.

Nothing compares to overcoming the continental divide on your own power – not once, but twice – to earn a brand-new perspective on Canada’s most iconic National Parks.

2025 will be the Golden Triangle Tour’s 40th year.

---I hope this helps! Let me know if you need any further assistance.