view full

Some of you are asking how to see the whole map in MapMyRide


You need to click on view full

~  It's tucked away at the bottom of the MapMyRide box, just scroll down on the little arrows on the right side of the map box until you see view full.

~  Clicking on it takes you to the MapMyRide website where you can zoom in or out and overlay it in Google Maps, etc.  It should look like this when you scroll down:

~ and by the way - click on any picture and it will pop up large, too!

~  Have fun - and remember to share your rides on MapMyRide.com or Bikely.com

Campbell Valley Judi Ride 2009

My GPS had a great ride today in the Fraser Valley with Judi and her gang of do-ers....

She says, "we had a spectacular first day of Fall ride in South Langley in the Campbell Valley.

The Temperature today was close to 30 degrees, The ride was mostly on flat, quiet avenues, some were tree lined with large beautiful homes on acreage, on others we passed horse farm, llama farms, a rabbitery, even saw some goats and a few geese.

We did have to ride up one or two hills -  I think it was up 240th for a bit and I would have to look at the map to remember the other one.  But mainly flat with a few gentle upward slops.  Definitely nothing too strenuous.

The only busy road we had to travel was 16th Ave, but is was 

only for a very short duration.

We enjoyed our bag lunch and a wine tasting at Township 7 Vineyards and Winery near the end of our ride.  Our host Gail Simpson was a delightful woman who took our photos and plied us with several different wines.  All were delicious. We then happily wobbled our way back to our cars at Campbell Valley Park.... We all arrived safely.

 Here's the 33.2 km route and the details.  And here's the map!  As usual, click on VIEW FULL to see it all.  I've also posted it here: Bikely Map Link

Happy Riding ~ Colleen 

P is for Perfect! ~ Pitt Polder Ride 2009

The weather opened up and we headed for today's ride as planned, meeting at the east end of the almost-opened new Pitt River Bridge. We headed north along the dyke to Harris Road, then crossed over the bridge and turned right onto the next dyke then onto McNeil Road, turning north and following Rannie Road all the way to Pitt Lake. 

What a view! Mountains all around, cranberry fields on each side of the road and a flat route to the lake. By then our stomachs were growling so we stopped for a sandwich and watched a small yellow float plane head up the lake, then return a short while later. After lunch we headed east along the hard-packed dyke to do a little marsh exploring.



 At the end of the gravel road we turned south onto the rough road that follows along the mountainside at the east end of the Addington Marsh.  
Puffy white clouds reflected in the water looked just like an old English painting. Where in the World are we? 


Herons fished, ducks quacked, wildflowers grew beside the path, starlings flew in formation and a murder of crows chased a hunting hawk. But we didn't have time to stop for long -- we were on the hunt for a new route. And we found it, curving around the marsh and coming out onto Koerner Road then heading south just past the gate.

The trail took us out to Koerner Road and we turned south onto the dirt road. Just when a pit-stop was needed, what popped up? Oh those pesky bladders!

We stopped at Golden Eagle golf course to see if there was a road that way. The beer looked inviting, but it wasn't beer-o-clock yet... so we headed west on Ladner Road, south on Rannie/Neaves to see if we could find a different route back.  

And we did ... but what a detour -- just past McNeil we came to the bridge over the Alouette but instead of taking the north dyke, headed over the bridge to the south dyke which turned out to be a labyrinth of pitfalls: rough gravel that churned under our wheels, blackberry vines full of potential tire-popping prickles, a stinging bee and a horseshoe shaped trail that ended up taking us on a long trek eastward again. Unless you like bumps and such, stick to the north dyke!

A kind farmer left a pile of apples for passing horses. We thought that was pretty nice!




It was a LONG ride, full of new sights. When we got back to the car I checked the GPS and it said 29.5 We were all surprised that it was so short a ride, but put it down to meandering. When the map was uploaded to MapMyRide, the route read 47.4 km. I wondered what was wrong with the new Garmin GPS. Sharon figured it out -- the gps was set on miles. ah - ha !


All in all -- a perfect ride. Hope you enjoy it, too!



Here's the map ... at the very bottom, click on VIEW FULL to see it all.

Happy riding ~ Colleen ... + Sherry + Judi + Sharon

Round the Fraser

Log booms, tug boats, lots of river traffic to see.

Trail starts West of here.

Here's a ride we did many years ago and wanted to try again -- Round the Fraser River.


We started off a bit awkward as I couldn't seem to get us off Marine Way, so instead of following my GPS map, maybe start off a little further west near the Waste to Energy Plant at 5150 Riverbend or at the bottom of Tillicum at the entrance to Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park.  

The area is changing rapidly with new warehouses going up and roads opening or closing.  Hopefully in the future there will be an easy connector along the riverfront all the way from the Quay.  (we can always hope).

Please let us ride on the scenic trails...we will behave.

The trails along this part are not meant for cyclists, so you know the rule -- get off the bike when people frown at you!  Hopefully Burnaby will revisit this policy as they are eliminating a nice group of park users who would rather meander through the park than plod along the road.  

Watch the signs and stay on your side!

There's a new connector along the river that joins the Fraser Foreshore route to the Vancouver parkway. And they have divided pathways -- almost heaven.  And anyways, we all know how to share a trail, right?  (check out who's on the wrong trail here--):  

This riverside route is flat, the view of tugs and barges is spectacular and with the crunch of fall leaves under the tires...well...I know -- back to the ride.

On the Canada Line Cycle Path !!!!

Our goal was to ride the new cycle path on the Skytrain, so once we were out of the parks we found the bike route along Kerr Street -- one of the GREAT bike routes that Vancouver is busy implementing (hooray).  

Whoever was instrumental in making this pathway along the skytrain happen -- I think you are a genius!   The surface is easy, the slope is easy and the view is fantastic.  Thankyou.

Once over the bridge we headed east along River Road. There's one little tricky spot, but well worth finding it.  Just before the lumber mill (yes -- those are logs rolling down the conveyor belt!) you will need to find a small opening in the fence and follow the route under the belt and out the other side.  This is an excellent example of creative routing and sharing the space.  (2011 Update...sorry to see that this link is now closed.  Too bad -- it was such an interesting connection -- would love to see it re-instated.  Now you have to do a Very Boring Detour south of this lumber mill)

Trail goes under the log conveyor belts. (now closed)

Entrance to 'Conveyor Belt' Tunnel (now closed)

We continued along River Road and stopped at the Casino for a quick re-fuel (well it was beer-o-clock), then crossed over the Queensborough Bridge and back to our car.  You could also get to the start of the route by Skytrain to the 22nd Street station or maybe one east of that!  

All in all a great 33 km ride.  Here's the map -- click on Full View to see it all.

Happy Riding ~ Colleen

Cycling in the Rain

Now there's a fashion statement for everyone and here's Josie and I making ours.

My friends Falko and Joris picked up my Biking Burka style rain cape in Hong Kong ~ apparently they are very common in China.
I think it's the perfect accessory for cycling in Vancouver when a sudden rainstorm or a constant drizzle can leave you a little soggy.
Josie's rain jacket is a custom design -- she picked it up at Safeway in Kelowna!!!

Cycle Clothing !!!!

I'm looking

for cycling clothing

and bike wear

that doesn't look like

Lance Armstrong!

I know you are out there --

designing shorts, jackets,

caps, and great things for

bike clothing like this great jacket

from KSL of Montreal

Katie St.Laurent, a champion cyclist combines a love of biking with her love of sewing and fashion and has created a line of clothing for biking, hiking, and skiing.

Here's her website: http://www.deploietesailes.com/veste_leona.html

(you can use Google's translator to read the French!)

Let me know if you are creating cycling clothing and I'll post a link to

your website...

and probably pick up some clothing, too!

Happy Shopping! Colleen

Great Rides

Now here's some great rides....

Details and registration at http://www.greatrides.ca/home

See you on the Bikennal Oct 4 !

Round Richmond -~ Fish and Chips

Somedays you just know why you ride and this was one of those.

Francien and I started off in Port Moody to take the Westcoast

Express to town. We joined the office commuters riding the rails who seemed oblivious to the views out the windows of the train. Wow -- ocean, mountains, sunshine. How

could the commuters not glance up from their laptops?

We arrived at Waterfront Station and headed towards the new Skytrain to Richmond, got off at Marine Drive and rode the new cycle bridge over the Fraser. Where in the world are we now?

Desperate by then for a coffee, we poked around and finally found one, then headed towards the West Dyke Trail near the marina on Bridgeport. This section of the 'trail' needs a bit of work. The rails there are begging to be a bike path. We rode past the Olympic Speed Skating Oval which is astounding to see -- amazing architecture.

The West Dyke Trail never seizes to amaze -- again, where in the world am I? We watched turtles sunning amongst the lily pads then continued on to Garry Point -- like a glimpse of Cape Cod with its rolling dykes and wildflowers.

Fish and chips called from the seaside port of Steveston as we watched fishing boats come in with their catch.

Just east of the town is the reconstruction of the old Brittania shipyard and a glimpse into the past. The development is low-key and well worth stopping to listen to a few stories.

http://www.steveston.bc.ca/online/britannia.html

Finn Slough seems to be slipping away and there's a petition to sign if you'd like to see this pocket of life preserved. Something I'd like to see for sure -- we need these unique pockets of life.

Looking for a new way back to the skytrain we noticed a trail marked north and found the Shell Road Trail and a connecting trail back to the Bridgeport Station. I wonder what was here before? Was it a railway line? There's something very satisfying about a circle route and this one was amazing. I know there are dozens of trails like this that locals know about and I'd love to discover. Please let us know your local 'routes'. They are gems we love to find.

All in all a GREAT ride -- the Richmond Loop. Hope you can enjoy it one day. Let me know if you do! colleenmacd@gmail.com

The riding part took about 5 hours, including the stop for lunch and the museum, about 38 km all round. Here's the map -- click on FULL VIEW to see the whole thing:

Happy Riding! Colleen