Skytrain Trail BC Parkway and 7-11 Cycle Path from New Westminster to Burnaby to Vancouver BC

Today we parked near the 22nd Street Skytrain station in New Westminster, headed towards the Skytrain and picked up the trail heading west. The trees were at their best today -- brilliant reds and yellows.  It felt like a Foliage Fall Tour on the East Coast.

This BC Parkway 7-11 Skytrain Trail is a great urban ride along the old InterUrban train tracks starting in New Westminster, heading into Burnaby and then towards Vancouver.  The route is fairly flat and tucks in behind MetroTown Center and alongside Central Park.  I really liked peeking into back yards and seeing many interesting collections in yards along the way. There's old stores and my first school - Maywood Elementary along the route.

Some of the 7-11 trail signage seems to have disappeared over the years, but we followed as best we could and reached Commercial Drive in less than an hour.  The Drive is a great place to end your path -- head north and find a good spot for lunch.  Some of my favourites: The Little Nest on Charles at Commercial is amazing - great food and coffee and lots of parents and kids to watch.  Sweet Cherubim makes the best salad and vegie dishes,  Brittania Sushi for delicious sashimi and JJ Bean for coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich. If you fit in this tour at dinner-time, I highly recommend Carthage Cafe or  Havanas for a good coffee + food + art gallery, or Stella's for beer and mussels.  Of course there is so much more on The Drive!


Because the sun came out late today, we linked two routes together and followed the Central Valley Greenway down to False Creek and had lunch at my favourite Mediteranean spot -- Branas Mediterranean Grill at 617 Stamps Landing, right next door to Monks.  Lunch here is amazing (as would be dinner!).  It's inexpensive and the view is fantastic.  Everyone felt like we'd flown to the Mediterranean for lunch.  Well, I guess we had sort of flown -- down the pathway! (see details at http://www.colleenrides.com/2009/08/central-valley-greenway.html)

After lunch you can cycle back along the BC Parkway 7-11 Trail and retrace your route.  Today my cycle-mates kept saying "but we didn't come this way" --  it all looks different when you're heading in another direction.


Or -- if you've had enough or it's threatening to rain, then just load into the Skytrain Station at Commercial and Broadway and whisk back to the car.

All in all -- a great route. 12.6 km one way or 25 km return, fairly flat and easy

Here's the map in MapMyRide:

and on bikely.com:  http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Skytrain-Trail-7-11

Happy Riding!  Colleen

KSL Sports - Clothing

When we were in Montreal last spring visiting Kyle and Dom, Katy St. Laurent had just opened her first boutique store for her successful online sport clothing: KSL. The website is www.kslsport.com

 Katy is a champion cyclist with a love for sewing and design.  Put them together and she has made a fantastic line of sports clothing for cycling, tennis, yoga, cross-country skiing, golf and travel. She has an amazing dress that morphs into a dozen different styles. Katy has expanded her line this Fall.  It's easy to order from her as she guarantees an easy return if the items don't fit or ?

She designs clothes with comfort and style both in mind -- I bought these Bianca top and leggings:


The Bianca leggings don't cut mid-calf like other cycling shorts --  these ones have a soft band below the knees.  They can be worn alone or under pants for cold days.  The waistband is also soft and tall -- on cold days it keeps the draft out and on warmer days can be rolled down, much like a yoga pant.  The Bianca top has a hood that can fit under or over a helmet.  On a cold day it can snug around the neck like a neckwarmer. Like all of her tops, they are long enough so there's no gap at the back. And there's that well-designed pocket that is one of her trademarks. Best of all, everything is made of the right stretchy-wicky-fabrics we love to wear.

Katy believes we should all 'spread our wings' and achieve our own personal goals.  She makes the clothes that make it fun to do that!

Here's a picture of the jacket I bought this fall. What I love about Katy's styles is that they can go from riding into a restaurant and not look too LanceArmstrong-y.  Well, I'll have to do something about the helmet!!

Happy Riding -- in KSL clothes!

Colleen

Stop Drop Roll ... Poco to Maple Ridge Dykes

Rain forecast all week
Lots of rain
90% torrential rain

look out the window
see the sun
check revised forecast
--- sun !

pick up the phone
Spontaneity check
Wanna ride?

grab clothes
load bike
meet at Cornerstone

stop
drop
roll

Wahoo! Look at us
we're cycling on the dykes

Blueberry bushes brilliant red
Salmon thrashing in the Coquitlam River
Cranberries almost ready to harvest

Ride against the wind on the dykes
Tree down

Turn around

A ride squeezed into a week of rain







Here's the map...click on View Full to see it all.
Once you're in MapMyRide you can print it out (I think you need to join somehow.)
It's a 37km ride out and back

This ride is also posted on bikely.com
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Stop-Drop-Roll-Poco-to-Maple-Ridge

Happy Riding!  And get out there before winter's here!

Montreal Markets Ride Oct 2009

A cold October ride

along city streets

through piles of fall leaves

past row houses with winding stairs

along bike paths

church bells ringing

sun shining

people working in their gardens

through Petite Italie

to Jean-Talon Market

lunch in the sun

and lots of fruits and vegies to take home

Bikennale Sunday Oct 4, 2009

Come and join us Sunday Oct 4, 2009

for MEC's GREAT RIDE:

The Bikennale

Cycling and Art

Together at last

It's a great way to promote more rides and routes in MetroVan

as all proceeds go towards encouraging biking!

More info and registration at: http://www.greatrides.ca/home

View BIKENALLE VANCOUVER 2009 in a larger map

Let's do it again for the next Biennale in 2013

Ladner Circle Tour

Step back into time in Ladner...

Park at Lions Park 4910 Westminster Avenue then head into town to pick up a sandwich or coffee.
Head west on River Road until you come to the bridge to Westham Island.  Head out to the Reifel Bird Sanctuary or continue along the dyke all the way around the edge of the island.

There used to be a good little ramp over the ditch at 34th Street which made for a simpler ride, but it's gone now so I kept going east.  It's a bit tricky (and noisy) when you come to the highway, but go under the overpass and cross the train tracks to pick up the bike path on the other side.  I found the TransLink Bike Map was really handy today to find the best route.

Here's the map ...


View Ladner Circle in a larger map

Have fun!  Enjoy the ducks!  Colleen