Just out: Bow Valley Mountain Bike Trail Guide by Peter Oprsal, who many of you know as the creator of bikepirate web site. Covers Lake Louise through Banff to the Canmore area, and includes such classics as Reclaimer, Riders of Rohan and the Benchland trails. Right now there is nothing written up east of Canmore. Quotes Peter, “The reason that Prospector and Razor Edge are not included, although I would love to have included them, is because they are not sanctioned.” Hopefully, that will happen later on this year. I Know that Razor Edge will have a new ending, to be built this summer, that will take bikers and hikers to Quaite Creek valley via a traverse above the highway .
Measuring only 5” x 6.5”, this small 60-page book nevertheless manages to cram in all the salient points, such as technical rating, physical rating, trail type (x-country, all-mountain, downhill), distance, height gain/loss, times and trail profiles. Even some color pics. There is good info on trailheads (though I would prefer he use the UTM grid as opposed to lat. and long.) and essential info on the trails themselves based on local knowledge. Maps are small and basic, just general guides really, so for trails in Canmore for instance, you would need to pick up a more detailed map. See Canmore Trail Maps.
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Thank you so much for the review. Just as an FYI, I have also partnered with a friend to create and publish a new Canmore Mountain Bike Map due out in May. Currently the map is in print. Our hope is that it will compliment the book.
Thanks for the info Peter. Where can we buy the map? I forgot to mention in the review that the book is available from both bookstores in Canmore and from where else?
The book is available in most Bow Valley bike shops and book stores, plus a few stores in Calgary. For a full listing of all retailers carrying the book, please visit my retail listings page at: http://www.bikepirate.com/retailers/ – retailers are being added weekly.
The Map will be available at a number of these locations sometime in mid-May.
Thanks again Gillean.