RIDE - LEVEL: Advanced
Coordinator: Don Hollingshead
Distance: 320 km
Pace: varies
Elevation Gain: 3.3 km
E-Bikes allowed: Y
Welcome to the 38th EVCC Golden Triangle Tour! We are excited to continue offering this 3 day, 320 km bicycle tour over high mountain passes, past glaciers, white water, big horned sheep and lots of dandelions.
This edition of the Golden Triangle Tour will start/end at the Lake Louise overflow area, 6 km east of the village of Lake Louise (currently in discussion with Parks Canada about parking at Castle Junction). We are now able to cycle through the construction zone on the Trans Canada Highway east of Golden. During the 2022 event, we found the traffic quite light during this weekend and the hotels much easier to book than previously during the May long weekends.
Please read the quick summary following before registering and direct questions to gtreg@elbowvalleycc.org.
Registration fee provides
Not included:
We have developed the 2023 event for up to 100 riders.
Friday, May 26 8:00 AM – Bring your bike to the Lake Louise Overflow parking area There is no longer overnight parking for us at Castle Junction. You can register then load your baggage in the luggage truck and start your ride east bound on Hwy 1. Take the Hwy 93 south exit. The first snack stop will be at Boom Lake parking lot and subsequent stops are at the usual locations. See RWGPS route file.
Luggage will be delivered to the Prestige Hotel in Radium where we have blocked rooms with a reservation code. (If you wish to stay elsewhere, you will have to arrange your own luggage transfer to and from the Prestige where luggage will be loaded again Saturday morning.)
Saturday, May 27 – Find your breakfast at the hotel or in town, load your baggage at the Prestige hotel and hit the road for Golden. We will provide one snack stop and a lunch at the usual locations. See RWGPS route file. Luggage will be delivered to the Prestige Hotel in Golden. (If you wish to stay elsewhere, you will have to arrange your own luggage transfer to and from the Prestige where luggage will be loaded again Sunday morning.)
Sunday, May 28 – Find your breakfast at the hotel or in town, load your luggage at the Prestige hotel and hit the road for Lake Louise. Starting about 5km east of Golden, Phase 4 of the Kicking Horse Canyon highway construction is in progress until 2025. There is 5 km of active construction where 2 new lanes (of 4 planned) have been opened for public use. However there are no shoulders—the jersey barriers are at the fog line. Based on our 2022 experience running the GT on the last weekend in May, we expect very light traffic in both directions in the TCH early Sunday morning. The speed limit though this area is 30-50 kph which should help as well. You can view the facebook page for this project here: https://www.facebook.com/kickinghorsecanyon/
This is the same road environment that riders experienced since the beginning of the Golden Triangle 40 years ago. Cyclists will be well spread out after the climb from Golden and overtaking traffic will use the oncoming lane to pass cyclists as traffic permits. The construction company will be expecting our group.
(Night time construction closures will continue on the Trans Canada Hwy for 10 km east of Golden. Our most recent communication with the construction project supervisor indicates that the highway will be open during the day.) Once past the construction (12km from Golden), it’s clear sailing to Lake Louise. Snacks and lunch will be provided at the usual locations. See RWGPS route file.
Special Notes:
- The ride is limited to 100 riders.
- Riders should be competent to ride the distance in changing weather conditions and to carry out minor repairs. There will be a sweep vehicle which will also support riders who may be having difficulty reaching the finish each day. However we expect all participants to be able to complete each day well within the limits of their endurance.
- Accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of the registrant. Luggage will be carried in a cube truck and delivered to the hotels as above. Time limited preferential rates have been obtained at these locations for registered GT riders as well. See Registration Confirmation email.
- Registrants wishing to visit the Radium Hot Springs will be shuttled after dinner.
- There will be a sweep vehicle. Personal support vehicles are not encouraged.
- Riders under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and under direct supervision (i.e. ride together).
-Coordinator and volunteer expenses will be reimbursed from the registration fees.
Cancellation Policy
Payment in full is required on registration. Should anything prevent the event from running, a refund will be issued by the club. In the event that there are prepaid expenses that the club has disbursed and cannot reverse (e.g., credit card processing fees), participants will likely receive less than they paid.
In the event of participant cancellation, registrants will receive a refund if an alternate rider can be found to take their place. If a replacement cannot be found, the refund will be determined based on the event’s final accounting with a break even objective.
A wait list is maintained.
