Bicycle Alberta: 60 Tours, Mountains, Cities, Country

Les Harding is author of The Voyages of Lesser Men: Thumbnail Sketches
in Canadian Exploration.

Bicycle Alberta includes everything you need to know about cycling through the cities, towns, countryside, foothills and mountains of Alberta. If the book is to be believed, and I think it is, Alberta offers some of the richest, most varied cycling in Canada.

The introductory chapters, on planning your trip, packing for the road, etc., are very good and will be of value to cyclists everywhere. The heart of the book consists of 60 detailed descriptions of bicycle tours. There is a tour here for everyone — beginners, experts, families; two-hour jaunts or four-day expeditions through the mountains. The description of each tour includes a black-and-white photograph, information on distance, difficulty, estimated time, terrain, and road and traffic condition. Snippets of history, notable sights along the route, and a map are also included. The maps are very detailed. They include towns, distances, campgrounds, hostels, picnic areas, grocery stores, view points, restaurants, telephones, trailheads, beaches, etc. The book concludes with an Alberta Cyclists’ Directory, an appendix on weather conditions and rainfall and a metric conversion table.

A good piece of work, Bicycle Alberta is complete, practical, and interesting. It will be of value to those touring Alberta by car as well.

The authors, both experienced cyclists, have written for Bicycling News, Cycle Canada and The Edmonton Journal.