GDMBR - NS - early fall start?
02-01-17, 03:59 PM
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GDMBR - NS - early fall start?
Hey all! I haven't posted in ages because been busy cycling my LHT around Mexico!
I just spotted an unbelievable cheap flight to Calgary on Sep 10h. I'm now a convert now to traffic free dirt roads and wildnerness!
Heading south from Banff - would an early September start present any major obstacles?
Muchas gracias!
Coldhands in Mexico.
I just spotted an unbelievable cheap flight to Calgary on Sep 10h. I'm now a convert now to traffic free dirt roads and wildnerness!
Heading south from Banff - would an early September start present any major obstacles?
Muchas gracias!
Coldhands in Mexico.
Last edited by Coldhands; 02-01-17 at 05:00 PM.
02-01-17, 05:49 PM
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Hey all! I haven't posted in ages because been busy cycling my LHT around Mexico!
I just spotted an unbelievable cheap flight to Calgary on Sep 10h. I'm now a convert now to traffic free dirt roads and wildnerness!
Heading south from Banff - would an early September start present any major obstacles?
Muchas gracias!
Coldhands in Mexico.
I just spotted an unbelievable cheap flight to Calgary on Sep 10h. I'm now a convert now to traffic free dirt roads and wildnerness!
Heading south from Banff - would an early September start present any major obstacles?
Muchas gracias!
Coldhands in Mexico.
I did most of it starting on oct 15 but ended up making a big detour mid-colorado. I was one or two passes away from new mexico and less snow!. It was cold (WY was -30C or below) and nights were cold in other places too. I think you will be fine starting in mid september, just keep a decent pace and be ready for cold night and a little (or a lot) of snow. Some of the services would be closed on the way too.
also, Nicholas Gault did it starting around the same time as you, info here:
USA | Nick's Bike Tour
02-01-17, 05:51 PM
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Hola amigo,
I did most of it starting on oct 15 but ended up making a big detour mid-colorado. I was one or two passes away from new mexico and less snow!. It was cold (WY was -30C or below) and nights were cold in other places too. I think you will be fine starting in mid september, just keep a decent pace and be ready for cold night and a little (or a lot) of snow. Some of the services would be closed on the way too.
also, Nicholas Gault did it starting around the same time as you, info here:
USA | Nick's Bike Tour
I did most of it starting on oct 15 but ended up making a big detour mid-colorado. I was one or two passes away from new mexico and less snow!. It was cold (WY was -30C or below) and nights were cold in other places too. I think you will be fine starting in mid september, just keep a decent pace and be ready for cold night and a little (or a lot) of snow. Some of the services would be closed on the way too.
also, Nicholas Gault did it starting around the same time as you, info here:
USA | Nick's Bike Tour
02-01-17, 09:12 PM
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Hola amigo,
I did most of it starting on oct 15 but ended up making a big detour mid-colorado. I was one or two passes away from new mexico and less snow!. It was cold (WY was -30C or below) and nights were cold in other places too. I think you will be fine starting in mid september, just keep a decent pace and be ready for cold night and a little (or a lot) of snow. Some of the services would be closed on the way too.
also, Nicholas Gault did it starting around the same time as you, info here:
USA | Nick's Bike Tour
I did most of it starting on oct 15 but ended up making a big detour mid-colorado. I was one or two passes away from new mexico and less snow!. It was cold (WY was -30C or below) and nights were cold in other places too. I think you will be fine starting in mid september, just keep a decent pace and be ready for cold night and a little (or a lot) of snow. Some of the services would be closed on the way too.
also, Nicholas Gault did it starting around the same time as you, info here:
USA | Nick's Bike Tour
-30! That's pretty cold. Were you prepared for that?
So far consensus says a -7c bag should be okay but maybe I should be prepared?
Thanks for replying!
02-02-17, 12:02 AM
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Update! Wow unusually for me I went ahead and booked it. So I should land in Calgary on the 6th Sep and maybe get cycling soon after? If anyone else did it around this date I'd love to hear from you!
02-02-17, 11:41 AM
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Weather on the Canadian Rockies side should be alright still, might be +20C, might be blizzard . After the Sept Long Weekend who knows what the weather will bring 
Honestly though if you maintain a decent pace I feel you'll be totally fine.
Honestly though if you maintain a decent pace I feel you'll be totally fine.
02-05-17, 06:47 PM
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be sure to check out Glacier and yellowstone, especially if they are closed to cars.
for more visual representation of GDMBR in oct/nov/dec:
02-06-17, 11:45 PM
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-30° C cycling sounds pretty challenging, dunno how folks keep their feet from freezing w/o wearing heavy boots. What happens if there's heavy snow on the single-track sections...couldn't one get stuck?
02-07-17, 06:34 AM
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Here's an excellent graphic. It seems like a reasonable rule-of-thumb. I'm sure there are exceptions but I'd be(a)ware.
02-12-17, 07:16 PM
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02-13-17, 07:58 PM
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At first I thought it was a joke map like the famous one of USA/NYC but on second glance it looked halfway reasonable. I read that there actually is a "monsoon season" in New Mexico/Southwest though the storms generally aren't too long.
02-13-17, 09:41 PM
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Has anyone ridden it in September? I have lots of info from three weeks before and some from three weeks after. It's hard to call with regards to what gear to take. A guy called Lohan (bikewanderer) did it in winter and it looked punishing to say the least. I'd be hoping fall won't be as extreme!
02-16-17, 09:10 PM
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Lightning could be a concern but OTOH probably less dangerous than car traffic. Haven't ridden thru a hail storm but I'd guess even in NM they get a bad one about once per season.
