Offroad Training Start

Highway 742 southbound, by Spray Lakes Reservoir

After fitting my F700GS with a skid plate and crash bars, I thought I was ready for an offroad training. The next thing to wait out was the July rainy weather that drenched Calgary and pretty much Southern Alberta all month long. Thankfully, the August long weekend rolled in with auspicious sunny disposition, signalling for me to go out and head to the mountain for the training.

Leaving Calgary in early afternoon, I found Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) quite busy heading to Canmore, about 100 km west of Calgary. There were a lot of motorcycles on the road as well, and I spotted a spanking new Honda Africa Twin going in the opposite direction as its white red blue stripes are unmistakable.

Canmore was packed. A lot of people poured into its streets; we all deserved a sunny break after a wet stormy July. I quickly headed to Highway 742 - a truly misnomer in my opinion since it's a gravel road - after meandering the busy downtown section.

The 742 section by Whitemans Pond was filled with washboards and uphill curves. I have driven here before many times but have never ridden a motorcycle on it before. I stayed in gear one but soon realized gear two was better. The road condition naturally asked me to stand up. A good downhill section just before Ha Ling Peak trailhead reminded me that if I continued there would be a 60-km gravel road to complete. I took note mentally of the answer and plowed ahead.

The gravelly 742 did give me a good training ground to ride standing up, and by 2/3 of the way I was able to maintain a third gear going at about 70 km/h on a 80 km/h speed limit gravel road section. Most sections along the 742, however, have a 50 km/h speed limit. The 742 is wide and mostly straight with moderate curves here and there. It's a good gravel road to practice for a beginner in offroad riding, like myself.

I wore my touring helmet and flipped up its chin protector face in order to see my F700GS dashboard.  I lowered the sun visor to protect my eyes from flying dust from opposite cars and trucks. Even with my prescription glasses as additional covers, the dust still felt in my eyes. It's almost better to wear an open face helmet, a goggle, and a bandana covering my nose and mouth than wearing my full-face touring helmet on this dusty road!

In addition to the helmet configuration problem I have to solve, I also need to find a solution to extending my rear brake lever. I find it not easy to reach the rear brake lever when I am standing up.

I didn't turn off the ABS and felt a tiny fish tailing if I went above 65 km/h and negotiated a curve. By and large though the bike maintained its straight momentum. I paid more attention to maintaining a straight course for the front tire and let the rear wheel do its own thing. The straight up riding position is confidence inspiring in gravel road and much less tiring than I thought. I lean my body to the direction I want to go or press the handlebar downward on the same side with the direction I want to go. For instance, I press the left side of the handlebar if I want to effect a left turn along a curve. It may be thought of as a gentle version of countersteering.

The 742 ends with a fork onto Highway 40. I picked the left turn, going northbound to go back to Highway 1. I stopped for ramen noodle early roadside dinner and an instant coffee at the Barrier Lake information office. It's a nice cooking break to celebrate my offroad training start.

Total distance of Calgary - Canmore - Highway 742 - Calgary via Highway 1 is about 300 km. A fill up in Canmore, Alberta is strongly recommended.