Of Vancouver Hostels and the Kettle Valley Railway
Luke 4 May 2005 05:04:04
Hello folks. I've a few questions involving a June tour of BC. a) What Vancouver hostel is recommended as bicycle friendly. That is, one that offers space for secure bicycle lock up and minor assembly tasks?
b) The Kettle Valley Trail, from Princeton to Penticton is intriguing. How agreeable is this segment for a credit card touring setup -- (cyclocross with 700 x 32 tires and Carradice saddle bag)? What's the quality of its surface and how does the scenery of this section compare with the rest of KVR? Additionally, since there will be no camping on this outing, is it overly optimistic to anticipate cycling this segment in a single day?
"Luke" <lucasiragusa@rogers.com> wrote in message news:030520052104043282%lucasiragusa@rogers.com...>
Hello folks. I've a few questions involving a June tour of BC.> a) What Vancouver hostel is recommended as bicycle friendly. That is,> one that offers space for secure bicycle lock up and minor assembly> tasks?
The Jericho IYH is probably your best bet. It's a ways out of downtown, but on a beautiful location right by the beach and it is spacious. Book it now, it fills up fast.
b) The Kettle Valley Trail, from Princeton to Penticton is intriguing.> How agreeable is this segment for a credit card touring setup --> (cyclocross with 700 x 32 tires and Carradice saddle bag)? What's the> quality of its surface
I did it in 2002. It is a very nice ride, and IIRC it was spared the devastation by forest fires that shut down much of the rest of the KVR. There are plenty of cheaper hotels in Princeton from where you can start.
You'll find the going tough with 700x32 tires. I used Conti TT2000 700x37 tires and the going was rough in several places. In some spots, especially close to Princeton, the ballast (extra-coarse gravel used on railbeds) remains and is difficult to ride through. I nearly wiped out a few times when losing control of the steering over the worst sections. Get the beefiest tires you can and run them at the lowest pressure possible. Be prepared to walk over some of it if you're using skinnier tires. If I were going on this route again I'd prefer a mountain bike over the touring bike that I used.
and how does the scenery of this section compare with the rest of KVR?
I haven't been on the rest of the KVR, but for the most part, the scenery was breathtaking. Especially on the switchbacks just east of Princeton, and the high level ride along Okanagan Lake down to Summerland. The views of the lake from up there are second to none. The trestle in Summerland is hair-raising; it's one of the highest trestles in North America. The trestle has not been planked over and you can see right down into the gorge between the ties. It's one of the few sections where the rails remain. It's easy to get a foot caught and trip, and there's no guard railing. Not for the faint of heart. I walked over it, but if you're even the tiniest bit squeamish of heights it's not for you. Get a local map of Summerland and detour around it if you need to.
Additionally, since there will be no camping on> this outing, is it overly optimistic to anticipate cycling this segment> in a single day?
Since you'll be travelling much lighter than I did it would be doable, but still a long ride. There are a few conveniently-located B&Bs along the way if you need to stop.
Make sure you're well equipped, and you'll have a blast!
In article <eadee.68523$3V3.57545@edtnps89>, Király <sp@m.trap.email.invalid> wrote:
<snip>
You'll find the going tough with 700x32 tires. I used Conti TT2000 700x37> tires and the going was rough in several places. In some spots, especially> close to Princeton, the ballast (extra-coarse gravel used on railbeds)> remains and is difficult to ride through. I nearly wiped out a few times> when losing control of the steering over the worst sections. Get the> beefiest tires you can and run them at the lowest pressure possible. Be> prepared to walk over some of it if you're using skinnier tires. If I were> going on this route again I'd prefer a mountain bike over the touring bike> that I used.
<snip>
Thanks for the info K. One more question: Does not, for the most part, a highway run parallel with the Princeton to Penticton stretch of the KVR? And, if so, does the road have many access points in common with trail? Could this not serve as a contingency route for the sections of KVR that prove too challenging?
"Luke" <lucasiragusa@rogers.com> wrote in message news:050520050523484122%lucasiragusa@rogers.com...
One more question: Does not, for the most part,> a highway run parallel with the Princeton to Penticton stretch of the> KVR? And, if so, does the road have many access points in common with> trail? Could this not serve as a contingency route for the sections of> KVR that prove too challenging?
A road does run more or less parallel to it. But the road itself is pretty rough too from what I've seen; I don't think much of it is paved. Several sections of it are quite steep which can be a challenge if the surface is bad. I can't really say much more than that because I haven't been on the road except for a short section that detoured around a trestle that had been washed out. Between Faulder and Summerland the railbed is still in use and cannot be ridden on, but the road is paved so detouring around is easy.
Access points between the road and the railbed, from what I remember, are few in the first half just east of Princeton, which was the most difficult section. There are more the further east you go, but then the going on the railbed gets easier too. I'm going from memory here so this might not be quite accurate!
Good luck with whatever route you eventually pick. Just be prepared and don't get discouraged if you have to walk over some of it. Approach it as an adventure and you'll have a blast.
In article <lswee.24134$0X6.14387@edtnps90>, Király <sp@m.trap.email.invalid> wrote:
Good luck with whatever route you eventually pick. Just be prepared and> don't get discouraged if you have to walk over some of it. Approach it as> an adventure and you'll have a blast.>
K.
Depend on it! Thanks for the info. And Happy Trails - for both for us.
the KVR between princeton and summerland is great! i have ridden it a few times and shorter sections several times. i have not found any major problems with the road bed... i have ridden at full speed in sections above princeton. i am not sure which way you are going but the grade sloops towards princeton. cheers shamus
