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The Return to Spring Cycling  

The first rides of the year where you can cycle without gloves or jackets are something special. The sun dancing high in the sky overhead, the scent of blooming trees and freshly cut grass in the air, and days so long you can ride any time of day and have enough light to spare. It’s a time of year many of us look forward to and start to put in some real time on the bike.

For many people here in Lethbridge, when the trails in the coulees begin to dry up after the winter, it really starts to feel like Spring has arrived. You can get your tires back on dirt without fear of gumming them up in the clay, and the trails start to take shape for the season after being mashed up by feet when wet and the runoff lines that snow brings. It’s a chance to hone your skills and shralp some corners, maybe catch some airtime, and chug through some rock gardens.

To the select dedicated road riders in town, Spring means being able to comfortably put in a lot of kilometers on quiet, rural side roads and smelling the wildflowers and farm crops popping out of the ground. And when the mountains begin to thaw, it opens rides up to climbing longer hills with large elevation, imagining you can fly up them with the likes of Pantani, Froome and Pogacar.

And with the rise in popularity of gravel bikes and backroad riding, Southern Alberta becomes a playground to explore for those looking to avoid the hustle of more popular riding destinations. There are endless farm roads, canals, and logging roads to venture down, and the foothills are a backdrop hand-picked by the gods themselves to model a peaceful utopia after, in the search of the most relaxing and serene environment. 



 

Whatever type of riding you are interested in, Spring is the time when you can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a long winter dreaming about the kind of cycling you want to do, and you can feel the heat returning to our little corner of the world. No matter what kind of adventure you have planned, we want you to bring us with you! Whether it be a short video or a picture, share it with us on social media using the hashtag #YourAscent and we’ll feel a little better knowing that you’re out there enjoying the best the world has to offer.