If you are traveling by air, you will most likely arrive at Calgary International Airport, which is about 13 miles (20km) northeast of downtown Calgary.

From the airport you have several transportation options. Calgary Transit provides a public bus service #57 to and from the airport and buses run between the airport, the city centre and other Alberta destinations. There is also an Airport Shuttle Express, which services most hotels in the Calgary area; and several hotels offer a courtesy shuttle service. Airport taxis are available outside of the Arrivals area.

If you are traveling by car and plan to stay at one location from which you will engage in your cycling activities, check our DESTINATION RIDES cycling pages for local routes.

Alberta’s summer runs from May to September. Summer days are warm and evenings are cool. Winters are cold with heavy snowfalls, particularly in the Rockies.

Alberta gets most of its precipitation in the form of rain during the summer months of June through August. Rain is mostly in the form of thunderstorms, which are frequent, especially along the eastern edge of the Rockies and in the mountains.  Less...

Roads in Alberta are generally cyclist-friendly, and most Alberta’s motorists are tolerant of cyclists. Of course, it is always recommended that you ride defensively and obey all traffic rules.

The surfaces of Alberta’s roads are generally fair. Unfortunately, due to extreme temperature changes between seasons, they take a lot of abuse; and, as a result, especially on mountain roads, you may find occasional road hazard in the form of cracked pavement, pothole, gravel or sand.

Paved shoulders on rural roads and in the mountains are minimal or non-existent. Some roads in Alberta have rumble strips (grooves ground into the pavement to alert swerving drivers) which can be very dangerous for a cyclist. Additionally, on rural roads you may encounter cattle guards, which should be crossed with utmost care and as perpendicularly as possible.  Less...