What Goes Up
Can be just as much fun coming down
by R. Bruce Thomas
I recently overheard a couple riders discussing hills. Basically, does one prefer riding up, or down, a hill.
I've had similar conversations with my riding buddies over the years and, invariably, most riders prefer going up.
Especially when the hill is curvy.
I really don't have a preference for up or down on a hill.
Now, I grew up near the top of Groat Road in Edmonton. I'm not talking about the high point at the south end where it turns into Saskatchewan Drive. I'm talking about north of the river because, as any motorcyclist knows, the only part of Groat Road that matters is that nearly two km section from River Valley Road to 107 Avenue.
It's where I learned to ride. First on my friend Aubrey's Honda 100 in grade eight, then on my Honda CX500, and especially when I borrowed one of the screaming two-stroke Yamaha RD350's owned by my friends Brian and Fred.
Of course, in the following decades I've ridden a lot of curvy, hilly, roads around the world and Groat Road no longer gives me much of a thrill. But those two kms of asphalt, with eight corners and 40m of elevation change, laid the foundation.
One of my favorite roads close to home is Highway 93 from Castle Junction to Radium Hot Springs. Both ends of this 104 km route feature fantastic hills with the Castle Junction end being straighter, while gaining 300m over 7 km, and the dramatic curvy descent into Radium dropping 600m in 12 km. In between there is a 4 km stretch near Kootenay Crossing that changes 90m through numerous corners of varying radii. Going either direction, or both, on this route - it's an easy day ride from Edmonton to Radium and back - is great fun with plenty of opportunity to get used to going up and down hills.
I think many people prefer going up as gravity will help slow you down if you let off the throttle. On the downward trajectory it is best to act like a big truck and use a lower gear, taking advantage of your engine braking in conjunction with your rear brake to lessen front end dive. Slower speed on the downhill side can also reduce some of the anxiety and prevent you having to brake heavily in the corners (which just increases front end dive and makes a rider worry about going over the handlebars). But slower speed doesn't have to affect the fun factor. Practice, practice, practice. Get out there and work on your hill skills and have fun.
PLUS!!
While you're planning your summer rides to great hills far and wide, call your friends and do a Drive to Eat to a restaurant for the Burger It Forward event happening all around the province and across the country all February and help support local food banks - https://burgeritforward.ca/
Ride responsibly, and often.