The high-octane community of Bike Cochrane continues to flow as they kick off the 2023 season.

At its upcoming Apr. 27th annual season opener at the Rocky View Brewing's taproom, 420 1 St W, cyclists will get the lowdown on plans for the year, including a proposed new trail.

"I have to emphasize proposed," says Paul Perrault, Bike Cochrane's director of operations, "It's still not a released plan yet, but we'll be sharing our new map and plan for a brand new trail area in Cochrane."

They also have a pretty impressive selection of items to bid on in a silent auction, thanks to some extremely generous supporters.

"We've got a laundry list of really amazing silent auction items, including a bike from Cannondale, we've got tires for your vehicle courtesy Goodyear, we've got Garmin equipment, we've got lots of really great items for people to bid on," he says.

The membership of Bike Cochrane continued to flourish in 2022. They grew from just under 400 members to over 700. Fees are reasonable, too. It's just $40 for an individual and $80 for a family membership. They also have a number of levels of corporate memberships and this year are introducing a new community builder class for corporate members looking to do something unique.

"We're giving our company partners the ability to work on a new named project, a new sponsored project."

Bike Cochrane’s mission is to serve Cochrane through the promotion of, and advocacy for, cycling in our community. Their vision is to develop a cycling-friendly culture in Cochrane through the implementation of safe infrastructure for transportation, recreation and competition.

They participate regularly as a recognized stakeholder group in road and community planning, park (re)development, construction projects, and area transportation plans, work with public and private land owners and managers to allow public cycling trails and assist in providing and maintaining access to cycle pathways, trails and facilities, for use by the public.

trail workWork is already underway on trails where conditions permit.

Among the reasons to become a member is access to the Buffalo Bean Trail, a public trail for club members only on the grounds of the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society.

The trail has a 2.5km loop with 120 m elevation gain along with a lower flow trail called Buffalo Junior, and a new flow line called Angry Hawks.

Bike Cochrane has also added a west climb route for doing laps down the Angry Hawk trail, or just to mix things up.

Rght now they are working on a future kids zone that includes jumps in the Buffalo Bean Trail area.

cyclistCochrane MTB rider Nolan Cremers was among the youth competing in last June's Angry Hawk Youth-Duro Mountain Bike Race. Registration is now open for this year's event on June 10 and filling up quickly. (Photo/@Feather.Photo)

It's there that they hold their annual spring youth bike clinics that sell out immediately every year. It's also where the Youth Enduro Race is being held on June 10 for youth ages 5 to 16 and striders.

"It's definitely a really exciting event and it's always fun for us to have events like that that are kid focus."

Perrault says they once again expect to be sold out.

The membership season opener runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Rocky View Brewing Company, 420-1st St. W.

For updates on these and other activities of Bike Cochrane, including a packed full calendar of events, click here. 

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