Westworld Saskatchewan

NEW HEATED SEAT 16 w e s t w o r l d | f a l l 2 0 1 5 bison-rubbing stones near Young, hunkered out of the wind in the willows above Manitou Lake. We crawled under electrified fences to photograph sagging barns, were stared at by baleful bulls, pedalled the heights of Bradwell Hill and could see all the way back to Blackstrap. At some point in our 450 km of riding, we declared ourselves originators of a new Sun- day sport, though "rediscoverers" may be more like it. Since taking up canal riding, we've heard of people who grew up on farms along Gear-wise, Saskatchewan canal riding has low barriers to entry. The canal paths have near-zero slope, are mostly well-packed double-track that almost any well-maintained bike with a bit of off-road moxie can handle. Modest MTBs or hybrids are fine if you've got good-quality, well-inflated tires of at least 26 x 1.5-inch (700 x 35-millimetre) or wider. A knapsack is adequate for daytripping. You'll mostly roll on easy hard-pack, but grassy overgrown sections and recently upgraded areas with fresh gravel can both make for heavier going. Effort-wise, the wind is the biggest factor. Windfinder.com has great wind forecasts for cyclists. For out-and-back rides, always start out upwind. Late summer and fall is best to avoid heat and mosquitoes. There are very few places to get potable water. As with all touring that takes you farther afield than you are prepared to walk home, you must carry spare tubes, a pump and the know-how to fix flats. The Saskatchewan countryside is a wonderfully quiet place in the 21st century — but help will be hard to find. If you choose to travel solo, advise someone responsible of your route and return time. You can't get lost along the canal proper, but circuiting around the various res- ervoirs along the route requires a bit of road riding. A smartphone with a map- ping app will show you the way. –A.C. Don't Ditch the Details

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