TIME TRAVELLING

Lacombe, Alberta I

BY PATRICK LAMBIE

Some of the most frustrating conversations can start with the question of “Where do you want to go?”

Picture sitting around with your usual riding group, trying to figure out a day trip to somewhere that no one has already been. If you live in Alberta, odds are that locations like Drumheller, Banff, Elk Island National Park, Jasper and many more have long been crossed off the list by one or more of the group; and likely multiple times. In this case the challenge of finding a new destination may require looking beyond the tried and true. The good news is that beyond its marquee players, Alberta is literally full of villages, towns and cities that are overflowing with character and history.

A similar conversation played out last fall between my brother-in-law Mitch and myself during our discussion about a day trip from Calgary, AB north to Lacombe. In this case we had already selected the destination after reading about this historic city of just over 13,000 people. Located 25 kilometres north of Red Deer, the most obvious and quickest route would have been to jump on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway for a quick 90-minute ride to Red Deer; however, adhering to the theme of focusing on the province’s history we decided to stick to roadways that pre-dated the modern four-lane asphalt ribbon. A meandering route initially took us north away from Coch- rane on Hwy 22 before heading west on Hwy 584. No, these roads don’t have the twists and turns that dominate other parts of the province, but whatever they lack in that regard, they more than make up for with the scenery that led us through lush green farmland before taking us deep into heavily-treed forest along both sides of the highway.

Arriving in the town of Didsbury, located just off Hwy 2A, our trip back through time continued as a quick rest stop to gain a reprieve from the cool morning temperatures found us in the middle of a century-old downtown that was easily imagined as the bustling hub it would have been when the 2A – then simply known as the Hwy 2 – was the main north-south road. Yes we had been riding for two hours and were less than half way to our destination, but experiencing the road less travelled was proving to be worth the extra time.

Continuing north, the 2A allowed us to avoid the traffic and noise of the main highway – with the exception of the 10 minutes from Bowden to Innisfail, where Hwy 2 is the only option – and also took us through a series of towns and cities that were originally created as whistle stops along the Canadian Pacific Railway line. Any one of the communities we encountered could easily be a destination by itself, with great coffee shops, restaurants and shopping as well as local landmarks and history. I definitely plan to come back along this route and visit more of them, but on the day in question our predetermined destination was Lacombe, so after a photo stop in front of the old-school wooden grain elevator in Niobe, we turned our attention to the task at hand and the road ahead.

Arriving in Lacombe and following signage that directed us to the historic downtown district, the first thing that captures your attention is the architecture. Established in the late 1800s, this railway townsite was officially incorporated in 1902 and continued to grow steadily. In 1906, fire destroyed much of the downtown area with the exception of the brick flatiron style building that remains at the centre of the city today. In response to the devastation of this fire, a bylaw was implemented requiring that all new structures in the town centre be built entirely of brick and that wood structures that had survived the fire be refaced with brick As a result, standing on the street in downtown Lacombe literally takes you back to the beginning of the 20th century.

Setting out in search of lunch, we took a turn off the main street and found ourselves immersed amongst a series of murals dedicated to the history of Lacombe. Created by artist Tim Giles, these stunning works of art are found on the backs of buildings throughout the downtown area and have earned Lacombe the title of Alberta’s Mural Capital. With so much architecture and art combined, it could be hard to know where to start and how to see it all. The good news is that guided walking tours are available and for those who prefer to do things at their own pace, a self-guided walking tour brochure is also available.

The good news for Mitch and I was that we knew exactly where to start and that was lunch. Walking further into the downtown brought forward multiple options for dining and we settled on Ugly’s Pub & Grill, which advertised dedicated motorcycle parking. With an extensive menu of incredible burgers and other pub favourites the hardest part of the meal was trying to decide on what to have and then actually finishing it as the portions are very generous.

After lunch we were joined by the Executive Director of Lacombe Regional Tourism, Austin Weaver for a tour around town. One of the first things that Austin highlighted was the changing demographics of the city, with an increasing number of young families and entrepreneurs relocating from major centres to take advantage of a more relaxed lifestyle. As a result, the historic buildings lining the street have received a new life in the form of an eclectic collection of shops and stores guaranteed to accommodate a weekend shopping excursion in a way that will help you forget all about the modern big box stores.

One store that caught our attention was the 5024 General Store. A combination of a coffee and skateboard shop set against the backdrop of the vintage building complete with tin ceiling, one of the owners explained that this unique operation was an example of a decision to leave the rat race behind – in this particular case Vancouver – and move to a city that offered the opportunities to explore and follow their passions.

A quick walk brought us to the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum. Constructed in 1902, this fully operational blacksmith shop utilizes much of the original equipment and offers demonstrations and craft classes for children as well as the opportunity for adults to sign up for a class and try their hand at shaping molten iron.

Among my favourite stops downtown was Oodles of Chocolates. In addition to operating a pop-up shop during the peak tourism months, these chocolatiers ship a wide range of products throughout Alberta. One of the most popular items are their ingenious HotChocStics, which make it simple to make gourmet quality hot chocolate at home. As a fan of this particular beverage I made sure to load up with some samples and can report that they work perfectly.

Before wrapping up our time in Lacombe we paid a visit to Blindman Brewing. From its beginning as a start up craft beer manufacturer focused on utilizing locally grown grains, Blindman has grown to become a major producer while still retaining its belief in being part of a strong community. The fact that we were riding of course meant that there would be no sampling, but I did manage to find room to strap a four pack of their Longshadows IPA on the pillion seat of my bike to enjoy when I got home – it was excellent.

Knowing that IM’s Bruce Thomas would never forgive me if I missed a chance to visit a unique monument, we paid a visit to the world’s largest fishing lure which is located beside the Len Thompson Trout Pond. One of the largest companies in Lacombe, Len Thompson Lures has been making fishing lures of all sizes since 1929 and odds are that if you own a fishing tackle box there are probably a few of their products inside.

Ready to head home, it was time to pick a new route. Having enjoyed our travels and the lack of traffic on Hwy 2A earlier in the day, we chose to explore the rolling landscape around Lacombe by heading east along Hwy 12 before taking a quick jog south to join up with Hwy 11 that would bring us back into Red Deer and back onto Hwy 2A. Riding these final stretches was the perfect time to reflect on our day’s adventure and it was truly a success. In addition to learning about Lacombe, which I absolutely recommend as a must-visit location, taking the extra time to travel on secondary highways highlighted that there are vast areas of our country that are just waiting to be discovered. All that is left to decide is, “Where do you want to go?” IM

Yamaha R7

BY PATRICK LAMBIE PHOTOS BY ANETT MESZAROS

For more than two decades any search for a mid-displacement sport bike designed to be equally capable on the racetrack, around town or out on the twisties would include the Yamaha YZF-R6. This competition-ready motorcycle quickly became a favourite of racers, picking up titles at every level from local club racing series to the World Supersport championship. Unfortunately for fans of the R6, following the 2020 model year, it vanished from the mainstream Yamaha lineup, moving to a limited availability competition-only offering.

With the absence of the R6 creating a gap in Yamaha’s supersport lineup the company found itself in search of a new model to satisfy consumers who were not ready to make the jump to the company’s flagship YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M litre bikes, but wanted something more than what the entry level YZF-R3 has to offer. Enter the YZF-R7.

Unveiled for the 2022 model year, the R7 takes Yamaha’s mid-displacement sport bike offering in a new direction. Replacing the previous inline four-cylinder screamer and its 17,000-plus rpm redline, the R7 is built on the company’s MT-07 platform, including the popular 689 cc twin-cylinder powerplant that has been proven in multiple models including the Ténéré 700 and XSR700 as well as the mid-displacement member of the brand’s hyper naked lineup. Relying on a 270-degree crankshaft crossplane design to generate optimal torque and rider feedback, this engine provides a completely different experience than the inline four-cylinder engine that powered the R6.

While the addition of race-styled bodywork is the most immediately noticeable difference when comparing this new model to its MT-07 cousin, underneath a series of alterations to the bike’s geometry have been undertaken to accommodate the more intense handling and performance demanded by track day enthusiasts and racers.

Revising the chassis to include a steeper rake (23 degrees vs. 24.5 degrees on the MT-07) and reduced trail result in a shorter wheelbase (1,394 mm vs. 1,400 mm) and more responsive handling. A fully adjustable inverted 41 mm KYB front fork combines with a revised rear linkage and KYB shock (adjustable for preload and rebound damping) that results in an increased ride height and an 836 mm (32.9 in) seat height, which is almost a full inch taller than the MT-07. Clip-on bars and rear-set pegs and controls position the rider in a forward orientated position with the R1-inpsired tank shape providing a platform for the rider’s chest to lay against when fully tucked in.

The delivery of a YZF-R7 loaner from Yamaha Motor Canada to my home in Calgary, AB set the stage to test this latest member of the R family on the brand-new Rocky Mountain Motorsports circuit just north of the city. Opened for business in 2022, the 3.5-kilometre 16-turn road course, is among the most technical in Canada with multiple decreasing radius corners, dramatic changes in elevation, high speed sweepers and hard-braking zones. In other words, the perfect location to test out this addition to Yamaha’s supersport lineup.

Rolling the R7 off the truck at the track, it immediately drew a crowd of onlookers anxious to see this elusive new model. The Performance Black paint (The R7 is also available in Intensity White and Team Yamaha Blue), full LED lighting package, cast aluminum spoked wheels and top-quality fit and finish garnered compliments, but the most notable feedback was the bike’s size… or lack thereof. Yamaha advertises the YZF-R7 as the narrowest of the R lineup and this is evident from every angle, with dimensions that appear far more in line with the lightweight motorcycle than a mid-displacement sport bike.

Anxious to see how the R7’s size and geometry would translate to on-track performance it was time to spin some laps; however, as is often the case, mother nature had other ideas as our first day of testing was met with a continual downpour of rain, turning an already green track into slippery surface that necessitated extra caution and diligence. Of course, clouds are always accompanied by silver linings and in this particular case it was the chance to see how the R7 handled these conditions and if the absence of traction control or selectable ride modes would become an impediment. As it turned out, the R7 was more than up to the task.

While the lack of a full suite of electronic rider aids on a modern-day motorcycle may seem odd when even entry-level bikes take advantage of available technology, the inclusion of ABS and a slipper and assist clutch on the R7 show that the team at Yamaha has effectively prioritized the requirements of this latest track-focused machine. Combining the basic setup with the lowrange torque characteristics of the CP2 parallel twin, which pulls hard from as low as 3,500 rpm, made it easy to navigate the tight circuit, pulling smoothly out of corners with no concern of the back wheel breaking traction. The ABS equipped brakes (dual

298 mm discs on the front wheel and a single 245 mm disc at the rear) provide solid stopping power in a controlled and smooth manner, thanks to the premium Brembo master cylinder setup. Looking to experience the bike on the highway I decided to take advantage of clearing skies at the end of the day and ride the 60-minute trip back to my house. Travelling along the roadway at 110 km/h in sixth gear leaves the engine spinning at a manageable 4,000 rpm with no notable vibration and the ability to easily accelerate without downshifting. Offsetting the smooth ride is the reality of the bike’s ergonomics. The size of the R7 is most notable from the saddle where at 5-feet 8-inches tall with a 30-inch inseam, I found the setup to be compact but fine for 20or 30-minute track sessions; however, beyond this timeframe the stress on your body becomes increasingly evident and uncomfortable. In fairness, I was a lot younger when mid-displacement sport bikes used to be my daily ride, but anyone considering the YZF-R7 for longer stretches in the saddle, especially taller riders, will want to consider the physical realities of this setup.

Returning to the track the following day saw sunny skies and a drying track. While some silt that had washed onto areas of the track surface from the unfinished landscaping during the previous day’s rain would still require increased diligence and caution, conditions were dramatically better than the previous day, offering the chance to experience the R7 in its intended environment.

At speed, the YZF-R7 feels planted and solid whether under full acceleration or hard braking. The fully adjustable suspension in stock setup accommodated my 165 lb weight perfectly, but riders of other weight or those riding on different surfaces or track layouts will welcome the ability to fine-tune the settings. The track’s long front straightaway offered the chance to move through the full six-speed transmission and shifts were smooth and accurate. The pairing of a slipper and assist clutch with the CP2 engine, a first for Yamaha, allows for aggressive downshifts coming into corners and hard acceleration nearing the 10,000 rpm redline when accelerating towards exit points. For anyone considering the R7 for dedicated track days and racing, the optional quick shift setup would be a worthwhile investment.

The harder you push the R7 the more the chassis and geometry refinements become apparent. Highly responsive to rider inputs, the bike seems to relish being thrown into corners, solidly holding lines even when encountering minor disruptions or ripples in the asphalt surface. The bike’s light 188 kg (414 lb) weight allows itself to be seamlessly flicked left to right and back again, while the narrow ergonomics accommodate quick and smooth changes in body position from side to side. These attributes combined with Yamaha’s crossplane parallel twin make it easier to let YZF-R6 fade into the memory banks.

With an MSRP of $11,299 Yamaha has delivered a motorcycle that is capable of meeting the demands of experienced track day enthusiasts and club racers, while also offering an affordable and manageable option for riders who are new to the track or looking for a sport bike to accommodate their day to day riding. While there are some obvious design choices required to maintain the affordable cost of entry, the team at Yamaha has done an admirable job in creating a middleweight sport bike capable and worthy of continuing the company’s legacy. IM