[LaXCarp]

So my company is putting me on assignment in Vancouver from March until early summer. I want the Vancouver experience, no holes barred. Places to ride, eat, chill, etc. Lookin to rip as much quality trail as my free time and weather allows.

Couple questions? Do I drag both the AM (Maverick Matic) and DH (Transition Blindside) bikes out there with me. I was thinking about running a 160mm fork and a lighter wheelset and just bringing the Blindside...whatcha think?

Anyone that wants to show me some ropes, give me advice, hook up for a ride, etc shoot me a PM!!!


Carp

 

[womble]

So my company is putting me on assignment in Vancouver from March until early summer. I want the Vancouver experience, no holes barred. Places to ride, eat, chill, etc. Lookin to rip as much quality trail as my free time and weather allows.

No holes barred? Sounds like you are looking for Davie Village.

Or was that a typo?

 

[LaXCarp]

The Vancouver Mountain Bike experience!!!!

Disclaimer: Specific holes will be barred.

 

[trent205]

lol

 

[rockyuphill]

It depends a lot on what you want to ride the most. There's shuttles available on Mt.Seymour but not Fromme, so you want to make sure you can ride uphills if you want to ride all three mountains.

And if you plan to visit Squamish and Whistler while you're here you might want an AM bike for Squamish and a DH bike for Whistler bike park.

Either way you want to switch your tires to something with some good grip on wet wood, especially March-June.

And you can use http://www.gutsploder.net/ to get an advance look at trails in the area.

 

[x-ker]

Some thoughts, but not much help...

- Just a head's up (and you've probably heard it before, or at least you certainly will hear it a few times as you go about asking for trail suggestions in BC)...trail difficulties as rated relative to what's around. So a blue square in BC may be equivalent to a black diamond at home. In general, if you're an expert rider make your first trail here a blue not a black, or you may just end up spending more time off the bike than on it.

- The downtown Van experience question will get some replies, but you may also want to mention specifically where you'll be staying (if you know) to get some replies that'll keep everything in walking distance. This may help others to narrow down some trail suggestions as well - or at least they'll be able to tell you the closest LBS which should sell MTB trail maps for the major local mountains.

- The bulk of the BC riders do not hang out on MTBR so you might have some troubles trying to find someone to hook up for some rides with. You may want to head over to NSMB as you should have a bit better luck tracking down some riding partners and probably information in general.

 

[homeless junkie]

This might be more useless info but check out WORCA(Whistler Off Road Association). They have group rides all the time. They could show you around Whistler.

Join the NSMB. Show up for a trail day. You're find someone to ride around the North Shore with.

 

[rockyuphill]

There's also....

http://www.NSrides.com

http://www.endlessbiking.com/ (guides)

http://bb.nsmb.com/

 

[LaXCarp]

Any information is good info (even Davie Village), so thanks and keep it coming guys.

Sounds like I will be flying out there next week (into Seattle and driving up). I still don't have a clue where besides in Vancouver. I need to figure out a short term solution to packing my bike up and getting it out their with me. Suggestions?

I am not an expert on a DH rig (Whiteface Mtn, NY a few times) but would consider myself advanced on an AM rig. I am just getting into the DH scene so no better place to learn than BC as long as I ease my way into it.

I am thinking about just bringing the DH to start with and maybe dragging the AM back with me during a trip home. Wont hurt me to pedal the big rig around a bit.

 

[rockyuphill]

As a well known North Shore trail builder once said "You get the skills or you get hospital bills."

If you haven't spent a lot of time doing freeride stuff (which is definitely not like DH in a bike park), you want to hookup with a guide like Endless Biking to get exposed to trails that will match your current skill set so you don't have to spend much of your stay in the Vancouver area in a hospital. Once you get a sense of what the trails are like you can pick your challenge level and progress your skills.

 

[homeless junkie]

I've seen riders ride this trail with anything from a full DH rig to a 5" AM bike. Rocky brings up a good point. What did you consider this to be? Now look at the rating. If you're comfortable on skinnies and drops feel free to ride alone on the weekends as they should be alot of riders out on the easier stuff if you get hurt. I see you're coming up next week. Don't plan on riding Seymour or Fromme til maybe April. The snowpack is sick right now.
Check NSMB for trail openings this season.

 

[LaXCarp]

I am familiar with very technical, rocky, rooty terrain known in upstate NY. These are the trails 5 min away from where I live: www.saratogamtb.org

It incorporates natural features, with plenty of drops off ledges etc...maybe up to 5' or so. I do all of that with my Maverick which is 120mm x 90mm. I downhill at Whiteface Mtn in Lake Placid NY. Probably one of the, if not the most burly track in the US.

The elevated skinnies, jump lines, and etc are stuff I am not terribly familiar with. But I look to progress my riding as much as possible in the 3ish months I will be in Vancouver.

Getting pretty stoked, heading out there next week. I think I am just going to bring my Blindside and get a 160mm fork and lighter wheelset for trail riding, and use the boxxer for any bigger stuff

 

[rockyuphill]

The dump of snow we got yesterday likely just set trail access back 3-4 weeks at higher elevations. 18" of snow up at 1000' elevation and about 6" down to 400' elevation, so unless we get a big Pineapple Express weather system through with warm temps and lots of rain, the higher trails are going to be snow covered for a while.

 

[homeless junkie]

You'll get good at the skinnies riding around North Van.

I was thinking if you want to ride and have a day off before the snow melts you should try taking the ferry to Victoria. There's trails 10 minutes outside of the city. I don't know directions but rocky might know or you could ask a bike shop.

Taking the ferry to Victoria is a long day but the trails are really good from what I remember. Maybe you should bring Skis or a snowboard. You can take the bus to Grouse Mountain.

That's one of the things that make Vancouver so badass. You can be walking around downtown and see people in ski outfits hauling their snowboard with them.

I thought of a place to go to get "the Vancouver Experience". Tell the Cab Driver you want to go to Hastings and Homer. Get out and walk away from downtown(kinda Southeast I think). You'll pass Cambie. That first block might freak you out or you might like it but see how far down you E. Hastings you can get. Don't worry it's safe. I take people on this hike when they whine about how bad things are going for them. It's a Van... Exp....

 

[jetta_mike]

If you're out here for a while head east a bit as well. Eagle and Burke Mountains in Coquitlam, the Woodlot in Maple Ridge, Sumas Mtn/McKee Peak in Abbotsford, Red and Bear Mtns in Mission, Vedder Mtn in Chilliwack.

I work shift work (lots of spare time) and love to show people our trails out in the east Valley, plus we didn't get the snow Vancouver/North Vancouver got.

Check out my ride blog for the types of riding around here.

Mike's ride blog

 

[LaXCarp]

Well I am finally settled here in Vancouver. I am staying in the level apartments on Seymour St. I only brought the TS Blindside with but am really wishing I had both out here. I might pick up another AM or hardtail bike out here as opposed to putting a smaller fork and lighter wheels on the blindside.

Can anyone recommend any good bike shops close by?

Mike, your blog is sweet. Looks like some nice trails you get yourself on. Once I get settled in and learn the lay of the land a bit I might venture on over your way.

 

[rockyuphill]

Different Bikes North Vancouver is right near the base of Mt.Seymour. That's where I spend most of my bike money these days.

http://www.differentbikes.ca/contact/north-vancouver/

A fair bit of snow out in the open areas of trails when you get up above about 180m and likely a bunch more when you're higher up.

 

[LaXCarp]

Been out the last couple weekends at Mt. Seymour. Also hit up Different Bike for a full-face and trail map.

Despite the rain on Sunday I rode up to the baden powell path and took Pangor down...sweet trail, especially the big rock roller. Also, the line where theres like a 6' drop followed by a couple smaller ones in succession. Oh and the skinnies leading to the steep rock roll followed by the 30' wood roll. After that I hiked up Severed Dick and bombed that down. Both are sweet trails!

Its been fun to learn what the Transition Blindside is capable of how it smooths out a lot of the lines. The wood skinnies are slippery as hell though!

Dang not sure how to throw a picture up

 

[dmar123]

whats the camping situation like at Whistler? I dont wnat to spend any money for a room and want free camping...Can I camp in the parking lot or is there better free camping somehwere else thats reasonably close by? Am I going to have to deal with a lot of trolls camping in the Whistler parking lot?

Also I heard bike theft can be a problem, I plan on bringin two bikes and having one locked up in my car while I ride at the Whistler bike park, should I be concerned about someone breaking into my car?

Another option I was considering was renting a storage space for the time I was going to be out there and using that to lock up my gear while I ride, especialy if im riding some xc trail in the middle of nowhere I dont want my DH bike sitting in my car at some random gravel parking lot

thanks

 

[TheotherH]

No overnight parking in Whister: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/getting_here/parking/index.htm

Unless you are able to store your bike in the trunk of your car where it's out of sight, I wouldn't store it in or on the car while you are out for the day.

As for camping, check Whistler and BC Parks websites. Maybe locals know if there is 'free' camping but I've never heard of any and would doubt it considering the popularity of the area. Some places like CalCheek campground are cheap, e.g. $10 per night.