Recommended books/maps?

[Mike Brown]

My girlfriend and I are coming to Vancouver Island for her brother's wedding in early October. Please recommend guidebooks and/or maps I can order in prepation for this trip. A few points:

1) While I am up for "mild" freeriding (elevated bridges, 3-4 foot drops), the GF ain't. Crosscountry riding preferred, epic distances and elevation gain fine (we can both handle long,technical singletrack and lots of climbing- it's the drops and skinnies the girlfriend is not into).
2) We will initially be spending a weekend in Victoria and riding around that area would be great, and
3) We are willling to travel up to a 1/2 day or so by rental car, but would prefer not much more than that. Camping is an option.

The best recommendation would be a LBS in Victoria I can find, buy/bring the books/maps, and get some advice. Otherwise, just books and maps appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Mike

[Mike Brown]

Responding myself as there had been no responses. I posted here as suggested on a previous thread on MTBR. All I'm looking for is suggestions for a LBS/ guide books/ maps. If there is a better place to look for this, I would also appreciate that information.

Thanks, Mike

[Rat]

Great riding mid island try dodge city cycles in cumberland , there is also a hostel that caters to bikers check the links page. Its called the riding fool hostel.

[LeeLau]

Mike - there are no good guidebooks for maps and trails in Vancouver Island. The best overally mapbook is one by Radical Multimedia but that's out of print. I suppose you could get Darrin Polischuks; Mountain Biking in BC book but that's horrible and inaccurate.

I would post to the bb in www.simbs.com

I would also go to bike shops in Victoria and ask about the Dump - it sounds bad but the riding is good.

Try Mac's Cycle on Shelbourne. Cam is a great guy and knows his stuff. Tell him I said hi - and hope the surfboard isn't broken yet!

[Mike Brown]

Thanks!

Mike

[McTB]

Hi Mike,
The riding in Victoria is good. Hartland (the dump) is well marked and has large maps posted at the parking-lot and at the technical training area. You can also get a very detailed map from any local bike store. For anyone who hasn't been to Hartland, it's a shining example of what can be accomplished when Mountain Bikers work together with government. It has excellent cross-country trails and a few free-ride options as well.
As far as the rest of the island goes I recommend:

Tzouhalem- just outside of Duncan. Fantastic trails and views but has been the victim of development lately (Dammned golf courses) Heavy J's site is incredible. Check it out @ http://members.shaw.ca/mtzoo/

Dumont Road- just outside of Nanaimo. Something for everyone. Very generally, the XC trails are North of the road and the FR trails are south.

Hornby Island- I know it's not on Vancouver Island but it rules! The trails are almost all XC (I saw 1 FR trail there last winter) and they flow better than almost anywhere I've ever ridden.

I've found some good maps through Trailpeak.

I hope this helps

[yellowdogx]

there is a book called "mountain biking bc" or something to that effect, looking for a link ....

[madd mapper]

If you need maps of the Island I've collected most of them here (the free ones that is).

http://www.fatbastardsbc.com/maps.html

For Vancouver, Gutsploder (which someone already mentioned) has the most update maps.

Local area bike shops are still a good way to go.

Hope it helps