BC Roadtrip: let's ride!

[mattj]

Alright NSMB. My wife and I are coming out for a roadtrip. Gonna try to do Kamloops, Revelstoke, Golden, Fernie, Nelson, Rossland, Kelowna in that order.

Would like to hook up with locals in each place to ride your good trails. Gonna spend one day in each town's bike park (Silverstar, Fernie, Golden, Sun Peaks), then spend the rest of the days riding real trails. We're interested in riding "black diamond" to "double black diamond" style rides. Stunts, steep, long, all day riding type stuff. Shuttling would be great, but we're only in a Golf, so can't do really rugged roads.

If anyone knows of any nice free car-accessible camp spots I would appreciate if you shared your knowledge.

I plan to visit the LBS in each location to purchase a map and get local knowledge there, but I would actually like to meet real people and ride with you.

The dates for the trip are July 16 (riding Sun Peaks July 17) - July 31, so we're looking (roughly) at the following breakdown.

July 17: Sun Peaks
July 18: Rose Hill, other Kamloops riding
July 19: Revelstoke
July 20: KHMR
July 21: Golden local riding
July 22: travel
July 23: Fernie bike park
July 24: Fernie local riding
July 25: travel
July 26: Nelson local riding
July 27: Nelson local riding
July 28: Rossland local riding
July 29: Red Mnt (do they even have a bike park?)
July 30: Kelowna (Powers)
July 31: Silverstar then book home

So who wants to get together for rides on those dates?


-m

[DaveM]

Hey Matt, we'll be in Christina Lake from the 23-29th. We could hook up for Nelson and Rossland. Red has a bike park, it just opened last year and was fun but small. It's definitely worth spending a half day playing around. You can also hit up the local trails if you get bored. The local trails are worth spending a couple of days on.

[trout]

I'll pm both you guys a phone number for me in Rossland. The bike park is ok, but there's more fun to be had elsewhere.

[Danksi]

If you've never ridden in/around Nelson before, you may find the Nelson Cycling Club's trail section (http://nelsoncyclingclub.org/content.php?content.5) useful, there are trail-descriptions as well as links to trail-videos, which should give you a good idea of what to expect.

Enjoy!

[Rat]

There is a guy who does shuttles in Nelson, thats a pretty good way to get hooked up.

[DaveM]

There used to be in Rossland too, but last summer he would only do full day tours.

[Danksi]

There is a guy who does shuttles in Nelson, thats a pretty good way to get hooked up.

http://www.gravityadventures.net

http://www.sacredride.ca/

http://www.gericks.com/

[trout]

There used to be in Rossland too, but last summer he would only do full day tours.

There's a new outfit that's just started up, good guys.

[Danksi]

There's a new outfit that's just started up, good guys.

Doesn't anyone want to pedal anymore? =/

[DaveM]

There's a new outfit that's just started up, good guys.

Very cool, if all else fails we've got a few friends with trucks that generally take us up wherever we want to go, and if we pick the Dewdney for a finisher we end up almost in his backyard, and Whiskey dumps out almost in anothers driveway.

[trout]

Doesn't anyone want to pedal anymore? =/

For sure they do, but do you want to climb 3000'+ every time you ride?
Most shuttles here involve short 20 minute climbs anyway.

[Danksi]

For sure they do, but do you want to climb 3000'+ every time you ride?

Hell yeah! :nerd:

[mattj]

Anyone from Revelstoke? Would definitely like to ride with a local there.

Same thing for Fernie. Anyone?

Thansk for the tips so far guys. We won't be hiring tour guides on this trip. Our order of preference for riding is:

1 - ride with a local (preferably someone I know from nmsb)
2 - ride just ourselves with a trail map
3 - ride without a trail map (we've done it before and found some awesome stuff)
4 - tour guide.


-m

[Rat]

this guy isnt a guide but a shuttle service
http://www.gravityadventures.net/takeatrip_comments.php?id=P166_0_32_0#title

[Kootenay Rider]

Revy's not developed very well and there's only a couple trails around.

Fernie - off the bike park it's mainly XC/old school type riding (not much fun on a DH bike but awesome on a shorter trail bike) but the park is good DH fun. Definitely drop by Straight Line and chat with Ian and the boys. They have a very detailed/great trail map available and will probably go riding with ya.

If you don't know anyone around the best bet is to drop into the LBS and spread the word ... you'll find a local who'll show you around.

[LeeLau]

There are a few trails in Revy off the mt mckenzie road but they're hard to find and my buddy who's there is off planting so no tour guide locals. Its' gotten better locally mr Hero

[mattj]

Thanks for all the great advice here and in PMs so far folks. Based on what I'm hearing so far, looks like we'll pass through Revelstoke without doing much riding. I rode there back in 2000 for a day and I had a lot of fun, but it sounds like it may not be worth sacrificing a day in Kelowna for it.

Also, with Fernie, maybe we'll spend a day doing half bike park and half local riding, to give an extra day elsewhere. Plus Helena is working July 31st so we have to be back on the evening of the 30th at the latest...

Still looking for some Golden local info. Anyone?

Ryan Schnepf, not sure if you lurk/post here, but I had your number in my phone which broke. Could you pm/email me if you're interested in hooking up for a day of riding in Kelowna again? Last year we had an awesome day. Would love to repeat it.


-m

[DaveM]

Golden....

Darryl called me from the top of Mount 7 yesterday morning. Looking down the entrance to Psychosis he was actually frightened. They were making a pit stop there en route to Panorama for the race this weekend. I think there's a local club in the Golden area that could help you out, google Mount 7 Psychosis and something should come up.

edit. I'm bored I googled it for you.

http://www.goldencyclingclub.com/

[Bryce]

7 summits in rossland is a good epic

[Rat]

still snow up on the 7 summits i would bet

[Loopie]

July 18th...so that's a Tuesday. You'd be surprised how dead it can be around here on a weekday...even in the summer. Kids that know their way around might be easy enough to line up for a guided run probably...but finding someone with a vehicle on a tuesday could be tricky.
I generally wouldn't expect to have intended on riding that day, and it's a little too far in advance to guarantee anything...BUT, if you covered at least a good percentage of my fuel costs for the day...I might make a special outing just for you guys;)
Ask Rat^ there, among others...I'm sure they'd all tell you it's worth it:)
There is way too much to experience here...taking time to find your own way or ride uphill (long and steep) would be a shame.

[cheryl@nsmb.com]

Ya Loopie knows this place! If not the Sunpeaks lift is open for business!

[mattj]

Ok new itinerary (sp? my brain is hibernating today):

Loopie, let's talk.

July 15-16: Whistler
July 17: Sun Peaks
July 18: Kamloops with Loopie
July 19: travel
July 20: Kicking Horse
July 21: Golden local riding, Helena's birthday
July 22: Panorama
July 23: Fernie bike park, possibly some local riding
July 24: travel
July 25: Nelson w/ Davet
July 26: Nelson or Rossland (or both)
July 27: Rossland (trout are you gonna be free to ride this day?)
July 28: Rossland half day, travel
July 29: Kelowna (Powers - still looking for tour guide)
July 30: Silverstar
July 31: Crankworx slopestyle final (you know - I'm so awesome I'm prequalified for the final event). JK. Probably stay at home and clean up our gear, enjoy summer vacation at home...

Still hoping to get in touch with Schnepf. If anyone has his number could you pm it to me? Or is he still working at Gerrik's? I guess I could just call there...


-m

[Danksi]

Ok new itinerary (sp? my brain is hibernating today):

Loopie, let's talk.

July 15-16: Whistler
July 17: Sun Peaks
July 18: Kamloops with Loopie
July 19: travel
July 20: Kicking Horse
July 21: Golden local riding, Helena's birthday
July 22: Panorama
July 23: Fernie bike park, possibly some local riding
July 24: travel
July 25: Nelson w/ Davet
July 26: Nelson or Rossland (or both)
July 27: Rossland (trout are you gonna be free to ride this day?)
July 28: Rossland half day, travel
July 29: Kelowna (Powers - still looking for tour guide)
July 30: Silverstar
July 31: Crankworx slopestyle final (you know - I'm so awesome I'm prequalified for the final event). JK. Probably stay at home and clean up our gear, enjoy summer vacation at home...

Still hoping to get in touch with Schnepf. If anyone has his number could you pm it to me? Or is he still working at Gerrik's? I guess I could just call there...


-m

I'm feeling knackered just reading that itinerary! :)

[mattj]

Whoops. July 31 is Monday, back to work day. So scratch that entry...


-m

[LeeLau]

matt - you need to get your jackets back from us sometime. There's a publication by Super Natural BC about riding in the Kootenays that's really good that covers off a lot of trails in the area - very high level review

[schoenrock]

i dont know who's worse you or john, you two are just a bunch of damn energy thieves. i'm tired for the weekend and it hasnt even started yet from just reading your itinerary.

[trout]

matt - you need to get your jackets back from us sometime. There's a publication by Super Natural BC about riding in the Kootenays that's really good that covers off a lot of trails in the area - very high level review


They gave up the goods in that one.

[Loopie]

Loopie started a new job today. 10hrs a day, Mon-Fri.
So ya...that's what I'll be doin' :(

[*GiMpY_jR*]

hey man if you're in kelowna westbank.. call up outbound cycle 768-0799 they'll point yea in the right direction and theres always guys riding there... everythurs they do rides too

[DaveM]

We met up with Matt & Helena for a couple days in Rossland. Fantastic riding on Tuesday thanks to Trout and Rory for the awesome tour of the beginning of the 7 Summits and down Plewman/Oasis! It was worth the climb for the views alone. Wednesday we ventured out on our own for rips down Whiskey and The Flume. Good riding with you Matt, I hope to one day be skilled enough to keep up with your wife :lol: Hope the rest of your trip went well.

[Loopie]

Did you find your way around Harper alright Matt? It's pretty hard to get totally lost, but stuff could be missed.
Stupid work.....:lol: