Off to Canada on our honeymoon in July. We're going to Canmore/Banff, Calgary, Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
It's my birthday while we're out there and my fab wife to be is going to organise a day mountain biking for me. I haven't ridden a mtb for years and more into cross and road now, but mega excited about the idea of riding the north shore, even if it's just some of the tamer trails.
We'll be staying in Vancouver at the time so will need to be close to there rather than a trip to Whistler or further out. I'll have a car.
I'm looking for an all day group guided session with hire for a day. Looking around, Mount Seymour and Endless Rides seems an option.
Are there any other ideas or general advice from those who live out there or have done a similar trip?
Other half isn't into bikes, but will occupy herself in Vancouver for the day so that shouldn't be an issue.
Cheers!
Endless is a good choice.
Otherwise NSRide is the local club and they have day memberships for a few dollars but you'd have to make sure your day of riding matched their calendar.
There's also Trail Shredder Vancouver facebook group...
Good options above. If that doesn't work out, Squamish isn't that far up the road (by Canadian standards....) and a great drive. Ridehub here do rentals and guided rides. Maybe Bearback too but I think they concentrate on Whistler still. I'm sure Mr Bearback will correct me if I'm wrong 🙂
Depending on which of the alternating weeks you are here, I'd suggest driving to squamish, hiking or uploading the gondola in the morning with the wife then doing one of the sorca social rides in the evening. It'll cost you a membership but the cheapest group ride your find. Squamish do the social ride on Wednesday one week, race night Wednesday the next.
https://sorca.ca/calendar
Stay overnight then do the Thursday Corsa group road ride up the squamish Valley.
We don't really touch squamish for guiding.
Vancouver... Endless .. unquestionably.
Thanks for the suggestions. Good to hear reassuring noises about endless.
We're restricted on dates as we're moving about a bit and have other plans so it can only be Tuesday 8th July. I've looked at NSrides and they don't have a ride planned that day.
Squamish looks doable if there's enough to keep my wife occupied for the day.
Would you say worth the trip up there vs staying a bit closer to Vancouver and riding Mt Seymour instead?
Ultimately, as much as I'm excited to spend a big day out, I'm sure wherever I go will be miles better than anything I've experienced before. I'll just be happy out riding with a decent group that accounts for my rustiness on a mtb. And don't want to piss off my new wife either!
If squamish has other stuff going on, that could be brill. If not, then may stick with initial idea.
Thanks
Endless are good, I'm sure, but I found them a bit flakey, twice I'd booked hires and twice got something that I hadn't booked, evidently because they wanted to show off their good stuff at a nearby trade show or something. Also forgot to do a brake swap which I had booked in advance.
Didn't really begrudge them it as both times I had a great day out regardless, just seemed like some really enthusiastic guys who maybe didn't have a 100% business head on...
Seymour good, but for me Fromme is iconic shore and is the most compact/easy to navigate (one big fireroad climb with descents radiating off it. Cypress is where the real gnar still exists (I understand) but in two years living on the north shore I never made it to the mountain other than to hike/snowshoe.
If you're on Vancouver Island, I would seriously recommend investigating Island Mountain Rides, based out of Cumberland I believe. Had a brilliant couple of days guided with them.
Edit: didn't read your original post properly, if Endless Bikes and Seymour are the only option then 100% go for it, thinking back, my first day on the Shore was riding Seymour on a borrowed bike with backwards brakes. Loved it.
I spent october in north vancouver and trailforks app along with a chat to a few of the locals on the trails was all i needed to get going on seymour and fromme , its all sign posted and graded too which helps. nice hike to the cleveland dam for the missus. If you go to north van be sure to visit the shipyards tap and barrel bar after your days ride.
squamish is good if youve got a hire car, good hire options in town too, and theres some great hikes round the cheif and the 4 lakes for the missus if she likes a stroll.
+loads for Endless Biking. I wonder if Johnny Smoke is still guiding? My first Shore rides were following him on a much-too-big 21" Rocky Mountain ETSX with backwards brakes. Was interesting but I survived.
Pretty sure you'll Smoke here these days:
https://www.retallack.com/mountain-biking/
It's also worth mentioning what your skill level is if you haven't ridden an MTB for years. And also what your expectations of the North Shore are. I too would pick Fromme over Seymour but it's personal preference. More mellow climb up and if you haven't ridden in a while, 7th Secret, Leppard, Crinkum Crankum and Kirkford is a classic way down the mountain which is fun and still has some 'Shore' features while hopefully not killing you. What people coming to the North Shore and Seymour in particular tend to think of as classic North Shore (CBC, Salvation etc) will find that those trails are falling apart. It's all about the 'sick loamers' braaaah. Which is kind of ironic for Brits who's trails are largely dirt based and amusing watching Canadians getting a huge boner for a bit of soil 😀
Squamish would work if your missus likes hiking. The Chief hike and view from the top will keep her occupied for a while. Then meet for lunch. Then park at Alice Lake where she can chill for a bit and you could do an afternoon lab on some of the iconic 'slab' trails here if your brakes are up to it 🙂
Contact Johnny smoke
.bushpilotbiking
That is all
Great, thanks everyone.
Had a look on YouTube and those more mellow trails on Fromme look doable. Some of the other stuff is going to end in me getting broken and that's definitely not in the plan.
I'll email Endless and get sorted with them to mess about on fromme or Seymour.
I googled bush pilot biking Jedi. Looks a pretty cool guy, but leagues away from what I'll be capable of. Won't waste his time, but thanks for the suggestion anyway.
Fab thread, managed to add a few 'todos' to our list for our 3 week break in July.
What people coming to the North Shore and Seymour in particular tend to think of as classic North Shore (CBC, Salvation etc) will find that those trails are falling apart. It’s all about the ‘sick loamers’ braaaah. Which is kind of ironic for Brits who’s trails are largely dirt based and amusing watching Canadians getting a huge boner for a bit of soil
Ha, yeah. I attended some NSMB trail buildingn workshops. I totally supported what they were trying to do but given I was a 'North Shore' tourist, the last thing I wanted to be hearing was contouring and 'gold' and radiused turns and reverse grades. I wanted sick and skinny!
On which note - OP if you are on Fromme and are pedalling up to Seventh Secret, take the opportunity to stop about 2m downhill from the entrance to Upper Oil Can, turn right into the forest, and just follow your nose (remember to look UP). Therein lies Dangerous Dan Cowan's most iconic creation.
Ha! Sounds wild. I'll check it out from a safe distance...thanks for all your tips.
Excited. Small matter of the wedding to get out the way first.
