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As it says on the tin, who's off to the mecca of bike park riding this year?
I'll be staying in Vancouver for a week (30th May so the end of the week is Outerbike) of mixed riding on the Shore, Whistler, maybe Squamish.
Don't really know yet. The person I'm staying with isn't as into speed/jumps as I am, so it'll probably be a mellow mix.
I'd also quite like to pedal up a mountain all day and then come back down the long way. I assume there are some good examples of this.
15-29th August here. Can't. Bloody. Wait.
I am. Went last year for 2 weeks. Only have enough time for 1 week this year. Boo hoo hoo...
Yes.
Leave 15th July, coming back in October.
Bike park opens on Saturday!
Nice, i'm looking forward to riding in the summer this year, only been out at the end of the season before with very British weather. Hope for some warm weather and cold beers.
Heading out 12th June-3rd July. Then another week or two later in the season if the stars align 🙂
Maybe see some of you out there.
Have fun and stay safe!
Heading out 4th Sept for two weeks. Only taking the downhill bike so mostly just be in the bike park. Cant wait.
Which reminds me. Must buy early bird pass
Will be there from 4th to the 19th of August on the Nomad. Cannot wait!
Can you buy the early bird season pass online & collect when you get there?
Might do that, as its $100 saving each, for 2 of us.
Yep, you just pick it up at guest services.
Or you can re-load an old pass online and you're ready to go.
Best get mine sorted actually!
Yes! 4th September for 2 weeks.
Great - i'll do that tonight, might as well save some money!
21st/22nd/23rd July....my 60th birthday present eek!!!
Sweet, hope I'm still riding at 60yrs young!
Has anyone been out during crankworx? Can you still enjoy the riding or is it super busy carnage?
How's the parking situation during the event, possible or a complete write off?
I don't mind a few down days, but i'm not going to write off a whole weeks riding if I can make it out for a 2nd trip.
Thanks
I'd love to go. What sort of costs would I be looking at for a week next year? Cheap as poss really, not against camping.
I was there 2 weeks ago! 🙂
Has anyone been out during crankworx? Can you still enjoy the riding or is it super busy carnage?
How's the parking situation during the event, possible or a complete write off?
Crankworx:
Bike park.. expect 10+ minute weekday and 20+ minute weekend queues at the bottom each lap, or ride Garbo zone laps for less waiting.
XC/AM - relatively unaffected by the crazy hussle and bussle of the village/bike park action aside from EWS race day.
The Slopestyle on Saturday is a complete gong show but an incredible spectacle!
Parking wise.. day lots 1 and 2 are out of commission for event facilities and other lots will be busy, but you should still find a space on all days but challenged on that slopestyle Saturday. Not much need for a car though unless you're staying North of White Gold or South or Nordic
I'd also quite like to pedal up a mountain all day and then come back down the long way. I assume there are some good examples of this.
Not quite yet. The [url= http://www.worca.com/sproatt-alpine-mulit-use-trail/ ]Alpine Dream Trail[/url] is under construction but not ready yet.
Closest existing mapped trail in Whistler would be Cougar Flank. But for real alpine climb to epic descent you need to put yourself out in the Chilcotins.
We are sold out 27th June> 23rd July and Aug 20-29.. other dates and we have spaces.. get in touch if you're looking!
Bearback - what's the weather usually like end of August/Start September?
Stunning.
Blue skies, cooler evenings but warm/hot days. Lakes are the most swimmable they will be all year. Trails in great shape.
Weather tends to turn mid Sept, but mostly clear skies and dry before then.
Hoping to make it there for a day in July - it's the last stage of BC Bike Race.
^^ +1 - Late August / Early September is the best time IMHO.
dknwhy - MemberI'd love to go. What sort of costs would I be looking at for a week next year? Cheap as poss really, not against camping.
Went in 2012 - spent a week with Bearback (who were brilliant), and 3 days in Van sight seeing. Rode the park 4 days.
I'm not kidding, we didn't go too wild, but I worked out the whole thing cost me £3k including spending money.
Flights were £750 I think, on a horrible Thomas Cook flight - it was a plane that really only suits short-hop flights to Spain that Canadian Affair rent once a week, very uncomfortable for long-haul. Especially on the way home after a week of riding. Think they took another £70 for taking the bike too. British Airways and whoever else would be a lot nicer of course, but last time I checked £1500 was a 'cheap' BA flight to Van - you can fly to Seattle for a bit less and drive up, but it sounds like a pain to me.
Bearback were £450 I think, it's good value considering what's on offer. Guiding is Nice for the Park, but signage is excellent, they there to stop you smashing yourself to bits on day one as much as to point you in the direction of the easy to follow directions. My big regret though is I took my bike 8" DH bike so didn't ride anything outside of the Park, gutted when I got home.
£30 a day for lift passes x 5 £150.
So you're talking £1500 to get to the top of the lift and The Village is an expensive place to eat and drink, especially when the "not wearing much" waitresses ask you if you want any change, the answer is always "of course not" - funny when you see them on Wednesday lining up for Phat Wednesday, they're cute as hell in Longhorn on Tuesday after the lifts close and some of the fastest, most aggressive riders I've ever seen on Wednesday evenings!
Personally, I loved my time there - I'd like to go again, but with two kids and a wife I look at PDS for a few hundred quid, with it endless trails, dozens of lifts and lovely bars and restaurants that I can go to for a few days or a few weeks or Whistler with it's 2 lifts (might be 3 now) and surprisingly small bike park and small fake Scandinavian looking village (honestly, the buildings are all clad in plastic or plaster to look like they do) for thousands and it doesn't work out - the riding is simply amazing and I know the non-park stuff is epic - but personally, it's not worth 10x the cost.
(I'm very tight though)
Not quite yet. The Alpine Dream Trail is under construction but not read by yet.
Closest existing mapped trail in Whistler would be Cougar Flank.
Thanks for that link Bearback and kudos for stepping up to help the trail builders efforts. I'm really looking forward to this. Do you think it will be ready before Winter kicks in?? Crap snow year means more trail building progress, right?
There's lots of co-ordinated volunteer work going on in the valley right now and that where the focus of work has been.
I'm not sure how many full time trail crew are working on the Alpine Dream just yet.
@P-jay - Canadian Affair is now only Air Transat planes. They are using a nice fleet of A330's that all have seat back AV systems, 'boutique' cabin lighting and pretty good leg room allowance. I just flew in and out of Gatwick and it was much better than previous Canadian Affair flights and better than older generation AC/BA planes.
Yes, the travel price is still and probably always will be the hurdle though vs Europe.
Yup, luckily enough to be here for the next year or so on a working holiday visa. Will probably avoid the crowds this weekend (Opening day is this Saturday which is 2 weeks early) but then start getting some laps in during the week. Can't wait.
@P-jay - Canadian Affair is now only Air Transat planes. They are using a nice fleet of A330's that all have seat back AV systems, 'boutique' cabin lighting and pretty good leg room allowance.
Phew - I was starting to wonder!
@BearBack oh ARSE...
I mean I'm trying to tell myself I don't *need* to go again.... 😉
I'm not jealous
I'm not jealous
I'm not jealous
I'm not jealous
Re Crankworx, thanks for the info Bearback 🙂
Re Costs:
FWIW i've flown across to Van past 2 years, and already have flights for this summer, all were £650-£800. Think BA charge another £50 for an extra bag (bike counts as normal luggage allowance if 23kg... ish!, but you still need kit and clothes.)
I've been to both Morzine (week in summer)and Whistler (2wks in Autumn) the past 2 years, and whilst you can do a Morzine trip for the price of the flight alone, i'd still say it's worth heading to Whistler if you can stretch it. The riding is uncomparable in my opinion, and i've been late season when the Garb zone is only open at weekends previously.
If trying to minimise costs, a Sept/Oct trip is the way forward, weather has been ok, you can get an autumn bike park pass, think it was about £200 with unlimited riding from mid Sept to Mid Oct (close). If you're doing over a week it usually ends up cheaper, plus gives 10% food discount at GLC etc. Accom is also cheaper then, and the park is quiet during the week, and dead if it's raining!
Have fun planning your trip!
Going for 2 weeks in July!
Who are people using for insurance? Snowcard seem best but at 180 quid is pretty expensive!
Anyone tried the mens night/womans night coaching at Whistler?
What of level do they cater to?
Reviews?
Cheers
Anyone tried the mens night/womans night coaching at Whistler?What of level do they cater to?
Reviews?
Cheers
Very good by all accounts. I've not done one yet, but maybe go for a mens night at some point soon.
One of my flatmates recently bought an old Iron Horse 6" thing and has been to a couple of the womens nights and she really rated them. Coaching was apparently good and offered a fun progression from easy green runs to blue runs (b-line). Bare in mind she'd never ridden DH before so she was a total beginner. I've no idea if the coaching is as good when you get higher up the skill levels, but I may find out in the next couple of weeks.
Also, I had a sweet day today. Rode 7 laps in the park this morning, 3 laps of A Line (still casing a few of the bigger jumps), a couple of laps down Afternoon Delight, easy crank it up lap and a lap of Schlayer, which was everything a DH track should be imo. Then did a Toonie race in the evening ($2 entry, mass start, 300ish riders, free beer and nibble after) and all in glorious sunshine 😀
3 days booked in July with Bearback as part of a 3 weekTrans Canada train trip. 60th birthday prezzy.
Can't bloody wait
whatnobeer...
We all hate you a little right now! At least until a week today when I arrive!
If you do head to a coaching night before I arrive please send a wee update. I've been out the past 2 years but only for a week or so each trip, happy on A-line after a few laps but still not great on dirt merchant. So not sure if the coaching will be aimed more at newer folks (although i'm 100% that my basic skills would benefit from some correction...).
Also, give me a shout if you fancy a few laps/beers in the sunshine.
Pipiom, you'll love it!
Looking like 30deg next week, bit hot for my Scottish sensibilities.
We all hate you a little right now! At least until a week today when I arrive!If you do head to a coaching night before I arrive please send a wee update
...
Also, give me a shout if you fancy a few laps/beers in the sunshine....
Looking like 30deg next week, bit hot for my Scottish sensibilities.
Will do on both counts!
It was meant to be 28-30 degrees today as well but luckily the forecast was a little off and it was 'only' about 24. My 'any more white and I'd be translucent' skin was grateful :p
Alright folks
Managed to survive the first few days so I'm heading along to the mens night lesson tomorrow if anyone's around, plan to race wed too if the course isn't too deadly!
Been back over a week and still suffering from jetlag!
Or maybe it's just that I'm pining for the trails.
Must. Get. Back.
I had two days there. One doing 9 laps of the bike park, the other doing Green Lake/Lost Lake and Comfortably Numb.
Comfortably Numb was amazing (gently climbing for most of it). Just like the riding I like in the Peak District - only longer and tougher and in trees.
Managed to survive the first few days so I'm heading along to the mens night lesson tomorrow if anyone's around, plan to race wed too if the course isn't too deadly!
Awesome! I ended up doing a Worca Monday night ride instead of the mens night. The Phat Wednesdays DH races are great - Did my 1st one last week and met my aim of not finishing last (just). Seeing as you may as well become a Worca members, then there's also an XC race on Thursday thats worth doing if you like that sort of thing. Big pedal up to Business Time then down the top of that and AM/PM.
Just thought Id post my vid here from our holiday in July. Average riding but good times! 🙂
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/416652/