Im going to be in Vancouver. Is the north shore riding area suitable for me? ie someone old and very much wheels on the ground and easily scared😜
Seems daft to be in the area and not go to such an iconic locatio
Is bike hire available?
Is the north shore riding area suitable for me?
Difficult to tell, tbh. Whilst there are some relatively "easy" trails, you gotta understand that the standard of riding locally is generally pretty high and you ain't a young wiper snapper 😉 so you won't bounce when you eventually crash 😄
Is bike hire available?
Yes, https://www.endlessbiking.com/ is the go-to place for rental.
Will you have a rental vehicle you can put a bike in? If so, that opens opportunities to explore more. Otherwise, local buses all have two bike racks on front and you can get to some of the trailheads by bus (but keep in eye on the rack as bikes have been stolen off the front rack before)
Head for Mt Seymour rather than Fromme, there are more blues and greens over there. Best advice is either download Trailforks, and use that to navigate, or find a rental shop and follow their advice. But it's still grinding up either logging roads or paved roads and coming straight (more or less) down the side of the mountain. The blues will mostly be on the ground riding but you may come across the occasional optional jump, but reds will have jumps and blacks will have drops skinnies, are that shit. FS recommmended.
I aint riding no high skinnies😜
Ta for the info.
BTW, helmets are mandatory in BC 😉
All the "circus tricks" stuff where the skinny is a a badly suspended log 20ft in the air that ends with 10ft huck to flat has all mostly rotted away of been taken down as it was frankly ****ing dangerous, and unridable. All the skinnies there now are a couple of feet of the ground max, and most are on the ground and are an option along-side a bit of trail. They're actually quite fun.
Still; slippery as **** if there's been rain though, so there's that.
Vlad. I wear a helmet at trail centres.
Ta again
If you're using trailforks be aware that red and black are the other way round in Canada. Black = single black, red = double black.
First time I rode out there I decided to take a red back to the carpark for a chilled last lap, It wasn't!
Also Van has had biblical rain over the last couple of days, so it will be gopping out there.
If you rent a bike, e-bike might be a good move for you as the climbing can sap your energy quickly as most of the trails are accessed of pretty brutal climbs. Save your energy for the descents - thank me later...
Agree with most of what has been written. The classic 'easy' lap on Fromme might be something like Seventh Secret -> Leopard -> Crinkum Crankum.
From memory (god, it was 8 years ago) those trails didn't have any mandatory wheels off the ground, but there were still some precision steep moments (and I think Seventh has had some spicy looking woodwork/rock roll added although this looked optional).
I could honestly recommend just hiking up Fromme, I spent a lot of time doing so when injured or bikeless. The mego old-school gnarly trails can still be found (e.g. Flying Circus, Jerry Rig) and as a sort of heritage tour are well worth a hike. You can even continue on to Grouse Mountain ski resort and get a gondola down to save your knees, or for a bigger and maybe more satisfying day, get the bus to the bottom of Grouse, find the Flint and Feather trail (or follow the crowds up the Grouse Grind, as a social event it's pretty cool) and THEN hike forest roads towards Fromme. You can connect with Dreamweaver (a really cool log bridge across a river at one point) which bisects Jerry Rig so you can still follow some legitimate gnar back down.
Then go ride some Blues and Greens on Seymour 😎
...actually, maybe ignore my advice re: Dreamweaver etc. as I can't identify on the map or on Strava how I used to link it up, not a place to get lost!
also Dreamweaver DOESN'T bisect Jerry Rig, not sure why I thought it did. 🙄
Funkydunc. Gonna spend a few days there
TJ - You can bus up to Port Hardy from Nanaimo. If you're pressed for time you can attempt to hike/hitchhike to San Josef Bay although there is also a bus service for the North Coast Trail hikers. From San Josef I think it was a reasonably easy day's hike to one of the main campsites on the North Coast trail
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=59061
My pal there took me on a very enjoyable slightly tech trail at the North Shore, we passed lots of the high stuff which was really cool to see but no way I'd ride it.
Had a few great days at Whistler but too early for that I guess? I got guided round some trails out with the resort which were lower and had some wood - I enjoyed them more than the resort stuff tbh.
Good Sir Martin is the obvious regular mortal's highlight . long trail that goes top to bottom. it's 10-15 mins long depending on your need for speed, couple of drops, a jump and a ladder roll - all of which are avoidable. Then Upper John Deere and John Deere as well I guess. If anyone tells you that Boogieman is for you, maybe hold off till you get your eye in...
If you can get up to squarmish for a day it's well worth it. Specialized demo shop does really well set up bikes at very competitive rates, lots of signed trails. There's plenty of blues and greens around
Good Sir Martin is the obvious regular mortal’s highlight . long trail that goes top to bottom. it’s 10-15 mins long depending on your need for speed
Lol, that trail is the designated climbing trail...
Really, I thought that was the one I came down?
I suspect you went up Sir Martin and down John Deer - Sir Martin is very much a climbing trail.
Really, I thought that was the one I came down?
You might have. Were there a lot of pissed off locals climbing up but tutting at you?😄
John Deere crosses GSM so that might have confused you.
I maybe doing him a disservice here, but I've never got the impression TJ shreds the gnar, so I'd err on the side of caution when recommending trails...
If you fancy a gravel ride while on the North Shore, Fishermans Trail - Spur 4 - Seymour Valley Trailway is a pleasant loop.
If you fancy a gravel ride while on the North Shore, Fishermans Trail – Spur 4 – Seymour Valley Trailway is a pleasant loop.
+1...
I’ve not ridden on the North Shore so can’t make specific recommendations, but B.C. trails are generally scarier than trail with the same grade in other areas
this article suggests some easy trails.
easy is a relative term, of course. Use YouTube to watch footage of the trails that you’re considering. A blue (intermediate) trail may surprise you with how steep and technical it is.
grading goes, green, blue, black then red.
id recommend some knee and elbow pads.
but I’ve never got the impression TJ shreds the gnar,
You would be right 🤣
Another vote for Squamish if you can get there (one hour very scenic drive north). The trails around Alice Lake should just be open and there's something for everyone there.
Rob's corners. rollercoaster, man boobs, Pseudo Tsuga, 50 shades of Green are all fantatsic
Finish up with a burger and beer at the A Frame brewery
The Specialized demo center in Squamish mentioned is 'closed for the winter', which in Specialized speak means closed forever. Ridehub does loads of rentals if you end up in Squamish.
Fromme is an easier climb than Seymour. Leppard, Crinkum Crankum, Kirkford, Roadside Attraction / Upper Griffen is good 'XC way down the mountain as mentioned above.
A more direct way down would be 7th Secret to Expresso. Everyone's abilities are different but I wouldn't call this route 'hard'. Loads of different people ride Expresso in particular. There's one or two techy corners on 7th but nothing you can't walk down easily if needed. Or you can do 7th and straight into Leppard and then down that way. That would be the best bang for your buck.
If you do head up to 7th Secret, you will pass the entrance to Upper Oil Can. If you stand at this entrance, look to the right (back where you came from) a few feet (maybe 10, I can't remember now. It's right next to UOC) you'll see the remains of the entrance to Flying Circus. If you'd like a North Shore history lesson, I strongly recommend pushing your bike into there and hiding it out of sight, and take a walk down for a few minutes (the bike will be safe). Everything is falling / fallen down but it's still nuts to see.
Glad the OP asked this question. I’m in Vancouver now and I’m very much a wheels on the ground rider in my mid 50s. Have hired a hardtail on Endless Cycles for Friday and planning some of the gravel roads like fisherman’s trail and some of the blue / green trails. On holiday so don’t want to get hurt! Any advice welcome and will report back if I survive.
I remember riding tje ridiculator on the flying circus and diggers drop. Been years since I've been there
Hi, local here. Moved couple of years ago from the UK.
I’d say that I’d be happy to meet up and show you around…but my frame is currently cracked and unsure when the warranty will appear. If you have any questions though, happy to answer/offer advice.
Both Fromme and Seymour are excellent. I’d say I tend to prefer Seymour if I’m feeling energetic, as the climbs are harder work/more twisty singletrack. Fromme is typically one long fire road (unless you fancy the climbing route, which is great but looooong). Fromme is also a little easier to navigate. Use Trailforks, but beware of the grading systems.
Although the trails are generally harder for the grade, I’d say it’s quite rare that there’s mandatory off-ground time below hard black/double black. Typically the difficulty comes from steep, awkward or high commitment/exposure moves. Think rock chutes, slabs, rooty mess, skinnies, ladders etc. The NSMBA do a good job maintaining the trails, but also ensuring they’re accessible for everyone, often installing with B-lines or ride arounds. Some call is “sanitising”, but they do great work. The riding style is very different to the UK, and you can really see why in the mid 00’s bikes (high, short, big travel) developed to get around the awkward, steppy, chunky trails.
Generally I’d encourage you to pick a few popular trails to ride and have fun/play it by ear. The forests are lovely places to explore and very different to the typical Forestry Commission plantation.
Lastly, watch out for bears. Just make sure you know what to do if you meet one. The black ones are nice….the brown ones (you won't see one)….less so.
Bears?!?!?
Here's a suggestion for a hardtail/gravel ride:
From Endless Biking, make your way into Bridgeman Park and then Inter River park then pick up Seras trail and Richard Juryn access, Lillooet Parallel trail then the Gravel Connector.
This will give you a relatively mellow gravel route to Seymour Valley trail - SVT is a tarmac, traffic free route. When the trail crosses the dam access road (about 10km, you'll see the no public access signs) go straight across and almost down to the river level and pick up the Old Growth trail.
At the end of the Old Growth trail, go up/left to the dam gates (great views!).
Reverse the last bit back to top end of Old Growth and then cross river on Bear Island Bridge trail then follow Spur 4 service road south (may be some dam related traffic but otherwise car free) which takes you down to Fisherman's trail which is gradually downhill following the river, then Riverside road back to civilization. There are cycles paths more or less back to Endless....
(That's about 35-40km and 500m climbing max)
None of that is particularly technical and if you're feeling energetic you can also add in the Hydraulic trail to the view point (short out and back part way along Seymour Valley trail) and/or you could climb up Bridle trail to Hyannis to access some proper mountain bike trails (High School League and Greenland are easy and maybe Bottle top - the latter is steeper, more eroded and has some exposure)
All of this is on Trailforks and pretty obvious when you look at the map.
There are bears, they'll be waking up around now. If you see one, just be loud, let them know you're there, give them space and keep clear. If you see/hear cubs, go the other way and keep a keen eye out for mum.
Thank you so much for the advice and sorry for hijacking the thread
No worries about hijacking. All good info for me and others. Ill be down that way in 10 days or 2 weeksish
Wow that’s a life long ambition done. Despite riding and bumbling about like someone that had never been on a bike before rode High School league, Hyannis, Bridle Path, Bottletop and a few others. Accidentally rode down Applicator which is a proper black trail but the highlight was Ned’s Atomic Dustbin. Added on a ride up Seymour Valley and back down Fisherman’s path so did just over 30 very hard miles. Thanks all for the advice.
Nice, glad you had fun!
Did you climb up Penny Lane - Good Sir Martin? It really is a work of art.
I did, it was quite a climb and the locals ride like gods.
Looks like ill be over that way middle of the week. Looking forward to it and a bit scared😜🙄🤣
Im sitting in the sunshine drinking craft beer. Not ale unfortunately but is ok.
3 days to spend in Vancouver. Im a bit culture shocked being in a city again. Hopefully gonna meet a couple of STWers to go riding on Saturday. What else should i do? Im based in north Vancouver for the few days. Worth a bike to get around the city?
If you want to be truly culture shocked, you should go to East Hastings Street / Main Street.
In all seriousness, you could hire a bike and ride around the 'Seawall'. Either around Stanley Park, or head around to Science World area or even on to Kitsilano. It's a nice ride if the weather is good. Don't leave the bike unattended or it will get stolen.
If you can hire a bike in North Van, you can take it on the Seabus at the bottom of Lonsdale which takes you into the city center, or ride over Lions Gate Bridge which takes you to Stanley Park mentioned above.
Ta
I concur with Walleater! There's also several places to rent city bikes near the entrance to Stanley Park (eg corner of Denman and Georgia St).
Lots of buses from North Shore go over Lions Gate bridge, thru Stanley Park and onto Georgia St so it's pretty easy to get to on public transport.
On the North Shore itself, I'd suggest getting up to top of Grouse Mountain (hike up Grouse Grind if feeling VERY energetic) or via cable car but only do it if it's a clear day.
Great views over the city Vancouver Island and into Washington State/Mount Baker. It's also impressive at night.
Or if you've rented a car, drive up Cypress and/or Seymour mountain
I wouldn't bother with Capilano Suspension bridge (one of the major tourist traps and expensive) but Lynn Canyon suspension is popular and free.
Buses go to both (and the bottom of Grouse Mountain)
Get down to Deep Cove if you can and head to Honeys Donuts. Think kayak hire is back open again now, which is lovely early morning.
Lynne Canyon is like the free version of Capilano Suspension Bridge. You can get the bus up there easily.
Likewise, the Cleveland Dam and the Capilano river gorge near the hatchery is very cool. Just between Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mt. gondola (arguably better than both)
I wouldn't bother with Capilano Suspension Bridge, it's fine, but it's mega expensive and not all that exciting.
Out in West Van, Lighthouse Park is cool and very close to one of my favourite bike cafes, Isetta Cafe. A bus runs along Marine Drive.
You can catch the shuttle bus up Seymour and do one of the short hikes out to the viewpoints, like Dog Mountain trail. There will be snow/slush, so microspikes might be a good idea. Maybe check AllTrails for a report, there's usually one every day or so. Likewise on Cypress (though unsure about bus).
Lonsdale Quay has lots of bars and restaurants and you can get the Seabus over to Downtown, then it's a pleasant walk along the water towards Stanley park....where you could hire a bike near Denman st. Seawall is One-way for bikes though! If you walk it, it's about 10km just around the park.
Watch out around the East of Gas Town. It's not dangerous as such, but it can be quite intimidating. It's very sad, and significantly worse than anything found in the UK.
Hope you have a good trip!
You can pop your bike on the buses that run up some of the mountains if you want a cheeky shuttle session. Can't remember which ones worked like that though
Get down to Deep Cove if you can and head to Honeys Donuts. Think kayak hire is back open again now, which is lovely early morning.
And if you want to see some historical North Shore gnar it doesn't take much searching to find the Toonie Drop which is just uphill and across the road from the Deep Cove viewpoint (Quarry Rock)
I enjoyed lunching in that rotating high up restaurant. Some nice art deco around also. Very good sushi too.
I survived. Vlad the invader and tynemouthmatt very kindly showed me around. Rode some trails on Fromme this morning. I only remember Espresso i think and then the afternoon went to do the fishermans trail.
One fall. Two submissions and i feel like i have been beaten with a stick😜🙃🙄
😮
Excellent work that man. Net week TJ's YouTube of "Things that I taught Remi Mettier" 🤣
I loved the day I had up there, I should've really found some-one who rides regularly and had them show me around though, riding North Van blind with just Trailforks as a guide was "exciting" and not always in a good way...