What bike for BC?

Taking a two week trip to BC later this summer. Riding with an old friend who lives there and his gang. We'll be taking in Whistler, Silver Star, Squamish, the North Shore etc. There'll be climbing as well as ski lifts and shuttling. What type of bike, i.e. DH or 6/7' 'trail'/'park', would suit best? Two chainrings or one? I'm a bit concerned about keeping up with the locals on their DH bikes, but I need something I can ride everywhere.

What a dilemma!

santa cruz bullit

Cheers. Maybe I should clarify. My 2006 Enduro, a 2010 SX Trail or a 2010 Demo 8?

SX Trail.

2 rings and bash, with a Dually Chain Device.

Would be bang on I reckon.

FWIW When I went to BC, I took my 130mm forked HT and rented a bike for the Bike Park.

Cool. Thanks. I realise you 'can' ride everything on a basic bike, but I want to have fun and keep up with the locals. I'm already veering towards the SX, and it would be more use to me back here, a Demo would be no use to me in the UK.

Essex Trail.

You don't need a big bike in Squamish unless you want to hit some of the old school features, Silverstar is good fun on a 4X bike so I'm sure the SX would be good there, climbing up Fromme will be a bitch on a Demo (although I drag my Session 10 up there sometimes…), which leaves Whistler and Seymour / Cypress shuttles which ideally you'd like the Demo, but again the SX would still be fine.

sx would do the trick nicely, be almost perfect actually

I've done, and enjoyed, everything you mention on an '08 Patriot, Van 36s and a coil rear. From North Shore and long double-black descents through to 7-hour Chilcotin epics (which did leave me knackered). Enjoy yourself – it's mint out there.

SX,

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://darrenberrecloth69.com/wp-content/uploads/bikecheck-2006.jpg&imgrefurl=http://darrenberrecloth69.com/page/4/%3Fs%3Dwp&h=332&w=500&sz=68&tbnid=yYynl7EiAMHe-M:&tbnh=86&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddarren%2Bberrecloth&hl=en&usg=__6VXtdFnG3H1bdIE7zd90WQOu5sU=&ei=gZ3_S96uKKmR4gbJiPTLDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=8&ct=image&ved=0CDYQ9QEwBw

Darren Berrecloth does a bit of riding out there….

I did most of my riding there on my on one inbred – you won't keep up with the locals so don't bother trying

Thanks for the input everybody. I'm pretty much decided to go with the SX. Obviously I'm not going to be leading the locals down everything, but seeing as I'm riding with a bunch of them I'll need a bike that gives me a fighting chance.

There's always somebody who say 'On-One Inbred' but it wouldn't be STW if they didn't…

I just built up my Voltage FR as my Squamish shuttle bike. 36 floats and RP23. Dont need much more than that in Squamish unless you're doing things that ultimately really hurt when you get them wrong.

Most fun I've had on the shore was on a 100mm Blizzard hardtail. But then I've had lots of fun ripping on the Gambler as well.

Of all your bikes, I'd lean towards the SX trail.

In all honesty though, if you don't bring the Demo, is there any point in having one.

Sounds like it'll be a superb trip!

Enjoy

I don't own either the SX or the Demo, but I have the choice of being able to take one. As it is I went for the SX. Thanks for your help everyone.