meloroast profile

Well this is the most sane thing I've read on here so far. Completely agree. Especially the first sentence...let's all take a breath.

Maps of Home is mesmerising. Thx for reco!

Great timely article! And if people are wondering which trails are wet weather friendly they are marked on Trailforks!

I like the look of the kneepads and that they extend a bit higher than most. But it almost seems like they are also shorter not extending over the shins quite as much as typical knee pads...

This is a great list thanks Pete! Even something like this list...a quick and dirty summary of some key resources for newbies would probably go a long way. I just added that book to my queue.

I totally agree. Part of the reason why I chimed in here was just because I enjoy the site a lot but am at a loss when it comes to some content. That's the growing space though. Just because a reader doesn't find content at their level doesn't mean a site should necessarily shift gears. :) 

At some point I'd like to think I will be able to get more out of the super nerdy content!

Yes absolutely I've been advocating for MBs to do a course unfortunately with Covid all the in person ones have been cancelled in the past year. I'll definitely be looking around though.

Just reserved it from the library! Thanks for the suggestion.

I totally agree. I can do some basic car maintenance now that I wish I had known about years ago. When you're at my level, it just all seems overwhelming. But I also have to choose to engage. That is on me.

Thanks Cam. I by no means think nsmb should deviate from its intention or current content. I enjoy reading the gear-head/techy comment sections and am often intrigued at the level of detail people get into. I too am a geek...just on different subjects! Part of it is my own reluctance and laziness...and no one else is responsible for that.  

There is a lot of content out there for the novice rider/wrencher...almost too much. And I think most of my questions would be best demonstrated in person vs an article. Part of it is just about me getting more comfortable with a foreign topic. 

I'll think about it though.

It's such a cool trail! We did a trail run down it and loved seeing all the relics. I'm pretty sure there was a skinny that ended with a significant drop and a tree right in front of it!

Posted by: syncro

It’s a shame GMG got taken back by the forest. Not really a secret trail, it was on maps for a long time.  There’s enough cedar in that zone to rebuild it if someone wanted to take it on. I think what killed it was the difficulty and the climb, not enough riders willing to go up there to ride it.

I would think with so many people I read on here complaining about not enough tech trails etc this would be a great option! Just a tiny bit further than 7th, I would think there could be some decent interest if a builder took it on.

Ted Lasso - really funny, light but smart (appletv)

For All Manking - historical fiction based on what may have happened if the space race had continued (appletv)

Mare of Easttown - most have probably heard of this already but a solid piece of police drama but also indirectly looks at the impacts of multi-generational family trauma (I think hbo max...I downloaded)

I Shouldn't Be Alive - I was a bit obsessed with this series for awhile. Real tales and depictions of people who almost perished in the wild...forest, desert, ocean. (YouTube)

Alone - great series where people are dropped in the middle of nowhere and have to survive with their 10 items for as long as they can. Patagonia, Vancouver Island, Arctic...really interesting look at solitude and survival skills. (Netflix US...I think I also downloaded some)

Posted by: Couch_Surfer

This’ll be interesting.  How do they distinguish between Bro-shuttlers and people with bike racks shopping?

At some store lots they have security guards roaming around actually looking at where people go and whether they go into the store. Wonder if that's what will happen here?

I've been working with First Nations all over BC for about 17 years now (6 as a consultant and 11 for federal gov) and while I am by no means an authority on things Indigenous, what I have learned is that every organisation I've worked for continues to have inherently racist attitudes and policies wrt FNs. Every year I tell myself I have to leave, but I keep at it. Not sure why other than sometimes I feel like working from the inside may be more effective than from the outside. But banging your head against a brick wall really wears at you.

At least at this point in my career I voice my perspectives freely and call bullshit when I see it (not always well received). But let me be clear...reconciliation is a politically motivated shell game with no teeth. The government does not want to give up any control or actually engage in developing frameworks for shared or collaborative decision-making. They think FNs will walk away if we through enough cash and pomp and circumstance their way. They won't, and they shouldn't. But I do not blame them for taking the little being offered.

I was involved in an initiative where basically all we wanted to do was codify already existing shared decision-making protocols and even that was halted because they didn't want put it on paper for everyone to see and for us to be bound by (i.e., wanted to be able to renege on the few collaborative processes we have with FNs). I've also seen executives put their 'spin' on interpreting a legal agreement with a FN group because they didn't want to collaborate anymore (i.e., cough cough Harper gov). The layers of bullshit are flabbergasting.

I pay in cash (NSMBA annual membership) and sweat (trail building days). I think both are essential and should be mandatory BUT obviously not enforceable which is also a model I support. 

I put in a lot of trail building hours last year for the first time in my 6 years of riding and I loved it, made great friends, and learned a TON about the trails that have actually helped my riding. Highly recommend it if you can.

Totally depends on mood, energy level, time to ride, and whether I'm riding solo or w group/friend for me. I live at Mtn Hwy/Lynn Valley Rd so Fromme is closest but Seymour is up there and I also love heading to Squamish for the day. I've ridden SFU, Sumas, Burke etc but North Shore/Squamish are my favs. 

Locally, if I'm kinda tired from work sometimes I prefer the mtn hwy climb as a mindless grind. Sometimes I want to ride something familiar vs a trail with a lot more features I'm working on and have ridden less. My approach this year is to try new trails so I have more of a range to pick from. 

Vibe is also a factor...east Seymour (Old Buck) feels different from Hyannis entry etc. I definitely tap into intuition more than anything, especially if solo riding. 

But to answer your question...no! Live your life, ride your bike.

I'm over 40 so when AZ was available I registered at about 7 pharmacies in North Van. Nothing. Most of my friends ended up calling small pharmacies within the day of the announcement and got in. 

I work in the Aldergrove 2 days/week and my boss there told me later that week, he got an appointment at a local Shoppers so I stopped by on my way home...asked if they were taking walk-ins, they said yes! I waited 10min, got my shot, 15min wait then was on my way! Total of 30min! Couldn't believe it!

Well the good news is these encounters are rare and hopefully will remain so. I've been trail running and mtb-ing on the north shore for 7 years now and can count on one hand the negative experiences I've had, even in the past year given the huge increase in volume. Ya, there are the occasional grumpy or rude faces, but generally whenever I encounter another user group, everyone goes through the Canadian stand-off routine (please go ahead! no you! no you!) and we continue on our merry way. If anything, I've had more annoying experiences with other riders when I'm riding (people riding my ass and not asking to pass - riders taking a break, see me coming, then jump in to be ahead of me even though I've got momentum and speed on my side etc). 

Only thing I can do is be as courteous and nice as I can and remember that humans will be humans and the only thing I can control are my own actions. It can be frustrating but I don't wanna give others the power to ruin my trail time. 

I'll also be on that call this week and I hope the parking restrictions don't come back, mainly because it just pushes people further down the block resulting in a never-ending NIMBY scenario.

Posted by: Sethimus

Posted by: RAHrider

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: cerealkilla_

I agree with this. I think responsible people here drag themselves over coals trying to avoid looking like they are flaunting rules while doing something with no real risk of transmission if they aren't riding with others. This while others are doing crossfit, going to the gym, dining out - all in groups that include people outside their bubble. Unfortunately, Bonnie needs to set aggressive standards because despite telling us not to, I still see groups of riders who definitely aren't all from the same bubble riding together.

why is it possible to even doing these things?

gyms and restaurants are closed here since october? you can order take out, that’s it. yet, our numbers are also climbing again. because our fucking politicians can‘t get around closing EVERYTHING down for some weeks. work and open schools are too important for them, yet this are the places most infections occur now.

It's very possible! Gyms and restos have been open since October (yoga studios on/off). I don't know about private gyms but the North Van community centre gyms have remained open since last year. Last time I was there was in the fall and you had to wear a mask until you got to your 'station' (treadmill/bike/rack etc) but then could take it off. As you can imagine, most people just weren't masking at all once they walked in. This is why I haven't gone back, especially now. A friend who attends a CrossFit gym in Squamish has also continued to go, they minimise heavy cardio stuff and make folks do that outside. Not something I wouldn't feel safe doing that but definitely lots of people do.

Also patios are open and have been the whole time (well since summer 2020 anyway).