AlanB profile

I've heard that many espresso machine techs are former bike wrenches. I get it. Both jobs are driven by passion.

3 days left!

Sigh. 13+ years and still waiting for Cypress.

Here's hoping 2021 will be the year we finally get authorization for a reasonable start on the trails.

The triangular holes look great for collecting soil samples on your way downhill. Are they easy to clean? Hose down

Glucosamine Sulphate worked for my carpal tunnel. It's worth trying for a month.

Talking to staff at the hut, they're serious about closing trails. RCMP have been called in and I heard they had an incident with a mtn biker this weekend. Don't be surprised if someone is handing out tickets on the trails.

So sweet!

The long slab in the middle of Green Monster is a personal fav. It goes on for s-o-o-o long, every inch feeling like you're on the edge of losing traction. Kudos to Toby for the trail.

Riding is a big part of my health, both physical and mental, which is why I'll keep riding. Toning down the level of difficulty is wise, but there is always risk with mtn biking, as I was reminded yesterday. On a green trail, 100 m from the end of the ride I crashed and scraped my elbow!

Stay safe. Enjoy your social isolation in the woods.

All the buckets in the video gave me a good chuckle.  That sums up building on the Shore so well. Buckets, buckets and more buckets!

Thanks for the support. Maybe there will be an agreement for Cypress in time for 2021,

The old Stairs Of Despair brought much joy and adrenaline in the days before suspension, back when my only armour was a stem pad. Getting down them wasn't the scary part, it was negotiating the left turn at the bottom!

Posted by: S4d33

Thanks for the update. Knew it was happening with losing the lower trails, but still just brutal. 

There's support for trails leading into Cypress Village, but the question is what that will look like.

The last thing we want is a single flow trail mixing fast riders with beginners. To keep everyone happy and the trails safe, there needs to be some separation.

I hear the chiropractors are busier than ever with everyone spending too much time on Zoom and not enough being active.

Bump! Last weekend to do the survey. It closes on Monday.

Please support a mix of recreation & conservation in the Eagleridge lands.

The 2,500 units versus 3,500 units question has incomplete information. All parties support protecting ALL of Eagleridge. The question is more about timing, protect it all now or half now and half later.

Personally, I am confident that the second half will be protected with the Cypress West project.

There was news on two separate issues yesterday, both good and great.

1 - The good news is that West Van released a survey on Cypress Village. This means they're moving forward with planning that brings us closer to authorized mtb trails.

2 - The great news is they also approved BPP setting up the Cypress Pop-Up Village Park at the first switchback on the former McGavin Field site. In addition to more parking, public washrooms, a sales presentation centre and a coffee shop (in a container), what makes this great is that there will be a bike station including a bike wash!

Having the developer go out of their way to invite mtn bikers onsite is the best indication yet that they want mtn biking to be part of Cypress Village. Personally, I'm thrilled!

More details will be shared at the NSMBA AGM next week on Thursday, Nov 26 at 5:30.  In the meantime, please complete the survey and give your honest opinions. It doesn't matter if you live in West Van or not.

Rule #1 - When you ride up to a stunt you can see the future. If you don't see yourself riding off it cleanly, then don't do it!

Rule #2 - It's not what you can ride, it's when you can ride it.

Agreed, craw. Look at the map in my July 13 post and notice the difference between "Neighbourhood" hiking/biking trails and "Enhanced" hiking/biking trails.

West Van Planning is working on Planning Principles for Cypress Village. It needs work on supporting recreation, including bouldering, hiking, bird watching and biking.

Here are my suggestions. What would you like to see?

1) Support and enhance existing recreational uses in the Cypress Village area. 

2) Maintain the existing recreational experience above the 1,200 foot contour. 

3) Work toward recognition and long term maintenance of existing recreational facilities above the 1,200 foot contour.

Posted by: Kieran

I care a great deal for the trails on all of Cypress. But let's face it, once they start developing then no matter how much opposition there is they are going to do their thing. Money talks.

Last year they were doing an open day type thing at the bottom, I was talking to some dude in charge and he was saying how he enjoyed biking, then he described what rode, I left pretty down.

The only trails they are going to allow in any of the village areas are going to be gravel, with the odd steps, like those on stupid grouse, which are pretty boring.

For trails west of the first switchback, you could be right. However lands further east are too steep for development. Think S&M and Trunk Monkey.

The 2016 visioning process by BPP included images such as this for lands below 1200 ft.

My biggest concern is that lands above 1200 ft are excluded from any consideration during Cypress Village consultations. This would leave the trails higher than Fernie dangling in the wind for another decade!

What do you think? How much do you care about Are the trails above 1200 ft worth fighting for?

The process is going to be very different from Rodgers Creek, which had long and public Working Group. Also public engagement is going to be tricky during the pandemic. (The timing is courtesy of the District, not BPP.)  

In August they're planning "facilitated  engagement sessions with the public", likely done virtually, and a survey. What's in the survey will be important. I have a feeling that recreation has slipped under the radar and needs to be emphasized.