bingobus profile

Hi Pete, I can add a few things to the history of the area having been involved there from the very early days building trails and hosting events that Chris and Andy would race as juniors. First thing though tweed fabric was named after the Tweed Valley which is named after the river Tweed which runs through it and had done for a few thousand years before textile factories arrived! When you crossed from the village to Traquair that was the river Tweed beneath the bridge. A few years ago it flooded and washed away all the huts in the parking lot there which is why they are up on the side of the hill now...

The first trails cut in the area were approved and signed off on by the forestry and not rogue trails. I have no doubt they began to exist not long after but those first ones were cut explicitly for organised DH racing with forestry approval, we may have not strictly stuck to the remit of what was allowed to be constructed but the courses were checked and signed off on while they turned a blind eye to the chainsaws. At the time Forrestry Commision of Scotland were under pressure to sell their interests to private hands unless they could prove that the land was being used and of value to the public and so were keen to encourage recreation to protect their holdings. The golfie, Traquair and Cardrona consequently had trails built and held some of the earliest DH in Scotland. Glentress was already well used for hiking and xc at this time and later became the main focus of development by the forestry investing their own time and money into the trails. A publicly funded trail network inspired by the success of the UKs first trail center on the Welsh coast at Coed y Brenin!

The prize for actual first DH however goes to an event held in Innerleithen on the glofie side by John and Andrew of The Bicycleworks in around '94, more of a Mammoth mountain fire road descender style event won by Jonathan Mcbain.

If you base yourself in Squamish, where there is probably has the largest network of local trails, there is a bike bus service called Squamish Rides that can take you to Van, Pemby or Whistler daily. Interior is amazing, save that for when your buddies come and then roadtrip it.

I  bought an XL 29er in June and am finding a lot of the shore, including tight turns, easier. As others have said I think being on the tall side at 6'2" its just having I have a bike that fits me that makes the difference. R&R is still 50/50 despite being a good few cm longer. 

I also recently installed my first set of 800mm bars and now the bike doesn't fit out the door.

Neds Atomic Dustbin. 

Too easy.

Sticks and Stones from the end of Salamander might be good, there's plenty of punchy short climbs in it but that means when you're done its really not far back up Bridal to the top.

Posted by: BigFoot

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: FLATCH

syncro, i always appreciate your level headed view points, but riding up an obvious downhill trail is just plain wrong for anybody. perhaps downhill trails could be better marked in heavily used regions.

Thanks FLATCH, but I disagree with you here as it's not a black and white issue. I agree with you that there are circumstances and trails where it shouldn't be done, but you can't make a blanket statement that any trail used for going downhill should never be ridden uphill. I appreciate you used a qualifier and said "obvious" downhill trail, but what that means to you and what it means to someone else may be two very different things. 

Where the convo gets really dicey is when ebikes are added to the mix. What was once unrideable in an uphill direction is now accessible with the addition of the juice. So yeah in that respect there are situations where it becomes downright dangerous to both riders for someone to ride up a primarily downhill trail. That's part of why we need a set of rules on riding etiquette for all trail users.

Well said, a few " Downhill only, riding uphill is prohibited" at the bottom or " This trail is used in both directions, downhill has right of way" at the top would work wonders, if enforced.

This creates an issue as standard trail etiquette is that uphill has right of way on multi direction trails. I'd hate to lose that privilege because someone else has a motor unless we start designating downhill primary multi direction trails. That might be too many words for a sign or us dim folk.

Good point nouseforaname. The drivers are WAY more respectful.

The coast road along from West Van to Horseshoe Bay is a really nice ride but not as quiet as you might hope for a windy ride, I liked the road from the base of Seymour out to Indian Arm though that ones fairly short but more Zen. My old stomping grounds were the Lothians and Borders so maybe just spoiled, maybe see half a dozen cars on a 3 hour ride once you're out the city! Definitely worth bringing a bike for transport as it's really well set up for bike roaming/commuting around here. Bike theft is high here though so you may want to pick up a junker too for getting around (pub). You can also take your bike on the bus to most of the mountains, depending on where you end up this can be a good option.

As someone who has done what your are about to do here is my experience. Bike clubs don't exist as you know them, there are no local teams, clubs or group rides. There are organisations which offer social rides usually of a entry level ability. Some road race teams do exist but the one's I'm aware of are more of a closed shop deal.  

Road riding is very poor in Vancouver, there are next to no back roads, B roads or quiet country lanes. Partly due to geography and I'd guess partly due to the short history and heavy car reliance of the area. Fairly much all rides involve moderate to heavy traffic unless you start an hour or so down the valley where the roads tend to be on a grid layout and relatively flat. You really you need a car to go road riding, weird. I gave up road riding after a while due to the conditions here but I think a gravel bike might be a pretty good option to hit up the many forestry roads if you're in Van proper.

You have the right bike to start exploring the trails, there is very little in the way of DH trails and pretty much no XC around Vancouver. Trails tend to be a bit rougher with no crazy big stunts like there used to be though you can find that if you want. Uphill trails have only recently became a thing - the shore was founded on shuttling and big bike trails - and as such are not as numerous as you might like. There aren't really big loops to try but rather go up the climb and pick your descent from many and repeat. And don't forget the elevation difference, there are mountains here not hills. Climbs are long.

I'm sure somebody will jump in to correct or refute my points but this was/is my experience as a former UK resident. Find a group of friends with a similar ability and go ride, the Shore is bloody ace mate.

I hope that if there is concern over what's built we don't just abandon the trail. That's a sanctioned and legitimate way down the hill. If it has to be flattened out so be it, a trail that's not what you want is better than no trail at all.

Flying Circus is not too bad for accessabilty, Walk in the Clouds however, I didn't want to proceed up after 20 feet. That one is well gone.