Mountain Bike Skills Training Camp in British Columbia, July 2012
Update!
As of today, Feb 20, it looks like the trip is NOT going to happen.
Why?
Because there has been a lot of interest from riders but only two who have offered up deposits to go. If I leave it too much later we will be unable to hire an appropriate van.
So if you have been considering going - you need to commit now.
Some people ride a cross-country bike for years without really expanding their abilities or increasing their speed once they hit the intermediate plateau. A well-known method of gently pushing people to a new level of ability is to spend some time riding down hills. One difficulty with going down a hill is that first you have to get up to the top of it. In this camp riders will spend more than 40 hours riding down hills across 3 weeks - try doing that when you have to ride back up each time.
Enter the chairlift. Yes you can go to Thredbo for some really good descending, but one key problem with Thredbo is the lack of easier trails - or really the lack of trails at all. Thredbo is a one-trail venue and that trail is quite difficult.
That is why this training camp will be held in British Columbia, Canada. The province has more mountain biking of all descriptions than any other location I know of, including 7 ski hills with summer mountain bike parks. Whistler is the best-known bike park in the world (for good reasons too) but the others offer fantastic riding as well.
I grew up in this part of the world and still love driving around in the Rocky Mountains. The scenery is epic, the encounters with wildlife frequent, the experience wonderful. Our chosen route is a circuit so each drive is across new terrain and brings new scenery to remember.
The Trip
Based on my 2010 trip the itinerary has been revised. This year we learned that this DH thing is hard on the body and the bike and more frequent rests are required. Plus lots of sleep. Riding for 5 hours and then driving for 5 hours makes for a very tired person, even if they are just a passenger in the vehicle.
Meet the group, maximum 10 students, in Vancouver on Thursday July 26. Drive to our first destination (~7 hours).
Friday 27 to Wednesday 1 ride Silver Star. Planned rest day on Sunday.
Thursday 2 drive and rest (~7 hours).
Friday 3 to Sunday 5 ride Panorama.
Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 ride Kicking Horse (it is so close to Panorama that we don’t need a whole drive day).
Wednesday 8 drive and rest (~6 hours).
Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 ride Sun Peaks.
Sunday 12 drive and rest (~6 hours).
Monday 13 to Friday 17 ride at Whistler (with option for a rest day here at any point).
Departures from Friday 17 August (or you can stay at Whistler for some riding on your own).
The Costs
With volatile fuel prices and exchange rates this is going to change between now and the trip. Based on current exchange rates and current bike park costs the ground transportation, accommodations, lift tickets and instructions will be $4000-$4500 per person.
Each rider is then responsible for getting to Vancouver with an appropriate bicycle and for their food and incidental costs while in BC. As of July 2011, air travel on Air Canada (the only airlines with a non-stop flight from Sydney to Vancouver) is approximately $2300 per person. You will also require appropriate travel insurance.
The Bike
There are several traits that these bike parks have in common.
They are generally quite tall (between 300 and 1000 metres vertical).
They are generally quite steep (the gentle descents are 15% slope, some approach 100% slope).
They have a variety of large bumps on them.
An appropriate bike for riding on these trails has at least 7 inches of travel. A full downhill race bike is not inappropriate! Don’t even think about bringing your 5-inch travel trail bike or your 6-inch travel all-mountain bike.
In addition to a long-travel bike you will need some protective gear: knee pads, elbow pads, torso protection and a full-face helmet. The idea behind wearing this is that you don’t pay a big price for a little error in judgement.
Logistics
Air Canada flies into Vancouver from Sydney every day, arriving at 730AM. If you chose to fly another carrier you would need to be in Vancouver early July 26.
Air Canada departs Vancouver bound for Sydney every day just before midnight. If you needed to be back at work on Monday 20 August, it is only a 2.5 hour drive from Whistler to the airport for a Friday evening departure (which arrives in Sydney on Sunday morning).
People will be carried in a 12 passenger van driven by me (wearing my tour guide hat). Bikes will be carried in a cargo van driven by my assistant.
Most of the bike parks have all kinds of accommodation. The quoted price is based on 2 or 3 apartment style units allowing one bed per person but necessitating sharing bed and bath rooms with your fellow travellers.
