For the Canadian, the biking fun ends where the gravel road begins. "It's a European thing" to ride on gravel roads, he says. The Canadian either leaves his car at the end of the trail or calls a shuttle bus when he returns to civilisation and the first gravel road after a three-day trail trip. Of course, if you have such epically long ribbons of trail leading through absolute wilderness right on your doorstep, you don't even have to bother with wide forest motorways.
Europeans, on the other hand, are mainly familiar with Canadian trails from freeride videos. The freeride pros shoot over massive carpets of roots, balance over rain-soaked, mossy wooden ladders that swing just the width of a tyre in the air and then drop into the metre-deep abyss, where they hit a wooden seesaw that shines like soft soap, accompanied by gentle beats. Not for me, says the European hobby biker, and rightly so.
Whistler: the largest and most famous bike park in the world
But even in Canada, not all bikers are born as Wade Simmons and Richie Schley. Here, too, only the pros dare to tackle the really tough North Shore passages shown in the films. The reality for normal bikers is different, namely gentle, epic, playful and - yes, this is where the term was born: flowy. Even in Whistler, the largest and most famous bike park in the world, there are trail descents that can be ridden by anyone. Not to mention the magnificent "loops" around Mount Whistler, which are no longer part of the park itself. What makes this bike park so famous is its versatility. The same applies to the other parks that have opened their lift doors to bikers in British Columbia. Almost every good ski resort offers trails for bikers in summer. With your lift ticket, you are given a map showing the downhill options, and hardly a year goes by without at least one new trail being added. The trail builders themselves are true masters. It really is all about flow here. The bends are designed in such a way that you don't have to brake, the ground is as if it has been swept smooth and the jumps are predictable. Even the best freeriders, who shoot themselves into the air over the monster tables on the "experts only" trails, get bright eyes when they talk about the perfectly shaped jumps and landings.
Flowing trails instead of gravel tracks
There are hardly any rough, blocked and bumpy descents like those on Lake Garda in British Columbia. Nevertheless, each of the 18 top spots in the country has its own character. So if you fly to Canada and only head for the "promised land" of Whistler, you haven't seen everything. The best thing to do is hire a car or campervan and plan a road trip to the best biking areas. But you'll be spoilt for choice. On the following pages you will find an overview of all the spots and everything you should have seen in British Columbia. "Must-see" because even in four weeks you can't cover all the highlights. After all, there is so much more to discover in this Canadian province - including the exact definition of the word "flow".
The 18 best MTB spots in British Columbia
British Columbia is home to the largest bike park in the world. But there is even more to discover in the Canadian province. Here are the 18 best spots.
1 Williams Lake
300 kilometres of trails around the city. The American bike magazine named this area on the Cariboo-Chilcotin coast the "Shangri-La of mountain biking". In any case, one of the largest trail networks in the country can be found here. Info: www.ridethecariboo.ca
2 Burns Lake
Trail area for beginners and advanced riders. The IMBA has created a large network of cross-country, freeride and downhill trails here in the north of the country with professional riders. Info: www.burnslaketrails.ca
3 Comox Valley
This spot on Vancouver Island is a scenic must. There are epic, earthy trails around giant trees and over boardwalks, chairlifts, guided tours, but also plenty of loops for experts (depending on the region). Plus delicious bakeries and restaurants - and trail maps in the bike shops! Info: www.cvmtb.com
4 Sooke
Deep in the rainforests of Vancouver Island, locals have created a network of trails that almost explodes with colour, especially in autumn, the "Indian summer". Info: www.mountainbikingbc.ca
5 Kamloops and Sun Peaks
Birthplace of the freeride sport itself and a living legend: Wade Simmons. Dusty, but also alpine, extremely technical trails await in an open landscape around the town. Sequences from the "Kranked" films were shot here. The most famous spots near the city: Sun Peaks Resort and Bike Ranch. Info: www.bikekamloops.com and www.sunpeaksresort.com
6 Shuswap Long
Backcountry trips through wild highland grassy hills. A total of 470 kilometres of the finest flow trails await you here. Info: www.shuswaptrails.com
7 Vernon and Silverstar
First enjoy the epic big mountain trips of Vernon, then head to the prairie landscape of Silverstar: a few wooden houses, cheaper and quieter than Whistler. Just park your camper and ride off. Huge berms, wall rides and jumps. 18 runs, day ticket 40 dollars. Info: www.skisilverstar.com and www.tourismvernon.com
8 Powell River
New insider tip from the locals in the Coast Mountains. The trails through the rainforest lead over lush forest floor, but also over often slippery roots. For technicians! Info: www.bikepowellriver.ca
9 Squamish
This favourite spot of many pros is located halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. The bike routes are fabulous, the soil is better than anywhere else and so is the flow. Trail tip: "Half Nelson". Ask for the routes in the bike shops! Info: www.squamishmountainbike.com
10 Whistler
The best and largest bike park in the world. Beginners should first try the "Crank it up" (from the middle station). The absolute men's trail at the moment is the "D1" with its magical rhythm, but with blatant jumps. World-famous role model for many trail builders: the "A-Line". An overview map is available in the bike shop. Day lift ticket: 48 dollars. And don't forget: the huge network of trails around it! Info: www.whistlerbike.com
11 North Shore
The cult site right outside the gates of Vancouver. The first chicken ladders were carved into the forest in these mountains, at Mt Seymour and Mt Fromme to be precise. The constructions, the eight bike shops, cafés and restaurants are worth every visit. But beware: only for experts! The wooden walkways are always damp and are also made by bikers who are tired of life. Info: www.nsmb.com
12 Columbia Valley
Very versatile, alpine area with bike park in the valley of 1000 peaks. After the trail ride, there are hot springs to relax in! Info: www.columbiavalleycyclingsociety.org
13 Fernie
An integral part of the Trans-Rockies stage race. The trails climb into high alpine and imposing mountain
mountain worlds, but can be ridden downhill by anyone. Tour guide and maps on site. Info: www.bikefernie.ca
14 Golden
Mecca for downhillers: the largest downhill system in the world awaits at Mount 7 and the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort with its ten kilometres of descents. Gondola lift! Info: www.goldencyclingclub.com
15 Revelstoke
At first glance, a sleepy nest. But there are even shuttle buses for downhill trips into the rainforests of the Monashee and Selkirk Mountains. Info: www.revelstokecc.bc.ca
16 Rossland
The bike capital of Canada with the most natural trails kept in shape by full-time trail maintainers. Info: www.rosslandtrails.ca
17 Pemberton
No lifts, but fabulously epic trails and radical downhills that are best shuttled by car. Info: www.tourismpembertonbc.com
18 Nelson
Iconic spot with scene, trails and North Shores in the Rosemunt Bikepark. Info: www.kootenaybike.com
The best mountain bike tours in British Columbia
Tour tip 1: Chilcotin Mountains
The lonely mountains north-east of Vancouver were once Indian territory. You board the seaplane in Whistler (or Tyax Wilderness Resort & Spa) and after a flight of just under an hour, you are dropped off in the absolute wilderness. You sleep in a tent, cook on a gas cooker and wash in the lake. Trips of 3, 4, 7 or 10 days on never-ending flow trails are possible. A fantastic experience that is no longer possible in Europe. Three days with luggage transport and catering including guides who know their way around bears: from 900 euros. Info: www.tyax.com and www.cycleventures.com
Tour tip 2: Trans Canada Trail
The trail will be 23,000 kilometres long when it is completed in 2017, as planned. It will then lead right across Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Between 1992 and today, 73 per cent of the route has already been opened to bikers and hikers. The centrepiece: the old railway line of the Kettle Valley Railway. Only outdoor adventurers should set off on their own - the trail leads through absolute wilderness! Info: www.tctrail.ca and www.kanada-bike.com
The three best MTB events in British Columbia (Canada)
BC Bike Race Seven stages on the most iconic trails north of Vancouver. If you love trails in great scenery and adventure, you must have ridden this race once in your life. With ferry crossings on Vancouver Island and overnight stays in tents right on the beach. The ranking quickly becomes a minor matter. The event takes place every year at the beginning of June: www.bcbikerace.com. Register quickly!
Trans Rockies Modelled on the BIKE Transalp Challenge, the stage race is contested by teams of two. The route leads across the Rocky Mountains from Fernie to Canmore in Alberta. In between, there are plenty of kilometres and metres in altitude on epic trails. Date: always in August. Info and registration: www.transrockies.com
Crankworx In mid-August, the best freeriders in the world meet in Whistler to let loose over unbelievably gigantic obstacles directly above the town. A spectacle that lasts several days and is a must-see. Unfortunately, this is the worst time to explore the trails yourself. Some runs are closed during the event, others are pretty much devastated by the racers' braking grooves. Info: www.crankworx.com
Information for MTB trips to British Columbia
Journey
Various airlines fly from Germany to Vancouver. Favourable ticket prices in summer are between 800 and 1000 euros. Flight time around eleven hours. Bikes are carried by all airlines, in some cases even free of charge. However, registration is mandatory. Check your passport in good time, it must be valid for at least six months.
Best time to travel
Canadian winters are famous for metres of snow. Remnants of it can therefore be expected in the summit regions (Whistler!) until well into June. August is "fire season" and the risk of forest fires with kilometres of smoke is high. They can darken entire valleys apocalyptically. The "Indian summer" is at its most beautiful from September to October. The colourful trees are breathtaking.
Travel route
The best thing to do is to plan your itinerary at home, hire a car on the spot and drive around the individual spots. But be careful, the distances in Canada are much greater than expected. If you are travelling with a camper, you can spend the night stress-free at designated campsites. However, this puts you
the snail caravan of campers. A hire car is quicker and relatively cheap motels can be found at any time.
Trail tours
Every good bike spot has its own trail guide or a map in which the trails are marked. The difficulty levels of the trails are colour-coded. Green means "easiest" - a pure flow trail that anyone can ride.
can ride. Blue means "intermediate" - flow trail with medium difficulty, suitable for experienced beginners. Black means "advanced" - only recommended for advanced riders, with obstacles, drops and North Shore elements. Black and red means "experts only" - and that's exactly what it means. This is where the pros like to ride.
Important info pages
Perfect pages with all the information about the spots, tour literature, accommodation and the latest trail news:
www.mountainbikingbc.ca, www.nsmb.com (with trail map Northshore). Also: www.hellobc.com and www.bcmbg.com
Bike shops
There are countless bike shops in British Columbia that can help you with more than just technical equipment. This is also where you can meet up for group rides and get trail maps and tour tips. These are real cult shops that are definitely worth a visit: www.covebike.comand www.johnhenrybikes.com
Attention bears
Black bears are small, grizzlies are huge and extremely dangerous. Especially when cubs are present. Therefore, always make noise on tours through the wilderness, attach a bear bell to your rucksack or have a guide with you! Basics under www.britishcolumbia.travel and www.hellobc.com
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Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
