Bike Parts and Beer: What the Updated NAFTA Means for Mountain Bikers
With all of the COVID-19 talk on the news and elsewhere, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Canada recently ratified the new updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It was the last of the three countries (Mexico, Canada, USA) to do so and it paves the way for implementation in all three countries. And among other things, it will affect online shopping for mountain bikers. We all win when we can easily get our bike parts, beer, and even the odd souvenir across the border as quickly and easily as possible. There is a large and ever-growing amount of goods crossing the border through online shopping. On top…
Building the Stoke: Structure Cycleworks Has Big Plans for 2020
It isn’t often that I get to have coffee with a mountain bike. But when I met up with Loni Hull, CEO of Structure Cycleworks, that’s exactly what happened. We met, just prior to the COVID-19 social distancing measures, to discuss how 2019 had gone for the startup mountain bike manufacturer and to get some idea of his plans for the future. Like a proud father, Loni brought along the Janis edition of their linkage front suspension mountain bike, the SCW-1, and displayed it prominently beside our table. In a nearly empty coffee shop, the odd-looking bike grabbed the attention of two mountain bikers sitting nearby. Of course, the bike…
I Love My North Shore Bike Rack —3 Reasons Why
You’ve probably seen one at a trailhead or attached to the hitch of a vehicle driving around mountain biking meccas like Moab or Squamish. And you’ve surely seen one if you’ve ever spent time at a trailhead at their namesake: Vancouver’s North Shore. Of course, I’m talking about North Shore Bike Racks. And it’s no coincidence they’re found anywhere mountain bikers gather, all over North America. The North Shore Rack is one of the most popular bike racks out there. They are efficient, well-engineered and well-built. I love mine and wouldn’t trade it for any other rack, but they do have some significant drawbacks. I love mine and wouldn’t trade…
Winter Fat Bike Etiquette: The Basics
Riding your bike on snow is a fun and exhilarating experience. And fat biking is booming in popularity. As a result, trail associations all over North America and beyond have started grooming and maintaining ever-growing networks of winter trails. It’s essentially a new sport, and with a new sport comes a new set of guidelines for making sure everyone on the trails has an enjoyable experience. Some would call it etiquette. Nothing will interrupt a great fat bike ride like coming across a section of trail that someone has torn up and made unrideable by being unaware of, or unwilling to practice, some simple fat bike etiquette. Let’s keep the…
The Rocky Mountain Freeride Awards: Preserving the Spirit of Canadian Freeride
Canadian Freeride? The term lacks a solid definition. Maybe it’s more of an idea or way of life than something that can be defined in a sentence or two and it can mean something different to everyone who rides a mountain bike. Canada is known as the birthplace of freeride mountain biking and the movement has made British Columbia a mecca for riders from all over the globe. But to some, the spirit of Canadian Freeride is fading, being sidelined by new styles of riding and trail building. None feel this more than the Calgary-based freeride group called The Flannel Crew. In fact, they feel so strongly that they’re launching…
The Seven Summits Trail – An In-Depth Guide to a Truly Epic Experience!
I had ridden this trail twice before. Once in 2009 and again in 2016. The circumstances were very different each time and yet I didn’t feel fully satisfied by either experience. Both outings were good in their own right but I wasn’t, in either case, able to give the Seven Summits Trail the attention it deserved. Something was missing, so in 2019 I returned to better acquaint myself with this beautifully scenic and historic ride. The result is this Seven Summits Trail Guide—a guide that will give you enough practical and historical insight to enhance your appreciation of this truly epic trail! “The 360-degree alpine views are spectacular, and the…
Rossland Lions Community Campground Review – There’s Riding Everywhere You Look!
High up in the mountains of southern British Columbia, near the United States border, you’ll find the town of Rossland. The town has a rich history in gold mining dating back to the 19th century and walking through the streets, you get a sense of it — from the old architectural style of the buildings, to the museum that houses artifacts from Rossland’s heyday as a boomtown. This review covers everything you need to know about the only campground in historic Rossland. “It is the only campground in the area and it serves as a basecamp for riders visiting from all over North America and the world.” Today, Rossland’s mining…
Cedar Falls Campground Review – Vernon, BC
Looking for a place near Vernon, British Columbia to set up your RV, pitch your tent or park your van and sample some of the local mountain bike trails? This Cedar Falls Campground review will have just the information you’re looking for. “It’s the closest campground to the top-rated SilverStar Bike Park.” When I look for a campground, my main concern is access to riding. I want to be able to get to and from the trailhead or parking area as quickly and easily as possible. Cedars Falls Campground certainly checks that box. It’s the closest campground to the top-rated SilverStar Bike Park, and the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA)…
Planning a Long Weekend of Riding in Fernie? Get the Best Bang for Your Buck!
Fernie, British Columbia is home to a ton of awesome mountain bike trails. If you have limited time to spend riding, you’ll want to get the best bang for your buck when you visit. It can be tough to look at the seemingly endless network of trails around Fernie and be confident you’ll be riding the best the area has to offer. I’ve put together a list of a few trails and activities that I would suggest for a long weekend of riding in Fernie. Few things go as well with riding as food and drink, so I’ve added a few suggestions in that regard as well. “It can be…
Golden Campground Review – Golden Eco Adventure Ranch
Golden, British Columbia is an adventure town. Whitewater rafting, paragliding, climbing and of course mountain biking, are just some of the activities it is known for. People travel to Golden from near and far looking for adventure and many of them arrive by van or RV, pulling a trailer or carrying a tent. If you’re one of these people and looking for a campground for your Golden mountain bike adventure this post is for you. This Golden campground review looks at one campground that embodies the adventurous spirit in Golden. As the name suggests, the Golden Eco Adventure Ranch (GEAR) puts outdoor adventure at the forefront. And with riding nearby,…
