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SoCalMtB.com All the Dirt Story Board. This is a Story Board for Biking Stories. If you see messages that fall way outside of that subject or use inappropriate language, please click on the alert icon below. If you want to reply to a post, click on the 'Post Reply' link. Make sure you stay on the subject of the message & don't be threatening, abusive, or defamatory.   All the Dirt Story Board    Post a Reply |  FAQ |  Go Back | Freeride tour in BC Canada 9 months ago SMF, Macrider, El Jefe and myself booked a trip with freeride tours.com for an 8 day excursion in search of the best trail in BC. We were not disappointed. Most people think that the prime riding is limited to only the north shore in BC, those people are sadly mistaken. We drove all over the province and rode some trails that will never be forgotten. We hit the towns/areas of Kelowna, Penticton, Nelson, Kamploops, Lillooet, Whistler, and the Shore. The trails were extremely challenging at every stop. Loaded up... Hans, a local kid who ripped the whole trip on a hardtail... SMF at the entrance to the Gimp... SMF hitting the steeps on Newt Sack... Yours truly on an elevated ravine bridge... El Jefe working the log ride... Canadian sunrise... Gearing up for a 5,000 foot descent on the Monster. Half way down I hit some killer side action down a 40 foot scree slope. I was lucky not to be reverse shuttled via helicopter... Speaking of helicopters, here we are being dropped off for a 7,000 foot descent in Lilooet... Don't scratch my rig!... Riding above it all... Hans and Chris, 17 year old local rock stars... Mac and SMF at Whistler... Hans on A-Line trail... Johnny, one of our guides on Air Supply trail on the North Shore... Yours truly on Oil Can trail... Motley Crue... An incredible trip, to an incredible place. Posted by Dusty Bottoms from Dogtown on 08/20/03 Responses: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) (30) (31) (32) (33) (34) (35) Post Reply  Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada oh man thats NIIIIIICCCCEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! man I'll tell my parents not to give me anything this year so they can send me there in 04. oh god damn i envy all you fockers, and the ones that live in BC as well, lol. I'm definetly moving out there as soon as i can and will kill to go there next year. Posted by DH4ever a 16 year old Downhiller riding a Da Bomb MindBomb from Pasadena on 09/06/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada All pretty good points, although the hartail thing doesn't really hold up - Hans, the 17 yr old superstar on our trip did pretty much everything on a hardtail as did one of our guides, Collin (as you can see from the roadgap picture on Air Supply)- there are plenty of sick pups at Whistler & the Shore going OFF on ht's (many with Shivers or Monster T's on their ht's!) Posted by Macrider a 36 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Turner RFX, XCE & Trek Bruiser 2 from LA on 08/27/03   "The 10 Commandments of the 'Shore" The 10 Commandments of The 'Shore by: North Shore Posse from Vancouver,BC This is how to enjoy riding the 'Shore of Vancouver: 1.DON'T SKIMP ON SUSPENSION!If you really want to ride the more challenging 'Shore trails,bring a true freeride bike with at least 5-6" on both ends(no hardtails,unless you like breaking expensive parts OR you ride trials,in which case it would be okay).Norco's VPS series,Rocky Mountain's Pipeline and RM-6,Cove's G-Spot,(if you're a Yankee)Kona's Stinky series and the Santa Cruz Bullit are all good choices.When you start getting real crazy(bigger-than-10-foot-drops--YEAH BABY you can do it!)go for a true DH bike,like Balfa's BB7 and Rocky's RM-7 and RM-9,just lose the big chainring and get a 34-35 tooth.That way you can actually CLIMB with your bikes,which is important because there are some challenging climbs here on the 'Shore--though not even HALF as challenging as what you'll find on the other side of the hill...good luck eh.You'll need it. 2.DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT WEIGHT.You'll find that the weight is less important than how much travel your bike has..to a point.My Balfa BB7 weighs about 42 lbs,and even light-duty 'Shore bikes like my VPS-2 weigh 34-35 lbs.Pay in mind though--you have to carry,climb,and pedal this bike.So do yourself a favour and stay away from 50+ lb.,10"+ travel bikes.Yah,weight is not a real big concern here,but don't get stupid. 3.BUY A 'ZOCCHI.Although I've seen plenty of Boxxers and the occasional Stratos or two,most experienced 'Shore riders use Bombers.Why?Because they are built to last,because they are way stiffer,and because they are tuned for the monster hits that would destroy most any RockShox or Manitou.The current "short-travel" staple is the 5" travel Z1 QR20(remember,you're on the 'Shore now,this is a different league).Most riders need more travel,so a move up to Jr. T's or even Super T's fits the bill.STILL not enough?There is the super-heavyweight Monster-T,or the lighter,upside-down Shiver(which I have--it's an AWESOME 'Shore fork,but not as stiff or as adjustable as a Monster-T),which both have about 8" of buttery travel.Choose which one you need based on price and by how extreme you plan to ride,NOT by weight. 4.GET THE TOUGHEST PARTS YOU CAN GET.No question here.Everything you put on your bike should be strong and preferably cheap to replace.ANYTHING can break here on the 'Shore--I've seen forged stems and handlebars snap like twigs,wheels and hubs explode,pedals and seatposts bend,deraillers bust off,cranks bend--you name it,I've probably broken it..or watched somebody break it.Profile and Raceface are the best cranks(though the Truvativ Hussefelt is also good).Stick with XT,LX,or Sram 9.0 rear deraillers(you don't wanna bust your nice XTR derailler costing $160 CAN).Get generic stems(100mm or shorter)and seatposts that are cheap to replace.NO FANCY ANODIZED,TI,OR CARBON CRAP HERE,HOSERS!! 5.LEAVE XC PARTS AT HOME.Bringing any of the following to the 'Shore guarantees ridicule,floggings and/or immediate trips to the E.R:Clipless pedals,flat bars,bar-ends,lycra,race jerseys,those "Speed-Racer"-looking clipless shoes,fingerless + padless gloves,anything other than a full-face or skatepark helmet.If you insist on bringing this stuff along you don't belong here,eh.Ride at Moab or something. 6.ARMOR UP!Buy some Roach or Core Rat pads.Leg armor is nice to have..especially for those times when you have to plummet 10 feet from a log bridge to the unforgiving rocky earth below. 7.NEVER,EVER F**K WITH OUR TRAILS.They take a long,long time to build and maintain.Screwing with our trails is like destroying our collective property.I've kicked people's asses for lesser offenses!DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK,EH! 8.NEVER,EVER COMPLAIN TO THE AUTHORITIES WHEN YOU GET HURT.Trust me,if you ride the 'Shore enough it WILL happen,and it will hurt(I've broken my leg and two of my fingers).But whatever you do,don't bitch to the authorities,because many awesome trails have been destroyed here in the name of "public safety."If you get hurt,you're the only one to blame,and you will cover your own precoius ass.Don't like it?Well,tough crap.. 9.IF YOU'RE NEW,HOOK UP WITH THE LOCALS.We'll help you out,give you directions(keep them to yourself though--see Commandment#8),and keep ya company,eh.Most of the riders in my group will happily accept newbies.And we won't laugh(too much)when you auger your ass into a tree.Riding the 'Shore takes balls and we will respect any rider who is willing to ride where we ride--as long as they respect our rules. I especially like that there are only nine of them. Posted by Stanislav Medvedenko on 08/27/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Dirtslurpie AKA Aquaholic posting under one of many of his fake names. Posted by DIRTJUNKIE a 41 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Intense uzzi-sl from Lamesa on 08/26/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Huh! as everyone scratches thier head. Posted by DurtSlurpie riding a mean ride from over yonder on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada I'm in de-tox mode!! Posted by OlbaiD a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Stinky from THC Heights on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Luck won't be a factor, but a drug test may be..... Posted by El Jefe a 34 year old Racer riding a SS Roast and a shiny Azonic from Mission Viejo on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada That may happen soon I've got me an interview this Friday for a better paying job. Starts me off in the 40's not a whole lot but a lot more than I'm making now. GL 2 me! Hopefully luck will not be a factor ;-)-~ Posted by OlbaiD a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Stinky from THC Heights on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Olbai, it cost about $1250 American, plus one night hotel, plus plane fare, plus money for bike parts, plus money for beer and snacks. You must finish school and get a better job first. :-) Posted by El Jefe a 34 year old Racer riding a Ghetto Stinky, SS Roast and a shiny Azonic from Mission Viejo on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Dude I must be there next year!! Posted by OlbaiD a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Stinky from THC Heights on 08/25/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Jefe- The Schleyer Drop..oh yeah! Rolled the first time and hucked it the rest. Never tried to clear the whole thing..just wanted to get it wired before I pushed it. We did the Gravity Camp ..and everyday someone from the camp went to the hopital...some of those guys are good riders too. When one from our group injured his shoulder..I knew I should just try to survive the week..I've never ridden 6-7 days in a row for 4-6 hrs/day...I was worked! True..the trannys @ Whistler do make it safer/easier to go big...thing is.. you get cocky, you start going bigger and bigger...but you never learned to crash going that big. IMO, Whisler MTB park should be the model for future parks. They were out there every morning filling in braking bumps, watering down dusty sections, etc.. I couldn't believe it! I recommend Whistler MTB Park and the Gravity Camp for anybody that wants to step up thier FR/DH skills or just have a blast. Its like a training course..you can try stuff over and over under consistent, favorable conditions. I find myself dreaming about that place...wait .. how old am I? ......get yourselves to Whistler. Jeff.. about those pics?.... I'm a rider not a poster..uhhhh I'll e them to ya or ? Posted by Dag Burn a 40 year old riding a SCZ Bullit from R.S.M. on 08/22/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Here's another shot of some crazy f-er launching the gap on "Air Supply" Posted by SMF riding a me have no bike from Santa Monica on 08/22/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada You guys are convincing me to roll up there. Tuff pics, any more? Posted by Silent Bob a 27 year old riding a QoE(2fOaUm-LtF) on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada You guys are fokking sikk. Thanks for the words and visuals. Oh, and...Heal well, keep da rubbah side down & all that other shniznik. Posted by VLander on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada What a great time that must have been. Showed this to my wife and she had two comments: 1) That place is so beautiful, we have to go there, 2) Those guys are crazy! I had to agree on both counts. One of my buds up north has a place at Whistler, he goes up there for a skiing trip every winter. Wait till I tell him of the devious plan for next summer!! Thanks for the pic's and the story. Posted by EzyRider a Die-hard Enthusiast riding a plan for next summer from way down south on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada That must have been the epic of all epic road trips. And I can see you carefully supervised the transporting of the bikes, one can only assume to avoid a repeat of Sea Otter. More pics, please, and video too. Quit holding out. Posted by GRide on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada As much as we would have loved your company, sick riding ability & pre-jump brake grabbing, (not to mention you Canadian-bike buying power) - it sounds like you made the right call Tam - I'm deeply sorry to hear of your family's loss and you and your wife have my best wishes & condolances. Posted by Macrider a 36 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Turner RFX, XCE & Trek Bruiser 2 from LA on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Dammmmmm... That looks like a bad-arsed trip. Glad to see you guys had a great time and didn't get too seriously mamed. That helicopter shuttle is over the top! It turns out I made the right choice in not going. My wife's mother passed away last week and I'm really glad to have been around for my wife and the rest of her family. Posted by Terminaut a Die-hard Enthusiast from Huntington Beach on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada what a freaking trip, sounds incredible and great luck with the timing and no closures. you guys are all getting GOOD! Posted by DFT a 34 year old Weekend Warrior riding a Stinky from San diego on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Killer write-up and amazing pictures guys!! (That Canadian sunrise was spectacular!) You definately captured the beauty of the area and the true "gnarliness" of what it takes to ride BC trails. Posted by Granny a 31 year old riding a Bullit from San Diego on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Dag, you're absolutely right, that is the Schleyer drop. Did you huck it? Of not, you missed out on perhaps the easiest big air ever. The first 2 times I did it, I just rolled it. The third, I picked up and landed part way down the tranny, still on the boards. The last time, I finally just let go and hucked the whole thing, landing well past the end of the wood ramp. The great thing about the drop, and most of the stuff in BC, is that the trannies are so perfect, that if you get good body and bike position, you barely feel anything. When I did the drop in the second pic (titled "Hans, a local kid who ripped the whole trip on a hardtail") I barely felt the landing at all. Of course there were a few imperfect landings on other drops, including one that cost me a rotor and a seat post (but no crash...just an ugly landing). I don't know how many times we said that Big Bear or Mammoth could take just a small lesson from Whistler and turn the mountain into an MTB Mecca. Anyway, post those pics, I can never get enough BC photos!!! Posted by El Jefe a 34 year old Racer riding a fock the crutches, gimme my bike! from not following the doc's advice on 08/21/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada OK, you guys need to get BACK on the medication... Nice job up there--even if the bikes and bodies did take a good beating. Posted by Caff Man riding a newt sack from not flippin crazy BC on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Great post! Funny, about 6 of us OC riders and 1 fom SF and Seattle spent 8 day in BC as well. 1 day on the N Shore and the rest at Whistler MTB park. True..the overall riding level up there is in -focking- credible and the pics never seem to show how tough some of that terrain can be. Only 1 from our group came home with a broken limb. The rest of us consider ourselves lucky. If I only knew how to post pics I would share them with you all...but I think you're outta luck there. That trip definitley focked me up...I can't see riding any trails here that compare and I'm scrambling to find a way to get back up there. For our N Shore adventure we hooked up with www.bushpilotbiking.com Johnny Smoke and his girlfriend showed us around and treated us like kings. Their site includes pics from our adventure. I strongly reccommend Whistler to anyone that wants to step their riding. I went bigger than I've ever gone and learned a lot in 7 days. BTW, that Hans on A-line pic is actually Hans on the "Shleyer" ladder drop...Sick! Don't even get me started about that A-line trail. Get yourselves to Whistler! Posted by Dag Burn a 40 year old riding a SCZ Bullit from R.S.M. on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Definitely beyond my abilities as a rider,but it sure looks like a lot of fun.Kind of suprized you got away so cheap after seeing those pix,Jeff. What did those nanucks think of you fat SoCal boys.That helicopter trip is the ultimate. Posted by Pain Freak riding a Renrut 02 from Fontana on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada i can't imagine it getting any sicker than that! for now i think i'll stick to bunny-hopping twigs and curb-sized dropp-offs...maybe someday...or in the afterlife more likely... Posted by Eck see a 33 year old on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Very few do Josh, it's good to see understanding starting to seep in... ;-) this trip changes your riding so much...and just seeing the level of riding in BC is pretty exciting! We also got lucky on timing - this week there are fire-closures all over BC & if we were there, we'd miss out on a # of areas...even the Shore is bone-dry & closed to riding... Posted by Macrider a 36 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Turner RFX, XCE & Trek Bruiser 2 from LA on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada I didn't realize you guys were this cool. Posted by ZG a 33 year old riding a Sugar 2 & an R F X from Sherman Oaks on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Looks like an average time. You are all very fat.(Why in the hell didn't I go?:) Posted by OPP riding a Spider Bullit on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Helicopter drops? Holy crappers. Canada looks beautiful....! Those log chutes and mouse-house wood things?... look like a blast. (probably super hard as well) A whole 'nother level. You guys are stoked. I am sure that nobody would mind it if you posted a LOT more pictures. :)))) Thanks for the ones you shared; that sunrise deserves a wow. Posted by Lagwagon a 28 year old riding a Bullit & Enduro from Aliso Viejo on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada For those interested, the tour company can be found at freeridetours.com While I unfortunately took home a long term reminder in the form of a broken ankle and a broken frame, I can definitely say this was one of the best experiences of my life. Posted by El Jefe on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Man!! What a tease! Don't scratch my rig - indeed!! Thanks Dusty. Nice work. I was thinkin' all ladders and dark moss. Pictures really hint at the lifetime memory. Gus Posted by ChainSaw a enough year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Truth Franken'bike wit' a Zoke up front from S&M/Bentwood on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Great choice of shots! you gave a nice feel for the trip...I want to back up there right now! BC has truly the most amazing Black Diamond riding anywhere - for those of you interested in heading up, Freeridetours.com is a great way of getting introduced to the province - seeing the best of what BC has to offer with amazing guides showing you how it's done... next year gotta go back for sure - can you say "custom tour"? - I knew you could! Posted by Macrider a 36 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Turner RFX, XCE & Trek Bruiser 2 from LA on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada I'm so focking jealous. God, please let me get another job soon so I can pay for this trip next year...!!! :-) Great pics!!! Posted by CrzyRidr3 a 32 year old riding a SantaBansheeCruzScreamBlurr on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada You nailed it brah. That was such a great trip. Eventhough my biggest injury was a thrashed frame(or thrashed ego), I couldn't have asked gor a better time. Or a better group of people to ride with. I would go on that trip again in a heartbeat. I would also recommend it to anyone who likes that type of riding(non-flogging). Can you say,"BC in '04"? Posted by SMF riding a nothing at the moment from Santa Monica on 08/20/03   Re: Freeride tour in BC Canada Lucky Bastards! That is so incredible, thanks for the photo treat. Looks like it was worth the "pain" that all of you went through. Posted by DIRTJUNKIE a 41 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Intense uzzi-sl from Lamesa on 08/20/03     All the Dirt Story Board    Top of Page |  Post a Reply |  FAQ |  Go Back |

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