Whistler trip

Post this at..
http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47

You can PM a user called "namaSSte" he just got back from there.

Also search the formus too, this question has been asked there frequently.

"kevin_wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a keen MTBer from

Scotland,

Quoted message said:

UK, and have been a passive viewer of this NG for a couple of years. I

ride

Quoted message said:

mainly XC stuff, but am hoping to get into a bit of Freeride-lite in the
next year or so.

I'm fortunate enough to be heading off to British Columbia next week for 3
weeks of backpacking around with the girlfriend. As we are due to spend a
couple of days in Whistler, I have managed to negotiate a day away from

the

Quoted message said:

g/f so I can go biking at the Bike Park (and it only cost me the

equivalent

Quoted message said:

of a day in a health spa). As I only have one day, I want plan ahead to

make

Quoted message said:

sure I get to spend as much time in the saddle as possible and could use
some advice.

Firstly, I see that there are a number of bike-hire places around

Whistler.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone specifically recommend any of these? I was planning on using

the

Quoted message said:

one at the foot of the hill, is this a safe bet?

Yes, I rented a FF helmet from them in June. Bikes are very expensive IMO.

Quoted message said:

Also, is it possible to
hire helmet, padding (think I'll be needing it!) and shoes?

Helmet and padding, not shoes IRRC.

Quoted message said:

If I need to
take my own shoes, are the bikes SPD or flatty-equipped?

Flatty.

Quoted message said:

In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit out of

my

Quoted message said:

depth. I've seen various features on Whistler on things like the Ride

Guide

Quoted message said:

and Drop In TV, and it looks like it's a bit mental.

I had the same image, it's not as "bad" as it looks. Just choose your trails
and take your time the first few runs.

Remember to take the "singles" line on the lift.

Quoted message said:

Bearing in mind my
riding normally involves XCing for fun, will there be trails at the bike
park that will be suitable for my skills? I'd like to try a bit of
freeriding/downhilling but am probably too inexperienced for any mega
drop-offs or table-tops.

I rode my Orange Sub 5! And it was fine. I was way out of my depth on A line
as I wasn't used to riding flats. B line and even some of the black diamond
trails are OK. You can mix and match a fair bit. Take your time and keep out
of people's way and you'll be fine.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend any specific trails I should
start on?

B-line. No big or mandatory air, steep and twisty in places. The bottom
section has an off camber turn that I always ran wide on. Lotsa FUN!

Quoted message said:

I've had a look at the bike park map, and there seems to be an
endless number of trails, so I'd like to get started on the most

appropriate

Quoted message said:

one for my skills.

Any other hints/tips etc would be very welcome! Is the BroCard worth

getting

Quoted message said:

hold of for a short trip?

Dunno what that is.

One thing that struck me was how "nice" everyone was, I was worried that I'd
be a total NOOB and stick out like a sore thumb. Well everyone was decent
and helpful, Even the most skilled of the locals didn't seem to have any
"attitude". Good sense of community.

Phil

Quoted message said:

Thanks all,
Kevin

kevin_wilson said:

Hi all,
In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit
out of my depth.

it certainly was for Bill:
http://www.mountainbikebill.com/videos/13ThingsYouMightSayOnTheNorthShore.mpg

but go have fun anyway... ;-)

Penny

"Phil Squire" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"kevin_wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a keen MTBer from

Scotland,

Quoted message said:

UK, and have been a passive viewer of this NG for a couple of years. I

ride

Quoted message said:

mainly XC stuff, but am hoping to get into a bit of Freeride-lite in the
next year or so.

I'm fortunate enough to be heading off to British Columbia next week for

3

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

weeks of backpacking around with the girlfriend. As we are due to spend

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

couple of days in Whistler, I have managed to negotiate a day away from

the

Quoted message said:

g/f so I can go biking at the Bike Park (and it only cost me the

equivalent

Quoted message said:

of a day in a health spa). As I only have one day, I want plan ahead to

make

Quoted message said:

sure I get to spend as much time in the saddle as possible and could use
some advice.

Firstly, I see that there are a number of bike-hire places around

Whistler.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone specifically recommend any of these? I was planning on using

the

Quoted message said:

one at the foot of the hill, is this a safe bet?

Yes, I rented a FF helmet from them in June. Bikes are very expensive IMO.

Quoted message said:

Also, is it possible to
hire helmet, padding (think I'll be needing it!) and shoes?

Helmet and padding, not shoes IRRC.

Quoted message said:

If I need to
take my own shoes, are the bikes SPD or flatty-equipped?

Flatty.

Quoted message said:

In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit out

of

Quoted message said:

my

Quoted message said:

depth. I've seen various features on Whistler on things like the Ride

Guide

Quoted message said:

and Drop In TV, and it looks like it's a bit mental.

I had the same image, it's not as "bad" as it looks. Just choose your

trails

Quoted message said:

and take your time the first few runs.

Remember to take the "singles" line on the lift.

Quoted message said:

Bearing in mind my
riding normally involves XCing for fun, will there be trails at the bike
park that will be suitable for my skills? I'd like to try a bit of
freeriding/downhilling but am probably too inexperienced for any mega
drop-offs or table-tops.

I rode my Orange Sub 5! And it was fine. I was way out of my depth on A

line

Quoted message said:

as I wasn't used to riding flats. B line and even some of the black

diamond

Quoted message said:

trails are OK. You can mix and match a fair bit. Take your time and keep

out

Quoted message said:

of people's way and you'll be fine.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend any specific trails I should
start on?

B-line. No big or mandatory air, steep and twisty in places. The bottom
section has an off camber turn that I always ran wide on. Lotsa FUN!

Quoted message said:

I've had a look at the bike park map, and there seems to be an
endless number of trails, so I'd like to get started on the most

appropriate

Quoted message said:

one for my skills.

Any other hints/tips etc would be very welcome! Is the BroCard worth

getting

Quoted message said:

hold of for a short trip?

Dunno what that is.

One thing that struck me was how "nice" everyone was, I was worried that

I'd

Quoted message said:

be a total NOOB and stick out like a sore thumb. Well everyone was decent
and helpful, Even the most skilled of the locals didn't seem to have any
"attitude". Good sense of community.

Phil

Thanks Phil, that's really encouraging!

"pas" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

kevin_wilson said:

Hi all,
In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit
out of my depth.

it certainly was for Bill:

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/videos/13ThingsYouMightSayOnTheNorthShore.mp
g

Quoted message said:

but go have fun anyway... ;-)

Penny

Yep, that kinda cursing thing is quite familiar to me!

Quoted message said:

kevin_wilson said:

Hi all,

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a keen MTBer from Scotland,
UK, and have been a passive viewer of this NG for a couple of years. I ride
mainly XC stuff, but am hoping to get into a bit of Freeride-lite in the
next year or so.

I'm fortunate enough to be heading off to British Columbia next week for 3
weeks of backpacking around with the girlfriend. As we are due to spend a
couple of days in Whistler, I have managed to negotiate a day away from the
g/f so I can go biking at the Bike Park (and it only cost me the equivalent
of a day in a health spa). As I only have one day, I want plan ahead to make
sure I get to spend as much time in the saddle as possible and could use
some advice.

Firstly, I see that there are a number of bike-hire places around Whistler.
Can anyone specifically recommend any of these? I was planning on using the
one at the foot of the hill, is this a safe bet? Also, is it possible to
hire helmet, padding (think I'll be needing it!) and shoes? If I need to
take my own shoes, are the bikes SPD or flatty-equipped?

In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit out of my
depth. I've seen various features on Whistler on things like the Ride Guide
and Drop In TV, and it looks like it's a bit mental. Bearing in mind my
riding normally involves XCing for fun, will there be trails at the bike
park that will be suitable for my skills? I'd like to try a bit of
freeriding/downhilling but am probably too inexperienced for any mega
drop-offs or table-tops. Can anyone recommend any specific trails I should
start on? I've had a look at the bike park map, and there seems to be an
endless number of trails, so I'd like to get started on the most appropriate
one for my skills.

Any other hints/tips etc would be very welcome! Is the BroCard worth getting
hold of for a short trip?

Thanks all,
Kevin

You might want to take your own pedals and shoes. 3 minutes with a wrench, and you're in business. I haven't been to Whistler since the big bike park was put in, but from reports and videos, etc., the riding looks like anything you could possibly want, and then some more.

I'd recommend armor, at least knees and elbows if you're not used to that kind of riding with all the jumps and drops.

But what do I know? I've not ridden the park. Just love B.C.

Remember to post write-ups and photos ofyour experience.

CDB/Paladin

"kevin_wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm a keen MTBer from

Scotland,

Quoted message said:

UK, and have been a passive viewer of this NG for a couple of years. I

ride

Quoted message said:

mainly XC stuff, but am hoping to get into a bit of Freeride-lite in the
next year or so.

I'm fortunate enough to be heading off to British Columbia next week for 3
weeks of backpacking around with the girlfriend. As we are due to spend a
couple of days in Whistler, I have managed to negotiate a day away from

the

Quoted message said:

g/f so I can go biking at the Bike Park (and it only cost me the

equivalent

Quoted message said:

of a day in a health spa). As I only have one day, I want plan ahead to

make

Quoted message said:

sure I get to spend as much time in the saddle as possible and could use
some advice.

Firstly, I see that there are a number of bike-hire places around

Whistler.

Quoted message said:

Can anyone specifically recommend any of these? I was planning on using

the

Quoted message said:

one at the foot of the hill, is this a safe bet? Also, is it possible to
hire helmet, padding (think I'll be needing it!) and shoes? If I need to
take my own shoes, are the bikes SPD or flatty-equipped?

In terms of the riding, I'm wondering if the trails might be a bit out of

my

Quoted message said:

depth. I've seen various features on Whistler on things like the Ride

Guide

Quoted message said:

and Drop In TV, and it looks like it's a bit mental. Bearing in mind my
riding normally involves XCing for fun, will there be trails at the bike
park that will be suitable for my skills? I'd like to try a bit of
freeriding/downhilling but am probably too inexperienced for any mega
drop-offs or table-tops. Can anyone recommend any specific trails I should
start on? I've had a look at the bike park map, and there seems to be an
endless number of trails, so I'd like to get started on the most

appropriate

Quoted message said:

one for my skills.

Any other hints/tips etc would be very welcome! Is the BroCard worth

getting

Quoted message said:

hold of for a short trip?

Thanks all,
Kevin

Check out:

http://www.leelikesbikes.com/

for Whister Tips.

You can email him for questions. My bro rode with him at Bootleg Canyon and
said he was a really cool guy willing to help.