In article <[email hidden]>, Johnny Canuck
Quoted message said:[email hidden] (MJ Carter) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
Quoted message said:Hi, I haven't posted here for several years now (not because I've stopped mtbing mind 😉 ), used
to post as Del (hehe some good flame wars about various things, I guess I've grown up a bit
since then though). I remember from back then there were quite a few posters on here from the
Vancouver area.
I'm leaving the UK for Vancouver on a BUNAC (British Universites North America Club) program in
about 5 or 6 days (I haven't booked my flight yet). Basically I'll be arriving with just my
backpack, and a 12 month temporary work permit, and I'll have to find somewhere to live for the
next few months, and get a job. Will probably be staying until late sept or early oct (planning
some travelling before I fly out (from Toronto) though.
I was wondering if anyone from the Vancouver area could give me some pointers on a few things:
1. I can't take my bike with me, because of the nature of my visit, though I'm planning to buy a
cheap second hand one for road use, maybe cycling to where I find a job etc. Can anyone
reccomend a good place to get a cheap second hand rigid MTB/hybrid?
I would try a consignment shop called SportsJunkies on West 2nd in Vancouver. If you're not
looking at high end they usually have some great deals. I've seen some Rocky's and Norco's in
there for pretty good prices. Otherwise, I would try the buy and sell board at NSMB.com:
nsmb.combuy sellOpen ↗ or the Buy and Sell online bikes category:
buysell.comresults.aspOpen ↗
Call me crazy ("Ryan, you're crazy!"😉 but if you've got the float, you could buy a decent used bike
from some place like Sports Junkies and then re-consign the thing on the way out of town. You might
not make a sale and get your cash back for a few months, but you could come out about even on the
deal, or at worst down a hundred or two.
The Sports Junkies in Port Moody is an overlooked gem: they have a wide variety of used MTBs ranging
from $50 gas-pipe tubing monstrosities to $2000 late-model DH rigs. I think their selection may be
better than the Vancouver store.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:Also is there any riding groups etc I can tag along with?
Quoted message said:As far as group rides ... I don't have a lot of info because I mostly ride with friends. Some of
the bike shops organize rides. John Henry's is located failry close to Mt. Seymour and has some
riding clubs: johnhenrybikes.compedalspintsrideclub.htmOpen ↗
The NSMBA has some twoonie rides that would be a great place to see some XC riding, Vancouver-style
(trans: brutal and technical, and you still have to climb!). I think there's one left this year.
www.nsmba.bc.ca
The Douglas Enhanced Downhill Club is an all-skills club I ride with. Membership is super-cheap at
$30, and they run two rides per week on everything from XC to Urban to freeride to Whistler. You
won't be out of place with a hardtail on their rides; they don't look at me funny when I drag my
poor Kona Kilauea out onto the trails.
www.freewebs.com/dedc/
Quoted message said:I don't know about anywhere in Vancouver to rent a DH bike (I know you can do it in Whistler ...
but not sure about Vancouver). The rental places I know are mostly for pavement touring rides. I
would suggest asking some North Shore LBS's for advice
Hm. If you're truly enamoured of a downhill experience, Whistler's Downhill Park might be the
easiest turn-key setup. Make your way to Whistler (a couple of hours out of town), rent bike and get
lift ticket, ride DH trails all day.
That said, a decent hardtail will get you down most of the trails you're likely to want to look at.
Quoted message said:I echo the other post about the youth hostel. As far as looking for places to rent a room ...
check out the online classifieds from the two daily papers at
homes.canada.combrowsecategory.aspxOpen ↗
No no no! Best deals are always on the campus notice boards. You only need room for your bed and
your bike, right? Go to the college or uni campus nearest your ideal base camp, and work outwards.
The big ones in the Lower Mainland are UBC, SFU, Langara, Vancouver Community College, BCIT, and
Douglas College. If you want on the Shore, look at Capilano or Emily Carr.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:4. If anyone knows somewhere decent where I might get work, would much appreciate the info 😉
Not sure what experience you've had and what your work status would be ... but this is a tourist
city and if can work in a restaurant or bar ... you should have little trouble. Also check out job
vacancies in the online classifieds link I gave for accomodations.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:5. Any misc tips/advice for someone in my position?
Enjoy the city. Can't believe I get to live in a place where I can bike and ski all on the
same day!!
Shop for produce on Commercial Drive or anywhere East of there on Hastings. Cheap and decent. Get a
library card, and check out a book called "Vancouver: Secrets of the City", which consists of all
kinds of entertaining gossip about Vancouver, like which playground in Stanley Park has a wall made
of recycled tombstones, How the zero address of all Vancouver streets is at the long-gone location
of the place of business of Vancouver's most notorious taverner ("Gassy Jack" Deighton), and how the
Steam Clock, lovely as it is, is an electric-powered fraud. You will also be able to find several
very decent local guides to road and trail riding in Vancouver. And what could be nicer than that?
Contact me if you want more gossipy info, like how you can afford to eat at Kitto, a really great
downtown Japanese joint, since it barely costs more than McDonald's.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:TIA, cheers for any help
reply to group or e-mail [email hidden] (remove LETTUCE from the e-mail)
Let me know via e-mail if you need any further info.
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club
