The entries came fast and furious, and both Teresa (aka mtnbikinggirl) and I posted up respective blogs and entered the contest.

Moonraker Trails - Golden BC - Sept 2009

A couple of months later a final eight were chosen to become the first “Specialized Trail Crew.”

While both of us were a bit disappointed with not being called up for this amazing adventure. I think it was Matt Hardinge’s unboxing video that was hardest to watch, although I was happy to see another rider so stoked on his new bike!

August 2010 in Sun Valley Idaho

It was fun to read the stories by the members of the Trail Crew, and probably spurred us to enjoy our own road trips, exploring new trails.

Knowing it was a year long process, people started asking in the fall if there would be a new Trail Crew for 2011? We didn’t have to wait long. While not surprised on who stayed and who went, the new riders and different bikes meshed with our feelings on what the crew was all about.

This year the Trail Crew meetup rides in Moab and Fruita haven’t occurred, instead the riders have become more involved in their local community, participated in more events and connected with more riders.

That’s really what the Trail Crew was meant to be. Connecting at a social level with the riding community.

So this brings us back to the Canadian Trail Crew for 2012.

I think I fit the bill of your average rider. I like to ride everything on the hill, enjoy the ride and try to share with friends. I love to organize races, offer my time to various events, create trail maps and maintain our local mountain bike info site. Most of all I look forward to my annual week of mayhem that is working on the BC Bike Race medical team.

Just another day at the BC Bike Race

Specialized has offered up two positions for the Canadian Trail Crew in 2012 and this is where I find myself torn. Teresa joins me in most of these endeavours, and she is my best riding partner, she’s a great rider and empowers both girls and guys to experience mountain biking for the first time.

If either of us would be chosen, we’d be more than stoked, but we would love to see three positions, one Eastern member and two Western members in Teresa and myself. Our ride reports and road trips would be more engaging with both a male and female perspective of the great bikes that Specialized produces. We can extend your bicycle budget by riding Enduro and Stumpjumper EVO’s instead of the S-Works carbon models. These bikes are very fitting with the style and adjustments common on bikes in British Columbia.

The perfect BC all mountain trail bike!

Along the way I took a quick vid of Teresa with my iPod Nano. It really is that dark in there!

Quick Fall Ride, Forbidden Plateau, BC from Kookjai Media on Vimeo.

Kahona Cruncher

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BC Bike Race 2009 Day 3

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The many views of The kootenays

As resource industries fade and regions need to find other forms of economic stimulus, tourism has become a strong component of revitalization. From historic tours to recreation sites, rails to trails, summer chairlift operations and bike parks, many communities are diversifying.

Our recent trip to the Kootenays showed these changes in spades. We often saw views of quiet sawmills, mining sites, equipment and empty buildings. We also saw many tourists, people enjoying outdoor recreation and great heritage and tourism related sites.

The Kootenays have been so enthralled by the opportunity for mountain biking that they have created a great guide and websites for your travel planning.

Here’s a list of resources available to you for your travel planning

• Kootenay Rockies Mountain Biking Website – Tourism BC website with an overview of trails
• Kootenay Rockies Mountain Bike Vacations Booklet – available in hard copy and online
• Kootenay Rockies Website – Overall regional website for accommodation and tourism info
• Kootenay Rockies mobile site – formatted for mobile phones and devices.

Trail maps are available for the following areas

• Revelstoke – pick up at local bike shops $7
• Golden – free trail map at bike shops and tourism locations
• Invermere – no published maps
• Fernie – maps available at local shops
• Nelson – guidebook at bike shops and outdoor stores $15
• Rossland – map at local bike shops $9
• Christina Lake – map at Wild Ways
• Cranbrook – free community forest map at Tourism office
• Kimberley – nature park map at hotels and tourism offices $5

There are also many tour guide companies who work in the Kootenay region. Call local shops for info on who offers tours in their area.

Well not really, but upon our arrival home we checked out the interweb to find that the Pinkbike Crew had embarked on a trip called “Hurtin’ for Vert”

They honestly had way more mileage on the bikes and some awesome photographers along with them. So I thought I’d hook up some links to their articles so you can see just how great mountain biking in the Kootenay’s of BC really is!

“Looking back at our trip, it truly was amazing that 12 plus riders could ride for 4 days on the terrain that we did and not suffer one major mechanical, besides flat tires (and we had our fair share of those). To all of us, it says that the technology has gotten to where it needs to be in order for us to truly enjoy the All Mountain ride. Mid travel bikes rule! Another technological thing to note was that Adjustable Seat Posts were on more than half the bikes on this trip, with Crankbros. leading the charge for popularity. Ah I do love bikes and the bits that make them extra fun! Below are some hard details that Smoke put together based on his GPS readings from the 4 days – yep Hurtin’ for Vert!

Total Distance Ridden = 121 km
Total Elevation Gained by Bike = 10 000′
Total Elevation Lost by Bike = 27 600′
Total Hours Slept = not enough
Total Pilsners Drunk = way too many (Reg says your body will adjust to it, just need to consume more of it, more often, hmm not too sure)
Total Richie Schley Putdowns for not Coming out = nowhere near enough”

Photos and Links

Check all Margus’ pics here.
Check all Tyler’s pics here.
Check all Dave’s pics here.
Check all Smoke’s pics here.

Check out the Hurtin for Vert Riders here.
Check here if you missed Part 1
Check here if you missed Part 2
Check here if you missed Part 3
Check here if you missed Part 4

Colin on Berm Donor

16 hours and countless miles later through pine beetle infestations and forest fire smoke we rolled into Revelstoke BC. This would be our first riding point on our Kootenay road trip. We had read from other users about Martha Creek campground along lake Revelstoke and figured it to be worthy for our late arrival. We pulled into our site at 12:30am and had our tent setup and ready for bed in less than 20 minutes. Not bad considering we hadn’t even seen the tent setup before we headed out on our trip. Lake Revelstoke formed in the early 70′s by the construction of the Revelstoke Dam is just north of the town of Revelstoke and home to Provincial Park and recreation site campgrounds and both the Sale Mountain and Keystone Standard Basin trails.

Martha Creek Provincial Park campground

While we were tired from the long day and minimum sleep the night before, the neighbouring campers had decided to share their spirited and colourful life stories till 3:30am when the rain came. They emerged again at 6:30am imbibing in the whiskey and Fresca to fend off the impending hangover. Even with the overnight showers we awoke to dry skies and the sun offered hope for the day. A morning chat with the campground host told us we made the right choice to stay at Martha Creek as the Wadey recreation site just up the highway had been damaged recently by the high winds with a few trees coming down very near campsites. We checked this out later and while it was a bit of a mess right now the beauty of the waterfront campsites puts it higher on a list for return trips.

Mount MacPherson trail network

After a few bike repairs (had to reinstall the fork fresh from servicing) we broke camp and headed to Revelstoke for coffee and then into town to find a bike shop for current trail info. We happened by Flowt Bikes & Skis, the local Specialized dealer, and picked up a trail map and some info on a good loop to check out. We were told of a brand new trail and a few other fun trails including Berm Donor which was to be our intended target.  With directions in hand we headed off to find breakfast at the Chalet bakery (3 blocks down on the main street) where you can find breads, pastries, sandwiches and most amazing Boston Cream donut you’ve ever had.

Fresh new trail

Energized we left for the Mount MacPherson trail head, located on the Griffin Forest Service Road, about 10 minutes southwest of Revelstoke on Highway 23. To get there head west on highway 1 over the Columbia River and then take your first left. Follow south and keep an eye out for logging roads on your right. The road is marked with a brown and white Forest Service sign approx 100 feet up from the paved road. Follow the gravel road a few hundred meters around the corner and across a small bridge. Newly placed signage and trail markers will tell you you’re in the right spot.

We  geared up for a sample of the cross country and all mountain trails. By winter this area becomes a cross country skiing network. You will see trail signage that makes sense when buried under a few feet of  snow. By summer the area melts to a vast and ever growing group of mountain bike trails.

Teresa on Berm Donor

After a short fire road climb, we checked out the brand new trail and then headed for our other loop. Heading in near Beaver Lake we joined Berm Donor and climbed through the forest for about two km till the trail turned up to the right before starting into the descent over the other side. The name made sense during the flowy descent.

Reminiscent of Comox valley trails like Kahona Cruncher and Gecko we rolled down side cut bench trails, switchback corners and ever smoother and larger berms till the meeting with Tantrum and Super Happy Fun trail.

Builders in Revelstoke work to make solid trails with armouring of roots, drainage as possible and a solid base that will keep you rolling for many years to come.

Due to our scheduled plans we took a short cut back to the car but enjoyed our sample of the Revelstoke trails. The remainder of the local trails could be spread out over 3 – 5 days of solid riding.

Notables

• Signage was quite good but definitely grab a map for $7 to support the trails.
• The trails are on crown land and support from government looks to be positive.
• Other local trails include Keystone Standard Basin, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Martha Creek/Sale Mountain trails and more.
• Trails are dry and buff with great rock work and some great flow.

411

Revelstoke is located between Kamloops and Golden on the Trans Canada Highway. Nearest major airport is Kamloops BC. Local camping at Martha Creek Provincial Park on Lake Revelstoke or at various other local accommodations in town. Look for the hostel. If you are camping at Martha Creek, the aquatic center downtown has warm showers for campers for $3 each

Driving times:

• Vancouver to Revelstoke approx 6 hrs
• Calgary to Revelstoke approx 5 hrs
• Revelstoke to Golden approx 2 hrs
• Revelstoke to Nelson approx 5 hrs
• Revelstoke to Fernie approx 6 hrs
• Revelstoke to Rossland approx 5 hrs

Don’t miss

• Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. – Great local brewery
• Chalet Bakery – best pastries on the Columbia River
• Revelstoke Dam tour
• Halcyon Hot Springs

Contact Info

• Flowt Bikes & Skis – 250-837-4044
• Revelstoke Tourism

More Photos of Revelstoke