CHALLENGING MTB TRIPS MEANT FOR TECHNICAL RIDING PROGRESSION
Day 1: Plan on arriving around 5:30pm on the first day to unpack, build bikes, and have an introduction dinner and drink. We’ll go over our itinerary, set some expectations, and let everyone mingle and meet.
Days 2-5: It’s on. Each day we’ll start with breakfast cooked by our awesome in-house chef, followed by a fairly early start. Depending on location we’ll either depart directly from our lodging, or we’ll hop in the vehicles to start the day in a close-by location or with a shuttle. For these full-day rides, expect to be gone until late afternoon… we like maximizing our time on the bike and we’ll always offer bonus ride options when available!
Day 6: Departure day, but that doesn’t mean the riding is over. We’ve got a shorter ride planned this morning (2-3 hours) to finish things up before wrapping things up around 12-1pm.
How do I know if I’m a good enough rider for these trips?
To start, these are definitely for advanced riders or above – but don’t sell yourself short if you’re thinking about Revelstoke or Whistler. Wherever you’re based, if you can comfortably ride the black-rated trails in your area, then you likely have the skills to join one of these trips. Don’t sell the fitness side of these trips short, however: they’re big, tough, physical days on the bike and five in a row adds up quickly. Make sure you have time to train and prepare yourself so you can enjoy every ride and every day!
What’s the difference between Revelstoke and Whistler?
Our Whistler trip has a great variety of trail styles between Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish, one that probably can’t be matched anywhere else in the world. From the steeps and slabs of Squamish, to the raw/rugged trails of Pemberton, to the steep jank in Whistler, you’ll find it all. In Revelstoke, the trails tend to be more natural and raw, and boy are they steep!
In terms of the trip format itself, in Revy we’ve got more shuttles (and a lift-served day) included in the itinerary which allows us to access some bigger descents and create bigger days. The trail systems on our Whistler trip are more accessible and don’t really offer much in the way of shuttling, so we’ll typically climb to gain elevation on that trip.
With regards to technical comparison, it’s hard to say once is harder than the other – they’re quite similar, but with a different style of riding.
Which bike should I bring?
Honestly, the biggest bike you can pedal. The terrain here warrants a full-on enduro bike with 160mm+ of travel, but remember that these days are long and you still want something you can pedal a decent amount!