Eagle Ridge Expedition
Vancouver, British Columbia
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Vancouver, British Columbia, mountain bikers are different. While the typical south-of-the-border rider salivates over the thought of smooth, twisty trails, BC riders prefer a 40-foot downed tree teeter-totter leading to a 10-foot wheelie drop. The folks in Vancouver are offering the Eagle Ridge Expedition, a ride that will stretch the term "Epic." Don't be deceived by the relatively short 10-mile distance. This section of trail is so technical that it takes talented local riders about four hours to complete.
This IMBA Epic begins at Burrard Thermal riding area in Belcarra, just above sea level, and includes 3,000 feet of climbing on a mix of access roads and technical singletrack. The climb summits along a spectacular ridgeline - to the north is 350 miles of untouched wilderness, and to the west unfolds Vancouver and Vancouver Island. This is when the real fun begins. Get ready for more than an hour of singletrack chess - a series of switchbacks, steeps, natural and man-made challenges that may turn you into a pawn.
Location: Eagle Ridge in Port Moody, about 45 minutes NE of Vancouver, on the south slope of the Coastal Mountain Range
Length: 10 gnarly miles
Elevation: 500 to 1,500 ft above sea level
Climbing: 3,500 ft
Terrain: Technical singletrack, old access roads, steep drops, bridges and teeter-totters
Season: Year round, snow possible November through March
Shops: Blak Dog Bicycles, 604-942-3232; The Ridge Bike'n'Board, 604-936-8885
Lodging: Vancouver Tourist InfoCentre, 604-683-2000, http://www.tourismvancouver.com
Beer: The "B"in BC, Heaven-Better on tap
Coffee: The "C" in BC, ranges from Tim Horton's to Starbucks
Must do: Technical skills clinic with West Coast School of Mountain Biking instructor Joan Jones
