Whistler holiday recommendations

poppit

Hi everyone

We're going to Whistler at the end of June for 10 days of biking and wondered if anyone has got any recommendations. We won't be riding the park as we're too old and risk averse but we will be riding the trails and singletrack. Got a couple of good bikes booked to use so hopefully it'll be happy days.

Cheers

Bungalow Bill

Old and risk averse the par caters for everything for everyone, you have to ride it at least one day.

I'm there from 5th-26th June this year, there is so much riding to be had even just around whistler itself, I cant help so much on the XC side but real man should be along at some point at help you out

But seriously hit up the park on one day at least, you never know you may get a taste for it

RockingDad

poppit wrote:

Hi everyone

We're going to Whistler at the end of June for 10 days of biking

Soooooooo Jealous!!!! what does this sort of trip cost? whats the cost of shipping bikes back and forth?

GHill

I rode the Zappa trails as part of my (delayed) honeymoon last year. My wife and I had a trail guide (from Whistler Bike Guide) who helped tailor the half day ride to our abilities. It wasn't cheap, but it did include hire of Santa Cruz Blur LT bikes. Worth every penny IMO.

They had some trail maps that would be handy if you're not wanting a guide, just be aware that steep slabs of rock or split cedar boardwalk sections with 10' drops to the side can sneak up on you - the guide should warn you of them. Everything was walkable if you lose confidence.

We didn't try it, but the trail comfortably numb is a big undertaking. Make sure you take enough food/water/clothing if you do try it (can take around 6 hours apparently). The weather in Pacific NorthWest has a habit of changing quickly.

Oh, and it is bear country. You shouldn't have any problems but just be vigilant. Especially if you have food with you.

poppit

GHill wrote:

I rode the Zappa trails as part of my (delayed) honeymoon last year. My wife and I had a trail guide (from Whistler Bike Guide) who helped tailor the half day ride to our abilities. It wasn't cheap, but it did include hire of Santa Cruz Blur LT bikes. Worth every penny IMO.

They had some trail maps that would be handy if you're not wanting a guide, just be aware that steep slabs of rock or split cedar boardwalk sections with 10' drops to the side can sneak up on you - the guide should warn you of them. Everything was walkable if you lose confidence.

We didn't try it, but the trail comfortably numb is a big undertaking. Make sure you take enough food/water/clothing if you do try it (can take around 6 hours apparently). The weather in Pacific NorthWest has a habit of changing quickly.

Oh, and it is bear country. You shouldn't have any problems but just be vigilant. Especially if you have food with you.

Thanks for the tips.

Great minds think alike. We've booked 2 bikes through them, Blur XC Carbon's plus going to do a half day ride with them on the first day to get to know the area a bit.

poppit

RockingDad wrote:

poppit wrote:

Hi everyone

We're going to Whistler at the end of June for 10 days of biking

Soooooooo Jealous!!!! what does this sort of trip cost? whats the cost of shipping bikes back and forth?

The flights weren't partic cheap as we upgraded, approx' £700 ea. We've got 4 nights in Vancouver first then 11 in Whistler, got a really good deal on the hotels, both 5*, approx' £600 ea so in total it's approx' £1300 ea. Not taking our own bikes so don't know what they cost, we're hiring SC Blur XC Carbons, incidentally they retail for £2800 there!

timpop

Ahh, very jealous indeed. I am a BC boy, lived in Whistler for nearly 12 years. Will be home for Christmas to ski.
I recommend taking the right clothing, you could get anything in June, sun, rain, snow... hopefully lots of sun. The trails are amazing, it's worth getting a guide for a day at least. And get up the mountain, the park is awesome and there are lots of trails to chose from so you don't need to worry about taking too many risks. Plenty of easier routes down. Check out www.whistlerbike.com for maps, details and head cam clips of some rides.

Have fun!

poppit

Yes, taking a good spread of clothes although we're hoping to buy some over there as well, hoping for some good weather though.

delcol

i'm off there in less than 2 weeks for the opening of the bike park then again for the last 3 weeks of the season in september..
we always go with bearbackbiking (see link in sig)
they are a top bunch of people who guide and coach they have amazing property and awesome cooks...
i guess you already booked your accoms,,, i would recomend getting a decent guide i'm pretty sure bearback do guiding only for a small fee,, it's definatley worht having a guide to show you the best trails as your time is limmited.. the zappertrails round lost lake are good as is every other trail in whistler it's hard to fault find in whistler as it is so amazing...
and don't be put off by the bike park there are trails for evryone even novices (green trails) blue trails are easy to like b line ect...
if you are going it alone then there is a very good guide book that you can pick up in most bikes shops and markets out there,,,, but you really can't beat a good guide who will ascess your riding and recomend trails they think you are capable of riding..
medical bills are super expensive in whistler so you don't want ride something thats out of your depth... almost every trail has a chicken run round the hard stuff anyway..
i have a few vids of some of the xc trails around whistler on my youtube account click links below to view..
good luck and enjoy whistler really is the best place to ride.

delcol

RockingDad wrote:

poppit wrote:

Hi everyone

We're going to Whistler at the end of June for 10 days of biking

Soooooooo Jealous!!!! what does this sort of trip cost? whats the cost of shipping bikes back and forth?

it depends when you go..
bearback were the cheapest out there thats why we are returning guests for the 3rd year running,,, to give you an idea of cost flights from manchester to vancouver with canadian affair came in at around £445 per person then it's £60 to put you bike on the plane holiday came in at £585 per person then you need to add insurance so call it £70-£100 thats roughley it,, ( we do get discount with bearback though as returning guests) thats for 2 weeks hol...

danielboddy

poppit

cant agree more with the posts above, i went last summer and had a 1/2 day tour guide to get the feel of the place then i simply used the maps (and all the fantastic sign posting) to play on many of the xc/singletrack routes. The signing is brilliant and you can easily lose yourself for hours going on many many different loops but still stay within a few miles of Whistler village.

Also im definately not a downhiller but the wife persuaded me to have a go in the bike park, i signed up for an early riser group lesson, 1 experienced guide with roughly 3 - 4 people of similar experience (they ask you to describe your biking history confidence etc.) and then they take you through all the steps,

Loading you and bike onto the uplifts
basic techniques , like weight dist, braking, safe negociation of jumps/drops and then they tailor the lesson to how you and the others are getting along.

They usually build you up through the routes down as well i.e. start with a few greens which you can roll without any issues from top to bottom (or play to your hearts content) then they build you up through blues/reds to black runs (which many are blues with a few black features which can be walked or chickened)

All in all a fantastic experience and it improved my xc no end (drop offs, jumps, bike weighting, berms etc.)

take a chance its worth it! and im very jealous i would love to be going back

poppit

Thanks for all the info. Don't know about the bike park, I spent 6 months out last year with a broken and dislocated shoulder and don't want to risk too much this year. Would be nice to have a year realtively injury free.

poppit

Which are the best bikes shops in Vancouver and Whistler, anyone with any good experiences, got a feeling we want to try a bit of retail therapy while we are there.

Splottboy

Try the Lonestar bar. Great atmosphere ar weekends!

Manager gave us 4 tee shirts for free. The guys thought he fancied me, but then I was gorgeous back in 94! Who could blame him, poor lad?!