BC Bucket List: Vancouver Island by pinkbikeaudience

Sinewy corners on 4 Dead Aliens. Hornby trail pioneer Sasha Lebaron says they got their trail building influence from Beggars Canyon back on Tattoine. How fitting.

Richie Says...

Take a 60-second tour of some of Vancouver Island’s finest singletrack. There are great places to ride and discover for those with an adventurous spirit on this island paradise. Ancient cedars, rugged coastline, legendary totems, and a relaxed island vibe make this one of the best places to explore on two wheels.

The region with the green overlay is that of Vancouver Island.

Some of the Best Photos from Vancouver Island:

The terrain and forest close to Victoria is pretty unique. Image by Margus Riga.

Riding on the edge high above Cumberland. Image by Mitch Cheek.

Images for Characters 11 The United Riders of Cumberland by Dave Silver photography.

All through the woods surrounding Cumberland you'll find gems like this. Image by Dave Silver.

The quality woodwork in Duncan is on another level. Image by Dave Silver.

Back when I was in junior high school and riding tons on Mt. Tzouhalem in Duncan XC racing was in it s hey-day. The likes of Roland Green Alison Sydor Ryder Hjesdal and Andreas Hestler were just down the road in Victoria training like ferocious beasts. Every once in a while we d see them on the trails and just be blown away. Andreas was very recognizable. He was a bad-ass a smiley guy and of all the different things that stand out I always remember people talking about his biceps At the 1998 Hornby Island XC I was watching the pros race and when Andreas rode by this dude beside me turned to his buddy and said I don t understand why he lifts weights so much to build up his arms doesn t that extra bulk just hold him back on the climbs Kind of a random memory I know but that always just stuck with me because to my young mind back then it meant that you could be a strong xc racer but have the arms of a wrestler as in You don t have to exactly fit the mold to be successful.

One of the best reasons to visit Vancouver Island is the year-round riding.

Typical of Hornby Island a ribbon of dark earth. Moss. Wind. Ocean views. Speed.

Rain or shine, you'll want to slow down and take this view in when on Hornby Island. Image by Margus Riga.

Riley McIntosh Balls out high speed. 4 Dead Aliens trail.

Hornby offers trails that will bring out smiles in everyone, so bring the whole family. Image by Margus Riga.

Videos that represent Vancouver Island:
Rocky Mountain bicycles team riders take us on a journey through Vancouver Island:

Episode 2: Vancouver Island

by MountainBikingBC

Views: 37,778 Faves: 281 Comments: 19

Garett Buehler joins some Cumberland locals for a wet day in the woods:

Garett Buehler Rides the Knolly Warden

by KNOLLYBIKES

Views: 37,385 Faves: 216 Comments: 21

Carter Hovey shows us some sweet single track just outside of Victoria:

Carter Hovey - Spanish Spring

by freerider333

Views: 11,006 Faves: 34 Comments: 5

Trevor Thew and Nic Rodgers experience some beautiful single track in Duncan:

Finding Two Wheeled Freedom

by leftcoastmediahouse

Views: 27,526 Faves: 441 Comments: 31

Check Out The Trails:

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Cumberland mountain biking trails

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Victoria mountain biking trails

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Duncan mountain biking trails

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Hornby Island mountain biking trails

Other Useful Links:
Mountain Biking BC: Explore Vancouver Island
Mountain Biking BC: Camping & Riding on BC's Gulf Islands
Mountain Biking BC: Vancouver Island in 60 Seconds
Front Lines: Cowichan Trail Stewardship Society

Images by Mitch Cheek, Dave Silver, and Margus Riga.

MENTIONS: @trailforks / @MountainBikingBC / @solosproductions / @DSPhoto / @Margus

Author Info:

pinkbikeaudience

Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,465 articles

4 Comments

dirtchurner (Oct 17, 2016 at 14:50)

THATs IT!!!!! Honey, I love you and I am sure going to miss you even more. You can keep everyting I just need whats in the garage!

nilswalk (Oct 17, 2016 at 7:30)

Home! It's crazy that I now live in "the birthplace of mountain biking" but I'd much rather be back home

zepper (Oct 19, 2016 at 12:31)

Hey locals! Can this stuff be ridden in December/January? Like if you dress warm or is it covered in blankets of snow? We're road tripping to Seattle/Vancouver for the holidays and we'd love to bring the bikes.

SHARK555 (Oct 22, 2016 at 17:46)

there are 2 weather patterns that time of year. 1st- cold rain, like alot of it. 2nd- slushy snow that may stick around for a day or two