Spring is here, which means it is time for hero dirt, longer daylight hours, warmer weather and rider development! At The Cycling Co. we are all about year-round mountain bike development, but we see Spring as the ultimate time to put on bike gear, set new goals, put your head down and get to work […] The post Year Round Mountain Bike Development with Dirt Squad’s Bradley Wright appeared first on The Cycling Co ..read more

Have you ever looked around a MTB trailhead parking lot and wondered where all the girls and women are? Or have you ever noticed the ratio of women to men in the Whistler lift line? Mountain biking is a male dominated sport, and being a woman in this industry can be challenging. It can be intimidating and lonely. Although the female presence in mountain biking is growing, there are still major inequalities when it comes to the industry and the opportunities that are available to women. When it comes to learning the basics of mountain biking, it is essential that women learn the fundament ..read more

Are you looking to be MORE prepared on your mountain bike rides? Do you want to be MORE self-sufficient on the mountain? Let’s get packed and make sure we have everything we need for whatever the trails throw our way. Let’s chat about what’s in my mountain biking pack! Choosing the Right Mountain Bike Pack I use a USWE backpack that holds a 3L bladder and has a lot of space for snacks, layers and tools. BUT some days a pack feels like too much, so I also use a Bontrager hip pack that carries sufficient amounts of snacks, tools and an extra bottle. For really big riding days that are deeper in ..read more

After a solid season learning fundamentals, crashing in the mud, slipping on roots, lapping dusty, rutted parks, long pedaling adventures in many of this island’s great trail networks and generally getting comfortable on my mountain bike, I thought it was time to take it a step further and try some RACING. I love a good climb and getting that solid cardio workout. But boy, oh boy, I am here for that fast, blood pumping, heart racing descent. Enduro racing was the choice for me. In spring and summer 2022, I competed in 9 different enduros, ranging from The Island Cup Series, Women’s only enduro ..read more

Spring Is Here! …oh, wait, what’s THIS? After a long wet winter, it’s finally spring. The sun is out and the trails are mint. We all want to get out and shred like mad… But, there’s this little thing…a microscopic thing. This coronavirus. The little thing that no one can see that has messed with the world beyond anything we have ever experienced. The world has slowed down. Many of us are off work. We’ve got all this time to ride. For some, it’s the most free time they have ever had. So it’s tempting to call your crew and hit the trails. But it’s so important that you don’t! While here on Vanco ..read more

It is always a great idea to do a pre-ride bike check before every ride, even if you rode the day before. You never know when a bolt has come loose, a tire is a little flat or your chain is creaky.  If you’ve ever taken a lesson or clinic with The Cycling Co., or if you ride with one of our weekly groups, you will be familiar with our routine pre-ride bike check. We encourage you to NOT ONLY complete it when you’re with us, but also when you ride on your own. Our pre-ride bike check is as simple as A, B, C. We literally call it our ABCs. Pre-Ride Bike Check Checklist: This pre-ride checkl ..read more

Do you have a rider in your family or a friend in your riding group that is always complaining about being cold on their rides? Or is it you, who comes home as a human popsicle after each shred sesh? Tis the season of gifts and giving! So here is a guide to help warm up that year round mountain biker you’re shopping for. Stocking Stuffers & Smaller Gifts: An extra pair of gloves always goes a long way. Whether it is snowing, raining or just plain cold, packing extra gloves (in a ziplock baggie) will make someone’s ride that much better. The Cycling Co.’s coaches all live by the 100 ..read more

Let’s Ride! Come ride with me and let’s smash a lap of the new 2017 Canada Cup XC course at Bear Mountain! Get ready for a guided tour of my backyard trails that have become the course for the 2017 Powerade Bear Mountain Canada Cup XC Race. As a guy who was Canada Cup Champion a few (ok, many) years ago, I can’t even begin to tell you how much it means to me to host the entire nation here in my neighbourhood at Bear Mountain. The start/finish line is literally at the end of my street. Cool! The Process This whole process began way back in 2011 when mountain bike trail development was first pr ..read more

The Cycling Co. and Bear Mountain Resort have partnered to offer a free kids’ Discover Mountain Biking program on Sunday February 12 (Family Day Weekend). A child’s bike is their first taste of freedom and we want to make that experience as fun and awesome as possible! Kids feel their first sense independence when they learn to ride a bike. Remember that feeling? Burning around the neighbourhood, ripping over to your friend’s house and just knocking on the door; then riding all day until your parents made you come home for dinner, “when the street lights come on.” DISCOVER MOUNTAIN BIKING at ..read more

What a day! What a race! What a season! (Author: Julia Gallant) The Island Cup Island Enduro Series Final at Maple Mountain in Duncan, BC was hot, gruelling and a test to all riders competing. After a dry hot summer, riders were sent up to the top of Maple Mountain, to come back down some of the favourite local and very dusty trails (Upper and lower Maple Syrup, Phloem, Upper Story Trail, and Tony’s Arbutus). Each stage had riders pedalling, breathing hard and focusing on where they were putting their wheels next. Loose corners, dusty chutes and a hot sun didn’t deter our Dirt Squad. They were ..read more