![]() ![]() There are too many options to list, but you’ll find everything from discount hostels to five-star hotels all within a short bike ride of the North Shore mountains. To figure out the best bike routes, the University of British Columbia put together a fantastic route map available online at. Once you arrive, the Canada Line rapid rail service is the easiest way to get downtown. Vancouver International Airport has daily incoming flights from every major city in Canada and many departure cities around the world. If fat tires are more your style, check out for organized tours or the North Shore Mountain Bike Association at nsmba.ca for trail updates and events. While we focused on one famous road ride, the mountain biking around Vancouver is world class and worthy of a separate story on its own. Visit triplecrownforheart.ca for more information. Each July, it offers riders a chance to ride the three mountains in support of the B.C. ![]() The Triple Crown for Heart was launched in 2010. Vancouver Triple Crown: Details Ride for others We had ridden more than 100 km, climbed about 2,000 m and had reached our goal of completing the Triple Crown. ![]() As my tour guide Andrea told me, some would say the true Grouse climb continues another 2.2 km up an insanely steep gravel road, but we decided to stop where the pavement ended.Ī post shared by Trav the time we summitted Seymour, we were five hours into our ride and smiling. While fairly steep, Grouse is short enough to hammer your way up, which we did. Capilano Road turns into Nancy Greene Way, which takes you up the climb to the Grouse Mountain gondola parking lot. Forming the middle point of our W-shaped Triple Crown ride, Grouse is merely a bump in the road at about 2 km and an average grade of roughly five per cent. From there, we turned north onto Capilano Road toward Grouse Mountain, the shortest of the three climbs. Grouse MountainĪfter an incredibly fun descent, we crossed back over the Trans-Canada and headed south to Marine Drive. We reached the peak, stopped for a quick photo and headed back down. By the final turn, about 11 km in, you’re tired and looking for the ski resort parking lot, which is a ghost town in the middle of the summer. ![]() While not terribly steep, the climb certainly wears on you. At various spots, you’re afforded incredible views of Vancouver, Lions Gate Bridge and English Bay. There are four curves en route to the top. The road features the longest of the three climbs: the gradient averages about five per cent and is fairly steady most of the way up. The climb begins as soon as you exit the Trans-Canada Highway at Cypress Bowl Road. “You should try the Triple Crown.”Ī post shared by InstaFund Pro Cycling Mountain “Anyone can ride one mountain in a day,” said Andrea Taylor, who works at West Point Cycles in Vancouver’s West Point Grey district and regularly leads group rides out of the shop. Unfortunately, in bragging about my experience to a friend and Vancouver resident, I was told if I wanted the true North Shore mountain experience, one big climb wasn’t enough. The ride had more than 500 m of elevation in a two-hour, 36-minute jaunt that left me wanting the full Cypress experience. I was invited to join the ride, which turned out to be a 75-km sunset hammerfest up to the first lookout point on the road to Cypress Mountain ski area. My time in Vancouver started with an early evening group ride out of La Bicicletta Pro Shop on West Broadway. Cypress, Grouse and Seymour – three climbs all waiting to be tackled. People in this western Canadian city take the heights for granted, but there’s no other place in the country where a major urban centre is so close to such legendary climbs. Being from a part of Ontario where the longest climb takes less than five minutes, I looked across Vancouver Harbour in absolute awe. In Vancouver for a brief trip, I had two days to ride and wanted the quintessential North Van road experience. Like many great rides, this one started with a challenge. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |