Victoria, B.C. Trail and Bike shop Reccs?

Gonna be in Victoria B.C. for a few days in August. Looking to get out and ride and looking for trail reccs as the sheer volume of trails on Trailforks was heinously overwhelming.

Also, I'm traveling with family for a wedding, so won't have a bike with me. So I'm also looking for a bike shop recommendation where I can rent a decent bike for a decent price.

I'm mostly an XC rider but fairly capable on technical terrain. Probably won't have time for any epics, but 12-15 mile recommendations would be awesome.

I can't help with bike shop or rental but Heartland dump was always the best riding spot around. If you're able to do any driving there are some other good networks within an hour or so.

If you want something to do with the family a drive out toward Port Renfrew could be worthwhile, check out some beaches and big trees. There used to be a good fish n chip place near Jordan River.

It's been a few years since I lived in Victoria, but this was the best bike shop around Broad Street Cycles. Not sure if they have a rental fleet, although they could certainly point you in the right direction.

And since your in the area, you might as well get a tat at one of my all time favourite shops, Government Street Tattoo.

Awesome thanks!

I did a bit more digging and Hartland dump definetly seemed to pop up as the place to go. Thanks for the info on Port Renfroe. Beaches are good.

Also, is Victoria worth renting a car in?

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Originally Posted by Franz

Also, is Victoria worth renting a car in?

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If you are just going to stay in Victoria, I would say no. It's a pretty small city with a decent bus system and plenty of bike paths (see: The Galloping Goose). Nevertheless, there is a whole lot of fun things to do on the island outside of Victoria (i.e. China Beach, French Beach, Port Renfrew, West Coast Trail, Avatar Grove, Cathedral Grove, Tofino, the plethora of coastal islands... I could keep going), so a car might be worth it.

As for beaches, keep in mind that anything on the west side of the island is going to have cold water. Your best bet is to visit the ones on the east side (i.e. Parksville and - one of my personal favourites - Tribune Bay Beach, which is on Hornby Island).

Have fun!

http://oakbaybikes.com/

Check out Oak Bay, I don't know if they rent or not. A few years ago a buddy was involved with opening of the Westshore location.

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Originally Posted by shirk

http://oakbaybikes.com/

Check out Oak Bay, I don't know if they rent or not. A few years ago a buddy was involved with opening of the Westshore location.

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They do rentals.

Renting from them and going for a rip at Hartland or partridge hills is your best bet since it sounds like he doesn't have time for a bigger /further ride? And great riding at those places. Going further to harbourview, tzouhalem, maple mountain would also be awesome, those are all roughly hour drive from DT Victoria but harbourview is in Sooke on the way out to all the rad beaches towards Renfrew so could combine there. And I would rent a car for sure, all of the suggestions listed require it.

try nsmb.com

Sweet! Thanks for all the suggestions.

And yes, you are totally right that my time will be limited. Car rental is definitely going to happen.

And more touristy, family question, if you were looking to stay someplace near the shore out near 14 for a few days would you stay in Sooke or Port Renfrew?

I probably wouldn't try and stay too far west of Sooke. The typical trend as you go west is sunny in Victoria, partly sunny in Sooke, cloudy/misty in Jordan River and raining hard in Port Renfrew. Maybe you get lucky in Port Renfrew but I wouldn't want to commit ahead of time to multiple days there.

There used to be some cool beach cabins just west of Sooke, and probably a lot more new homes these days. I'm sure some of them are on airbnb.

If you're looking to experience some hiking on a coastal trail the East Sooke Park is a gorgeous day hike that gives you a little taste of what the more famous multi-day hikes (West Coast Trail / Nootka Trail etc) provide. You can go end to end if you have the ability to shuttle otherwise do an out and back from either end. A great day hike that anyone can do. Can't recommend it enough for a family day or a wicked trail run.

https://www.victoriatrails.com/trail...-beechey-head/

Bump - going to be there next weekend for 3 days and have bikes reserved for one.

Any more detailed recs for a loop at Hartland? The sheer quantity and interconnected junkshow of trails there on TrailForks makes it tough to pick out a ride. I can ride most anything short of yuge mandatory gaps and such and am more of an endurobro than an XC guy, but will be with my GF who is more of an intermediate. Harder trails are fine if there are ridearounds. Torpedo Run looks like a must do, what else?

It’s been awhile but Duncan/Mt tzouelem(spelling?) isn’t a long drive up the highway and is really good

At Hartland there's a lot... It's been a year since I've ridden there (but I grew up close by riding there tons) but a lap up the main route then up switchbacks then make your way through twister or jelly roll/lumpy pants then down who's yer daddy to skull. Or up the middle of the park to snakes and ladders (can do torpedo first) to rock bottom or little face to ruffles... Then make your way back on shock treatment or add trails at the south end. Loops involving south ridge and fun trail are good too.

You're right that there's a ton of trails and it's hard to pick out a ride. Torpedo and sofa king are the built up flowy ones, parts of who's yer daddy as well. Everything else is rocky and technical for the most part, lots can be ridden both ways, so you can link up single track for a lot of climbing or just use the roads. Some of the double black trails have some pretty steep rock gnarly moves. It's pretty fun there you can't go too wrong even if you just zig zag around whatever you find haha. You could look at ride logs on trailforks for ideas too.

And yeah driving up to Duncan (maple mtn or tzouhalem) or out to Sooke (harbourview) are good too.

Bumping this thread as the fiance and I are spending the month at an airbnb in Gordon Head area of Victoria. We'll have mountain bikes, paddleboards, surfboards. The dump seems to be the local ride we'll hit after work most days, but what else should we be looking at within the 1ish hour range of Victoria?

In town, the main spots are the Dump and Jordie Lunn bike park. The Jordie Lunn trails are awesome. Quick, short laps.

Farther out of town, some spots I've enjoyed are Burnt Bridge at Shawnigan Lake (Pandemic is awesome, and there are other good trails), Harbourview in Sooke (rock and nice views, gets loose when dry) and Prevost (DH tracks).

If you're there for a while, you might as well take some trips up-Island and check out Nanaimo and Cumberland, and maybe Hornby Island.

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Originally Posted by D(C)

In town, the main spots are the Dump and Jordie Lunn bike park. The Jordie Lunn trails are awesome. Quick, short laps.

Farther out of town, some spots I've enjoyed are Burnt Bridge at Shawnigan Lake (Pandemic is awesome, and there are other good trails), Harbourview in Sooke (rock and nice views, gets loose when dry) and Prevost (DH tracks).

If you're there for a while, you might as well take some trips up-Island and check out Nanaimo and Cumberland, and maybe Hornby Island.

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We've got 2 weekends booked in Tofino already. Plan to spend the first weekend in Victoria exploring the city and local stuff (arrive on a Wednesday), and our last weekend we'll be around I'd like to get up to a different riding destination but we'll see. Would Cumberland be the first choice?

Tofino road currently closed following a fire. I'd keep an eye on status depending when your trip is. Traffic could be a nightmare on weekends if it's only open one lane with traffic control.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...-cancellations


Cumberland has the best riding further north IMO, but I've only rarely ridden stuff in Nanaimo and Campbell River. Any of it can be impacted by logging at different times also.

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Originally Posted by evdog

Tofino road currently closed following a fire. I'd keep an eye on status depending when your trip is. Traffic could be a nightmare on weekends if it's only open one lane with traffic control.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...-cancellations


Cumberland has the best riding further north IMO, but I've only rarely ridden stuff in Nanaimo and Campbell River. Any of it can be impacted by logging at different times also.

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Yep, we've got our eyes on it. Looks like it'll reopen partially this weekend. First planned trip that way still about a month away.

If tofino road is closed you can surf at sombrio in the summer if the bouy at the mouth of the straight hits 5 foot+. Any day that is forecasted for 3foot plus worth looking at the bouy when you wake up. Can hit 5 foot easily. Way better waves than tofino as well.


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Originally Posted by evdog

Tofino road currently closed following a fire. I'd keep an eye on status depending when your trip is. Traffic could be a nightmare on weekends if it's only open one lane with traffic control.

https://vancouversun.com/news/local-...-cancellations


Cumberland has the best riding further north IMO, but I've only rarely ridden stuff in Nanaimo and Campbell River. Any of it can be impacted by logging at different times also.

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The laps on South Benson in Nanaimo are great. For a weekend trip, Cumberland is worthwhile, though, just for overall experience.

Heading up to Cumberland for the next couple nights before we have a saturday PM ferry to the mainland. There don't seem to be many good spots in the vicinity to van camp, anyone have something they wouldn't mind DMing me?

What are the must hit trails up there? So many on trailforks it's overwhelming!

Not a local (and not sure what you're looking for skills wise) but I would go with something like this if I was riding with my regular crew. I've also never ridden Forbidden Plateau so maybe there is some amazing stuff over there.
https://www.trailforks.com/route/202...e-city-enduro/

Jtran- what type of trails are you looking to ride

How many days of riding and for how long each ride

I live far away but I’ve rode/raced on that network 50+ days at least - I know it better than my home trails.

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Originally Posted by nortonwhis

Not a local (and not sure what you're looking for skills wise) but I would go with something like this if I was riding with my regular crew. I've also never ridden Forbidden Plateau so maybe there is some amazing stuff over there.
https://www.trailforks.com/route/202...e-city-enduro/

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That route covers a lot of good stuff. The notable omission among trails I like is upper/lower Thirsty Beaver. A route that includes those without doubling up what's on the enduro route is something like up The Pig/climbing trail/roads, down Race Rocks, Felicia, Potluck, Thirsty Beaver, Off Broadway, Short n curly, Shaker, Spanker then either Missing Link/Found link or Kitty Litter and Space Nugget.

Last summer there were signs about Thirsty Beaver and other trails getting logged. I don't see any comments on TF but it would be worth checking in at one of the bike shops to ask about conditions. They could tell you what's running well at Forbidden as well. I haven't ridden there near as much but recall some janky old wood work and more overgrown trails, so you'd want some reccos there. Access seemed more affected by logging so maybe that reduced traffic and maintenance.

Bike shop could probably suggest camping options too. There is Cumberland campground on Comox Lake but it might be busy now that it's summer. There are a million logging roads you can go up, just need to find ones that aren't gated (plenty of private timberland in the area) and preferably not with active log hauling going on. There are rec sites up near Campbell River around Campbell Lake but that's probably an hour each way. Maybe there are spots up Forbidden Plateau Rd or by Mt Washington.

Thirsty wasn’t logged when I was there last month.

Forbidden is undergoing a renovation back to its former glory. Had a super fun shuttle lap there recently.

IMHO it’s a lot of climbing to get up to Race Rocks - I’d vote doing two laps of Sobo climbing trail vs going all the way to top of race rocks - plus that trail was blown out when I rode it prior to BCBR- it’s gonna be even rougher now. Felicia and Potluck are ok trails but 2 laps of the lower trails is a better bang for your buck - again IMHO

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Originally Posted by evdog

There is Cumberland campground on Comox Lake but it might be busy now that it's summer.

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I camped there for three nights in summer ten years ago, and it was the loudest one I've ever stayed at with people belting out Rush until 2am. So it depends if that's your thing or not.

Mostly looking for good blue trails tbh. Got our share of tech the last month in Victoria. But no flow.

Will check logging roads. In town nowhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b050002ce2.jpg

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Things that are great:
Riders Pizza
Biblio Tacos
Cumberland brewery (looks like you found it- try the forest fog)
The new coffee shop across the street from taco shop
Both bike shops (Dodge City and Beaufort)
Tin Shed cafe/coffee shop in Courtney if you’re down there for some reason
The bakery across the street from Tin Shed
The ice cream places in Cumberland (just down the street from brewery same side of street) and in Courtney
Swimming at Comox lake
The dirt jump park in Cumberland esp if you have kids on bikes (and the nearby water park for kids)

Do you want a list of fun blue trails to hit or I can make you an actual trailforks route

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Originally Posted by bennymac

Do you want a list of fun blue trails to hit or I can make you an actual trailforks route

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A list is fine. The climb looks self explanatory, road to climbing trail :)

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Originally Posted by bennymac

Thirsty wasn’t logged when I was there last month.

Forbidden is undergoing a renovation back to its former glory. Had a super fun shuttle lap there recently.

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Good to know about Thirsty and Forbidden. Thirsty is super cool in winter when tons of water is flowing everywhere. It's rated black on TF, but I'd call it blue. Not hard at all and flows well.

I liked Potluck because of all the wood work.

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Originally Posted by Dromond

I camped there for three nights in summer ten years ago, and it was the loudest one I've ever stayed at with people belting out Rush until 2am. So it depends if that's your thing or not.

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I've never stayed there. Being on the lake, not surprised it would be loud in summer. No other official campgrounds I know of close by though. Sounds like dispersed camping is the way to go.

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Originally Posted by jtran10

Mostly looking for good blue trails tbh. Got our share of tech the last month in Victoria. But no flow.

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After riding Hartland where everything is uphill both directions, even black trails in Cumberland will seem flowy and easy. They're pretty well built for the most part.

Yeah riding the road up to bottom of climbing trail is a standard warmup.

The climbing trail (sobo michi trail) goes uphill in sections and allows you to peel off in a few different places - but most of the time you’re gonna wanna ride it to the top. It’s a masterclass in how to build a climbing trail for all skill/fitness levels that allows you to maintain a pace that allows conversation with your fellow riders. The trail ends at a bench in an old clear cut at the entrance to “New Vanilla” trail.

But when you get there keep going up on the rough rocky road a tiny bit further until you cross a main logging road onto a brief climb called “Above and Beyond” - that will take you to the top of “Blueprint” - turn your suspensions on and head downhill on a gem of a trail that’s over way too soon.

Then flow into (all descents):
Hunky Dory
New Vanilla
Lower Thirsty Beaver

(If you need to head back to town at this point do Teapot/Slickrock/Dam Trail/Missing Link/FoundLink/Kitty Litter/SpaceNugget)

To keep riding from bottom of Thirsty Beaver turn right on the road and go to
Vanilla Climb
Old Vanilla (downhill)
Middle Vanilla (downhill)
Vanilla Bottom (downhill)

Then over to
Trestle climb (steep but very short)
Upper crafty Butcher (short climb then downhill)
Middle Crafty Butcher (downhill)
Lower Crafty Butcher (downhill)
2Flats to Bonestorm (has an obvious rock roll at the very end with a ride around - the roll makes it black diamond but it’s super smooth and well built)

You’re now back to town. Grab a burrito and some fluids and then see if you want to go back out for more - cause there’s more where that came from.

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Other fun trails to consider:

Ride up Missing Link from the Spanker end of the trail and then turn onto Found Link /Lost and Found descent and then make your way to Orange Peels (fun mandatory small drops on Orange Peels - I’d rate this as easy black diamond)- this is a loop you can do from town in like 20min and is super fun - highly recommended

As someone else mentioned Space Nugget is also a quick fun blue trail and is very close to town so you can loop this in about 15min from the bottom - you can also hit this after Lost and Found instead of doing the drops on Orange Peels - just navigate over to nugget on trailforks.

Lower and upper Climbmax climbing trails to “Field of dream/Blue Collar” descent - this is a really really fun and long blue square descent (with a short but very steep climb at the very end)

Blockhead to Bucket of Blood Access to Bear Buns - these are on black diamond trails but are straightforward and fun especially once you get onto Bear Buns which is a great trail. You can also get to Bear Buns by skipping Blockhead - just navigate over on an old road from the top of the climbing trail and it’ll take you to Bucket of Blood access - follow trail forks to get onto bear buns.

If you get a desire for steeper tech you can link Blockhead into Numbskulls and Gravity - but these are Steeeep and gonna likely be very dry and loose and require one’s a-game.

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Originally Posted by bennymac

Yeah riding the road up to bottom of climbing trail is a standard warmup.

The climbing trail (sobo michi trail) goes uphill in sections and allows you to peel off in a few different places - but most of the time you’re gonna wanna ride it to the top. It’s a masterclass in how to build a climbing trail for all skill/fitness levels that allows you to maintain a pace that allows conversation with your fellow riders. The trail ends at a bench in an old clear cut at the entrance to “New Vanilla” trail.

But when you get there keep going up on the rough rocky road a tiny bit further until you cross a main logging road onto a brief climb called “Above and Beyond” - that will take you to the top of “Blueprint” - turn your suspensions on and head downhill on a gem of a trail that’s over way too soon.

Then flow into (all descents):
Hunky Dory
New Vanilla
Lower Thirsty Beaver

(If you need to head back to town at this point do Teapot/Slickrock/Dam Trail/Missing Link/FoundLink/Kitty Litter/SpaceNugget)

To keep riding from bottom of Thirsty Beaver turn right on the road and go to
Vanilla Climb
Old Vanilla (downhill)
Middle Vanilla (downhill)
Vanilla Bottom (downhill)

Then over to
Trestle climb (steep but very short)
Upper crafty Butcher (short climb then downhill)
Middle Crafty Butcher (downhill)
Lower Crafty Butcher (downhill)
2Flats to Bonestorm (has an obvious rock roll at the very end with a ride around - the roll makes it black diamond but it’s super smooth and well built)

You’re now back to town. Grab a burrito and some fluids and then see if you want to go back out for more - cause there’s more where that came from.

——

Other fun trails to consider:

Ride up Missing Link from the Spanker end of the trail and then turn onto Found Link /Lost and Found descent and then make your way to Orange Peels (fun mandatory small drops on Orange Peels - I’d rate this as easy black diamond)- this is a loop you can do from town in like 20min and is super fun - highly recommended

As someone else mentioned Space Nugget is also a quick fun blue trail and is very close to town so you can loop this in about 15min from the bottom - you can also hit this after Lost and Found instead of doing the drops on Orange Peels - just navigate over to nugget on trailforks.

Lower and upper Climbmax climbing trails to “Field of dream/Blue Collar” descent - this is a really really fun and long blue square descent (with a short but very steep climb at the very end)

Blockhead to Bucket of Blood Access to Bear Buns - these are on black diamond trails but are straightforward and fun especially once you get onto Bear Buns which is a great trail. You can also get to Bear Buns by skipping Blockhead - just navigate over on an old road from the top of the climbing trail and it’ll take you to Bucket of Blood access - follow trail forks to get onto bear buns.

If you get a desire for steeper tech you can link Blockhead into Numbskulls and Gravity - but these are Steeeep and gonna likely be very dry and loose and require one’s a-game.

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Thanks for the rec. Did the first route top to bottom and really enjoyed it! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...886dca1feb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...639cfd32ce.jpg

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I’m experiencing “mudita” - taking joy in someone else’s good fortune.

Glad you guys enjoyed it!

FYI if you’re riding tomorrow there is a trail running race going on from 7am til mid afternoon

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...06d28c9bdd.jpg

Had one of the best days on the bike this year with a similar route as Benny recommended. Blueprint, Thirsty beaver, Kitty Litter. Off broadway was a blast, but more tech. Will be back to explore more and will check out some of the other routes there. Was on the gravel bike but would love to try again with an actual mtb as well.

Riding a gravel bike down Off Broadway means you know how to control a bike! Nice work