Whistler advice, A week in the park or excursions? Options

[torihada]

6 of us are off to Whistler next week.
Staying with Bear Back biking. Advice required: 6 days riding the park or should we be looking for some excursions? We're riding the 'top of the world' one morning. 4 people on beefed up orange Alpines & couple of us on 7" travel bikes. In the past we've ridden the single track in Les Arcs.
Thanks

NB. Probably should've just PM'd Mad Pierre but I thought I'd throw it out there....

[_tom_]

Definitely worth riding some of the non bikepark stuff but I have to admit I didn't find any of it as much fun as laps of Blue/Black Velvet > Too Tight > Crank It Up > Hornet > GLC! River Runs Through It has some great north shore wooden stuff, I'd love to try it in the dry. Lost Lake trails are kind of like UK trail centre levels of difficulty, but better. If you want a proper long XC ride then Comfortably Numb is apparently where it's at, I only did the last few miles and it was fun techy singletrack. Oh and the dirt jump park is awesome as well Basically it'd be a shame to go all that way and only ever ride the bike park, as awesome as it is, it's only a small part of the riding there. Have fun!

[deadkenny]

+1 on getting out and exploring. Depends how much time you have though and what kind of riding you like.

It's like when I ski there and see people stick to the snow parks all week even having come all the way from the UK, and they're a tiny area. I don't know how much of the actual Bike Park there is. On snow there's a huge amount of terrain over Whistler and Blackcomb, but I've yet to go there with a bike.

Beyond, there's North Shore by Vancouver and Squamish and probably much more.

[torihada]

We've asked bearbackbiking about a pedal day at Squamish. Problem for me is that pedalling a Scott voltage FR20 will kill me: I weighed it last night, it's 20.8 kg. I fitted a 11-34T cassette & a dropper seat post, but after pedalling around the park I realise any serious climbing will be very painful and if the trail down isn't seriously steep it'll be no fun. If i sell a kidney i could go for a heli drop. We shall see.

[_tom_]

I did fine with a 17kg Bullit (horribly slack seat angle and short TT), somehow managed to pedal all the way up the road from Creekside to Kadenwood without using the granny as it wouldn't shift down! Speaking of which, Big Timber is a great singletrack descent. You could always rent an AM bike for the day from somewhere like Summit or Fanatyk. Both great shops.

[torihada]

Thanks for the input. I am going to MTFU and bear the pain.

[Mad Pierre]

I did some of the valley xc trails on a down hill bike with 200mm of triple clamped travel!

I also borrowed a Spark and did some on that. Guess which was more fun?

I'd hire an AM for the day myself.... Heli drop is worth doing just for the "I've been to the top of a mountain in a helicopter" factor. And all the photos with stunning views etc. The trail down is fairly tasty in places too.

[torihada]

I did some of the valley xc trails on a down hill bike with 200mm of triple clamped travel!

I also borrowed a Spark and did some on that. Guess which was more fun?

I'd hire an AM for the day myself.... Heli drop is worth doing just for the "I've been to the top of a mountain in a helicopter" factor. And all the photos with stunning views etc. The trail down is fairly tasty in places too.

I can set my Scott for either 6 or 7 inch rear travel and I've got single crown 180 forks up front so I think I'll be able to manage. Jonny at BBB is going to give us some options, probably a day at Squamish and he mentioned a helidrop -$$$$$$$. I've seen your helidrop photos and I am jealous. It seems to be about CDN$300+ per person. Mmmmmmmm

[Mad Pierre]

Think heli worked out about 100 ish British quid when we did it?

Give my regards to Jonny & Mark and a pat to Alfie (Mark's dog). Tell them we'll be in touch about next year.

[torihada]

Think heli worked out about 100 ish British quid when we did it?

Give my regards to Jonny & Mark and a pat to Alfie (Mark's dog). Tell them we'll be in touch about next year.

Will do (I'll also mention you recommended them)