We’re going to start off the day early with some quick stretching, and trail safety discussions as the Copeland, and all of her natural elements are going to be our playground for the day. Once we drop in at the southern most point of the boundary, we will head in and get warmed up, preparing us for our first big climb of the day up “Mile High”. A wise man once said “What goes up, must come down” so once we are at the top, it’s all downhill from there (for a while at least!). Over the course of the morning we will have the opportunity to ride many of the timeless trails that made the Copeland forest what it is today, accumulating the vertical so we can enjoy all the gravity based riding the forest has to offer us.
Half way through the ride we will stop for a quick rest and light snack at “The Pond” and if the temperature allows it, maybe take a dip to cool off. After our break we’ll hop back on the bikes and rip around the old growth part of the forest while admiring some of the monsterous cedars that give the Copeland her character. All the while trying not to be too distracted by the glorious sun gleaming through the canopy, lighting up the ground cover, which is a sight not to be missed.
Ride Pricing & Scheduling
Scheduling
The season for riding in the Copeland Forest can change drastically from year to year. Our Primary Riding Season occurs between the months of May and October. The shoulder season for the Copeland Forest can extend from April until December depending on the weather.
This guided ride can be booked anytime, weekday or weekend throughout the Primary riding season so that no matter when you are here, we will be able to accommodate you.
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Ride Duration: 3 Hours
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Typical Riding Season is from May until October
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Weather dependent riding in shoulder months – April, November & December
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Price is Per Person (CDN) + Taxes
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Minimum of 2 Riders
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Volume discounts for 4+ Riders
Making sure you bring a good, high-quality Mountain Bike with you is hugely important to the success of your riding adventure. Riding on safe equipment is paramount and we want to make sure you have a great time out there. For those without a mountain bicycle, or perhaps a sub-standard bicycle, we have a wide selection of affordable, high-end rental bikes available.
We have put together the following recommendations to give you a little guidance towards bike selection. Also, we understand that some people may have different mountain bicycle configurations, such as a single-speed or a fully-rigid and in those cases we ask that you contact us and make us aware of the bicycle type you intend to ride so that we can better advise you of your options. Again, if you have any doubts or questions feel free to reach out – we’ll be glad to help!
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Your Mountain Bike MUST be in good working order
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Tires are at least 1.9″ Wide and are knobby
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We recommend you use a bicycle with Disc Brakes
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We recommend you have a suspension fork (80mm-160mm)
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We recommend at least a 2x front chainring configuration
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We recommend at least a 9x rear cassette
On top of your mountain bike, there are a couple of other items that you will need to bring for your safety. Without these items, you will not ride and that will be sad for everyone. If you don’t possess these items, we can help you out by renting them to you for the duration of your ride:
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Bicycle Helmet approved by CSA, EN, ASTM, CPSC or Snell B90/B95
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Water Bottle(s) or Hydration System
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Protective Eyewear / Glasses
On top of the critical safety items, there are a number of other items we recommend you bring with you if you have them – they will make your experience more enjoyable:
One of the advantages of going out with Ride Guides is that you won’t need to worry too much about tools. Our guides will ALWAYS be equipped with EVERYTHING on this list. However, we do understand that some people would rather bring their own tools and that’s fine, but you are more than welcome to use ours:
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Multi-tool with Allen wrenches
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Spoke Wrenches
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Chain Tool
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Zip Ties
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300psi Shraeder Shock Pump
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Tire Pump (Presta and Shraeder)
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Tire Levers
Whenever you are venturing out on a ride, you should always keep spares of parts which are more prone to failure. Here is a list of the spares that we recommend you bring with you on your ride. Remember, if you have a mechanical failure while you are in the bush, it is usually a long and boring walk out:
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Inner Tubes (2x)
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Masterlink / Speedlink / Powerlink
It is important to make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the weather. Mountain Biking is a strenuous physical activity so you also want to be sure the clothing you are wearing allows for good breathe-ability. when in doubt, dress in layers which can be easily removed and stowed. Some areas of the trail can be prone to poison ivy at different times throughout the season, so you will likely want covering on your lower legs to help prevent exposure. Another key clothing item is padded riding shorts. These shorts can help save your butt from a couple hours of saddle punishment, and we highly recommend them.
Departure Point
Unless alternate arrangements have been made, this ride takes off from the Horseshoe Cross Country Centre, on the North Side of Horseshoe Valley Rd, directly across the street from the Resort entrance (if you are using a GPS, look for 1101 Horseshoe Valley Rd). Proceed in the drive way and go straight down into the large gravel parking lot and park on the right hand side (unless you want your car pelted with stray golf balls) –
CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP
Departure Time
Please meet promptly at 9:30am, the designated start time, unless you have requested an alternate start time. On the way out we will find ourselves back in the parking lot before 1:00pm.
Through our network of partners we have access to one serious selection of high-end rental mountain bikes. Whether you are looking for a solid starter bike because it’s your first time out, or you are having carbon 29′er envy, we have got a bike for you. With this kind of selection you don’t need to stress about bringing your rig with you. This also covers all of the other equipment you may need to rent, be it a Helmet, Protective Glasses, Gloves, Lights, Hydration… Just let us know what you need and we’ll be happy to set you up with it!
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Whether it’s by choice or not, we get that people have dietary restrictions. We know that Veggie isn’t Vegan, the jury is out on if Fish is actually meat, and we actually know what Gluten and Tofurky are. What does this mean to you? Well, you can rest assured that our Kitchen Staff will work relentlessly to make sure your dietary requirements are met, your lunch tastes amazing, all while adhering to our sustainability commitments. Just another thing you won’t need to worry about when you are with Ride Guides.
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