Where the pros ride: Canada’s best bike rides
We asked our Canadian athletes and ambassadors for their favourite rides when they’re at home.
Canada is such a vast and beautiful country waiting to be explored by everyone looking for an adventure. Many Canadian cities are better by bike, but what if you want to venture beyond the bright lights? We asked our Canadian athletes where they love to ride when they’re home in Canada.
Plan your next trip to the mountains in Canada with these recommended rides.
Jakob Jewett, Canyon CLLCTV DH Team
At just less than an hour from Vancouver, Squamish is a hub for both locals and those further afield to enjoy the outdoors. 18-year-old Jake Jewett has been shredding the mountains around Squamish since he learned to ride bikes. Now racing in the junior downhill circuit with the Canyon CLLCTV DH Team, Jake seizes every opportunity he can to ride his home trails.
- Hometown:
- Squamish, BC
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- Every time I get out and ride there is always a new trail waiting to be explored!
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- Squamish has so much variety in all the trails, so people can really experience all types of riding.
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- I love the In-N-Out burger viewpoint. It looks straight down Howe Sound.
- Best time of year to ride:
- Spring
- Required fitness level
- Intermediate/Expert
- Best bike
- Canyon Torque
Ainhoa Ijurko, Canyon CLLCTV Ambassador
Taking the women’s downhill scene by storm is young Ainhoe Ijurko from Squamish. She’s one of the fastest U21 female riders in downhill racing but the secret to her success? Her local ice cream parlour, by the sound of it!
- Hometown:
- Squamish, BC
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- Love the trails up in diamond head! So many different trails to ride and they’re all so fast and fun.
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- Because there’s so much variety of riding in BC especially in the sea to sky.
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- Alice + Brohm Ice Cream Co is a must after riding (and before)!
- Best time of year to ride:
- Spring
- Required fitness level
- Intermediate
- Best bike
- Canyon Torque
Mark Wallace, Canyon CLLCTV DH Team
Elite downhill mountain bike rider Mark Wallace trains in the Cowichan Valley near his hometown of Duncan, British Columbia. While he rides for the thrills on the descents, the reason for Mark’s love of this place might surprise you.
- Hometown:
- Duncan, BC
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- The Cowichan Valley! It is home and the riding is good all year. We have a great shuttle spot for DH, and two different mountains for trail riding.
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- The amount of trails and the variety of riding spots is pretty amazing, there is something for everyone, any time of year!
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- My favourite spots are the dark trees with moss everywhere and a perfect strip of dirt that we follow for the trail. It's the best part of the ride every time!
- Best time of year to ride:
- Spring, Autumn, Winter
- Required fitness level
- Expert
- Best bike
- Canyon Torque
Jenny Tough, Ultra-Distance Rider
British Columbia is a real honeypot for adventure seekers. With the Rocky Mountains on your doorstep, there’s no excuse for not escaping the daily grind, grabbing your gravel bike and losing (finding) yourself along the local trails.
- Hometown:
- Squamish, BC
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- The BC Epic 1000 (race route) / the BC Trail (full trail)
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- This route takes you right across the province, from the coast to the Rockies via lots of small towns, mountain views, and fun gravel in between.
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- Arriving in the Rocky Mountains at the end at Fernie is a fantastic reward. The views of the Rockies open up when you're entering Fernie, and they'll make all the effort more than worth it.
- Best time of year to ride:
- Summer, Autumn
- Required fitness level
- Intermediate
- Best bike
- Canyon Pathlite, Canyon Grizl, Canyon Exceed or Canyon Lux Trail
Laurie Arsenault, Canyon MTB Racing
Cross-country mountain bikes are a great tool for exploring the mountains of Quebec. Canyon MTB Racing’s Laurie Arsenault is regularly seen around Bromont training for her next race. Bring your camera - there’s a view around every corner!
- Hometown:
- Bromont, Quebec
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- Riding on my home trails here in Bromont is so special. This is where I learn to ride my bike through obstacles and this is where I started dreaming about racing world cups.
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- To have the best time of their lives! The energy of this mountain is beautiful, you want to ride all day and you meet awesome people! Each ride finishes at the local brewery, with warm food and warm people! The Quebec culture will welcome you with all the good times you need.
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- My favourite spot is the view point at Mont Bernard through Bromont Mountain. After finishing a long climb you are rewarded with the perfect view and you can see mountains and lakes. It makes you feel proud of yourself and you get all the endorphins from this ride.
- Best time of year to ride:
- All year
- Required fitness level
- All levels and abilities
- Best bike
- Canyon Lux
Emily Batty, Canyon MTB Racing
Year-round riding is hard in some parts of Canada but in Brooklin, Ontario you can enjoy swooping through the trees whenever you like. Durham Forest has a myriad of forest paths for you to practice your skills and endurance. Emily Batty’s favourite trails are in her hometown and her parents own the local Trail Hub where you can grab a drink or something to eat before heading out. Don’t miss out - it opens in 2022!
- Hometown:
- Brooklin, ON
- Where do you ride in Canada and why?
- Durham Forest, it's where I grew up riding. The trails are incredibly high speed with punchy ups and downs. If you're fit, and skilled at going through the trees fast, you can really find the limit of your tyres and skills.
- Why should other Canyon riders visit?
- Because within the greater Durham Forest area, there is well over 200+ km's of single track. There isn't many other locations in the world where you have that much single track, in such a dense area, that is extremely accessible.
- What’s your favourite spot along the route?
- The Trail Hub. My parents recently acquired a ski hill within the area and named it Trail Hub. They will be opening in 2022 with a full café of food and beverages along with amenities like changing rooms, bike service, bathrooms, and a variety of services to accommodate multi trail users.
- Best time of year to ride:
- All year
- Required fitness level
- All levels and abilities
- Best bike
- Any mountain bike
View the routes on Komoot
Dress for the seasons
There’s no better way to enjoy Canada’s vast back country than by riding your bike. Ensure you have the right clothing for the time of year and you’ll enjoy it even more.
Shop MTB Apparel
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