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Sports: Cycling

[ Background |Equipment |Where ]

Background

The bicycle was invented in the 1600s, originally a wood vehicle to be powered by people instead of horses. By the early 1800s, bicycles were consistently being built of metal, with two wheels, and were being driven by one person. The sport of cycling, and more recently mountain biking, has gained in popularity. Many us it as an environmentally-friendly form of transportation.

Cycling provides good exercise, fresh air, and a competitive challenge. It exercises most parts of the body including the legs, arms, hands and cardiovascular system. Cycling is also an Olympic racing sport with track and cross-country events. Mountain biking competitions continue to grow in popularity, combining speed with rugged terrain.

Equipment

There are thousands of brands and types of bicycles, from touring to mountain bikes, even tandems and unicycles. Costs range in price from under $100 to thousands of dollars. It is important to maintain the bike so it is at peak running condition. Check for thinning tire treads, squeaky brakes, sticky cables or a bent frame. Before each ride, squeeze the tires to make sure there is enough air pressure (the tires shouldn't squeeze much).

Riders should also invest in a CSA-approved helmet, with costs ranging from $20 to more than $100. This means the helmet design has completed the Canadian Standards Association's durability testing. Other accessories include a quality lock & cable, a water bottle, and a tire pump. Many cyclists also want toe clips, to improve peddling efficiency. Serious cyclists also invest in cycling clothing including cycling shoes, spandex pants shorts (usually with soft chamois crotch padding) and cycling gloves.

Where

Chilliwack is an island surrounded by dykes along the Fraser and is a mountain biker's paradise. There are flat trails, scenic trails and even challenging hilly trails on Vedder Mountain.

Serious mountain bikers head to Vedder Mountain and its trails, which include the Delemma, the Den, and the Luge (a 15-minute descent), as well as many unnamed trails. Mountain bikers will discover more trails in the Tamihi and Liumchen valleys and almost anywhere in the Chilliwack River Valley.

For those who prefer relaxed biking, check out Chilliwack's dykes, built to prevent the rivers from flooding, the dykes offer miles of level biking pleasure, suitable for the whole family. Bicycle down rural roads, past fields of lush green grass or towering gold-topped corn, and see bald eagles, blue heron and deer near the Fraser River.

From Harrison Hot Springs, you can take the mountain biking challenge of the Hicks Lake, Bear Lake, Beaver Pond and Bridal Trails.

Here are details on a number of trails in and araound the Fraser Valley:
Chilliwack | Hope | Manning Park

Contact Cycling BC 604-737-3034 for more information.