Whistler, British Columbia is legendary when it comes to mountain biking. Being home to the Whistler Bike Park and some of the most famous cross-country trails in the Sea to Sky corridor, it can be tricky to decided how to prepare for biking season. In this guide, we will help you decide on what type of biking is best suited to you and share our favourite mountain biking trails in Whistler.

CROSS-COUNTRY VS DOWNHILL

Just like skiing, biking trails are broken into difficulty levels of green for easy, blue for medium and black for advanced. In Whistler, you will find that the two main types of biking are cross-country and downhill.

CROSS-COUNTRY is a mix of cycling up and down off-road trails in the forest. The trails are free to ride and range in difficulties from green to black in ratings.

DOWNHILL refers to riding in Whistler Bike Park. Unlike cross-country biking, downhill is lift access and you are required to buy a pass to access the park. You will also find a variety of green, blue and black trails here.

If it is your first time biking, we recommend getting a lesson. Whether it be in the bike park or out on the trails, Whistler Blackcomb offers great half and full-day bike lessons.

WHAT TO BRING

Mountain biking has come a long way since hardtails and lycra were the go-to for every type of cycling. Here are a few things to think about as you start to pack for your biking adventure in Whistler.

• Bike – When it comes to riding the bike park you can ride two different types of bikes, either a downhill bike or an all-mountain bike. We do not recommend riding a hardtail in the Bike Park as it has large features and jumps. For cross-country trails, anything from a hardtail to an all-mountain bike is recommended.
• Helmet – Depending on the type of biking you are planning to do on your trip to Whistler will determine what helmet you need. If you are planning to ride local trails around Whistler, Squamish or Pemberton that are pedal access then you will need a half lid trail helmet. If you are catching the lift into the Whistler Bike Park, then it is recommended to use a full-face downhill helmet.
• Tools and a Pump – You do not want to be caught out on a trail with a mechanical issue and no tools. We recommend bringing along a pocket tool, having a pump on your bike frame and an extra tube for any pinches.
• Water – For the cross-country elevation chasers, you are going to need water on your rides. If you don’t already have a bottle on your frame you can look at getting a camel back which are also handy for storing tools.
• Riding Jerseys – Regardless of the type of biking you plan to do in Whistler, being comfortable is key to the long days riding. We recommend riding in either wicking merino wool or synthetic materials to keep you cool during your day of adventure.
• Power Snacks – CLIF bars are our go to for power snacks when biking. If you are not a fan of them, we recommend trying their energy gels, they take up less room and taste great!

If you don’t have some or any of the equipment we suggest above, don’t worry as there are plenty of retail and rental stores on the Whistler Village Stroll that have bike equipment for every type of biker.

THE DOOR TO YOUR ROOM IS A PORTAL INTO WHISTLER

To make the most of your mountain biking trip to Whistler, we recommend that you stay on the Village Stroll as you will have the best access to the lifts for the bike park as well as easy access to the cross-country trails.

At the Crystal, we offer our guests a Mountain Bike Holiday Hotel Package that will have you covered with everything you’ll need for your adventure from a bike tuning and cleaning station to a mini-bar credit for après bike snacks in your room. Learn more about our Mountain Bike Adventure Package here.

The Mountain Bike Adventure Package is valid for any stay longer than 2 nights which is perfect if you’re visiting Whistler for something other than biking but want to squeeze in a ride while you are up in the mountains.

At Crystal Lodge Whistler we understand that now is not the time to travel and hope that our guide has given you some great ideas on biking in Whistler for when we can welcome our guests back. If you have any questions or would like to book your biking adventure in Whistler for when it is safe to travel again, please feel free to contact our Guest Services Team and they can assist you at [email protected] or 1 800 667 3363.