Seek More: EC90 AX + EC70 AX Wheelset Launch
Seek More: EC90 AX + EC70 AX Wheelset Launch
Deep Cove – Indian Arm – Squamish – Whistler
115 KM. 2150 M. 6 riders. 1 E-bike videographer. 2 new AX Series wheelsets.
“We weren’t exactly sure how hard this ride would be. The point wasn’t necessarily to do something crazy. We wanted to go somewhere rad, do something you could do with friends. And we wanted to test the gear.”
The backroad into Squamish has been on our minds for quite some time. Plenty of people we’ve held in high regard have ridden this route before – gravel bikes, mountain bikes, camping trips, moto trips. Being able to link it to the Sea to Sky trail, or the old Cheakamus Challenge XC course for those that remember, was an additional bonus we couldn’t pass up.
The plan was to bring together a crew of riders that could handle an unusual day out on bikes. This route isn’t necessarily that difficult when tackled as a straight ride, especially with a group of experienced and strong riders. But in order to really test the equipment and get some video and photo assets in potentially unfamiliar areas, we would be tested in different ways with a day that would really drag out.
First, we drew on our Easton Overland roster of riders - Amity Rockwell, Michael Van Den Ham, Craig Richey and Matt Hornland. Then we added in a pair of strong cyclists who have been crushing gravel in BC for some time and most recently took to the Oregon Trail Gravel Race to test their mettle, Morgan Cabot and Dave Gillam. The final piece of the puzzle was our one-man video crew and human gimbal, Nicholas Kupiak, who would be shooting this video solo in a single day with the assistance of an E-MTB.
The data we had on the Indian Arm section to Squamish was that the ride was rough but doable on 40s, nicer on 50s, and survivable on 35s. Likely a lot of crushed rock, loose ascents, and brake bumped descents. Testing grounds. Perfect for beating up your gear. And maybe your friends too.
After the crew met in Deep Cove to start the morning, we caught a ride with the Indian Arm Auxiliary boat service that would take us the 10km up Indian Arm to true ride start – the beginning of the service road.
The data wasn’t wrong. The gravel was rugged – decent enough for moto and service vehicles, but loose and rocky in a lot of places. A good mix of punchy climbs and quick descents meant we were spending a lot of time smashing our way through challenging lines in and out of the saddle. We celebrated the lack of flats or other mechanicals as we tested our wheels against the abundance of sharp granite and buried baby-heads. Both the EC90 AX and EC70 AX were rising to the challenge and dishing out performance. Despite the variance in tire sizes and types, everyone was finding the additional width on the new AX series wheels to provide a better tire profile and more traction.
After a regroup and refresh in Squamish at Cliffside Cider, we hit the Sea to Sky trail to Whistler. Most of us have had the pleasure of riding this segment before, on random group missions friends put on, or as an escape from the city. Being able to take a day - or a credit card touring weekend - to round trip ride the Sea to Sky trail can give you a good taste of BC gravel. From wide gravel access roads along Paradise Valley to loose cliffside cuts above the Cheakamus River and finally forested single-track as you near Whistler Village.
As we hit the 8-hour mark of chamois time around midafternoon, we started to feel the effects of a video shoot coupled with a long and, at times, challenging ride. Ideas on shots and potential filming of clips were sidetracked by a search for food and cold beverages on the outskirts of Whistler.
The gear test was complete – the equipment and the crew were none the worse for wear despite the terrain, a long day on “set,” and a demanding director.
The thing is, when you have the right crew of people, sometimes even hard days look and feel easy. And when you want to push your gear to the limit, sometimes the best result is that nothing crazy happens at all.
Deep Cove – Indian Arm – Squamish – Whistler
115 KM. 2150 M. 6 riders. 1 E-bike videographer. 2 new AX Series wheelsets.
“We weren’t exactly sure how hard this ride would be. The point wasn’t necessarily to do something crazy. We wanted to go somewhere rad, do something you could do with friends. And we wanted to test the gear.”
The backroad into Squamish has been on our minds for quite some time. Plenty of people we’ve held in high regard have ridden this route before – gravel bikes, mountain bikes, camping trips, moto trips. Being able to link it to the Sea to Sky trail, or the old Cheakamus Challenge XC course for those that remember, was an additional bonus we couldn’t pass up.
The plan was to bring together a crew of riders that could handle an unusual day out on bikes. This route isn’t necessarily that difficult when tackled as a straight ride, especially with a group of experienced and strong riders. But in order to really test the equipment and get some video and photo assets in potentially unfamiliar areas, we would be tested in different ways with a day that would really drag out.
First, we drew on our Easton Overland roster of riders - Amity Rockwell, Michael Van Den Ham, Craig Richey and Matt Hornland. Then we added in a pair of strong cyclists who have been crushing gravel in BC for some time and most recently took to the Oregon Trail Gravel Race to test their mettle, Morgan Cabot and Dave Gillam. The final piece of the puzzle was our one-man video crew and human gimbal, Nicholas Kupiak, who would be shooting this video solo in a single day with the assistance of an E-MTB.
The data we had on the Indian Arm section to Squamish was that the ride was rough but doable on 40s, nicer on 50s, and survivable on 35s. Likely a lot of crushed rock, loose ascents, and brake bumped descents. Testing grounds. Perfect for beating up your gear. And maybe your friends too.
After the crew met in Deep Cove to start the morning, we caught a ride with the Indian Arm Auxiliary boat service that would take us the 10km up Indian Arm to true ride start – the beginning of the service road.
The data wasn’t wrong. The gravel was rugged – decent enough for moto and service vehicles, but loose and rocky in a lot of places. A good mix of punchy climbs and quick descents meant we were spending a lot of time smashing our way through challenging lines in and out of the saddle. We celebrated the lack of flats or other mechanicals as we tested our wheels against the abundance of sharp granite and buried baby-heads. Both the EC90 AX and EC70 AX were rising to the challenge and dishing out performance. Despite the variance in tire sizes and types, everyone was finding the additional width on the new AX series wheels to provide a better tire profile and more traction.
After a regroup and refresh in Squamish at Cliffside Cider, we hit the Sea to Sky trail to Whistler. Most of us have had the pleasure of riding this segment before, on random group missions friends put on, or as an escape from the city. Being able to take a day - or a credit card touring weekend - to round trip ride the Sea to Sky trail can give you a good taste of BC gravel. From wide gravel access roads along Paradise Valley to loose cliffside cuts above the Cheakamus River and finally forested single-track as you near Whistler Village.
As we hit the 8-hour mark of chamois time around midafternoon, we started to feel the effects of a video shoot coupled with a long and, at times, challenging ride. Ideas on shots and potential filming of clips were sidetracked by a search for food and cold beverages on the outskirts of Whistler.
The gear test was complete – the equipment and the crew were none the worse for wear despite the terrain, a long day on “set,” and a demanding director.
The thing is, when you have the right crew of people, sometimes even hard days look and feel easy. And when you want to push your gear to the limit, sometimes the best result is that nothing crazy happens at all.