Mountain biking in Whistler can carry a certain image: crazy tricks, fast descents, riders who seem to defy gravity, and everyone looks so snazzy. It is exhilarating (and quite mind-blowing) to watch. But if you’re like me, a perfectly average mountain biker, it can feel more than a little intimidating.
The truth is, you don’t have to be a hardcore shredder to love mountain biking. You don’t need to be fast, fearless or send gnarly lines. You just need two wheels, a bit of courage and a willingness to be terrible at something for a while.
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Few places in the world are, paradoxically, as accessible and intimidating for mountain bikers as Whistler. With an extensive network of well-built, well-maintained trails providing incremental progression, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re looking to try mountain biking for the first time or push your skills to the next level.
The Pressure to Be “Good”
Like most people starting in any sport or new hobby, I had all the usual doubts when I first started. I’d love to say those doubts stayed in the past, but seven years later, they’re still hanging around. What if I’m too slow? What if I can’t make it down the trail without walking all of it? What if I fall and look ridiculous? What if people behind me get frustrated?
These thoughts have often held me back from trying new trails that I know will be a little out of my grasp or signing up for group rides for fear of holding anyone up.
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But while I still wrestle with these doubts sometimes, here is what I have learned: there’s no official skill threshold for enjoying mountain biking, no one is standing at the trailhead evaluating your worthiness to ride. And as for being slow, there will always be someone faster and someone slower than you. You are absolutely allowed to take up space on the trails, no matter your skill level.
Finding Whistler Bike Trails That Match Your Comfort Level and Skill
The beauty of riding in Whistler is that there are plenty of trails for the perfectly average mountain biker, where we can have a fun, easy ride that boosts our confidence or a challenging ride to push our skills. Here are a few of my favourites:
Lost Lake:
- If climbing isn’t your strength, start by climbing the greens and descending the blues
- When you’re ready, tackle the blue climbs in sections.
- Plenty of opportunities for skills progression on bridges and rock rolls
Cheakamus:
- For an easier climb, take the road, or for a single track climb up Farside
- Whistler’s newest trail – Flashback – is my favourite confidence-boosting blue flow trail.
- For the next level up, AM/PM has great rock rolls with ride-arounds.
Danimal North
- A great intro to classic Whistler roots riding
- Great features to push your skills, with ride-arounds available
The Reality of Progress (and Plateaus)
One of the biggest mental hurdles for me has been accepting that progress isn’t linear. Some days, everything clicks and I’m riding like a boss. Other days, I feel like I’ve forgotten how to ride my bike entirely, and all of my confidence has vanished.
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I’ll walk features I’ve ridden plenty of times before or stop for ten breaks on a climb I felt so strong on last week. I try to remind myself that there’s no trophy at the end of the trail for the person who took the most risks or pushed themselves the hardest, just the stoke on everyone’s faces.
The Joy of Riding for You, Not the Image
It’s easy to get caught up in what you think mountain biking should be, instead of how it feels to YOU. Social media is filled with incredible riders sending huge jumps and flying down technical descents with what looks like effortless style. And while it’s a great way to be inspired, it’s not the only valid way to be a mountain biker. Sometimes you’re up for pushing the envelope and testing just how much you can grow your skills, and other times, cruising an easy trail you’ve ridden a hundred times is fun mountain biking.
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A Final Thought: You Belong Here
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not “good enough” to call yourself a mountain biker, I want you to know: you belong here. Whether you’re rolling over roots for the first time or just out for a casual ride with friends, you’re as much a part of this sport as anyone else. You don’t have to be the fastest. You don’t have to be the bravest. You just have to show up and ride.
And if you ever need a reminder? Just look around at the trails in Whistler – there’s space for all of us, no matter how “average” we might be.
