Can I come on my own?

For sure, these trips are a great way to meet those of us who are totally into biking. We encourage you to come on your own. It's a great way to meet new friends from around the world.

Can I come with my family/partner if I don't ride

Sure, if you don't ride now but want to learn, just tell us before hand & we will get you into our LTR - learn (& love) to ride weeks. And even if you don't want to ride at all, but simply want to chill & take in the sheer beauty of Whistler, that's cool too, we will get you set up on a heavily discounted deal through our custom tour program. All we ask of you is to talk to tell us first, & our camp operators will get your holiday fully dialed to meet your needs.

What are the group sizes?

The coach to rider ratio is a maximum of 8 to 1. Again it is fully structured to the needs of the group. Custom groups are available as well.

What type of mountain biking skills do I need to have?

Remember that you are here to have fun and learn new skills while having a great time and improving yourself. We will always ensure that you fit in with the group that best meets your abilities and goals. Remember that you ware not obligated to do anything on any of the trails we use. You set the pace, simply tell you coach & it's all good, no peer pressure here.

What are the skill levels and how difficult are the rides?

To ensure the safest and most enjoyable experience for your holiday, we ask you to review our ability levels . Again, be honest with yourself when stating your ability in our info & booking forms. Although our coaches are fully trained & do thorough skills assessment right at the start of all our camps, we use your initial information to identify the coaching requirements for your particular date of travel. From this we can determine the most suitable level for your group, & we guarantee never to push you to do something you don't want to do - period. The right terrain for your ability, maximize learning progression & most of all, you to have the most fun

What about parts and service?

There are numerous bike shops in Whistler and Kamloops that will be able to take care of any of your needs. We also have partnered with shops (snowcovers) to provide epic discounts on the already cheap gear & service (even overnight service or repairs). We will look after you!

What is the weather be like?

The weather for most of the summer in Whistler is typically around 20 degrees Celsius however many days in July and August can reach 30 degrees Celsius. Most of the rain in this area falls in the spring, fall and winter months. There will be days of rain of course. The Kamloops area is much drier and warmer. Think semi arid. This means temperatures in the high 20’s to mid 30’s, so sometimes in mid-summer, we will schedule rides in the morning & early evening, & take the afternoons off to chill or check out this cool place.

What else is there to do other than biking?

There are almost an unlimited amount of things you can do here. Multiple golf course, river rafting, sightseeing tours, fishing, lakes for swimming and boating… then there is always the abundant afternoon patio or night life if that is on your list for your Epic holiday. Check out http://www.tourismwhistler.com/to_do/outdoor/activities.asp?sid=1 for more info and links.

What Qualifications do the coaches have?

Our coaches are simply the best there is, meaning they are not only experienced bike coaches but most coach other sports as well so they can impart their bike skills to you. Also, all carry all the trail essentials (& more) in there back packs to cover almost every need imaginable.

How do I get there?

There are several carriers from the US that make direct flights form major cities in the US. Additionally UK charters like Zoom, Air Transat & Canadian Affair are all fairly frequent. All flights should be booked into Vancouver, (YVR). We will meet you there and transport you up to Whistler on Saturday between 12 (noon) & 6pm. If you cannot make the Saturday pick up for any reason, we offer custom packages including discounted nights at the Vancouver Delta Hotel as well as alternative transportation. A 2 hour drive along one of the most beautiful highways in North America awaits before you journey ends & your experience of a lifetime begins with your coach helping you get you checking in at your deluxe hotel accommodation.

How much money do I need to bring?

Many of your expenses are covered with your Epic Holiday (what's included) but you will need some spending money for shopping of course as there is an abundance of it in Whistler, fun money, beer money and some to cover your evening meals.

Why do we not offer inclusive evening meals, our experience & research have shown us that because everyone's main meal tastes and nutritional needs are simply so diverse, we believe your needs will be well catered for with the huge choice of resaurants & relatively affordable dinning. Again, at Epic we believe your choice is paramount when it comes to making your epic holiday, unlike chalet holidays where you have to take what is given - simply not our style! Remember we take care of all your trail lunches. Depending on your preferences, you choose between eating out each day and never returning to the same restaurant or simply & cheaply preparing your own evening meal in your condo style room with full kitchens.

How good/ fit do I have to be?

If you ride regularly, for example the weekend warrior style, every other weekend then you will be fine. If you are technically proficient then you will love riding our trails. If you are less experienced then you will simply blow yourself away with what you will achieve as our excellent coaches & trail knowledge & selection,  the variation in riding really does cater for all.  If you want to ride downhill all day – using the lift access & endless marked trails, then fitness is not as necessarily as high a pre-requisite, but remember this too is can be physically demanding. Whatever your level/style of riding is now, we promise by the end of your Epic Ride Holiday, you will be simply amazed at your new found confidence & ability level. And as with any activity orientated vacation, If you can start a a fitness program before getting here, your enjoyment will increase exponetially.

What about my bike and gear?

We understand if you simply have to bring your trusty steed, but remember bikes & equipment are so much cheaper here & we have pretty immense rentals, demos & protection equipment rentals. We know how precious your bikes are and will have locks and cables for your usage. Additionally, secured bike storage will be provided with your accommodation.

What is the best bike for the terrain?

We strongly recommend full suspension rides with around 4-6” inches of travel for our Pure Alpine Epics & 6"+ for our Plush Gravity Fed Epics - again contact us with any or all of your questions: info@epicridebc.com 

Traveling with Your Bike

Airlines are very familiar with bicycle transportation and will provide you with additional info. Carriers differ but sometimes the carrier will charge an additional fee - check with your airline and group discounts are offered and other concession can be made as well. Here are a few guidelines to think about when traveling with your bike:

- Prior to arrival at the airport: fix the handlebars sideways and remove the front wheel & pedals. Place the bicycle in a protective & durable case, box and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping. Also try to wrap some old cloths around your chain & drivetrain, and then pile most/ all of your riding clothes in there to offer further protection. Of special importance for protection includes rear derailler & fork stanctions. It's also a good idea to cut out cardboard the exact space between your fork stantions & wrap it around the front skewer. Replace the skewer/cardboard in fork drop-outs (very rarely happens, but prevents fork legs being bent inwards towards each other by heavy objects) - again any worries, simply go down to your local bike shop is the best idea & get them to do it for you.  

- Check with individual carriers about how much bikes are insured for when they transport.
- Allow an extra 30 minutes or extra time at check-in.
- It is not necessary from a safety perspective to deflate typical tires found on bikes. However, to  eliminate the small risk of them being damaged by bursting, you may wish to.

GST Refunds Tax refunds

All foreign visitors to Canada are eligible for Goods and Services tax refunds on some of their purchases. The GST tax is an additional 7% tax on purchases. Here are a couple points to keep in mind on your vacation:

- While in Canada make certain that you receive and retain original receipts for all accommodation and goods purchased showing the GST paid.

- Before leaving Canada have Canada Customs validate your receipts of goods purchased that are being removed from Canada. Note that no validation is required for accommodation GST refunds. Only goods purchased that are being exported must have validation to qualify for the GST Rebate. Goods consumed in Canada are not eligible for rebates. Your total receipts must be over Canadian $200.00(before taxes) including accommodation and no individual receipt can be under C$50 (before taxes). Upon returning home complete, print out and sign the GST REFUND AGREEMENT and send it together with your validated receipts and your boarding pass (if you traveled by air)

Insurance
All of our rides are designed with your safety in mind. However, you must attain health insurance to cover any unfortunate incidents should they occur. Please note that proof of insurance for the duration of your epic vacation is mandatory and must be provided prior to your arrival. In the UK, we suggest Sports Cover Direct (Tel: 0845 120 6400) as they specialize in bike insurance - please remember to tell them Epic recommended them - thanks.

Any other concern or question:

We totally understand you want to know more, so please no question is a stupid one with us, please don't hesitate in contacting us @ info@epicridebc.com with anything!