TESTIMONIALS
We rode the Silver Triangle with John and Kootenay Cycling Adventures. Can’t say enough about how helpful John was plus he chose great hotels and restaurants and the snacks he provided en route were great. The route itself is a classic with incredible scenery, and mixture of challenging and less challenging climbs plus some exhilarating long downhills. Except between Nelson and the Balfour ferry, traffic is very light. You can rent bikes, we didn’t but the ones we saw were in great condition and appropriate for the conditions.
– Brian, June 2018
John Bowden, Chief Cyclist at Kootenay Cycling Adventures was exceptional. He was a pleasure to work with in coordinating our group and supporting us for 3 days of pleasurable road riding and epicurean delights. Our dinner and overnight at Lemon Creek Lodge was a real treat. He always provided 150%, much more than we had expected. For enjoyable riding in a scenic setting along lakes and rushing rivers, it’s a 3 day adventure not to be missed. Definitely worth a second trip one day soon.
John was punctual, thorough, helpful and kind. He replied to my inquiries quickly and picked me up where I was staying (with coffee!). He dropped me off at the trail head, adjusted the bike, provided updated info on the trail with tips on stopping points, and picked me up at the end of the trail (with birthday cupcakes!). And since I forgot my phone he even emailed me some of his own photos from the trail.
The bike was a Surly in top form and good for the trail conditions. The path was bumpy and beautiful. Placards along the Slocan River brought to life what I’d read at Touchstones Museum the day before about the history of the Sinixt and Ktunaxa peoples, the mining industry, the Doukhabors, and Japanese internment camps. The path is isolated enough that I could get a sense of what life was like over the time of the region, but not so remote in that there were some people, the main road is nearby, and there are tasty food stops along the way (I stopped at Fomi’s and Flaca’s).
Book a trip with John if you’re considering biking in the area and want to make things easier on yourself in terms of organizing and everything.
We had a great three days cycling around the Kootenays with John. Everything was very well organised, the bikes were great. The scenery is beautiful and the riding is good – enough for a good challenge but also easy enough that any relatively fit cyclist can do it. Plenty of water and good food. Definitely a great way to see an area in Canada that is not overrun with tourists but still beautiful. Would definitely recommend.
Just finished a great 3 day cycling trip. John was an excellent guide and I am very grateful for his recommendation of an Ebike for me. I was cycling with my husband and daughter who are both experienced cyclists so it was fun to be able to keep up with them but still have the option to physically challenge myself if I really wanted to. The latter was a necessity given all the delicious snacks and meals provided on the tour. Thank you John for giving me a new motivation to travel by bike. I would highly recommend this tour plus using an Ebike if you are at all worried about your fitness level or cycling experience.
We had a great time with John and Kootenay cycling adventures. It was a challenging ride, well organised and John was a great guide. He made everything easy and went the extra mile to make our time on and off the bike a great experience.
You can’t go wrong choosing this trip. The roads are good, views tremendous and the support offered by John at Kootenay Cycling Adventures outstanding. Departure is from Nelson, BC, with the first leg to Kaslo, next to Lemon Creek, and then the final day’s return to Nelson. John provided the logistics and support throughout, including at the rest stops he’d selected at convenient points throughout. He knows the region well, so hotels, meals and coffee shops met with the approval of the 7 riders in our group. Highly recommended. We’ll be back!
The tour itself was exceptionally well organized, with carefully selected pit stops at scenic points along the route and attentive support from John throughout. The accommodations were great – especially the beautifully restored Kaslo Hotel. I’d also highly recommend Taqueria El Corazon in Kaslo for awesome authentic tacos and Margaritas. John treated us to a big spread of snacks that were laid out picnic-style for us at every stop, including hot and delicious home-made soups and a variety of locally produced items from the Nelson area. We also learned a bit about the history of the area throughout the trip.
I’ve been on a couple guided cycling trips with different outfits in BC and Kootenay Cycling Adventures was exceptional.
The bicycle itself was perfect for my ride because of it’s versatility – as I was switching from paved road to trail along the way. Great, easy to find campgrounds with all the facilities along the way (off of the Slocan Valley Tail Trail in Winlaw, and down near the lake in Silverton).
Overall, a really great trip. Wonderful weather and sunsets. Good daily distances for me as an amateur (around 50km). If you are thinking of a similar route, I recommend dinner at Mama Sita’s in Winlaw the first night, and break for lunch or snack at Flaka’s Bakery in Slocan City on the second day.
There’s no feeling quite like loading up a bike and hitting the road – really enjoyed that freedom.
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