Video: Sullivan Reed Enjoys Empty North Shores Trails in 'An Ode to Winter Riding'

 Not like me who turns up in the middle of summer and complains about how, while north shore riding and bikes are better in every way than they were in the late 80's, it's unfortunate because in the late 80's I was a teenager and not in my early 50's. Fortunately in the middle of summer there are lots of people around to hear me lamenting these things.

 The only thing I miss about living in Vancouver, is riding the shore all winter with nobody around!

 Newbie question, I get riding in the wet (from the UK, so that's the default) but doesn't that woodwork get super slippy? There's some in my local woods which would turn you upside down if you even touched a brake in mid-winter.

 @HankHank: on the north shore its quite variable. The more recently cut wood that's lighter in colour isn't bad, especially if it's cedar. The dark or green wood can be as deadly as you'd expect. It takes a bit of time for the slime to grow too, if you get a good rain in the early fall it can be a lot grippier than later. Same for the rocks actually. The craziest thing thing is old burned pieces cedar from slash burning when parts of the north shore were logged in the early 20th century. Nothing grows on it and it stays super grippy all year round. There's not much of that though. There is a lot of lathing wire on the wooden features, which is critical for quite a few secti No to be rideable.

 @The-Foiling-Optimist: quality answer, thanks!

 @HankHank: There's a ton of wood work with added knobs/griptape/chickenwire laid down as well. That seems to help. Any sort of raw wood and/or logs are very slippery, it's true. In many cases braking on wood isn't recommend/required.

 @The-Foiling-Optimist: That's an interesting note...kinda wonder whether the builders at NSMBA could experiment with a modified Shou Sugi (a Japanese form of burnt cedar siding) technique to torch wooden surfaces for additional grip... Anyone know Digger's handle on here?

 You are tempting me to take this on as a translational research project. I've been a good citizen in getting NSMBA family memberships and donating to Squamish trails, but coming up with a method for reliably treating cedar this way to get sustainably improved grip, that would be a pretty useful contribution.

 North of a Shore

 Good memory! I loved that Giant Acid.

 The best thing about ski season is skiing. Where this was filmed is literally 30 minute drive to 3 different ski hills, 1 hour drive to Whistler Blackcomb.

 not on the North Shore... if it's not pouring rain, it's packed.

 @kingbike2: Disagree. I'll take vacant trails over crowded ski hills every time.

 @kingbike2: Every year it gets harder and harder to get enough days in to pay off my whistler pass. We’re in a cycle of a warm melty wet days followed by cold dry days, which makes skiing kind of brutal. The choice between getting up early enough to beat traffic to wait in lines to ride icy groomers vs prime winter conditions on the north shore is way too easy.

 @musicsucks: Are you one of the hardcore riders I see at Cypress in the winter? Much respect as riding Cypress trails in the winter is way beyond my abilities.

 @kingbike2: Cypress was pretty mint this past weekend. Velcro traction on Sunday, with the 0C weather.

 Those were the days

 I've been trying to get him to Kamloops too, good luck! Lol

 @Tmackstab: I have a Van. Perhaps we could kidnap him?

 Hello, send me a DM and i'm happy to exchange some info if you'd like

 Cheers!

 Awesome. All of it. Sully is a beast!

 Doug! long time. Let's go for a coffee next time you are in the lower mainland.

 Thanks man