I love Vancouver Island!

Each time I arrive there, time just seems to slow down. I love the vibe, the weather and the friendly atmosphere.

Recently, I visited the Island with a posse of mountain bikers from the B.C. Bike Race, including founder Dean Payne. We were there to do important work on course design for next year's B.C. Bike Race, to film and take photos, but most importantly to get some late season riding in.

Our first stop was the small mining town of Cumberland and the Riding Fool Hostel. Jeremy Grasby, owner, is instrumental in the community as he not only created one of the coolest hostels around but he also helped create and build some of the best mountain bike trails I have ever ridden.

As the beers started to flow, we all sat back and talked about what a rad week we had ahead -- all work of course. The next morning we went for breakfast at Tarbells Café, just below the hostel, and met up with our guide for the week, Martin Ready, of Island Mountain Rides. Martin is an awesome guy who knows where all the good riding is and how to put together a loop so you get the most fun riding for your buck.

After breakfast, we loaded up the Island Mountain Rides Van and headed up to Campbell River. This fishing and logging town also hosts loads of fantastic single track. In fact, you can easily do 50 kilometre loops of single track without hitting the same trail twice. In the first few minutes, we were hooked. The fast flowy single track felt like you were on a hover bike flying through the forest.

On day two we rode right from the Riding Fool Hostel and within minutes we were on beautiful single track that climbed to the top of our first downhill trail called Thirsty Beaver. This wide, cedar-planked, elevated trail meandered through the forest and passed over waterfalls and incredible gullies before spitting us out onto a trail called Tea Pot and Blue Collar. Each trail left us begging for more and before we knew it darkness was upon us. Wow.

The next day we did shuttles of Forbidden Plateau. Shuttling involves getting dropped off at the top and riding some seriously fast, steep and fun downhill trails and it also allowed a day of rest for our legs.

The following day we arrived on Hornby Island, one of the coolest places I have ever been. The riding here is incredible. Imagine a thin ribbon of dark soil flowing through a rainforest with moss covering everything. We all nicknamed it Fantasy Island because, I couldn't imagine a better place for a mountain biker.

What a week!

Adventurer Dave Norona loves mountain biking in new and exciting places with good friends. It's good for the soul! His pedal power is supported by Marin Bikes, Powerbar and Mountain Hardwear.