Patagonia trip wins Top Ten Trips of the Year

We were pretty excited to find out that our new Pedal and Paddle trip in Patagonia was just selected as one of the Top Ten Trips of 2011 by Outside Magazine.



With one of the most spectacular regions on Earth as a backdrop, a gorgeous eco-lodge as our base, handbuilt singletrack to ride on, and whitewater rafting and/or kayaking on three world-class rivers, there's plenty to be excited about, so we're not surprised Outside selected this trip!

Want to give your adventure glands a big boost this year? Come join us in Patagonia!

Bending Time

There’s a trail just outside of Fernie, British Columbia that defies the laws of physics, specifically those dealing with time.

We’re used to – in the modern world, at least – thinking of time as a linear thing. Today follows yesterday, tomorrow follows today, 3:02 follows 3:01 pm.  But on this trail, the normal rules just don’t seem to apply.  I’ll tell you why.

Sacred Rides runs mountain bike trips all over the world, but the heart of our company beats in Fernie, British Columbia; it’s where the company was founded and it’s where our most popular trips take place.  I’ve ridden all over the world with my mountain bike, but nowhere does this strange time-bending phenomenon seem to be more powerful than on this particular trail.

the spectacular Lizard Range

It starts with a fairly steep 1-hour climb from town, through pine and cedar forest, every now and then a spectacular view of the Lizard Range poking out through the canopy.  It takes about an hour of clock time (I’ve timed it), but by the time you get to the top it you’ll swear you’ve been climbing for a week.  Even the air seems thinner even though you’ve only climbed about 1,200 vertical feet.

Then the magic happens. 

You wipe the sweat from your brow, take a deep breath, and point your front wheel down the trail.  And then time soon ceases to exist entirely. Your bike picks up speed and time gradually peels away, first becoming a fleeting memory, then disappearing altogether.  And it’s just you, the hushed silence of the forest, the mountains, and the 50 feet of trail ahead. 

It happens to me every time on this trail, more so than any other trail in the world: the rest of life just drops off like a layer of dead skin – no worries, no anxieties, no bills to pay, no deadlines, no stress. 

Just pure, timeless freedom.

Want to stop the clock?  Join us in British Columbia this summer...

Mike Brcic,
Rider Happiness Manager,
Sacred Rides

Why Mountain Biking is Just Like Sex, Part II

We got a lot of responses to our 'Why Mountain Biking is Just Like Sex' post last week, so here's another round, this time from readers' comments on our Facebook page:

• if you ride too hard or too long, you're sore for a week
• Some say the dirtier the ride the better..
• the first time generally hurts
• The more you pay, the better the ride.
• If it's squeaky, you need to lube it.
• not all videos are good, but every once in a while a lil pearl comes along that goes down in history.  
• as much as we might drool over our mates' rides, we all know that ours is the one.
• we all remember our first ride
• treat your ride with respect and she'll stay true to you forever.
• NEVER EVER pee when you are riding!!!
• an extra three inches really helps
• some freaks like to wear skin tight lycra and funny shoes
• make sure you're pumped up hard first
• everyone thinks what's between their legs is the best  
• It can be more enjoyable with two or three friends.
• It's ok to eat a sandwich half way through.
• Sometimes you get some scrapes and bumps.
• the ride always gets better, more exciting, more thrills
• no two rides are ever the same
• just when you think you are exhausted and have had enough, you always find one more burst of energy to complete the ride to your satisfaction
•  what goes up must come down
• it's definitely slippier in the wet
• it's safer if you wear protection
• you can have more fun with the right rubber
• if you do it in the forest, bring bugspray
• it takes more skill to go slower
• you can increase your endurance with practice
• you can fit in a quickie during lunchtime
• the best bits are really hard

and finally...

• try not to leave skidmarks

Why Mountain Biking is Just Like Sex

9.  You don't need a partner to have fun...
8.  ...But it's better with someone else, and even better in a group.
7.  Accessories make the ride more fun.
6.  Frequent hydration leads to better endurance.
5.  It's all about body position.
4.  Sometimes you're just hanging on for dear life.
3.  Although you sometimes have to pay admission, it's better when it's free.
2.  You should try to stay away from the wet spots.
1. You can get multiple orgasms from one ride.