Nestled within the heart of the Comox Valley lies a haven for adrenaline seekers.
With 200 kilometres of managed trails, spanning over 6,500 acres, the hills surrounding Cumberland have become a mecca for mountain biking in North America over the years.
Each of the 200-plus trails in this natural playground carries a name that hides a rich history, filled with camaraderie, laughter, and stories.
Dougal Browne, executive director of the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC), who built more than 40 mountain biking trails in his lifetime, explained that the majority of the time, those who spearhead the trail building get the honour of baptizing the latter.
B次元官网网址淭he choice behind, a trail name is often a fun, light-hearted, and not-so-serious aspect of trail building,B次元官网网址� said Browne.
Builders typically draw inspiration from memorable events, humorous anecdotes, historical tales, or any significant experiences they encountered during their journey of creating a new path.
One of BrowneB次元官网网址檚 favourite trail names is called Two and a Juice.
B次元官网网址淎 long time ago, there used to be a mine (up in the mountains) and mine workers would come out for their lunch break when they were allowed to stop,B次元官网网址� explained Browne. B次元官网网址淭here was a rather enterprising man who would go up to that mine head with portable lunch packs containing sandwiches and juices. (ItB次元官网网址檚) said that you would hear the workers shout their order through the forest saying: B次元官网网址楾wo and a juice for me!B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址�
However, riders should not be swayed by the whimsical names of the trails when choosing their next path.
B次元官网网址淧robably the steepest trail in Cumberland is called Cupcake,B次元官网网址� added Browne. B次元官网网址淭he main trail builder decided to name it this way he had some leftover cupcakes from his baby shower and he took out the trails (and shared them) with the others.B次元官网网址�
Some other bike paths bear the weight of an interesting local lore.
Bucket of Blood pays homage to a now-closed rowdy Cumberland bar that has been the theatre of numerous booze-fueled feuds in its heyday.
B次元官网网址淕oing down to that bar on a Friday night was considered a night with a bucket of blood because you would often end up in a fight,B次元官网网址� said Browne.
Perhaps one of the most famous trails in the network, Space Nugget, has a long history dear to the community.
B次元官网网址淏efore (Space Nugget) even existed, there was a trail called Black Hole (named after some riders) found a huge mine shaft hole next to a path which was covered by logs,B次元官网网址� said Browne. B次元官网网址淲hen they threw a rock in it, it echoed down the hole, (hence the name). When Space Nugget was being built, people said that it was in this B次元官网网址榬eally lovely nugget of a forest.B次元官网网址� They nicknamed it Space Nugget in line with the space theme of Black Hole.B次元官网网址�
In the early 2000s, the Cumberland Community Forest Society successfully raised enough funds to purchase the land through which the trail runs, ensuring its protection from being logged. This effort was part of a major campaign known as Save Space Nugget, which was featured in a 40-minute documentary.
Mountain biking in B.C. has its origins in North Vancouver in the late B次元官网网址�80s.
Influenced by their experiences riding the trails in the mainland metropolis, a group from Cumberland returned home in the early B次元官网网址�90s, filled with enthusiasm, and set out to create a community of their own.
What started as a small initiative blossomed into a trail network with 15 mapped trails by the early 2000s.
Today, Cumberland offers one of the largest trail networks in North America, receiving more than 220,000 visits last year.
Yet, the success of CumberlandB次元官网网址檚 mountain biking culture is in large part due to a group of devoted community actors.
Volunteers and grassroots organizations engaged in discussions with logging companies that own the surrounding forest, namely Mosaic Forest Management and Manulife Investment Management, as well as the Village of Cumberland. Together, they spearheaded a benchmark land access agreement, making it the first of its kind in Canada.
Administered by UROC, this trailblazing partnership has set the standard for collaboration between private landowners and recreational users, thanks to the effectiveness of community-driven initiatives.
B次元官网网址淭he reason that Cumberland is so prominently on the map is that itB次元官网网址檚, itB次元官网网址檚 got all of these wonderful things attached to it,B次元官网网址� mentioned Browne. B次元官网网址淭he network is huge, itB次元官网网址檚 right beside the village, itB次元官网网址檚 organized, itB次元官网网址檚 well maintained, itB次元官网网址檚 grassroots, itB次元官网网址檚 organic. EverybodyB次元官网网址檚 happy to go into that forest and come out of thereB次元官网网址檚 happy. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a positive space in the world and thatB次元官网网址檚 hard to come by these days.B次元官网网址�
For more information about mountain biking in Cumberland or to know more about upcoming events, visit UROCB次元官网网址檚 website via , follow the group on Instagram, or join their Facebook page.
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