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2009-08-20 11:11 AM

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Veteran
114
100
Toronto
Subject: Moving to Vancouver
Hello, I am moving to Vancouver in the next couple of months. I am really torn between living in Nanaimo or the big city. I love the beaches and I am a surfer as well as a triathlete. I am just wondering about cycling on Vancouver Island. I do love hills!!! Can anyone tell me about the triathlon scene in Nanaimo area and cycling around the Island? I would greatly appreciate any information.
Thanks alot,
Kerry


2009-08-20 11:29 AM
in reply to: #2360282

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Pro
4578
20002000500252525
Vancouver, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

Honestly, don't move to Nanaimo. The island is great and there's some great cycling and great rides over there, probably better than Vancouver, but not in Nanaimo. If you move to the Island, move to Victoria.

Vancouver is pretty awesome for riding too, so if you are torn between riding and the big city, move to Vancouver and you really will have both. There are all types of terrain in Vancouver. From the city, popular rides are to Richmond (flat, but can easily do a 100km loop), to Horseshoe Bay (lots of up and down, like intervals and one of the most beautiful routes anywhere about 60km out and back), up Cypress Mountain (a 14km hill climb about 50 minutes up and maybe 30 minutes up to get there), up Seymour Mountain (around the same distance as Cypress, but steeper to go up at 10+ minutes to your Cypress time), and to SFU (a smaller mountain, good for hill repeats). There's also some great rides out in the valley too.

Don't get me wrong, Victoria has an awesome cycling scene and some awesome rides, but Vancouver might have more riders (due to the fact that it is bigger) and almost as many fantastic rides, and it's a bigger city, so it sounds like you know the benefits of that. Also, a lot of races are on the mainland and ferry travel is costly and time consuming.

For cycling, you can check out Cycling BC

Jen

 

 

 

 



Edited by jeng 2009-08-20 11:29 AM
2009-08-20 4:53 PM
in reply to: #2360282

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Master
1320
1000100100100
Chilliwack, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

I second the vote for Van...

The island is old hat....

Surfing requires a great wet suit...cold in the chop up here.

2009-08-20 6:44 PM
in reply to: #2361135

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Master
1420
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Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Stop knockin' the Island. It's awesome here - we have surfing an hour's drive away (Jordan Beach/China Beach area) ... and TONS of triathletes. Never a problem finding someone to ride with. Most of the national triathletes, and a TdF rider, train here. The Island kicks serious mainland azz. Serious. Azz. Kicking.

But I have to say I'm confused ... I should probably re-read your post before I post this - but you're moving to Vancouver but considering living in Nanaimo? Please clarify for me.
2009-08-20 6:56 PM
in reply to: #2360282

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Master
1320
1000100100100
Chilliwack, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

You may have all that T... but you the island aint got me!

2009-08-20 7:24 PM
in reply to: #2360282

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Regular
174
1002525
Surrey BC Canada
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
I heard great things about both the island including Nanaimo and Vancouver.  If you want the nightlife like Vegas vancouver is good but you want a quieter scene with great outdoor activities including riding then The island has it.  Lori Bowden Peter Reid and Simon Whitfield are all from the island.  So its great for serious training.


2009-08-20 9:37 PM
in reply to: #2361283

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Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Crazypop - 2009-08-20 4:56 PM

You may have all that T... but you the island aint got me!



No Dan ... we don't got you ... but we got plenty of kelp in our waters, so when I miss you I just go to the beach and reminisce.

(j/k - you know I luvs ya.)
2009-08-20 10:17 PM
in reply to: #2360282

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Veteran
114
100
Toronto
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
This is some great info!!! I appreciate you guys filling me in. I actually am not in Las Vegas anymore and when I did live there I really didnt have anything to do with the nightlife. I tried to stay off the strip as much as possible I am living in Toronto right now. I was born and raised here, but was living in the US for the last 16 years, now I want to stay in Canada, but definately the West Coast. I really cant handle the winter here anymore....I have been quite spoiled being able to train all year long.
As far as my thoughts on Nanaimo...I am a tattoo artist and one of my co-workers worked at a tattoo shop out there and said it was absolutely beautiful, but I have to make sure where I move will have all that I need as far as training. Hmmmm....Victoria sounds great too!!!!
2009-08-21 9:50 AM
in reply to: #2361584

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Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Ahhhh I get it now - you just want to move west ... ok. I was like - uh - you know that Nanaimo is 90 minutes by ferry from the mainland, right? ... phew it's all good.

I personally love Victoria. It's a small city, about 250,000 peeps, but has pretty much any amenity you could ask for and wicked tri training clubs and schedules. And it seems there's a race every other weekend from May-October. We have great running paths and trails - Elk Lake is a beautiful 10K loop around a lake mostly in rainforest, for example .. Lochside Trail is a mostly paved 70-km long running/multi-use path .. the roadways on the Saanich Peninsula are a regular training site for cyclists .. great OWS lakes in the summer, amazing pool facilities in the winter .. ach I could go on but the mainlanders might get jealous. lol.

Cyclists are treated very well here- cycling is very high priority, as I said earlier we have many high level athletes out on the roads every day - not to mention the Tour de Rock Cops for Cancer ride that is in the news and on the roads every day ... triathlon results regularly make the local news ...

Oh wait - I did go on.

I've lived all over the country - from Montreal to here and almost every point in between - and I like it here the best. If you have any specific questions - please feel free to PM me.

OH - lots of tattoo shops here too ... a seemingly larger number of tattoo'd people, too, now that I think about it.
2009-08-21 10:50 AM
in reply to: #2362189

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Elite
3290
20001000100100252525
Oliver, BC, "Wine Capital of Canada"
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

Would have to agree with SpiritFire. For a larger city, Victoria (IMO) is the best. If I were to live anywhere else it would be there.

Of course, where I am now is actually the "real" best place to live in all of Canada but unfortunately surfing is hard to come by in this area.

2009-08-21 11:35 AM
in reply to: #2360282

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Pro
4578
20002000500252525
Vancouver, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

I wasn't knocking the Island! Okay, okay, it doesn't have Dan...

I quite like the Island, but I don't think Victoria has much more to offer than Vancouver, so I rate the outdoor activity scene about the same in both places. (We have a Vuelta rider that trains here & 2 members of the Garmin team are from here. ) Then mauisurfchick said she likes big city, so that's why I recommended Vancouver.

 



2009-08-21 12:06 PM
in reply to: #2361532

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-08-21 12:34 PM
in reply to: #2360282

Master
1320
1000100100100
Chilliwack, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

I lauged out loud......I did trim though.....

And yes, I do live in the wack...so 100k outside of Van....and I don't go there often.

2009-08-21 8:55 PM
in reply to: #2362629

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Jen - as for riding in Vancouver area v.s. riding here - I default to you as to which has more to offer ... you are totally the expert/knowlegeable one in this field!

I'm just partial to the area I've chosen to settle in. There's something about the Island that just grabbed me and kept me here. I lived in Vancouver for a while, too, on SW Marine Dr ... it was a few years ago tho, and I was more into the bar scene than I was into anything else, especially triathlon. ;-)
2009-08-21 10:08 PM
in reply to: #2360282

Veteran
114
100
Toronto
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
OMG!!!! I love this group already!!!! Seriously you guys are so friendly and very helpful! I have been looking at photos and tattoo shops and apartments for hours online in Victoria . I just feel drawn to it. I keep falling back on Vancouver because I think for business, it might be busier, but that is not everything to me. Will have to mill it over a few more days
Spitfire.....Is not having a vehicle an issue in your opinion? Here in Toronto of course we have mass transit system so getting anywhere is easy (except if I need to join a group for a ride when they start 20 miles away to begin with) . Oh and of course getting to races is difficult without wheels too (at least 4 wheels). Are people willing to carpool to group rides, runs and races?
Thanks again all ye'all for all the information!
2009-08-22 10:26 AM
in reply to: #2363691

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
No .. I don't think not having a vehicle would be an issue. You can bike just about everywhere, and the transit system is good (but that's based solely on what I've heard from others) ... car pooling to races and stuff should be fine - especially once you meet some local triathletes ... we're a pretty friendly and easy-going bunch out here.


2009-08-23 11:48 PM
in reply to: #2360282

Master
1748
100050010010025
Port Moody, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Guys, let me help settle this right now, Mauichick, move to Vancouver. There. You don't want to move to the island based on the fact that I live on the mainland. True, Sprirtfire lives that and she rocks, like REALLY rocks. But, more races here, less weird people here, you look better here and the fact that scientifically, Vancouver is better. You can not argue with science. Good luck, I'll be coming to see you to get my next tattoo, glad you're coming out to this part of the world!
2009-08-24 5:54 AM
in reply to: #2365784

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-08-24 10:13 AM
in reply to: #2360282

Master
1748
100050010010025
Port Moody, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
....and POOF!!! Just like that, leah is no longer my friend!!! And yes, Maui probably does know the swim distance for IM.....hahaha.
2009-08-24 10:20 AM
in reply to: #2360282

Extreme Veteran
325
10010010025
Victoria
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
RA RA GO VICTORIA!I may belong to the "weird" crowd that Chris is referring to, but regardless, we're a friendly bunch!
2009-08-24 7:11 PM
in reply to: #2365784

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
hazmaster - 2009-08-23 9:48 PM

True, Spiritfire lives there and she rocks, like REALLY rocks.


I second this. I rock.

Thanks Chris ... I've had a phenomenally bad day and I needed a good laugh and a nice thing said about me. Good timing. I heart you.

I did fix your grammatical errors, though. ;-)


2009-08-24 7:12 PM
in reply to: #2367880

Master
1420
1000100100100100
Victoria, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
HAHA! My rockage is toppage!
2009-08-24 8:04 PM
in reply to: #2366429

Master
1748
100050010010025
Port Moody, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
Sorry dude, I never meant that YOU were weird, there is always exceptions to every rule!! And you are very exceptional! And by weird I just meant that most of the people over there are friendly, drive slow, eat organic veggies and all drive VW Jettas or Volvos....weird...harmless but weird! I also love that we've totally hyjacked this poor girl's thread and made it our own.....sorry!

DerekWL - 2009-08-24 8:20 AM

RA RA GO VICTORIA!I may belong to the "weird" crowd that Chris is referring to, but regardless, we're a friendly bunch!
2009-08-24 9:53 PM
in reply to: #2367985

Veteran
114
100
Toronto
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver
No worries....Hi-jack away! I am completely entertained Cant wait to move out that way and meet ye all!
Yes...she does know the distance for IM swim :P
2009-08-24 11:16 PM
in reply to: #2360282

Master
1320
1000100100100
Chilliwack, BC
Subject: RE: Moving to Vancouver

Hmmmm Whats that distance again......I seem to forget.......but then again....

Yeah a tri tattooist....I can't wait to finish off my arm tattoo.....

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