I’m in decent shape, but I’m worried about keeping up. How hard is the riding?

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This is our most common question, and you are exactly who we designed this tour for. The Kootenay Gold is about the experience, not a race. We have a dedicated head coach (Mark Impey) to help with technique and pacing. Two of our rides are on historic rail grades, which means very gentle, rolling elevation. Our middle ride, Monashee Majesty, is a challenging day with 1,200m of climbing, but we pace it perfectly and take plenty of breaks.

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What happens if I get too tired or just want to stop halfway through a ride?

 

That is the beauty of our supported model. All three of our chosen routes feature access points where our support vehicle can easily meet us. If you decide you are done for the day, you simply hand your bike to our team, climb into the air-conditioned cab, grab a cold drink, and enjoy the scenery. There is absolutely no pressure to ride every single kilometer.

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Do I need to bring my own bike, or can I rent one?

 

You are welcome to bring your own gravel bike—we recommend a minimum tire width of 40mm to handle the rugged Kootenay FSRs (Forest Service Roads).  If you prefer to rent, our local partner, Revolution Cycle, offers the Devinci Troy. While this is a full-suspension mountain bike rather than a dedicated drop-bar gravel bike, it is actually a fantastic option for these routes. The plush suspension provides a highly comfortable, stable ride, making it an ideal choice for intermediate riders tackling rough backcountry dirt.

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Who cleans and fixes the bikes after riding?

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You never have to touch a wrench or a scrub brush, we handle this for you. Sunday and Tuesday afternoons we coordinate with our expert local partners (like Revolution Cycle and Rossland Outdoor) to ensure your drivetrains are cleaned, tuned, and ready for the next day's adventure.

 

How do I get to Rossland?

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You have options. Many of our guests choose to drive directly to our basecamp in Rossland. However, if you prefer to fly, our package includes premium airport transfers. You can fly into either Castlegar (YCG) locally or Spokane International Airport (GEG) in Washington, and our team will pick you up at the terminal.

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What is the accommodation like?

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You will be staying for six nights at the Prestige Hotel right in the heart of historic Rossland.  Some of our guests prefer to arrange their own accommodation at Red Mountain Resort, in which case, we remove the accommodation cost from the package price.  We also provide pick up and drop off at the Josie Hotel.  

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What is the food like?

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For the rides, we provide catered, farm-to-table lunches set up by our support team on the trail.  For your Welcome Dinner at the Prestige Hotel, we provide a curated set menu. (Guests are also welcome to order off the main restaurant menu at their own expense if they prefer). Our final celebratory wrap-up dinner will also feature a premium set menu, hosted either at the excellent restaurant at Ainsworth Hot Springs or in nearby Nelson.

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What do we do on the days we aren't riding?

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We believe recovery is just as important as the ride. Wednesday is a dedicated rest day where you can explore Rossland's historic downtown or take an optional, easy spin. Friday is our ultimate restorative day—we trade the bikes for swimsuits and take a private excursion to Ainsworth Hot Springs, soaking in the natural thermal mineral caves overlooking Kootenay Lake.