Musette Tour in Vancouver

Iwas halfway up Cypress Mountain, on a wide curve just after the lookout, when it hit me – Vancouver is amazing. I was riding up a beautiful climb with not a car in sight on a weekday – in the middle of a business trip. I felt like I had gotten away with something.

I’d visited Vancouver many times, but had never ridden there. Yes, I knew the riding was good, but the usual excuse applied: it is expensive and a hassle to travel with a bike, one that seems hardly worth it for short trips. Like many cyclists, I made do with running on those trips.

Musette Tours, a new startup, wants to get you on a bike in Vancouver. The company does fully supported rides with its guides. You can choose a bike from the fleet of Pinarellos as well as a Kask helmet. Just show up with your kit, shoes and pedals, which takes up no more space in your suitcase than running gear. “We have so many great climbs in the area, I want to showcase what Vancouver has to offer,” said Musette Tours founder Thomas Eleizegui, who is a serious lover of bikes and coffee. With climbs such as Cypress and Seymour, the hilly British Properties neighbourhood, and the punchy rollers of Horseshoe Bay all within 30 minutes of downtown, Vancouver is a playground for cyclists. Musette runs rides as short as one-hour spins around Stanley Park to the Triple Crown (Cypress, Grouse and Seymour) if you have all day.

Musette guides will meet you at the lobby of the Loden, a posh boutique hotel right downtown that the company has partnered with. If you are staying elsewhere, you can meet guides at the Musette Caffè for a shot of espresso before you clip in. It’s a great way to get in a ride before you start your day of meetings. ( musettetours.com) –Andre cheuk