PNW Squad member Jeff Kendall-Weed is back with his latest installment of the Local Loam series and this time he takes us to the mountain bike mecca of Kamloops, British Columbia! Episode 4 combines impressive riding with a history lesson, focusing on how organizations like the Kamloops Bike Riders Association (KBRA) helped bring mountain biking out of its illegal dark ages by gaining the trust of the general public through sustainable practices and community engagement. After watching this video, we hope that you join your local mountain biking association to find ways to give back to our wonderful, worldwide community of mountain bikers and cyclists!
I found mountain biking in the late 1990s, and one of the most influential videos of the era was Kranked. Much of this was filmed in the hills surrounding Kamloops, BC, and to this day, the region is still famous for many massive jumps. However, the actual riding experience of the general public wasn’t quite anything to write home about. The KBRA formed as a way to help organize the voice of the mountain biking community, with a goal of representing the actual riders in town. In conjunction with the amazing work of the KPCC, the riding opportunities for the average mountain bikers are now plentiful. To me, this is a great example of advocacy done right!
- Jeff Kendall-Weed
For Jeff's full blog on his trip to Kamloops, check out his website by clicking here.
Stay up to date on all of Jeff's MTB journeys via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and his website.
Photos by Eric Mickelson
