Gear up, stay active and discover some of BC’s cycling hotspots

September 12th, 2011

BC has some of the best biking anywhere!

Gear up, stay active and discover some of BC’s cycling hotspots

Sept. 12, 2011, Victoria, BC – With the great late summer weather holding strong, the team at Accent Inns, a locally owned and operated hotel chain, is encouraging bike lovers to make the most of it by getting out and hitting the trails.

“Hands down, British Columbia is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary biking,” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns. “With a number of bike parks, cross country trails and rugged mountain terrain, our province has something for every vacationing and competitive cyclists, both amateur and pro.”

And travelling with bikes has never been easier – thanks to Accent Inns’ unique Bike Love program. Under Bike Love, each location offers guests bike friendly rooms, access to a bike wash and tuning station (complete with a professional-grade bike stand and an assortment of bicycle specific pro mechanic tools, pump, hose and plenty of rags) and use of the onsite laundry facilities – all at no extra charge.

Accent Inns has hotels in five British Columbia locations (Burnaby, Kelowna, Kamloops, Richmond/Vancouver Airport and Victoria), giving travelling cyclists access to five different cycling terrains that include fast downhill tracks to leisurely Oceanside paths. And in some locations, with the mild west coast climate, one can cycle right though the winter months.

“BC is also home to a number of annual bike races, charity drives and festivals, including the summertime Victoria International Cycling Festival, GranFondo races and the upcoming seven-day 2012 BC Bike Race,” said Farmer. “So we know there is a growing demand for places to stay that caters to their needs, year round.”

Stay at Accent Inns and discover these BC biking hotspots:

• Burnaby: the Burnaby Accent Inns is located in the middle of the city with quick access to nearby mountain bike trails. Take advantage of the myriad of trails on the North Shore mountains or visit the Burnaby Mountain Bike Park, an area with forests, mountains, ocean views and downhill tracks. The intermediate- to advanced-level trails have natural obstacles, steep grades and narrower gravel and dirt paths. And after a long day of biking, relax those muscles with a soak in the hotel’s hot tub.

• Kelowna: discover some of the area’s unique geological sights when staying at the Kelowna Accent Inns: peddle on the 17-km Mission Creek Greenway, a multi-use gravel path that winds through downtown Kelowna, passing historic buildings, forests and orchards and ending with views of hoodoos (stone-like pillars) in Gallagher’s Canyon. Take a short drive and hop on the Kettle Valley Railway, an abandoned railway bed that winds through central BC, via the Myra Station Entrance or the Ruth Station Entrance.

• Kamloops: as the birthplace of freeriding, Kamloops is a top destination for mountain bike enthusiasts and offers about 1,000-hecacres of public cross country bike trails. When staying at the Kamloops Accent Inns, check out Kamloops Bike Ranch, a mountain bike park with 26-hectares of gullies, open grasslands, an elevation change of 132 metres and a jump park. A visit to the Sun Peaks Resort Bike Park is also a must-do for any bike lover (the park is rated as one of the top five bike parks in North America by BIKE Magazine).

• Richmond: with 10 city parks and an 80-km network of interconnected walkways and trails (many on the waterfront), Richmond is a great spot for easygoing cyclists looking to explore the city’s hotspots both on- and off-street. Depart from Richmond Accent Inns located near the Vancouver Airport and discover marsh and river habitats, beaches, sloughs, bog forests, agricultural landscapes and distant mountain and island views, stopping along the way to explore a number of historic, ecological, recreational and commercial attractions.

• Victoria: a true bike-friendly city, depart Accent Inns to check out the nearby iconic Galloping Goose Trail, the Lochside Trail and the Seaside Cycling Route, passing most of Victoria’s major attractions and offering stunning ocean and mountain views (depending on the season, cyclists might spot whales in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, some of Vancouver Island’s many summer wildflowers and nesting eagles). The local mountain bike trails are sustainably designed single tracks, connecting bikers with the mud, rocks, sand, gravel, and roots of the area.

For more information about Accent Inns’ Bike Love program, visit https://www.accentinns.com/about-us/bike-friendly/. To learn more about cycling in British Columbia, visit www.hellobc.com.

Jaret McArthur, Bike Lover, shows no fear

About Accent Inns:

The award-winning Accent Inns is a BC owned and operated company based in Victoria, British Columbia, with hotels located in Victoria, Richmond, Burnaby, Kelowna and Kamloops. All Accent Inns are rated 3 1/2 stars and have developed a reputation for their accent on quality, reasonable rates and excellent service.

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Media Contacts:

Kate Rogers, Tartan Group: 604-880-1494 or [email protected]

John Espley, Accent Inns: 250-360-1511 or [email protected]