Douglass Weymouth
Are you ready for some hill climbing?
During the last weekend of July, Trikke riders from near and far will descend on Vancouver, Canada, for the 4th Annual Seymour Hillclimb Challenge, a series of rides, featuring scenic trails and oh, yes, hills. In Seymours past, Douguss was Amonguss, and he’ll be there again this year. So how was the American Trikke Trainer’s experience? Here now, the answer in words, images and videos.
The Seymour Hillclimb Challenge is a must-do for every serious Trikke rider. The beautiful surroundings and fresh, British Colombian air make this a wonderful experience. I’ve visited mainland Vancouver twice to take advantage of this fine, riding region, which has a trail at least twice as wide as most of the trails in my area (Santa Cruz, Calif.).
The host, John Goolevitch, has been an inspiration, both for his determined weight loss and great hill-climbing ability. The ride on the Lower Seymour Conservation Trail is just the start of an exciting weekend of getting your “Trikke On!” The first time I participated, I had to walk a lot of the hills, but it was worth it for all the subsequent downhill rides. Never before had I ridden a T12, so it was very exciting. Previously, on my electric Pon-e, I’d hit speeds in the mid-30’s, going downhill; but on the non-electric T12, I was able to go 29 mph; and it felt so good.
In 2011, I participated in my second Seymour Hillclimb Challenge and had to walk some of the hills once again. Still, I was able to carve uphill farther than the previous year. I didn’t match my top speed going downhill this time around, but I did hit the mid-20s a few times.
John Goolevitch (left) and Claudio Pagan get revved up.
We also went for a ride in Goolevitch’s neighborhood near Tynehead Park — another great ride, despite the flat tire suffered by one rider.
On Sunday, even more carvers joined us for the ride on the Stanley Park Loop, an enjoyable path that was full of walkers and cyclists. Later, some of us headed to a trail close to our hotel in Burnaby, another place Trikke riders have enjoyed over the years. It was a great weekend of carving along the trails of British Columbia and spending time with some great riders. All totaled, we carved 56 miles in three days.
John Goolevitch has opened up an area of interesting terrain and beautiful landscape and cityscape for all to enjoy on a Trikke. This year, I’m meeting up with the friend who first encouraged me to do the Seymour, and I plan to get in some serious trail riding again in lovely British Columbia.
Videos from previous Seymour Hillclimb Challenges:
Click here to watch more Seymour clips on the Douguss Amonguss playlist on the TrikkeWorld YouTube channel (videos 17-29).
Also, check out TrikkeWorld’s coverage of last year’s Seymour Hillclimb Challenge:
O, Those Canadian Hills! (preview)
Canadian Carve Up (recap)
About Douglass Weymouth
