Header photo submitted by Lindsay Derer
Fall is a beautiful season—many people’s favorite. But even for those same people, it can also be a tricky one. The days get shorter, the air is cold, and suddenly the couch feels more inviting than the saddle. It’s a time when motivation tends to fade right along with the daylight.
That’s exactly why we created Gravel Seeker—to give riders a reason to get out there, no matter what the weather forecast said. Of course, the forecast ended up being pretty rough, but we stuck with it. And so did a whole community of riders who weren’t afraid to trade comfort for adventure.
Photo submitted by Anneliese Neweduk
Over the weekend, a total of 117 riders completed the challenge—and that’s just counting those who officially entered our giveaway, since we had no other way of tracking the collective effort. Each rider left the comfort of home, chose a route (maybe got a little lost along the way), discovered new trails, and rolled up to an unknown destination.
The Ride
Now that the dust—well, let’s say the rain—has settled (yes, it’s here to stay…), we’re excited to share our 2025 route and more details about each checkpoint.
Checkpoint #1: The End of the Line General Store
Photo submitted by Will C
Our initial plan was to send riders along one of our North Van favorites—Fisherman’s Trail. But a week before the event, a helpful local trail vigilante (the good kind) let us know that both connectors to the gazebo were closed for maintenance. Thankfully, the team at The End of the Line General Store stepped in without hesitation to host our first checkpoint. Coffee, pastries, and good vibes—exactly the kind of start riders needed before heading into the unknown.
If you were “seeking the gravel,” getting there was probably the trickiest part of the route. During our shop ride, our group of about 30 riders immediately split into smaller groups, each taking slightly different adventures… and honestly, I don’t think we planned it that way.
Checkpoint #2: United Strangers
Photo submitted by Evarite
From there, the route led to United Strangers, a community café conveniently located for gravel rides and one of our favorite stops—whether for a mountain bike break or to get some work done on a laptop. Known for its cyclist-friendly setup, tasty pastries, coffee, and now real-fruit ice cream, their welcoming crew has made it a hub for both locals and visitors.
Riders arrived cold and wet but left warmed up—by coffee, conversation, and a little extra treat: during our shop ride, owner Joe handed out protein candies, adding some fun “trick-or-treat” vibes to the already Halloween-themed stop.
Checkpoint #3: Burnaby Velodrome
Photo submitted by Samuel Simonyi-Gindele
What better way to link the North Shore to the Tri-Cities than along the Trans Canada Trail? The Burnaby Velodrome made a perfect third checkpoint—easy to reach from the east side of the Second Narrows Bridge, with nearly 90% of the route on gravel. This checkpoint was a little more hidden, but riders cracked the riddle and found it tucked behind a BC Hydro power box at the trailhead entrance:
"The trailhead holds the power. Look behind to find your destination."
Checkpoint #4: Rocky Point Ice Cream
Photo submitted by Daniel Sallaway
The final stretch to Rocky Point Ice Cream was arguably the most rewarding. The trail danced on both sides of Barnet Highway, mixing double track, wide gravel, and the occasional rooty singletrack, with beautiful views of the inlet along the way. The destination? A well-earned scoop of ice cream (or maybe coffee) before turning back.
Wrapping It Up
Photo submitted by Frédérique Lafontaine
The Gravel Seeker was all about getting out, exploring, and embracing the ride—no matter the weather… or the destination. This weekend, you showed that a little rain can’t stop a great adventure.
We’re already looking forward to next year’s edition—but for now, let’s keep the stoke alive. If you joined the ride, don’t forget to share your photos and tag us—we’d love to see where the gravel took you.
Special thanks: Our ride leaders (Andrew Skerlec, Patrick Kerr and Steve Savage), The End of the Line General Store, Joe and his team at United Strangers, April at Rocky Point Ice Cream, Easton Cycling, 7mesh, ENVE and Silca.
Until next time: seek gravel, not excuses.
Photo submitted by Maxime Fumey
2025 Prize Winners
We’re all winners for getting out on our bikes and making the most of the weekend!
But a special shoutout goes to the following riders — the official prize winners of our 2025 Gravel Seeker.
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