It’s not uncommon to see Chris Miller cruising around town on one of his bikes. It is, after all, one of his main modes of transportation no matter the season in Revelstoke.
“I have two recumbent bikes. One of them is more an on-road version and the other one has bigger tires you can use in any condition,” Miller told Revelstoke Mountaineer, listing off his fleet of bikes that give him access to the city he calls home. “Then I have my upright trike. I don’t walk, so I roll.”
A 2014 stroke survivor, Miller has pivoted from biking being a beloved pastime to a key access strategy for him. No longer able to drive and wanting more flexibility than current Revelstoke transit provides, Miller says his fleet of bikes allows him a high level of independence and access. But that wouldn’t be entirely possible without the maintenance work from other community members. One of his beloved trails, the Illecillewaet Greenbelt is maintained by volunteers who groom the trail during winters, providing easier access for residents.
The Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society maintains the greenbelt year-round, and any attempt to marvel at someone traversing across the snow covered trail in a recumbent bike has Miller quickly singing the praise of volunteers who care for the trail.
“We’re really lucky, we have miles and miles of trails throughout the valley you can access.”
While Revelstoke has its share of bike trails, general bike infrastructure in Revelstoke is at a key moment to either get ahead of Revelstoke’s growing biking interest or fall behind. Current infrastructure and calmer traffic makes commuting around Revelstoke on a bike full-time manageable, Miller said, but he doesn’t want to see that get left behind.
“A lot of people put a lot of time into biking in Revelstoke. We don’t want to lose that.”
Accessibility in mountain biking is also going through changes, some of which Miller has had a front row seat for. In 2017, the Revelstoke Cycling Association unveiled the Miller Time, an adaptive mountain bike trail focused on giving as many riders access to mountain biking as possible. That includes electric assisted mountain bikes, a development in the biking world that has some riders concerned about wear and tear on trails and general speed safety.
With the Revelstoke bike community’s dedication to maintaining trails, Miller isn’t too worried about the effect electric bikes could have on trails.
“People are realizing we’re a four-season destination. That’s going to mean more people on trails and more people supporting biking. If you make it open to even more people with pedal assist and with trails like Miller Time, that’s a good thing.”
Apart from enjoying the trails in and around Revelstoke, Miller is looking forward to some bike camping this summer, weather permitting. He has followed the Trans-Canada highway, camping along the journey and appreciating the engineering needed for the original railway lines that helped put Revelstoke on the map.
“That’s some steep terrain there, I know. I just really take a moment to appreciate what they built and the nature we’re in.”
It’s an opportunity Miller hopes more people experience, no matter what ways make it accessible for them.
“Whatever gets you in the seat. Biking our area can show you so much nature, so many different species. It really allows you to appreciate the area.”
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you
