Your gateway to adventure: Explore Revelstoke’s trails with Wandering Wheels

Founded in 2012 by mountain bike and adventure enthusiast Matt Yaki, Wandering Wheels has grown into a thriving, multi-faceted provider for biking experiences. From guided tours to bike rentals and coaching programmes, the company opens the region’s terrain to locals and visitors alike.

The idea for Wandering Wheels came about from Yaki’s own experience as a newcomer to the region, where he discovered the challenges of navigating Revelstoke’s vast mountain biking landscape. This revealed a prominent gap – a lack of services providing the guidance many riders need.

“There were all these services for other outdoor sports – heli-skiing, ski touring, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking guides – but there was nothing at all for biking,” he explained. 

“Combined with my personal experience and the fact that there was nothing developed in that space, I had the idea for the company – and just went for it!”

Wandering Wheels launched its first operational season in summer 2013, and has continued to grow alongside the rise of mountain biking in the region. 

Bike tours for every rider

At the heart of Wandering Wheels’ business are its guided day tours, available as half-day or full-day experiences. It offers cross-country pedal tours, downhill tours and shuttle tours, and caters to a range of abilities, from absolute beginners to pro riders.

Wandering Wheels also provides customised multi-day tours for riders looking for a lengthier trip, in addition to inclusive tours spanning several days, providing a truly immersive bike experience. These trips are geared toward more advanced riders and include multiple days of relatively challenging terrain.

The tours are an excellent gateway into the mountain biking scene, and the region itself. Wandering Wheels accommodates guests from all over Canada, as well as further afield, including the U.S. and Europe.

The company also operates a shuttle service for high Alpine trails requiring a truck to access locations like Frisbee Ridge and Martha Creek. Without a designated driver, these areas can be difficult to reach – making this service popular with locals as well as tourists.

Kids camps and skill development

Kids camps became a key part of the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, when tourism slowed and Yaki was looking for new ways to keep the business alive and engage the community. 

“The kids were all being homeschooled,“ he said. “So when summer came around and we were allowed to partake in activities again, parents were keen for their kids to get outdoors and do something!”

Since then, the camps have been a huge resource utilized by the community, drawing in returning local families and guests from out of town. They offer children a social outlet while helping them become capable young riders, building lifelong mountain biking skills and trail etiquette.

Wandering Wheels also offers skills clinics in the springtime. While appealing mostly to locals, the business also get individuals travelling from surrounding areas to attend.

“It’s a great way for anyone to develop their skills, whether they’re beginner, novice or more intermediate, stronger riders,” Yaki said.

The shop and fleet

A physical shop and rental fleet became a natural extension of the business, streamlining the services already provided. 

In the early days, the company relied on third-party rentals but as the business grew, it built up their own fleet of bikes and moved to its current residence, a larger space next to Cycle Logic.

Having an independent space, where the team can meet guests, sort out any equipment and drive directly out to the trails has made a huge difference to the quality of the experience for the business and customers. It also ensures full oversight of rental quality, which Yaki prides himself in.

“Being a small business that I own, operate and am very passionate about, I hold my own high standard of conditions on these rentals,” he said.

The bikes are also available to rent for the general public not taking part in a tour.

 “You can just rent a bike and go explore!”

Local and international adventures

One of the most exciting aspects of Wandering Wheels’ growth is its international trips.

Led by Yaki and a second guide, they offer unforgettable and immersive journeys taking riders to epic terrain abroad. In 2024, they ran four trips in Peru, all around two weeks long, and one in Nepal.

Combining Yaki’s passion for travelling, the outdoors and of course biking, these trips are an increasing focus of the business. But even with growing international horizons, Wandering Wheels remains committed to supporting riders navigating local terrain.

The company proudly supports the work of the Revelstoke Cycling Association (RCA), which manages and maintains a vast network of trails in the region. 

When guests book a guided tour with Wandering Wheels, a portion of the fee goes directly to the RCA, contributing to sustaining and improving the local trails that make Revelstoke such a well-loved biking destination, and supporting the adventures Wandering Wheels is so proud to provide.