What is it?
The Adventure Bike Gathering a suggestion that you could come to Vernon, meet other riders, and go out riding and exploring together. Some people will follow GPS tracks, others will simply venture out to see what they find.
Expect very little organization, and zero pampering. You come here as an adventurer knowing that others are near. You figure out your days out by talking to other people. Ride, eat, mingle, make new friends, ride some more. If you think this sounds cool, we look forward to seeing you!
September 14 – 16, 2023
Vernon, British Columbia
Here’s the plan…
There is no registration process. We have a pile of reasons for this but they are not worth cluttering this page. We may have 20 people show up, or 200.
Come to Vernon. Stay in a hotel, flop at a buddies house, stay in a campground, or stealth camp in the parking lot. We’ve seen it all!
Show up each morning is the parking lot outside of the Fairfield Hotel. There is a Blendz coffee shop in the immediate area.
- If you are a Keener, show up at 7 AM. You will get the greatest choice of rides to join, and the most bench racing time. If you plan to go on a full day ride, come early as the team likely needs to leave early to get home before dark.
- Regular folks show up around 8 AM to sign waivers, pick a ride, to chat with moto buddies from years gone by, and depart on time at 9 AM.
- The Nappers arrive any time after 9 AM when most of us are gone but hopefully find somebody to ride with! Hey, we run a tight ship!
If you are on a half-day ride, you can come back to the food trucks for lunch, hang out with other rides, and pick an afternoon group to go out with.
2023 Routes
We have prepared new routes for 2023, and created a system so you can ride some of the best, and most classic, trails from Gatherings gone by. Check out our new ROUTES page.
Hard ADV Club
Some of the rides that people will be going on are very challenging, and all are potentially dangerous. Riders are encouraged to know their own ability level, as well as the ability level of the other riders that they are choosing to ride with.
We suggest that advanced riders get to know each other on a shorter and lower consequence routes such as Twisted Steel & Climbing Salsa Shark before venturing into the harder options.
Here are some details for ya…
Choose Your Adventure
- Join some riders and go out together.
- Take some GPS tracks and guide yourselves.
- Create your own adventure in our many local road and trail systems.
Suitable Bikes
Anything street legal with dirt-worthy tires. 250cc to whatever monster you call your steed.
We especially enjoy our guests on big adventure bikes. This gathering creates a unique atmosphere for people to work together to get these bikes through challenging trails.
Accommodations
Waffles & Waterslides > We suggest the Fairfield (by Marriott). We have negotiated a 15% discount, so be sure to tell them that you are coming for the Adventure Bike Gathering.
- Air Conditioning
- Hot Tub
- Pool with Slide!
- Breakfast Included
We are not recommending the Riviera this year as their air conditioning is busted and the place is slipping into a bit of a dive.
Good Camping Options
- Ellison Provincial Campground – A Stunning Provincial Campground (West of Town ~15 Mins Away)
- Cedar Falls Campground & RV Park – A Very Nice Private Campground (East of Town ~5 Mins Away)
- Kekuli Bay Provincial Park Campground (South of Town ~15 Mins)
Cost & Stuff
It’s free, but there are also no perks!
- No accommodation.
- Bring your own bike.
- Pay for your own meals.
- No event t-shirts.
- No guaranteed spots on rides.
This is not a professional event. Your satisfaction is not guaranteed. You are a part of making this gathering happen, not somebody paying to attend.
If you are lucky you may get a decal or two, and perhaps win a prize from one of our sponsors.
If you are cool with all of this, we look forward to riding with you!
Safety Check System
We don’t have one. Your buddies are your check-in system. Your communications gear is your lifeline. If you are going deep into the mountains like Park Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Hunter’s Range, Mara Lookout, etc. make sure you have all of the safety and communications gear within your group. We won’t know if you don’t make it back to town in a timely fashion.
Remember, this is not an event. This is a location and a time to meet. Whatever you decide to do once here is up to you!
Routes & Difficulties
Get familiar with some of our routes by watching our videos. Remember, most videos make the riding look significantly easier.
Be Prepared
Physical fitness plays a significant role as rides can take 3 to 4 hours, venture deep into the wilderness, and can have sustained levels of difficulty.
50:50 tires should be considered a minimum. None of our routes are groomed!
All of our bikes are geared down for technical off-road riding. If you still have stock gearing, perhaps it is time to gear that pony down so it behaves like a good dirt monster that is not constantly trying to kill you!
Bring riding gear for weather that could be 25 degrees and sunny (yay), or 10 degrees and rainy (ew!).
Evening Gatherings
Thursday > The Kal Sports Bar
Friday > Los Huesos Mexican Restaurant & Station BBQ Smokehouse
Saturday > Marten Brewpub
2023 Sponsors
Coming soon. Lots more if we are as fortunate as in previous years!
Coming soon. Lots more if we are as fortunate as in previous years!
Coming soon. Lots more if we are as fortunate as in previous years!
Gathering & Other Moto T-Shirts
Looking for some cool moto t-shirts? Visit the Store at That Moto App to nab what you are looking for. LINK
2023 shirts will become available once we get a bit closer to the event. And, please note, we DO NOT print t-shirts and sell them during the gathering. That is a huge hassle that we are thrilled to be avoiding.
Highlights from Last Year
We have a web page that features a pile of the highlights from our 2022 event. Check it out HERE!
The Adventure Bike Gathering
September 14 – 16, 2023
Vernon, British Columbia