Aggy’s Journey Into Neldor
One man’s quest into mountain biking’s true Shire
Home to house burning anarchists, vortex seeking rave artists and heavily bearded mountainites, Nelson, BC (aka “Neldor”) defies qualification. Mountains shrowded in old-growth forest play home to a supernatural meld of dirt and granite, where a unique tribe of trail builder creates otherworldly ways through these magical woods. Yes, there are freaks, even wizards, but there’s also a resident order entrusted to mountain cycling’s deepest roots.
Fresh from Rampage and full of wanderlust, Kona Clump rider, Graham “Aggy” Agassiz embarked on a pilgrimage of sorts. He had always wanted to visit Nelson. He had heard so much. Seen so much. The pro riders and their seemingly insatiable lust for burl, the jaw dropping photos of endless relief-inhaling trail, the great catacombs of fun. Inherently, being a BC boy and all, Aggy’s soul tells him there are four must ride locations in this grand province: Kamloops, the Shore, Whistler and, well, of course, “Neldor.” In the fall of 2010 he would load his truck with a freshly forged 2011 Kona Operator FR and Coilair and hit the road into the unknown.
And so we tag along on Aggy’s foray into this hallowed place. A spirit quest of sorts. A knightly passage on a greater journey into professional freeridedom. From alpine to lakeshore, log cabin to rock slab and all the adventure in between, this is that tale.
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Photos courtesy of John Gibson
