A diamond in the rough is how one world cycling enthusiast descirbes Penticton’s Three Blind Mice trails.
"I think it's a great gem. It's a hidden gem. Maybe not so hidden anymore," laughed Megan Rose.
Rose, a rider who has cycled the world and organizes events, used to describe Penticton's Three Blind Mice biking trails.
"I think it's a great gem. It's a hidden gem. Maybe not so hidden anymore," laughed Rose.
The Revelstoke resident organizes the Trans B.C. Enduro series (which started in Vernon, then went to Rossland and Nelson for two days) that stopped in Penticton over the summer. She said the event went great even with rainy conditions throughout the early July day. The weather put a spin on things, but didn't dampen anyones spirits.
"These guys kind of loved the challenge, love riding in rain," she said.
Rose said there is plenty to like about Three Blind Mice.
"It's technical, but it's not technical like some of the Kootenay trails or it's own flavour with the rock … and people really need to kind of throw their pace down and look where they are going," said Rose. "The trails aren't as defined as you would be following elsewhere when you have never been to that area before."
Rose, who has cycled parts of the globe for 13 years and organized events for the last six, said Penticton really shows that diversity of what's available. The event won't return to Penticton next year, but she said it will come back in the future as riders come from all over the world to experience trails in B.C.
"If you put them in the same type of trails everyday, they are not getting the full feel," she explained.
In 2013, Rose hosted a B.C. Enduro Series in Penticton that was geared for B.C. residents and locals. She believes that helped get Penticton on the cycling map. Before, the area was unknown said that has changed. Rose said Penticton has been a hit and is a go-to location, praising the efforts of those involved with the Penticton and Area Cycling Association.
"The highlight of Penticton is those key group of worker are always willing to help," she said.
Laura Harp of PACA said with Three Blind Mice being selected as a stop for the Trans B.C. Enduro, that means a lot to the community.
"I think a lot of these riders will go home and talk about the event and the terrain," she said. "Because they had the one day here and in race mode, not a lot of them were looking around, taking the time to explore the trails. I have a feeling that many of them will be coming back and recommending it to their friends.
"The Three blind Mice has been a hidden gem for a long, long time," continued Harp. "Just the locals have known about it because there wasn't much of an establishment there. We didn't have signage. The City of Penticton wasn't really aware of what they had as well as the regional district. PACA has definitely brought that to their attention. We've been working quite hard at signing the land use agreements, sanctioning the trails. Creating it so we can now put up signage and advertise the network. I think we're going to see a huge, huge expansion of people coming through."