I'm always caught between wanting to ride with like-minded people and craving the solitude of the wilderness. There's something about getting away from computers, politics, and everything else modern life throws at us that feels essential. However, riding with others comes with its own challenges—so many things have to be in sync—personality, ride style, endurance, and even pacing. Finding the perfect riding partner or group can be tough.
When I saw a new gravel club across the water on the mainland—the Squamish Gravel Cycling Club (SGCC)—I was immediately hooked. Founded by Alex Morgan & Pat Valade, SGCC officially became a club in 2023, creating a home for riders who love big climbs, backcountry routes, and the unmatched terrain of Squamish, BC.
With massive elevation gains, rugged trails, and ever-changing coastal weather, Squamish serves up some of the most challenging and rewarding gravel riding in Canada. The SGCC is a non-profit, volunteer-based club that fosters that experience—connecting like-minded riders, organizing group rides, and building a strong community around shared adventure. The rides, the people, the energy—it all looked great. Couple that with fantastic branding, and you've got something that feels fresh, well-organized, and seriously inviting. Let's go...
What inspired you to start SGCC?
There was a disconnect between the growing number of people riding gravel and the sense of community around it. We wanted to create a space where people could come together regularly and share a passion for adventure cycling.
How has the club grown since it began?
SGCC started sometime around 2020-2021 as a small, informal group—just a handful of riders who happened to find themselves on the same group chat. Like many activities in Squamish, participation ebbed and flowed with the seasons, especially as people shifted focus to other outdoor pursuits. But coming out of the isolation of the pandemic, a few of us were eager to keep riding year-round, rain or shine.
Social media helped spread the word beyond our original chat, welcoming more riders who were keen to keep the momentum going through the darker, colder months. As spring and summer arrived, turnout grew significantly, and we saw the need for a bit more structure. That's when SGCC really took shape as an organized club.
What are the club's signature rides or events?
Thursday Socials (originally the “Gravel Burrito” ride) are the heart of the club—an open, coed ride for gravel enthusiasts. We've also been excited to see growing interest in our Women's Rides, which took place twice a month on Tuesdays throughout 2024. We hope to keep that momentum going strong into 2025.
How has the club impacted the Squamish community?
For a long time, Squamish—along with Whistler and the North Shore—has been synonymous with mountain biking. But the cycling community here is more diverse than that. Every Thursday at 6:30 pm in the Cloudburst parking lot, you'll find a gathering of riders who share a passion for gravel, adventure, and community.
How do you choose routes to suit all skill levels?
Riding off road in Squamish and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor is inherently challenging due to the nature of the terrain. For us, weekly rides are a place for gravel enthusiasts looking to connect with the cycling community. Beginners may find club rides to be out of their comfort zone. We encourage all members to get out and ride shared routes regularly on their own accord outside of weekly club rides. This is a great way to help establish a knowledge of the area and build confidence within themselves as competent riders. All members are responsible for their own preparedness, condition of their bike and individual ability to complete any given route from week to week.
Club rides are social and inclusive with regular regrouping but there is a solid emphasis on keeping the ride flowing nicely. With skill and experience levels varying significantly in larger groups, flow can look different weekly and feel more challenging for some than others. We ask riders to be conscious of their own ability and how it may impact the experience of the group as a whole. Less experienced riders will find it to be a place where they push themselves and the more experienced will focus on the group dynamic as opposed to their personal fitness goals.
What's the terrain and distance like on your rides?
Squamish is a valley, we have hills and if you want to experience all of the great riding there is here, you will be climbing out of the valley floor. This also means distance tends to be shorter (relatively speaking). Weekly Thursday rides will range from 25-35kms and take 2-3hrs. We try to ride as much gravel (single track or FSR) as possible avoiding traffic and getting back for food and beverages before the local watering hole closes.
What kind of bike is best for riding with the club?
This is a great question. Tire setup might be more important than what kind of bike. We strongly encourage members to get a tubeless setup. This will reduce the occurrence of flats and make fixing them much faster on the occasion that they happen. This also helps us keep the flow of the rides steady. We see a lot of hardtails and gravel suspension forks coming out to rides these days and it's great! Dual suspension might feel a bit sluggish on the climbs and road sections. 2.1” tires seem to be a sweet spot for gravel but we understand not all bikes accommodate this tire volume. If you happen to be shopping for a gravel/adventure bike and plan to be riding in Squamish any significant amount, we like to have the comfort and confidence larger volume tires (2” and up) give you. Do people ride 41-50mm tires and enjoy the rides all the same? Yes.
Be sure to pack a pump, repair kit, spare layers, snacks, water and always wear a helmet. Aside from that, just make sure your bike is regularly serviced and ready for adventure!
The club's branding feels fresh—what inspired its look and feel?
Branding was a collaborative effort and ultimately the work of Max Young. After several Zoom chats and bouncing ideas back and forth he came up with a branding scheme which we felt resonated with what we were doing. His interpretation of gravel felt modern and clean and the font representative of seeking adventure on winding forest service roads. The “gravel icon”, a circle composed of all different types of rocks, is a logo that really speaks to the community being at the core of the club.
What's next for SGCC? Any exciting plans coming up?
With a modest objective for the year, our primary focus is simply making sure Thursdays happen every week throughout the season. We also hope to continue connecting with local businesses and creating fun events and opportunities to get people out riding and enjoying where we live.
Thanks, gents.
Make sure to follow SGCC on Instagram and check their site for updates, merch and news.
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