About Me
I'm Robert Biron, a former photojournalist, art director, and current owner of a beard that's earned every grey hair along the way. Many know me as Salty Beard, my nickname persona seen on YouTube, where you'll find me talking to myself, passing along wisdom from the road.
I know the backroads of BC better than my own knees. Caves & Coves is 1,350 kilometres of that knowledge, turned into something for others to explore, enjoy, and suffer through.
Why Caves & Coves?
To make you look at the place.
Vancouver Island North quietly sits back behind the limelight of the world-famous Pacific Rim National Park. Rugged, remote and quiet. This route guides people through the parts of the map that don't show up on tourist postcards.
To break a few rules.
Bikepacking dogma says unsupported means 100% alone, 100% your gear counted down to the last tool and tube. Caves & Coves lets pairs and groups pool their gear. You still navigate, still suffer, and still bonk like everyone else. Just less tools.
To force a stop.
Photo checkpoints are a leash, not a gimmick. They rein in those following a line on a computer. Get off the bike. Explore the cave. Walk the beach. Enjoy the view you just rode two hours to reach.
To reward the ones who take their time.
Bonus photos stack time credits onto your result. The riders who catch the right light end up racing smarter, not just faster. Quick is easy. Paying attention is hard.