A DOWNHILL BIKE WITH A BUILT IN CHAIRLIFT

Rhys Ellis is the man at the helm of Apogee Academy—a DH-focused skills coach who spends his year chasing summer. BC May to September, and Australia while Whistler's full of skiers. The days are full, so when the conditions are good, he's up with the sun, coffee on, and ready to ride. The chairlifts don't open until 9, so more often than not, Rhys reaches for the Bullit. They say the early bird gets the worm, and the worm in this case is some perfect autumn trails outside of Whistler's famed bike park. These trails weave through the damp forests that hold the perfect dirt, get less traffic, and have the effort-to-reward ratio that makes them special. We tagged along while Rhys did his thing, and it turns out those early morning alarm clocks really are worth it. The Bullit's 170mm of travel, low-slung weight, and balanced kinematics make taking the high lines a bit easier, and we made it to the top with plenty of battery to spare. Fancy another lap?