Beyond the Trails: PACE's René Unser on Gravel and Road Biking in the Okanagan

By the Fresh Air team, based on a conversation with René Unser, Owner / Coach / RD Nimble Bear, Wildhorse Traverse, Broken Goat & Wandering Moose c/o PACE Trail Runs | August 2026

Let’s talk about a local legend.

René Unser has run the Transalpine Run, a seven-day stage race across the German, Austrian, Swiss, and Italian Alps, twelve times. She's also ridden a slower version of the same mountains on a bike, three separate summers, stopping for lunch above 2,000 metres for a plate of spaghetti bolognese along the way.

Unser is the founder of PACE Trail Runs,the Okanagan race series behind Wildhorse Traverse, Broken Goat, Wandering Moose, and Nimble Bear (on pause since the 2023 McDougall Rim fire, expected back in 2027). She's a Level 3 NCCP-certified coach who's raced the TransRockies Gravel Royale, a three-day stage race, and ridden the Gravel Bike Experience through Italy and Austria three times.

We sat down with her to find out where biking fits into her endurance activities, her favourite local routes, and what she won't leave home without on a long ride.

Tell Us About Yourself and What Is PACE?

"I'm René Unser, a professional running coach and endurance athlete, and I've been involved in trail running and the outdoor community in the Okanagan for more than two decades. PACE Trail Runs started as a trail-running community and has grown into coached trail running clinics and one of BC's most successful trail race series. More importantly, however, PACE represents a pretty amazing community of people who come together to explore, push our limits and support each other," René says.

PACE, short for Positive Attitude Changes Everything, still carries that idea in its name.

Where Gravel and Road Riding Fit Into René's World

"Running has always been a huge part of my life, but I've always loved being outside and endurance sports in general, and cycling has naturally been part of this process," René says. She loves road and mountain biking too, but gravel is what stuck, "because it has that same sense of adventure that I love about trail running. You cover so much more ground, while still finding quiet backroads, beautiful places and that really social experience that comes with riding together."

That same instinct shapes how she runs PACE. "It also fits really well with what I try to create through PACE," she adds. "I'm interested in helping people discover what they're capable of, whether that's running their first 5K, completing their first ultra, riding their first big gravel event, or simply going farther than they ever thought they could. For me, it's really about finding ways to challenge yourself, have fun and experience the outdoors with other people."

René rides through farmland on Japan's Shikoku Island.

The Gravel Bike Experience and a Gravel Royale Podium

Fifteen years of stage racing in Europe made the jump to gravel feel pretty natural.

"I think it happened pretty organically. I was already comfortable with endurance and long days in the mountains through running, and I've been stage racing in Europe for the past 15 years, so cycling gave me another way to experience those environments” — Unser

"The Gravel Bike Experience, a three-day event hosted in Italy and Austria, was really cool because it was guided and catered. All you had to do was ride your bike through beautiful landscapes in the European Alps, and they took care of the rest," she says. "Though we've done the event three times, my husband and I also really love planning our own self-guided adventures, and we've bikepacked through Japan, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia with close friends. It became this wonderful combination of riding, travel, adventure, exploration and friendship. There's something pretty special about sharing those experiences with people you love to ride with. Gravel Royale, a three-day stage race hosted by TransRockies, was another part of the exploration process in our beautiful backyard."

René's Favourite Gravel and Road Routes in the Okanagan

"One of the things I love about riding in the Okanagan is that you don't have to go far to feel like you've escaped. There's so much incredible terrain right outside our door. I love routes that include sections of the KVR, like McCulloch, June Springs, Myra and Gillard. You can create so many different combinations depending on how much time and climbing you're looking for. I also really enjoy riding around Black Mountain Regional Park and some of the moderate singletrack in Crawford," René says.

Her list doesn't stop at Kelowna's edge. "There are so many other great options too. The Bear Creek main loop up toward Telemark is a favourite, and from Penticton, riding out toward White Lake Provincial Park makes for a really fun day. Mission Creek Regional Park and the Greenway are also great because they offer something for different levels of riders and are beautiful. I think that's what I love most about riding here, you can build almost any kind of adventure you want, from a couple of hours to a full day, without having to travel far to get there."

Bikes rest against a stone doorway on René's ride through Tuscany,  Italy.

What's Different About Riding Here vs. Europe

"The biggest difference is scale and terrain. Oh, and that in Europe you can stop for lunch at 2,000+ metres and enjoy a plate of spaghetti bolognese before finishing your ride! In Austria and Italy, you can have these huge alpine climbs where you're riding for hours, and the mountains just keep going." — Unser

The Okanagan isn't trying to be the Alps. "The Okanagan has its own kind of beauty. You have lakes, vineyards, grasslands, forests and mountains all packed into a relatively small area, and you can move between them pretty quickly. I think we sometimes take that for granted because it's right outside our door."

René's Gear Advice for Big Gravel Races

Her rule for race-day gear is short: don't overcomplicate it.

• A comfortable, reliable bike setup over chasing the lightest possible equipment

• Tires appropriate for the course. She'd rather have a little extra traction and confidence than save a few grams

• Tubeless tires and a repair system you've actually practiced using

• Enough hydration capacity for the longest stretches between aid stations

• A fueling system that works for you. Don't experiment with nutrition on race day

• Layers, since weather can change dramatically, especially in the mountains

• A small repair kit: tube, plugs, pump or CO2, tire levers, and the tools specific to your bike

• Practice riding with all of it before race day

"The best gear is the gear you don't have to think about," René says. "You want to be able to focus on riding, enjoying the experience and managing your effort, not wondering whether your equipment is going to let you down."

Fresh Air's road and gravel bikes, tires, and hydration gear cover most of that list, and their bike fitting and service teams can get your setup dialled in before the big adventure.

How to Get Involved With PACE

"The easiest way is to find us through PACE Trail Runs. You can join one of our training clinics, participate in one of our events, or volunteer and become part of the community behind the scenes. You don't have to be an experienced runner to get involved. PACE is made up of people with all different backgrounds and abilities, and that's really what makes the community special," — Unser

Twelve Transalpine finishes, three Gravel Bike Experience trips through Italy and Austria, and a home race with TransRockies Gravel Royale make René Unser a true athlete and local legend.

If gravel or road riding might be next for you, PACE's clinics are one way in, and Fresh Air's cycling team can get the bike, tires, and setup sorted for whichever terrain you pick.

Fresh Air has outfitted Kelowna's cyclists, runners, and skiers since 1981. Their bike shop carries road and gravel bikes, tires, and bags, with fitting and service available in-store. Visit the bike shop at Fresh Air Kelowna.

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