DH Biking
 

Pics from Kicking Horse opening weekend!! BEAUTIFUL WEATHER as well :biggrin:

WTF is that?! early season for you I guess!
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Generally what I look like, but without the helmet and gear. I was hoping I still knew how to bike at this point... its a long way down!
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Just out of the gondola
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A sweet view
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And another, just cause
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So there was still a lot of snow at the top!! Had to bike down the cat track quite a ways before we could get on actual trails
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A pic of me on a track
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And another
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Man alive. Yore purdy. Think I'm in love!!

(I'm talking to your Kona Stinky BTW. But you aint so bad yerself, but, um .. yah. The bike.)

Yuck, I think I've seen enough of the white stuff for a bit. I'll wait until July maybe to hit up KH.

Sadly I passed up an op to ride Moose Mountain today so I could spend time with the monstrosities .. er .. kids instead. We did watch some of the guys come down though as we came back from picnicing in the Maclean Creek area. Beautiful weather!

LMK if you guys are ever interested in shuttling a few over at Moose!

I love my bike too!! Gets me out of some hairy situations... I took a jump which had a little gap, but landed on the front lip of the riser, bike took it like a champ. Thought I was going to do a superman on that one! haha

I will keep you posted when more of the snow is gone at Kicking Horse. We've never been to moose mountain before. Are there some intermediate trails there? I am not an expert. Marcellus goes on anything though.

Is that the stock fork or did you swap it out?

I don't think you'd have anything to worry about, there's a fair range of trails. To be honest I have yet to ride Moose Mountain in anything but youtube and my imagination though. :redface: (Although I have done some of the XC trails on the other side of the fire road though.) This is the year I change that! COP is great but the season pass is super high now and I figure at $25/4 hours, I'd have to go >8 times this summer for the pass to pay off and .. I think that's probably a bit questionable whether I could go that often.

Anyhow I understand all the structures at MM have bypasses. One of my bosses at work sometimes takes his XC bike down Race of Spades (after he first CLIMBS the fire road up, what a nut). And, well, you ride at Kickinghorse!! :p So you can probably handle it no sweat.

Do you guys ever hit up COP?

Looks like fun, I've never rode at Kicking Horse. Someday maybe!

Wow that looks quite a bit different with no snow on it. I have put my ski's down there lots but never a mountain bike. Its been a while since I have done and "hard core" mountain biking, not sure if my brodie omega could handle it :lol: but it looks like it would be a lot of fun.

Kicking Horse is the second best DH mountain I've been on, next to Whistler of course. I've also been to Fernie & Panorama. So if anyone is into this sport and hasn't gone there, you gotta do it!!

KH is now more beginner friendly too, the catamount chair is open now which takes you right to some pretty easy green runs. For any mountain, including COP you can rent DH bikes & gear. Depending on the amount of travel your shocks have on your Brodie you could be okay. I've seen people ride everything on the mountains including hard tails, which I think is crazy but whatever floats your boat! Having said that.. those riders weren't exactly going mach chicken or anything either.

I googled Moose Mountain, looks pretty cool!! Definately will have to check it out sometime this summer. I'm just not sure when?! Maybe in 3 weeks time, I know the weekend after next is another kicking horse trip. I've just been to COP once. Marcellus goes quite a bit over the summer. I just get kinda busy with work sometimes. I'll probably be there more this summer.

I have a friend that rides a hardtail with a 5" fork up front, I can't come close to hanging with him on my 6x6. That being said the guy can really ride though and he's a tad insane! Notice I'm not addmitting that my skills might suck as the reason I can't hang with him! haha

Looks like a lot of fun. I myself am not a downhiller though. I'm more into cross country and actually enjoy biking UP the hill :)

People that like biking UP the hill scare me, there's something not right with you people! :mrgreen: I'm kidding, sometimes there's no better feeling then clearing that hill you've been working on all year!

probably the lack of oxygen... But there is nothing like completely clearing your lunges of air. :)

lol... the bikers that like riding on highways scare me... daredevils I tell ya! The noise level, the close proximity to 110km/hr screaming semi trucks/cars/motorhomes/trucks/motorcycles, and inhaling loads of gas fumes all day is quite frankly terrifying to me!!

I did see that there is construction going on of a biking trail along the transcanada within Banff national park. Most of the paving is done, and they have a bit of bridgework to do.

Crosscountry is nice too. But my Kona definately says no way to going uphill.

And ya, there are some wicked riders out who kick ass on hardtails, I think they are good for getting air too. I'd personally, get bounced right off the bike though I am sure! haha I enjoy my cushy ride with BOTH shocks! :lol:

I have to admit that there is some sort of guitly pleasure in sitting on a lift to get you to the top of the mountain.

:mrgreen: AGREEEED!!!! Its a nice break, get to watch other riders, take in the scenery, and oh! we are at the top, time to go down again! tra la la! The only time it wasn't so nice was on a hot day in Whistler, I made the mistake of taking the gondola up with some stinky guy. I go up the chair there on hot days now. haha


Oh and I forgot to answer your question Tony, its a stock fork.

Ironically enough I think most of my uphill climbs could be describes as "lunges" as well. But I agree that the lunges clear the lungs out real nice.

I seem to be in an unusual category in that I enjoy both XC and DH. When I ride with an XC crew they tell me DH'ers are crazy and when I ride with a DH crew they tell me XC'ers are either crazy, or don't know what they're missing. They're probably both a little bit correct. And that's why I do both! :lol:

See I think ROAD bikers are crazy. :crazy: I can understand the thrill of the open road and an epic 60km or 80km ride, there was a time I yearned for it too :loco: ... but as I get older I trust people in cars less and less. The ground hurts when you fall off a mountain bike but it hurts in more or less predictable ways.

I loooooove riding at Whistler. Not a beginner friendly mountain though. I have seen so many people carted off that mountain with serious head, neck and back injuries. Or internal injuries. (I myself might once have been carted off the mountain in a meat wagon. Lucky for me the Whister Medical Centre is top notch!!) But I've been back there since and still love riding there, although a lot of those bigger drops still scare the H**L out me!!!!

For DH I've ridden Panorama, Fernie, Whistler and COP. A couple years ago a lot of the trail designers (from Whistler) reworked COP and it was awesome. The problem with COP is that it's run by a bunch of skiiers and snowboarders and not bikers. They run the lifts anyhow for the sightseers so they might as well let bikers pay them some money too. So the new trails were AWESOME until they started needing maintenance. Which they are doing better at this year, a little, but they've raised the prices of season's passes so much that I still get sticker shock. :(

Ya.. $200 for a season pass at COP seems a little steep to me as well, considering that is the going rate for a season pass at the mountains. The $25 / 4 hours seems decent though.

If you guys ever do put together a Canreef group ride let me know. I'd be interested in possibly coming down to join you. I'm always up for meeting and riding with new people.

If you guys are ever in N.Van, look up North Shore Bikes, ask to talk to Matt (Owner).

The yhave some kick ass XC and downhill trails that only the locals know about. With all the toys istalled, until the city finds them ant dismantles them.

Ken

Robb my invitation from last year still stands!! Come on down anytime bro. (Should I say "mang" or "bi" or does that only apply to tank threads? I'm never sure of the etiquette..:redface:)

BWA, yeah, that whole "North Shore" is pretty much the birthplace of the second wave of the sport. Some serious trails peppered all over the place around there. Heck even inland as far as Abbotsford/Chilliwack.. I remember visiting SuperFudge a few years ago to check out his wicked tank of the day and seeing kids come down the mountains and basically end up in their own backyards. Hard not to be a little jealous of them guys on the coast! (Just don't let them know, it all goes to their heads and stuff when they hear non-coastal types speaking this way. <Cough cough> Sorry what I meant to say was "Vancouver is yucky, too much traffic, too much smog, too many people and too much crime!" :lol:)

That's what the mountains are for.

If anyone's willing to venture to the coast for a "peddle"...I'm game. There is something for everybody here.

I'm out that way with a bike at least once a year. Although this year it's looking questionable, but should that change I'll drop you a line! I love it out there. Er, sorry what I meant was.. Vancouver is yucky. I guess I'm not fooling anyone am I.

That reminds me, a buddy I used to work with and myself used to trek out to Squamish every year to do the Test of Mettle. Great riding up there for all skill levels and various terrain for just about everybody. They also have a nice hostel there that's pretty inexpensive. Would love to head up that way again one day soon.

Another great trek would be Moab! That would be cool, have never been to Moab before but am itching to. In the meantime I'm stuck with Fish Creek and riding with Tony. Just jokes bi! (or mang, or brutha, or whatever)... anyway, I wish this rain would stop so we can get out and do some riding already. Mind you I have full gortex gear from head to toe so riding in the rain doesn't really bother me all that much.

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My ride just before it's maiden voyage at Sun Peaks near Kamloops a couple years ago. This thing rails like nothing else I've ridden. Still a little heavy, but it will take a pounding.

It's a Brodie Nemesis frame with an upgraded Swinger rear shock. All the other parts were pulled off a Brodie Holeshot B Team. Next project is to replace the front fork.

5 years ago or so i worked in jasper all sumer, brought my 100$ walmart special hardball with me and rode it till it was dead. 3 years ago now i was working lots with no bills and got a good bike. It has not seen a mountain yet just little hills around town:(

hopefully ill change that this year.

Looks like next trip is this upcoming weekend (25th) to Golden again if anyone is interested in rippin. Well I am not sure I rip, but I do get both tires off of the ground! whoop! Going for some more air this time round!! :lol:

So, let me know if any of you want to meet us out there! Its a pretty good hill with runs for all skill levels. They also have a sushi restaurant right on the hill!!! yah! For non biker tag-a-longs, there's usually a farmers market up there on the Saturday, hiking, and a grizzly bear refuge, horseback riding etc.

We'll be at a campground somewhere, I think we are taking the motorhome this time. So, there's the camping option, hotelling, or motelling. We have stayed at the Selkirk Inn (or something like that), its pretty cheap, $89 a night plus tax.

Anyways.. off to Gypsy at Red for some delicious food and wine. If you know of this restaurant, I know how jealous you are right now!!! :mrgreen:

wow Trina.....you totally didnt strike me as the "danger Girly"type!:surprise:

I know! I am like a superhero! Boring Trina by weekday... super downhill biking extremist by weekend!! Chasing down one deer at a time, Doug... I do what I can you know... haha jk

Finally did some of the DH trails at Moose Mountain today. In case anyone's interested .. here's my trail report on the three runs I did (only had half a day to play).

Race of Spades - a nice long ride although one long uphill hike-a-bike section. If you're pushing a DH bike be ready to suck some wind. Structures are all of a "death is a plausible outcome" nature, however they are all bypassable. Trees are very narrow in and elbows and handlebars will likely bang into a few at speed. Great little trail, can't wait to do it again. Full body armor may not really be required depending on your skill level. The trail ends in Tom Snow which takes you back to the Station Flats parking lot and this is a typical XC/day hiking kind of trail. I did have a pretty epic wipeout right on Tom Snow, picked a bad line, flipped over the handlebars. Were I not wearing the armor I'd have hurt myself up pretty bad as I landed on a few rocks. But otherwise you shouldn't need the full body armor.

Tdub - a correctified name with homage to the original name, "T.W." for "That Whore." I was a little shocked at the name itself, and yeah, once you're on it, it's clear why it got that name. What a nasty trail. If you like the feeling of panic attacks and abject terror, this might be your trail. This would be a double-black, easily, at places like Whistler. I had no business being on this trail, and have no intentions to return anytime soon. I ended up walking quite a bit of it. It is unbelievably steep and loose and rocky in sections. In the middle it splits, if you go right you end up riding the ravine and I'm told it's all structures, not sure if bypassable or not, and rocks, lots and lots of rocks. If you stay left, it is a nice technical single track but still many drops and bumps. Rode by a 220lb black bear at the bottom of the trail. He was standing on his hind legs with one paw on a tree and watched me ride over the wooden table top (my one structure of the day, heh). He looked very casual in a "hey, how you doing" kind of way. Wish I could have snapped a picture of it because it was such a classic pose, but I didn't, BECAUSE THERE WAS A @#$()*!!!! BEAR 10 FEET AWAY FROM US!

Brakeless - a beauty of a singletrack that is over all too soon. Easily doable on a XC bike. At the bottom you have to pedal back to the parking lot along the highway. If I thought downhill biking could cause terror, it has nothing on highway riding. Road bikers are the real insane ones. Mountain biking - yeah, it can be scary but it's you, and your skill level, and the mountain. And the mountain doesn't pretend to be anything but what it is. On the other hand, every time someone passes, road bikers put an enormous amount of faith in complete strangers, those who would not even feel a thing as they drove over top of you, and are probably fiddling with an iPod, or makeup, or texting someone, or shouting at their kids or who knows. Yeah .. think I'll stick to mountain biking.

Had a pretty good revelation though. I do both XC and DH riding, it occurs to me that although you wouldn't think it, since it's downhill and usually you're using gravity to assist you, DH is easily way harder than XC. There were times I was so exhausted I had to get off the bike and sit at the side of the trail and wait to catch my breath. XC is all about the endorphins, DH is all about the adrenaline. Both are hugely rewarding IMO, as long as you don't get delusions of grandeur and stay within your skill level anyhow. :lol:

Sounds like you had quite the day!! :biggrin: Thats awesome, and funny about the bear. I once thought a bear was coming for me, but it was the shadow of the gondola... haha I apparently have a healthy imagination, or need some medication.

I've just been to Kicking Horse the last two weekends. Nearly the whole mountain is open now. Going again this upcoming weekend, the weather is looking more favourable for the weekend... so THEY say. Weather forecasters... :twised: haha. Hardly anyone has been out there this year. I'd say the next couple weekends would be great to take advantage of the whole mountain. Let me know if anyone is also going to head out there!

My favourite runs at KH right now are Superberm, Buffalo Jump, Hop A Long, and Showdown. Magic Carpet Ride is open now too... but it needs a bit of work. Showdown is probably the toughest of all of those for me, tight and steep berms, but I did the woodwork at the beginning this weekend! A lot of people skip it because on approach it appears the edge is a cliff. I had a couple spills this weekend as well, it was a bit muddy and I was going a bit faster than I should have on a rocky technical bit. :razz: And finally figuring out how to do drops properly, rather than just pedaling and hoping for the best haha

Sounds like you had a good weekend Tony. Im one of those crazies...
I manged to get out last night on my skinny tires for a good 40+km ride of Frogger around Edmonton after the rain. :mrgreen::lol:

The structures at Moose Mountain are all very ... um .. well, like I said, death is a plausible outcome if you make any errors on them. You definitely need to hone your skills in other places, all of these are fine if you can do them, but there's just no tolerance for errors for a blue rider like myself. I can do tables and the odd wooden structure, smallish drops if the landing gives me enough margin. My problem is if I try something, I need a few seconds of ... I'm not sure what to call it - "gloating" is not quite right, but a sort of "Oh wow! Holy moly! I lived! That was fun!" moment, but you get maybe 200ms at the speed you need to do these at before you're onto the next terrain challenge thrown at you.

I'm feeling it pretty bad today. :lol:

I'd love to join you at KH some day but I can't compete with you kidless folks and your oodles and oodles of free time on your hands. :lol: It's half day adventures for me these days. KH is just too danged far away. :(

I was thinking of you as I rode the highway. Seriously dude, that is just nuts hearing morons approach at >100kph with their tires touching the rumble strips and I'm all "at what point do I just dive into the ditch so I can stay alive?" for each and every one of them. And it's at best 400-500m from trail's end back to where I had parked for that shuttle run. I can't imagine >40km of sharing the road like that. I'm sticking with mountain biking!!!

This is a great site for anyone contemplating riding at Moose Mountain:

http://www.mmbts.com/members/

Couple weeks ago a bunch of us did Moosepackers to Ridgeline (which is a new trail this year that bypasses most of boggy Tom Snow) on our XC bikes. Great fun. Ridgeline is a great new trail. Not for a DH bike though as there's a fair bit of climbing to get to the downhill sections.

One day you will be bringing your kids and they'll be pretty happy to have such a badass dad to take them biking, then you'll be out at Kicking Horse!

Well, the new forks are on the bike and went for it's first ride this morning. The new Fox 36 Talas is as smooth as butter. The one thing is that it didn't make me a better rider...

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This is on Mt. Fromme in NV just at the trail head. Sorry for the quality of the pictures but they were taken with my phone.

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On the ride up.

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Some of the fun.

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And more fun. This is a rock roller coaster. Again, sorry for the poor pics.

Cool trails!!! :biggrin:

I wish my bike had a sweet fork!!!! haha naw can't afford one... been doing adjustments on it lately to make it smoother.

oh! and sportin a Troy Lee Helmet!! nice :mrgreen:

I limped along for two years on the old one. My wife was the one to tell me to quit whining about it and buck up and buy a new one.

I feel that even if you aren't that good, you need to look good doing it.:lol:

I tell folks I make up for my lack of skill with cartoony sound effects. It all evens out.

That's one sweet rock garden, looks like a lot of fun.

Anyone headed over to Whistler for Crankworx this weekend? Alas, I went last year and I can only sort of afford one big bike trip about every 2 years or so, but a bunch of guys I know are probably already most of the way there by now. :lol: