Ride 90
Bear Mtn
Bigguns, Wasp, Lorax, Smoking Bo Bo.
Pedaled up Bear twice today. Bigguns was running so sweet! It's amazing what a year of no one riding a trail can do. One the second lap I hit Wasp, Lorax and SBB. I was warm enough out this afternoon for the forest to smell of hot tree sap and drying dirt. I don't ride Bear enough and I love it!....but tell your friends it sucks!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
XC ride with Jeffy.
Ride 89
Sumas Mtn.
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
Jeffy was in town and brought his Mojo and wanted to do an XC type ride. We headed to Sumas and I showed him all the new trail that Gary and Kerry have put in.
Sumas Mtn.
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
Jeffy was in town and brought his Mojo and wanted to do an XC type ride. We headed to Sumas and I showed him all the new trail that Gary and Kerry have put in.
Cross it off the bucket list.
Ride 88
Aug 14, 2011
Comfortably Numb.
Designated as an IMBA Epic, I had wanted to ride this trail for years! When Mike Levy sent me a message inviting me along I jumped at the chance!
We headed out at 8:30 from Whatcom Rd and headed to West Van to pick up Wayne from the ferry. From there it was on to Squamish for food and then up to Whistler to ride. We entered the the trail at 12:35 and exited 24km's later at 5:25. 4 hours and 50 mins including rest breaks and lunch. Only snagged a couple pics.
Aug 14, 2011
Comfortably Numb.
Designated as an IMBA Epic, I had wanted to ride this trail for years! When Mike Levy sent me a message inviting me along I jumped at the chance!
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| Started the ride with a little mechanical trouble from the Space Wagon. |
Ledgeview shred.
Ride 87
Aug 13, 2011
Lower Ambi, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt, Da Plow, Little Butt, Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of Boulder Dash, Autobahn.
Rode from home and did my regular Ledge XC route with a twist. I added a run down Da Plow to get some air under the tires.
Aug 13, 2011
Lower Ambi, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt, Da Plow, Little Butt, Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of Boulder Dash, Autobahn.
Rode from home and did my regular Ledge XC route with a twist. I added a run down Da Plow to get some air under the tires.
Holiday smorgasbord.
So since I was on holidays and away from technology for nearly 2 weeks I'm lumping all the riding i did into one post. So here is rides 81-86
We started our trip to Smithers by driving to Williams Lake on day 1. We spent the night there and I got a quick ride in the morning before we pulled out. Courtney shuttled me up Fox Mtn where I rode AK89 and Mitch's Brew. This was a fun blue line with flowy corners and lots of jumps. Too bad everything it soaked from the rain and was slimer that Ledgeview north side in January. From WL we left and drove to Smithers. I managed to get four good rides in Smithers. I headed to COB Bikes once in town and picked up a map which showed me where most of the goods were.
For my first ride I went to "The Bluff". It reminded me of Ledgeview. The trails were nicely groomed, but it was what the shop recommended I ride that wasn't that great. Here's what I ended up riding: (up) Boardwalk, Long Way, Uptrack, Upper Bluff, Upper Remembrance, Broken Axle, (down), Broken Axle, Upper Remembrance, Upper Bluff, Uptrack, Long Way, All Screwed Up, Boardwalk. The trails were quite sedate and felt like the stuff they directed the tourists too.
Next ride I headed over to the Ptarmigen area on the road up to the Hudson Mtn Ski area and rode Huckin Eh! HE looked to be a pretty rad jump trail, except that a rainy summer had left it a series of bombed out holes. I couldn't get close to carrying enough speed to clear the table top jumps. I did see a Black Bear on the climb up though, that was cool!
Smithers has a really well laid out and marked trail system that surrounds the town. So I pedaled out from the in-laws place and went exploring. I headed to Boyle Rd and planned on riding the Boyle Rd Trail and seeing what I could find. I ended up coming across a bike trail that wasn't on the map and spent the next 1.5hrs climbing up it. I bumped into a local who said it was called "Back Door" and that I was only half way up it. So I turned around.....thinking I was late for Julia's B-day party at this time.....and headed back to camp. Oh ya....I saw bears on this ride and I had my camera!!
Courtney's Uncle Gord shuttled me up to the Hudson Ski Area early one morning. The local I had bumped into previously told me to head to the bottom of the chair lift, so I did. On the way I found this sign:
The last ride of the trip was in Kamloops. We spent the night before in Valemount and I put the word out on Facebook, using the campgrounds wifi, that I wanted to ride Rio Escondido. At about 10 am the next morning Collin Burke texted me that he'd emailed the directions! Once in Kamloops we headed to McD's for free wifi and the route was retrieved. Courtney shuttled me and I schralped Rio!!!
We started our trip to Smithers by driving to Williams Lake on day 1. We spent the night there and I got a quick ride in the morning before we pulled out. Courtney shuttled me up Fox Mtn where I rode AK89 and Mitch's Brew. This was a fun blue line with flowy corners and lots of jumps. Too bad everything it soaked from the rain and was slimer that Ledgeview north side in January. From WL we left and drove to Smithers. I managed to get four good rides in Smithers. I headed to COB Bikes once in town and picked up a map which showed me where most of the goods were.
For my first ride I went to "The Bluff". It reminded me of Ledgeview. The trails were nicely groomed, but it was what the shop recommended I ride that wasn't that great. Here's what I ended up riding: (up) Boardwalk, Long Way, Uptrack, Upper Bluff, Upper Remembrance, Broken Axle, (down), Broken Axle, Upper Remembrance, Upper Bluff, Uptrack, Long Way, All Screwed Up, Boardwalk. The trails were quite sedate and felt like the stuff they directed the tourists too.
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| SMBA has their shit together when it comes to signage.....super easy for a first timer to find their way around. |
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| No reason skinnies.....they were everywhere. |
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| These signed blocks were at every major junction....and they are labeled on the maps too! |
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| The view from the top. |
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| Old cars, or vans, in the bush are rad! |
Next ride I headed over to the Ptarmigen area on the road up to the Hudson Mtn Ski area and rode Huckin Eh! HE looked to be a pretty rad jump trail, except that a rainy summer had left it a series of bombed out holes. I couldn't get close to carrying enough speed to clear the table top jumps. I did see a Black Bear on the climb up though, that was cool!
Smithers has a really well laid out and marked trail system that surrounds the town. So I pedaled out from the in-laws place and went exploring. I headed to Boyle Rd and planned on riding the Boyle Rd Trail and seeing what I could find. I ended up coming across a bike trail that wasn't on the map and spent the next 1.5hrs climbing up it. I bumped into a local who said it was called "Back Door" and that I was only half way up it. So I turned around.....thinking I was late for Julia's B-day party at this time.....and headed back to camp. Oh ya....I saw bears on this ride and I had my camera!!
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| Boyle Rd Trail |
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| A little Mama and her two cubs. |
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| Back Door. |
Courtney's Uncle Gord shuttled me up to the Hudson Ski Area early one morning. The local I had bumped into previously told me to head to the bottom of the chair lift, so I did. On the way I found this sign:
That could only mean I was close right? Wrong. Turns out I found the trail, but not the start. I wasn't going to let it beat me, or miss what looked to be an epic ride. So one hour and 15 mins later I found my self at the TOP of the chair lift and at the start of Back Door!
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| Saw this tree on the way up! By this point I had seen so many bears that I wasn't worried about it. |
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| ALPINE MEADOWS!!! |
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| Finally at the start! |
What followed was possibly one of the best trails I have ever rode. The trail is pure DH. I rode down as fast as I could make the Enduro go and 26 mins later I found my self on the edge of town. The trail was rooty and fast. The first time I rode it I was on my HT, this time I was on the Enduro which was a much better choice. By the end my forearms and legs where burned up. I want to ride it again!
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| Way up there is where I started! |
That's it!
Levy schooled me.
Ride 80
July 29, 2011
Vedder
2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Terd Furg, Ditch Chicken, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
Levy can do the climb to 2cents in 26 mins.....me? 39, for shame.
July 29, 2011
Vedder
2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Terd Furg, Ditch Chicken, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
Levy can do the climb to 2cents in 26 mins.....me? 39, for shame.
Keep it short.
Ride 79
July 26, 2011
Sumas Mtn.
Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
Only had time for a quick rip.
July 26, 2011
Sumas Mtn.
Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
Only had time for a quick rip.
WAAAAAAAAAY behind.
Ride 78
July 24, 2011
Rode Elk-Thurston with Dan VanDokkumburg, Rich Vigurs and Mike Ritter. High of 29. I cramped up in both my calves on the ride down.....it hurt.
July 24, 2011
Rode Elk-Thurston with Dan VanDokkumburg, Rich Vigurs and Mike Ritter. High of 29. I cramped up in both my calves on the ride down.....it hurt.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Great trails, terrible ride.
Ride 77
Ledgeview
Lower Ambi, Upper Ambi.
Rode from home today and left the house at approx 11:45. It never occurred to me that I may need to eat before, or during, strenuous exercise. I rode Upper Ambi clockwise this time and was enjoying it much more than counter clock wise. By the time I was nearing the top I was feeling finished. I sat down and ate an orange I had in my pack and headed for home. The sugar rush kicked in pretty quick and was done by the time I hit home. Lesson: EAT!
Ledgeview
Lower Ambi, Upper Ambi.
Rode from home today and left the house at approx 11:45. It never occurred to me that I may need to eat before, or during, strenuous exercise. I rode Upper Ambi clockwise this time and was enjoying it much more than counter clock wise. By the time I was nearing the top I was feeling finished. I sat down and ate an orange I had in my pack and headed for home. The sugar rush kicked in pretty quick and was done by the time I hit home. Lesson: EAT!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Bear Stare Down.
Ride 76
Vedder Mtn
Duck Farm Loop.
Headed up to the do the regular DFL. About half way down, where you hit the logging road for the second time, I came across a Black Bear....a BIG Black Bear. I'm going to say it was easily 6 ft from nose to tail...maybe more. We were about 10 m apart. I was up the trail and it was down on the road. I startled it as I came around the last turn into a clearing and because of this it ran down the road and stopped on the entrance to the last piece of trail about 30m away! Fantastic!
So there I am staring at this Bear, and it's just sitting there staring at me. After about 15 sec I get the bright idea to clap loudly to try and scare it off. Clap once and it bounds into the bush. Great! Claps two and three send it into a full blown run down the hill, crashing through everything in its path. That's when it happened. Directly behind and up the hill from me, something else was spooked and was crashing down the hill. This "thing" sounded just as big as the bear I just scared off. I jumped back on my bike and tried to find the pedals. Two attempts to find the pedals later, I was pinning it down the last of the trail; down the road and back onto single track.
Luckily the one I scared first was heading through the bush in the direction I wasn't going. I cautiously finished my ride and made it home safe and sound. I think I "saw" 6 more bears on the rest of the ride.....damn shadows.
Vedder Mtn
Duck Farm Loop.
Headed up to the do the regular DFL. About half way down, where you hit the logging road for the second time, I came across a Black Bear....a BIG Black Bear. I'm going to say it was easily 6 ft from nose to tail...maybe more. We were about 10 m apart. I was up the trail and it was down on the road. I startled it as I came around the last turn into a clearing and because of this it ran down the road and stopped on the entrance to the last piece of trail about 30m away! Fantastic!
So there I am staring at this Bear, and it's just sitting there staring at me. After about 15 sec I get the bright idea to clap loudly to try and scare it off. Clap once and it bounds into the bush. Great! Claps two and three send it into a full blown run down the hill, crashing through everything in its path. That's when it happened. Directly behind and up the hill from me, something else was spooked and was crashing down the hill. This "thing" sounded just as big as the bear I just scared off. I jumped back on my bike and tried to find the pedals. Two attempts to find the pedals later, I was pinning it down the last of the trail; down the road and back onto single track.
Luckily the one I scared first was heading through the bush in the direction I wasn't going. I cautiously finished my ride and made it home safe and sound. I think I "saw" 6 more bears on the rest of the ride.....damn shadows.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sumas XC!!
Ride 75
Sumas Mtn.
Chadsey Lake Trail, The Way Out, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
I was late arriving for our 9 am start time. Turns out I had forgotten my bug spray and decided to back home to get it. I wasn't going to do another ride up there with out it. As I pulled up at the parking area, it seemed that Matt, Steve and Scott didn't have bug juice with them. They weren't too sore about me being 10 mins late as they lathered themselves in 23% DEET.
As I pulled the bike out of the truck Matt looked over and said one word..."Chadsey?" I'm always in for a Chadsey run. So began the long arduous climb up Sumas. Like I said with my ride with Tom, an hour up is me pushing it. The guys were nice enough to go at my pace. Matt even managed to get a tentative, sorta committed, semi-excited "yes" out of me coming to spin class with him on Tues and Thurs mornings. I know I need to up my intensity to boost my climbing cardio power, maybe this will do it.
We reached the top, had some snacky cakes and then it was on to Chadsey. The trail was wet, loose and slippery roots were abound. Scott was having a hell of a time as he still had his BC bike race SB8's on his bike. I think he ate root 3 times....they weren't pretty either.
We spat out of Chadsey and rode The Way Out. Matt's rear changer committed suicide and jumped into his spokes right at the road, so he coasted back down to the parking lot. Steve had to be back at the p-lot by 12:30 at the latest. So that left Scott and I to ride some sweet XC on Emma Peel. I half dropped the seat and turned the Pro-pedal on and gave it all I had. Once again it was a fantastic ride! It's nice riding with people.
Sumas Mtn.
Chadsey Lake Trail, The Way Out, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
I was late arriving for our 9 am start time. Turns out I had forgotten my bug spray and decided to back home to get it. I wasn't going to do another ride up there with out it. As I pulled up at the parking area, it seemed that Matt, Steve and Scott didn't have bug juice with them. They weren't too sore about me being 10 mins late as they lathered themselves in 23% DEET.
As I pulled the bike out of the truck Matt looked over and said one word..."Chadsey?" I'm always in for a Chadsey run. So began the long arduous climb up Sumas. Like I said with my ride with Tom, an hour up is me pushing it. The guys were nice enough to go at my pace. Matt even managed to get a tentative, sorta committed, semi-excited "yes" out of me coming to spin class with him on Tues and Thurs mornings. I know I need to up my intensity to boost my climbing cardio power, maybe this will do it.
We reached the top, had some snacky cakes and then it was on to Chadsey. The trail was wet, loose and slippery roots were abound. Scott was having a hell of a time as he still had his BC bike race SB8's on his bike. I think he ate root 3 times....they weren't pretty either.
We spat out of Chadsey and rode The Way Out. Matt's rear changer committed suicide and jumped into his spokes right at the road, so he coasted back down to the parking lot. Steve had to be back at the p-lot by 12:30 at the latest. So that left Scott and I to ride some sweet XC on Emma Peel. I half dropped the seat and turned the Pro-pedal on and gave it all I had. Once again it was a fantastic ride! It's nice riding with people.
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| Matt leading Scott and Steve on the Chadsey Lake Trail. |
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| Scott descending. |
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| Steve descending. |
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| You're not going to find this on the Shore! |
Saturday, July 16, 2011
a test ride for my back.
Ride 74
July 15, 2011
Legdeview
(up) 1:41, (up) Paper Route, Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
This was a simple quick ride up on the North side of Ledgeview to test out my back. Everything was feeling fine until the descent, where I was starting to feel the muscles in my back tense up. I must hunch over quite a bit while riding. As long as I consciously kept my back straight it felt good. I guess that means I need to start doing some regular training of my upper body....planks here I come!!!
No photos on this ride either. I started climbing at approximately 7:30pm and the way down was quite dark in the trees. I was losing light fast so I wasn't going to waste it by taking photos.
July 15, 2011
Legdeview
(up) 1:41, (up) Paper Route, Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
This was a simple quick ride up on the North side of Ledgeview to test out my back. Everything was feeling fine until the descent, where I was starting to feel the muscles in my back tense up. I must hunch over quite a bit while riding. As long as I consciously kept my back straight it felt good. I guess that means I need to start doing some regular training of my upper body....planks here I come!!!
No photos on this ride either. I started climbing at approximately 7:30pm and the way down was quite dark in the trees. I was losing light fast so I wasn't going to waste it by taking photos.
Keeping up with the Toms's
July 10
Sumas Mtn
Ride 73
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
XC ride with Tom. I pushed my self pretty hard on this ride trying to keep up with Tom on the climb. No matter how much riding I do, I cannot seen to become a good climber. I think it's the lack of intensity on the pedals up. Maybe I need to start doing some IHIT runs again....bleh. Anyway I did the climb in about 1 hr and 5mins, which isn't so bad considering my best ever time is an hour flat. The ride down is what killed me. Some time this summer Tom has learned how to shred that XC bike of his on the down hills! The only places I was faster than Tom was on a few sections of the Sauces where the Enduro was able to show the benefits of its slack angles. But as soon as the trail got twisty or started to point up.....Tom was gone. I blame the lack of a dropper post and his 6lbs weight advantage, rather than my physical short comings. No pictures as I was just trying to keep up.
This ride was tough on me. By the time I had gotten home my lower back had seized up and basically immobilized me. I spent the next 5 days hopped up on muscles relaxers and anti inflammatories.
Sumas Mtn
Ride 73
Knob Gobbler, Holiday Sauce, Extra Sauce, Emma Peel, CYOA, Police Line.
XC ride with Tom. I pushed my self pretty hard on this ride trying to keep up with Tom on the climb. No matter how much riding I do, I cannot seen to become a good climber. I think it's the lack of intensity on the pedals up. Maybe I need to start doing some IHIT runs again....bleh. Anyway I did the climb in about 1 hr and 5mins, which isn't so bad considering my best ever time is an hour flat. The ride down is what killed me. Some time this summer Tom has learned how to shred that XC bike of his on the down hills! The only places I was faster than Tom was on a few sections of the Sauces where the Enduro was able to show the benefits of its slack angles. But as soon as the trail got twisty or started to point up.....Tom was gone. I blame the lack of a dropper post and his 6lbs weight advantage, rather than my physical short comings. No pictures as I was just trying to keep up.
This ride was tough on me. By the time I had gotten home my lower back had seized up and basically immobilized me. I spent the next 5 days hopped up on muscles relaxers and anti inflammatories.
Getting to work.
July 8, 2011
Ride 72
Sumas Mtn
Time Killer, The Way Out.
The idea for this ride was plain and simple. Get photos for the Time Killer trail profile. I have the photo's, now I just need to do my write up. It's Coming!!
Ride 72
Sumas Mtn
Time Killer, The Way Out.
The idea for this ride was plain and simple. Get photos for the Time Killer trail profile. I have the photo's, now I just need to do my write up. It's Coming!!
Finally getting to it!
Ride 71
July 5, 2011
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn.
Iam had read my previous post, and saw the photos, about the new-ish Upper Ambi trail and was excited to have a go at it. So we met at 11am on a quite a warm day and rode up for a grueling XC ride. Matt Scott is the brain child behind the south side Ledgeview trails. Matt enjoys pain. Matt enjoys suffering. More than that, Matt enjoys watching others suffering in pain. Upper Ambi, as is most of the south side, is true XC riding. Tight, twisty, bench cut single track with lots of ups and downs. What makes it sadistic though is the bloody up hill 270 degree switch backs! Matt makes them look very easy....I don't like riding with Matt.
Any way as the ride progressed it got warmer and warmer. By the time we were back at the vehicles, I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. On the drive home the thermometer in the truck bounced between 28-29 centigrade. I had to work the night shift after this ride and I think I had a little heat stroke. I started my shift at 7pm and kept the AC in the car on full pull until about 1am, after that I was feeling normal. Anyway on to the pictures.
July 5, 2011
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn.
Iam had read my previous post, and saw the photos, about the new-ish Upper Ambi trail and was excited to have a go at it. So we met at 11am on a quite a warm day and rode up for a grueling XC ride. Matt Scott is the brain child behind the south side Ledgeview trails. Matt enjoys pain. Matt enjoys suffering. More than that, Matt enjoys watching others suffering in pain. Upper Ambi, as is most of the south side, is true XC riding. Tight, twisty, bench cut single track with lots of ups and downs. What makes it sadistic though is the bloody up hill 270 degree switch backs! Matt makes them look very easy....I don't like riding with Matt.
Any way as the ride progressed it got warmer and warmer. By the time we were back at the vehicles, I was starting to feel the effects of the heat. On the drive home the thermometer in the truck bounced between 28-29 centigrade. I had to work the night shift after this ride and I think I had a little heat stroke. I started my shift at 7pm and kept the AC in the car on full pull until about 1am, after that I was feeling normal. Anyway on to the pictures.
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| Ian riding under the cliffs. |
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| Lining up the shot on the tricky Lower Ambi Bridge. |
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| Showing you how it's done. |
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| In bloom. |
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Canada Day!
July 1, 2011
Ride 70
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmdideXCross.
Pedaled from the house today and went for an extended XC/AM loop on the south side of the Ledge. This is my usual route with a little twist. I decided to give Matt's newly opened trail a try today and what a trail it is. At first I was thinking the name should be changed from "Upper Ambi" to something like "Pain and Suffering" or "Don't be a P***y". The first half is a bunch of Matt's sadistic switch backs and steep climbs, but then you hit the bottom of the cliffs and the trail turns down. Fast, flowy, narrow bench cut single track. I was hooting out loud it was so much fun! Lots of little natural hips and booters to jump of off, with some nice exposure as well. I felt like Luke Skywalker on a Speeder Bike on the Moon of Endor. I took a couple pictures of the cliffs and some of the trail that followed. The first photo is from Little Butt if anyone is wondering. I think I may move Upper Ambi to the beginning of my XC loop as it kinda kills the flow that progresses from Flinstones to Spawn of Boulderdash to Autobahn.
Ride 70
Ledgeview
Lower AmbideXCross, Lazy Boy, Tools of the Trade, Little Butt (up), Little Butt (down), Hidden Valley Connector, Flinstones, Spawn of BoulderDash, Autobahn, Upper AmbideXCross, Lower AmdideXCross.
Pedaled from the house today and went for an extended XC/AM loop on the south side of the Ledge. This is my usual route with a little twist. I decided to give Matt's newly opened trail a try today and what a trail it is. At first I was thinking the name should be changed from "Upper Ambi" to something like "Pain and Suffering" or "Don't be a P***y". The first half is a bunch of Matt's sadistic switch backs and steep climbs, but then you hit the bottom of the cliffs and the trail turns down. Fast, flowy, narrow bench cut single track. I was hooting out loud it was so much fun! Lots of little natural hips and booters to jump of off, with some nice exposure as well. I felt like Luke Skywalker on a Speeder Bike on the Moon of Endor. I took a couple pictures of the cliffs and some of the trail that followed. The first photo is from Little Butt if anyone is wondering. I think I may move Upper Ambi to the beginning of my XC loop as it kinda kills the flow that progresses from Flinstones to Spawn of Boulderdash to Autobahn.
Dirty, dirty climbing.
June 30, 2011
Ride 69
Vedder Mtn
The Den, 2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Turd Ferguson, Ditch Chicken, Mexican Ninja, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
I headed over to Vedder with the intent of climbing all the way to the Den. The Den has recently become my favourite trail to ride and a trip to Vedder without it just doesn't feel right. The problem with The Den is that it damn near doubles the time of the pedal up, and really only gives you about an extra 5-7 mins of down hill. I am probably sitting at a 50% success rate when it comes to convincing myself to continue on past 2 Cents. On this ride I really wasn't feeling the extra elevation gain, but pushed my self through it knowing that the single track up there is so buff. A couple rain clouds moved in and cooled me off as I neared the top. All the trails where running well and the new section on Femur will be wicked once it firms up.
Ride 69
Vedder Mtn
The Den, 2 cents, Skidder, Hidden Pleasures, Turd Ferguson, Ditch Chicken, Mexican Ninja, Electric Lettuce, Femur.
I headed over to Vedder with the intent of climbing all the way to the Den. The Den has recently become my favourite trail to ride and a trip to Vedder without it just doesn't feel right. The problem with The Den is that it damn near doubles the time of the pedal up, and really only gives you about an extra 5-7 mins of down hill. I am probably sitting at a 50% success rate when it comes to convincing myself to continue on past 2 Cents. On this ride I really wasn't feeling the extra elevation gain, but pushed my self through it knowing that the single track up there is so buff. A couple rain clouds moved in and cooled me off as I neared the top. All the trails where running well and the new section on Femur will be wicked once it firms up.
A quick ride during a break in the rain.
June 29, 2011
Ride 68
Ledgeview
Paper Route (up), Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
It rained most of my 4 days on and late in the afternoon on my first day of it finally stopped. I threw the bike in the truck and heading up to the north side of Ledge in an attempt to beat the setting sun. The north side doesn't handle water that well and to say that the trails where greasy would be an understatement. Mixed Bag was so grown in with Stinging Nettles, that 24 hours later I could still feel my forearms tingling.
Ride 68
Ledgeview
Paper Route (up), Mixed Bag, Amy Fisher.
It rained most of my 4 days on and late in the afternoon on my first day of it finally stopped. I threw the bike in the truck and heading up to the north side of Ledge in an attempt to beat the setting sun. The north side doesn't handle water that well and to say that the trails where greasy would be an understatement. Mixed Bag was so grown in with Stinging Nettles, that 24 hours later I could still feel my forearms tingling.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Cruisin' down the street in my 6-4.
June 23, 2011
Ride 67
Well this ride started out a little different than all my others. Bright and early at the crack of 9:30 Morgan rolled up to Court and I's place. The plan was to head up to Kelowna to deliver two Kayaks to his Aunt Terry, who was meeting us half way as she's from New Denver. Morgan had the 'yaks strapped to the chicken coupe and we wedged our bikes and gear in underneath.
Ride 67
Well this ride started out a little different than all my others. Bright and early at the crack of 9:30 Morgan rolled up to Court and I's place. The plan was to head up to Kelowna to deliver two Kayaks to his Aunt Terry, who was meeting us half way as she's from New Denver. Morgan had the 'yaks strapped to the chicken coupe and we wedged our bikes and gear in underneath.
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| The Kayaks were described as parachutes, and the 60 kph on the hills proved it. |
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| We bungeed the bike to the chicken rack sides. It worked really well and there was no rubbage. |
So we were on the road and on our way. We pulled into the Best Western by the Orchard Park mall at around 1pm and proceeded to transfer the kayaks onto Terry's Subaru. Afterwards we headed for eats in Westbank and by 3:30 we started the climb at Smith Creek. Smith Creek is described as all-mountain riding and it sure was. It started with a beautiful single track climb which was about 12km, even though it felt like more. We arrived at the faux top after about an hour. The view here was wicked, but little did we know that we were only about half way up.
Another hour or more and we finally hit the top. Unfortunately the view wasn't as good from here. Morgan put a call in to Manny and got better directions on the best way down and we were off. It started with a wicked interior forest single track which quickly turned into a 10-15min climb, during which we came across this wicked Chevy Impala!
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| Ride through the cab over the bench seats springs and down the intake manifold, back onto the trail. |
From here the trail turned downhill and we were having way too much fun to stop and take pictures. Imagine a ribbon of single track weaving through the trees with bermed turns and what seems like a hundred booters, ranging from 2-4ft. This has to be one of the best rides I've been on. I want to do it again.
The drive home found us in the rain on the west side of the Coquihalla pass, quite a change from the Okanagan sun. I finished my day at about 10pm when Morgan dropped me off. Then sleep.
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