tour

The Lawnmower Tour — Day 1

Posted on by Smoke

The Lawnmower? Well, I guess Die Rasenmarer is an OK name for a German biking tour company, but the translation is pretty funny. German freeride icons Holger Meyer and Karen Eller put together this trip and it’s a good one. Lots of funny characters on this tour. Karen couldn’t come out because she was so very pregnant at the time….(**UPDATE :: She gave birth to a little girl named Leni on October 3rd, which is also MY BIRTHDAY!!! I predict she will be good looking, stylish, and so suave just like all Oct. 3rd people).

After yesterday’s heli trip, the heavens opened up so I found some things wrong with my bike and skipped riding in the bike park in the slop.

Instead, I saved myself for the pool table in the evening. Unfortunately, Team Canada lost to the Germans, but our team was a lot prettier thanks to the Sugoi Women’s Dirt Series coaches being in attendance.

If you happen to be one of the Nelson crew, check out Peter, the guy on the right. Jumbo Shrimps’ long lost evil twin?

CycleActive XC Tour — Last Day

Posted on by Smoke

Last day, time to shine people. We pulled off an epic North Shore line today. Since everyone was staying at the Holiday Inn, we rode up the old Lilloeet road to the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge to get started.

We worked our way up various sneaky little paths through the valley until we got up to the top of Mountain Highway, and cruised up to Upper Oilcan.

It was a little much for some of the crew, but everyone rode part of it, and we got to check out the Circus too. Bike Mag recently rated UOC as one of hte top 10 trails ever or some such thing. I’m not sure if I completely agree, but it’s definitely a good one.

Now, after that we rode up again and hit 7th Secret. I used to hate this trail, but that top 10 rating should have been applied to 7th. It’s amazing with all the work that’s gone into it recently.

Some others seem to agree with me….

So, funny story….

Kate,who rode stronger and strnger all week, nearly cleaned this log ride. Of course, jerk that I am, I was standing so close to the log that I elbowed her off into the canyon at the end. Just one more “souvenier” to remember me by….

Actually, most of the crew rode it clean and everyone tried it.

We finished the ride by going all the way down Leapoard, Crinkum Crankum, Kirkford, the Griffin Trails, Mtn View trails, back across the Demo Forest and the Fisherman’s Trail via Twin Bridges.

That about did everyone in.

Great trip, and a nice change of pace from all the huge hucks of summer. It’s nearly fall, must be time to switch to rotary power soon……

CycleActive XC Tour — Day X

Posted on by Smoke

OK, enough of this easy stuff. Time for the piece de resistance; The North Shore. Are you afraid?

You will be…he heh…you will be….

OK, maybe not. Everyone seems to be adapting quite nicely.

Still, it’s quite a change to be in the rainforest after those mellow desert trails all week.

The log rides are just a tich bigger here, eh?

Paul seemed to like this stuff a lot more.

Em’s doesn’t care, so long as she’s riding her bike. It’s ALL good.

Craig got a charge out of the bigger options on all the trails on Seymour.

Even Barb put in an appearance today between shifts at the fire hall. Just so those UK types know what Canadian girls can do….

Barry wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

Clinton seemed to take it all in stride too.

Kickass Kate was also flying. For that matter, everyone was killing it on Seymour. Good riding by all.

We finished the day with a little session at the local dirt jumps. Too funny, because this is an XC tour, and we’re throwing down at the dj’s. Craig had a little breakthrough today.

It was probably the locals that inspired him.