tour

Local Classic

Posted on by Smoke

I’ve been trying to hit a few certain local trails ever since I moved up here, but due to a relutance to pedal exhibited by most of my riding partners, I haven’t managed it. There’s also the issue with weather. If I’m going to do a 13 km climb, I don’t really want it to be 35C out.

Luckily, Geoff Pendrell was in town this weekend and he called me up for an XC romp. Geoff is one of the more talented all round racers in Canada, able to win in any discipline, so neither his skills or fitness were in question. Compared to that guys resume, I’m the one to be in question., but no matter, I was determined to hit up the McDougall Rim today.

Oh and it was raining slightly, and George (who will be joining us o the Wade Tour later this summer) was also coming along.

The climb wasn’t too bad. It started off with one really steep pitch, but for the most part it was steady middle ring stuff.

A few extended granny ring efforts for sure, and it got a bit tougher up higher, but with the cool weather it was actually a pretty decent climb of about 90 minutes or so.

Near the top, the trail switched from double to singletrack, and the first view was a true eye opener.

We could just see Bear Creeek below us, and the ridgeline extending off to the east. The big trees and misty conditions made me feel like I was back on the coast. Here’s George, a bit awestruck by the experience.

The singletrack that followed was spectacular. Nothing tech, just great flowy smooth trail with some uphill sections that were actually fun. Yes, you heard me, fun uphill. Really.

After another 20 minutes of rolling trail that was slightly more up than down, we kicked over into the descent. Lots and lots of descent. It hardly ever got steep, so it rolled for a long, long time. Excellent singletrack, the kind that would be a bit more fun on a DH bike, but that you can go stupidly fast down on anything.

Oh and also tons of clifftop viewpoints on the way. The final descent was a wide open blast down some bermed up hyperspeed. I haven’t gone this fast since Prevost on the Island earlier this spring.

Totally wicked ride, a true classic. I doubt I’ll be up there until after summer, but I’m definitely doing that one again.

Corn Stars – Day 2

Posted on by Smoke

How’s this for a surprise on your bike tour? Today we went up to Kamloops to help out with the KBRA trail day on Harper Mtn. A full day of building with a barbeque dinner and campout was in order.

We got there late morning and headed up to the Bridge to Nowhere to fix up some old woodwork that was getting wort of beat.

Most of the big projects were taken, but we recycled some old stuf into an improved a-frame over a stump.

It was quite the all ages gig, and I was surprised to see so many faces I didn’t know and almost none that I did.

Lots of quality work got done.

This place is so popular, the stunts were getting hit efore they were even finished (it was OK, we told them to hit it).

Proud builders watching the first rider over their work.

With a short time left before the end of the day, we built one more jump. It’s got a total crap landing, but hey…youcan take the guy outta the Shore, but you can’t—you know what I mean.

Time to hit the new and improved.

The fun part of this for me is that Barb and I built a lot of the original lines way back in ’99. They’ve been greatly improved since then, but we still feel sort of like parents on this stuff.

Here’s the spiral ramp. It was getting ready to collapse, so it got a full overhaul.

Good lookin’ out with the chainsaw. I think this was part of the KBC crew working on this one.

The flowers are going off at this time of year. I’ve never ridden here when it’s blooming.

..and blooming it was.

A slight damper was put on the BBQ as a light rain started to fall.

I have a hard time calling 5 minutes of mist “rain,” but it was enough to send lots of people home for the night. We kept warm by burning some old stunts.

By the end of the night the Kamloops locals were in the minority, with a couple of Swiss kids, a pair of ‘Mericans, and some joker from Westbank outnumbering the 3 hardy Kamloopsians that stayed put.

May Long – Saturday and Sunday

Posted on by Smoke

For the first time in years, I’m not doing the Greyballs birthday tour on the May long weekend. He was invited up, but without the catalyst I guess it’s just too far to the Okanagan.

So Saturday I was left to my own devices. Not much to report. I went and hooked up a Powers lap on 2.5 with some locals that I went and bummed a ride off of. Nice guys. I’ve ridden with Kurt Froese before a few times. No pics, but we had a good rip and some cold ones after.

Sunday I had a committment in Penticton with the Festival of Bike being put on by Freedom Bikes and the City of Penticton. A very low key event designed to get bikers out and enjoying the immense variety of cycling in the area. Shuttles on the KVR for the less experienced, some group road rides around town, and some hardcore freeride shuttle drops courtesy of the Bush Pilot.

While I was offering rides, I ran into Mike Kinrade and Fiona Taylor from the Devinci/PinkBike team. A few other locals soon shoewd up and we headed up to the Bog for a few laps.

You may note that the average Okanagan ripper sports a bit more X in their chromosomes.

I love this town. Those girls aren’t just pretty faces, either. They rock the singletrack pretty hard.

Most of the Code 4 line has been buffed out htis spring by Dax. It’s in better shape this year than I’ve seen it in many a moon.

Not that it helped Kinrade out much. He was suffering the usual woes of the pro rider with too much riding and not enough maintenance. Still, that’s a 9″ travel bike that weighs only 38 pounds. Look for that at your Devinci dealer in 2008.

Fiona is a new acquiantance. Another Island girl that slays gnarly trails. I don’t know what’s in the water over there, but whatever it is, it’s working.

She’s a lot like Courtenay (our guide from last year). See it……hit it.

Step up, step down, all good.

Meanwhile, back at Chuck D. Railers, it was time for a gin-and-tonic break.

We had one more run to do, but of course I took NO shots. A Rusty Muffler at full throttle is a great way to finish a day, and when you can be chasing the BirdMan, so much the better.

(yo…click o this, roll over it, whatever you gotta do)
There was a nice wildlife moment on the shuttle return with Barb when we came across these two moose (or is it meese?).

After the ride, there was still time for a cruiser ride.

Al Box, rocking the Eurobeats on the Orange Crate.

What a day. End it with a heap of beers and ribs at Piggys for a job well done.

To read up on the PinkBike version of events, check out THIS LINK.