This Week on the Web 1

So much goes by on the web and Twitter (follow me @ Fahzure) that I've decided to briefly review a few of the more interesting:

Not quite sure how this works even after reading about it: Solids (metal) lighter than air

SLC local marketing new bicycle light system

Sperm bikes

Story on Pashley the oldest British bike manufacturer

According to NOAA, over half the USA population lives within 50 miles of an ocean.  Could wave (moon) power be the next sustainable resource.

OK this one's a bit older, but super important: Biker's lung?

You've seen the pics and some vid , now here's a pro quality edit of the Canyon's Bike Park:


Canyons Bike Park, Fall 2011 from justin olsen on Vimeo.

In which crushing and plowing are related

After my recent post on my new green machine, the path has gotten a bit more difficult and crushing has taken it's toll.  The 3rd Cliff of Insanity is largely the source, with it's steep but soft landing ramp.  Fahzures first attempt at Keylining the ramp with the brake lever and bar end did not go well, breaking the attachment point off the lever body.  Fortunately, zip ties work well (thanks for the hollow pivot, Sram!):

Next, the only rock patch in miles beckoned Fahzure to clean some field stones. Spokes make a poor implement for the job:

Back at the Cliffs of Insanity, a little tire plowing:

Never have cleaned out soil from inside the tire before:

Yes, I run 'em 40-45psi (2.3's!)

3rd Cliff, 1st Drops

The newly rebuilt 3rd Cliff of Insanity on the Bobsled is ready to roll.  Demenem gets 1st chair:

After a poor first attempt, Fahzure nails it:

Plans are to continue the line through the super booter hip to a step down and wallride.

Fall is when we ride (and build)

I've always found fall to be the best time to ride.  In temperate climates, nearly a year's worth of suffering and practice are paying off just as the temperatures drop so the body's cooling system doesn't have to work so hard.  As the precip returns, it can also be a good time to build.  I had a couple of hours of waiting around time, so I decided to build this:

Not too spectacular, until you check it out from the other direction. It was installed on the third Cliff of Insanity, making it two and half feet more insane (notice the super booter in the distance?):

 
The low angle light of sunset should catch the whole venue perfectly, can't wait for the shots:

My kind of trail

Secret trail in the woods, courtesy the hard work of Bender, Gray, Pouch and others.  Small people, LOB and Q, for perspective. Send it!:

Kona Demo Days @ Deer Valley- A Schwilly Good Time

One of the best hosts and most dedicated to the fun to be found in the mountain bike can be found in Willy Warren, Kona representative for UT and CO.  Willy can connect with anyone:

He has super cool personal bikes like this Ute, which he wheelies like nobody else:

This one has custom rack and fenders. You can get fenders like these from Honey Skateboards:

Also on hand the Operator, Kona's DH/Extreme FR platform:

Doc and Terry from Superco hooked up with homie Flo, 10002 represent!

While normally not to be trusted, these guys antied up and made sure that everyone had a good time and that Willy got on the road safely.

Arcylon-like Legoland for freeriders

You may not have heard of Arcylon before, but you probably use Acrylon everyday.  ABS plastic (Acrylon) known for it's use in Drain-Waste-Vent pipes, kitchen appliances and Lego bricks is one of the most popular consumer plastics. Road To Arcylon, on the other hand, is another (see, Trailside; Trailside Redux) of the Snyderville Basin Recreation Department's works.  Bob Radke and the folks at WAFTA led the efforts here. 

There is a longish ascent and traverse of Gorgoza Park, around private property to the freeride stash:

The sign says 6 inches of travel required.

Not really needed for this fun rolly stuff:

Or even the gaps, ('cept for the one at the bottom with a flat landing, can you say stone bruise):

This combo is fun and flowy.  Tyson's first attempt.

These guys trained it:

Everybody seems to have a good time at bike parks. This guy had cool (or maybe hot) shin guards:

All-in-all this is a super place for intermediate-expert riders to have fun and build skills.  Kind of the Lego version of the big trails: Teton Pass, Winter Park, Silverton and Whistler. It would be great for kids, though the long grunt up is likely to demoralize most.  Can't wait for optional freeride moves on the way back down Gorgoza Park; it sure would make the trek more worthwhile and minimize some potential user conflict.

Trailside Redux-Mini ripping is fun!

In our last Trailside report you got an overview of the site and a report on the scene (it seems as though Bender is a regular, lately). Spoke(n)'s more recent visits have focused on the mini-ripper aspect, cause Fahzure's been rolling with one of his mini-rippers, Q. For a variety of reasons, unrelated to Fahzure, Q has had limited trail time.  He also charges shit.  This combination is an opportunity for great advancement or great pain. Listen up folks, pushing your kids physically (as in a long ride) is not the same as getting them hurt.  Once hurt, they quit riding, so pad them up with plenty of plastic and foam.

Ugggh, his bike is lying on the drive side, we'll have to have a talk about this.  The falling/injury thing is especially important when teaching kids (anyone) how to ride a bike.  Don't let them fall until they've gotten the aha balance moment. Q, fell a few times, he didn't care, but all his pads were scuffed pretty good. So what's going to cause a mini ripper to fall.  Too much fun on Aidan's trail, for instance:

At the bottom it goes into the mini skills zone with a pump track a bit further down:

I showed Summit County's finest, who were out on "training," how to pump the track. They were out in force and observed carefully my technique, only one of them tried the pump track.

The rest left quickly for the Rails to Trails trail:

Q and I had so much fun "training" that we're going back againbut first this weekend in Jackson Hole which is opening their own bike park this weekend.