zrx24

2222 just west of 360. Click on photo to enlarge. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ok, with a few strategically placed rocks I think I have established a line right and a more challenging line up the middle just left of center. With a little touch up work on the “bail out” trail, I think I’m comfortable ordering signs/decals to move this direction change effort to the final stage. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Awesome! Thanks! I’ll be in touch once I get a game plan. 👍 Actually may not need to drag back all that many rocks now that I’m looking at it more closely. As-is, there is a totally doable on the right side. 👍

Oh, and Cheesecake Challenge is going to be just as challenging as it always has been in years past when attempting it as a climb. Nothing has changed there. It's is tremendously intimidating when standing at the bottom looking up. There is a doable "pick and choose" line, if you take the time to figure it out. 👍

I have been working with City Parks personnel for quite some time on that very issue and just last week received the OK to move forward with a trail direction change. You are correct in your observation regarding wear and tear. Since the City essentially made the direction "permanent" when they installed all the sign posts I have seen our (I ride moto at CP as well, so I'm speaking from two perspectives here) maintenance efforts over the years increase. I don't recall that being the case many years ago when we were changing the direction regularly, sometimes every other year. Hard to believe, but I think it has been almost 9 years since we last changed the direction (2010?). Since receiving the OK from the Parks manager I've been evaluating what will become climbs when going CW (now downhills of course going CCW). I've made some improvements where needed and only have the Devil's Staircase to sort out at this point, which is going to take some work (and manpower!). We just had some very nice slab rock delivered to establish a climbing line up the middle of the Devil's Staircase. The bottom ledge is currently far too tall, which will drive people to try and take a far outside line. That only widens the area, which we absolutely do not want to allow. There is an "easy" route around the Devil's Staircase that will remain in use to further help alleviate that situation. It's going to be quite a haul to get the large rocks from the parking area back to the Devil's Staircase. Just this week I've been strategizing that effort and it appears the only viable option is to use "boulder cradles" to accomplish the task. One or two will need to be fabricated unless someone happens to know of anyone that may have one that can be borrowed. Like maybe used for a home landscape project and stored in an attic? I am now in the process of lining out all the new directional markers that will be needed. I remember in years past this was a very simple task, which involved only the switching of the tree hangers. Since the City installed all the sign posts with decals I am now faced with having to address each and every one of those. I have a map I've created that identifies the current location of all the marker posts and tree hangers, which will help me ensure that everything gets changed properly. Just a moment ago I received the quotes I've been waiting on for a couple of other new signs that are needed, and am now about to place the order for new decals and signage. If anyone wishes to donate to that cause, I am not too proud to not accept their donation. 🙂 At the moment it is looking like the directional signage needed is going to be around $300. Oh, and I'll also be fabricating myself aluminum backing plates for each decal to allow them to be more easily changed in the future (if desired) without incurring cost of purchasing new decals (i.e. these will be reusable!). I am open to any input or suggestions! 👍

One thing that is being overlooked in this discussion is speed. Downhill is exciting because of the speed. If you have a bike that allows you to haul ass everywhere on the trail, that increases the fun factor.

Is this the e-bike you're referring to?

Back on the electric bike topic, my brother was heavy into road bike racing not long ago and was telling me how cheaters on the circuit would use small concealed electric motors. Now THAT would be something to loathe and look down upon. I'm not a fan of cheaters when it comes to competition. 👎

Or put another way, "You're not having fun right!!!" I'm guessing you're not the "Whatever makes you happy." kind of guy. 😉 Your electric shopping cart comment reminded me of a funny story. So I'm out grocery shopping with the wife, following her around in the electric cart. I had two broken legs, so I'm assuming you wouldn't have looked down on me for using the cart. We head out to the car to load the groceries and as I'm heading back across the parking lot to take the cart back into the store the stupid thing starts running out of juice and I end up stuck on a speed hump. As I'm rocking the cart back and forth trying to get over the hump, the wife is back across the parking lot laughing her ass off. The people that are witnessing all this don't realize that the women howling at me is my wife and they all are giving her really mean looks for laughing at the poor crippled guy stuck on a hump. lol Well, I guess you had to be there. lol

Moto-trials is hardly a race. Sometimes it seems the object is to see how long you can stay on your bike in one spot without putting a foot down. Joking of course....kind of. If you haven't been out to watch those guys/gals, it's worth checking it out at least once. Some of the stuff they manage to pull off is pretty amazing. The park and the event is open to spectators. 👍

lol Exactly.

There are both motorbike and mountain bike tracks there. What is most annoying with the photo is the motorbike tracks through the mud. I can understand not wanting to ride that long rock garden on my mountain, but there is no excuse not to make use of it in muddy conditions on a motorbike. That photo makes me want to bitch slap somebody.

Well, I pulled the trigger. Dropper seat post is on the way. 👍

Great. Now you guys have me shopping dropper posts. lol

Two words. California migration. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Now you have MY curiosity up. Why the dropper post upgrade? Weight savings? Better function? Curious minds must know!

lol Sorry about that. Didn't mean to get your blood pressure up. ;-)

The bars on this used bike were most definitely too wide for me. Definitely better now. They're at 720mm now, so still wide by today's standards. Don't have a dropper post, but it seems that's all everyone is talking about these days. I held out for almost 20 years before upgrading to disc brakes. So given my record, It'll probably be a while before I give a dropper post a try. lol

lol This isn't a "What am I doing wrong?" kind of thread. Just a fun thread to take a moment to laugh about things. Here's something that is a bit laughable. I FINALLY decided to upgrade my ride. This "new" bike I recently picked up (2014 Pivot 429 Carbon) replaces my 2001 Trek Fuel 80. As you can imagine, EVERYTHING is different. So I'm in process of refining a few of my very "old school" skills. One of the biggest adjustments has been getting used to disc brakes! I know, right? lol This bike is friggin' phenomenal! After the first ride I felt the need to cut down the bars just a tad and go to different grips. After the second ride I determined that lower gearing was in order - it came with a 1x10 32/36 setup. I dropped the front to a 30, which is better but still need a little more. Installing a 42T cassette this evening. With that change I think I'll have it setup just right. 🙂

https://youtu.be/TjCSWZzxQsg

lol

Upper BC greenbelt area. Got bit on Rattlesnake, which was the one that caught me most by surprise. The other two were attempting a couple of tricky sections that I knew were high risk, so not much of a surprise. No biggie. All were slow and as controlled as endos can be. Mostly the result of learning the characteristics of a new (to me) bike; getting to know limits.

Ouch!

Three endos during a single outing.