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.  👍 

On 3/7/2019 at 3:28 PM, csmceuen said:

Semi conditions related question: Why do they no longer switch the direction of the trail anymore? I feel like the wear and tear was a little better when they were doing this...or maybe I imagined it. Either way, I really enjoyed how it changed the trail up and totally transformed it. 

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.

49 minutes ago, Morris said:

I saw a guy come into work with ebike that looked like a motocross bike with  pedals and  he tells me he can do almost 45mph on it. It looked very cool but I wouldn’t want that motorcycle on a bike trail.

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.  👎

On 3/3/2019 at 9:50 AM, Chief said:

Although I still loathe and look down upon anyone that uses an E-bike just because they think it's so much fun or they think it's the next cool gadget like hoverbaords.

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

4 hours ago, Kobra Kai MTB Guy said:

Just want to make sure nobody has their day ruined tomorrow.  There were signs at the park last week stating the park would be closed to mountain bikers.  I believe they're having a moto-trials race out there.

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.  

On 2/19/2019 at 9:54 AM, RidingAgain said:

No doubt there will be some who just want to stay off the rocks, especially when it's an extended section like that in the photo above. But my comment was addressing the 3'-5' section in the first photo, that bridged what looked like a low area that water collects in. The above looks more like a small creek flow course. But sure, people will always try to avoid what they don't want to ride/walk on. The same thing can be seen at the short section just after the jeep road/driveway in the Slaughter Creek trail. I remember when that section of stones had just been laid down. Almost immediately there were tire marks to each side of it. It's going to happen, I just think that having a slightly wider lay of stone will lessen the amount of people who do it... Especially on 3'-5' sections.

BTW... Is that wide tire mark from a mountain bike or a motorbike?

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

When did this town turn into such pusswads?

25 minutes ago, mack_turtle said:

720 is definitely NARROW by today's standards.

I recently started using a dropper post for real. I can ride the same stuff with a regular post, but it sure feels nice to get the saddle out of the way for short bursts of twisty trail, drops, and jumps.

My old dropper is for sale too.

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

29 minutes ago, Kyle said:

*Furious typing sounds*

lol

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

7 minutes ago, Tree Magnet said:

If you can hold off cutting down your bars, you might give the wide ones some time to see if you adjust.  I hated my wide bars when I first got them but I resisted the urge to cut them because I didn't want to cut too much and then have to buy new bars.  After a few rides, I started getting used to it.  Now, if I get on another bike with smaller bars, it feels weird.  There are all sorts of benefits to wide bars that you might like if you can handle the change.

Big question....have you tried the drug that is a dropper post?

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  

1 hour ago, Seths Pool said:

any observations as to why that happened? what trail? do you have a dropper? what bike? what were you doing? we need more info

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

6 minutes ago, The Tip said:

So your personal best is three endos. Fine and good, but what is the KOM amount on that segment? You can do it!

lol

27 minutes ago, Kyle said:

Where were you riding?

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.