Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I’ve been mostly good. At least I can only remember being good. Some photos have been floating around… but honestly I don’t think that was me. So let’s tick off good until we have more proof shall we?

My hankering for gear has been quenched for the moment, but there is a little something shiny that’s been catching my eye. And this one is a little out there so I won’t put it on my list but…  a Sprinter-like van with a place to sleep and room for lots of bikes – but powered by Tesla. If you decide I’ve been good enough, please just park it under the tree.

Here’s my list, oh noble bringer of gifts.

Pump It Up
Between the towns of Ketchum and Hailey, which are within 20 minutes of each other, Sun Valley, Idaho has three pump tracks. Whistler has a bunch hidden in various locations around the valley and Europe specializes in massive paved and manicured tracks that look spectacular. Here on the North Shore we have some dirt jumps, a few skate parks and a couple of mountain bike skills parks. There have been some hidden pump tracks in the past, but they are long gone. What’s left is nothing. Not a single pump track. None that I know of in Vancouver either.

Velosolutions - in case you were wondering." src="/media/original_images/Velosolutions_Overview.jpgw1600" alt="Velosolutions_Overview" data-recalc-dims="1" />

It doesn’t have to be quite this elaborate Santa – but if it was you could probably skip a few years of delivery in North Van. This track was built by Velosolutions – in case you were wondering.

If civic leaders knew about pump tracks it’s hard to imagine them having any objection. Riders of almost all ages and skill levels can enjoy a well made pump track – and they are pretty damned safe as well. I’d love to be able to work on some skills and fitness alongside my kids. On my new hardtail…

If you decide on the Dekerf titanium option it won’t have this pretty fillet brazing – but it’ll have a nice lively feel. And it’ll be lighter. So I’m okay with either one.

Dekerf or maybe Chromag
So maybe my gear desires haven’t been completely quenched. My hardtail fuse has been re-lit lately by checking out some of my friends’ Chromags and seeing Steve Mitchell’s amazing museum. I think for something a little different my request to knobby Santa would be a custom Dekerf-made titanium 25th anniversary 650b with tangerine accents, built around Chromag’s Samurai 65 geometry but with a slightly slacker head angle (66.5 maybe). The internal routing option is a must of course. I’d build it up with a 150mm Pike (dual position so I could drop it for my pump track) and, since Santa’s in a giving mood, some Ibis carbon wheels, Chromag bars and stem, a Rock Shox Reverb post, Race Face Next SL cranks, SRAM Guide brakes and a SRAM XX1 drivetrain. And I would keep it forever. If Mrs. Claus would rather not part with $5500 for the Dekerf frame – let’s go for the Samurai 65 shall we?

How about a Samurai 65 Santa? I could use some time at hardtail school about now.

Exotic Riding
What is better than a riding trip with your buddies? We did a trip this year (report to come) with Johnny Smoke of BushPilot Biking and it set a new high watermark for both the riding and the overall experience. On our two days of riding we did a tonne of vert and rolled right up to wineries to finish. The second day we rode two trails that totalled 9,000 feet of vertical and both of them immediately went on my lifetime ten best list. But since it’s winter maybe I should ask for something more tropical? Big Mountain’s Silver Fern trip to New Zealand would be sweet or maybe some Pura Vida in Costa Rica. Or for a little more culture Sacred Rides has the Inca Adventure. Sun and singletrack will be just the ticket come February.

I’ve always wanted to go on Big Mountain Adventures’ Pura Vida trip. The trails are supposed to be amazing and when you’re done riding for the day you find yourself in Costa Rica. Photo – Derek Frankowski

Honourable mention: Winter shoes for flat pedals. There are some great options for riders clipping in – and Teva made a water resistant shoe – but I haven’t seen anything for wet winter conditions from Five Ten. Maybe heated brake levers would be nice. And a catered hot tub at the bottom of my favourite trails.

Thanks Santa baby!

What’s on your list?