Henry-Chinaski profile

Same experience.  The agent shorts were possibly the single worst mtb clothing item I have ever purchased.

Yeah, use sacki@crankingsolutions.com.  Literally one of the fastest responses I've had.  Dude is on it.

I don’t think that’s the right takeaway. The companies that are advocating for shorter offsets here think they work better for their respective bike geometries. Read Lars’ entry again. For the bikes Transition has designed, that’s not the sound of a guy that thinks that decreased offset (and the resulting trail figure) is “not really significant”. I’m building a Geometron and I purchased a short offset fork, mostly because Chris Porter has forgotten more about bikes this week than I have rolodexed. Will I notice the fork offset nearly as much as moving from a 480mm reach to 535? Likely not.  If I were buying a YT I probably wouldn't have made the same decision. I had a choice, and that’s a good thing.

The below doesn't make it sound easy if you're not a business or trail organization.  Do you consider the process uniformly fair for anyone who applies for a permit?

> I tried once to apply for a section 57. I waited two years, and then was told that since I was not a company, or trail building association, that my trail was denied. After that, I realized that getting endorsement was a political friend thing, and not based on merit, or past building experience.

I love the Uncle Dave contributions and as usual I think the content was on point.  However, I think you let Fildo off easy.  Dude sends you a note about how he has a great wife and smart kids.  Fildo suggests that he is very funny, a great employee, with a nice sense of humor.  I’m thinking to myself, this has to be sarcasm, right?  Then he cites his riding prowess .  Fildo deserves a cast for the broken arm he suffered while patting himself on the back, but instead you’ve promptly rewarded him with a Loam Ranger jacket that is bound to be the envy of his riding group.  Uncle Dave nailed the following:

> Life is challenges. Life is ugly. We need to embrace that ugliness. We need to get into the gutters and start seeing and showing the parts that people don’t want to see.

As a point of clarification, I think the important verb here is showing.  Before recognizing imperfection in others, it’s probably more important to identify our own.  If you’re in a position where your envy of travel photographers is causing you to question your choices, another trip to the Chilcotins with an expensive camera (to fill your Instagram with beauties) is not going to solve your problem.

Fildo, if you’re riding 3 days a week and still whooping everybody’s ass down the hill, why not drop a day and volunteer some time?

I guess you're right. It's definitely hard to find specifics.

Here is a Metro Regional Parks regulation document that spells out some specifics. This would cover many trails that I ride. See part 10.

The contents of my pack is usually dependent on how deep the ride is. That said, I always carry 9, 10, and 11 speed power links to help speed up the occasional chain break. I ride alone much of the time, so I also carry 3 bear bangers and a pen launcher. Nice to be able to sound louder than your group size.

The jumps would be a deal breaker for me as well. Even on 1×11, I often find myself searching for smaller intervals (to no avail). I’m sure it would be perfectly suitable for some. I wonder if we’re not moving in the direction of “design your own custom drivetrain”. You want 1×12 with smaller jumps on the low end? Login and configure:-)

Really enjoyed this. I'm glad to hear that rebuilding is as easy as advertised!

I can understand not making a small but why no XXL? I was expecting sizing to stay similar to the Tallboy/Highball. I wonder how the 6’1 and 6’6 crew will dig this bike.

Posted by: Stuminator

young & old

How young?

I’m going to throw another perspective out here that I’ve been chewing on. Being in a position where I do a lot of riding with kids, it’s hard for me not to view this through their lens. I have an 8-year old that is not super keen to be a hammer on the hills. Of course, seeing grown adults rip by on pedal assist, as we aimlessly wander up the hill has her asking: Dad, do they make pedal assist for kids? I’ll spare you the details of the conversation but basically, she’s legitimately puzzled at the prospect of struggling up the same trails that able-bodied adults are laughing at. Rightfully, I think.

In my whole time in the industry, every new product gets criticised. The front suspension, the rear suspension, the dropper post, the disc brakes, it’s all cheating, cheating, cheating.

Schley’s comments in the above article are unarguably true, but all of the developments that he cites are largely developed to aid with descending. My 8-year-old is certainly enjoying these developments but won’t be aided by pedal assist anytime soon. From the perspective of a kid, that makes it distinctly different than the other “cheating” mechanisms. I know my oldest would really enjoy the full Lord of Squirrels descent, but without putting in some work, it probably won’t happen this year.

Don’t mistake this for e-bike hate. I know people who ride pedal assist bikes and I like riding with them just as much as other riding partners. I’m in the market for a commuter with pedal assist, and I’m not going to reject the prospect of riding an eMTB when the joints say it’s time. Though, IMO, it only seems reasonable that I’d ride one on trails that had been sanctioned for eMTB.

Posted by: cooperquinn

They put counters on trails somewhat regularly; so does Metro/LSCR.

10-4

Times they are a changin...

Posted by: cooperquinn

Nobody panic.

"Fortunately, the rumor you have heard about Grannies is only that - a rumor.

We can confirm that the District Parks Department has not engaged in any discussions regarding the future of this trail, and we do not currently have any plans regarding its future beyond maintaining its current status."

But they've installed a counter?

Posted by: cerealkilla_

We need a sober and evidence-based discussion of these issues, with direct participation from those that want ebikes on the trails....not just more internet speculation, squabbling, and marketing excuses....and no more of this silence from the profiteers. Until that happens, it is reasonable to expect continued reluctance to embrace ebikes within the riding community. I think we've reached a point where the majority of riders really don't care or judge what other people ride. It's more that what we have achieved as a sport in terms of trails and trails access is extremely precious, and we should be extremely cautious (and responsible) about how we integrate new technology into the mix. And no, ebikes are not like disc brakes and suspension in the 90s, not like DH bikes, not like paddle boards in the breaks, and not like snowboards on the hills. They involve the addition of energy via a motor that increases power and speed. This is a unique direction change in technology, and it deserves a thoughtful analysis.

This is super concise.  Does anyone not agree with this?  Not having this conversation while marketing the hell out of e-bikes and waiting to see if they are a fad, is a bewildering approach.

Hey Tim.  I sent a second note a couple weeks ago as I hadn't heard anything.  I got the following response today.  Sounds like another year of waiting, huh?

Thanks for your support for this initiative, we remain committed to the project and will continue working to find a solution that balances recreation and wildlife management within Vanier Park. We will work directly with stakeholders, including the Vancouver Dirt Jump Coalition and Hancock Wildlife Foundation, to evolve a solution that works for all parties. 

Due to the nesting habits of bald eagles, we will be respecting the nesting area for the 2019 nesting season which will allow us the time necessary to get this right.

Posted by: Timv

Posted by: Henry-Chinaski

Posted by: Tim

That's dope, Tim.  Trying to picture a 9-year-old pushing Lorna:-)  Good on you.

As an aside, you aren't by chance Tim of Vanier dirt jump fame, are you?

Making Vanier Great Again.

Joyride pump track coming this fall.

Saw that posted on the dirt jump coalition facebook page.  Would love an MVGA hat.  Make it happen!

Posted by: nortonwhis

Thanks Henry, appreciate the beta.

Would love to be able to spend multidays out there, and its definitely in the forecast. Currently don't have the best setup for making that happen, and that fast and light stuff dont come cheap! But yeah hopefully next summer I can convince my gf that camping in grizz territory is totally fine...

I hear you.  I've been able to collect pretty good gear over the years. But, don't let the marketing get to you.  40L pack and toss it all in;-) I'm likely done for the year but look me up next year if your gf isn't having it.

Posted by: Sethimus

i can't think of any and that's why i decided to have none. cheaper lifestyle, also more calm and more me time.

what will you tell your kids when they ask why this generation and the one before us ruined the planet? when there will be REAL mass migration because the oceans destroyed so many places and it got too hot in many poor countries? when there will be eco-fashism and people want to decide who gets to live and who not? your kids will clearly experience quite ugly moments caused due to over population and they will judge you for it.

Seriously, if you have any availability for some babysitting, look me up.  You'd be perfect for my guys!

Posted by: nortonwhis

Posted by: Henry-Chinaski

To complete the loop, Tyaughton ended up being a great bit for the novice crowd. Definitely rolling terrain, but I thought it flowed very well in the downhill direction. Buff even. Can see where it would be a slog in the uphill direction.

Also, just got back from a 4 day spell with a couple nine-year-olds. In Relay, up Graveyard, out little paradise. Pretty cool to see the calming effects a place like this has on kids.

Did you go out Little paradise and back to Relay, or out paradise creek? I've been looking at Relay to graveyard and up little graveyard pass then back out relay. Wondering on elevation and difficultness of trail. We almost got caught out climbing Paradise creek to castle pass as it was only 1000m vert according to trail forks but was quite slow going due to being somewhat techy singletrack.

Starting from the campsite at the beginning of Relay, we went out Relay Cr. to the Graveyard cabin, picked up Graveyard Ck. trail, then up/over little graveyard pass, and down little paradise creek trail back to Relay. Very rideable loop and not very technical.  Relay was a bit muddy in spots but mostly rideable. The Graveyard Ck. bit to the little graveyard ck turnoff was in great shape (as it was when I road it a couple years ago) and totally climbable for the kids. Little graveyard was also in fantastic shape and super rideable for the kids until the last push to the pass. Little Paradise Ck. was great riding in the treed sections but there was a section about midway down that was pretty overgrown. I'm not sure how it would have felt doing it without the kids but it was a personality building opportunity for our group:-) Literally, pushing bikes through thicket for what felt like an eternity (not paradise).

Depending on fitness, the loop is probably rideable over the course of a long day but why would you ever want to? The Graveyard drainage is a place to spend time wandering;-)

Posted by: Timv

Awesome.  Just did this with my 9-yr-old too.  Lorna Pass was a tough push, but Tyaughton, Gun Meadows etc were the best!  Camped at that spot you guys mentioned above.  All good!  Stoke was high.

That's dope, Tim.  Trying to picture a 9-year-old pushing Lorna:-)  Good on you.

As an aside, you aren't by chance Tim of Vanier dirt jump fame, are you?