mudrunner profile

I get it now....I've been riding Bookwus since I had Judy forks, and I try to get on it a handful of times each year. I rarely see anyone with interest in riding it, but in the last week, I had two groups asking me about it (one group was a couple of young teens...awesome!)....looks like the signage and/or this article has people seeking it out.

"...These riders sometimes fail to realize that these lines were once much different and their affection for trail decay shouldn’t override either the original or current builder’s desire to maintain it to a certain level. ..." .

And let's not forget that the original lines were ridden on very different bikes...geometry, technology, and material.

To that point, Kirkford is an excellent example of how a trail can change over time...It was only the original Kirkford for about 2 years before it eroded away into  water funnels and gulleys, and the subsequent the work was put in to make it the S-curves it has now. 

In the climbing world, the route is established (and named) by the first ascentionist. Any changes to the route are deferred to that person.

As someone who works in the lighting industry, IP67 is nice, but it is not essential for a bike light. IP65 is more appropriate for riding on the North Shore or anywhere else in the world

IP65 gives "protection against low-pressure jets of directed water from any angle". Components are tested using a something that resembles a multi-head shower nozzle. Rain and tire splashes would be really, really low pressure jets. In fact, your lights will probably see tougher conditions on the drive over to the ride if it's on the roof of your car.

IP66 gives "protection against direct high pressure jets" ...so that you can clean your bike with a pressure washer and your lights will still work. Your bike's bearings may have an issue, though.

Since Balckburn is IP67, of course that's what they'll tout as a standard since it will weed away some legit competition....but IP67 is only testing for temporary immersion...NOT water jet or water spray. So it is not the most appropriate for riding in rainy conditions. Unless you plan on falling off the Ladies Only teeter totter and leaving your bike in the swamp for over 30 minutes.

FYI...almost every municipality street light standard, and most car headlights are IP65.

I have pro and con opinions on eBikes, but competition was not something I had even considered. Kinda makes me laugh....nothing more, nothing less.

Viewership will ultimately decide interest, sponsorship money, and therefore viability. Anyone remember point to point X Country races?

Well said, Cory.

I'll always remember her as one of the couriers during the "golden age"....when many of us would ride around on  pre-suspension rigs (often the same bikes we would race on), without helmets, without licenses,  riding on the sidewalks giving business people a scare, or riding through intersections giving bus drivers reason to honk, and jumping into crowded elevators dripping in sweat or rain water, and having a few chill moments between "Rush" deliveries on the lawn in front of the Bentall towers. Ingrid always seemed to be smiling or laughing. 

Carpe Diem.

I really miss Fat Tire Flyer and the ilk of non-conformists, non-PC, truly irreverent, typo-riddled, bargain basement, low-budget rags...often printed in black and white and handed over between riding buddies.

Progress is good too. While I tend to know what to expect when I open PB, or RedBull, it's consistently reliable, but seldom surprises. It's a bad analogy, but sometimes you just want to try that homemade meatball sandwich instead of the Cactus Club meal.

...what cyclotoine said....at least they gave him something a bit more "modern" in the brake department. I was expecting cantilevers....or maybe a chainstay mounted U-brake.

Also...shoulda thrown in some bear-claw pedals with plastic toe-clips!

You don't want to have a serious injury in Crested Butte. I was riding in Crested Butte with my wife a few years ago and we had a minor emergency. Turns out that Crested Butte only has a clinic. The nearest hospital is 45 minutes away in Gunnison.

Risse Racing just made the toaster-oven of the two-wheeled world. Personally, I believe it's just a really crappy e-moped.

Great coverage UCI! We got to see a total of 44 seconds of Loic's 3:26 run... and 43 seconds of Miranda's run 4:20 run. That's 21%  and 17% of their respective races.  

I guess the fact that the live feed wasn't available in Canada is really only a 19% let-down.

On Fromme, it would be 7th to Lepperd, up to Expresso, out on BP, up to Natural High, then Griffin Switchbacks or Imonator.

If I'm feeling extra energic I'll add Crinkum after Lepperd & head back up from 3rd to 5th SB (not so bad), and I'll add Floppy between BP & Natural High.

Depends. Some days I just don't feel "it". Other days, same place, I have mojo. Not always sure why because sometimes I pass on a section when I'm with a group (and you'd think peer pressure would egg me on), sometimes I'll ride a questionable line when I'm by myself....and vice versa.

I'm still lamenting the loss of the Fat Tyer Flyer

A simple Google search "Ergon grips Vancouver" shows a slew of shops carry them....BSP, John Henry, Bicicletta, Dunbar, Westpoint, etc...

Posted by: trumpstinyhands

Most of the new trails in Squamish are unsanctioned. It's just that many of the land owners don't object to trails being built. But for sure it's more 'mountain bike positive' when it comes to getting trails on Crown Land authorized. It helps that it's a M0n!ca free zone! (Is she still around?)

(Yes. She is.)

Posted by: grambo

Posted by: mudrunner

Posted by: TheWasp

Had to do something to stave off the cat and mouse happening with the rangers and the loamers in there I guess.

Especially when some loamers are starting to have groomed berms and gold appear on them. wtf?

It's been discussed before, but with land managers seeming unwilling to allow new trail development on the shore, and continued growth in ridership, unauthorized building will flourish. Not blaming NSBMA here, it's the land managers, but what new trails have been built in last 5 years since GSM and Lower Expresso? Some awesome rebuilds, i.e. lower Digger. Then you look at a place like Squamish and how much new legal (and rogue) trails are built each year... again different land managers (and available space to build).

Interesting point (Asian Adonis comes to mind as well). 

It just seems that bermed corners are anathema to riding a loamer. Almost the opposite of Dales Trail.

Posted by: Taz123

Drove up yesterday for a hike.

Yes you can drive up, you can also park without restriction. However if you want to go for a hike, you need a day-pass - and yes there is someone there checking.

Day passes are only for the high-use trails (St Marks and Eagle Bluffs). You don;t need passes for Strachan, Hollyburn, or any other area.

Posted by: TheWasp

Had to do something to stave off the cat and mouse happening with the rangers and the loamers in there I guess.

Especially when some loamers are starting to have groomed berms and gold appear on them. wtf?

Posted by: PaulB

I've seen families, who were clearly not planning to do any MTBing, pedalling up, presumably on their way to Grouse.  Usually self-propelled, but sometimes on e-bikes.

As someone who rides Seymour 90% of the time, when I do go to Fromme it feels a bit like visiting an amusement park, at least on the climb up.  Not so bad once on the trails.

We refer to the section between the parking lot and Bobsled as "the Daycare".  Not to discourage young riders or families...it's great that they are getting out on the trails...but that's what that section resembles on busy days. Parents coaxing young 'uns up with treats, or towing them behind an e-bike. I even saw someone riding into Bobsled with a child in a cross-bar mounted seat. 

My favourite one was seeing/hearing the 5 year old kid having a crying fit because "I REALLY (sob) want to go down (sob) Floppy Bunny!!!!" Mom and dad made up an excuse that it was under construction and not ride-able.  North Shore kids are bad asses.

I suspect more mountain bike people are using the Braemar climbing trail and heading back down to Expresso/Ladies/Oilcan/etc... but there are a few non-gravel bikes coming down from above the 6th switchback. And their gear doesn't ring "hardcore rider". I'm not bashing anyone...just curious if there is a movement afoot of new-to-trails-folk that are riding Mountain Highway just for the sake of riding Mountain Highway? I mean....every once in a while, I've been known to head up the gravel way to Grouse for a pint. It's a worthy ride.

...granted there are a lot more people out there enjoying the trails, but I have noticed that group riders, more often,  need to cede the road more often these days. Besides the larger number of mopeds heading uphill and passing on the left, there are also a lot more people riding DOWN Mountain Highway...not just gravel bikes, but legit mountain bikes as well. Curiously enough, the actual trails seem to be reasonably quiet (aside from Bobsled/Expresso).