tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80887482024-03-02T09:29:17.764-08:00My Riding JournalThe ongoing saga of a boy and his bikes. An often detailed but sometimes brief description of my riding tales and adventures aboard my two wheeled pedaling vehicles.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-78808753501632065862015-03-10T21:00:00.000-07:002015-03-11T10:30:55.782-07:00A Chance EncounterI got out of work on time today, did a few errands and was able to sneak in a quick ride on Thorn with my dog.<br />
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On the climb I looked back to see two riders pedaling up so I slowed down to see who it was and possibly ride with someone new. It's not always that you see people out riding at 4pm on these trails. It turned out to be Nat that I met earlier in the year and another gentleman that I've run into a few time on the trails. I made sure Tilly was behaved and not chewing on them and we decided to ride Trail Dweller, the new trail that 'Heads Up' and finally OSR.<br />
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I was on my Trance today because I have the suspension on my Rune getting the once over. I was only in cruise mode when riding, but I nearly rode my fastest ever down a trail or two today....weird.<br />
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It was a nice quick ride and great to do a quick lap with new people.<br />
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<br />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-54843189413190354672015-02-21T16:41:00.001-08:002015-02-21T16:44:20.604-08:00It's great being King<p dir="ltr">I had a short amount of time to ride so Thornhill was my choice today. It has been dry lately so I figured I'd take the dog and enjoy a rip and she'd get some much needed exercise.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It appears that the city has had a trail crew go along Bear Ridge Trail because most of the puddles and muddy spots have been worked on. It was nice to see that someone other that me had been working on making the trail run a little drier.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I crossed paths with at least a dozen people; most with dogs. I was even passed near the bottom of the road climb by a couple guys shuttling, but I passed them at the top when they were gearing up. I really don't think shuttling is any quicker on thus trail system.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I rode Trail Dweller which is freaking awesome with the new dirt work and then back up OSR to the bottom.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I knew I was riding at a good pace but didn't think I'd dropped 4 seconds off my previous time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I officially nabbed the quickest time down OSR.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQek_RX2P3j7WN09xCORyeTeMAn2_nt1Qzt6xw1Wh7gJORlwBfKDJ3SX8hq3O-30A8San3Knda9eTc5Jt3biqLT9x5yeNeY0f8q9xg5UD1g5m5iON8pCa-Q4XFygcYeE03s0gM3g/s1600/Screenshot_2015-02-21-16-27-33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQek_RX2P3j7WN09xCORyeTeMAn2_nt1Qzt6xw1Wh7gJORlwBfKDJ3SX8hq3O-30A8San3Knda9eTc5Jt3biqLT9x5yeNeY0f8q9xg5UD1g5m5iON8pCa-Q4XFygcYeE03s0gM3g/s640/Screenshot_2015-02-21-16-27-33.png"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-36428001757000060122015-02-17T18:46:00.000-08:002015-02-18T16:46:56.934-08:00Ripping Fast<div dir="ltr">
I woke up this morning feeling like crap and went to work still feeling like crap, however once I got home and felt the hot <b><i>WINTER</i></b> sun on my face I felt like a million dollars so I decided to go for a quick spin. My quick spin turned into an absolutely amazing ride. </div>
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I felt fast and strong on the climb and when I pointed my bike downhill I was on fire. I've been seeking this downhill KOM for a while and today I nabbed it. There were a few spots where I made some mistakes so I know I should be able to drop a little time on this trail.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied for KOM</td></tr>
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I did two quick laps in the fading light and I can't wait for the days to grow longer and continue to enjoy these amazing trails.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy dog after running free in the forest</td></tr>
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Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-69079638548171844172015-02-14T21:31:00.002-08:002015-02-15T10:41:58.405-08:00Forest Relics <div dir="ltr">
I was ordered out of the house by my lovely daughters and told I need to go for a ride so they could decorate the house for Valentine's Day.</div>
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I obliged and headed to the Woodlot. I figured it had been long enough since I'd ridden there that 2 days in a row would do me good. My route was Platinum, Giant Killer, Bloggy and finally Shotgun.</div>
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There was a thick foggy mist the entire way to the top, but there wasn't any rain so it wasn't all that bad. At the beginning of Platinum I looked around in the fog with the feeling that I was being watched. I didn't see and animals or people but my 6th sense was saying otherwise. I have learned to trust that feeling so as soon as I had my helmet on, I was booking it along the trail.</div>
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Marcus has been doing a lot of work at the top of Platinum and the next time I see him I will be giving him the props he deserves. Marcus has cut a new line at the start of Platinum that completely bisects the awkward up and down moto trail. He instead made a flowy line that makes it's way downhill to the main line of Platinum. I railed the ground line down the trail and can't wait to do it again. It's a long fast flowy line with huge potential if the trail is reworked to today's trail tastes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A broken trail relic at the bottom of Platinum</td></tr>
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I climbed up Stovetop to Giant Killer where I met Ryan and Brian. Together we made our way down to the drop that Ryan rebuilt a few weeks backs.</div>
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I hit the drop a couple times and then we rode to the bottom and made our way to Bloggy. Brian is a newer rider so both Ryan and I were giving him pointers on ways to ride certain sections; it was somewhat funny how we were both telling him what to do on certain sections when in reality he was doing fine on his own and was simply stoked to have cleaned a section he hadn't in the past.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the drop on Giant Killer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the drop on Giant Killer</td></tr>
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At Shotgun we all sessioned the rock roll near the bottom and then headed home with and other great ride under our belts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rock Roll on Shotgun</td></tr>
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I have to admit that I haven't been riding at The Woodlot as much as I used to. I took Tilly up with me today and had to stop at my usual spot to take a photo.</div>
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As I was taking this photo another rider (Aaron) came up the road with a couple dogs that Tilly began to play with so I we joined up for a brief period; climbing up the road. Tilly and I headed to Blood Donor and Aaron kept going to Goldmine. </div>
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Blood Donor was in pretty good shape; there weren't any puddles or sections that were needing addressing. It seems as though there had been some recent wood work done that re-opened a broken feature and another feature was re-worked to give it way more flow.</div>
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Giant Killer was awesome as always with Ryan continuing to work the trail top to bottom.</div>
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I then rode over to Snakes and Ladders which is riding pretty good. I need to fix a couple jumps but it is flowing AWESOME since Ryan, Ian and I raked it from top to bottom. </div>
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After Snakes I thought I'd make my way along the TCT to PBR to see if anything needed addressing, but I ran into Aaron who had just came down PBR. He told me the trail was fine so we both rode out together to Shotgun. On the way we chatted about trails, bikes and the usual things you talk about when riding.</div>
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At Shotgun I took the lead and had a good rip down Shotgun to my truck. I bid Aaron fairwell and headed home to clean up the dog. </div>
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It felt good getting back to The Woodlot.</div>
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Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-71482100855816518682015-02-11T21:20:00.000-08:002015-02-11T21:20:46.610-08:00Global News Interview: Trail SabotageI had a busy morning today. I spent the morning on Thornhill getting interviewed by John Hua of Global TV News.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="437" src="http://globalnews.ca/video/embed/1825999/" width="670">Your browser does not support frames. <a href="http://globalnews.ca/video/1825999/more-mountain-bike-trail-traps">Click here to view the frameless video.</a>.</iframe>
After the interview I headed up OSR with a shovel to clear out some sections of trail that needed drainage work and rode down to the bottom and headed home. <br />
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I sincerely hope that the irresponsible actions of the person laying the logs and debris on the trails stops without innocent people getting hurt.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-613647733048170652015-02-10T22:15:00.000-08:002015-02-10T22:15:00.176-08:00Local Media Coverage - Trail Sabotage<ul class="storyMetaList byline" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #444444; float: left; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 16px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span class="script" style="font-style: italic;">by</span> <a href="http://www.mapleridgenews.com/staff_profiles/181018501.html" style="color: #0099cc; text-decoration: none;">Neil Corbett - Maple Ridge News</a></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 7px 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span class="script" style="font-style: italic;">posted</span> Feb 10, 2015 <span class="script" style="font-style: italic;">at</span> 1:00 PM</li>
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<img alt="Dean Wilkes, an avid mountain biker and trail builder, found the traps and fears for the safety of other riders. - Tim Fitzgerald/THE NEWS" border="0" src="http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/78613mapleridgebiketrails3.w.jpg" style="height: auto; margin: 0px; width: 311px;" title="Dean Wilkes, an avid mountain biker and trail builder, found the traps and fears for the safety of other riders. " /><div id="storyFeaturedPhotoDesc" style="clear: right; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin: 8px 0px; position: relative;">
Dean Wilkes, an avid mountain biker and trail builder, found the traps and fears for the safety of other riders.<div class="storyFeaturedPhotoByline" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; text-transform: capitalize;">
<em>— Image Credit: Tim Fitzgerald/THE NEWS</em></div>
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<div class="p1" style="margin-bottom: 1em;">
Someone is deliberately dragging deadfalls and fallen logs across a trail in Maple Ridge, in a way that could be dangerous to mountain bikers, says a local cycling enthusiast.</div>
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So-called “trail traps” have also plagued North Vancouver in the past month, and now are being found in Maple Ridge.</div>
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A week ago, Dean Wilkes found five obstacles placed on Bear Ridge Trail – a path that runs between 248th and 256th streets, just north of 102nd Avenue.</div>
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“I go mountain biking with my kids on these trails. There’s big potential for someone to get hurt,” he said.</div>
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At first, he wondered whether it was intentional. The giveaway was a section where five logs were placed on the path, creating an obstacle that only a person on foot could traverse.</div>
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Wilkes said he was the person who originally cut the five logs, after he bucked a fallen tree.</div>
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He cut it into five sections, which were still so heavy that only a fit man could move them, and pushed them to the side.</div>
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Other sections had single, slim logs dragged across them.</div>
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“Somebody had purposely put trees or logs across the trail,” he said. “I’ve been building trails for over a decade. There’s no doubt in my mind they were placed there.”</div>
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He said at least one of the obstacles was set up as a potentially deadly trap, in a section where a person on a bike could not see the log and stop in time to avoid a collision.</div>
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Wilkes said, fortunately, he came upon it while biking uphill.</div>
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“If I was going down the hill, I would have run right into it.”</div>
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Seeing it made him angry – an adult might have the reflexes to stop in time, but children have slower reactions, or may panic and “freeze” when they see an obstacle.</div>
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“I just stopped and shook my head, that someone has done something so stupid here,” said Wilkes.</div>
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“They’re putting other people’s lives at risk doing this – purposely doing it.”</div>
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He removed all of the traps, and reported the matter to the police and parks and leisure services.</div>
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Then on Tuesday, he found two more obstacles, but on different trails in the system.</div>
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Wilkes says trail-use conflict has been an issue in other areas, but not Maple Ridge before.</div>
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“Hikers sometimes don’t like bikers – it’s just trail-use conflict,” he said. “But people are respectful. We tend to try to play together as best we can.”</div>
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But that hasn’t been the case in other communities.</div>
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A <a href="http://nsmb.com/granny-booby-traps/" style="color: #0099cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">64-year-old North Vancouver woman</a> faces charges of mischief and setting traps with intent to injure after the latter were found on Mount Fromme, frequented by mountain bikers. Members of the mountain bike community installed hidden cameras on trees and caught footage of her.</div>
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Geoff Mallory, city manager of parks and open spaces in Maple Ridge, said no such conflicts have been seen prior to Wilkes’ complaints.</div>
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There are step-over obstacles placed at trail heads to keep motorcycles and ATVs off the trails. They are banned, but at Bear Ridge Trail hikers, bikers and horse riders all use the path.</div>
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“We haven’t had any reported conflicts whatsoever,” said Mallory.</div>
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He said the city has a network of 200 kilometres of trails, and they are “very well used.”</div>
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Two city staff members maintain the trails full-time.</div>
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As word of the traps spread throughout the cycling community, people are hopeful that Sunday was an isolated incident.</div>
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“I’m hoping it doesn’t escalate – let’s nip this in the bud right now,” said Wilkes. “When you put people’s lives in danger, things could go really wrong.”</div>
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Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-17157926462947213152015-02-10T14:14:00.001-08:002015-02-10T14:16:30.095-08:00Logging a few miles on Bear<p dir="ltr">Tilly and I went for a spin today on Bear Mtn.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It was raining lightly, but just enough to make gortex and merino wool mandatory items.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I climbed up BTLC and then up the road. The good times were had on Wasp, Lorax, Smoke n Bobo, then back up to Jolly Rancher. </p>
<p dir="ltr">When done I was soaked and Tilly was the dirtiest she's ever been. It was a damn good ride.<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUk1kHs20GhF9hsYMOpGyvbdYIk6isHs-wmGRHDlyuGrpAPg622zajuHNvCFTz1AWWdQL_yPXIlg8jbI5RbP2_k_VQEJNlaei-XeHiUqFhkrWXe1Y68fWWSJvOvpRia2z8y9sNvQ/s1600/2015-02-10%25252014.02.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUk1kHs20GhF9hsYMOpGyvbdYIk6isHs-wmGRHDlyuGrpAPg622zajuHNvCFTz1AWWdQL_yPXIlg8jbI5RbP2_k_VQEJNlaei-XeHiUqFhkrWXe1Y68fWWSJvOvpRia2z8y9sNvQ/s640/2015-02-10%25252014.02.41.jpg"> </a> </div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-40894835471252807592015-02-08T15:33:00.000-08:002015-02-09T20:19:03.782-08:00Quick Rip On ThornAfter dropping the kids at home, I went for my second ride of the day; a quick lap on Thornhill. Up the singletrack to the top of Trail Dweller and then down and over to new line that was put in last year. It was short but awesome. My new KOM/X0 wheels and X01 drive-train feel fantastic.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-85550394481151020132015-02-08T13:59:00.000-08:002015-02-09T20:12:14.732-08:00A Ride With My Girls<div dir="ltr">
Today Norah, Danika and I drove to Thornhill to go for a ride and check out the work we had done the day before on a section of trail.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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When we arrived I couldn't help but snap the photo below which shows the small, medium and large wheel sizes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0djSnnpzJd4zS80uhgDDMuvZV6LkbAgyMvwu5uYsQb9moQBQTKO23dBLCZFezi8c7ARnoHYxrsK6kxIpxBXZG3iVO5YpB_W5WKmEy35Y2qXkXj57Uc6tKNkdJ6NLJP-zVh3-CFg/s1600/20150208_111537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0djSnnpzJd4zS80uhgDDMuvZV6LkbAgyMvwu5uYsQb9moQBQTKO23dBLCZFezi8c7ARnoHYxrsK6kxIpxBXZG3iVO5YpB_W5WKmEy35Y2qXkXj57Uc6tKNkdJ6NLJP-zVh3-CFg/s1600/20150208_111537.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">27.5", 26", 24"</td></tr>
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Once the bikes were unloaded and I had all their pads in my pack, we climbed straight up the road to the top. One very friendly rider passed us on the way up and we rode past half a dozen people out for walks with their dogs.</div>
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After a quick drink of water my girls donned their pads and we were on our way. Both were a little hesitant given that they'd both just moved up a size on their bikes and this was their first ride on dirt. </div>
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I was a very proud papa watching them cautiously make their way down the damp, muddy and slippery trails. I told them that these were the hardest conditions there are to ride in and that if they can ride well in these conditions, they will be that much better in dry conditions. Really they just looked at me and frowned. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvkuaPSnTGIYmt8u-MaY0bttoU5oB60TkzzUrGWfTBiOei_Rmbj1amszf3zNr0R2kvppxS_4Fw76w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Driving home they were both tired and pumped that they had just ridden on trails that they had helped fix the day before. Hopefully they continue to enjoy both riding and trail building well into the future. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInurJHERvqoJGv8h53ctb6bcuX0ulwDOQ3I3ELSdL7QW8oejMRJs4XMRQnOHsTL0z1lxXyUMuuNCfs8lXhGPZLoQzbIdj2IUwnSIfD9OyA9Oacd5YGis9LNcQzXUMqAwYPs_5MA/s1600/2015-02-09+14.21.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInurJHERvqoJGv8h53ctb6bcuX0ulwDOQ3I3ELSdL7QW8oejMRJs4XMRQnOHsTL0z1lxXyUMuuNCfs8lXhGPZLoQzbIdj2IUwnSIfD9OyA9Oacd5YGis9LNcQzXUMqAwYPs_5MA/s1600/2015-02-09+14.21.56.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy riders</td></tr>
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Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-63384800012635257772015-02-03T15:29:00.000-08:002015-02-09T20:11:14.905-08:00A Walk In The ForestI went for a quick ride and a walk in the forest to see where a few other trails were and scope out some possible new lines.<br />
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Time will tell if my plans come to fruition but I really needed to get out and hit the dirt today.<br />
<br />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-63738198670203678712015-01-25T15:02:00.000-08:002015-02-09T21:17:55.528-08:00Trail Sabotage on Thornhill I did a few laps on Thornhill today. What someone had done on Bear Ridge Trail really infuriated me, but I didn't let it wreck my ride. <br />
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Someone went through some great effort to put logs and branches across the trail in 5 different spots. It's the fact that people can easily get hurt due to the thoughtless actions of this saboteur that upsets me. Kids, hikers, horseback riders, dog walkers, bikers can all be injured by this persons actions. I have removed all the obstacles, taken pictures, called the police, called the city and called the local newspaper. I hope this stops without anyone getting hurt.<br />
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The only trail that I found debris on was Bear Ridge Trail. I continued my ride on a few other trails where I enjoyed the view and gave my dog a good run.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Ears (with no snow)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tranquil fern lined forest </td></tr>
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One happy dog at the end of our ride.</div>
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<br />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-40660200046008571172015-01-23T14:55:00.000-08:002015-02-09T20:16:51.997-08:00Riding in RiversI went for a quick after work ride to Thornhill. It was raining; Big Mistake.<br />
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I was basically riding in rivers down most of the trails. The trails up Thornhill really aren't designed for wet weather traffic. Today's ride revealed where the trails I rode require some help with drainage.<br />
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<br />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-52305508679562711572015-01-18T14:40:00.000-08:002015-02-09T21:02:10.007-08:00WINDI went for a ride today in likely the windiest conditions I've ever been in. Near the beginning of my ride I drained a few puddles and have given some thought on making a few How-To peiced to be published online.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEVER LINE YOUR TRAILS WITH LOGS</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NEVER LINE YOUR TRAILS WITH LOGS</td></tr>
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It was somewhat windy when I started but it picked up once I was in the trees.<br />
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I decided to cut my ride short when a small branch hit me on the shoulder (a bit of a wake-up call).<br />
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<br />Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-88731582873783965582015-01-11T06:42:00.000-08:002015-02-09T14:07:07.813-08:00Misty Morning at The Woodlot<div dir="ltr">
At dawn I was at The Woodlot with Tilly riding in the mist.</div>
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At home it was miserable and raining, but in the mountains I was above the rain filled clouds and in the mist.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The layers of mist in the mountains.</td></tr>
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The trails were basically dry and it was warm enough that I didn't need my jacket or toque. The trails I rode were Blood Donor, Giant Killer, Snakes and Ladders and then Shotgun.</div>
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After the work that Ryan, Ian and I did on our night build a few weeks ago Snakes was riding really well; no wet spots or issues that need addressing at this time. My reroute is bedding in well and only needs a few finishing touches and then I'll be on to the next section.</div>
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Tilly had a good run and we made it home without even getting wet. </div>
Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-7675431925977150482015-01-02T07:25:00.000-08:002015-02-09T14:37:07.118-08:00I'm back<div dir="ltr">
It's been a couple years since I regularly updated my riding journal, but it's a new year and I've decided to fire this thing back up.</div>
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My first ride of 2015 took me to Bear Mtn to ride with Paul, Andrew and Nat. The ride started with a pedaled up Big Trouble in Little Chaining and then up to Lorax. Lorax in the snow is a lot of fun but the rock face in the clear cut was a bit of an eye opener being covered in a layer of slushy ice and snow.</div>
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We then climbed back to Luge and Sorcerers Apprentice but on the way Nat encountered a flat caused by a piece of wire going through his tire.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys fixing a flat</td></tr>
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I then ride Luge and Sorcerers Apprentice for the fist time. Luge is a pinned straight shot of a trail that I'd prefer to do unclipped and on a bigger bike, but it was fun nonetheless. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign at the top of Luge</td></tr>
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The last trail of the ride was Jolly Rancher where we were all having a hoot until Nat had a nasty spill that flung him over his bars and on his head. He ended up with a few cuts on his forehead that we cleaned up, but he will likely require some butterfly bandages or stitches. Fortunately he was okay to ride out to the vehicles and go get patched up.</div>
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Overall it was a great start to my riding year. I felt sluggish due to being a glutton over the Christmas break but anytime on the bike is a good time.</div>
Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-88305243877687861502011-08-14T13:28:00.000-07:002011-08-14T16:41:28.721-07:00I have moved My Riding Journal to my own websiteI have moved this blog to its own website.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please go to <a href="http://www.mtnbike.ca/">http://www.mtnbike.ca</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mtnbike.ca/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj199Tx6l98oYiTNYZVIdtxa8PGUguotmPt8O8nhIwRn3Lec5twO2_yLClyA3FzxN1IFfLv1cJSq8dqxMiVdDy52VRHORBr1LUcPg29pa0DpHGjV5EjrAb6it7XpUL-UaCrH6Pafg/s1600/banner.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-73919245217614963472011-08-03T17:57:00.001-07:002011-08-23T15:19:45.924-07:00Hot summer day at The WoodlotMy bike of choice today was my Rune and the location yet again was The Woodlot. Recently I received information about the logging that is going to take place and I wanted to see if any progress had been made.<br />
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At the bottom of the climb there was a sign posted on the side of the trail to inform the area users that logging and trail closures are on their way.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040664.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Trail Closure Notice" class="size-medium wp-image-335 " height="225" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040664-300x225.jpg" title="Trail Closure Notice" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Further up the climb I took another picture of wall of rock. It keeps growing every week I ride. Unfortunately it's going to get knocked down when the logging takes place in a month or so.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/2011/08/03/hot-summer-day-at-the-woodlot/p1040667/" rel="attachment wp-att-336" target="_blank"><img alt="Stacked wall of rock" class="size-medium wp-image-336 " height="225" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040667-300x225.jpg" title="Stacked wall of rock" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Not too far past the wall of rock there are a number of piles of gravel that are going to be used as the road base for the logging roads. This material is going to make the climb even easier than it is now up the main logging road. Another new thing I have noticed are road markers that mark the distances along the woodlot main road.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040614.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-341 " height="300" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040614-225x300.jpg" title="Piles of Gravel" width="225" /></a></div><br />
At the powerlines I turned left to climb to the top and gain access to Krazy Karpenter. Karpenter is in decent shape given the amount of traffic it sees and the nasty wet year we have had. It never seems there is enough time to work on all the trails that I'd like to, but there is one stunt that Tim and I would like to finish some time soon and it involves a lot of ladders. Maybe by the end of the summer.<br />
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I then hit Upper Toadstool which is always a blast and then over to Giant Killer. Ryan has been hard at work dialing in the trail and recently he has put a lot of work into a slight re-route of a corner on beside the long log section. We had talked about his re-route since Christmas time of last year and I'd say it is one more work day away from completion.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040675.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Giant Killer ground re-route" class="size-medium wp-image-342 " height="267" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/P1040675-300x267.jpg" title="Giant Killer ground re-route" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I then hit Snakes and Ladders and then Shotgun to finish off my ride ride for the day. It was SMOKIN hot today and it felt great to ride in the summer heat.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-91670574132330250072011-07-25T21:06:00.000-07:002011-08-23T15:17:41.016-07:00Misty Golden EarsI decided to go for a bit of a pedal today. With my bike loaded on my car I headed to Golden Ears park and Alouette Mtn.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/alouettemtn.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alouette Mtn trails" class="size-medium wp-image-436 " height="300" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/alouettemtn-247x300.jpg" title="alouettemtn" width="247" /></a></div><br />
My route took me up the Eric Dunning Trail and then along the Alouette Mountain Fire Access Trail to the second shortcut trail. Along the way I spotted a few not so well known off the map trails that I one day hope to explore.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P1040623.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-359 " height="225" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P1040623-300x225.jpg" title="Alouette Mtn. Look-out" width="300" /></a></div><br />
On the fire access road between the two shortcut trails is this lookout. Over the years the view is getting smaller and smaller due to the trees growing and blocking the view. My guess is in 5 years some trees will need to be removed.<br />
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Once at the top, I started my descent which is about 20 minutes or so with next to no pedaling. It's not a bad ride when a nice easy pedal is desired with a fun descent on a smaller bike.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-74972384985172982592011-07-23T15:14:00.000-07:002011-08-23T15:15:32.903-07:00Morning of RepairsThis morning I met Mitch at The Woodlot to go for a ride and to give him an introduction to trail building. Mitch wants to help out on the trails, but he hasn't ever done any trail work.<br />
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While I pedaled my Rune and he pushed his bike up, we were able to talk about some trail basics and other things bike related.<br />
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At the top of Cabin Trail we geared up and I began riding down to one of the last bomb hole sections that I plan on repairing on Cabin. I had Mitch collect most of the rock while I pieced everything together.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Biking-7.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-423 " height="198" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Biking-7-300x198.jpg" title="Biking-7" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Within 20 minutes the hole was fixed and we began riding down. Once the trail leveled out and the pedaling began, Mitch's chain snapped and needed repairing. Then when we rode down Snakes and Ladders, I had a flat. By this time Mitch had to leave so I rode Shotgun solo hoping that nothing else was going to break on me. I didn't have a good feeling seeing a couple Turkey Vultures circle me in the clearing.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P1040620.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-422" height="225" src="http://mtnbike.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/P1040620-300x225.jpg" title="P1040620" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I've had many days without a mechanical, but all it felt like I did today was repair things.Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-76145473698562738282011-07-11T15:34:00.000-07:002011-07-15T17:09:36.066-07:00Wrong Turn<div>My plan today was to go for a spin for a few hours and see if I could find an easier way into the UBC Research Forest. I seem to have found a decent route. It needs a few trees cleared off it and there is a significant creek crossing that requires your feet to get wet but it is a lot faster to get into the area than my previous route.</div><div><br /></div><div>The picture below shows where a bridge used to be located. Several years ago the road in the area had some huge washouts so the road was shut down and the bridge was removed. </div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxftA5iNjRl3zEnG7d6nD-1x0MzyiUBhy2ixaZZH5ECYbsUUqLfQ06udifUMAVkoCzX9QRWS-ZUHcbWC8Szl_1ao6dnTUkBNR5GhXrh4mZoo_uMFtuHUbDM2TXfy1mFcdeofMsQ/s1600/P1040540.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxftA5iNjRl3zEnG7d6nD-1x0MzyiUBhy2ixaZZH5ECYbsUUqLfQ06udifUMAVkoCzX9QRWS-ZUHcbWC8Szl_1ao6dnTUkBNR5GhXrh4mZoo_uMFtuHUbDM2TXfy1mFcdeofMsQ/s400/P1040540.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629676963013876850" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">If you look really carefully you can see and imprint across the cement that reads "UBC FRST 78"</span><div><br /></div><div>My plan was to ride to Jabobs lake and then turn around to come home. I made on wrong turn and decided to continue on a logging road that went up to a clearcut that isn't really shown on many maps. The climb was easy and gradual and ended with an okay view of the Fraser Valley, but is wasn't what I was looking for. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0Tz4YJCFwMipHpQMd-GnId0QV7y30fhh_jEddN6O2Y8iyFKu2nVDNk4dAr_zKA460_OxcNSD2Wv5w69dgOxH8XtjPvdMiH5kHcOtfXNDzRMpQRkJPY3UD9r_OgOJNx771EH39Q/s1600/P1040543.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0Tz4YJCFwMipHpQMd-GnId0QV7y30fhh_jEddN6O2Y8iyFKu2nVDNk4dAr_zKA460_OxcNSD2Wv5w69dgOxH8XtjPvdMiH5kHcOtfXNDzRMpQRkJPY3UD9r_OgOJNx771EH39Q/s400/P1040543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629676958040596082" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">The Fraser Valley with through the haze.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivwI9RiBYZF8STYmrwBdoyKPynTGMUmkXa0cAoqmqhCZxC8vfBKhhT8mUl9sN-ls7-gLG8vv_zCNGbtxu46F-F4qYNtozoUSTwmeBUmHvJ1LjpeRC4mL3qGyR3beeU8ydSV3Zwg/s1600/P1040544.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhivwI9RiBYZF8STYmrwBdoyKPynTGMUmkXa0cAoqmqhCZxC8vfBKhhT8mUl9sN-ls7-gLG8vv_zCNGbtxu46F-F4qYNtozoUSTwmeBUmHvJ1LjpeRC4mL3qGyR3beeU8ydSV3Zwg/s400/P1040544.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629676954349623714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Looking west to Gloomy Peak and Gabbro Mountain in Coquitlam</span>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Once I snapped a photos I headed back to my car and home. Not a bad exploratory ride considering a wrong turn.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="300" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=205308972915481428606.0004a8213ac10b826c8ed&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=49.306882,-122.545452&spn=0.033577,0.051498&z=13&output=embed"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=205308972915481428606.0004a8213ac10b826c8ed&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=49.306882,-122.545452&spn=0.033577,0.051498&z=13&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Clearcut East of Jacobs Lake</a> in a larger map</span></div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-40714375401075508492011-07-05T14:42:00.000-07:002011-07-06T12:15:29.663-07:00Rock!!<div>I hit the Woodlot today on my Rune. I had a few tools in my pack to do a little trail work on Cabin Trail. I must say that I picked a pretty nice day to go for a ride and do some trail work.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIJXwHjhHqlsHOmuX3DYydwz9gki1kyU1X7wwpm_e-mBQWwrZngxSwn1GrlO9q2H3FMMN8mc37dumAJPRCVJHiSbfA4M4tHxpp8a9DO1pYX_Oy-iCZoRC8wd6edG9EN8HJH4iFw/s1600/P1040531.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIJXwHjhHqlsHOmuX3DYydwz9gki1kyU1X7wwpm_e-mBQWwrZngxSwn1GrlO9q2H3FMMN8mc37dumAJPRCVJHiSbfA4M4tHxpp8a9DO1pYX_Oy-iCZoRC8wd6edG9EN8HJH4iFw/s400/P1040531.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626315136318190306" /></a><br /><div>Off to one side of the climb, somebody has been stacking rock for the past several months. This formerly small pile of rocks is getting rather impressive.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1lk5tBWAh6ClUM-kqtaQ5832MEnTWk5nbiGDGJoeB48qBezE-TAXFu6gqcxGziRjgFkGq_3eh0yA7Gg-n2k1bE7XtWR8M16Mmzqlh8xakpeogxnw3Z74pWGgwfxWrFUdA4qV6g/s1600/P1040534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1lk5tBWAh6ClUM-kqtaQ5832MEnTWk5nbiGDGJoeB48qBezE-TAXFu6gqcxGziRjgFkGq_3eh0yA7Gg-n2k1bE7XtWR8M16Mmzqlh8xakpeogxnw3Z74pWGgwfxWrFUdA4qV6g/s400/P1040534.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626315135002662882" /></a><br /></div><div>On Cabin Trail / Goldmine Trail I have been making an effort to fix the bomb holes that have appeared over the past few years. Most of rocks used in the picture below were collected by a small group of us (five riders) <a href="http://mtnbike.blogspot.com/2011/06/helmetwhat-helmet.html">a few weeks ago</a>. Today I pieced them all together to make this section flow again. The rocks are all locked together by gravity (weight of the rocks), wedging of small rocks in cracks and a few pinned pieces of cedar that I staked into the ground. Before this rock was put in place there was a 3 foot deep bomb hole that you nearly came to a stop on when riding the trail. Now it is nothing but rocked in flow.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaMyZL_lVfEr3fHCwKjK97JShzwFEl-VxhgVmfqEx1p9fs6neJuUzT6xtfTLV1RRCeq5pXXqaiuOeP3nqlSQKWkdeLIrmUuzvhwhom6UnBBcb8aMxUltXocaAApfiVR_jYjmgJQ/s1600/P1040539.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIaMyZL_lVfEr3fHCwKjK97JShzwFEl-VxhgVmfqEx1p9fs6neJuUzT6xtfTLV1RRCeq5pXXqaiuOeP3nqlSQKWkdeLIrmUuzvhwhom6UnBBcb8aMxUltXocaAApfiVR_jYjmgJQ/s400/P1040539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626315126948791874" /></a><br />The rest of my ride consisted of the end of Cabin Trail, Snakes and Ladders and finally Shotgun. A sweet ride, a good build and lots of rock!!</div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-74739384073286359192011-06-28T17:39:00.000-07:002011-06-29T11:23:01.609-07:00Google Earth Epic #7: UBC Research ForestI have wanted to get up to the Malcolm Knapp UBC Research forest for years. There are three different lookout points that I'd like to explore and today I did one of the three.<div><br /></div><div>My ride started at Mike Lake and using the research I did ahead of time I navigated my way on up into the hills. While climbing the fire road just before Loon Lake, I ran into this bear. At one point it seemed as if he wanted to walk over towards me, but I made a lot of noise that sent him packing into the bush.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQOtVDovQjUGyoKWRg4SgG3yiYmiFt06MuitybnLLUc-72N9I4lV5up8vPT06OOncoUEEcAcYwEst5wiGEuhNV-T28qAINN7jPYxCvfAbeD3tam8wdgFD4QfhcrKshB1n2k4ojQ/s1600/Biking-5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQOtVDovQjUGyoKWRg4SgG3yiYmiFt06MuitybnLLUc-72N9I4lV5up8vPT06OOncoUEEcAcYwEst5wiGEuhNV-T28qAINN7jPYxCvfAbeD3tam8wdgFD4QfhcrKshB1n2k4ojQ/s400/Biking-5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623452596357864578" /></a><br />The forest in this area is as lush as they come so I paused to take a picture of one of the creeks. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxUr9NEbbsmE1ycq9NL-WnH1PAZJ2vmZGhoFEqDgmv6ApDRHftZbWYujBEYhH-Mvq-FpJQE0IblrQzyeWyks_quHlYFLUMYwo55_JJR9BelTQ0ca_II76XYGXSQ-_54kf1XuFrg/s1600/P1040484.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxUr9NEbbsmE1ycq9NL-WnH1PAZJ2vmZGhoFEqDgmv6ApDRHftZbWYujBEYhH-Mvq-FpJQE0IblrQzyeWyks_quHlYFLUMYwo55_JJR9BelTQ0ca_II76XYGXSQ-_54kf1XuFrg/s400/P1040484.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623452610073820322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bhTDtB70HYjGlfAMz-jrpgSj9yc3qXm8ToXJBs_YIXcWr-OvwPI_pNn3N6SwmVlXTrg6zDb8Rbi1tefjMgg0etSem3vCXNWPSr8JHEOShxQ9URZ4X5TRJLk6yLiuzrjL9I0jeA/s1600/P1040485.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bhTDtB70HYjGlfAMz-jrpgSj9yc3qXm8ToXJBs_YIXcWr-OvwPI_pNn3N6SwmVlXTrg6zDb8Rbi1tefjMgg0etSem3vCXNWPSr8JHEOShxQ9URZ4X5TRJLk6yLiuzrjL9I0jeA/s400/P1040485.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623452600800874514" /></a><br /></div><div>At the top of the logging road that runs North East of Loon Lake you are greeted with this pretty sweet view. For anyone that knows the area they know that not many people get to see this area from this viewpoint. This spot is 15km up a logging road and to say that the logging spurs are like a labyrinth would be an understatement.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_JIMXRqfmB_9-X62w985NaoG3mkBLayMtV63e2j_9E-4TrKHPBepOmj09ry-sbJu5ikgQJXNL8kSA9FJI-LdlacNzmoU-PjYnS-vbBGtyHZ-Hk_D5ni_METsbGx5TARODkNiow/s1600/ubcpanorama.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_JIMXRqfmB_9-X62w985NaoG3mkBLayMtV63e2j_9E-4TrKHPBepOmj09ry-sbJu5ikgQJXNL8kSA9FJI-LdlacNzmoU-PjYnS-vbBGtyHZ-Hk_D5ni_METsbGx5TARODkNiow/s400/ubcpanorama.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623452614027101730" /></a>I was running out of time when I took this last picture and I needed to turn my bike around and head home. It was pretty cool navigating to these view points and I can't wait to make my way to some of the other higher viewpoints in the area.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDr9RsOithnU2IORZiQcB8BbLAXHakr4jAah_bdZcdxa6izRH4_mT5XcjTym6JGAbivADHb4ufEhGlHTfXfcATjDarbEG6XWCAxWy6GdklcwadtCQ7ZuWFnrFtaEIgS5mOUWBTA/s1600/P1040483.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDr9RsOithnU2IORZiQcB8BbLAXHakr4jAah_bdZcdxa6izRH4_mT5XcjTym6JGAbivADHb4ufEhGlHTfXfcATjDarbEG6XWCAxWy6GdklcwadtCQ7ZuWFnrFtaEIgS5mOUWBTA/s400/P1040483.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623452609166482994" /></a><br /></div><div>My total ride time was 3 hours and a little over 32km round trip. I think some of the view points further into the area might turn out to be a whole day affair. Next time I'll invite a few friends to enjoy the view with me. The super cool thing is that I can start this ride from my house if I want to add a couple hours of XC singletrack to the ride.</div><div><br /></div><center><iframe width="300" height="300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=205308972915481428606.0004a6d0ec10694dc3979&ie=UTF8&ll=49.293337,-122.568283&spn=0.067173,0.102997&t=p&z=12&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=205308972915481428606.0004a6d0ec10694dc3979&ie=UTF8&ll=49.293337,-122.568283&spn=0.067173,0.102997&t=p&z=12&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">Route to UBC Views - Malcolm Knapp Research Forest</a> in a larger map</small></center>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-4518962077111451432011-06-25T10:31:00.000-07:002011-06-26T11:58:24.139-07:00First official ride of the summer 2011Today was my first official ride of the summer. In usual fashion it was raining.<div><br /></div><div>I decided I'd push my big bike up the hill for a rip and hit a few drops and gaps. The first trails I rode were Giant Killer and then Bloggy Style. At the bottom of Bloggy I met up with Ryan and Curtis where we started back up the mountain to hit some more trails. It turns out that Curtis hadn't ridden Blood Donor in a few years so that was the first trail on the list. On Donor there are a few wooden features that are broken right now that really break up the flow. Hopefully they are able to be repaired soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the bottom of Blood Donor I hit the little jump and then pressured Curtis to hit it for the first time. After a few deep breaths he had this simple little jump under his belt. </div><div><br /></div><div>We then rode Giant Killer that is running better than it ever has. Ryan has done a bang up job in making this trail ride dry with a ton of flow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hoots was next. Ryan took a brush saw down the trail a few weeks ago and now you can actually see the trail in the clear-cut as you ride along. Curtis and I managed to convince Ryan to ride the rock for the first time. It's cool watch people get excited about riding difficult features for the first time.</div><div><br /></div><div>We then rode Shotgun and had a beer or two at our cars. It was a great summer weekend ride.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/25628023?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="398" height="224" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Today's ride.</span></div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8088748.post-63749180170533242072011-06-19T22:30:00.000-07:002011-06-29T11:45:59.915-07:00Bear Mtn. DH 2011 - Day 2 (Race Day)I arrived bright and early to do some more volunteering at the DH race. I ended up carrying and setting up the tent at the start line, helped to get the power set up for the start line, carried and set up the umbrella for the rock drop and did the sound check for the the announcer. A sound check is something I've ALWAYS wanted to do....check!, check!, one, two.......Thank You Vancouver!!.......<div><br /></div><div>After my moment of glory I then went back to bike loading and unloading for the practice shuttles and the racers. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to do a practice run today before the race, but I was so damn tired that I think it would have killed me do do more than my race run today.</div><div><br /></div><div>When my shuttle time was announced I once again loaded bikes and rode up to the top. At the start line things weren't really what they were suppose to be. There wasn't anyone wrangling the riders getting them in their race start order. Basically the start line was calling names out two at a time with a buffer of 2 minutes. Anyone that has raced before knows this is a recipe for disaster and it was stressing the race commissaries to the brink. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once it was my turn at the start line I felt okay; not good, not great, but okay. My left knee has been swelling on a regular basis and all the stand up pedaling required for this race makes me wince in pain. For this reason, I love the top of the course where there is limited pedaling and it's all about bike handling in the steeper sections. The rain doesn't really affect the top of the course, so it remained in great shape. However once you hit the first gap on the course, things get soupy and the pedaling begins. </div><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TIFg0ie0itcYH2Sg60umYkP1ievm_EBxzk7Woa-PIgpcXbvsG-_yk5uZrXdLs7YB5xe2RJyE93p1V_021n-0E7kiTFP9mQfojLLkZ2iJjmxexdyOyBLNSZS9twgeG2ElbEK5LA/s1600/roost2011bearmtn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TIFg0ie0itcYH2Sg60umYkP1ievm_EBxzk7Woa-PIgpcXbvsG-_yk5uZrXdLs7YB5xe2RJyE93p1V_021n-0E7kiTFP9mQfojLLkZ2iJjmxexdyOyBLNSZS9twgeG2ElbEK5LA/s400/roost2011bearmtn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623711607311584626" /></a><br /></div><div>In the race I think I hit 50% of the jumps. I just simply couldn't get the speed needed to make the rest. Most corners were super moto rutted and the run ins were slick as snot.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was able to pass the rider in front of me which made me feel good for a bit, but when I did a 180° powerslide to a complete stop, I knew I wasn't going to make it to the podium.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the finish line I felt okay. I'd negotiated the course in one piece, though muddy and out of breath. I finished in 12th place.</div><div><br /></div><div>I then made my way to the concession area where I spoke with a few of the race organizers letting them know that there wasn't a wrangler at the top of the course getting the riders in order. After some discussion I volunteered to do the job. I changed and boarded a shuttle truck to get things in order at the top. When I arrived I grabbed the start list and proceeded to get people in order. With a few minutes I had things in control and the racers were lined up ready to race.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me my mom and daughter had, come to see me at the race . They saw me ride past in the mud, but I didn't get to see them at the bottom because I took off to volunteer before they could find me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the race was over I helped pack up a few things at the top and then caught a ride to the bottom with Steve in his pick-up. At the bottom I caught up with a few of the <a href="http://bteamlovesyou.com/">B-Team</a> (Darryl and Stan), watched the awards and drove home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe next year.</div>Deanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10650156523479156812noreply@blogger.com0