BarbHaley.com

Monday, May 21, 2007

No festivals, no responsibilities, just ridin’ today.

Mitchell decided to try out his new urban trials bike.

Yeah, no footer…

Like yesterday, we started off on the Bog, but today we had a fuller house with the rest of the Devinci LogJam crew coming out and a few more of the local Pron Star Posse (that’s not a typo). Besides myself, there was Johnny Smoke, Chuck D. Railer, Dirt Dropout, Gnarl Charger, Mini Moola, Manuel Stuntcock, and Flatty O Tool. Plus a supporting cast of thousands.

Here’s some more of those trail improvements that DAx put in over the spring.

If you look close, you’ll see something that is seldom experienced in this zone.

That’s right, a tranny. The Okanagan sure has changed. I’m lovin’ it, and if it were without a tranny I’d be doing the ride-around with the hardtail.

Here’s Flatty O’Tool getting some action.

Who wants a beer?

Alright, back to the riding. Here’s StuntCock. He’s like a regular cock, only more stunted.

I don’t even know who this is, but he’s got the teeter dialed.

A couple of laps and DUDES later, and the new kids are getting a bit tie-tie.

The dessert lap today was to be a full length Beer Run to Rusty Muffler. as we like to say, it’s “Mostly downhill, almost all the time.” But of course it starts by going uphill.

Gaber put on a clinic for the mostly downhill part.

Once we got out of the flatter stunts and into Bud Height, it was time for Flatty and StuntCock to really throw down.

Kinradical also got into the fray with some huge whips.

After the boys put a few dents in the landing ramp, Gaber sent this massive lawn dart right onto the busted slat. Nice style, in timing if not in form.

Hey dude, yougot something on your back there.

Nearing the end of our 2 hour oddysey, we get a little break and a view.

We also started losing members of the group from here to the end. I guess that’s why it’s also called “3 Blind Mice.”

More crap singletrack, Okanagan style.

We finally made it back out of the woods, to find the shuttle drivers mildy wrecked on the local grape juice.

There you go, what 3 days of hardtailin’ the South Okanagan does to you.

Thanks to everyone that made it out, and special shouts to my favourite riding buddies, Kurt and Mootchell (you owe Johnny ten bucks, Steve). Check out the PinkBike version of events OVER HERE. I think Kinrade made me cry…

As posted by
Smoke

Sunday, May 20, 2007

For the first time in years, I’m not doing the Greyballs birthday tour on the May long weekend. He was invited up, but without the catalyst I guess it’s just too far to the Okanagan.

So Saturday I was left to my own devices. Not much to report. I went and hooked up a Powers lap on 2.5 with some locals that I went and bummed a ride off of. Nice guys. I’ve ridden with Kurt Froese before a few times. No pics, but we had a good rip and some cold ones after.

Sunday I had a committment in Penticton with the Festival of Bike being put on by Freedom Bikes and the City of Penticton. A very low key event designed to get bikers out and enjoying the immense variety of cycling in the area. Shuttles on the KVR for the less experienced, some group road rides around town, and some hardcore freeride shuttle drops courtesy of the Bush Pilot.

While I was offering rides, I ran into Mike Kinrade and Fiona Taylor from the Devinci/PinkBike team. A few other locals soon shoewd up and we headed up to the Bog for a few laps.

You may note that the average Okanagan ripper sports a bit more X in their chromosomes.

I love this town. Those girls aren’t just pretty faces, either. They rock the singletrack pretty hard.

Most of the Code 4 line has been buffed out htis spring by Dax. It’s in better shape this year than I’ve seen it in many a moon.

Not that it helped Kinrade out much. He was suffering the usual woes of the pro rider with too much riding and not enough maintenance. Still, that’s a 9″ travel bike that weighs only 38 pounds. Look for that at your Devinci dealer in 2008.

Fiona is a new acquiantance. Another Island girl that slays gnarly trails. I don’t know what’s in the water over there, but whatever it is, it’s working.

She’s a lot like Courtenay (our guide from last year). See it……hit it.

Step up, step down, all good.

Meanwhile, back at Chuck D. Railers, it was time for a gin-and-tonic break.

(Barb showed up after her shift at the Airport….)

We had one more run to do, but of course I took NO shots. A Rusty Muffler at full throttle is a great way to finish a day, and when you can be chasing the BirdMan, so much the better.

(yo…click o this, roll over it, whatever you gotta do)

There was a nice wildlife moment on the shuttle return with Barb when we came across these two moose (or is it meese?).

After the ride, there was still time for a cruiser ride.

Al Box, rocking the Eurobeats on the Orange Crate.

What a day. End it with a heap of beers and ribs at Piggys for a job well done.

To read up on the PinkBike version of events, check out THIS LINK.
…As posted by
Smoke