BarbHaley.com

May 29/2003

ALMOST GOT MY new Peeler built today. We just had some problems pressing the bearing into the pivot area. Instead, I borrowed the shop Peeler to ride tonight.

MET THE nsmb.com crew and the RIde Guide Film crew at the Fromme gate. Drove up the Digger’s Cliff Drop to film Eamon drop the cliff three times. On the third attempt, Eamon crashed pretty hard, but survived it with only a few scrapes on his back and shoulder. His helmet got the worst of it, must have hit a rock as he slide down the landing.

NEXT STOP Upper Oil Can. We hit the top part of the Oil Can and filmed the U-Turn log ride. We actually rode it in a train, which was challenging cause timing was an issue, especially around the U-Turn. This shot should be cool. Filmed the ramp above the log ride and then we crossed over to the Flying Circus. We started with the Lobotimizer 2000. I have never ridden this and was super-stoked that I did it. Couple of the guys dropped it…looks really do-able. Maybe one day. I think I should ride this trail a lot more, cause I think I can ride a lot of it. After that, we shot the big, fat log with the 4 -5 ft drop at the end (another first time!), and I rode the Sky bridge (before the Intraveneous log) right behind Colin. I made it about halfway when I tagged the tree beside me with my bar and had to stop and get off. The rest of the boys rode in a train right to the end!

THE LAST SHOTS were taken on Air Supply. The boys were hauling off the jumps! Those jumps have gotten a lot bigger since the last time I was here (2 years ago). Eamon and Trevor dropped the Sideshow drop a few times for the camera crew and then we all played on the famous swivel totter. I had at it about five times, and fell off of it….five times. twice off each side and then once forward because I almost made it when my front tire came off towards the landing ramp too ealry and threw me forward…. I’ll keep trying…and I’ll get it.

WE ENDED THE evening with a rip down Ladies Only to Lower Ladies. I have never run Lower Ladies non-stop from the start of the trail…what a blast!!! I even cleaned the scary rock section with out stopping!!!

AT THE GATE the Ride Guide Crew pulled out the video camera and filmed Harley riding my bike with me down Mountain Hwy….They said that they will put that shot in for sure at the end of the show! Funny, Harley always seems to have part in these shows…. I think I’ll make her her own resume.

Have a great night ya’ll!

b

May 23/2003

DROVE OUT to the Whistler MTB park for the day. Picked up Neal (Hjalmar met him on the Cove Shop Ride) on the way and hit the Park.

First run….A-Line of course. Hjalmar thought this was great and we did another lap of it. Spent the day pretty much on A-Line playing on the jumps, but every second run or so we did someting new. We stayed til the bitter end, and managed to score a day of riding with out rain for once. HJALMAR HAS NEVER seen a live bear (outside a zoo) before and I just new that we’d find one today. Sure enough, found one over on B-Line. I had Hjalmar’s digicam and stopped to get close to the bear. Took a lot of pictures, Hjalmar watched me for a while, but was a bit uncomfortable seeing how close I was getting to the bear. The bear wasn’t showing any signs of being aggressive or upset with me being so close…and truley I was only as close as I felt was comfortable for the both of us, and I just kept talking to him the whole time so I wouldn’t startle him.

I LOST my rear brake half way through the day but I kept riding. To be honest, I didn’t think that I would be able to make it through the whole day of riding because I was on my hardtail….But to my surprise – I had as much fun on the hardtail as I did on the Peeler last Monday!

WE ALL had a great day, but we had to head back to the city, drop Neal off, and go out for some dinner (Raven) as it was Hjalmar’s last evening with us. Sad to see him leave, but I have a feeling he’ll be back soon….

Cheers,

b

May 22/2003

THIS MORNING we had a relaxing, slow start….in no hurry, but the plan was to hit Cypress and have a couple runs. It was raining pretty hard , that didn’t seem to matter much, when you’re wet…you’re wet…can’t get wetter can yah?

LAP #1 – Mystery Downhill…I laughed cause I could hear Hjalmar behind me shouting that this trail reminded him of the ones back home. Hmmmm, where have I heard that before. It’s funny that this is the trail that seems to remind everyone about the ones at home….

WETTER THAN WET, we met Johnny (still pretty sick) at the bottom of the trail and went back up for Round #2. This round: Wild Cherry, Roach…Hjalmar was amused while I spent a lot of time riding of my front wheel and sometimes with only one foot on the pedal! It’s been so long since I’ve ridden these trails, I was reminded of just how much they are. Hjalmar really enjoyed Cypress…wished he could stay longer, he could ride so much more…..

Until tomorrow,

b