Why Two Road Trips Are Better Than One! Whistler 2017

Whistler Bike Park IS everything they say it is and more for a mountain biker.  It is the gold standard of bike parks for good reason.  This was my first trip to Whistler.  The Old Men went last year, but I broke my ankle riding at Alsea Falls three days before our scheduled trip.  So my Suburban went, but I didn't.

I wasn't sure what to expect on this second road trip of 2017.  You watch the videos and you think only the pros ride Whistler, but that isn't the case.  I saw every age from ripping 5 year olds on mini full suspension bikes to senior citizen ladies on dual crowns.

The trail system is well marked with names and colors.  A green run is a green run, very easy, blue more difficult and black and double black are just that.  They also have every trail on the map listed in a table of progression.  So you can start at the top with the easiest green run and progress your way down to the double blacks over time.

This was a very different trip than Moab.  While we still had the same Suburban, we only had to drive 8 hours vs. 16.  The riding was just as fun, but it was different doing everything via lift access.  If you were going to ride more than three days, then you could bring your bike and ride some of the great non-lift access trails.  Otherwise the best thing to do is rent a bike there, because your bike will take a beating and renting a nice carbon dual-crown makes the riding so much better.

Whistler can be expensive, but it is Canadian expensive.  A three day bike rental for a carbon dual crown was $290 CAN.  A three day park pass was $186 CAN (an extra $35 for Top of the World). You will also want a full-face helmet, goggles and some body protection (knee pads, elbow pads, armor - depending on the level of riding you will be doing).  I found the food to be very good and reasonably priced all about 60 yards from the lift.  You just don't find all that including the shopping and other activities (zip line, rafting, etc.) all so close in one spot. The nice thing about renting the bike is that you can spray it off and leave it with the shop over night or if you just want to each and shop so you don't have to worry about watching it or locking it up.

Other things to know, first remember your passport as it is required to get in and out of Canada.  Second, at least in the Village their prices are Canadian, but if you give them US cash, they will give you Canadian change, so you will lose money in that exchange. Some things like phone chargers, micro SD cards (for your GoPro) or accessories like that are more expensive because you are stuck there and you need it.  Our condo had a kitchen and there is a nice Market there to buy all you need to make meals "at home."  Finally, things in the village close early.  You can ride (at least when we were there in July) until 8:00 p.m. (lifts open at 10:00 a.m.) which is great (I never made it that long), but almost all the restaurants and shops close at 9:00 p.m. so you have to plan for that.

There is also a professional photographer (bikeparkphotos.com) who posts of list of what trails he will be on at what times each day. So you can ride that trail during that time and see if you like his photo of you.  Three of the ones below are from that site and I've placed some videos on my page at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMkKHTWdQnSsgbMFFIckIDQ

The best part about any road trip is enjoying it with people you like to be around.  This trip had lots of laughs, no broken bones, great riding which gave us a year's worth of stories to share (including staying up way to late to watch Strange Brew, no meat and $30 nachos).

Three in a rippen row

Look Mom, Matching Helmets

You'll be a better jumper when you are done

Magazine Shot

More Jumping

Top of the World with the Boys

Why Mountain Bike Road Trips Are Still Fun - Moab 2017

This has been a very hard winter for even hard core Oregonians.  It has rained almost double a normal year already, which means it has been a hard winter riding season.  The season has also been bad because of all the "targeted" logging that has happened in the last 12 months in the area.  Now that may not be fair assessment, but it seems strange that all the great "unofficial" trails that have been in the Mac for the last 20+ years have been logged, like No Secret, The Plunge and Chuft, Live and let Die for example. This includes the current logging of Tin Can, Brown Knows and South Side Slip. So it has made putting together rides very difficult. Other trails like Narnia, Word and As You Wish have been closed.

So the OMMBC went on a road trip, which we do every year about this time because we are tired of riding in the mud, wet and cold.  Every other year we pile in the Suburban, drive 16 hours and ride in the sun, warmth and rocks of Moab.  This was that year and this is why Road Trips are still fun.

Road trips are still fun if you are with a group of guys (or girls) that get along.  When you are in close quarters for that long, personalities have to mess.  You are sitting for long hours in a car, sleeping in hotels or bunks, buying groceries and riding.  Under those conditions quirks can get blown into issues that could damage relationships if not kept in check.  So choosing your trip mates needs to be considered. I'm lucky enough to have 15 to 20 guys that could fit into that category.  And this year six of the best went with me.

Road Trips are still fun because riding new or trails you ride only once a year is one of the best things about mountain biking.  Road trips put you on trails different from your regular home rides and many times in conditions you don't normally ride.  For example, in Oregon the trails are mostly under a forest canopy with more roots and logs than rocks.  Moab is the opposite, it is all about rocks, drops and slick rock. This change in conditions improves your riding which can make riding more fun when you get back.

Road Trips are still fun because you get to see new places, eat at new places, visit new bike shops and laugh a lot.  The beauty of a riding a mountain bike is that you have to be in the moment, which means you can't think about work or any other worries back home.  It is said that roadies are always training and mountain bikers are always smiling.  I think that is true, and Moab put a lot of  smiles on our faces.  From the quesadilla food truck to Milt's and from Poison Spider to Chili Pepper Moab is a fun place to be off the bike too.  You know it is a good trip when you forget what day it is.

 

So if you get a chance to go on a Road Trip do it (and take lots of pictures and video)!  It will give you a break from the routine, make you feel like a kid again and make you a better rider.  Now go ride!

Here is the URL to one of our videos from this trip.  Porcupine Rim Trail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K78pS95Fp2w

The Winter of 2017 - Please End

It has been a very long a non-typical winter in Corvallis this year.  For example, the normal average rain fall for February at the Portland Airport is 3".  This past February they got over 10".  Here in Corvallis has been no different.  We have received large amounts of rain and even snow (on more than one occasion) at higher elevations.  This along with the "appears" to be "targeted logging" of areas where non-official trails live and the closing of Starker land has really created a miserable time of riding.

With that said, there have been bright spots.  Riding in the snow is unique and fun (until it gets to deep or iced over).  Some of the trails have held up well and provide great "muddy" conditions that are rideable. Sometimes you just need to get out and ride "Dan's and Horse" just to get out. It is getting lighter longer and Spring is almost here, which means Summer is just around the corner!