Whistler Day 18

James and Tom Joyride, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

July 30th
Bear sitings = 3
Replacement parts = 1 (Chain device CK)
Kms ridden= 69km
Picture = James and Tom from helmet cam footage

Yesterday it rained all day. We did not ride at all so I worked. The trails really needed the rain so we kinda wanted it but it was frustrating not to be able to get out and ride at all. (Of course we could have ridden but after great weather and dry trails its not tempting to ride slippy wet roots and mud and get bike and self filthy, plus its good for the trails not to get ripped up when wet).

Today was much better, a little cool but sunny with clouds at the tops of the mountains. We rode the park all day and took some helmet cam footage (to be edited watch this space).

We rode a lot of trails including Crank it up (several times), Schleyer, B-line, Karate Monkey, Upper Joyride (lower was shut), Drop park (I rode the highest drop for first time- double diamond black), Freight Train (I rode the wooden drop, then the next wooden drop and the drop over the rocky section - latter was my first time over that), Dirt Merchant- I rode the first 2 drops but still need to work up to properly hitting the rest of that trail as the jumps are big).

After struggling with my automatic gear changes on my chainrings, I finally decided to get a dual chain tension device from Fanatykco. So that is where my bike is now. The good thing is that thay also adjusted the cones on my new Chris King rear hub that had developed some play already. Good service from this team as I've come to expect but always gives me a feel good factor. Feels like they really care that I get a good ride on the mountain so they'll make sure my bike works just right.

James and I watched the PHAT wednesday race from Longhorns over a beer and then dinner at the apartment was Chilli.

Whistler Day 16

Tom In Dep, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

July 28th
Bear Sitings= 0
Replacement parts=0
Picture = Tom In Deep

James' first day and we rode the park.
Crank it up
B-line to Karate Monkey
Schleyer to Whistler DH
Original Sin-In Deep-Fatcrobat- Too Tight
Freight Train-No Joke-Duffman- Renegade-Dirt Merchant

Whistler Day 15

July 27
Bear sitings = 0
Riding = 0

Today it rained :-(

But the trails needed it.

We watched the Red Bull Round up on Double Vision on the bike park. Alan Hepburn was riding for Banshee so Keith was there to support him. And then Alan came back to stay with us so we all supported too.
The comp was to start at 1 but was rained off til about 3pm. The last jump to the finish line was a huge box over a gap to a steep transition. Most of the riders looked nervy about it. In the comp most of those who jumped it did not pull a trick until the last few riders. Some did not jump it at all. Well the riders were aged 14-21 so not surprising.

It was not a great spectator event, mainly due to the rain and not knowing what was going on in the competition i.e. who was leading etc. The coverage of Day 1 looked much more exciting in a Vancouver film set that looked like 1930 Chicago where they built up a bunch of stunts. The Red Bull truck was really cool, big black old jeep with LCD screens that protrude out and big sound systems, speakers that looked like old jerry cans for gas/petrol.

I definitely missed riding today and can't wait to get out tomorrow now the loose trails have been dampened down.

James arrived from UK and with Alan here there are now 5 in our 2 bed place.

Whistler Day 13

CK gets air, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

July 25

Bear sitings = 3
Replacement parts = 0
Kms= 30
Working hours = 0.5
Playing hours = 8
Picture = Whistler Dirt Jumps

Long sleep in today after a long week and a late night watching Batman- Dark Knight, plus I'm not working today.

This morning we went dirt jumping. I just went to take photos but ended up having a go on the small ones as you can see I even got 2 wheels in the air and in fact I cleared a couple of the table tops.

Keith went for the big ones and got a lot more air on his Banshee Amp dirt bike. Even tweaking it up a little.

Tom took a good crash which I missed as did the camera and he is nursing a grazed and bruised hip and calf, but he got back on his bike and still managed some good air.

We watched Battlestar Galactica as Tom is hooked on it and is educating Keith and I but we have a couple of series to catch up on. Then we mooched in town for lunch at Behind the Grind and to buy a Dakine tailgate cover from Summit.

Finally we took a late run up the mountain bike park, Tom and Keithon their hardtails we did a no pedalling race down EZ does it - I was miles behind on my big bike, then we did B-line finishing on Monkey ~Hands and GLC drop and that pommeled their arms and legs to bits so they gave in and went for some anaesthetic at the GLC- i.e. Beers and Nachos.

Guillame (a Banshee Scythe owner from France) and I went back up and rode Crank it up twice top to bottom and I cleared every tabletop and it felt good, so floaty in the air and flowy on the ground hitting thos down transitions. I finished with a rund down B-line into Karate Monkey, World cup singletrack, A-line, Hornet and GLC drop.

Tonight stir fry in and another Battlestar Galactica.

I'm back on holiday now! :-)

Whistler Day 12

Kill me Thrill me, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

Bear sitings = 0
Crash replacements = 0
Birthdays = 1 (Keith's 25th)
Trails ridden = Kill me Thrill me (pictured)
Movie = Dark Knight (Batman)

Work hours = 9
Play hours = 3.5

Dinner = Earls steak



More news and video to come re this trail

Whistler Day 10

River runs thru it- Log bridge, originally uploaded by kendyck1.

July 22 2008
Bear Sitings = 0
Replacement parts = 0
Work hours= 10
Play hours = 2
Trail =River runs thru it
Picture = Log bridge

Movie= Snakes on a plane

Whistler Day 9

July 21
Bear Sitings = 2
Replacement parts = 1 (Tom's hardtail cranks)
Kms= 12
Work hours completed= 10
Riding hrs = 1.75

No pics today 'cos - Today I worked! Well it wasn't so hard to do as it means I'm saving my real riding days for when my ankle is better.

I took a quick ride round Lost Lake singletrack this evening and it was a great hot evening, sunny but a bit of breeze at the tops. My Cove G-spot is a little heavy (almost 40lbs)for cross- country style single track but I managed to climb most of the short rock infested climbs and it was a good workout for legs and lungs. The downs were of course a dream and with all this suspension my ankle felt just as good as usual except I made sure I did not plant it on anything less than level when I had to dab or get off.

On my way back a cyclist from the gravel paths nearby shouted for me to stop as there was a bear on my trail walking towards me. I froze still and watched it and it watched me back considering whether to walk towards me or away. It seemed like ages it was looking at me then eventually it sprinted and then wandered off away. Unfortunately that was the way the trail went so I followed it in trepidation but it was gone.

I was a little more bear aware after that but stuck to the singletrack and 2 mins later I disturbed another bear at the left of my trail and he got up and sprinted away so noisily that it startled me but I kept riding and he never looked like heading my way. Boy they do move fast and if they wanted to could have sprinted my way very swiftly- fortunately I'm not tasty to them so I'm glad they took off. My heart was raised and I sprinted on down the rocky downhill and fun woodwork and it was quite surreal to 10mins later be cycling the valley trail past people in the bike skills area and skate park and dirt jumps oblivious of the bears I had seen. We live side by side and blissfully unaware of each other's presence so much of the time.

Keith cooked a great pasta bake tonight and educated me on how he designs bikes, I was fascinated. Hopefully I'll get to demo one or some of them to understand how the science transfers to the ride feel. For a work day what a great day! Working again tomorrow.