Cycling Thread

[Bigtime]

After the beautiful weather of last week these first two days have been a chore, but I've hauled my butt onto the bike both mornings. Break day tomorrow, and then that delightful rain/snow mix forecast for Thursday...

[GGG]

Has highwood pass melted out yet. I know its usually end of May but with this Spring is it in condition yet?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by GGG

Has highwood pass melted out yet. I know its usually end of May but with this Spring is it in condition yet?

It is clear

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

You must have a good alternative? My alternative is the bus. Not taknig it is motivation enough for me to ride.

I can drive, free parking. My commute is stupidly long (26km one way) so it's easy for me to make excuses. Wish I still was downtown, would be much tougher to make excuses then.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by GGG

Has highwood pass melted out yet. I know its usually end of May but with this Spring is it in condition yet?

I rode it on Saturday, no snow on the road at all!

[Fuzz]

Ah yes, all factors for you. My commute is only 6km, so I've got far fewer excuses.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ah yes, all factors for you. My commute is only 6km, so I've got far fewer excuses.

I just need to stop being a lazy dick.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by habernac

I can drive, free parking. My commute is stupidly long (26km one way) so it's easy for me to make excuses. Wish I still was downtown, would be much tougher to make excuses then.

when I worked downtown my commute was that long - I used to limit my riding to the nicer days, and the most I could ever do was 4 days in a week and it was a tough ride home on the Friday......

my commute is now 17 kms - still hard to do for a full five days though as life gets in the way.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by habernac

I can drive, free parking. My commute is stupidly long (26km one way) so it's easy for me to make excuses. Wish I still was downtown, would be much tougher to make excuses then.

Yeah, my commute is that long and when I see the weather dude forecast 50 km/hr north winds in the afternoon I just don't feel like tackling that battle.

[Northendzone]

as of now the wind is favourable for me for the ride home

[Fuzz]

Strong NE wind, should be a good day for you, Bigtime! I suffered a bit.

[Bigtime]

That's two days in a row with a nice tailwind for the ride home. I'm gonna pay for it at some point!

[phaneuf_train]

I've ridden around most of West Bragg now. Looking to venture out to other areas and find some fun jumps and whatnot. Is family guy a good trail to ride up? and what routes do people usually take?

[taco.vidal]

RIP

1989-2016
Canadian Downhill Legend Steve Smith Dies at 26 | Rider’s drive, determination and love for living will be remembered by all those whose paths he crossed

World Cup sensation Steve Smith passed away this afternoon after suffering a massive brain injury resulting from an enduro motorcycle accident in his hometown of Nanaimo, British Columbia. He was 26 years old.

“Today we lost a great person, who taught me about myself and influenced many,” says Devinci Global Racing Team Manager, Gabe Fox. “Stevie was a fierce competitor, an honest friend and a rider who made me proud on countless occasions. I am honoured to consider him my friend for so long.”

Smith hailed from Vancouver Island, where he sharpened his mountain biking skills on the rainforest trails of Mt. Prevost. A force on the Canadian downhill racing scene for years, he became an international household name in 2013 after pocketing World Cup wins at Leogang, Hafjell, and Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. Those efforts culminated in the World Cup Overall Title the same year—downhill racing’s ultimate achievement.

Smith is revered by fellow competitors and loved by friends, family and fans, who’ve been following what had been an explosive start to the 2016 season. Pushing past injuries that led to consecutive sidelined seasons, The Canadian Chainsaw was back in podium form this past April for the UCI WC Mountain Bike opener in Lourdes, France, where he finished in second place.

A driven athlete and fierce competitor, Smith was humble and grounded off the track. He was a notable influence on all young and aspiring Canadian gravity racers and others around the world. He was also a key mentor to friend and DGR teammate, Mark Wallace.

“I would not be anywhere on the bike without Steve,” Wallace says. “Most importantly he taught me to be confident in my abilities, race my bike properly and take risks. As training partners, we pushed each other to the limit."

At home, in his close-knit Vancouver Island community, Smith was known as a consummate outdoorsman. This is where he spent time fishing, camping, and sinking birdie putts on the golf course. His spirit was infectious and inspirational. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his close family and those he positively affected. Steve Smith is survived by his devoted mother, Tiann, sister, Kara, his uncle, Eric, niece and nephew, Myla and Luke, grandmother, Judi, and girlfriend, Caily Schenkeveld.

His family remembers him as a great warrior.

“Steve was the most successful Canadian Gravity Racer of all time,” Fox says. “His passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts here at Devinci.”

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 21 at 1 p.m. at the Vancouver Island Convention Centre in Nanaimo, B.C. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the “Stevie Smith Legacy Fund” at www.gofundme.com/23k7fus. Funds will be earmarked for a Tiann Smith initiative, assisting talented young athletes.

[millhouse11]

Originally Posted by phaneuf_train

I've ridden around most of West Bragg now. Looking to venture out to other areas and find some fun jumps and whatnot. Is family guy a good trail to ride up? and what routes do people usually take?

Moose Mountain parking at bottom. Take Pneuma up to Race of Spades and do that trail. You would use Pneuma to get to Family Guy as well.

[habernac]

back in the saddle this morning. Brrr. Going to make up for my week of sloth with a long one on Saturday.

[worth]

Put a deposit down on a Surly Disc Trucker.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by millhouse11

Moose Mountain parking at bottom. Take Pneuma up to Race of Spades and do that trail. You would use Pneuma to get to Family Guy as well.

been reading reports of a new trail called 727 - the map is on trailforks

http://www.trailforks.com/region/west-bragg-creek/

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

been reading reports of a new trail called 727 - the map is on trailforks

http://www.trailforks.com/region/west-bragg-creek/

Heard about that the other day, might check it out next week.

Random fact - it's actually 7-27 (Pronounced "Seven of Twenty-Seven"). Same as the naming convention of the Shell well site there (and LSD).

[Bigtime]

Thoughts on riding tomorrow morning? Forecast looking like a mix of rain/snow around 6am with a temp around 2 degrees. Looks like it will change to rain later for a wet ride home around 5-6 degrees.

I've got all the rain gear and warm enough clothing for the morning ride so I'm considering going for it. Still may wait until I wake up and look outside to see what condition the pavement looks like.