Best spot for dh/fr in the midwest?

[mountaincyclerulz]

Best spot for dh/fr in midwest?? What do u think?? I really haven't been that many places(lutsen and the shore, spirit, and twin cities urban) but I have to say marquette, mi hands down for me atleast. They have the best stunts and the buffest singletrack I've shredded down.

[manual63]

For Urban TC and the U are pretty good. So are some spots in St. Paul. I am doing some searching in the Edina and Bloomington areas and I see some cool stuff here and there. As far as downhill....I think Steeplechase (or however you spell it) is going to be the place. They are planning on building a downhill and freeride course this summer.

Keep an eye out, we post up rides here often.

[mountaincyclerulz]

Yeah man, I been on a few urban rides around the U and downtown minneaplois. I have never rode with a group though, but I want to cuz I know I have only scratched the surface. You guys probably know most of the stuff to hit down there huh? I will be coming down there one of these weekends as soon as I get my car fixed and hopefully hook up with some guys and throw down!! My hardtail isn't beefed up enough so I'll bring the dh bike. She rides like a caddie. And I can, "say curb, what curb?" I also like riding the big full sus cuz you can ride up the stairs an jump off the top w/speed. Anyways look for some big drops we can hit too!!

[TML]

. . . but I have to say marquette, mi hands down for me atleast. They have the best stunts and the buffest singletrack I've shredded down.

Agreed. I don't hit the real hairy stuff, but I'll have to say from what I've seen, and ridden, the riding there is stellar. Across the board too. DH, Freeride, gorgeous singletrack, they got it.

It'll be cool to see what happens around here though with DH and FR. We've got some great people involved who are really making some things happen.

[sirhc]

Coming from marquette, I'm a little biased, but nothing i've seen around here so far can compare to the DH and FR around there. I'm hoping that steeplechase turns out though. And if anyone wants to go for a drive up to marquette, I've got a place to stay and know the good stuff, so just let me know.

chris

[Buck]

Coming from marquette, I'm a little biased, but nothing i've seen around here so far can compare to the DH and FR around there. I'm hoping that steeplechase turns out though. And if anyone wants to go for a drive up to marquette, I've got a place to stay and know the good stuff, so just let me know.

chris

We will also be working on some stuff at Spirit, I'm heading that up, I'd love to get you up there and help out with some trail planning if you'd like!

THanks
L8R
Buck

[sirhc]

Sounds like fun, but the 29 credits this summer might get in the way. I haven't built trails before, but I'm usually full of ideas. If i could make it too help I definetly would.
chris

[devo kenivel]

where is this steeplechase place?

[Thewavebb]

where is this steeplechase place?

It is a ski hill near Rochester sorta. Here is the link to the "location" page on their webpage. http://www.skisteeplechase.com/location.htm

[thebionicman]

where is this steeplechase place?

It took me about 1:15 to get there from St Louis Park.

[devo kenivel]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm suprised I haven't heard of it. I've snowboarded what I've thought was pretty much everywhere in Minnesota. So what's the deal, are they gonna have downhill mountain biking there? That's kinda the rumor but I dunno how much it's true and is it even a good place potentially. I ride lutsen quite a bit so I really only have that to gauge it on.


Thanks
Devon

[Buck]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm suprised I haven't heard of it. I've snowboarded what I've thought was pretty much everywhere in Minnesota. So what's the deal, are they gonna have downhill mountain biking there? That's kinda the rumor but I dunno how much it's true and is it even a good place potentially. I ride lutsen quite a bit so I really only have that to gauge it on.


Thanks
Devon

Yes there will be DH, I walked the trail with Erik, sadly enough it'll have way less elevation then Luten but the trail will be way better. Cuz insead of a 4 wheel trail they let bikes on, it'll be a purpose built DH course.

L8R
Buck

[devo kenivel]

Well Buck, if you have anything to do with the trail please make them how we all like....You know the "dave's glade" style that I'm really good at falling on. Jumps, super flowy, maybe even some elevated stuff, etc. You know how it goes.

Later

[Buck]

hahahah, what are talking about man, we have to expert trail builders coming to show us what's up plus our input. The trail school will be awesome!!!! Don't worry I already requested waist high berms on all corners and some flowy rollers with rock gardens sprinkled in there...it'll be awesome!
L8R

Buck

[Beau]

I already requested waist high berms on all corners
Buck

Berms on a DH course:zzz: , It's suppose to be natural. Berms are for wussies:laugh:

[Buck]

Berms on a DH course:zzz: , It's suppose to be natural. Berms are for wussies:laugh:

hahaha, we don't HAVE to build them, but we can if we want :laugh: i hope...

[devo kenivel]

wait, wait....berms for wussies. that's funny, the way i see it berms equal speed and i don't remember the last time a wussie wanted more speed :) i like the rollers and rock garden aspect. do you know how many runs there will be and will it be lift accessible. i'm assuming it would be.

[Buck]

Couldn't tell ya I didn't start this project Tim did. Here is what I know. THe DH course will be built, along with the XC stuff....from there the way I understand it is both of those need to be done before we can start working on FR stuff. The DS course will be built at another time...(hopefully with a bobcat or two) but that really isn't up to me!!! Lift operations are still up in the air as far as I know. I think they are waiting to see what kinda turnout there is and stuff like that!
L8R
Buck

[devo kenivel]

Hey Buck, do you know what the deal with Spirit and Afton are? IE - Spirit and Afton gonna open a downhill course with lifts and when. I'm asking you cuz you seem to be the person who knows about these things. I heard that Afton and Spirit are but didn't know when or if it was gonna happen.
Thanks

[Buck]

Hey Devo,

Here is the deal, I've heard a few rumors about Afton, but that is all, I've asked around and no one really knows. Seems like there may be some interest. (hint: maybe a solid group of us(gravity riders) should approach them with a good solid plan???

As for Spirit, I am working on the new DH course starting on Friday, things are still really wet up here though. Along with that I got the go ahead for one or two FRy kinda of trails. I want to get the DH course done 1st. The plan I have with spirit is to get of the 2 trails done, then advertise and spread it around and turn the lifts on for say a Saturday, that day will determine what route Spirit goes with keeping the lifts on. Lucky for you guys, I'm also running the Greenman DH race, I got the price dropped down to like $50 day of and that gets you TWO days of lift operation on Spirit(Fri/Sat).

We have Brad Miller working with Lutsen as well, he'll be cuttin' a few new lines that are DH specific with the help of Brad Resch of Pioneer Cycle and his crew, I'm glad that I can say all these people will soon be IMBA trained as well!

Hope that answered your questions, if you have any more post them on up!

L8R
Buck

[Buck]

Here are some pics of a Rock Gardn I found to run the lower part of the course through. SHould be fun, pics don't do it justice, it is going to be a pretty tough section especially with that head pile of boulders in the middle of the trail...:evil:

Looking up soon to be DH trail after some cleaning up and some new rock placing...see where I am standing that will be the entrance point to the rocks, ooo, fun, nothing like slippery rocks!!!!
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Buck0250/IMG_1376.jpg

Pile of rocks/boulders I am running the trail over, have fun with this one...she's going to be tough
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Buck0250/IMG_1379.jpg

And a view of looking down the on to the DH trail, looks way more tough in person. HUGE gaps btw rock, the leaves and sticks have kind of filled them in, that will all be removed...
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Buck0250/IMG_1381.jpg


Enjoy, hopefully I'll have some pics of it all cleaned out in the near future!!!

L8R
Buck

[gordanfreeman]

wow that looks sweet :crazy2:

[Beau]

wait, wait....berms for wussies. that's funny, the way i see it berms equal speed and i don't remember the last time a wussie wanted more speed

I don't need berms to go fast through turns........:cool:

[Buck]

I don't need berms to go fast through turns........:cool:

hahahaha...:eyeroll: ...berms = flow = fun = speed = fun = tech = no flow = no berms = fun too HA! explain that one! :p

L8R
Buck

[Beau]

hahahaha...:eyeroll: ...berms = flow = fun = speed = fun = tech = no flow = no berms = fun too HA! explain that one! :p

L8R
Buck

ThaT WAS THE BEST EXPLANATION i HAVE EVER HEARD:laugh:

[devo kenivel]

Righhhht. Whatever any of that means anyway. I'm assuming that you're saying as long as you're on a bike it's fun. But just an FYI, berms do rule :)
Devo

[Buck]

Righhhht. Whatever any of that means anyway. I'm assuming that you're saying as long as you're on a bike it's fun. But just an FYI, berms do rule :)
Devo

BINGO my friend! every trail should be different wether it be fast and smooth, fast and tech, slow and tech, or up in the trees!!! I like them all, I'll build them all!!!!

L8R
Buck

[manual63]

BINGO my friend! every trail should be different wether it be fast and smooth, fast and tech, slow and tech, or up in the trees!!! I like them all, I'll build them all!!!!

L8R
Buck

This is a good point. Variety is what really makes a trail fun. If the whole trail is the same, then it can get boring. I like flow sections that are fast, but I also like slow tech sections that require balance and a bit of strategy. So if I can go to one place and get both....I am very happy........see....I am smiling....:)

[Buck]

This is a good point. Variety is what really makes a trail fun. If the whole trail is the same, then it can get boring. I like flow sections that are fast, but I also like slow tech sections that require balance and a bit of strategy. So if I can go to one place and get both....I am very happy........see....I am smiling....:)

I don't know about that, but when I get a trail done at Spirit I hope it does what I envision as far getting techy DH features to work with berms, jumps and flow...if it doesn't flow together I'll start over till I think the flow is good!

DH COURSES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FAST = HIGH CONSEQUENCE RIDING = FUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

L8R
Buck

[Beau]

DH COURSES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FAST = HIGH CONSEQUENCE RIDING = FUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

L8R
Buck

Hum? There were a few sections at the White Knuckle that were kind of slow, but were still a blast. Lets just make Spirit into a fire road downhill, with a long climb at the end!:banana:

[Buck]

Hum? There were a few sections at the White Knuckle that were kind of slow, but were still a blast. Lets just make Spirit into a fire road downhill, with a long climb at the end!:banana:

Yeah I talked to the race director dudes, the new course is going to be WAAAAAAAAY better then last previous years.

L8R
Buck

[MTB4LIFE99]

when is the next trail work day?:confused:

[Buck]

when is the next trail work day?:confused:

For what???
L8R
Buck

[MTB4LIFE99]

i heard that you can do trail work at steeplechase. and i want to help

For what???
L8R
Buck

[Buck]

i heard that you can do trail work at steeplechase. and i want to help

OOOOOh...I see this is the best spot for FR/DH thread just got a little confused there! Check out the rasc website here, have to attend the official trail days. http://www.rasc-mn.org/rasc_mtb.html

Thanks
L8R
Buck