New Feature on the Trail - BEWARE!

[RichZilla]

Beware of FUN!!!

Check this out, it's the first of many major projects to be completed by the new DirtWirx crew. We got the berm from Red Bull that was used in the Ride the Sky Race in February 2007. They donated it to the City of Elk River to be used at the Hillside City Park mountain bike trail. We got that sucka solid as a rock. We had four guys out there bustin tail to make it happen; Joel (my DirtWirx partner) Tony Faust, Jimmy and myself. Thanks guys! The photos are a bit crummy because I used my camera phone and forgot to wipe all the schmutz off the lense.:banghead: I guess you'll just have to get out there and see it for yourself for a better view! THANKS TO BUCK AND RED BULL!!!

This is what the corner looked like before the berm was installed.
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/539/Resize_of_IMG00008.jpg

The view from the trail surface looking into the entry of the berm.
http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/539/Resize_of_IMG00010.jpg

A closer view.
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/images/statusicon/wol_error.gifThis image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 640x512 and weights 275KB.http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/539/Resize_of_IMG00013.jpg

Tony Faust getting the first test-ride of the berm for preliminary feedback.
http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/images/statusicon/wol_error.gifThis image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 640x512 and weights 303KB.http://www.morcmtb.org/photopost/data/539/Resize_of_IMG00009.jpg

If you're a regular at the trail, you can probably figure out from the photos where it was placed. (look into the background) We located it for easy access of "sessioning". You could easily get right to it without riding any of the XC trail. We may even build in a return loop for more fun.

When you go out to ride this feature, ease into it until you figure out the proper line. Start slow and hit it a few times to find the sweet spot. Too much speed and not enough experience, and you'll get bucked off like a tired cowboy. The original trail is still 100% intact. It runs just inside the berm, so if you don't want to hit it you can still ride the same exact line that's been there for years. This is just a new option for riders with advanced skills.

[gopherhockey]

Nice work - looks like a lot of fun! Gotta get myself back out to Hillside soon!

[Buck]

Hell yeah Rich! Glad you guys found a spot for it!!!

weRd!
Buck

[nigel]

Looks sweet! It'll prolly take me out though, I'm better at left turns :crazy:

[gopherhockey]

Looks sweet! It'll prolly take me out though, I'm better at left turns :crazy:

I am too.. I wonder why that is. A NASCAR thing I think? "go fast, turn left..."

I can't wait to get back up there to try this out. Everyone has been asking for a wood berm for some time now, will be fun to see how well it works.

[nigel]

I am too.. I wonder why that is. A NASCAR thing I think? "go fast, turn left..."

I can't wait to get back up there to try this out. Everyone has been asking for a wood berm for some time now, will be fun to see how well it works.

I'm going to head out and try it Tues or Wed if it's not all wet, anyone wanna join me?

John, never, ever again mention NASCAR to me :nono:

[stoneage]

go fast, turn left
wood berm
I've got everything you need right here. 46°, AND no brakes. What could be more fun? Leave the wood at the drome where it belongs.;)
http://24.118.139.1/~williamoreilly/Onthecurve.jpg

[RichZilla]

I've got everything you need right here. 46°, AND no brakes. What could be more fun? Leave the wood at the drome where it belongs.;)
http://24.118.139.1/~williamoreilly/Onthecurve.jpg

Ha ha ha! I like it!

[xbobeahenx]

Ha ha ha! I like it!

pssst....43 degrees. sorry.:p

I love track.

[stoneage]

pssst....43 degrees. sorry.:p
I love track.
Oops! Sorry. I only made it twice this year. Number was off the top of my head.

p.s. That edit button really does go away fast.

[xbobeahenx]

Oops! Sorry. I only made it twice this year. Number was off the top of my head.

p.s. That edit button really does go away fast.

haha, I know I know. Just felt like giving someone a hard time! but I am way stoked to ride the new feature (well...again, but this time on a trail)

[RichZilla]

Anyone down for some jump build work this week?

Whoa, easy Bob. I forgot to mention to you that the dirt jumps are on the down-low until they are more finished. I don't want everybody and their brother heading out there to find a partially completed park. Then they get a negative vibe right away. We'll have a big grand opening party (with a major sponsor of course!) when it's ready. Until then, we'll just keep working on it. No worries, thanks a ton for the help out there. Feel free to have people help you, just don't post up too much publicly.

WOOOT!!!

[RichZilla]

Looks sweet! It'll prolly take me out though, I'm better at left turns :crazy:

We thought we'd install it in the same direction as it was used in the Ride the Sky Race. Then those 50 riders wouldn't have to learn how to ride it backwards.:p

[rgg2201473]

Rich and all,
That berm looks like a lot of fun. Based on weather predics it looks like we won't get to try it out till this weekend at the earliest. I'm sure Lisa and I will do it many times in a row to get the line down perfect. It's going to fun!!!

Thanks for putting on those races. Lisa and I always have a GREAT time and look forward to them as one of the highlights of our week It's great to see how much work you're putting into the trail and we truly appreciate it.
The prizes were, btw, REALLY impressive! Maybe if Trent (now aka "move-up Trent") moves up, I might sqeeze a third place one day and become a proud owner of one of those good looking prizes.

Thanks for all the great work.

[Lezgo Cycling]

nice job rich....wish I could ahve made it. Hopefully get out ther at least to ride soon though.....thanks for all your hard work at hillside

[goatgirl]

[quote=gopherhockey;246135]"go fast, turn left..."

John,
you are not an ambi-turner?:confused:

Zoolander says he is not an ambiturner (he can't turn left)

[DMonkey]

That looks frig'n awesome!!

Great work guys - I am really look forward to breaking something on that (me or my bike!)

[jitterjepp]

Very nice!

[wildkona]

Where on the trail is this said berm?

[I_Fall_Alot]

I haven't been to Hillside since the duel.

I'll be wearing my O-face when I try this bad-boy out.

http://www.gregpitts.com/siteimages/o-face.jpg

[Danimal]

YOU ALL CAN TRY IT OUT ON OCTOBER 27th at the Hillside Haunt Bike Patrol Fundraiser. Races and family fun begins at 10am!

See flier on the MORC Homepage.

[RichZilla]

Where on the trail is this said berm?

Towards the beginning of section 3.
(Right before another spot that will soon be extensively bermed-up...)

[RichZilla]

YOU ALL CAN TRY IT OUT ON OCTOBER 27th at the Hillside Haunt Bike Patrol Fundraiser. Races and family fun begins at 10am!

See flier on the MORC Homepage.

This is true! It will be the first time since last February that it will see competition action.

Who will be the first to do something spectacular and be captured on film? You KNOW there will be photographers at that spot for this race! (Hint, hint photographers) There are at least 6 different angles to shoot from. There's even an elevated shooting platform to use if your good at climbing trees.:D

[jag]

So when does construction of the replica stair gap from the red bull race start? ;) I know that's what you really want.

[toasthaiku]

Fun! Looks like we're coming back for next year's duathlon.

[RichZilla]

So when does construction of the replica stair gap from the red bull race start? ;) I know that's what you really want.

Hmmmmm. I hadn't thought of that. I don't see any reason why we can't build that along the trail too! (We do have one in the dirt jump area) We could have a very similar down-flat-down somewhere made of 'natural' elements. The upper 'down' section could be a rock garden. The flat and lower 'down' section could be soil or maybe have a corduroy log surface. The benifit of gapping it would be to miss the entire rock garden.:banana:

Now I just have to pick a spot...:cool:

[jag]

sounds good to me.

[manual63]

Nice! I like it. Can't wait to ride it!

[berrywise]

http://www.theharaldsons.com/images/misc/ridethesky01.jpg

Looks familiar :)

[DANW]

Rich,

I tried it out last night. VERY NICE (even though it was a little wet).

I probably shouldn't even have been out there...

[Quanz56]

Sweet! That looks like a blast. I'll probably have to wait until next year to try it out though :banghead:.

And I was reading the thing about hillside in the trailguide and it says a season pass is only $25? Is that for real or a typo? cause that seems really cheap.

Anyway, awsome berm. :banana:

[RichZilla]

...I was reading the thing about hillside in the trailguide and it says a season pass is only $25? Is that for real or a typo? cause that seems really cheap.

That is correct. A season pass is only $25 and it's good for one calendar year. Call them up in the spring (or earlier if you want to do some winter riding) at 763-635-1150 ask them about it. I think you can get it mailed to you.

Ride On.

[Quanz56]

Sweetness :D

I thought the trail closes on Nov 1st and doesn't open up until May 1st? That's what the sign there says anyway.

[RichZilla]

I thought the trail closes on Nov 1st and doesn't open up until May 1st? That's what the sign there says anyway.

The dates on the sign were just a recommendation. Basically if it's not wet enough to cause trail damage, you can ride it. The City of Elk River has approved the winter riding since the sign was put up.