Boyne Mt Biking on my to do list?

#1

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8/19/09 at 1:18pm

Trekchick
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Notice the question mark on the title?
I had a goal of going to Boyne to do some lift served down hill mt biking this summer.
The summer is getting away from me and my August has back to back events that will keep me from joining Volklgirl and her crew on a trip to Boyne this weekend.

After seeing this video I'm not so sure I'm eager to check this off my to do list....
Holy Crap!

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/-mtb-boyne-highlands-footage-goodspeed/11551128

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#2

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8/19/09 at 1:29pm

bumpfreaq
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Hmmm, I know we've talked about riding there before but at this point I think it would put my ski season in more jeopardy than I'm comfortable with. Good on those guys for rippin' it that hard though. On the other hand if they'd like some tips on putting a decent soundtrack together, I'd take 'em to school =)

My dog loves the bumps too.
-melpark

#3

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8/19/09 at 6:30pm

Trekchick
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BF, thanks for the comfort that I'm not just a big wuss. At least I'm wuss with company.

You're sooooo right about the soundtrack......you could rip some tunes that would do that terrain some justice.

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#4

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8/19/09 at 6:37pm

at_nyc
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Huh?

Lift-served mountain biking? I don't see a lift...

#5

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8/19/09 at 6:59pm

BushwackerinPA
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Quote:

Originally Posted by at_nyc

Huh?

Lift-served mountain biking? I don't see a lift...

who would video tape the lift ride.....

"Trading the future for the moment, one powder turn at a time"

pbfootnit.blogspot.com/ <<< the start of something good!

#6

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8/19/09 at 7:46pm

at_nyc
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But it wasn't much "mountain" biking either. Where's the "mountain"? I don't even see a "hill". For all its worth, it could have been on a XC course, or someone's backyard!

I guess my point is, the video has nothing to do with what's fun (or dangerous) about "lift served mountain biking" at all!

#7

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8/20/09 at 3:38am

telerod15
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Chairlifts enhance the mountainbike experience much as they do skiing, if to a lesser degree. One reason more skiers don't 'earn their turns' is because climbing takes so long. I've never tried ski touring but I understand you climb for hours to descend in minutes. When I mountain biked, I was pretty tired after 2 or 3 hours. Most of that time was spent climbing. With a chairlift, I could ride for 5+ hours, with a different balance of climbing/descending.

I'd always pedal to the top once (1000 vert), with some detours on side trails. I roamed around on the intermediate XC style terrain which involved rolling terrain, some long climbs, and switchbacks (I love, don't see many of those around here). I also rode the steeper DH type runs (they didn't have any of those crazy North Shore style ramps). I still got as much climbing in as I would have without the lift, but I spent an equal amount of time going downhill.

It's a little bit decadent to drive to a bike ride, but once you've leaped that hurdle, what's so bad about a 1000 vertical foot skitch every hour or so? Makes for a fun day, and it only has to be as extreme as you make it.

#8

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8/20/09 at 4:15am

BushwackerinPA
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Quote:

Originally Posted by at_nyc

But it wasn't much "mountain" biking either. Where's the "mountain"? I don't even see a "hill". For all its worth, it could have been on a XC course, or someone's backyard!

I guess my point is, the video has nothing to do with what's fun (or dangerous) about "lift served mountain biking" at all!

its fun to these kids. I dont know why it wouldnt be fun for you..... Not dangerous? strong words from someone who hasnt posted one bit of stoke up in this forum. Let see you launch a 10 foot drop and land. Heck I liked to see you launch a 2-4 foot drop. Come to think of it I am only the one in here who has posted any pics of me or anyone else doing drop from my own personal videos. Mine are normally taken from trail rides though so they are hardly 'core" like what other can do.

Mountian biking is such a misnomer as well. You dont need a Mountain to have fun all terrain biking. ATB is a much term IMO.

TC I think the videos looked fun, these kids must really like drop and skinnies. decent skill, would of like to some turn railage as well. If you end up going I highly recommend renting or demoing a slacker heavier bike than your trek. Can you ride it on your trek sure but its like taking XC skate skis to ride lifts.

"Trading the future for the moment, one powder turn at a time"

pbfootnit.blogspot.com/ <<< the start of something good!

#9

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8/20/09 at 4:32am

epic
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Here's a suggetin TC - read my and Phil's Highland TR, then google "Highland Freeride" or something like that. You'll probably find videos like you just posted. Point being, it's not the easy trails that make it to the video.

#10

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8/20/09 at 7:52am

at_nyc
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Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

its fun to these kids. I dont know why it wouldnt be fun for you..... Not dangerous? strong words from someone who hasnt posted one bit of stoke up in this forum. Let see you launch a 10 foot drop and land. Heck I liked to see you launch a 2-4 foot drop. Come to think of it I am only the one in here who has posted any pics of me or anyone else doing drop from my own personal videos. Mine are normally taken from trail rides though so they are hardly 'core" like what other can do.

You're totally missing the point of my post. There're funs in needle-knitting too!

To site a run on a man-made ramp as an example of "lift-served mountain biking" is like saying freeskiing with a snowblade!

It may be fun, but it's irrelavent.

#11

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8/20/09 at 8:52am

epic
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Quote:

Originally Posted by at_nyc

You're totally missing the point of my post

That's easy enough to do. It sounds like you are disputing that the video shows lift-served mountain biking. They didn't video tape the lift ride. Can we assume that they are not lying to us and they really dod ride the lift to get up above their man-made ramps? Is the video representative of all lift-served mountain biking? No. Is it representative of at least some of what is offered at Boyne MOuntain? I'm gonna say yes. I also think Trekchick could go there and ride the lift and have a much different experience than what is shown in the video.

What is your point anyway?

#12

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8/20/09 at 9:14am

Trekchick
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Quote:

Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

its fun to these kids. I dont know why it wouldnt be fun for you..... Not dangerous? strong words from someone who hasnt posted one bit of stoke up in this forum. Let see you launch a 10 foot drop and land. Heck I liked to see you launch a 2-4 foot drop. Come to think of it I am only the one in here who has posted any pics of me or anyone else doing drop from my own personal videos. Mine are normally taken from trail rides though so they are hardly 'core" like what other can do.

Mountian biking is such a misnomer as well. You dont need a Mountain to have fun all terrain biking. ATB is a much term IMO.

TC I think the videos looked fun, these kids must really like drop and skinnies. decent skill, would of like to some turn railage as well. If you end up going I highly recommend renting or demoing a slacker heavier bike than your trek. Can you ride it on your trek sure but its like taking XC skate skis to ride lifts.

Thanks BWPA. I have considered renting an actual downhill bike if/when I get into the gnarlier terrain.
I've ridden some mt bike parks that have some significant terrain with obstacles which I've done fairly well on.
I think I could easily do the modest terrain on my Fuel, which I may try when my schedule permits.

I promise, its not just....

Quote:

Originally Posted by epic

Here's a suggetin TC - read my and Phil's Highland TR, then google "Highland Freeride" or something like that. You'll probably find videos like you just posted. Point being, it's not the easy trails that make it to the video.

I think I'll go on an adventure to Boyne's lift served and do some modest terrain, possibly working my way up to this stuff, eh?

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#13

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8/20/09 at 1:18pm

at_nyc
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Quote:

Originally Posted by epic

I also think Trekchick could go there and ride the lift and have a much different experience than what is shown in the video.

What is your point anyway?

My point is TC could go there and VERY LIKELY have a much different experience than what's shown in the video.

#14

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8/20/09 at 1:55pm

telerod15
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Those ramps are cool.

I had a season pass at Whitetail the first couple of years they were open. I was happy on a hardtail with less than two inches fork travel. That was a long time ago, Within a few years, the downhillers had skidded all the dirt off the steep parts, and those trails became unrideable for me, and my beloved switchbacks were being cut off making new ugly fall line alternatives.

But I could still go the long way 'round the switchbacks and enjoy the tight turns, and the blue runs remained quite nice. The climbable uphills were on the blue trails and the wildlife. I saw deer, turkeys and a rattlesnake on the more remote sections far from the lift and downhillers.

Downhillers, I would see them walking short non-technical, not steep uphill sections. They never got close to the real climbs. If that's your thing, go to a lift served trail network, but even if you are more of an XC rider you might enjoy it. I did.

#15

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8/20/09 at 2:18pm

4ster
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Quote:

I had a season pass at Whitetail the first couple of years they were open.

Kinda selfish really when you think of the environmental impact

.

I'm thinking about having my Bike builder make me a purple DH bike. Model name, Sour Grapes.

"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."

David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview

#16

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8/20/09 at 4:21pm

telerod15
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Well, at least I wasn't using man-made snow, like the many years I had winter season pass there. The impact in summer seems a little bit less because of that, plus it was much easier to find someone to share the ride.

I already admitted it was decadent to drive to a bike ride. Isn't riding a lift that is going to run anyway less of a concern? The grapes aren't sour because I don't have fat skis or squishy bike. My gear will get me anywhere I want to go, snow or dirt. I'm happy on skinny skis and rigid bikes.

#17

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8/20/09 at 5:10pm

4ster
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Quote:

Originally Posted by telerod15

Well, at least I wasn't using man-made snow, like the many years I had winter season pass there. The impact in summer seems a little bit less because of that, plus it was much easier to find someone to share the ride.

I already admitted it was decadent to drive to a bike ride. Isn't riding a lift that is going to run anyway less of a concern? The grapes aren't sour because I don't have fat skis or squishy bike. My gear will get me anywhere I want to go, snow or dirt. I'm happy on skinny skis and rigid bikes.

No need to defend yourself T-rod. I was simply making a sarcastic comment (I even used the little winky face) to counter your sarcastic comment in the other thread. I do have fat skis & a squishy bike, but I was also happy for many years on skinny skis & rigid bikes. I am also perfectly happy hiking for turns, but I'm happier in a helicopter! I've done the lift access biking thing too, but like you, it just doesn't do it for me. To each his own

.
JF

"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."

David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview

#18

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8/21/09 at 5:08pm

telerod15
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I don't do it for you? Well that's OK with me.

I happen to like lift accessed mt. biking, but as you say, "To each his own."

I didn't mean to get defensive. I wasn't really trying to justify my actions by admitting to worse...
No remorse for the heli-skiing? If you want to offset your carbon footprint by helping support a human-powered freight delivery operation in your nation's capital, let me know. ;)

#19

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8/21/09 at 5:40pm

4ster
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Quote:

No remorse for the heli-skiing?

Not really, at least no more than eating a mega slice of chocalate cake. It's not like I get to do it very often, but if I get the chance I'm gonna jump on.
I do my best to minimize my carbon footprint in my own way (my car hasn't been out of the garage in a week) & do my part whenever possible.
I am all for human powered freight delivery, big trucks scare the crap out of me

!
JF

"Apparently, a person who dives headfirst down an icy cliff wearing a spandex jumpsuit is supposed to celebrate with a nice glass of tea."

David Fehrety on Bode Millers 60 minutes interview

#20

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8/22/09 at 2:05pm

telerod15
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I took a quiz and it seems if everyone lived like I do, we would need 2 1/2 times the resources that our planet can provide and there weren't even any questions about my use of man-made snow or chairlifts!

So I don't really have any carbon credits to sell. Just trying to scam you.

I guess I wouldn't turn down a helicopter ride, but at least I'd feel guilty about it. Well, probably not while skiing down, but maybe later...

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