TR: Fuck me.

[Rontele]

The alarm went off on time, Squatch's bus arrived on time, shuttle set up perfectly on time, beautiful morning, cool with a dampness in the air. Ahead of us, 13 miles of perfectly tacky singletrack. Two pedal strokes into the ride and this:

http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-3FFCE55242D411DC.jpg

At this point, I had one of two options. Either call the day an entire wash and sit at the van, or ride chainless for 13 miles. Furious, frustrated, pissed, and angry, I decided for the latter. Definitely a different experience. Pushing uphill was tolerable, I would get pissed when it was flat or rolly cause I couldn't pedal, and going down is well, going down. Riding without a chain definitely teaches you to ride your brakes differently, to corner better, to carry more momentum. I just wasn't hoping for that lesson on this trail. I did, however, get some good pics.

Non-mag Leland absolutely killing it. This kid can just flat out ride a bike.
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-3FFDE01A42D411DC.jpg

I was slightly pissed at this point
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-3FFE363142D411DC.jpg

But glad I didn't bail.
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-3FFE743B42D411DC.jpg

Cause the view of the Gores was sweet
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-3FFEB30042D411DC.jpg

Leland, bombing
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-40003FB742D411DC.jpg

eastvailhucker, near east vail
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-400086BE42D411DC.jpg

steadieflow, steady
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4000C30D42D411DC.jpg

Squatchgina looking awkward as fuck
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4001B6CC42D411DC.jpg

Nice little wheelie by Leland
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4001DCE342D411DC.jpg

eastvailhucker, rocking the tunes, rocking the trail, and enjoying the tackiness of the dirt
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4003404642D411DC.jpg

Eventually, we were spit out in Vail's Back Bowels
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-46E6B16942D411DC.jpg

As the trail snakes away towards the valley floor
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4A61A39842D411DC.jpg

Eventually at the bottom of Blue Sky basin, the trail passes a lift. Without even giving it a second thought, Leland sends this rock :yourock:
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4A62920842D411DC.jpg

Steadieflow embraces the inner roots of his hippy love child and makes love to wildflowers
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-4CFC120B42D411DC.jpg

Not being able to pedal through this really pissed me off:cussing:
http://homepage.mac.com/ars062.01/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-08-04%2014.50.25%20-0700/Image-504CF6D542D411DC.jpg

Fuck yeah I am aggravated, but thankfully the trail isn't going anywhere. I am going to fix my bike, and exercise some demons on it next week, but fuck me do I feel like I missed out today. Chainless riding is also very tiring.

[Alpine Dreams]

Damn dude, that sucks! Way to stick it out. I'm still holding the Buzzkills for you.

[Kya]

Nice looking ride! Bumber about the bike. I have realized that I really enjoy mountain biking and going fast, but I fucking hate bikes. Something is always fucking broken....I feel your pain dude.

[Rontele]

Nice looking ride! Bumber about the bike. I have realized that I really enjoy mountain biking and going fast, but I fucking hate bikes. Something is always fucking broken....I feel your pain dude.

You should be stoked, Kya. This ride is going to be right in your new backyard.

[eastvailhucker]

and the early start was well worth it.

I'm in for the redemption ride, let me know when.

[Son1cdeth]

Nice stoke. you guys go from the top-of-the-world side or commando run?

Either way that's alot of pushin. Hopefully a beer in Minturn helped ease the pain :D

[Vicious]

Hopefully a beer in Minturn helped ease the pain :D

I have that covered in the next short while. :D

Good work boys. Keystone was kind of a shit show today anyway.

[smitchell333]

Nice ride


Edit - see now your derailer is gone. Did it just crack or?

[Rontele]

Your chain broke?

None of you guys carry a chain tool?

I have saved my own ass as well as a couple random other riders over the years by carrying a chain tool.

Look carefully at the first picture, the der. hanger got ripped off the frame.

[smitchell333]

Look carefully at the first picture, the der. hanger got ripped off the frame.

Gotcha. I've never seen that happen before.

Better workout I suppose.

[Rontele]

Gotcha. I've never seen that happen before.

Better workout I suppose.

A few bits of type 1 fun smattered throughout a day of type 2 frustration.

[Kya]

You should be stoked, Kya. This ride is going to be right in your new backyard.


Hell yeah. That's what I was thinking the entire time I was drueling over the pics. What is the "name" of that trail? Haven't really explored Vail on my bike yet. I've been riding around Eagle a lot this summer since there is some good stuff right out of the front door of the tipi.

Nice TR :yourock:

[L7]

Somebody had a chain tool right. Couldn't you have picked a cog/chainring, shortened the chain and ridden a single speed? Ok you pretty much have to pick the middle ring and a middle cog but I've made it work.

[Rontele]

Somebody had a chain tool right. Couldn't you have picked a cog/chainring, shortened the chain and ridden a single speed? Ok you pretty much have to pick the middle ring and a middle cog but I've made it work.

Not on a dual suspension bike too much chain stretch.

Kya, Two Elk trail.

[steadieflow]

More pics; thanks for the ride today rontele and finishing it out.

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/medium/IMG_2443_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/medium/IMG_2446_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2444_Medium_.JPG

Rontele, no chain :mad:
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2474_Medium_.JPG

Rontele's buddy, well the kid has some skills....
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2480_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2481_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2482_Medium_.JPG

Have a lot more, will post some more later. Really nice trail; again thanks and nice to meet everyone.

[bagtagley]

I hate when that happens

http://cmoney.smugmug.com/photos/67233769-L.jpg

[pechelman]

a great reminder for me to put my spare der hanger into my toolkit

looks awesome out there d.

[Rontele]

a great reminder for me to put my spare der hanger into my toolkit

looks awesome out there d.

lesson learned; carry a spare der. hanger

[L7]

Not on a dual suspension bike too much chain stretch.

Kya, Two Elk trail.

Ahhh, I wondered if the rear suspension would screw with that.

[steadieflow]

More pics...

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2449_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/medium/IMG_2452_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2478_Medium_.JPG

Squatch
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2454_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2500_Medium_.JPG

RT
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2503_Medium_.JPG

The bridge is out....
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2512_Medium_.JPG

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2511_Medium_.JPG

Yeah, not to bad at all....great day.
http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/1153/IMG_2510_Medium_.JPG

[Rideski]

Bummer dude. Everything else intact?


Trail looks great

[shirk]

I feel your pain dude. On tuesday night I broke a hanger on 5th Horseman. It was the first little air, luckily 97% of the trail is downhill. I needs to look around for the tweaked hanger I have somewhere and stick it in my tool kit.

Chainless can really help you learn to flow things.

Nice pics. I like the rock drop :)

[Sad Santos]

looks better than the back seat of a van.

[BushwackerinPA]

If youm ake so the rear suspension doesnst move you would be fine.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v82/166/55/70605699/n70605699_30601422_6667.jpg

[Hutch]

yeah, couldn't you have locked out the rear suspension with a co2 and make a singlespeed with a chaintool?

[smmokan]

What kind of climbing/distance/ride time was that? I got to hang out with Frank Zappa and ride Monarch Crest today- EPIC. I'll be putting some pics up tomorrow- but this Two Elk looks very nice as well.

[cowdog]

rontele, you pushed and coasted your bike the entire ride. That's some serous go-for-it spunk you have there. Must be that free heel skier spirit... :rolleyes2 And now you will never be without a spare der hanger. Win-win! ;)

Looks like a great ride!

[Squatch]

yeah, couldn't you have locked out the rear suspension with a co2 and make a singlespeed with a chaintool?

I don't know what it would take for the 6.6, but on my enduro it would take approximately 900 psi to lock it out enough to ride it singlespeed.

[Rontele]

rontele, you pushed and coasted your bike the entire ride. That's some serous go-for-it spunk you have there. Must be that free heel skier spirit... :rolleyes2 And now you will never be without a spare der hanger. Win-win! ;)

Looks like a great ride!

Pushing and coasting was the far better alternative than waiting for four hours at a van in the middle of the woods.

[shirk]

Pushing and coasting was the far better alternative than waiting for four hours at a van in the middle of the woods.

Depends if said van has a cooler full of beer and some hallucingenics :)

[Rontele]

Depends if said van has a cooler full of beer and some hallucingenics :)

Nope. All the cold beer was at the end of the shuttle at my truck. :D

[FrankZappa]

So, the lesson learned is: You should always have at least 4 hours worth of beer and/or hallucigens on hand at either or all possible ends! ?

[PeachesN'Cream]

^^ that right there is some good thinking ^^

[RootSkier]

I could get behind that strategy.

[homerjay]

2 Elk = tits mcgee!

:yourock: :yourock:

[telemike]

glad you guys like that trail

maybe we could get a Maggot / FS volunteer trailwork project organized? Or maybe even a Maggot Adopt-A-Trail.....

[Andy_B]

Ouch.



.......

[p-tex]

Hey Ron -- I feel your pain. I've done that trail virtually chainless also. Ripped off the rear der and lost 4 spokes on a 28 spoke rear wheel at the 1st downhill section from Top of World. coulda bailed down commando to the bike path but glad I stuck it out. Was a long, but fun, ride out from there....

[Danno]

Pushing uphill was tolerable

Isn't that the standard M.O.? :p

Bummer dude, maybe it's karma for blowing me off. ;) Our ride was much shorter and could not have been done without a chain.

[jibco]

Thanks for the invite. jk

Sorry to see you had troubles. Low limit was too out?

[Lelandjt]

Nice pics guys. Thanks for settin it up Rontele.

[MakersTeleMark]

So how did Squatch fuck himself up so bad?

[eastvailhucker]

i have pics of squatch's ankles and knees, looks like he got into a fight with a cheese grater.

after i finish cutting trees i will get them up.

[Squatch]

So how did Squatch fuck himself up so bad?

You have to understand I lived with Gosey. No hospital means it's not really an injury.

[Rontele]

Thanks for the invite. jk

Sorry to see you had troubles. Low limit was too out?

BINGO. Fuck me. I fucked with my der. at Phil's then he was like "you shouldn't touch that." fuck fuck fuck.

I thought you didn't ride anymore now that you got some go kart that goes 120 mphs...

monarch crest the 24th, you guys have that friday off.


Nice pics guys. Thanks for settin it up Rontele.

No prob, Leon. You should post here more often.


glad you guys like that trail

maybe we could get a Maggot / FS volunteer trailwork project organized? Or maybe even a Maggot Adopt-A-Trail.....

I would be down for that.


So how did Squatch fuck himself up so bad?

He sucks. And he is so fucking awkward on a bike he can't help himself.


Isn't that the standard M.O.? :p

Bummer dude, maybe it's karma for blowing me off. ;) Our ride was much shorter and could not have been done without a chain.

Sad thing is that I was wondering if it was bad karma that caused it to break. I bet Keystone was perfectly tacky on Saturday.

[jibco]

BINGO. Fuck me. I fucked with my der. at Phil's then he was like "you shouldn't touch that." fuck fuck fuck.

I thought you didn't ride anymore now that you got some go kart that goes 120 mphs...

monarch crest the 24th, you guys have that friday off.



Yeah, I was cruising around at 80 about an inch off the ground on Saturday. The rush on bikes doesn't really compare.

Seeing as how I don't ride anymore. I hope that ride on the 24th will be slow.

[Rontele]

I hope that ride on the 24th will be slow.

Dude, I'm there. 100% guarantee!

[MakersTeleMark]

Dude, I'm there. 100% guarantee!

Are you riding with the patented Roncoastpopeil "no pedal" method?

Shit, you could really get your bike weight down getting rid of all the useless components.

[InspectorGadget]

The rexes in the original post take some of the fun out it for me. (Currently on the company's interweb, maybe I'll be able to see the pics at home.)

Sorry you had a mechanical.

[bio-smear]

All I know is that one of the worst crashes I ever had was when I threw a chain on my bmx during a sprint. Riding chainless scares me.