Devil Mountain Expeditions

Sweet trail just outside Bellingham …

Good times were had by all this weekend … The trails were in slightly better shape than expected. Sure, that two (?) mile hike kinda sucked but after the hike ended you couldn’t ask for better trail conditions. Ja got his N* day, bought a fly fishing setup and took our money at poker; I got two runs of the DH in, an offer to join the Clampers and a nice nap on a bench outside the Grub Stake; Stone and Dan got their Packer->Indian Valley 35 miler in; Dan got his 6+ cokes at the pizza joint…

By the time Sat night rolled around I think we were all pretty exhausted save maybe Ja having only done one DH run. Note to self: don’t switch from beer to mixed drinks late in the night on 3 hours sleep after an exhausting day and some questionable food choices. Couldn’t stomach another DH run this morning, pun intended.

Stone, thanks for hosting … always a good time, wish I could be there for race weekend … ah well, there will be other years.

On to the pics … check out the car on end leaning up against the electric pole in that last pic … not sure how that happened … saw that on the way home a couple blocks from my house. It knocked the power out for several blocks–nice.

No pics.  No real write up.  Just saying that Skeggs was awesome yesterday.  15 miles of fantastic single track in a gorgeous area of California (sun setting over the ocean on the drive out as well).  Nothing against Diablo, but it just doesn’t compare.  Nothing in East Bay does for that matter…

Anyways, thanks CK for motivating me to get out there.  Great times.  Only problem is once you leave for SA, I will get lost if I try to attempt that same loop.

All in all, the perfect warm up for Downieville this weekend!

I’ve been to Demo a couple times since my last report … not much has changed so nothing really to report but conditions are absolutely primo right now. Definitely try to get there if you can … a few pics from last time …

Mad skills …

Okay, I slacked off on the last installment of my race report for about 9 months—sue me. Seriously, reg for this year’s race is tomorrow night, 4/1 at 8pm pacific so figured it would be good motivation for those thinking about registering to post this now.

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On Sunday morning Jdub and I rolled up to Packer Saddle about an hour before our scheduled start times for the DH race. Perfect timing. Crazy scene up there with some folks (pros and experts) opting for full-on skin suits, warming up on trainers, etc. All business.

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go with the full face and/or pads for the DH. It was kinda chilly at the top—actually, perfect weather all things considered for July—but I knew that the climb up to 3rd was going to be hot. Since I’d never raced the DH I decided to take the safe route with the full face, long sleeve, baggies and 661 knee pads.

In any case the race started soon enough. Jdub took off about 10 minutes before me. My turn finally came and adrenaline pumping, I cranked it. More after the jump.

This dude rips … wish I could ride like this with two legs much less one …

These kids are getting better all the time … you gonna hit up Carlmont Ja?:

Shredding the gnar on Bobcat Ridge, Fort Collins … came across this on the Intense mtbr forum … gotta say, I don’t like the sound of those King hubs.  Some people love them but I prefer either ~nothing (Shimano) or Hope …