The Best Ride Ever
July 07, 2009
How many times have you heard the, "I just did the best ride EVER!!" comment? Actually, how many times have you said it? Heck, I’m as guilty as the next rider for getting all jazzed up about a ride and then sharing the good times with fellow riders.
So then I started to think about "the best ride ever". What really makes a ride “the best ever”? Hmm, now that one may be pretty tough as I have been lucky enough to be on some really really good rides over the many years I have been pedaling.
Sure ride status can be elevated above the usual good fun by pedaling in exotic locations, but also by sharing a ride with good friends. A good ride can be bumped up a notch on your scale when you have one of those days where you pedal like a super hero and nail lines you normally bobble on, or climb like a goat on Red Bull… These all can also count up there with the best rides ever.
With all this talk and thought of the best ride ever I started to think what could be my best ride ever, may not even give the BRE needle a twitch for someone else. You know, too easy or too hard, or on dirt or on pavement, something that I loved may not interest the next rider at all. And a ride that someone tells you all about as a must do ride, actually is pretty boring, bland or non inspiring when you make the effort to get out there and pedal it. You begin to wonder what they were even talking about and that they should get out and ride more… Even re-riding a BRE that you were super pumped on one day may not inspire you another day. You begin to doubt yourself and wonder what you liked about that ride so much.
Maybe a BRE is kinda like an unreal meal you have with some friends. It isn’t just the ingredients -- as they can be bought anywhere in the world. It isn’t the table setting or room it is served in… I think it is the mood you are in, and the rest of the people around the table. THAT is what makes that particular meal so awesome, and what makes a ride even rank up there on the BRE chart.
I smile every time I see people riding by… they could be out on their best ride ever, right now.
So enough rambling about the what makes a ride the best… time to go ride and see what rolls below my tires next. Today could just be the best ride ever, right here in my back yard on a trail I have ridden a hundred times before. Or on my favorite road bike route after work, the 50 K’er with a nice hill in the middle. They are all good – the best ever for that matter.
Sunny days and tail winds to you all !!
Steak Sauce
Ride Guide Arizona - Korba Will Show You Around
July 07, 2009
RideGuide is an awesome show that has let me see the world from a handlebar perspective. Our recent trip to Arizona was no exception. The first stop on this trip was Flagstaff. This is a pretty interesting college town that just so happens to have great mountain biking. Local shop guy Anthony lead us down a dry and dusty trail full of pine trees which reminded me a lot of Penticton BC. At roughly 9000 feet the air is thin and it can be cool, it actually has a ski resort on the adjacent. I didn't even know they had ski resorts in Arizona.
After the slightly cool Flagstaff we moved on to the Grand Canyon which is by no means an understatement or misleading name. For those of you who haven't seen it. This is one huge freakin’ hole! I don't think that my words can describe how incredibly huge the Grand Canyon is. The Grand Canyon would swallow the Empire State Building and still be hungry for more If my math is correct, which it usually isn't, the grand canyon is ten miles across if you were to turn mount Everest on its side and push it in there it would fit.... think about it.
As impressive as the Canyon was, we made some time to ride as well. We spent a goof few hours riding some amazing rock formations and stayed for sunset where Cory, the ride guide camera man captured some spectacular time lapse video. We ended our Grand Canyon day at a little mom and pop Mexican restaurant where I had some of the best Mexican food I have ever eaten. This was an awesome way to end a day at the Grand Canyon. Wow what an experience.
After departing south, our next stop was Sedona, and my first opportunity to ride slick rock. Chewy, the local Sedonian who was showing us around hit a huge rock roll-down to show me how it was done. It is amazing the traction you get riding on slick-rock. Back home on the North Shore there is no way you can control your speed down anything this steep. This trail consisted of terrain from cliff edges to rocky downhill sections and even a cool eroded wash resembling a natural slick-rock half pipe. Chewy who was showing us around was quite the shredder as well; he ripped the trials like a true local who knew each corner like the back of his hand.
One cannot visit Sedona and not take in the local culture. There is supposedly a lot of vortex energy in Sedona which accounts for all the localized alien activity. In fact there is so much alien activity that we could have taken a $100 tour where you hit the evening with night vision goggles and are guaranteed to see a alien ship....I'll keep my 100 bucks thanks.
Okay, I must admit I was a little worried as we pulled into Scottsdale. First off, the thermometer was at 100 degrees and climbing. Behind the Air conditioned comfort of our vehicle, the red earth was scorched and barren. We pulled up to our hotel and as the valet opened the door for us the lap of luxury found at the 4 seasons waited. Literally an oasis in the desert ... this was definitely one of the most pimp places I have ever stayed. Sitting by the valet there was a Bently, Maserati, Cadilac and Rover, I felt like I was imbedded in a rap lyric.
The next day we were going to ride some local Scottsdale trails. For me riding between big Swaro cacti was quite an interesting experience. The trail we rode, despite being a little on the flat side was ridiculously fun. 50 miles of berms and rollers that can be connected as doubles others that you could just pump the heck out of, this was the longest pump track of my life.
To finish off our tour of the desert, our last stop was Sierra Vista. Between the heat and the gnar of the trails it was one of our bigger days out. We ended up riding two trials one which was a nasty little downhill piece and the other which was a super flowy fun trial. After the ride as the denouement of the trip, we went to get a taste of the old west out at Tombstone. Tombstone is only about 15-20 minutes out of Sierra Vista and It is one of the most classic old west towns still around. It of course is a bit of a tourist trap but none the less it is cool. Some of the classic gun fights are re-acted so seeing that was fun, they even use real guns.... with blanks though. A taste of the old west was the perfect way to cap-off the Arizona film trip and rally rounded out the experience.
See yah on the trails,
Dylan
Norco Supports The Ride To Conquer Cancer
July 07, 2009
This past weekend was the Vancouver to Seattle edition of The Ride to Conquer Cancer. This two day journey started out at Guilford Mall in Surrey BC and traveled south ending at the University of Washington in Seattle WA. The Norco Pit crew followed the entire course setting up tech support stations to cure whatever technical catastrophe that may sneak up on a rider. From flat tires to broken spokes, missing bolts to seatpost shims, there was no bike that didn't roll once we were done with it.
Approximately 140km into the ride camp was set up in Mt Vernon for Saturday night. it was here that approximately 1600 riders and several hundred volunteers spent the evening camped out in some cozy confines.
Getting up first thing Sunday morning for a 6:30AM start the Norco crew headed further south to four more support stations on route. The day's ride would go through at least three seasons worth of weather. Starting off in a light rain, it would soon clear up just enough to enjoy lunch. Shortly there after though, we would be pummeled with a hail storm and see some more of the wet stuff. But, don't worry, soon thereafter, the clouds would part and bask the finish line with some most appreciated rays of sunshine.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer raised an incredible $6.9 million for cancer research and will help to take one step closer to finding a cure.
Congratulations to everyone who participated, thank you to everyone who contributed and welcome to anyone who has been inspired to come out next year. Get full information on the event at: conquercancer.ca
View more photos at: flickr.com/norcobikes
