HW: MIKE HOPKINS QUALIFIES FOR RAMPAGE 2013

Mike had a bad year last year but seems to be coming back to rampage in fine form. Check out his return to the jump that got him last year.

HW: SEVEN SUMMITS OUT AND BACK......FUN......FUN

Honestly, I have been avoiding the Seven Summits Trail like the plague because I hate taking my bike for a walk. I also have no need to put a notch in my belt saying that I have done something. The Seven Summits Trail is a B-Movie for me because of my lack of talent, I guess. That means that I will be off the bike and pushing it more than I will be riding. You know, kind of like a movie that has you in the kitchen getting snacks more than watching. Just too many breaks.

So, when it was suggested that the Holy Wow Gang ride out the Seven Summits Trail on our Tuesday night  ride, I was less than excited. Well, it was going to be an out and back, and there was cold refreshments after the ride, so I guess I will go.

The ride starts out quite nicely and the single track is fabulous. Even the pitches are well done and the climbing is very grunty but tolerable. Maybe this will be OK. Ooops, spoke too soon. Here comes the just too steep, loose rock, too tight switch backs that, people who have ridden the whole thing, try to downplay but just can`t help mentioning. Guess I am just old and grumpy, but I like to ride my bike not walk it. If I wanted to walk something I would get a dog and take it for a walk. At least the dog could make it`s way under it`s own power. A bike will just lie there unless you push it. HIKE A BIKES ARE JUST NOT FOR ME.

Oh well, I am out here with my friends, let`s just make the best of it. The downhill could be really good. Pretend you are a younger rider, with a heavy downhill bike, who never rides up anything anyway, and is only interested in the downhill. YES, that`s it!!!! Got it.

Made it to the turn around spot with four trips to the kitchen(or four commercials), and prepared for the down. The downhill was great fun. The rocks, that made the up miserable, flew by quite smoothly. Still a few too tight switch backs but they are soon forgotten, erased by the smoothish undulating single track. WOW, back at the trucks already. SUPER downhill ride. We will have to do that again.

Don`t get me wrong`I will NOT be doing the Seven Summits Trail any time soon, nor will I be getting a dog. Might go up there for a hike or a ski or some hunting, but my bike will not be coming along for the walk. Out and back, YOU BET. Thanks Holy Wow Gang.

HW: NEW TRAILS AT RED RESORT

New trails and resurrected old trails are appearing at Red Mt.A fella named Nate is working really hard to establish a trail network at Red Mountain. Some years ago the Mountain tried to run lift access mountain biking. It was not a profitable proposition. There are some remnants of these trails still around. Nate is working at rejuvenating and adding to this network. No lift access yet, but the ride up will do you good.

Check out his work. His blog, pictures and info is http://trailsatred.blogspot.ca/

HW: FUTURE TRAIL RIDE

See if you can guess where this is located.

   

HW: DANNY MACASKILL AT IT AGAIN

This is definitely worth watching. Especially if you are 12 years old at heart.

HW: GREENER'S BIRTHDAY RIDE

The Holy Wow Gang is getting older. I guess time just does that to us. One of our founding members turned 60 years old yesterday and guess what he wanted to do? Yup, let's get the gang together and ride.

So, ride we did. We had the biggest turn out of the season. Fifteen riders showed up to celebrate the Green Man's birthday. The birthday guy got to pick the ride. "How about we ride up Red until 7:30PM and then turn around wherever we are and ride down" says Rick. "Good idea", says the Gang.

Off we pedaled. Up Mo's to Larry's to Miners and on to the gas line. From there it got a bit creative. Knowing we were headed for the Top of Red we traversed the St Elmo mine road and skittered our way up the the Red Mt haul road. Still not 7:30, OK, just keep going up. On to the Red Top trail and the turn around point. Awe, we are so close to the top, just keep going. Pretty soon we are at the top.

The wind is cold and nippley, but the view is out of this world. Just the way Greener wanted it. Perfect birthday celebration. AND THEN CAME THE DOWN. FABULOUS !!!!!!!! THE BEER. GOLDEN!!! THE FOOD. DELICIOUS!!!!

THE FRIENDSHIP. PRICELESS!!!!!!!

HW: ANDRE NUTINI AND LEGS OF STEEL RELEASE "LOSt" TRAILER

Not often do I make two posts in a day but there are big things worth talking about. Young folks, with strong ties to the Holy Wow Gang, are doing great things.

"Legs of Steel" ski group, has released their trailer for their new feature film called "LOSt".  Andre Nutini, is one of the main cinematographers for the group. Over the last few years Andre has been a part of some very progressive efforts in the sport film making industry.

These guys are continuously pushing the envelope. The use of technology and plain old hard work has produced some stunning video.  These videos are actually becoming the new art work that you should hang on the wall. Have a look at this teaser.

HW: MIKE HOPKINS IS STILL DOING NEW THINGS

Local boy Mike Hopkins and his friend Matt Miles use their bikes like skis, and ride some really neat stuff. For my part, the heli ride and the camping would be exciting enough.

These guys are exploring the Bendor Range in British Columbia. Looks like it should be somewhere in the Kamloops Chilcotin area but I am not sure. I will have to check the location out. In the mean time, enjoy the video.

By the way, Hopkins does a great job of narrating. Might be a future profession in there somewhere. Not too soon though. He can still rip on a bike.

HW: GUESS WHERE THIS IS

The gang went back to an old school trail. Can you guess where this is? I have a couple of ideas but I am not  quite sure. I think vegetation is getting in the way of the memory.

HW RIDE RED HEAD TRAIL

Ridership is still low, only 6 riders out for this regular Tuesday night ride. Despite the lack of interest, the trail conditions are absolutely excellent. Red Head was in perfect shape and the climb yielded it's usual spring pain. Surprisingly there was no snow on the trail.

The decent was beautifully buffed and as smooth as it gets. Smiles were shared all around.

Over refreshments after the ride, there was talk of the Double Downhill venues and Holy Wow venues. I found a video that I thought might fuel the dreams of future rides. Enjoy.

HW RIDES AN OLD STANDARD "THE COFFEE RUN"

It has been a slow start to the riding season. People are holidaying in the south, hanging out at the beach in the South Pacific, doing spring construction projects, and waiting for the snow to melt. In spite of that, we mustered up about six members of the gang and held our first circle ride of the season.

For those of you who do not know what a circle ride is, just imagine 6 guys on mountain bikes riding in a circle until one rider leads us out to a ride of his choice. This always leads to some of our greatest rides.

Three circles and we were off. The decision was the Coffee Run. The Coffee Run is an old school trail that goes back to the first days of mountain biking in the Rossland area. It was used more for cross country skiing previous to the outbreak of fat tire bicycles. The trail surface ranges from tacky soil to boulder strewn. The rocks seem to grow up from the ground a little more each year. Bit of a technical challenge. OH YEAH, what about the SNOW.

We actually expected to be slogging through the snow but there was very little. The trail was in great shape. Trails seem to be smoother and tackier just after the snow leaves.The Coffee Run provided it's usual test and brought back a wave of great memories.

Up Milky way to the Saddle of Kootenay Columbia and a ripping decent back down Upper Pale Ale to KC  Connector and the bottom of Snake and the thoughts of a cold one had infiltrated our minds.

First circle ride of the season in the books and the birthday boy was missing. Happy 60th Birthday Norm. Showing your age already. Had to skip Thursday night ride so you could ride on Friday. What's with that?

WE COULD USE SOME FLOW LIKE THIS AROUND HERE

Thought I would post this because I liked the caption that went along with it.

Arguably the best groomed trail I have seen in a long while, not a braking bump in sight, obviously they can all ride in New Zealand! Matt Walker flows his way along ‘The Dipper’ track in the Redwood Forest aboard his Pivot 5.7 Carbon.

This film presented by Kingpin bikes.. www.kingpinbikes.co.nz

HW MOAB NEW TRAIL- CAPTAIN AHAB

Another mountain bike season is upon us and the bikes are starting to show up here and there.  Just about time for the Holy Wow Gang to start their regular rides around the Rossland area.

Moab has been one of our destinations over the years (2001,2006,2011) and we have found some good new trails each time we have visited. But, we still get excited when we hear of new trails in the Moab area. It gives us something to look forward to for our next trip down to the desert.

So here it is, the latest offering from our Sister City Moab. One of our members is going to Moab for the month of May and we are commissioning him to check this new trail out. Just in case he doesn't shoot any video, here is the latest release. Enjoy.



Captain Ahab Trail from Tyson Swasey on Vimeo.
NOW GO RIDE!!!!