Injured and riding better than ever

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Hi Lee,

Great book, great website! I’d heard good things about MMBS (and conveniently you released v2 at just the right time) but I’ve learnt more and been far more amused by the writing than I expected. Still a ton to learn, I’ll update you in a couple of decades if I have everything nailed by then.

Anyway, exactly three months ago I broke my ankle on the bike (no rad tale, just a bad mix of ice and eventual complacency), had to be pinned back together and started riding again last week. I still have restricted movement and strength in the ankle (quite a lot of healing to do yet) so I’m having to ride all the downhills much more slowly and avoid any drops higher than about 8″ as it can’t handle the dynamic loading. However I have found an upside of great awesomeness — the combination of riding slower (=more thinking time) and having to avoid shocks means that I’ve finally started to pump the trail effectively. It’s quite amazing how pumping smooths out the trail, as the complaints from the ankle prove when I get out of sync with the terrain. I can’t wait to get back to full speed armed with this new weapon in my flow armoury!

Braaap regards,

Alex

P.S. I’ve started trying to get some local momentum to build a pump track – I think it’s going to take a while…

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First ride: Rhyolite Bike Park

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On my way home yesterday from USA Cycling in Colorado Springs, CO, I stopped by Rhyolite Bike Park in Castle Rock.

One hour. Eight laps. Rock!

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Enduro EVO vs. Nomad?

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Lee,

well i told myself i would never ask the internet to pick a bike for me but i just cant decide any chance you can give me some insight ?
I am having trouble deciding between and Enduro Evo or the Santa cruz nomad. My lbs sells both brands but only stocks the the Evo at this time, they dont have either bike as a loaner so i cant ride either one on the trail.
I have never had the opportunity to ride anything other than a single pivot bike( currently on a cannondale rize) so i dont really know what to expect. The guys at the lbs are split down the middle some say the Nomad other say the enduroone guy said he didnt like the way the nomad handled out of the saddle but couldnt really elaborate . At at this price i though it would be wise to ask someone who isnt trying to take my money. Any thoughts pros/cons etc you could give me would be very helpful. this will be my primary bike and i spend most of my time riding at bootleg canyon in las vegas, with trips to AZ and UT

Stuart

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Photos and video from Superior Bike Park

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As of yesterday, Superior Bike Park in Superior, CO is officially open. Still mustering the energy to post a valuable follow-up story. In the meantime:

(Photos added March 21.)

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Super Bike Park opening party time!

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Superior Bike Park, Superior CO:

• I am proud of the park layout and build quality (thanks Nick Simcik and Jerad Fischer). Every line flows like love from a benevolent god.

• Tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, we do a little cleanup. We celebrate. We ride.

• Tamping, sweeping and raking 9 a.m. to noon-ish. Come on out. With minimal effort, you can say you helped build the park. Bring a tamper if you have one. Otherwise, bring feet, rakes and shovels. Oh, and push brooms.

• After work, we eat, drink, share the stoke and RIDE OUR BIKES!

Don’t be surprised if there’s a Pump Track World Championship.

The work is done. TIME TO RIDE!

Park at the end of Honey Creek Lane in Superior.

Burning in a pump track, the fun way

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Superior Bike Park is just about dialed. Time to chase details and burn a couple hundred laps on the main pump track.

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Recommendations: flat pedals

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Lee,

I’ve been searching for some good flats for xc and have tried Xpedo XMX13ACs. They had great grip and they were light, but they didn’t hold up very well. A few rocks and the frames were all bent up. I’m looking at another Xpedo pedal, the XMX11AC which it looks like it might offer more grip (two more pins), weigh a bit more and be more durable (the frame is has a more solid design).

Do you have any recommendations for a flat pedal. I’m not looking for a downhill flat as I don’t need a huge platform but I would like something durable and grippy.

Any recommendations on shoes that light and stiff for good drive and might hold up to to sometimes very wet and muddy northeast single-track. I have some bontrager shoes for my clips, they’re great but the tread pattern doesnt work well with the pinned flat pedals.

Thanks,
Michael

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Superior Bike Park build: Day 7

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Another great volunteer turnout. All features are riding well. The park is 99% final (a week ahead of schedule!).

Props and photos:

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Superior Bike Park build: Day 6

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Awesome group work day today. We’re doing it again tomorrow. Bring your bike!

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Superior Bike Park build: Day 5

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Today we got everything ready for a great dig day tomorrow. If you’re coming out to help, expect to do some raking and packing. Also! Expect to ride the expert and mini pump tracks. Details after the jump.

I have photos from today — awesome impromptu grom jam session! — but I’m gonna try to go to bed early. Tired braaap!

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Superior Bike Park build: Day 4

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The pump track is super fun!

(Even with blisters on your hands from building it.)

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Comments are working again

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I was wondering why there have been so few comments. Well, I recently upgraded my site software, and it turns out a crazy plugin got turned on by accident. All better.