Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale & surrounding areas.
**Mountain Biking N. Western USA
Down Hill all the way!
Sun Valley, Idaho - Once you get past the fact that Demi Moore and Bruce Willis live here, Sun Valley is just another millionaire ski town hang out. The very first day my friend saw Demi in a black Tahoe, so the star gazing was over for the week, thank God, since I wanted to mountain bike.
Sun Valley has great mountain biking, period. You can take the ski lift to the top of the hill, about 9500 feet and single track down on the miles and miles of man made "cow trails". The trails are well maintained and are anywhere from 5 - 8 miles long and can take anywhere from 25 to 60 minutes to negociate.
They also have some good cross country trails and a paved path that runs through the entire town.
Fear Factor x%#@*&!)(!
Let see 5000 feet vertical drop, check for pulse...no problem, wide awake! Yes its a fast and with little room for error, but thats why its so much fun! A few times I was running a bit fast and hit the brakes after I realized if I'm off the trail the fall was long and deadly. Only once did I actually fear for my life. I was on the vertical forest section and was wizzing by trees at 25 MPH and had the whole bike go a few feet off the ground and land sideways. Just a little more speed and I'd been talking to Sunny Bono...God rest his soul.
Bikes Galore
I rented 4 different bikes while I was here, all highend full suspension for about $25 - $40 per day. I liked the Specialized Enduro the best, along with the FSR-XC. This was the second time I had also rented a GT-FS and I find them too mushy for cross country and not as solid in the tracking department.
Bend, Oregon
A friend and I took the place by storm. We arrived in September, the "tweener time" between mountain biking and skiing seasons and pretty much had the place to ourselves.
The Deshutes River runs through town and and Mount Hood towers over it. Its a cool small college town with 50000 humans and about 50000 taverns!
The riding can be great here if you know where to go. Stay out of the lower elevations at the end of summer. Its a high desert climate and it gets very dry in the woods areas below 5000 feet.
Ride or hike the trails by Mt. Hood. The trails aren't dusty and the tires stick real good. It tends to be a lot of climbing for the first half of every ride, but you get paid back with the screaming downhills.
Of course ride the Deshutes river single track...its 18 miles and takes about 4 hours...
Where to rent bikes
Go to Sun River. See the Specialized dealer there, real cool guys and great equipment. I rented a FSR-XC that had been ridden only twice before for $25 a day! Also, there is a Canondale and GT dealer there that are good to. The point is the prices are $10-$20 less per day and the bikes are not hammered. Want to buy a bike here? Smart move if you show up in Sept. these guy are blowing out the bikes so they can move the ski equipment in.
Big Bear
Bring your 40 pound down hill rig and lots of body armor. The summit is cool,but I am a cross country guy. Lots of trails.
We rode up and down the summit twice in one day - about 5000 vertical feet - nuts!
Best kept secret - the PCT trail - as in Pacific Crest trail. Some sections are off limits to mountain bikers so better check it out first. This is one of the best ride I have ever ridden. Man oh MAN! 9000 feet, eye brow drop offs and redwood trees and blue skys...its almost a religious experience...go today!
Whistler, B.C.
Canada - Oct. 2002 - Yep, been there done that got the T-shirt. Let me say this is a down hillers paradise. In fact the summer months now are as big ($$$$) to the area as the winter time.
First day they rent me a 45 pound Santa Cruz, 7-8 inches of travel front and back and I couldn't really figure out what to do with it. But I hit the trail - sort of. I mean it's either up hill (pushing!) or going down hill. I am told getting caught pushing your bike up here in the great white north is not a crime. It is in Zona!
The next day I found some cool cross country and was really loving the incredible scenery. GO here! It is my new favorite place. Plus your cash goes further here, use your visa card, its a better exchange rate than cash.
You have to see the development!
Amazing village it explore. Very highend. 400 sq. ft. condo's go for a cool million.
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