Marks Ransom

Just a quick shot (thanks to Joern at Insight Photography - our German riding buddy and resident photographer) of Mark coming in at the finish of the Tour de Trash loonie race on Thursday.

Marks set to spend more time up the park now on his HO though but no doubt we will both be putting the miles in on the Ransoms pretty quickly!

Finished Product

Finally!

At last we got all the drivetrain bits through from Summit Sports so that we could finish off our Ransom LTD builds. Most of the groundwork had been done in terms of putting the right bits in the right places, but a mad dash at 5pm on Thursday saw us get the XT drivetrains fitted, tuned and ready for testing on the Tour de Trash loonie. So, after an hour and a halfs mad build, we headed off to the Loonie start. We missed the actual race start but arrived at the Bungee service road just as the lead riders came through. We hopped of the WCFG van and joined the rapidly growing queue that was forming just as the course entered the first bit of single track.
The idea was just to cruise the race to make sure everything was working properly on the bike. After 10 minutes of 'mucking about' I figured it was all good and set about moving through the racers in an attempt to catch up with some of our riding buddies.
I haven't weighed the build up yet, but its certainly a bit heavier than my old bike. I do have to swap the wheels out for a leighter FR set soon, but for now i'm running the pimp DT 2350's. The lockout on the rear suspension makes climbing spuper easy and it climbs nmuch better than you'd ever expect. Descending is a whole other story and all I can say is WOW!

The bike doesn't make any noise at all, in some sense's I'm a bit unerved as my old full susser used to clatter and clang like you wouldnt believe when descending, its almost like there was no chain at all. I think that most people had no idea when I was passing them.
The Magura brakes are superb too, super modulation and masses more power than my old hydros.
Whilst I often ride with a german guy and joke with him about his background, those Germans really do know a thing or two about engineering and I'm pretty bl**dy impressed so far!

Loonie #4

This weeks loonie saw the return of what is set to be the annual 'Tour de Trash'.
Cascade Environmental and Brent Harley Associates are responsible for this event and set a great course again. Trash is a fun trail with plenty of technical terrain to really make you work for the reward.
The course started down at the Cal-Cheak campground and followed the Cheakamus FSR up to the Trash trail head. From there the course ran up Riverside trails, over the suspension bridge and back down the Farside of Riverside, and finally finishing in the Interprative Forest parking lot. A good long course, made more fun on the sweet newly finished Ransoms :)
Milar Creek Cafe put on the apres and plenty of prizes had been donated by the sponsors.

SORCA Twoonie

We went down to Squamish today to check out their local race series. It differs from the Whistler Loonie series in that they only race every 2nd week. The turnout was a lot lower than typically expected although the p*ssing rain probably didn't help maters much.
The course included some of the Test of Metal course so it was really useful to get out on a bike down here in preparation for the Test at the end of June. The course was soaking wet and the rain didn't want to ease up in any way. Regardless it was a great course and a good long race too. Quite different from the Whistler races with more 'core riders there and no kids or groms at all.

I managed what I consider a pretty respectable 15th place and again used it as yet another lesson in why spending money on a good bike really is justified. The hardtail with Judy forks, 2" tyres and v-brake's rode nice on the climbs but it really wore me down through the steeps and technical sections of the course. I'm feeling stronger though and all being well.. my drivetrain arrives tomorrow so I can finally finish off the ransom!

Sweet

Loonie #3

Well, unfortunately last weeks loonie ended up being a bit of a gong show with the riders missing parts of the course resulting in a bit of bottlenecking with the more casual riders.


The picture on the left shows Loonie race and WORCA guru Tom trying hard to explain exactly what people 'should' have done.
(images copyright Joern at Insight Photography)



The course was designed to be an 'loop da loop' course sending the riders out and back hopefully giving the slower riders time to clear the course before the quick bunch came back round for a second time.
We're not sure if it was another appearance of the phantom course sabouter who last year moved some arrows sending the front of the race pack up the 27 switch backs and back down the flank, or if it was simply a 'contageous' mistake that everyone seemed to catch onto.
Either way it was a shame as the course promised to be pretty challenging and quite brave compared to other Lost Lake based race courses.


I decided to head back out yesterdy with a few riding buddies to ride the actual course that was et for Thursdays race and I tell you what, it was a great set of trails that would have been superb to race. As it was, we rolled through in about 50 minutes which would actually have put us outside the 1st lap cut off time, but a challenging course is tough for a reason!

Looking forwards to the 'Tour de Trash' course on Thursday already!

Fly out cheap

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Perfect early season weather

After riding the loonie Jo asked if I'd take her back into Green Lake Loop so that she could have another go at the climbs without worrying about riders infront and behind her. So yesterday we headed back out on the highway to Wedgemont parking lot to start our way back into the Lost Lake network.
The weather in Whistler is stunning at the moment, I'm even sporting a bit of bike jersey sunburn from the clear blue skies.

The trail was well buffed from the 250 riders passing through on the Thursday but some of the looser sections on the climbs remained and probably will remain tricky for the rest of the summer.
We used the ride of more of a learing tool for Jo, I tucked in behind giving her praise or tips as we went. Jo's confidence on the semi-technical and loose in parts descents grew as we moved steadily along.

So, summers looking up for the next week at least but things are exciting and we have our first guests arriving next week.

Whistler Loonie Race #2

This Thursdays Loonie race started out at Wedge Parking lot, a handy 12km warmup spin out on the highway from the village.

It was yet another great early season turnout with all ages, sex and level of riders keen to get underway.
This weeks course was Green Lake loop back into Lost Lake with a quick circuit of some of the more technical Lost Lake trails thrown in for good measure. The Lost Lake trails was much of the '05 24 hour of adrenaline couse - backwards - and dry of course!

The winners were in in under 50 minutes and I came home a fairly respectable 19th on my $500 boneshaker hardtail.


Throughout last year (once I was fit) I had to keep my eyes on Tyler Allison (the young pocket rocket) and dig deep to keep him in my sights on the shorter sprint races, this year it seem that there is a new kid on the block! Younger than Tyler but chomping harder on my heels that I would like. There is some pretty exciting talent coming through the ranks in this town.

All in all, a great course and pretty good grub thrown on down at the Edgewater Lodge firepit.

Looking forwards to next week already.

Click here for more info on the Whistler cross country trail network.

(images copyright WPNN)

Scott Ransom Build

The Ransoms are here an dthe builds have started. Mines set up in my house as i'd hate to get it dirty in the garage ;)

I'm super impressed with the quality of the frame and just popping into Whistler to get Summit to press the headset in for me resulted in much stop in the street interest in the frame.

Getting closer to just the fram eshows how much detail design has gone into the bike particularly when you see how they have carefully considered the cable paths.

If all of the Scott bikes are like this then I can moist definately see why they are Europes number 1 brand and see no reason why they won't really start rattle Specialized cages with the design quality!

Whistler Loonie race series under way

Well, today saw the start of the real Whistler biking season with the forst Loonie race of the year.

There was a great turnout down at the Lost Lake Warming Hut and John Blok set a great opening course. It was set mainly on the super fast trails in the Lost Lake area and incorporated many a favourite trail. Great stuff.

Looking forwards to next week already!