Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gecko on February 23, 2009 at 5:38am

If you're clearing most natural obstacles and tech sections you should be fine. I was there last winter and I've heard the configuration changed a bit, but there's more than enough to keep busy for all levels of riding. There are many different sections for varying degrees of difficulty.

The beginner section is very easy, easy enough for maybe one lap around to get warmed up and then on to bigger and better stuff. The sport section is where I spent most of my time. There was a small 3-jump rhythm section that got me back into the feel of jumping ramps, and by the time I left I was clearing the 4-5' rhythm section without a problem. I stayed away from the largest (expert) ramps as I wasn't completely comfortable with them. Everything there is a tabletop so you can ride over it slowly first to get the hang of it, then increase your speed to get air. (FYI, I hadn't jumped anything in a few years, and I was amazed at the amount of speed you need to clear a 4-5' jump!)

There is also a pump track and an xc course which are loads of fun if you have a speed craving. There are a few northshore style sections too, one which is 1-4' off the ground with many different lines and obstacles, and another that's 6-10' off the ground with larger obstacles. I was able to do a few of the easier lines on the big one, but the smaller ones have enough variety to keep you interested, and you can bail easily. There is also a foam pit and some bmx-style 1/4 pipes and bowls, but I stayed away from those.

If you're going, bring a bike you don't mind tearing up a bit, or just make sure it's properly tuned so nothing breaks on you. I took a small-frame bike I that set up specifically for dirt jumping and it worked perfectly. Make sure your seat is as low as possible, your tires have plenty of air (~50psi worked great) and your spokes are properly tensioned (so you don't break spokes or bend rims). I blew a tire casing a jump, and luckily they have a small bike shop there where you can borrow tools and buy tubes and stuff. Stuff like bending your derailleur hanger (which I did as well) doesn't necessarily mean the end of a day, but if you happen to break it, you might be SOL.

I went with a group of about 15 and we had 3 blowouts and one derailleur mishap while we were there, all of which happened during the last few hours as we tried more (& bigger) things. We got everything fixed while we were there though.

They require you to have a helmet and gloves, but pads are also suggested (with good reason). I took a dirt jumping helmet but any will work, and bmx gloves with knuckle protection helped too. I also took my downhill shin/knee pads for when I inevitably missed a pedal a few times.

We didn't bring much with us besides our bikes/pads and a few gatorades. There is a pizza place that you can get delivery from if you get hungry, and I think there are a few pop/gatorade machines.

Overall it's a great experience. You can just ride around and do pretty much anything you want, or whatever you're comfortable with, and it's very laid back. The atmosphere is great, there is good music on the PA system and the people are very cool.

Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on February 23, 2009 at 6:10pm

I really appreciate the detailed response!!! I ride a well-maintained single speed MTB so hopefully mechanical issues are kept to a minimum.

I think I was sorta planning the strategy you outlined; warm up in the beginner room and work my way up from there.

Thanks again!!!

El Gecko said:

If you're clearing most natural obstacles and tech sections you should be fine. I was there last winter and I've heard the configuration changed a bit, but there's more than enough to keep busy for all levels of riding. There are many different sections for varying degrees of difficulty.

The beginner section is very easy, easy enough for maybe one lap around to get warmed up and then on to bigger and better stuff. The sport section is where I spent most of my time. There was a small 3-jump rhythm section that got me back into the feel of jumping ramps, and by the time I left I was clearing the 4-5' rhythm section without a problem. I stayed away from the largest (expert) ramps as I wasn't completely comfortable with them. Everything there is a tabletop so you can ride over it slowly first to get the hang of it, then increase your speed to get air. (FYI, I hadn't jumped anything in a few years, and I was amazed at the amount of speed you need to clear a 4-5' jump!)

There is also a pump track and an xc course which are loads of fun if you have a speed craving. There are a few northshore style sections too, one which is 1-4' off the ground with many different lines and obstacles, and another that's 6-10' off the ground with larger obstacles. I was able to do a few of the easier lines on the big one, but the smaller ones have enough variety to keep you interested, and you can bail easily. There is also a foam pit and some bmx-style 1/4 pipes and bowls, but I stayed away from those.

If you're going, bring a bike you don't mind tearing up a bit, or just make sure it's properly tuned so nothing breaks on you. I took a small-frame bike I that set up specifically for dirt jumping and it worked perfectly. Make sure your seat is as low as possible, your tires have plenty of air (~50psi worked great) and your spokes are properly tensioned (so you don't break spokes or bend rims). I blew a tire casing a jump, and luckily they have a small bike shop there where you can borrow tools and buy tubes and stuff. Stuff like bending your derailleur hanger (which I did as well) doesn't necessarily mean the end of a day, but if you happen to break it, you might be SOL.

I went with a group of about 15 and we had 3 blowouts and one derailleur mishap while we were there, all of which happened during the last few hours as we tried more (& bigger) things. We got everything fixed while we were there though.

They require you to have a helmet and gloves, but pads are also suggested (with good reason). I took a dirt jumping helmet but any will work, and bmx gloves with knuckle protection helped too. I also took my downhill shin/knee pads for when I inevitably missed a pedal a few times.

We didn't bring much with us besides our bikes/pads and a few gatorades. There is a pizza place that you can get delivery from if you get hungry, and I think there are a few pop/gatorade machines.

Overall it's a great experience. You can just ride around and do pretty much anything you want, or whatever you're comfortable with, and it's very laid back. The atmosphere is great, there is good music on the PA system and the people are very cool.

Permalink Reply by Gecko on February 24, 2009 at 12:53pm

Actually single speed is great. Mine was a 1X9 at the time but I wished it was single (it is now, and much better).

Hope I covered all the bases, or maybe sparked something that you may have forgotten. You should be ready for a fun time.

We should get a chainlink group together to go sometime before they close this year. I've been wanting to go back for awhile now and I've got major cabin fever.

Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on February 25, 2009 at 9:37pm

I just got back. I had so much fun on Tuesday night that I went back on Wednesday night. I can't say enough good things about the place. There was a huge variety of challenging sections, the other riders were courteous, the employees were friendly...I had a blast, and definitely would be up for putting a group of people together for a return trip.

My Trek 69er performed flawlessly and breakdown free. But if/when I go back, I think I will rent a dirt jump bike from them. The rental is only $10 and they had a nice selection of rental models...single speeds, geared, bmx, rigid fork, suspension fork...

If I do wind up using my bike again, I think I would experiment with setting it up for that type of riding. Right now it is set up for cross country riding...high seat, soft fork setting, and clipless pedals. I think I could have caught more air with a stiffer fork and more butt clearance. And with flat pedals and Vans, I think I would have taken more risks in the technical sections.

I successfully cleared all the "sport" Northshore sections (my favorite was the teeter totters), but I stayed away from the 6-10' Northshore sections. Unfortunately, I twice made a wrong turn and accidentally went through the expert jump section. Whereas the short tabletops require you to really work for your air, the expert ones catapult you toward the ceiling (whether you want to or not), and then launch you straight into the next jump. I wanted out immediately, but the momentum built up so fast that it took me three tabletops to scrub off enough speed to stop and find a way out of that section.


El Gecko said:

Actually single speed is great. Mine was a 1X9 at the time but I wished it was single (it is now, and much better).

Hope I covered all the bases, or maybe sparked something that you may have forgotten. You should be ready for a fun time.

We should get a chainlink group together to go sometime before they close this year. I've been wanting to go back for awhile now and I've got major cabin fever.

Permalink Reply by Gecko on February 26, 2009 at 3:57am

Glad to hear you had a good time! We'll have to figure out when we can go, I'd love to get down there sometime before they close in April. Maybe we should start a chainlink group for Rays?

A few of my friends tried some of the rental bikes and they're well-maintained and solid, plus they save you having to pack your bike.

Yeah, I would definitely recommend a stiffer fork, lower seat, and flat pedals. I grew up on BMX bikes and flat pedals are the way to go when doing any kind of tricks. The lower seat is a given for butt clearance, like you said, and a stiffer fork will help immensely with your stability on the ramps (plus you don't really need huge plush travel at Rays anyway).

That's an interesting note about the larger ramps, I wouldn't have thought. I'll have to grow a pair and try them next time and see what the deal is. It always seems like people are getting huge air off them without even trying.

I rode this last time, with a huge Fox fork and 1X9 gearing:

Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on February 26, 2009 at 11:13am

That's exactly the kind of bike I'd like to try...with a nice pair of sticky Vans on my feet. Clipless MTB shoes with hard plastic cleats suck if you want to bail on plywood or smooth concrete.

I hear the term 1x9 thrown around a lot. I'm not sure what it means. My single speed has a 2:1 gear ratio, which seems common for cross country. I'm not sure if 1x9 is referring to the gear ratio or if it means single front chain ring with a derailleur in the back. It's hard to tell in the photo of your bike, but it looks like a single speed with a Surly Fixxator chain tensioner.

El Gecko said:

Glad to hear you had a good time! We'll have to figure out when we can go, I'd love to get down there sometime before they close in April. Maybe we should start a chainlink group for Rays?

A few of my friends tried some of the rental bikes and they're well-maintained and solid, plus they save you having to pack your bike.

Yeah, I would definitely recommend a stiffer fork, lower seat, and flat pedals. I grew up on BMX bikes and flat pedals are the way to go when doing any kind of tricks. The lower seat is a given for butt clearance, like you said, and a stiffer fork will help immensely with your stability on the ramps (plus you don't really need huge plush travel at Rays anyway).

That's an interesting note about the larger ramps, I wouldn't have thought. I'll have to grow a pair and try them next time and see what the deal is. It always seems like people are getting huge air off them without even trying.

I rode this last time, with a huge Fox fork and 1X9 gearing:

Permalink Reply by Gecko on February 26, 2009 at 11:42am

Yeah, I used a pair of Etnies with a harder-compound sole. The harder compound shoes seem to hold up better to the rigors of biking, especially with the giant teeth on my pedals digging into them.

And yeah, 1X9 means single front chainring with 9spd rear cassette. For example, my other mtb is a 2X9, double front chainring with 9spd cassette. I rode 1X9 when I was there last winter, but since then I've removed the shifter/derailleur/9spd cassette. I got a Surly Singleator, cassette spacer kit, and 15 tooth cog for the rear end and it's been great with a 32 tooth chainring. The 2.133 ratio is high enough for cruising but low enough for any slowspeed tricks, and my chain doesn't drop when I jump stuff anymore. Now I just need to rebuild my rear hub and the bike will be bulletproof.

Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on February 27, 2009 at 7:18pm

Ooops...I meant "Singleator." :-) The "Fixxator" has another function entirely.

I just purchased a suspension pump for my Maverick Duc32 fork. The Maverick manual has all sorts of suggested pressure settings for everything from cross country to "Big Drop" freeride shenanigans. So it appears I have plenty of latitude to stiffen up the front end for indoor park riding.

I see you started a Ray's group. Nice work. Now we just need to organize a weekend trip!

El Gecko said:

Yeah, I used a pair of Etnies with a harder-compound sole. The harder compound shoes seem to hold up better to the rigors of biking, especially with the giant teeth on my pedals digging into them.

And yeah, 1X9 means single front chainring with 9spd rear cassette. For example, my other mtb is a 2X9, double front chainring with 9spd cassette. I rode 1X9 when I was there last winter, but since then I've removed the shifter/derailleur/9spd cassette. I got a Surly Singleator, cassette spacer kit, and 15 tooth cog for the rear end and it's been great with a 32 tooth chainring. The 2.133 ratio is high enough for cruising but low enough for any slowspeed tricks, and my chain doesn't drop when I jump stuff anymore. Now I just need to rebuild my rear hub and the bike will be bulletproof.

Permalink Reply by Gecko on February 28, 2009 at 9:56am

Does that fork have lockout?

I think I'm gonna wait and see how many more people sign up before I post a "when are we going" thread. Any suggestions on who to send invites to besides the trail bike riders group?