Downhill Mountain Biking

[dragos13]

Does anyone on here ride downhill mountain bikes? I just picked up my first one and really have no clue where to start. I ordered gear today and I'm trying to find some trails down here to start practicing. The goal is to get comfortable this season and compete next year.

If you have any knowledge or if any of you ride downhill, lets meet up and hit the trails!

2004 Trek Diesel
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/284736_2286765889651_1264033490_2732535_1691381_n. jpg

[salsashark]

Does anyone on here ride downhill mountain bikes? I just picked up my first one and really have no clue where to start.

The top of the hill?! :dunno:


I ordered gear today and I'm trying to find some trails down here to start practicing. The goal is to get comfortable this season and compete next year.

If you have any knowledge or if any of you ride downhill, lets meet up and hit the trails!

check out www.mtbr.com lots of local info there as well as DH specific.

http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47 - DH Forum
http://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70 - Colorado Front Range

[asp_125]

Winter Park and Breck both have DH trails. The other way is to use a 2 car shuttle system (one at bottom the other to take you up top) on some of the local trails here at White Ranch, off Golden Gate.

[salsashark]

^^ I've ridden Keystone and Winterpark. Both off great DH trails... capable of completely tearing you apart!

[Ricky]

WP for sure. We were just there last weekend and did a couple runs on the green trails. I'd say that's the best place to start because you can go do a green, get used to the bike, then take it down something a bit faster.

[spdu4ia]

Your in the right place to DH , all the bike parks are the best way to get a lot of elevation over and over in the shortest amount of time. Hiking up a hill for 2 hours for a 15 minute run gets oooollldddd

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4650621403_f3dc4a3d7f_z.jpg

[DevilsTonic]

I just bought myself a full suspension Giant TranceX4 in December and have very recently taken it up in the mountains to ride some single track. Last weekend, Ricky and I went up to the Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park for some downhill. We had a blast. If you're looking to do strictly downhill, I would start at Keystone or Winter Park. If you're looking to do some starter climbing / descent single track, check out the Betasso loop in boulder.
http://www.trailcentral.com/gps/gps_details.php?key=327

Here are a few of the trails we've ridden on.

this one is pretty technical, I ended up walking the bike a lot because I'm a n00b.
http://maps.google.com/?t=p&z=15&ll=%2C&q=http%3A%2F%2Fshare.gps.motionxlive.com%2Fshr%2Fx %2Fkmz%2Fd720dd81aedfef5c94d5c37032d7b82b

Here's the track from the Trestle Bike Park at winter park. this is one of the beginner trails.
http://maps.google.com/?t=p&z=15&ll=%2C&q=http%3A%2F%2Fshare.gps.motionxlive.com%2Fshr%2Fx %2Fkmz%2Fd3f4d3152e44432362637ec84fdacc18

[grim]

When madvlad and i went to pikes peak there were these vans that had large racks on the top they were driving people to the top of the mountain with their bikes on the top of the van then they could ride the bikes down...looked pretty cool. might wanna check that out

[mdub]

Definetly winter park and keystone....vail is not bad either but last i heard it closes around 4pm...just got thru building up my 09 bullit. Re-used almost everything from my 01 bullit. Great to be back on a mnt bike.

[Concabar]

There is a smaller scale compared to Keystone, Breck and Winterpark. It is in Golden, a friend of mine just started and that is where her and bf are learning. It is over by the Colorado Mills area.

[dragos13]

Thanks everyone. I will definitely make it up to Keystone and WP soon. I think for this weekend I'm going to check out the park in Golden like Concabar suggested. Looks like a decent place to get started and its super close.

spdu4ia, that bike is SICK! Do you compete? I'm hoping to get familiar with riding DH this fall then upgrading the bike and racing next year :)

[Concabar]

I will ask my friend when I get to work the name of the hill top, unless you already know. Good luck and have fun. I know she has had her fair share of cuts, scrapes and bruises.

[spdu4ia]

Yea , make sure you have a fullface helmet and gloves at LEAST... you'r gonna get beat up! Thanks I acctually built the bike up from parts. I don't compete because there isn't a large downhill scene here in springs. I plan to start hiting the bike parks pretty hard next year now that I've got my house settled.

[JohnEffinK]

As a former racer (XC), there is a great race scene in CO if you are interested. The series has DH at most venues as they bounce around ski areas. Just not sure how easy it would be to get good practice time in around here for DH......

John

[dragos13]

I'm definitely going to be wearing full gear. From racing motorcycles, I know good gear is what makes the difference between walking away from a crash or taking a trip to the hospital.

I ordered the Sixsixone 2011 Vapor armour and Race knee/shin pads. Also have a dirtbike helmet that I'll be using. Crashing is part of the game :)

If anyone wants to hit up the park in Golden let me know. I should be going on Sunday. Here is their website. Looks basic but should be fun:

http://goldenbikepark.com/

[Concabar]

I'm definitely going to be wearing full gear. From racing motorcycles, I know good gear is what makes the difference between walking away from a crash or taking a trip to the hospital.

I ordered the Sixsixone 2011 Vapor armour and Race knee/shin pads. Also have a dirtbike helmet that I'll be using. Crashing is part of the game :)

If anyone wants to hit up the park in Golden let me know. I should be going on Sunday. Here is their website. Looks basic but should be fun:

http://goldenbikepark.com/

Hey I will pass this on to my friend and see if her and her bf would want to come out. They are doing some trails up in Vail tomorrow.

[spdu4ia]

Dirtbike helmet will work but I have a Giro Remedy DH fullface and it is substantially lighter than a moto helmet.

[bulldog]

Only downhill??? This must be an american sport :D

[dragos13]

It's going to be awesome :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUdu0wQtpF8

[bulldog]

It's going to be awesome :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUdu0wQtpF8 See going uphill seems much harder; not like I could do it though :lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvGhGYA3Btg&NR=1

[Ricky]

I ordered the Sixsixone 2011 Vapor armour and Race knee/shin pads. Also have a dirtbike helmet that I'll be using. Crashing is part of the game :)

I've got the sixsixone vapor suit. I use it riding the dirt bike, and it is awesome. I've even had a couple minor falls on the track and it protects very well.

[dragos13]

See going uphill seems much harder; not like I could do it though :lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvGhGYA3Btg&NR=1

Screw that lol. I want lots of speed with very little peddling :yes:


I've got the sixsixone vapor suit. I use it riding the dirt bike, and it is awesome. I've even had a couple minor falls on the track and it protects very well.

Thats great to hear. The thing looks bad ass and I want the most protection possible!

[Ricky]

Yeah, and it was WAY WAY WAY more comfortable than the Aplinestars, and like $80 cheaper too.

[Sticky 296]

If you want to mob with a real fast group hit me up! We go to Trestle every Monday and Sundays on non Motocross (Rmxa) Race weekends. I am okay but the boys I ride with Rape!

On a side note- I just started riding the new Yeti 303.. I am in love!!

[mdlb]

I may have missed it, but also check out Sol Vista and Valmont. Valmont is the newish park in Boulder and they did a great job on all of the features and DJs. If you hit up Golden or want to head up to Boulder PM.