[obviouslyme]

Unfortunate timing, but fun to see 'em on Braille.

 

[Callender]

I'd say they made the right choice! I'd much rather see them dissect Braille instead of Flow. They had some excellent tips. Sessioning Braille is one of the best (legal) options the average rider Bay Area rider has to work on progression. Most people ride around most of the features--and probably don't even notice some of them. There's a fun steep roller and some hip jumps that are easy to blast by.

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

Fun to see them on Braille but I would rather see them on Flow. I think the average rider would benefit more from learning to ride the Flow trail better, than inching down Braille. I've seen a lot of riders at Demo, 99% are not even close to the skill necessary to ride in the way they are suggesting in that video. And most don't ride Flow anywhere near the way it was meant to be ridden, particularly people who come from a XC background. There's a mindset that getting down a more technical trail makes one a better rider. I think riding an 'easier' trail progressively better makes one a better rider.

 

[Francis Cebedo]

Just brilliant. Many folks ride that trail for 20 years and never ride it like that or think it through

 

[SikeMo]

Last time I rode Braille I stopped and broke it down into pieces as they've done in the video. Too many lines to choose from if you haven't ridden it much. Trying to set aside the 'must get a PR' mentality is hard, but I've been able to do it more and more recently. Also scared the crap out of myself on that bigger log drop. Too much hang time for my taste.

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

Last time I rode Braille I stopped and broke it down into pieces as they've done in the video. Too many lines to choose from if you haven't ridden it much. Trying to set aside the 'must get a PR' mentality is hard, but I've been able to do it more and more recently. Also scared the crap out of myself on that bigger log drop. Too much hang time for my taste.

That's the right mindset! Those features look small in videos, and those guys are going faster than they appear. If they did a Flow video there would be huge jumps most don't even realize are there.

 

[twowheelmotion]

I could have summed this up into a .5 second video.

"Hi. Strait line that sh*t. Time for cheeseburgers"

 

[Forest Rider]

I fall into the category most have already identified.

I'm not good enough to ride a flow trail the way they are meant. I don't know how to ride berms very aggressively.

I rode 2 laps of flow one day, very similar times on each run.
Next day 2 laps on Braille. I bypassed most of the techy stuff. I haven't ridden any type of drop, therefore unsure how to handle them. I'm smart enough to not try it when I am riding alone hundreds of miles from home. I would like to hit some of the features but I am totally fine with the bypass options.

The trail itself was a blast, good technical stuff, aside from the features.

I will go back again someday, just need to find a 3 day travel opportunity to make it worth my time. And some additional fitness to ride a 50 mile weekend again.

I will once again, ride flow relatively slowly (compared to the 'skilled' riders) and I will still bypass the big features of braille.
I will also have fun.

 

[RoscoP]

No humungo drop at the top?

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

This is a pretty good run down Flow.

 

[Thor29]

That's the right mindset! Those features look small in videos, and those guys are going faster than they appear. If they did a Flow video there would be huge jumps most don't even realize are there.

There are jumps on the Flow trail? Is that a new thing? It's been awhile since I've ridden it but it sure seemed to be sorely lacking for jumps.

Personally, without a jump between every set of berms, I hate flow trails. I'd much rather take a time machine back and ride Sawpit.

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

There are jumps on the Flow trail? Is that a new thing? It's been awhile since I've ridden it but it sure seemed to be sorely lacking for jumps.

Personally, without a jump between every set of berms, I hate flow trails. I'd much rather take a time machine back and ride Sawpit.

Maybe I shouldn't say jumps, rather, places to get pretty big air if you're riding the right line and going fast enough. Does that qualify as a jump? Is Mega at Carlmont a jump? I don't know.

Here's one you guys can ponder/chuckle about. At rinky dink Arastradero there is a massive jump to transition hiding in plain site. But you have to go much faster than I have the balls for. Anybody know where it is?

 

[KingOfOrd]

Cool to see some local trails dissected on display, I'm not one to stop and look at a features so I appreciate the perspective.

 

[Callender]

Can somebody dig up Ron A.'s run down Braille? I'm pretty sure it was on a borrowed bike and he just crushed it, laughing the whole way. It's usually in my mind when I'm dropping it.

Also, if the Flow trail is a jump trail then I'm Kim Kardashian. Just because pros can boost off a bump...

 

[kattrap]

There are jumps on the Flow trail? Is that a new thing? It's been awhile since I've ridden it but it sure seemed to be sorely lacking for jumps.

Personally, without a jump between every set of berms, I hate flow trails. I'd much rather take a time machine back and ride Sawpit.

All of the grade reversals can be rolled, table tops same thing... nothing pitches you up like a true jump. You need to work for air.

I'm hoping the top parts of sawpit are intact enough to still be rough like ridge. IIRC the bottom half of sawpit is where most of the redwoods were.

 

[Shamis]

At the beginning of segment 5, there is a pretty lofty kicker that lands into a perfect transition and left berm and shortly after there is a double into a left berm if you maintain the speed.

Demo flow is not jumpy, but as already stated, there are half a dozen opportunities to launch if you know the line and maintain the flow.

 

[Forest Rider]

Maybe I shouldn't say jumps, rather, places to get pretty big air if you're riding the right line and going fast enough. Does that qualify as a jump? Is Mega at Carlmont a jump? I don't know.

Here's one you guys can ponder/chuckle about. At rinky dink Arastradero there is a massive jump to transition hiding in plain site. But you have to go much faster than I have the balls for. Anybody know where it is?

Yep, I remember those 'jumps'. If one were to go to Flow Trail to jump, it's the wrong trail for that. But if you prefer an oversized bump in the trail to be used as a jump then you're in the right place!
I consider my wheels off the ground to be a jump.

I consider other people that wear a full face helmet and ride jumps half the height of a house to be a jumper. And all sizes in-between that and the flow trail 'bumps'. hehe

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

Yep, I remember those 'jumps'. If one were to go to Flow Trail to jump, it's the wrong trail for that. But if you prefer an oversized bump in the trail to be used as a jump then you're in the right place!
I consider my wheels off the ground to be a jump.

I consider other people that wear a full face helmet and ride jumps half the height of a house to be a jumper. And all sizes in-between that and the flow trail 'bumps'. hehe

Yeah, it's not this place.....haven't worn this t shirt in a very long time.

 

[RBoardman]

There is no place to get “big air” on Flow. Prove me wrong with a video.

I know there is a video of Kendallweed somewhere out there hucking off one of the upper “jumps”, but he can get more air bunny hopping on a flat trail than most people get of jumps.

 

[5k bike 50cent legs]

What do you consider big air?