[big0mike]

Wound up having to work a little Saturday so didn't do the shuttle thing for Rick's 26th birthday. Instead, took a couple hours to take the new sled out on PMP from 40th St. Went looking for the Crazy Tough PMP Move and decided against trying it. The obstacle and following drop don't look terribly difficult but the approach is near impossible for me at this stage in my riding career. I simply can't get up to it with any momentum to make it over.

Then decided I'd give the Mine Trail TT a shot. I've hiked it but never ridden it. Probably won't ride it again, either. It's a ton of work with only the slightest of rewards on the back side. As soon as you hit the trail you are climbing. Then it gets a little easier. Then the second climb comes and will kick the ass of any normal mortal like myself. Stopped at that little hairpin turn for a good five minutes.

Finished off Mine Trail and went up 1A to tackle VOAZ then Cheesegrater. VOAZ was no kinder than usual, especially after the ass handing Mine Trail gave me. I made it up and over to 304 in about normal time then spent a half an hour or so playing around on Lower Cheesegrater:

Lower Cheesegrater Session from Michael Stevens on Vimeo.

Some good runs. Some bad. I find it funny that my cold run, while slower than I would've liked, went rather smooth. Then once I started practicing I had some issues. My last run on the remote setup seemed to be VERY smooth. Then I got it back on my chest and choked the entire way down. Oh, well. That's why I'm practicing :thumbsup:

I still say the hardest part about tackling obstacles like this is convincing your mind that going slower will make it harder. You've got to convince your mind to go faster, keep your momentum, and let the suspension do it's job. When you do it is much easier. :yesnod:

 

[hatedg]

nice job however I have ridden there yet...before I do I will invest in some major armor

Tim

 

[Casual Observer]

Rick who?

 

[skicey]

Looks like a good time. I like the remote shots. Haven't done much riding up there but I would likely end up with my mouth full of gravel. I'm more of a xc rider though.

 

[DesertCrawler]

That is XC riding.

You had a couple of good runs there Mike.

Did you get the trip screw adapter dealie for the GoPro? Thinking of picking one up. I think they are only about $8.

 

[big0mike]

Did you get the trip screw adapter dealie for the GoPro? Thinking of picking one up. I think they are only about $8.

I think you wanted to type "tripod screw adapter" and yeah, that's what I got. It's basically just the part that the case screws into with a screw hole for a tripod. Put it on my GorillaPod for some fun.

At one point I was setting up the last shot and was chatting with a couple. The guy said he wish he'd brought his knee braces as well and I told him they were pads, not braces. I said, "yeah, I tend to fall a lot when I come down here." They started to continue down and I started up to the top looking behind me and the guy is still there. Being the paranoid jerk I am I'm think this guys looking to score a free GoPro. I keep heading up looking behind me and he's still there. I get to the top and I realize he's just watching me to see how I ride it. I just happened to be right after my card filled so it wasn't running but I came down it fairly well until the last couple feet before the loose stuff and I come to a stop and say to him, "man, so close." He shakes his head and all I can hear is "fcuk me" as he's shaking his head walking away to catch his wife.

Good times :thumbsup:

 

[DesertCrawler]

Yeah, I missed the 'od'.

You sure this guy didn't just want a date? Just sayin'...

 

[titusbro]

Good Job on the CG...

Your progression looks fine to me, Mike. The CG is a strange beast and I always walk it before making any attempts. With so many hikers using it, you never know if some wise-a$$ has planted a bobbie-trap or some new baby-heads have made their way into the middle of the trail. Check out these clips from Christmas and you'll notice that no one is really 'speeding' down the trail... they are just keeping their momentum and confidence up.

Christmas Chunk - #1 from titusbro on Vimeo.

Christmas Chunk - #2 from titusbro on Vimeo.

Christmas Chunk - #3 from titusbro on Vimeo.

Christmas Chunk - #4 from titusbro on Vimeo.

 

[Grave9]

NICE bash guard!!!! Mike, Looks like you're about ready for upper cheese!!!!!..............Drew

 

[big0mike]

Your progression looks fine to me, Mike. The CG is a strange beast and I always walk it before making any attempts. With so many hikers using it, you never know if some wise-a$$ has planted a bobbie-trap or some new baby-heads have made their way into the middle of the trail. Check out these clips from Christmas and you'll notice that no one is really 'speeding' down the trail... they are just keeping their momentum and confidence up.

I wanted my first run to be cold so I wasn't formulating a plan in my head on how to tackle it. That way if anything pops up I gotta think quick to resolve it. You can't get moving too fast so I'm not super worried about taking some damage. I've already been over the bars there so what else does it have?

Looks like I saw a couple different lines getting over that first drop. I focused on the "easy" line to the right with two smaller drops but I still need to tackle the middle line with the really big single drop. That's the one that sent me over the bars. One of your clips the rider is way left so I'll have to look for that line as well.

NICE bash guard!!!! Mike, Looks like you're about ready for upper cheese!!!!!..............Drew

Dude, I've been thinking about it. Still need to work on my slow speed & switchback skills. After hiking upper several times I'm convinced I can clean a lot if not most of it. The tough parts are the switchbacks (and there's a lot of them) because in that section there always seems to be a combination of issues involved: 1. the switchback itself; 2. big drops in the middle of the turn; 3. tons of loose rocks in the turn. The combination of all three along with the penalty for failure associated with the terrain and I'm still leery.

It's tough but I'm trying to make sure I'm gradually increasing my skill set and not making it so I'm riding so far over my head that it's dangerous. You gotta push the limits but I think right now that push would be just a tad too much. Soon... :thumbsup:

And, of course, I know it's all in my head.

I think I may try a few different lines on Lower and then tackle that tough spot on 8 where you gotta bend right around a big rock, down two or three big steps, sharp left turn. When I clean that I think that will help with my slow speed, turning, and dropping combo skills.

I feel I'm making progress... especially with the pretty new bash guard It did get one test on it but I was surprised that it didn't get used more. I guess that extra clearance from the smaller ring (34t vs 44t) was totally necessary.

 

[Grave9]

IMO the hardest part of upper cheese is right there at the bottom. Been OTB's a few times at that point, BUT it might be because I see the end and I let me guard down.

 

[big0mike]

I see the end and I let me guard down.

Should that be spoken like a pirate?

 

[Grave9]

 

[titusbro]

...One of your clips the rider is way left so I'll have to look for that line as well.

That was me, taking the rock bridge to the left. I've been doing that line for several months now and I can't say it's better, just different. When I do the left line, I cross the trail and finish up on the right line, as dropping the upper left sets you up for a nice straight run to the right. When I do the 'traditional' right drop, I always set up and ride it out on the left side.

...I think I may try a few different lines on Lower and then tackle that tough spot on 8 where you gotta bend right around a big rock, down two or three big steps, sharp left turn. When I clean that I think that will help with my slow speed, turning, and dropping combo skills...

I was sessioning that 8 section last Monday and I am still trying to figure out the best approach - the 'big' rocks on the right, when entering, prevent me from moving up to the right for a traditional left switchback drop-in. Rolling straight down the apex presents the most challenge for me...

 

[DesertCrawler]

I was sessioning that 8 section last Monday and I am still trying to figure out the best approach - the 'big' rocks on the right, when entering, prevent me from moving up to the right for a traditional left switchback drop-in. Rolling straight down the apex presents the most challenge for me...

I hear you on that. Theat big rock on the right means forces you to go way left. Then you have to try and cut back way right to go high then down left again. Seems pretty difficult to pull off. It was briefly considered to just bomb it straight over the edge of the trail but there's a good chance it would move the rocks on the edge of the trail (a very bad thing) and an even better chance you'd end up getting closelined by the palo verde (also probably a bad thing).

I can't quite convince myself to head straight down it, but that may be the best way to do it. Getting turned left at the bottom would be tricky.

That's how I went down the section with the two ocotillo (woo hoo, first time doing it in one pass) instead of trying to make an S turn out of it. Straight down over the gnar worked really smoothly. Well, that time anyway.

 

[big0mike]

I'll have to look next time I'm out there 'cause if I'm understanding you right, Barry, you wanna just dive straight off the edge. I don't remember there being any landing zone on the other side. But, I haven't examined that obstacle with the thought in mind so possibly overlooked it.

Hmm... maybe I'm wrong and you can ride right off the edge. Doesn't look like the best route, though.

For me, the tight switchback with steps is one of my many weaknesses so it's the part I need to conquer.

 

[titusbro]

I'll have to look next time I'm out there 'cause if I'm understanding you right, Barry, you wanna just dive straight off the edge. I don't remember there being any landing zone on the other side. But, I haven't examined that obstacle with the thought in mind so possibly overlooked it.

Hmm... maybe I'm wrong and you can ride right off the edge. Doesn't look like the best route, though.

For me, the tight switchback with steps is one of my many weaknesses so it's the part I need to conquer.

I have 'scoped-out' that direct route and it would be a piece of cake riding directly straight over those rocks. I am first trying to ride it as it is designed. If I can clean it that way, then the satisfaction level will be greater.

 

[DesertCrawler]

I don't want to go off the edge of the trail. I am now thinking straight down the middle, hard left at the bottom. Just not sure if it'll work out...

I think one could bomb right over the rocks having seen what titusbro and others were doing with that rocky line down the SoMo waterfall, just not the best idea on my paper thin light XC tires and wimpy XC rims. Bent one sometime in the last few rides that required tweaking so it would hold air.

I think a possible or good line is high right, then left at the bottom. If you look at that line there's really no serious drop at the bottom. I am just not sure how to get right enough fast enough at the entry, which is not really well represented in that picture.

Certainly worth spending some time sessioning.

 

[big0mike]

I don't want to go off the edge of the trail. I am now thinking straight down the middle, hard left at the bottom. Just not sure if it'll work out...

I think one could bomb right over the rocks having seen what titusbro and others were doing with that rocky line down the SoMo waterfall, just not the best idea on my paper thin light XC tires and wimpy XC rims. Bent one sometime in the last few rides that required tweaking so it would hold air.

From what I remember the rocks titusbro was hitting on the Waterfall were a little more substantial that what I see here on 8. I'll have to get out there and take a look again soon. Still HAVE to clean the steps, though.

 

[Grave9]

From what I remember the rocks titusbro was hitting on the Waterfall were a little more substantial that what I see here on 8. I'll have to get out there and take a look again soon. Still HAVE to clean the steps, though.

Bring a broom!