Hilton outride 28 July '07

About 25 Mavericks met at the Crossways Hotel for the outride. We split into 2 groups with Kim leading the faster bunch. Kim has not been on his bike for a couple of weeks and was in a "woes" mood so he took us waaaaayyyyy into Cedara. Of the 14 that started the ride with him, only 9 finished together. But man we had an interesting ride. We rode some of the new singletrack that has been cut for the Cowan House Classic and it is sweeeeetttt. Maverick Hilton has taken responsibility for a certain section of the trail for Cowan House and if you go past the shop you will start to get an idea what Gordon has install for you. Part of our ride on Saturday was through a section of the forest where Kim said there were a trail, but .... This photo of him is exiting his "trail" ... not bad for a ballie.

On our way back, we crossed a dam wall. Some of us rode it, some attempted to ride it an fell into the dam (Andrew) and had a very, very cold and wet ride to his car, and them China, got such a big skrik when Andrew fell into the dam, he stepped of the wall on the high side and slid all the way to the bottom with his bike in his hand ... he managed to get back to the top without to much damage ... a very shaken China ... with some scratches. Here is China before he tried to surf the dam wall:

Boulder - White Range 2007

The last ride of our trip! We were sad and happy at the same time ... started to miss our families. White Range is about 10km from Golden, a very small town where the Yeti bike comes from. When Aletta and I was in the US last we also rode here and quit enjoyed the trails ... they have a Maverick loop! This year, 10 min into the ride, where we had to choose which direction at a T-junction, I made the wrong call and we rode White Range anti-clockwise. For 1h45 min we climbed/pushed our bikes uphill. Until we reached the top of the mountain. Once there we had many options to choose from, but I thought ... no ways ... I know the route we have taken up and it is the perfect downhill ... not going to go down an easier downhill on one of the other trails. So around we turned and shot strait down the mountain ... down an awesome downhill ... a 40 minute run of pure adrenaline!

At White Range the often have Mountain Lion sigthings ... have a look at the words on the sign.

That was it for the USA. After this ride we went to visit Maverick America and learnt about all the exiting stuff they have install for us for the next 18 months, but more about this another time. The next morning our 2-day long journey back home started ... and man was it a long journey!!

Untill our next adventure.... Cheers from Johann & Malan

Boulder - Nederlands - 2008

Sorry for being away for so long. I found a way of messing my pc up and could not update anymore blogs until I got back home.

Well, after leaving Fruita, we thought of staying a day in Vail to ride a bit of downhill with the ski-lifts. Vail is a beautiful little town about 100 miles from Denver and about halfway between Fruita and Boulder. After finding bikes to rent (Specialized Big Hits) we tried to find accommodation ... the cheapest we could find, about 30 miles away was $175 per person ... you do the sum, its a crazy amount. So we said goodbye to this idea and set off for Boulder.

The next morning we made contact with Maverick America and got ourselves 2 Maverick ML8's. Man, what a relieve to get of those bloody Rocky Mountains.

Our first ride in Boulder was at Nederland, high up into the mountain above Boulder. The trail is a bit limited, but has huge potential. Herewith some picks of Nederland. We also had our only flat tyre of the entire trip at this ride. Nederlands is above 10000 feet...Oxygen was scarce.

The next morning was the last ride of our US holiday ... White Range ...

Fruita - Bookcliffs

This morning we got up at 5h00 to get to Bookcliffs before the sun got up. Of all the trails we have done on this journey, Bookcliffs is most probably the easiest. But it is still huge fun with Km's of singletrack. Kessel Run must be one of my favourite trails... its a looooong slight downhill with many right and left berms through a dry river bed. Its huge fun!

Have a look at this:

After leaving Fruita we thought we will stop at Vail and ride some of the downhill runs at this famous site. We walked Vail "plat" ...it is an unbelievable little town and likes like a town in Switzerland. I booked our bikes for the next morning, got all the detail as to what time the ski lift start and what it cost, all we had to do was to find a place to stay .... and this was the problem. The cheapest accommodation was about 20 km from Vail and cost R1200 per night. We said goodbye to Vail and drove on to Boulder .... where we also battled to find accommodation .... Tomorrow we will try to get hold of the guys at Maverick to find out where we will be staying for the next 2 nights as well as trying to secure Mavericks to ride. Please we don't want to ride any more Rocky Mountains ....

Fruita - Mary's Loop 2008

Over The Edge Sport in Fruita had great bikes to rent. Maverick, Elsworth & Yeti, but alas they were all to expensive ... so guess what ... Malan and I found ourselves on Rocky Mountains again ... and they were in a shocking state. Fruita has miles and miles of trails mostly designed and built by mountainbikers. Our first trip we rode Mary's Loop. There are many other loops that make up this section of the trail. Mary's is very scenic and runs next to the Colorado River. Have a look at this:

Tomorrow we are riding Bookcliffs ....

Cheers

Johann

Moab - Slickrock 2008

Ja boet, it was steep, very steep...

Moab - Porcupine 2008

We met this dude at the trailhead with a Titanium hardtail and V-Brakes ... I thought this guys is not going to make it. Well he flew down the trail ... impressive stuff.

This is at the top of the trail/world:

Malan navigating some ledges:

Flat-out and in the air:

Then some more

Check the next blog for Slickrock

Johann

Moab 2008

Hi all. We have been out of contact while we were in Moab. The place we stayed did not have wireless.






From Salt Lake City we drove 270 mile to Moab. We arrived in Moab the day before yesterday and went looking for a place to stay. Accommodation was quite a bit more than the last time we were there. Malan and I paid $64 per room per night (excl tax) at the Red Rock Inn ... not the best accommodation we ever had.






Then we hit the road to go and find us bikes to rent. The best value was found at Poison Spider Cycles. I rented a Rocky Mountain and Malan a BMC. Both bikes were in OK condition and cost $40 per bike per day. Chile Cycles had Giants ($40 per day), Moab Cyclery had Cannondales ($65 per day) ... we only visited Rim Cyclery after we rented our bikes from Poison Spider. Rim Cyclery had Specialized (from $45 per day ...I would have preferred a Specialized, but alas).






On the afternoon we arrived I took Malan to go and ride Sovereign. We left the trailhead at 17h30 and it was MOER HOT. Sovereign is the best trail to ride first when you go to Moab. It has everything in it. Bits of Slickrock, lots of steep climbs up ledges and some hair-raising drops. This ride took us 2h30 and we were totally dehydrated by the time we got back to the car. Its not everyday that I finish 2litre of fluid in one ride. This evening we went to eat at the local brewery and had way to much beer!






The next morning at 6h30 we met the shuttle at Poison Spider to take us to Porcupine Rim. We went higher up than what I have been the last time I was in Moab. We started at LPS (lower porcupine singletrack). The shuttle cost $15 per person and worth every cent ... there is no way that I will cycle up that hill to get to the trailhead! Porcupine is mostly downhill, with a couple of steep climbs here and there. This most be one of the best trails in the world! The first 45 min was on awesome singletrack. This is not the kind of singletrack we have in SA. It's over rock ledges with 100's and 100's of drops. Then we hit the original Porcupine trail. The trail is more open now, but with lots and lots of rock drops and loose stones. The last part of the trail is singletrack again, with even more drops and ledges. Once you have done Porcupine your skills have increased hugely. And those of you who know my brother and I ... I can promise you we pushed each other way over our limits and the ability of the bikes we rode down this trail. IT WAS AWESOME. This trail took us just short of 3 hours. Luckily we were back in town by 10h00 because if got hot, very freeking hot ... like in 40 degree hot! The rest of the day we dossed and strolled through town.






Thursday morning we set off at 6h00 to go and ride Slickrock. Last time I rode Slickrock it was hard, but I have forgotten just how hard. This trail took us just over 2 hours. Slickrock consists out of endless ups and downs over huge rocks following a white line. The rock is very tacky, so if you can get your nose on to the front wheel and still turn the pedals you will get up most of the hills, but man its tough. O, I forgot it was MOER hot again ... thank goodness we were off the rock by 9h00. Slickrock is probably one of the most famous trails in the world. I have done it twice now ... and that's enough. It is much harder than what it is fun.






After Slickrock we gave our bikes back (two very hard ridden bikes) and set off to Fruita from where I am writing this blog. But more about Fruita tomorrow.





This was Sovereign:

Check the next blog for more photos of Porcupine and Slickrock

Johann

Specialized 2008 Launch

Today Malan and I rode Deer Park for most of the morning. Ski lifts to the top and the very technical down. We used Stumpjumpers the whole day. First trying the new S-Works ... this bike is very, very fast and then the Stumpy Pro Alu. At the end of the day the Alu was more suitable for all the downhilling we were doing ... quite a bit more stable than the very light S-Works.

Tania, is this your next bike?

Deer Park has many man-made "Whistler-type" obstacles and Malan and I tried them all.

Specialized 2008 Launch

Today we saw all the general All-terain bikes and components/accessories. And there are lots, and lots.

If you have money to burn you can have the ultimate Fat Boy cruizer for about R20 000! This bike's rear tyre looks like a Hardley tyre!

On the accessories side, Specialized is doing a huge amount for lady cycling. This is the pro MTB lady shoe. It is super light and very stiff.

Tomorrow we are going for a full-on demo day ... jip we are going back to Deer Mountain for extreme MTB.

On this point, the Specialized Enduro Comp is going to retail for around R26 000! If you want a Maverick ML8 but don't want to spend R34 000 +, this is your solution. Awesome value for money.

The Stumpjumper Comp that's coming to SA is a awesome red and white bike and will retail for just over R20 000. The Epic Comp will have the full Specialized Rear suspension (like this year's S-Works) and will sell for around R21 000.

See you tomorrow again after Deer Valley

Cheers

Johann

Yesterday Specialized presented their 2008 roadbikes to us. I thought that this is going to be a painfull day for a mountainbiker ..... but then we saw the bikes. They are awesome!! And we sat through the presentation where they told us what goes into designing and manufacturing the best roadbikes in the world and I got new respect for these bikes. Specialized's 2008 roadbikes are un-bloody-believable and will be on the floor of a Maverick Cycles close to you soon.

Jip, they are so awesome that even I will consider becoming more of a roadie again.



My favourite 2008 Specialized - The S-Works Roubaix. This is one sweeeettttt machine.














For the Tri-atheletes ..... you will be hardpressed to find anything better than this anywhere in the world!












Then for the racing roadies; The Tarmac S-Works. This is not even the best version. The top of the range is the Tarmac S-Works SL2 and is the bike Tom Boonen rides.

Today there is no riding .... just a huge amount of stuff to rake in.

Monday we are going back to the mountain again .... hee, haa

Johann

Specialized 2008 Launch

Yesterday we rode Deer Valley in Salt Lake City. Its very hot ... about 38 degrees! Deer Valley is a ski resort just outside Salt Lake where they had the 2002 winter olympics ... so jip, we used skilifts (who wants to ride uphill?) Here is some more shots of what we were up to.

Then we became brave abd tried to ride downhill with the Cross Country king ... Fritz Pienaar. This man flies and has no fear. Check this drop ... and he did it on a Specialized Enduro.

Today we have to go and ride roadbikes. Very nice looking roadbikes, but still roadbikes and its going to be moer hot ....

Time for breakfast. Chat to you all later again.

Johann

Specialized 2008 launch

Oops, I wanted to show you the Saphire frame as well

Specialized 2008 product launch

Malan and I are in Salt Lake City for the 2008 Specialized launch.

The biggest MTB news for 2008 must be the Specialized Stumpjumper S-Works. This bike is totally revamped and must be the lightest 120 mm trail bike available. Very close to 10kg's. It also come in a women version, called Saphire S-Works.

More news tomorrow.

Johann

Jan and Natalie from the Clearwater Trail Centre spoiled us with schweet singletrack riding last weekend. The Maverick Momentum Health team and other Maverick family members arrived at a cold and windy trail centre on Sunday morning. Carl, Piers and Thunders stayed over the night before, spending even more time on all the trails around the centre, while Johann, Aletta, Alex, Craig, Mario and the Bradley’s made the two hour drive early on Sunday morning. Jan and Natalie welcomed us and soon the cold morning air was forgotten while playing on the pump-track, on our way to the Beaver Creek coffee house. As you know by now we are just caffeine junkies with a fetish for singletrack. The wind was really challenging, but at least the warm sun and endless singletrack made sure we were all glowing in true mountain biker spirit after almost 5 hours of sublime technical trails. Check out the photo’s and make sure that you find your way to the Clearwater Trail Centre sooner than later. The ideal spot for some endurance Hill2Hill training. Contact Jan or Natalie on 039 311 1130 / 0835496710 / clearwater@venturenet.co.za / www.clearwatertrails.co.z