A couple of weeks ago fellow team rider Mark Tomas and I were able to take the day and head up to Big Bear for some lift assisted shuttling. We drove up with a friend of Mark’s, JJ. This would be my first time riding at Big Bear. I headed out long before sunrise to meet up with Mark & JJ and complete the long drive up the hill. We made a quick pit stop and grabbed some snacks before hitting the lifts. After armoring up we pedaled over to the lifts for our first run.
Mark had rented a 160mm travel bike for the day as his previously he had taken his 120mm Fisher and felt it to be insufficient for the trails. The first trail we hit was Fall Line. As I eventually found out, there are several ways to complete this trail, but on our first run I think we found the rockiest one. It took me two runs to get the hang of riding the new trails. There were lots of logs, roots and rock to ride over all the while on a good steep pitch which generally was topped off with very loose soil. There were points were shedding speed was near impossible, and the main trick was just to keep your rear wheel in the rear.
After our first run we met up with some works associates JJ, and as it turns out, the Path was also having a shop ride at Big Bear that weekend, and after our first couple of runs we joined up with them, making a fairly large group of 10-15 riders. Thanks go to Neil Adams was leading the the ride for the Path and knew all the trails like the back of his hand. We ended up hanging with them for most of the day. We got in about four runs or so before grabbing lunch. At the top of the lift the was a small place to get burgers for lunch that had been calling our names all day as we could smell it every time we rode by.
As evidenced by some of the pics, we took a few stops along the way to session some of the fun, technical extras the trail provided. It made for a long day of riding, that was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and I for one can’t wait to go back!
