Blog
Finland here we come!!
Saturday, 03 January 2009
Myself and a few of the FRJ crew are off on a snowboard trip tomorrow. We are going to northern Finland of all places! This is mainly because there are literally no last minute bargains to the Alps as tour operators have bought less holidays to combat the current economic situation.
We booked the trip yesterday after stumbling across it on last minute.com. At £199 for flights and catered chalet we just couldn't resist. Lift pass is also about £80 cheaper than most French resorts. We did a bit of research on the resort before we booked and everything was pretty much telling us to stay away! The current temp out there is -14 degrees, -36 degrees if you add the windchill; the sun rises at midday and sets an hour later at 1pm; the highest part of the mountain is only 718m; all lifts, except one lift, are drag lifts. On the plus side though there will be no lift queues; lots off twilight back country missions to be had; no daily freeze thaw so the snow should be permanent powder (we've yet to test our theory on this though); our chalet is a log cabin deep in a snow covered forest; the northern lights should be going off; we've never been to the Arctic Circle before; and it will one crazy trip!!
So I've bought myself a windproof balaclava and waxed my snowboard...all I need to do now is sort a few riding playlists on the ipod, pack my bag and I'm ready to go...
All the best for 2009 dudes!
Glentress wall Ride
Monday, 29 December 2008
As reported previously on FRJ. The new wall ride at Glentress Freeride Park is now open...here's some video footage that I found to wet your appetite. See you up there in the spring...
47 Trail Squamish
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Check out this cool trail in Squamish, British Columbia. It took Laurence Pellerin nearly 2 years to build and film it! For those of you that aren't aware - Squamish is located between Vancouver and Whistler on Highway 99, The Sea to Sky Highway. I know this from experience as I cycled from Vancouver to Whistler back in 2000...it looked a lot easier on the map...but then everything does...
Drop In TV Season 5 DVD Now Available in the UK
Monday, 15 December 2008
At last. The awesome freeride mountain bike show that is Drop In TV Season 5 is now available to buy in the UK via the Freeride Junkie website! No longer do you need to worry about the current dollar exchange rate or overseas shipping costs. You can buy it right here for only £20.99 including postage. RRP for this DVD is 45 US Dollars and would cost about £36 incl. postage to buy from the States!
We have also put it up on Ebay. So if you would prefer to buy it through Ebay then please click on the following link - Drop In TV Season 5 (Ebay)
'Keep it foolish' - FRJ
Drop In TV Season 5 Trailer
Snow Riding Session in Berlin Muggelberge
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Check out these cool trails in Berlin..made even cooler by the fact they are covered in snow. Wonder what tires they're using?
Moelfrie Uplift Trip, Oswestry
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
Whilst I was taking advantage of the awesome snow conditions in the Lake District over the weekend - a la snowboarding on Raise, near Helvellyn. A few of the FRJ crew headed off down to Oswestry for a bit of uplift action at Moelfre. Here's Corries's account and photos of the trip...
Last Sunday, Marcus and I (fellow 'Manchester Freerider') decided to check out the Moelfre downhill course near Shropshire.
The trip down was nice and easy from Manchester (apart from the 7.30am start) and only took an hour and a half to get to Moelfre (pronounced Moelvra by the locals).
The start point was easy to find as there is a BRITISH CYCLES sign the size of a Truck stuck to a barn so it's pretty hard to miss. We parked up at the side of a track in a very crisp and frosty field where we met Mike, the organizer, who explained the set up.
After much deliberating over shorts/trousers, jersey/jacket combos, Marcus went for the Jacket & Trousers option and I settled on the jersey & shorts plan, rationale being my seal like blubber would keep me warm whatever the temperature. We then pushed along to where the tractor and trailer was parked and loaded up and after a 20 minute shuttle we were at the top of Gyrn Moelfre (523 Meters) looking out over a spectacular view.
The first run was excellent if a little bit sketchy, the top section of the course branches off shortly after the start point into a left or a right fork. We both took the right which takes you down an exposed grassy and muddy single track from the crest of the hill down to the gorse level. Its pretty fast and a pretty tight rutted singletrack but is not too technical if you go round the drops (which I did). From here you flatten out again for another Left / Right choice. Left takes you over some small muddy drops, Right takes you over two wide and high jumps. All of which can be rolled if your not feelin' the vibe.
The two paths then reconecct to throw you into a number of rocky muddy switchbacks that cut sharply and steeply downwards through the bracken.
Another Left / Right choice. Left to some further steep and tight switchbacks. Right a few less switchbacks and a drop. Both re converge at the base of the valley and cross the road that we came up on the tractor. From here you work your way along the hill on a fast, rocky and muddy traverse.
There are a number of small drops and mini jumps along this section that certainly make for a lot of fun, nothing big enough to session or need a chicken run. There is then a twisting decent to a steep 45 degree slab with a nice jump to finish.
Wow! talk about adrenaline, if you dont ride downhill trails often you forget how intense they can be, this is no Fort Bill, or Innerleithen but it still has plenty of thrills and spills to please. Our second run took us on the Left hand trail from the top which is far less challenging from a descent perspective but has some impressive pre built jumps and drops on it. One of which is a gap jump over the track you come up on. Not for the faint hearted.
We had a number of great runs and had a lot of fun. I made the schollboy error of leaving my Maxis minnions on my bilke, which were not a good move. The course is very very muddy and you are prone to wash out on the upper and lower grassy sections. I would recommend a mud tyre such as Maxis Swamp Thing or even spiked tyres!
Overall Moefre is an excellent course, run by a bunch of friendly dudes and is highly recommended. Word of warning though - full armour and eye protection is essential! You may also want to put some protection on your forks and frame to reduce 'tractor rash' on the uplift. Oh, and bring a packed lunch as they don't have maccy dees round these parts!
The uplift at Moelfre is £20 and needs to be booked in advance. Contact Mike at Borderline Events on 01524 388 388. Or visit the website
Iain Corrigan (Manchester Freeriders)
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FRJ - This is were I was over the weekend...nearly 1000 metres above sea level up in the Lake District...the steep I'm about to board down is one I've actually ridden on my bike...on the bike there is a super steep high speed double track to tank down...but on a snowboard there's a 101 lines you could take with drops, launches and even a natural mini half pipe...Freeride paradise!
Morzine Memories
Sunday, 07 December 2008
I was going through some of my old videos recently and found these that were taken at Chatel Bike Park last year. We rode this feature straight after lunch and the glass of vin rouge that accompanied the meal certainly helped to relax the nerves and keep us on the straight and narrow (literally). This piece of trail was superb. It started with a very steep dirt descent which flattened out over a ladder bridge which sent you onto a ladder kicker that stepped you up onto a raised ladder...next there was a ladder climb up to the high point and then a steep ladder descent onto the long log ride over the pond... Needless to say we sessioned this one a number of times before having to race back to Morzine before the lifts shut! Happy days...FRJ
Moorland Build Day - Gap Step Down
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
Last Friday me and a mate took the day off to do a bit of building up on the local moors. Paul's been building up there a while now and with stuff of his work being featured in previous Freeride Junkie posts. Obviously we took our bikes up there as well as it was such a nice day it would of been rude not to. Also, Paul had not yet done the gap step up that he had built a couple of months earlier...so he wanted to try it today whilst there was someone there just in case anything went wrong!!
First off Paul took me way up the hill to show me a new feature he had built. He told me it was his tribute to stainburn. If you check the photo below you'll see what he means. It is an extensive technical stone 4ft high wall balance ride with a right had turn and a steep exit then straight onto a 2ft rock drop. Sweet as!
Anyway we grabbed the tools that were up there and took them lower down the hill to the main area, affectionately known as the Stone Yard due to the amount of stone still left there from old ruined farm buildings. On the way down we discussed a few ideas about linking the upper and lower sections of the trail and what features we could incorporate using the natural lay of the land to help us. A large double and a hip jump should be in the pipeline soon...
Down at the Stone Yard we sessioned the existing features and Paul manged to nail his step up! Didin't manage to get footage of Paul but here's some of yours truly...not the cleanist run as I over shot the step down landing. It really is a great combo though as the speed generated from the step down sets you up perfect for the step up...unless you really overshoot the drop...but you'll definitely know if that happens!
Break The Cycle Trailer
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Break the Cycle Trailer from Andy Yoong on Vimeo.
Andy Yoong and Sharon Kennedy from Northern Ireland Production Company Honcho Designs are proud to announce the trailer release for new Irish Downhill Mountain Bike Film Break the Cycle.
Whilst showcasing some of the most amazing Irish landscapes, Break the Cycle will give you a vision into the lives of ten of the top Irish riders, to capture how they have managed to break the cycle of everyday mundane life, through their passion for riding their bikes.
Riders include current Irish Downhill Champion Colin Ross, Redbull Rampage and Masters World Champion podium rider Glyn O'Brien, Women's Masters World Championships silver medalist Meave Baxter, Irish Pro Ben Reid, Irish team members Dan and Gerard Wolfe, 021 Racing riders Tom Power and Greg O'Keefe, and up and coming riders Jamie McCullough, and Ewan Doherty.
The site is fully loaded with rider profiles, links for the top Irish bands that have provided music for the film, and behind the scene action clips.
Stay updated by subscribing at the website - www.breakthecyclefilm.com
Break the Cycle is due to be released Spring 2009
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