It's been a little over eight months since I ruined my last season by breaking my arm in two places and absolutely shattering my scahpoid. Needless to say I've had bikes on my brain the entire time. This season myself as well as Kyle McKinnon paired up with Calgary cycle Online to bring you guys some treats for all to view. We have a few hundred pounds of camera equipment, two Santa Cruz V10s, and a few well loved pickup trucks to really show you guys what we love to do and where we love to do it
This last weekend started out with a last minute, lets get our stuff together and head out to Kamloops. Kyle, myself as well as Shayne Saskoley and Kurt De frietas scrambled together to get out of Calgary as quickly as we could after work friday evening. I being notorious for causing late departures on bike trips kept to the tradition and held us up an extra hour while I finished up work.
Seven pm Friday night we had 4 bikes, and way too much gear piled into the back of Kurts 91 Toyota pick up. We all piled inside for what was the longest drive to Kamloops in my life. The thing with Kurts beautiful old yota is four big guys fit, but comfort is not a word that can be associated.
Several hours later, which probably felt like way more for everyone listening to my non stop complaining about numb legs and a sore rear end, we arrived.We checked into the always classy Skyline motel, to be greeted by lumpy pillows and well worn bed sheets.
With morning arriving Old man Kyle woke us with a hunger in his eye. Trails were in order and he had no patience for us reckless youth trying to sleep the day away. We loaded our bikes into the truck and headed up towards Rio.
By some miracle of nature, the two days before we got to loops it rained, which for anyone who's ridden kamloops is always well needed. This put rio into conditions that are nearly unheard of, tacky, fast and more brown pow then we really knew what to do with. That combined with our new bicycles made for one incredible ride. Along with that i couldn't even believe how well my V10 can corner, on rails doesn't even describe it. That bike can change direction like a jackrabbit.
Day two started out slow, with Kyle acting the rooster again and doing everything he could to get our lazy and slightly hungover selves out of bed. We hit up Tim hortons for some coffees and bagels before heading up to the bike ranch.
Kyle was on a mission, the only words out of the guys mouth other than hurry up was Cheese Wedges.
"CHEESE WEDGES BRANDON, CHEESE WEDGES." - Oldman Kyle
After some hiking through the beautiful 26 degree weather we got to Kyle paradise. A line that was built for Graham aggiz to ride in one of his newer films that we were eager to hit up.
Shortly after Kyle was unleashed on these jumps we were joined by Stephane Pelletier and Mike Brothers, who as always came to go big.
After I finished a few Gatorade's, and a good ego bashing from Kyle i put on my big boy pants and joined the party, I was blown away by how well my v10 jumped without taking it out of 10in mode! Big wedges and a rather fantastic hip kept us busy for most of the day.
Kamloops is famous for dust. Its on a whole different level there. Its so dry everything blows up when you ride it. Now in the heat of a good sesh sometimes some people forget these things and think its a good idea to follow someone off a large jump. In this picture I couldn't see a thing following Stephane and nearly learned the hard way not to make this mistake.
Be sure to follow us, Stay tuned next week for the Swansea season opener!
-Brandon, Kyle
Shayne Saskoley - [L=http://www.flickr.com/photos/14787387@N05/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/14787387@N05/[/L]
Kurt Defrietas - [L=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kurtdefreitas/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/kurtdefreitas/[/L]
This last weekend started out with a last minute, lets get our stuff together and head out to Kamloops. Kyle, myself as well as Shayne Saskoley and Kurt De frietas scrambled together to get out of Calgary as quickly as we could after work friday evening. I being notorious for causing late departures on bike trips kept to the tradition and held us up an extra hour while I finished up work.
Seven pm Friday night we had 4 bikes, and way too much gear piled into the back of Kurts 91 Toyota pick up. We all piled inside for what was the longest drive to Kamloops in my life. The thing with Kurts beautiful old yota is four big guys fit, but comfort is not a word that can be associated.
Several hours later, which probably felt like way more for everyone listening to my non stop complaining about numb legs and a sore rear end, we arrived.We checked into the always classy Skyline motel, to be greeted by lumpy pillows and well worn bed sheets.
With morning arriving Old man Kyle woke us with a hunger in his eye. Trails were in order and he had no patience for us reckless youth trying to sleep the day away. We loaded our bikes into the truck and headed up towards Rio.
By some miracle of nature, the two days before we got to loops it rained, which for anyone who's ridden kamloops is always well needed. This put rio into conditions that are nearly unheard of, tacky, fast and more brown pow then we really knew what to do with. That combined with our new bicycles made for one incredible ride. Along with that i couldn't even believe how well my V10 can corner, on rails doesn't even describe it. That bike can change direction like a jackrabbit.
Day two started out slow, with Kyle acting the rooster again and doing everything he could to get our lazy and slightly hungover selves out of bed. We hit up Tim hortons for some coffees and bagels before heading up to the bike ranch.
Kyle was on a mission, the only words out of the guys mouth other than hurry up was Cheese Wedges.
"CHEESE WEDGES BRANDON, CHEESE WEDGES." - Oldman Kyle
After some hiking through the beautiful 26 degree weather we got to Kyle paradise. A line that was built for Graham aggiz to ride in one of his newer films that we were eager to hit up.
Shortly after Kyle was unleashed on these jumps we were joined by Stephane Pelletier and Mike Brothers, who as always came to go big.
After I finished a few Gatorade's, and a good ego bashing from Kyle i put on my big boy pants and joined the party, I was blown away by how well my v10 jumped without taking it out of 10in mode! Big wedges and a rather fantastic hip kept us busy for most of the day.
Kamloops is famous for dust. Its on a whole different level there. Its so dry everything blows up when you ride it. Now in the heat of a good sesh sometimes some people forget these things and think its a good idea to follow someone off a large jump. In this picture I couldn't see a thing following Stephane and nearly learned the hard way not to make this mistake.
Be sure to follow us, Stay tuned next week for the Swansea season opener!
Kamloops - Kicking it off on pinkbike.com
-Brandon, Kyle
Shayne Saskoley - [L=http://www.flickr.com/photos/14787387@N05/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/14787387@N05/[/L]
Kurt Defrietas - [L=http://www.flickr.com/photos/kurtdefreitas/]http://www.flickr.com/photos/kurtdefreitas/[/L]
5/9/2012 9:51am
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