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Finally hobbling up to Whistler

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
Flying up and going to stay and ride bikes from the Demo Center for 3 days and fly back to reality.

Leaving Sep. 19th, coming back the 23rd. So will be in the park 20th-22nd. Goals: Ride every day and get faster and more comfortable each day rather than cripple myself on day 1 and stagger around with blisters for the next two.

Going with Colonel Clealan, so I have a "guide" and staying with someone who is practically a local. They've given me most all of what I need I think as far as ideas and strategy to get in and out.
Things that should make it easier:
Demo Center - no working on my own bike (V10, Gambler, etc)
Ride with a Camelbak (which I will hate since I just don't DH with a pack)
Taking my own D3 helmet (which means waiting to get my checked bag rather than fast tracking with just carry on), gloves, knee brace, knee pads, gloves, goggles, Rain Jacket & a hoody.
Give me a run down of stuff I should leave behind, stuff I might forgot and "the bunker survivalist's guide to Whistler" list.
Do I take my own pedals (Crank Brothers Mallet 3)

Oh, and after searching all these threads about you guys breaking yourselves off days/weeks before your big Whistler trip, I'm going all in on bubble wrapping myself and hiding in my bed until then.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Definitely bring your own pedals.

Sounds like you've got the right idea. You really don't need that much shit. I wouldn't bother with the camelback. There's water at the lifts, and in the shops at the base in the village.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
Lots of other guys on here pointing out that flat tires there suck. If I tried to carry tools in my Troy Lee Ruckus shorts, what would I need to carry to get down? Didn't spot a great place for a pump & tube on the Ruckus shorts.
 

HAB

Chelsea from Seattle
Apr 28, 2007
11,580
2,005
Seattle
Eh, I just usually bail out and ride the flat down a fireroad. But if you don't want to do that, then maybe a pack is a good idea. It's a long way to walk down.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
why are you going to check in your helmet? i always carry mine with me whenever i fly and havent had a problem. the last thing i want is to find a crushed helmet thanks to the bag throwers...i mean handlers
 

slyfink

Turbo Monkey
Sep 16, 2008
9,288
5,028
Ottawa, Canada
Lots of other guys on here pointing out that flat tires there suck. If I tried to carry tools in my Troy Lee Ruckus shorts, what would I need to carry to get down? Didn't spot a great place for a pump & tube on the Ruckus shorts.
tape a CO2 cart and tube to your frame. Endurbro-style.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Put the D3 on your lap and if anyone questions you, tell them it's your stillborn child you're quite attached to.

I've never checked in a helmet and never would. Also it's worth doing lots of mellow riding to build strength and fitness before heading off, since with only a few days there you'd want to be fighting fit from day one.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
I always get supplemental health insurance to cover me in Canada. And, if you need to use it, the medical services up there are pre-pay, so bring your credit card with you. I had a very uncomfortable ride over to the ER one time, only to have to turn around, pedal back to the condo, get my credit card, and pedal back to the ER and wait in line again.
 

Da Peach

Outwitted by a rodent
Jul 2, 2002
13,681
4,904
North Van
Put the D3 on your lap and if anyone questions you, tell them it's your stillborn child you're quite attached to.

I've never checked in a helmet and never would. Also it's worth doing lots of mellow riding to build strength and fitness before heading off, since with only a few days there you'd want to be fighting fit from day one.
Wear it.

EDIT: nevermind...
 

jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,596
5,894
in a single wide, cooking meth...
First off, thats great news you're finally heading to the Whiz, and even before you receive your AARP card. :headbang:

So other than what's been mentioned above, I would offer the following:

* I'm a wet shoe pussy...if it looks like its gonna be wet and you can afford the space, bring an extra pair of shoes.
* Everything is way more expensive up there, so bring stuff like ibuprofen/painkiller of choice, minor med supplies, rubbers, shitty tasting energy bars, .45 ACP ammo, etc...that can easily fit in your luggage.
* Bring a flannel shirt (obviously)
* Street cred = selfie with bear
* Watch this instructional video to help keep you being a total gaper -


In summary, you're gonna have a blast. Enjoy...
 

Sandro

Terrified of Cucumbers
Nov 12, 2006
3,224
2,537
The old world
So to sum up, you're suggesting he should walk through airport security wearing a full face helmet and carrying a bag containing nothing but painkillers, condoms and a CO2 canister?
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
OK, so just to get a grasp, I've got one of those roller wheeled, rigid frame carry on bags that is the exact dimensions allowed. I can pull the visor, pop it in a corner of it and fill with clipless shoes, pedals clothing and gear all around I guess, but it eats up a lot of the space(should be humorous to watch customs check out Mallets).

Then you are allowed a "personal item", which looks to be a regular old backpack. So I can stash my pedals and multi-tool (no knife) in that. and stuff lots of clothes in the backpack.

Yeah, so 3 days riding gear, helmet, goggles, clipless shoes in the bag, 5.10's on my feet, passport.

My criminal record consists of getting busted for shoplifting a cassette tape for a girl in college (misdemeanor) and "Injury to Real Property" (misdemeanor)from turning the breakfast drive thru sign around to lunch my last day of college.

Will they massage the prostate for such offenses? Clean drifting (I mean driving) record.
 
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jackalope

Mental acuity - 1%
Jan 9, 2004
7,596
5,894
in a single wide, cooking meth...
So to sum up, you're suggesting he should walk through airport security wearing a full face helmet and carrying a bag containing nothing but painkillers, condoms and a CO2 canister?
Shhh, don't ruin our fun.

@bizutch, I'm not up on the whole criminal record issue, but I have heard of people being turned around for DWIs and drug related convictions - so I'm not sure if your gangsta record from yesteryear will present a problem, but I kinda doubt it. I've also been told its pretty random in terms of who and what they check in this regard, but if you have a clean driving record and no felony convictions, I think you'll be fine.
 

Olga_icannot

Chimp
Aug 16, 2014
41
37
Seattle
OK, so just to get a grasp, I've got one of those roller wheeled, rigid frame carry on bags that is the exact dimensions allowed. I can pull the visor, pop it in a corner of it and fill with clipless shoes, pedals clothing and gear all around I guess, but it eats up a lot of the space(should be humorous to watch customs check out Mallets).

Then you are allowed a "personal item", which looks to be a regular old backpack. So I can stash my pedals and multi-tool (no knife) in that. and stuff lots of clothes in the backpack.

Yeah, so 3 days riding gear, helmet, goggles, clipless shoes in the bag, 5.10's on my feet, passport.
It depends on the airline but I can usually get away with just strapping my helmet to the outside of my backpack. Voila-it's only one carry on item. Then be THAT guy and when you get on the plane separate them so that they actually fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Also, depending on the level of dickishness at security that day, I've had them refuse to let me through with my multitool. The old lady with 10" long aluminum knitting needles in line behind me was just fine though so I feel totally safe on planes these days.
 

dan-o

Turbo Monkey
Jun 30, 2004
6,499
2,805
The criminal record thing is really hit or miss in my experience.
My buddy was turned away on a bromont trip due to a misdemenor in BFE new hampshire 20 years prior.
He'd gotten through before then but had been blackballed ever since.

Meanwhile, I was arrested in ontario for reckless driving and evading arrest while trying to OJ the cops back to the border (genius I know) and go to canada all the time without issue.
Granted I'm an old fucker and the parchment my arrest was recorded on decayed over time, but still.

As for whistler, it's just a place to ride your bike so don't over think it.
I went every year for about 8 years before life got in the way (thanks kids, this is why daddy hates you), blazed J's all day long riding from first chair through extended play, partied all night and repeated for a week at a time without injury or incident.

Ride smart, have fun and enjoy.
 

FarkinRyan

Monkey
Dec 15, 2003
611
192
Pemberton, BC
If you're riding a demo / rental bike then check the ego and take some mellow laps to feel the bike out and get used to it before sending anything consequential. You may the gnarliest dude bro on the mountain wherever you ride but so is everyone else ahead of you in line at the ER. Get health insurance that covers DH riding, just fvcking do. If your intent is to ride a full 3 days then it's up to you to make sure you physically last 3 days, you don't need to ride all the gnarly sh1t first lap, first day or even at all if you're not feeling it.
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
If you don't smash crabapple first run you're a pvssy and definitely not a gnarly dudebro. 2nd lap is the hike up to ride don't slide, obviously a good warm up for trespasser on the 3rd.

Don't listen to Ryan, he's just trying to maintain his gnarly dudebro standings by intimidating fresh meat.

check the ego and take some mellow laps
 

MrBaker87

Monkey
Mar 30, 2014
156
113
neverlandranch
Good tips already posted here. Start small. Work up to it. Health insurance is boss. Drink lots and lots of water. Get your photo taken on a-line/glc drop. Then grab a nice cold kokanee and tag yourself on facebook.

Ride Don't Slide isn't even the hardest trail up there. I found Goat's to be more of a challenge (in every way but length) as was South of Heaven. In fact, I kinda think RDS is overly rated at times in terms of difficulty. Not that it isn't hard - and yes, I am talking about the difficult line options - because little sections were quite difficult, but I expected more when I rode it... maybe its changed heavily over the past hear though? That being said RDS is a feeaking fantasticly fun trail, so do check it out.

Interested in trying/hiking Trespasser however... just don't even know where to start looking for it. I'll be up in Whistler off and on again in September.
 

bizutch

Delicate CUSTOM flower
Dec 11, 2001
15,928
24
Over your shoulder whispering
Tresspasser is that straight down fokker I've seen pics of, but not video. I'm eager to just be able to get there for 3 days after years of never going at all.
Only "jump" trail I've ever gotten to ride was Dominion to Alpine at Diablo/Mountain Creek and Dominion frustrated me because I would pedal my ass off and then case them most of the time.
 

cecil

Turbo Monkey
Jun 3, 2008
2,064
2,345
with the voices in my head
Tresspasser is that straight down fokker I've seen pics of, but not video. I'm eager to just be able to get there for 3 days after years of never going at all.
Only "jump" trail I've ever gotten to ride was Dominion to Alpine at Diablo/Mountain Creek and Dominion frustrated me because I would pedal my ass off and then case them most of the time.
Go to windham there jump trail is effortless compaired to dominion
 

jstuhlman

bagpipe wanker
Dec 3, 2009
16,622
12,911
Cackalacka du Nord
Tresspasser is that straight down fokker I've seen pics of, but not video. I'm eager to just be able to get there for 3 days after years of never going at all.
Only "jump" trail I've ever gotten to ride was Dominion to Alpine at Diablo/Mountain Creek and Dominion frustrated me because I would pedal my ass off and then case them most of the time.
 

mtg

Green with Envy
Sep 21, 2009
1,862
1,604
Denver, CO
Natural is where its at. F&ck flow trails.
That terminology is outdated. They are now referred to as freeride trails, complete with the orange oval on the trail sign and everything, like terrain parks in the winter.