[kazlx]

Having just done this trip on a plane with my bike: They don't give a shit if you have a carry on and your helmet bag. I think you are technically allowed a carry on and a 'personal item'. If you don't want a backpack, just bring a multitool, threaded C02 tool, a lever and a tube. I actually forgot my manny pack I normally wear on long DH rides where walking would suck balls, but we didn't really have any problems in 7 days of riding. I also made sure my bike was tuned up before I left and didn't ride a rental. Start with 'Crank it Up' and go from there. If you have someone that knows the trails, it shouldn't be a problem. Make sure you slow down before the lips on A-line when in front of people. You don't want to overshoot the landings...

I don't know why everyone says stuff is expensive. It's stupid cheap right now. Don't eat in the main Village area. There's a supermarket on the end by the McDonald's that has good sandwiches, which are $6-8 CAD. You can get a soda and a sandwich for under $10CAD. We ate at a place called 'El Furniture Warehouse in the village. All the food on the menu is $5 CAD, the ladies working are easy on the eyes and the drinks are relatively cheap. Not the best food in the world but not bad either. Definitely worth the $5. Exchange rate is in our favor right now, it's like $0.80US to $1CAD, so everything is 20% basically. I didn't get any cash the whole time I was there and used my debit card for everything. I think fees for the whole trip cost less than $5 for 'exchange'. Way better than extra cash or changing it back and just the convenience.

There's also a discount gear shop kind of by the supermarket, where all the stuff is marked down. Discounts on riding gear, goggles, T-shirts etc. Killer deals with the discounts and exchange rate. I think the A-Line shirts I bought were $10.

BTW, if you stop at Tim Horton's on the way (Squamish?), you can get a sandwich and the combo comes with a donut and a drink...

I know I'll get mocked, but here's what I carry on my DH bike when doing long enough runs that walking sucks. Enough room for a multitool, CO2, levers, patch kit and tire boot. It's smaller than it looks in the pic. Basically goes across the small of your back and can tuck under your jersey.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

After watching all the superhero vids, it's nice to see riding with all the hesitations and oh, fucks I'd be doing.

 

[Udi]

This one's a better Trespasser video for anyone interested:

 

[FlipFantasia]

and neither video really conveys how gripping a few of those sections are in reality!

 

[Kanye West]

I know I'll get mocked, but here's what I carry on my DH bike when doing long enough runs that walking sucks. Enough room for a multitool, CO2, levers, patch kit and tire boot. It's smaller than it looks in the pic. Basically goes across the small of your back and can tuck under your jersey.

As lame as it might be, I've been considering something similar. I use a tool belt in addition to a camelback when doing long moto rides. It moves a lot of weight down lower and off my shoulders, and makes a very noticeable difference.

As for DH at Whistler, I sure as hell wouldn't want to walk/coast down that mountain if I got a flat. I've been thinking of clever ways to stash a small multi-tool, tube, lever and pump on my DH bike just for stuff like that. I have a good setup going on my Enduro with the tiny little SWAT tool on the water bottle cage, with a hand pump along side the water bottle cage. Above that I have a single tube and lever velcro strapped to the frame. It's a really nice compact setup and gets me out of wearing a camelback entirely for relatively short rides.

Anyone got a tool/tube setup on their DH bikes they have pictures or descriptions of? I'd prefer NOT to go with the fagpack obviously, but if I have to....I will.

 

[kazlx]

I don't even notice it, and if you tuck it under your jersey nobody even sees it. All my riding buddies poke fun until they need some shit. Something like Summit, I don't mind walking, but I ended up walking 80% of tunnel one time and it sucked, just because of a flat...

 

[gemini2k]

As lame as it might be, I've been considering something similar. I use a tool belt in addition to a camelback when doing long moto rides. It moves a lot of weight down lower and off my shoulders, and makes a very noticeable difference.

As for DH at Whistler, I sure as hell wouldn't want to walk/coast down that mountain if I got a flat.

Not that many sharp rocks at Whistler really. Not like a Northstar or something where you are much more likely to pinch flat IME (Yes I've ridden just about every on the map trail there).

Why not just wear the same Kiln or whatever fanny pack for DH?

 

[kidwoo]

fanny packs and a guy who's been riding dh for 20 years not going to whistler until he's too old and busted to get rowdy


This site ain't what it used to be

 

[mtg]

Anybody that's actually met me realizes I'm a huge dork, so I don't have any street cred to lose, and I'm not afraid to rock a fanny pack with a few spares (or roost guard over the jersey). That being said, I roll the dice when in Whistler because it's usually so damn hot when I'm there that I don't want anything more than a helmet and knee pads.
So, my solution is to ride with people that carry large packs, although I don't think I've flatted in the park yet.

Really, just put new tires on before you go, check your tire pressures with a real pressure gauge and you'll likely be fine.

And, @kazlx, do you actually end up leaving El Furny without spending a lot? Any time I've been there, the bill always ends up being just as expensive as any other place somehow.

 

[kidwoo]

Anybody that's actually met me realizes I'm a huge dork, so I don't have any street cred to lose, and I'm not afraid to rock a fanny pack with a few spares (or roost guard over the jersey).

Doooood


Too much information!


To the larger discussion:
I just got back meself and got two flats on two different demo bikes. You know how horrible it is? You walk down a little bit and ride down a road with a flat a little bit. Don't kid yourself, your runs aren't that much faster. They have these things there called dirt roads and chairlifts (they go both ways.....it's crazy!) It certainly isn't bad enough to buy a fanny pack and surrender any inkling of manhood you have left in life.


What's weird is that riding a flat, you will still pass people. That's enough to make it all worth while.

 

[kazlx]

@mtg Yea we didn't eat all that much. I usually just got a salad or sandwich with a drink. Maybe $10 CAD. If I was really hungry, I would get two items, still not that pricey. We didn't eat anywhere else haha.

Fwiw I don't the manny pack all the time. Mainly for long DH shuttles where there isn't any access roads or ways to coast down. If you've ever ridden tunnel in Santa Barbara, that was the catalyst for me. I will never ride that trail again without a tube or tools...

 

[kidwoo]

I'm kind of torn.

I don't know which is more likely to make you hit on a sheep. Wearing a fanny pack or taping a bunch of shit to your bike that easily fits in either a bike mounted bag or a backpack.

Biking is getting confusing. It's all so horrible it's getting tough to take sides. I feel like I'm dissolving. What a world..........what a world..............

 

[mykel]

Drama Queen much?

Seriously, I'm too old for that crap.
I sweat huge, - like look at a picture of the sun and I start to drip.... ya ya I know tmi.

I have considered going to a fanny/lumbar pack for short(er) rides.
I don't usually carry much, tube, mini-pump, multi-tool, a few alcohol wipes and bandaides and water.
It hardy justifies a full pack, especially if I can remove a big sweaty bag bouncing on my back for a small pack pulled tight into my lumbar area?

One of these days I just may investigate further.

 

[Udi]

I look at a picture of the sun and I start to drip.... ya ya I know tmi.

There are many different types of fetishes but I don't think this is the place.
Google images usually works though.

 

[gemini2k]

If you've ever ridden tunnel in Santa Barbara, that was the catalyst for me. I will never ride that trail again without a tube or tools...

Lame. Real men raw dawg it down that trail. Again and again.

 

[Kanye West]

I've ridden front flats and rear flats down those trails a few times before in my college days. While certainly not fun, I wouldn't say impossible.

I think Whistler is something like double the elevation drop of the SB trails though?


The Klim pack I have for moto would work but it's probably double the capacity needed for a tube, lever, and tiny multi-tool. It might make my ass look fat.

 

[jstuhlman]

The Klim pack I have for moto would work but It might make my ass look fat.

 

[tacubaya]

Really? This is what RM has become?

 

[bizutch]

RaceFace has this thing, but still looks kind of cumbersome for a pump, but not bad for a CO2, something I've not owned in years: http://raceface.com/apparel/Storage/Storage/stash-tank/
They also have a fanny pack that is flush for under a jersey. Both seem a hair cumbersome.
http://raceface.com/apparel/Storage/Storage/rip-strip/

Clealan rides with his Camelbak, so I'm gonna cheat and use his Sherpa skills if needed and keep a couple things stashed in my own pockets to tune/tweak with. Do these demo center bikes have anything I'll need a Torx wrench for? Dave Turner was telling me today that some SRAM stuff has a torx head on the derailleur.

 

[kidwoo]

For fucks sake, just pump your tires up to 50 psi and go ride your damn bike.

 

[Kanye West]

Really? This is what RM has become?

"I'm a creative genius. There's no other way to put it."

 

[FarkinRyan]

SRAM's running some strong torx game just about everywhere these days. Think of all the times you've thought, "Man it would be great if I had to carry a separate tool just to adjust my _____" and they've likely got you covered.

 

[slyfink]

RaceFace has this thing, but still looks kind of cumbersome for a pump, but not bad for a CO2, something I've not owned in years: http://raceface.com/apparel/Storage/Storage/stash-tank/
They also have a fanny pack that is flush for under a jersey. Both seem a hair cumbersome.
http://raceface.com/apparel/Storage/Storage/rip-strip/

I will likely acquire that tank top. It will be great for skiing.

 

[jonKranked]

just wear some spare tubes like a bandoleer.

 

[bizutch]

just wear some spare tubes like a bandoleer.

I would totally look like Norbs. Suhweet!!!!

 

[big-ted]

Don't you guys have pockets?

 

[RayB]

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.

Listen to this man.

Also, thanks for confirming that kids suck.

 

[bizutch]

Don't you guys have pockets?

Now I do. Just got a pair of TLD Ruckus shorts. My other kit is a full TLD 2015 Gwin Sprint pant/jersey combo. The pockets on the pants are tiny, but they'll be worth riding in so that my knee brace doesn't catch on everything.

 

[kidwoo]

My other kit is a full TLD 2015 Gwin Sprint pant/jersey combo.

Because of course it is.

 

[kickstand]

all this talk about flats, I thought tubeless solved that problem years ago?

 

[bizutch]

Because of course it is.

@kidwoo I Needed to try out pants since my knee brace was snagging and grinding away at my DHR. Got a phenomenal hook up on them.

And I have a weakness for the 80's moto scene...you recall the 90's moto scene.

http://imageshack.com/f/43/tichenor91.jpg

 

[Da Peach]

Don't you guys have pockets?

Bro, do you even park?

 

[bizutch]

Countdown continuing. Getting stoked. Colonel Clealan has excellent travel booking skills.

Plus got the good news that the trails may possibly be groomed/patched/repaired when we get there. A buddy told me they do a lot of trail maintenance that time of year so that they are ready when the snow melts.

 

[bizutch]

@kidwoo and everybody else, so I looked at the carry on regulations and can't really figure out what's best to take. I've got a hard sided roller wheeled suitcase that is exactly 45 liters that says qualifies as carry on. Then I look at the United site and it says one personal item (which seems to be the exact size of a backpack).

Am thinking my helmet can go in the hard sided carry on and that will allow me to take my laptop in a backpack as my personal item. I worry though because of reading that even if its 22 x 9 x 14 (45 liters), the exact measurements of my roller bag, they may still make you check it if you get on a tiny plane, which I think we are definitely doing.

So the in between that I've read is to avoid that roller suitcase and go with a 45 Liter duffel since it will squish down in overheads easier. I've decided I'm not messing with any checked bags, since one of onyl 3 flights I've ever been on resulted in a checked baggage magic trick.

Something about green tags versus white tags on United. Return flights are on American and haven't looked to see what kooky rules they have.

 

[kidwoo]

Don't ask me I'm the worst person in the world to talk to about that stuff.

In the continent of north america, if I'm riding, that means I'm driving. Whistler for 15 years included.

Fuck planes and bikes these days.

You'll gitter dun.

 

[AngryMetalsmith]

Just wear the helmet on the flight. If anyone asks you about it just stare at them and breath heavy. Problem solved.

 

[RayB]

@kidwoo and everybody else, so I looked at the carry on regulations and can't really figure out what's best to take. I've got a hard sided roller wheeled suitcase that is exactly 45 liters that says qualifies as carry on. Then I look at the United site and it says one personal item (which seems to be the exact size of a backpack).

Am thinking my helmet can go in the hard sided carry on and that will allow me to take my laptop in a backpack as my personal item. I worry though because of reading that even if its 22 x 9 x 14 (45 liters), the exact measurements of my roller bag, they may still make you check it if you get on a tiny plane, which I think we are definitely doing.

So the in between that I've read is to avoid that roller suitcase and go with a 45 Liter duffel since it will squish down in overheads easier. I've decided I'm not messing with any checked bags, since one of onyl 3 flights I've ever been on resulted in a checked baggage magic trick.

Something about green tags versus white tags on United. Return flights are on American and haven't looked to see what kooky rules they have.

You are clearly over-thinking it. Just bring the helmet with you onto the plane.

Source: I've flown to Whistler 21958712980581029851098512 times.

 

[6thElement]

Yeah, doesn't matter whether I'm flying with DH or trail bike I carry my helmet on the plane.

I made the mistake once of packing my XC helmet in my hard bike case and it got squashed. :/

 

[Jim Mac]

just wear some spare tubes like a bandoleer.

You read my mind ya big ole' behind!

In all seriousness, we got this as a wedding present way back when, non-plastic...yo, Lemmy!

 

[Da Peach]

Don't you guys have pockets?

Or just use seatposts and fanny pack toted pumps?