July 27, 2006
Doug Dalton of Cannondale bikes had been wrangling a bunch of us up to go for a nice Wednesday morning ride with him for a few days now. Well with little more then "So are you coming riding in the morning?" to go on I had to inquire a little more. Well Doug is this an XC ride we're hitting up, what's going on?
So Doug finally spills the beans, "I have a new bike and I really want you guys to get a good feel for it, so I'm taking you on a shuttle ride." Sweet a shuttle, I can work with this.
So Doug finally spills the beans, "I have a new bike and I really want you guys to get a good feel for it, so I'm taking you on a shuttle ride." Sweet a shuttle, I can work with this.
Well Doug didn't have a true run of the mill shuttle planned for us, oh no, Doug was doing it right!! Doug hooked up with West Coast Freeride Guides and was taking us all a Heli drop up on Rainbow Mountain-SICK!!! The van was still required to get us to the Heli pad, but that would be the only time we needed it!!
Once we were all at the Heli pad, Doug and his fellow co-workers took a few minutes to go over the new bike in which we'd all be riding on- the PERP. The PERP at first glance resembles most a scaled down JUDGE. Don't let that deceive you though, this puppy is mean and fast. Mick Hannah raced one in Germany this year at the World Cup. More short term review information on the PERP after the weekend-more now on the Heli drop!!!
Once all the waivers were signed, we got to learn about helicopter safety for unloading and loading procedures. Now it was time to get all the riders and their PERPs up the mountain. While we were waiting our turn to head up into the mountains, we learned that a film crew was in town and that they were doing a scene with FBI choppers and SWAT teams-here's a pic:
The ride up was easily as epic as the descent and we were are so stoked to be on top of the world and having our bikes flown in to join us!!
See that little ribbon of a trail out there, well that's what it was like the whole way down. Oh and yes that is Whistler in the back ground too.
The helicopter gently set all the bikes down and we began to gear up. The guides explained sections of trail to us as we went. This was going to be one really long single track descent and we were going to give the PERPs a real life testing today!! Our crew was all experienced riders, so the riding was fast and the waiting (for me) was kept to a minimum. The trail flowed through wide open alpine and dropped into some really steep tree sections-the perfect run to really get a feel for a new bike.
Everyone was enjoying their PERP
We end our run with a nice wind down at Rainbow lake and talked about how the bikes rode and how cool that experience was. When asked if everyone had a good time the response was a huge HELI YEAH!!
I'd like to first thank Doug Dalton of Cannondale bikes for putting this all together and for allowing us to beat on some 2007 product. More on the PERP in the days to come. Secondly I want to thank WCFG for getting us all down the mountain safely. It was great riding with everyone.
Happy Trails,
Once we were all at the Heli pad, Doug and his fellow co-workers took a few minutes to go over the new bike in which we'd all be riding on- the PERP. The PERP at first glance resembles most a scaled down JUDGE. Don't let that deceive you though, this puppy is mean and fast. Mick Hannah raced one in Germany this year at the World Cup. More short term review information on the PERP after the weekend-more now on the Heli drop!!!
 |  |  |  |
Once all the waivers were signed, we got to learn about helicopter safety for unloading and loading procedures. Now it was time to get all the riders and their PERPs up the mountain. While we were waiting our turn to head up into the mountains, we learned that a film crew was in town and that they were doing a scene with FBI choppers and SWAT teams-here's a pic:
 |  |  |  |
The ride up was easily as epic as the descent and we were are so stoked to be on top of the world and having our bikes flown in to join us!!
 |  |  |  |
See that little ribbon of a trail out there, well that's what it was like the whole way down. Oh and yes that is Whistler in the back ground too.
The helicopter gently set all the bikes down and we began to gear up. The guides explained sections of trail to us as we went. This was going to be one really long single track descent and we were going to give the PERPs a real life testing today!! Our crew was all experienced riders, so the riding was fast and the waiting (for me) was kept to a minimum. The trail flowed through wide open alpine and dropped into some really steep tree sections-the perfect run to really get a feel for a new bike.
 |  |  |  |
Everyone was enjoying their PERP
 |  |  |  |
We end our run with a nice wind down at Rainbow lake and talked about how the bikes rode and how cool that experience was. When asked if everyone had a good time the response was a huge HELI YEAH!!
I'd like to first thank Doug Dalton of Cannondale bikes for putting this all together and for allowing us to beat on some 2007 product. More on the PERP in the days to come. Secondly I want to thank WCFG for getting us all down the mountain safely. It was great riding with everyone.
Happy Trails,
