Episode 6 : 44 Days and Rolling
Pump tracks and Ray's Indoor are two of the highlights in Episode 6 of the 44 Days and Rolling trip, enjoy this episode.
The tree-covered mountains of New Hampshire began to fade and were replaced by the towering buildings of the Chicago skyline. After another long drive, we started off our Midwest journey by visiting our SRAM friends Morgan Meredith and Cully Radvillas for some quick bike maintenance. After a quick tour of the facility and some shop time, we headed off for a little build and pump track session at the Garden dirt jumps on Chicago's Northwest side. After navigation through some city traffic, we arrived at Clark Park and were met by Jeremy Kawka who is one of many Trail Coordinators and driving forces behind the CAMBR sanctioned trail system. After a few solid hours of throwing and shaping dirt, it was time to pull out the Norco 250’s and test what we had just built. As the day came to an end, it was easy to see that some passionate bikers with the right drive can make anything happen, even if your surrounded by concrete in every direction.
From the Chicago dirt, we pushed even further northwest to the up and coming bike scene of Milwaukee. Aside from the beautiful lakeshore riding, there is also a hidden gem that lies on the cities outskirts known as Ray’s MTB. Although Ray’s is typically a winter operation that closes in the summer, General Manager Eric Schutt lets us in to check out their one-of-a-kind learning facility. Eric and Joe Prisel gave us a tour of the awesome indoor Mecca and set aside a little time to ride the XC, Skills, Jumps and the Pumptrack.
After another exploration of a new riding environment, we hopped back in the truck and began to make our way further west to Montana and Washington! Check it out next week in episode 7!
Thanks to our awesome Sponsors! Freehub Magazine, Norco, SRAM, RockShox, TruVativ, Avid, GoPro, Fanatik Bike Co.
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Check out more photos from Ryan at Ryan Kirk Photography.
Thanks for the support & stay tuned for our last Episode! Number 7!
Freehub Magazine
The tree-covered mountains of New Hampshire began to fade and were replaced by the towering buildings of the Chicago skyline. After another long drive, we started off our Midwest journey by visiting our SRAM friends Morgan Meredith and Cully Radvillas for some quick bike maintenance. After a quick tour of the facility and some shop time, we headed off for a little build and pump track session at the Garden dirt jumps on Chicago's Northwest side. After navigation through some city traffic, we arrived at Clark Park and were met by Jeremy Kawka who is one of many Trail Coordinators and driving forces behind the CAMBR sanctioned trail system. After a few solid hours of throwing and shaping dirt, it was time to pull out the Norco 250’s and test what we had just built. As the day came to an end, it was easy to see that some passionate bikers with the right drive can make anything happen, even if your surrounded by concrete in every direction.
From the Chicago dirt, we pushed even further northwest to the up and coming bike scene of Milwaukee. Aside from the beautiful lakeshore riding, there is also a hidden gem that lies on the cities outskirts known as Ray’s MTB. Although Ray’s is typically a winter operation that closes in the summer, General Manager Eric Schutt lets us in to check out their one-of-a-kind learning facility. Eric and Joe Prisel gave us a tour of the awesome indoor Mecca and set aside a little time to ride the XC, Skills, Jumps and the Pumptrack.
After another exploration of a new riding environment, we hopped back in the truck and began to make our way further west to Montana and Washington! Check it out next week in episode 7!
Thanks to our awesome Sponsors! Freehub Magazine, Norco, SRAM, RockShox, TruVativ, Avid, GoPro, Fanatik Bike Co.
Cully Radvillas getting his bike ready as he talks with us about his work at SRAM.
The tools await their captains at the Garden DJ's on Chicago's Northwest side.
Rider Jon DANGERmeier showing us how it's done at the Garden Dirt Jumps!
Rider Brandon Watts pumping it on the pumptrack at the Garden.
Pop-a-wheely is what we're all about! Riders Jon DANGERmeier and Brandon Watts in Milwaukee.
Rays MTB Milwaukee has something for everyone!
Rays MTB employee and shredder Joe Prisel doing his daily routine!
Check out more photos from Ryan at Ryan Kirk Photography.
Thanks for the support & stay tuned for our last Episode! Number 7!
Freehub Magazine
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11 Comments
- 3 0
MrLoopout
(Aug 16, 2011 at 8:01)
such a great series... reminds me a bit of the old "drop in" vids, only these are a little more interesting with more of a documentary feel...and the warren miller-esque narration ties everything together nicely... i just wish they were a bit longer and i'm bummed there is only one episode left, but nice work again guys! ..any chance of a full length film sometime in the future?
- 1 1
jaycubzz
(Aug 17, 2011 at 17:37)
How is this "more interesting" than Drop-In? The narraration is absolutely horrible, no emotion, no connecting the viewer to the show. Not to mention Drop-In brought a much funner, natural feel to mountain biking. I also think thst the level of riding was better, as well as the different guests they usually had every episode. This series has almost nothing on Drop-In.
- 3 0
MrLoopout
(Aug 18, 2011 at 8:51)
don't get me wrong.. i'm not saying one is better or worse than the other...i have the entire drop-in series on dvd and it's great and entertaining to watch and all, but (and this is just my opinion) these are more interesting (to ME) because it's more than just shredding this spot and shredding that spot and oh hey.. we got this guy today and we're going to shred this other spot... sure it's sick riding and i still enjoy watching it, but after the 1000th abubaca it's kinda refreshing to see something different.
- 1 0
jaycubzz
(Aug 22, 2011 at 22:54)
^true, i just miss drop in thats all hahaha at least you didnt freak out all immature, its good to see mature people on Pinkbike.
- 1 0
etmccue
(Aug 16, 2011 at 23:02)
Good and great and all, but as a born and raised Milwaukee kid I feel like you missed so much. My friends and I ushered the then grassroots BMX scene grow into the now powerhouse of ripping young talent. It wouldn't be much without a place called 4 Seasons. With a park like 4 Seasons in the heart of downtown, a mere 1/4 mile from some of your city riding footage, I feel they missed the true hidden gem. 4 Seasons has gone from a dirty warehouse ramp park to a full scale complex with multiple warehouses containing everything from full concrete skate ledge parks, a nationally recognized pool, great half pipes (2 ft. to 7 ft.), incredible jumps, spines, and even an outdoor section with ramps and dirt. Yeah, yeah, this is a mountain bike series, got it. But the utter core of Milwaukee's very deep riding community starts at 20". 4 Seasons is totally bike friendly and with the rise of FMB, it would have been great to see its many, many facilities put to use. I can't wait to go home with my shiny new DJ and ride with my old friends again (most are still rocking 20 inchers!). And that brings us to Kettle Moraine. The Midwest is fortunate enough to lay claim to this massive XC trail system that runs from Northern Illinois to Minnesota, and on to almost upper Wisconsin. Hundreds of miles of loops, trails, traverses, and epics have been then core of Midwest XC for decades. I understand the time frame thing and you cant make a 3 part series out of the silly old "Mid where?" So all in all a great edit, made me long for my home. Please don't take it as a knock, if anything we'll call it future recommendations. Maybe next time around you can dig a little deeper into the amazing community and many wonderful resources of our humble Midwest. Now I gotta go book a flight home 
.
.- 1 0
Kitejumping
(Aug 19, 2011 at 20:40)
Yeah, they didn't even show the big dirt jumps in the background at the garden, only the pump track.
- 2 0
ninjatarian
(Aug 16, 2011 at 0:38)
Thats a hell of a daily routine. Wishing right now.
- 1 0
chuckerjames
(Aug 16, 2011 at 7:13)
same (;
- 2 0
hellco
(Aug 16, 2011 at 9:31)
The Garden Jumps... putting Chicago on the map! Good job guys!
- 2 0
washingtonoutdoorfamily
(Aug 16, 2011 at 7:25)
Ah, The Garden! Good to see that place in action
- 1 0
emilebureau
(Aug 17, 2011 at 14:02)
we need a rays mtb park in montreal!
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