Rollin' to the Otter
1AM Friday night and I'm still at work trying to get myself sorted enough to to be back here at 9AM to hit the road - frick it's gonna be a rough start. Oddly things went smoothly in the morning, Mike and I rolled up, loaded the racing van and hit the road at 10AM (typically we're more than a few hours delayed). First stop was planned to meet Jon Kennedy of Diamond Back bikes and go over the all new DB DH rig (looking for a 2013 release).
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Rolling into Seattle we were getting stoked on the thought of fresh new bikes and with only 3 in existence, this two wheeler is fresh. Jon has one of the best Man Caves I've ever seen, we'd all have stayed for hours longer enjoying a Rainier or two and talking shop, but Mike and Ian were there to do a job. I'm here to get us safely to Sea Otter and tell the tale from behind the wheel of the racing van. Speaking of Mike and Ian, meet the road trip crew:
Mike Levy: You know him from such movies as Tech Tuesday and Trade Show Diaries - he'll be covering all things tech alongside RC at this year's Otter.
Ian Hylands: You know him as he shoots bad ass pics that you print off for your walls and office to inspire you to get out and ride!
Me (Tyler Maine): I am hear to tell the tale and make sure no one gets out of hand.
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From Seattle we made a B line towards Bend, Oregon to meet up with Kirt and Lindsey Voreis. Beef jerky and water are the keys to a successful session behind the wheel, but the rest stops from Seattle to Bend were less than ideal for stopping - middle of nowhere and worst scent ever:
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Kirt was in Port Angeles with his Allride crew getting them all ready for the first Pro GRT of the season and then he hit the I5 to meet up with us once Colin had everyone ready. The Vories home is one where everyone is welcome - thanks for the place to lay our heads!
Today we woke up and you could smell the trails waiting for us just outside their door. But first things first - breakfast at the Victorian Cafe!
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Back at the house and time to finally hit the trails - leaving from the front door is one of the best things you can experience as a rider - this is a set up that so many of us dream of and our friends are living that dream! The ride was 100% flowy single track and we experienced 3+ hours of it! Mike was hoping to get a little punished today and I have to say that Kirt and Lindsey pushed our shit in a bit on the ride, but we need to get beat on from time to time - thanks!
Kirt tells more stories than any rider I've ever met and it's a history lesson each hour you're around the guy. We got back to the house and began reminiscing about the ride - great dirt, flow and crew, when Kirt rolls out his 1996 Yeti Lawwill DH rig - holy tits Mike and I were like two kids all over again! This was what we grew up reading about and it was right there in person:
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Today was our second day on the road and it's a trip to remember already - fresh proto bikes, riding with Kirt and Lindsey and that bike from 1996! Tomorrow Ian and Kirt have to go scope some areas for a Fox shoot, while Mike and I are planning to meet up with Jamie Goldman to check in on how his course is coming along for the end of the month's comp at his home here in Bend.
Check in soon for more life on the road - it's a good life!
A killer bike, great reading material, Tim Hortins coffee and beef jerky, and some good road trip tunes - all the ingredients for a proper journey.
Jon from Diamondback with Mike and Tyler - this man knows bikes and what a man cave should be!
Rolling into Seattle we were getting stoked on the thought of fresh new bikes and with only 3 in existence, this two wheeler is fresh. Jon has one of the best Man Caves I've ever seen, we'd all have stayed for hours longer enjoying a Rainier or two and talking shop, but Mike and Ian were there to do a job. I'm here to get us safely to Sea Otter and tell the tale from behind the wheel of the racing van. Speaking of Mike and Ian, meet the road trip crew:
Mike Levy: You know him from such movies as Tech Tuesday and Trade Show Diaries - he'll be covering all things tech alongside RC at this year's Otter.
Ian Hylands: You know him as he shoots bad ass pics that you print off for your walls and office to inspire you to get out and ride!
Me (Tyler Maine): I am hear to tell the tale and make sure no one gets out of hand.
From left to right: Tyler "I love driving 700kms in one go", Ian Hylands with his stuffed fish, and Mike "I love sleeping for 700kms in one go".
From Seattle we made a B line towards Bend, Oregon to meet up with Kirt and Lindsey Voreis. Beef jerky and water are the keys to a successful session behind the wheel, but the rest stops from Seattle to Bend were less than ideal for stopping - middle of nowhere and worst scent ever:
You're all lucky that this isn't a Scratch-and-Sniff photo. This washroom in Biggs, Oregon, is probably one of the worst smelling that we've ever visited. I was convinced that there were about twenty dirty litter boxes hidden somewhere in there...
Kirt was in Port Angeles with his Allride crew getting them all ready for the first Pro GRT of the season and then he hit the I5 to meet up with us once Colin had everyone ready. The Vories home is one where everyone is welcome - thanks for the place to lay our heads!
Today we woke up and you could smell the trails waiting for us just outside their door. But first things first - breakfast at the Victorian Cafe!
Why wait inside for a table when you can side around a fire pit and enjoy great conversation with friends?
Finished a cleanse on Thursday morning, so why not eat all things that are likely bad for me at once? Amazing food!
Back at the house and time to finally hit the trails - leaving from the front door is one of the best things you can experience as a rider - this is a set up that so many of us dream of and our friends are living that dream! The ride was 100% flowy single track and we experienced 3+ hours of it! Mike was hoping to get a little punished today and I have to say that Kirt and Lindsey pushed our shit in a bit on the ride, but we need to get beat on from time to time - thanks!
Kirt tells more stories than any rider I've ever met and it's a history lesson each hour you're around the guy. We got back to the house and began reminiscing about the ride - great dirt, flow and crew, when Kirt rolls out his 1996 Yeti Lawwill DH rig - holy tits Mike and I were like two kids all over again! This was what we grew up reading about and it was right there in person:
"I lived the dream on this bike, traveling the World, racing World Cups and getting podiums. I've crashed so hard on this bike and smashed so many corners, the memories and arthritis will last forever!" - Kirt Voreis
Mike, you stay away from it!
This bike blows our minds today, let alone 15 years ago!
 | "I lived the dream on this bike, traveling the World, racing World Cups and getting podiums. I've crashed so hard on this bike and smashed so many corners, the memories and arthritis will last forever!" - Kirt Voreis |
Today was our second day on the road and it's a trip to remember already - fresh proto bikes, riding with Kirt and Lindsey and that bike from 1996! Tomorrow Ian and Kirt have to go scope some areas for a Fox shoot, while Mike and I are planning to meet up with Jamie Goldman to check in on how his course is coming along for the end of the month's comp at his home here in Bend.
Check in soon for more life on the road - it's a good life!
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Have a great trip and please we want more interviews with people in huge sunglasses who have nothing to say, apart from "we built that lip for five days in the middle of nowhere where riding is virtually impossible, and we thought that this is progression of the sport, eee the track in Sea otter was fine I hit all my lines
Yes I gues you have better day at work than I do