Dirt Surfing in Oregon - Video

 First off, Matt we miss you, and we love you! You have forever touched our community! Second, Lance and Ty great video. Matt would be stoked! Third, Kleeway has been a challenge on many fronts. Making a trail that is fun for ALL abilities is a tough task. Making this situation even tougher was the fact that the Northwest had one of the hottest and driest Springs on record. This means the iteration process that makes trails great never got to happen. Now, that there is moisture in the dirt this process has already begun, and will continue. Finally, Kleeway represents the spirit of Matt Klee. So as a community we will work together to make a trail that is fun for ALL! Bear with us as we work out the kinks, in fact, come help us, and experience people that knew and loved Matt well! We as a community of Mountain Bikers are small. So as Matt modeled so well for us. Let us work together to better the places we love!

 Sorry, Mike! I tried to hit the Green button, and I hit the Red one, and it won't let me change it.. Miss you buddy. Would love to go ride this trail with ya sometime soon! Hope you're well!

 Once I get a trail bike- we shall explore all the good new spots @MtHood-G

 I absolutely agree. This isn't skiing/snowboarding. The person going down shouldn't have to stop. They have earned their turns by doing the climb already and thus their "flow" shouldn't be interrupted. That's why we climb right? To enjoy the downs.

 @chrisingrassia I was told that girls got pregnant by peeing in their buttholes. Always.

Things change, I guess.

Climbing a trail that the builders recommend going double mach speed to ride properly seems less than ideal. This looks like the kind of trail that should be one way.

 @owl-X you gotta get to the top somehow!

 Your correct, unless on a designated bike trail up has the right of way.

 @chrisingrassia is that trail right next to it climbable?

I think climbers having right-of-way is a throwback to old narrow roads. Wagons, cars, right? I love it when I know I'm on a one-way trail, or at least one where descenders have right-of-way. Way more better.

I dunno. Physics and opinion seem to have shifted to the descending rider these days, especially with speederbike trails like this. I'm onboard.

Go ahead and assert "climbers' rights!" as you wag your finger from the stretcher though. No way I'm climbing up this thing!

 Courtesy has the right of way. We don't need a binary rule, we just need to communicate, smile and nod. Sometime the climbers will the most polite, other times the descenders. I've never really had an issue figuring this out.

 I agree on the courtesy rule- it's not one or the other (one way trails aside). I'll also say that most of the time neither has to stop, you just have to be aware and make a little room. I'd guess that generally I default to giving the downhiller the right of way because they are going faster, are doing the more fun part of their ride, and me getting in their way introduces more risk to the situation.

 Just so you all know- Tyler was merely hiking up a section for the shot. Kleeway is a DH-Only trail. There is a climbing trail that used to handle both directions but as you can imagine with popularity- that got harder and harder to enjoy.

 Totally agree with you. Some spots you'd have to go warp speed to clear, which would send you dangerously far past the landings on others. Haven't tried Dirt Surfer yet - have to give it a go next time I'm there.

 @nvonf Hahaha precisely, I almost died several times doing that exact thing. Gotta check out Dirt Surfer, It's Primo.

 Kleeway doesn't flow well was very disappointed b also. It is poorly done

 @jlfskibikesail - Come check out Alsea Falls! Sure, it's early in it's life as a trail system, but what's there is rad! And more coming! Www.teamdirt.org

 It's been on my radar will definitely check it

 I have to agree, I moved to south east Washington in the early summer and went to all the places I could, as far down as bend, and post canyon is easily one of my favorites, And the dirt surfer trail is probably the best, although getting there makes for quite a day on the saddle. I wonder if it's still rideable, might make for a nice weekend.

 Kleeway flows a lot better now that we've had some rain to settle the trail. A couple of work parties have also taken place to smooth out some kinks- once you dial it in, it actually has great flow- having to pedal a bit to maintain that flow is just part of the fun! Its a challenge....
Post canyon used to be a lot more challenging and stunt specific on every level- we've made them as "all around" tourist user friendly as we can without sacrificing too much fun, but of course folks still gotta bitch. I personally think we should bring back the skinnies and the tourists can just deal.

 I agree with everything above. I also appreciate the effort that went into constructing the trail, but at the end of the day it's not a flow trail at all unless you're the top 1% rider. Not only are the jumps ridiculous to clear for the average rider, they're all "half-gaps"—meaning if you do come up short (which most will) you're likely to hit the lip of the landing and go flying over the handlebars. Why weren't all the jumps made into tables with just a little more fill?

For me, it's just poor planning / construction that will ultimately lead to injury. Rock Crusher at Steven's Pass Bike Park is a flow trail that everyone can ride and enjoy. Templates for true flow trails are everywhere, it doesn't take a genius to know the difference.

 Jumps are too committing and too hard for you to clear? Go ride some beginner trails and come back when you have skills. Thats a problem with your riding not the trail, I know plenty of Hood locs that have no problem shredding Kleeway. Making sure soft weekend warriors could clear everything first time down was not at the top of the builder's list.

 Interesting. I thought the trail was to be constructed as a tribute to Matt? But what you're saying is it's clearly a trail for expert riders only—anyone else can suck it. Cool…at least I know the real story now. Also interesting that this is supposed to be the "downhill route" of the trail system. Why make a trail that's only truly rideable by experts that everyone is expected to ride to get back to their car?

 You can roll every single feature on that trail, which makes it ride friendly for all skill levels. I personally don't clear the doubles, but if you play it right, can still land with smooth transitions if you're hitting it at a good pace. You obviously need to tap into some trail reading skills here too, if you can't, you can still ride the old way down, its not one way, or, go to Bend, OR so you don't have to worry about your tires leaving the ground. (captain-spaulding not referring to you specifically, but folks in general). The trail still has a rating, which should be respected, so you need to treat it like you would any trail system or ski hill and ride it within your skill limits and speeds.

 For the record I don't feel like I'm being attacked nor am I attempting to attack anyone else. Merely stating my opinions…

I agree, clearly you can roll every feature on this trail. My point is this trail doesn't offer much progression for those looking to learn to jump (further or with more style). Coming up short on 99% of the jumps could very likely result is injury. Given this trail was created as a tribute to such a rad guy (who self admittedly I didn't know)—who tragically lost is life in a bike accident—why wouldn't the jumps be filled in to limit the likelihood of injury when riders come up short in an attempt to progress?

I realize this is a new trail. Clearly it's a starting point and much can be done to improve it and I'm sure that will be the case. In 10 years when the entire trail is under the canopy of trees I'm certain it will be the crown gem in Post.

 My friends and I built a pretty rad little jump line here in WA. It was a nice tweener line, in between a fun flow trail, and a truly big hit line. Nice for progression and all that. People who only ever rode the flow trail soon complained that they couldn't clear our jumps, they complained loudly enough, and long enough, that they were all torn out. If you can't ride something, find a line that takes you up to that level. Don't demand that they retard what they built, that was on their level. Not only that, but the Kleeway is goddamn awesome. It's a new trial, that will get a lot of attention and only get better. Attend work parties, help them develop it and shape it into Matt's dream.

 @jlfskibikesail AFAIK, the meaning of flow trail is that you are not required to pedal hard or use your brakes much - you just flow the speed the trail dictates and once you're dialed, the rhythm works and feels natural. For this, the trail needs to be intuitive and consistent. Glad to hear the iteration process is underway with the new moisture in the dirt. I'm sure the Kleeway will get there.

But there are countless flow trails in WA and OR that are absolutely amazing. Tyler's Traverse in Bend, wow! As mentioned above, Alsea Falls is excellent, a worthy weekend destination even. Also, flow trails don't have to be smooth and wide as a car lane - Thrillium in Battle Ground, or Dry Hill in Port Angeles for example, some of the best flow you'll find.

 RIP Team Tobot

 *Brobot

 Its downhill only- uphill traffic rides the 'Seven Streams' trail. Just to clarify.

 Mitchell's, dirt surfer, and top are definitely fun and worth checking. Mitchell's is all time favorite

 I agree

 Tyler is a ripper and represents the top 1% of riders in Hood River. Few can ride that trail to it's potential.