Video: Opening Day at the Whistler Bike Park - What's Changed?
Merry Whismas! The Whistler Bike Park is officially open for 2020 and while things may seem the same, there are a handful of differences to be aware of.
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The one and only crash I've ever had that damaged anything to do with my shoulder was done on flat pedals. Clips are alot like driving a manual car. You need to get used to the action. I naturally unclip in every "oh shit" situation. I crashed more when getting used to them, just like you might stall a car getting used to manual. If your a flat pedal rider who thinks clips are more dangerous, you haven't really given them enough time to get used to.
Until shit hits the fan and you can’t unclip because it’s too fast, and now you’re laying there with a bike on you.
If you have to think about unclipping you haven't learned them. It took me maybe 7 rides to get over my initial fear (but still having to think about it) then maybe a season for it to be pretty much taking my feet off the pedals. Of course I grew up with toe clips and found them a pretty much non-wvwnt except for when going over the bars.
My recommendation to anyone learning: fresh cleats, release at 0 clicks. You'll have the benefit of clipless yet easy release from anything but straight up and down (e.g. pull to a side and your foot is out). JKW only ran 2 clicks for release. Basically you want the benefits of toe clips without the risk. You can pull up on a pedal withy you foot coming off, bit can yank you foot off without thinking about pulling your foot from a cage. If you have to think about it you have too many clicks of tension or not enough experience.
I'm more concerned about clipping in than out. When I'm tired, quickly clipping in before a feature is the difficult part.
Oh, Canada - how I miss you!!
If you're reading stuff on Seattle, Atlanta, Florida beaches & all those mega-ant hills in NYC full of inbreds crawling and seething all over each other....that's not the other 99% of our country.
I can social distance pretty easy by just living my daily life. All these people who "shelter in place" those big cities though, they really don't have a choice. They can social distance all day, but there isn't 6 feet of distance between front doors there, so they're going to transmit like crazy. And you can't pretend like Montreal or Vancouver are these germ free zones. Outbreaks there are just as common.
Try not to fall victim to the news please.
Many locals were surprised that the season's pass is the exact same price as last year, despite the season being 6-weeks shorter with reduced hours. However, I'm sure people can understand some of the financial hardship that Vail has seen and will continue to see as a result of Covid, and may still be willing to pay. What is hard to understand though, is the fact that WB has done nothing to specifically cater to the local customer by both excluding twilight hours and withholding communication to the community about opening/trails/practices.
Perhaps the higher cost is in place to intentionally reduce the volume on the hill in order to keep lift lines small and the paying customers happy, but I think instead out overcharging for the season, it would have been wise to just communicate the right messaging. Things will move slower, volume will be reduced, the world is a different place.
I, among many others in my circle, will not be buying passes this summer for this reason. It has been the resounding conversation for the past week, that if WB had offered later hours (5-8pm), and/or reduced the season pass price to an appropriately pro-rated value (~630 hours of reduced opening time), then many people would have either purchased passes or had kinder words to say about our home mountain.
Its a real scam and quite insulting for locals ( especially after the winter fiasco) but , they know people will be going up regardless so they keep the same price.
At least act like you are doing some sort of independent journalism. You can do better pinkbike!
Dunno why you're getting downvoted. Your comment had more information about closures than did the video, or on the WBP webpage!
There's a handful of "safe bike park" pages on their website but none of them really say anything. @christinachappetta: or anyone: do you know how to check what trails are open? ps keep up the great work to you and the team
As I type this, basically no A-Line, Dirt Merchant, Freight Train, Fade to Black, Rippin' Rutabaga, Clown Shoes, Crabapple
Hat off to WB on that
I thought only green and blues would be open!
Wait that was just my dream last night
We all listened to the medical professionals thats why we are able to have fun this summer.
We have people in the streets with guns saying "my body my right to get sick and spread infection" I'm not at all surprised they want us to stay away.
May not be the place to discuss it, but going cashless is also frightening. I can probably get the reasoning behind it right now, but if this sets a precedent for the future.....
yeah, a few...
Vail have been hit by covid too !
If you weren’t happy on the hill in Whistler yesterday I can’t imagine how you’d feel on a normal day.
No, you aren't qualified at all. The nonsense you are spreading makes that clear.
Doctor does not equal infectious disease expert.
There are a multitude of studies, both in the laboratory at the micro level as well as statistical analysis of mask wearing in practice at the macro-societal level, that show the effectiveness of wearing masks for reducing spread of the disease.
But I'm honestly not here to argue about this, I get to do enough of that in real life.
Have a great day.