A trail to Canada

 Thanks again for the decals.. they are going on this week. This trail is a great for the kids to develop their skills.. the pine forest is actually quite unique in this area.. . Is our little piece of Canada!

 my pleasure man! Now I'm going to have to find some palm trees. I showed the kids and they were like "whoa they live in a jungle!" haha.

I'm totally still in ski mode. I've been rolling my Banshee into work and back on wet gravelly streets. It's not "riding" but it's riding. Feet on pedals, hands on grips and I'm all smiles. Doesn't matter what it is.

 That's cool! Anytime spent on 2wheels is time well spent. Still skiable snow? Sounds like you've had a good long snow season.. do the biking trails need much maintenance after the winter or do they thaw out ready to ride? Our trails get smashed in the wet season especially if drainage hasn't been sorted.. if a cyclone rolls thru the jungle just swallows the trails up whole and they disappear!

 I would use the words "lingering snow season". I need to get riding and soon! Most of our maintenance is deadfall clearing. Someone was telling me that the crew cuts something like 300 trees a year. Then whatever groundwork happens is usually stuff that's been washed out. we're starting to build the drainage better but sometimes the excitement to build a trail overshadows how well it's built. For the most part when the snow is gone, we ride. Our club facebook page is used to report all the downed trees. It gets busy right around now!

 Sounds like the riders there in Nelson are really unified.. that's great! Also the limited window of ride time opportunity must provide plenty of incentive to get things done.. a downside to a place like Cairns with year round riding is no ones ever in a real hurry to get any trail work done!

 Having a bike club helps us. I wouldn't exactly use the word "unified" but we all seem to agree that riding is an awesome thing to be doing. Sometimes I feel like we have too many trails. that leads to a huge maintenance demand and we're not resourced for that. volunteers have a limited capacity and on a scale like ours you should really be paying someone to maintain and upgrade because it IS work. and it IS valued.

You're right about the weather window. It feels like it's a contest to see how early you can start in the season and how late you can finish. Some of the shop guys I know try every year to ride each trail at least once. Sometimes they make it but not everytime. In any case I'm not complaining about our situation. I'm constantly amazed at the charmed life I find myself living. I can go for a legit two hour ride from my door and be on time for work. The Elisim video I posted is such an experience. All the forward footage was a pre-work ride. The rear facing stuff was another day entirely.

 Man I wish it were true.. our magical backroad to Canada! We will/would definitely drop in on you when we finally make it over there!

 Our house is yours. Our trails too.

 Thanks man, likewise'

 It is Canada ! Well at least thats what the kids call it.. closest thing we have as this pine forest was planted after the area was quarried many years ago. Still snowing, spring soon?

 Haha right on. Your kids are a hoot. Spring has been jinxed up here because the snow just won't stop.

 ...here, too obee1...the heavy stuff...

 Thanks man. Kids had a blast with Mark, he is 1 funny dude!

 That's it mate. Thanks man, the boys were really stoked to ride with you.. they love your whacked out sense of humour! Teaching them the most important lesson on a mountain bike.. rule #1, have fun!

 Thanks brother.. Mark is 1 part man, 1 part mythical creature.. the kids love him.

 I bet...seems like a cool dude to hang-out w/...

 Thanks for watching brother.. we had a blast !

 Thanks man.. whenever you set up a camera and tell the kids to skid in its general direction, this is bound to happen!

 Yet another reminder that you go where you're looking.

 Ride! Thanks for watching brother.

 Yeah kumade ride! Arigatou'

 It truly is! Thank you sir

 Apollo Reckless.. 20" mountain bike constructed from 7005 alloy.. On the heavy side for Mishka but bomb proof none the less!

 Cheers man!

 Not quite Canada but still we had fun pretending'

 .. is mountain biking only rule! Thx for watching brother