Just wanted to share a few things that are going on here at Singletracks this month.

Trail Tuesdays

Every Tuesday we’ll post a trail-related article on the blog (in fact we started this a couple Tuesdays ago). Articles will include trail reports, featured destinations, and mountain bike trail news.

Mountain bike rentals

A couple weeks ago we added a field to our bike shop database to note whether shops rent mountain bikes. It’s a question we constantly hear (and ask ourselves whenever we travel!) so help us out by updating rental info for your local bike shop. Look for the “Does this shop rent bikes?” link on the right side of the page and let us know either way.

Unbiased product reviews

We’re in the process of removing affiliate sales links from the singletracks gear review pages in an effort to keep our mountain bike product reviews as unbiased as possible. We’ve always shied away from placing affiliate links in product review articles (“pro reviews”) to keep things honest and now we’re extending that thinking to user-generated product review pages. So whether you’re reading a full blown product review on the blog or checking out the list of “best MTB products,” know that we aren’t trying to make a buck for ourselves by promoting certain products or brands over others.

And unlike some other MTB blogs and websites, our ad sales and editorial teams are completely separate. That means we don’t charge manufacturers for product reviews (advertorials) and our writers aren’t influenced by ad contracts. This is a pretty standard arrangement for print publications but as far as we know it’s still rare in the online world.

Faster page load times

We’ve been tweaking pages and scripts on singletracks and the upshot is you should notice much faster page load times throughout the site. Just like in mountain biking, faster is always better!

New snow sports site launch: THIS IS AN AD

Ok, shameless plug time. Last week we launched a snow sports website (skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc.) called SnowToIt.com and we’re running a contribution contest through the new year. The site works like singletracks (user reviews, photos, videos, etc.) and if you add your content right now you have a pretty good chance of winning one of 9 weekly prizes like a $50 Backcountry.com gift card. So if you’re off the bike and on the snow already, SnowToIt.com is a great place to find resorts and backcountry trails!

Québec is famous in the mountain bike world for hosting the challenging UCI World Cup Downhill race at Mont Sainte Anne, a ski resort just 40km – about a 30 minute drive – from Québec City. I had just one afternoon to spend at Mont Sainte Anne, so when I arrived my guide, Christian, had a Scott Spark 60 ready for me.

Riding the gondola to the top of the mountain seemed to take forever. On the way up I saw many rocky downhill runs I was relieved we wouldn’t be riding down. The pitch got steeper with about 1/3 of the way to go to the summit at 800m (2625 ft) where there’s a nice view of Québec City. We started our descent on one of the “easy” trails – it was a pretty rocky ride, with baby heads covering the wide singletrack. I was getting tossed around a bit since my bike was too big and the extra length seemed to be pulling me down the mountain and through rough lines.  The initial descent was a lot rockier and bumpier than most east coast trails I’ve ridden.  There’s an old saying about Mont Saint Anne – if you can ride at Mont Sainte Anne you can ride anywhere! I was determined to make it down this mountain, hopefully in one piece.

We headed southeast toward the base of the mountain to the cross country trails.  Twisting, swooping, and less rocky singletrack plus smooth doubletrack and service roads make up about 150km or just under 100 total miles of trails, including the trails on the back side of the mountain.  We even rode several newly constructed trails where it was tough navigating my long bike through the fresh dirt and tight switchbacks. A couple of falls off the bike were inevitable. When you finally pop out of the woods, there are some nice views to the south.

I got just a sample of what Mont Sainte Anne has to offer, and I have a new-found respect for Canadian mountain bikers! Your XC trails are tough, and your downhill trails are just plain sick.  By the time we got back, the gondola was on its last 4pm run and the downhill riders were cleaning off their bikes in the parking lot.  I was surprised that it wasn’t very crowded for a Friday afternoon.  The village and rental shop were shutting down too, so I headed back to Québec City.

The city was bustling with activity after a big bike race, the Grand Prix de Cliciste de Québec, which took place earlier that day. Québec City hosts many major cycling events and the excitement of this race and energy in the crowd was proof of the city’s fervent cycling culture.  This UCI World Tour competition consisted of 16 laps on a 12.6km course through Québec City’s historic district and along the St. Lawrence riverfront.

Québec City itself is bicycle-friendly and cycling is definitely part of many residents’ lifestyle.  It’s always refreshing to see bikes and cars harmoniously sharing the road. In fact, a bike tour is a great way to explore this city. Visitors won’t want to miss the downtown area of Old Québec and a bike is ideal since like most urban areas, parking is sparse and one way streets abound. From the famous Château Frontenac on the cliffs above the St. Lawrence River westward to the vast urban park the Plains of Abraham, there are dozens of historic buildings, monuments, and the like to peruse by bike.

I wish I could have stayed a few more days in Québec City to explore more surrounding mountain bike trails or the Route Verte, North America’s most extensive bike route covering over 4,000 km (over 2,440 miles) across Québec province.  If you’re a mountain biker or cyclist, consider a trip to Québec City. The city is like no other, its history and European charm combined with proximity to world-class bike trails and other outdoor adventures makes it a truly special place!

Whistler Mountain bike park is opening today after the second snowiest season in the resort’s history kept the trails buried longer than usual. And in Utah, Sundance resort opens today as well May 25, though it will be the first in the state to do so. According to Salt Lake City’s City Weekly, Deer Valley opens June 17 and Snowbird will still have skiing in July but they predict the MTB trails will be ready by Father’s Day.

There’s still snow in Colorado as well which means resort trails and the high elevation backcountry rides (think Monarch Crest and Trail 401) will need at least a few more weeks to thaw and dry. Meanwhile, those of us in the southeast have been riding for months. A case of quality vs. quantity (of riding time)? That’s certainly up for debate…

Here’s a list of some key (projected) opening dates for 2011:

Open: Whistler (British Columbia), Diablo Freeride Park (New Jersey), Sugar Mountain (North Carolina)

May 25: Sundance (Utah)

May 27: Snow Shoe Mountain (West Virginia)

June 3: Sol Vista (Colorado)

June 4*: Keysone (Colorado)

June 10: Northstar at Lake Tahoe (California)

June 11: Trestle Bike Park (Colorado)

June 17: Deer Valley (Utah)

June 24: Mammoth (California)

* Unofficial estimate / wild guess

Help us add to this list by adding additional opening dates using the comment form below.

Last week I traveled to Northstar Resort near Lake Tahoe to check out the mountain bike scene and – surprise, surprise – I had a blast! Mudhunny actually rode the DH trails at Northstar almost 7 years ago on her hardtail so it was my turn to hit the slopes, though I chose a bike with a bit more travel for my trip.

The Bikes & Gear

One of the great things about Northstar is you don’t need to bring any of your own equipment – just choose the bike that fits your riding style and hit the lifts. Northstar has partnered with Giant bikes to offer a rental fleet stocked with the Glory DH bike (8″ travel), the Faith FR (7″) and the Reign SX for XC / light FR. Our group chose the Faith which is great for riders who are new to DH riding and aren’t looking for a super aggressive bike. I was amazed at how light the bike felt compared to other DH bikes I’ve ridden and on the trail it felt as smooth and refreshing as soft serve ice cream.

Northstar also rents protective equipment and most of the stuff looked brand new. I got set up with a POC full face helmet and POC Bone VPD shin guards featuring Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough. Everyone I talked to really liked the POC shin guards because the “dough” is supple and comfortable when you’re riding but becomes super rigid upon impact. Riders can also rent gloves and full body armor suits.

This year Northstar is offering a Ride 101 course for folks who may be new to DH mountain biking and at just $15 for a 1.5 hour lesson it’s a real steal. I went through an abbreviated version of the course and picked up some great tips on balance and braking in a DH environment. For more experienced riders there’s a $39 Bumps & Bends course that lasts 2.5 hours and covers things like cornering on flats and berms and jumping. The instructors are top notch and not only can they shred, they’re great teachers as well.

The Trails

Northstar claims to have about 100 miles of downhill mountain bike trails and looking at the map it’s certainly not a stretch. Trails are rated from green (beginner) to double black diamond (experts only) and there’s a good mix of everything else in between. For the Ride 101 class we started out on green-rated fire roads but quickly moved on to intermediate and advanced trails by our second run down the mountain (talk about fast learners!).

photo courtesy Matt Savarino @ ridertech.com.

The signature trail at Northstar is a run called Livewire and it’s the first (and only) fully irrigated downhill mountain bike trail in the US. Keeping the trail moist means faster, tackier conditions which is great for going down fast. It also cuts down on trail maintenance since dry, loose trails tend to erode quickly and the moisture keeps dust to a minimum when you’re in hot pursuit mode.

Hans Ray has been promoting his concept for “flow country trails” recently and that’s a pretty good description for Livewire. The trail definitely flows well and the great thing is riders of almost any skill level can have a blast coming down. Advanced riders catch huge air off the jumps while beginners enjoy experimenting with speed and cornering on the smooth, bermed turns. One of the riders in our group rode Livewire on her hardtail and seemed to have just as much fun as those of us on full DH bikes.

photo courtesy Matt Savarino @ ridertech.com.

For those looking for a more “classic” DH experience, check out Boondocks, a double black diamond run on the far left side of the mountain. Big rocks, huge jumps, and gnarly terrain that seemed to stretch for miles and miles. Admittedly I was in over my head on a few sections of Boondocks but it only made me want to ride more to improve my skills!

The Resort

Northstar is a great day trip from the Bay area or Sacramento but if you have some time I highly recommend staying at the mountain for a night or two. There’s tons of lodging and great restaurants right at the resort so you don’t have to get into your hot car after a full day of shredding the trails. Hitting the swimming pool and hot tub at the end of the day never felt so good. If you have some cash to spend and are looking to treat yourself on a mountain biking trip, this is definitely the place to do it.

Of course Northstar isn’t just about downhill mountain biking with easy access to the epic cross-country Tahoe Rim Trail about a mile away from the resort summit. Next week I’ll be sharing my cross-country experience at Northstar along with more on the trail building and maintenance philosophy at the resort. California mountain biking at its best!

Thanks to the folks at Northstar for hosting.

By now most of us are familiar with the mountain bike parks located at ski resorts with lift serviced terrain, jumps, and freeride obstacles but these days a new breed of purpose-built MTB resorts is popping up. Just last week we talked about ParkVida, a “six-star” mountain bike resort under construction in the Dominican Republic and now we’re hearing about a smaller scale project in Louisiana.

Cypress Bend Resort is located on Toledo Bend Lake in northwest Louisiana and offers five loops for all MTB skill levels. The press release we read boasted about the “up to 190 feet” of elevation change which we suppose is pretty impressive for one of the lowest states in the country (average elevation: 100 feet above sea level). The real attraction here should be the year-round riding weather (though I think I’ll plan my trip sometime other than July or August).

The new bike trails will be open for free through August 31, 2010. After that, resort guests can ride the trails for free and non-guests can purchase a day pass for $10. The better value seems to be the $20 day pass that includes access to the trails PLUS pool / sauna / hot tub / shower privileges.

The Cypress Bend project goes to show that mountain bike attractions may work just about anywhere (including old warehouses ala Ray’s Indoor). We’ve asked it before and we’ll ask it again: Is mountain biking becoming the new golf? Worse things could happen…

Higuero Enchanted House trail in Dominican Republic. photo posted by Joaquin_Hernandez.

The Montana Mining Co. (based in Salt Lake City, UT) announced this week their intent to purchase Park Capital Management, a Canadian company working to develop a mountain bike resort in the Dominican Republic. The resort, ParkVida, has been under development for six years and is slated for completion in October 2011.

Of course plenty of snow skiing resorts have created mountain bike parks to attract summer guests but ParkVida should be more of a year-round MTB destination. With 700 acres, the resort will be “six-star quality” and promises to feature something for riders of every discipline.

Here’s what the CEO of Montana Mining had to say about the deal:

“Mountain biking has become the activity of choice for many outdoor enthusiasts yet the number of full-service facilities dedicated to this growing industry is limited.” Mr. Campbell stated, “I believe that ParkVida will attract bikers from around the world for its exotic location and mountain bike specific amenities.”

ParkVida president had this to say:

“The chance to develop what will be the greatest destination rider park in the world for an international audience of fifty million riders through a public entity is a just reward for our efforts and provides a mechanism by which riders can participate in our venture.”

If this place is half as good as these guys make it sound, you can take my reservation today. Of course one last boilerplate quote from the release may harsh our enthusiasm a bit:

These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the sufficiency of existing capital resources, uncertainties related to the development of Montana’s business plan, and its ability to secure sources of financing. The actual results that Montana may achieve could differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties.

Dang it. Guess there’s no such thing as a sure thing in MTB resort development. We’d at least like to see a “coming soon” website to get a warm fuzzy about this – it’s not hard to imagine this mining company getting an itchy shovel and finding a new use for 700 acres before October 2011. We’ll keep you posted…

The National Collegiate MTB Championships are being held this weekend at Northstar resort in Lake Tahoe and the men’s and women’s cross-country races are kicking things off today. Tomorrow it’s short track and mountain cross and on Sunday the long travel bikes make their appearance for the downhill race. This year’s race is being hosted by the University of Nevada Reno and any USA Cycling collegiate-eligible team is welcome to compete.

It’s sad to think we’re already at the end of the racing season here in the US as cool weather and shorter days approach. Want to delay the end of summer riding just a little longer? Check out the Week of the Dead, a Mexican adventure full of mountain biking, surfing, paddling, and drinking set at the Punta San Carlos resort in Baja, California. This resort sounds super sweet with its own 60 mile MTB trail system, private landing strip (for your jet!), and direct access to some killer waves. If you’re looking to blow some coin, this definitely sounds like a fun way to do it!