(non-skiing) Colo front range MTB video - Jul'09

[EMSC]

Took me a while to put this one together - on a new i7 box and upgraded software (replacing a 4.5 yr old machine) \/ . Some 'final freedom' toys... combined with the summer cross training regimen. Just squint real hard and it'll look like glade skiing through the trees :wink: .

Anyway, it's from a moderate local foothills ride from back in late July - @ Heil Valley Ranch. Say ~1000' verts up, then two different loops mostly on top of the mtn (maybe a couple hundred added verts). Probably ~12-13 miles total the way I ride it. Something like an hour & 3/4 - when I'm not stopping repeatedly to film it that is.

Back to the low 70's again today in Denver so the mostly cool & rainy summer is keeping up; with only a few intermissions of real summer here and there. Might be some earlier than average skiing if it stays this way into fall.

[skitube2]http://www.firsttracksonline.com/modules/crpVideo/pnmedia/videos/1250537047_Heil_Valley_MTB09v6-1.flv[/skitube2]

 

[mikesathome]

Good looking ride you had there. Enjoyed the different camera angels you used.
I knew that front range had some good looking MTB trails.
It does look a little rough/rocky to me, as i am spoiled with the fine hard pack and sand Michigan trails have to offer. Most riders here are on hard tail bikes.
Sure has been a cool summer here in the Midwest (3rd coldest July on record), I have spent very little time on the boat/jet skis this year as the great lakes have been very cool along with the air temperatures.
It has been a rather good year for surf on Lake Michigan, so my summer trips have been Mt. biking, eating lots of locally grown berry's and peaches (extra sweet with a cool summer) and body boarding Lake Michigan, and of course lot's of fat tires around the fire pit.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I like the shot from behind the front fork (at 2:05).

 

[EMSC]

Good looking ride you had there. Enjoyed the different camera angels you used.
I knew that front range had some good looking MTB trails.
It does look a little rough/rocky to me, as i am spoiled with the fine hard pack and sand Michigan trails have to offer. Most riders here are on hard tail bikes.

Thanks, first time I've video'd my MTB. Heil Valley is a bit rocky as in tons of small rocks. Other local foothills rides often have less of that but sections of steeper/big technical rocks at times; or even hike-a-bike in a couple of spots like at Walker Ranch. There are a few rides that are fairly smooth all the way but I'd have to drive a bit more for them. You'd be surprised just how many hard tails there are out here too given the abundantly bumpy surfaces.

I like the shot from behind the front fork (at 2:05).

When I was filming and basically making up new locations to put the POV as I went along, I was sure that that angle would not be very good and instead had convinced myself that the more forward on the top tube was going to be great (like @ the end/colorization sequence coming down the final pitch on the dirt road). It turned out to be the opposite of course.