Cut Yer Bars Whistler

July 12 flew to BC to visit family and first two days was in Whistler at my parents cabin. I was fortunate that due to not bringing my bike that Ian of Chromag Bikes offered to let me use a Chromag Nice Dreams Fat Bike.  Hey...why not try something different.

Strava Data if your interested in those things.Cut Yer Bars and Wander

It should be noted the trail to enter this trail area is Area 56 and if your concerned about the need for decoder rings and secret beer drinking rituals as a requirement to enter....Area 56 security was on a summer vacation.

First ride on the Saturday chose a warm up which took me to a Whistler old school classic Cut Yer Bars in the Nestor's area. This was a visit to my past as these where the trails I learned on back in the late 80's.

And while initially nervous as this was the first technical ride in Whistler since 1999 and with a questionable knee. Very quickly regained most of the style one needs to ride Cut Yer Bars quickly. Much quicker then I expected.

Part way through what would be the first lap of Cut Yer Bars at the Lorimer Road entrance ran into a guy doing it on a eMTB. Let him go and gave a good gap. As was in no mood to be near anyone using that style currently nothing against them. It was more mindset post getting crushed by a car.

Well...got back to the junction with Robin Yer Eggs and felt good so ended up doing a second lap of Cut Yer Bars. And on this one made the mandatory stop at the look out.

In the end good ride of the Cut Yer Bars area and got to see that my body was ok. After returning to the Nestor's area by the BC Hydro station headed over to have a look at the Lost lake area to see how much it had changed. Hoping that maybe the rain would stay away as it had rained a wee bit earlier during the second lap of Cut Yer Bars. And it came down heavy. It was well past the 2 hour mark and being aware that I no longer ride in BC and therefore no longer have the gear for BC. Pulled the plug and extracted to Mons and to take the long slog back to Emerald Estates and the cabin.

All in despite no gear anymore for BC so being a bit under equipped had a good ride.

Depot Lake Loop July 2019

The day before flying to Vancouver finally made the run up to Depot Lakes to do the loop. It has taken many weeks to get to this point. And knowing it is a remote gravel road loop which would mean no cars.

Depot Lakes Loop July 2019

Got there to discover that the Cataraqui Conservation Authority had implemented pay parking. Funny thing is they when checked online claimed they had given advance warning which based on last Decembers ride. They did not as recall no notices of 2019 becoming you have to pay to park in a barely maintained lot. Great way to ambush users.

But back to the task at hand. This would be the first long ride with hills and such since got crushed by a car in march. So had no expectations of anything other then see how it felt especially before BC. And would be the first long ride with the Chromag Wideangle. And would do it with flat pedals.

Made it to the Echo Lake Site with no issues well aside from the Deer Flies following along. Which meant a brief stop to look and take a pic. Then get moving again before to many landed. Heading down the road was starting to think of the long climb of the route known as Haddock's Hill. This would be a test of my knee and leg.

And while not fast in any capacity got up and over with no pain in the right leg or knee. Which was good and very relieved. From there it was the slightly rolling gravel back to the Dirtbag Ute. Which went by as always quicker then you think.

Almost forgetting that last hill near the end but rode up it no problem and then was back at the start. While it wasn't fast it was a good long ride on the Chromag Wideangle and good about the right knee. As it was important as was confirming the issue that riding was ok. While all the pain was caused by walking to much. And this confirmed it.

It was definitely a dusty ride this time round the loop. But that was still a good ride.