Mtb TR - Colonnade bike park, Seattle

cbcbd · Aug 7, 2008, 5:04 PM

So, since I have moved here I have shamefully not made it to Whistler yet, I've done minimal mtb cuz I had to fix the thing, and had been trying to find somewhere to replace my weekday haunt like I had in the East.

Well, trails here are different. I'm in the city and although there are plenty of parks everywhere, most of them are not really built for biking, biking is not allowed, or even if they were they just wouldn't provide continuous lines or technical terrain for a challenge - rock gardens aren't really things that naturally happen here.
30mi from the city you can get to the mountains and the sort of ride with 4+ miles uphill followed with a looong (4mi) good downhill. Good stuff, but not practical for regular weekday rides.

So this group called Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club began a project. They took an unused lot downtown under the highway and built something very cool... yesterday I had a little time and checked it out.

Tight twisty singletrack with log bridges, teeter totters, rollers, skinnies, rock gardens, multiple steps up/down, small drops, trials area, pump track, wall rides, rollercoasters, huge drops, huuge roller, jumps, looong skinnies... anyway, the place is really amazing and very well built (they are slated to finish the whole thing by oct 0

.

I think I need to scope out chainlove for a full face

Here are a few pics:
Easy section, many switchbacks, log bridges, skinnies, tetters

Wall ride, rollercoaster

Small drop, leading to huge roller:

MR. evil · Aug 7, 2008, 5:13 PM

that is very cool!

Trekchick · Aug 7, 2008, 5:17 PM

This thread needs to be linked to the Teeter totter and obstacle thread. This park is way cool!

o3jeff · Aug 7, 2008, 5:17 PM

Is that what you are planning for your backyard Tim?

Definitely a different type riding.

MR. evil · Aug 7, 2008, 5:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o3jeff

Is that what you are planning for your backyard Tim?

Definitely a different type riding.

Not even close! I am just making a few cheesy obsticals so we can work on our bike skills. I JUST finished a 12'-0" long bridge about 10" wide. It is sitting on the garage floor as I write this. Now I just need to think about what else to make with the rest of the wood I have.

**bvibert** · Aug 7, 2008, 5:23 PM

That's pretty cool. Nice use of space!

Trekchick · Aug 7, 2008, 5:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR. evil

Not even close! I am just making a few cheesy obsticals so we can work on our bike skills. I JUST finished a 12'-0" long bridge about 10" wide. It is sitting on the garage floor as I write this. Now I just need to think about what else to make with the rest of the wood I have.

I'll take some pics of the 'backyard' bike course one of my GF's sons built. He's an ambitious kid who has no access to cable tv or video games.
You'll get some ideas, I'm sure.

o3jeff · Aug 7, 2008, 5:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick

I'll take some pics of the 'backyard' bike course one of my GF's sons built. He's an ambitious kid who has no access to cable tv or video games.
You'll get some ideas, I'm sure.

Is that the back yard were they ride the fence? If so was pretty neat. I snooped around one of the vid links you posted?

cbcbd · Aug 7, 2008, 5:55 PM

They call this park a bike skills park, not a freeride park... I guess the drops aren't big enough for that? There's some big stuff I wouldn't touch... or just roll over

It is cool to see what they did with this space... a space that otherwise would've been forgotten and overgrown.

Nice thing too about it being under the highway is that it'll stay dry during the rainy months! At least I hope

Trekchick · Aug 7, 2008, 6:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o3jeff

Is that the back yard were they ride the fence? If so was pretty neat. I snooped around one of the vid links you posted?

Snoop away on the video links.
I don't think I have video of him on a fence, but I could.

Aug 7, 2008, 5:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
cbcbd Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 1,631	Mtb TR - Colonnade bike park, Seattle So, since I have moved here I have shamefully not made it to Whistler yet, I've done minimal mtb cuz I had to fix the thing, and had been trying to find somewhere to replace my weekday haunt like I had in the East. Well, trails here are different. I'm in the city and although there are plenty of parks everywhere, most of them are not really built for biking, biking is not allowed, or even if they were they just wouldn't provide continuous lines or technical terrain for a challenge - rock gardens aren't really things that naturally happen here. 30mi from the city you can get to the mountains and the sort of ride with 4+ miles uphill followed with a looong (4mi) good downhill. Good stuff, but not practical for regular weekday rides. So this group called Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club began a project. They took an unused lot downtown under the highway and built something very cool... yesterday I had a little time and checked it out. Tight twisty singletrack with log bridges, teeter totters, rollers, skinnies, rock gardens, multiple steps up/down, small drops, trials area, pump track, wall rides, rollercoasters, huge drops, huuge roller, jumps, looong skinnies... anyway, the place is really amazing and very well built (they are slated to finish the whole thing by oct 0. I think I need to scope out chainlove for a full face Here are a few pics: Easy section, many switchbacks, log bridges, skinnies, tetters Wall ride, rollercoaster Small drop, leading to huge roller: __________________ Sign, sign everywhere a sign... pointing out the trails, can\'t make up my mind.

Aug 7, 2008, 5:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trekchick Don't Freaq me out! Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,697	This thread needs to be linked to the Teeter totter and obstacle thread. This park is way cool! __________________ Building a quiver is just foreplay for snowgasms

Aug 7, 2008, 5:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
bvibert October 2008 turns Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 13,448	That's pretty cool. Nice use of space! __________________ Brian 08/09 - 1 SAC Tracker - Tramdock Tracker - Chainlove Tracker - WhiskeyMilitia Tracker 2008/09 Demo Days

Aug 7, 2008, 5:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
cbcbd Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 1,631	They call this park a bike skills park, not a freeride park... I guess the drops aren't big enough for that? There's some big stuff I wouldn't touch... or just roll over It is cool to see what they did with this space... a space that otherwise would've been forgotten and overgrown. Nice thing too about it being under the highway is that it'll stay dry during the rainy months! At least I hope __________________ Sign, sign everywhere a sign... pointing out the trails, can\'t make up my mind.

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Aug 7, 2008, 5:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
MR. evil Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,034	that is very cool!

Aug 7, 2008, 5:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
o3jeff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southington, CT Posts: 1,594	Is that what you are planning for your backyard Tim? Definitely a different type riding.

Aug 7, 2008, 5:04 PM
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