Should Have Called Search & Rescue (...but These Trails Were Worth All the PAIN!)

[@returningtoearthtv8836]

Excellent trails, strong riding, incredible video quality, high spirits. Congratulations on your achievement. Looks like it was a good day in the mountain cathedrals of the Dirt Church.

[@dirtchurchmtb]

Thanks! Overall it was!

[@luismartins9521]

Hello from Coimbra, Portugal! My name is Luis Martins, I'm 45 and I'm a doctor. Who loves mtb. That, my friend was a lovely, lovely ride and vlog. Might I make a suggestion?...Hope you don't take offense. As a doctor I can tell you that when you're battling, lets's say, a minor cold, a good hour passed in comunion with your bike can be very good. But, not a 40 mile stretch...And you ride a Pivot with, if I'm not mistaken a 170mm Zeb and a coil that controls maybe 160mm or 170mm of frame travel?...With good Maxxis tires also, I'm gonna bet at least a medium size frame, if not a Large...So, that's a 15,5kg bike, no? I apologyse if I'm completelly off base but I own a 10,55kgs Rockrider hardtail(120mm Sid ultimate fork), a 13,47kgs Stumpjumper Evo mullet(150mm Fox X2 Factory schock and 160mm Rockshox Lyrick Ultimate fork) and a 13,97kgs Propain Tyee CF(160mm Fox Factory X and 180mm Rockshox Lyrick Ultimate). In this day and age you could make those 40 miles, easily, with a 140/140mm trail bike, not weighing much more than 12kgs. That my friend would make all the diference in the world. But yes, I know...buying an mtb these days is a heck of an investment...I'm on my way to my fourth and last one and that's gonna be a 120/120mm XC. And for every kind of trip, you take the most suited bike. And with less weight! Good ridings, stay safe, stay well and keep those videos coming! You honesty is refreshing and very welcome!

[@dirtchurchmtb]

Olá Luis! No offence taken - you are 100% correct! But I only have one bike, so that’s what I brought to the trails. I’m glad you recognize that all those elements just made it so much harder to complete the ride! In the future I plan to get a lighter duty 120mm bike specifically for longer rides - then I won’t suffer so much! Thanks for the comments and love on the video!

[@luismartins9521]

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk a bit with me. It's much appreciated! And of course that's what I figured...Only a maniac like me would have a different bike for every single possibility, right?...And that is the main reason why I'm building a final mtb. I haven't decided on the frame yet but everything else is already bought or chosen. The bike I really want is the latest Specialized Epic 8(the Orbea Oiz is also a strong possibility), but in a normal Pro Evo guise, and not the S Works with no internal cable routing and Flight Attendant suspensions and AXS Sram transmissions, that retails for an absolutely mental 14.500 US Dollars and 14.000€!?!?! With the latest Rockshox Sid Ultimate suspensions with a simple remote lock and three positions, all the X01 and XX1 carbon that I can afford from "my friends" from Sram and all the carbon and lightweight aluminium that I can buy by Newmen, from Germany, I can get a beautifull Epic 8 for no more than 7.000€ that is gonna end up weighing no more than 11.1kgs, by my calculations. And do you know what a bike like that can tackle, when fitted with excellent maxis rekon race and lightweight Magura Trail SL brakes on 180mm rotors?...Absolutelly anything! Food for thought my friend... And to finish, a simple and honest vent/rant...I'm just slightly older than you and am completely in a loss on how expensive mtb as gotten in the last 2 decades, right?... All the best from Coimbra, Portugal!! Good ridings!

[@DuaneZingale]

crossing from north fork back down is where i almost lost my eye!

[@dirtchurchmtb]

Lots of sharp branches on that section!

[@Brianhemphill-u5j]

For next time, a couple of other ideas for 40-45 miles, both ending in Sisters at the brewery: 1) Dutchman > Flagline Tie > Upper Flag > MetWin > Peterson Ridge or 2) Swampy > South Fork > North Fork > MetWin > Peterson Ridge.

[@dirtchurchmtb]

Those both sound great! And ending at the brewery is brilliant. I have ridden that descent down Peterson Ridge, and it’s a great trail - but it’s more physically demanding than most in Phil’s network.