Can A Bike Park Have Too Many Options? 🤔

Hailey and I escaped the rain to ride Thunder Mountain bike park in Massachusetts. I used to ride here more, but since moving to Vermont this place a bit of a haul to get down to. None the less, this place is still getting better by the trip especially with the addition of the new High Speed Quad!
My Bike Check: • My GT Force Enduro Bik...
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Riding Thunder Mountain On An Enduro Bike!

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Skidmarks - the trail we built over the past year in Bolton Vermont is opening Sunday June 16th (2024). There will be GT bike Demos, local vendors, competitions, and more. Here's a sneak preview of the trail kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5PTmoaMe9Vmr5Y

[@ktvlm3987]

in todays episode, phil has no idea where hes going, but he gets there fast!

[@SkillsWithPhil]

To be fair, i don't think some of the trails know where they are supposed to be anymore

[@brandonthompson9608]

It's bad, or great, when even the trails get lost. Thanks for sharing your fun. @SkillsWithPhil

[@peterstraubinger4707]

Why did i just read that with Jeremy clarkson’s voice and old top gear music in my head 😂😂

[@topspot4834]

@@SkillsWithPhillove Thunder, but idk why they chose the current layout. For new riders to the park it's really difficult to navigate ... They made a new trail map at least. Great park regardless, those lips on Hawleywood look sick!

[@SkillsWithPhil]

@@topspot4834 I agree about the navigation aspect. I've been going to Thunder for years now, but I still find it rather confusing to navigate. I kind of forget about certain areas of the mountain exist. I'm still hoping that we'll see a fully finished Fort Hill trail. It's a bummer that the work stalled out and the second half of the trail was never finished.

[@ignispaws]

That cut at ~19:39-19:40 or so had me thinking I dropped acid without realizing it. Woah.

[@owengarnett1008]

Didn't know Haley could teleport...

[@blake_n_mtb]

Genuinely love your stuff Phil, I’ve been watching for since I was was barely old enough to ride a bike and it’s awesome to see how much your riding and video quality has changed, cheers man!

[@cameronwatson4479]

Best lunch breaks thanks to you

[@SkillsWithPhil]

My pleasure 😊

[@cameronwatson4479]

​@@SkillsWithPhil Love from Washington 💙💙 sad you couldn't hit the local spots that got demo'd

[@ZagelMedia]

Hey Phil! Love your vids, would you mind making a video on how to build confidence in lean angle during turns and carry speed through burms with minor use of the brakes please? I'd love that!

[@eduardoletosa784]

The channel is called skills with Phil for a reason 😂 he just doesn't do tutorials anymore, but check his older videos. iirc there're a couple about cornering.

[@BoshJeach]

Always love when you drop a vid Phil. Unsure if its GoPro with the max lens, or if its an insta360, but this is the first vid i remember of yours where i get a bit dizzy watching bc of the peripherals being so wide. I see comments liking it so to each their own 😅 but i definitely preferred the previous setup you had or the new DJI ones that everyone is running. Thanks Phil 🤙

[@SkillsWithPhil]

I'm keeping this setup from here on out. When i switched to my previous setup people said the same thing but eventually people get used to it. For what its worth I spent a long time playing around it and watching footage back. I get motion sickness relatively easily and could watch it back. When i used my previous setup i kept finding myself wanting a wider FOV.

[@yashara2283]

Phil would love to see you on a DH racing again just for fun. Maybe the upcoming race in Killi?

[@MrTonka]

Watching closely as I'm going to be there in a month or so. Your assessment of Fort Hill is the same as mine, but as I'm watching you go mach chicken through rocky, tree lined tech trails... coming off in there potentially carries some high consequence as well. Looking forward to checking the park out!

[@ZagelMedia]

20:09 that turn was spicy😳looks like all your weight got put on the front wheel off-camber and your rear wheel drifted!

[@Youthrippers]

Love to see you back at tmbp! Also, that “rumble strip” on gronk is always there lol. Was there jun 2023 and rattled some bolts loose lol.

[@SecretSpots]

3:07 "What the heck, this was never a thing". 🤣🤣🤣

[@leelikesgrass66]

I love your vids man I always watch one before I go for a ride

[@asacron]

Hailey is a beast 💪🏼. Hope I’ll ever be able to ride stuff like that.

[@shaneridesmtb]

I was kinda hoping to see some of Hailey's footage too. I was curious how the pov would look from under the visor like that. I guess I just need to mount up a camera myself and try it out. Ripper video as usual! Keep em coming

[@dh_mag]

"they've definitely been building up some of these lips and what not"😂

[@spencerjoseph489]

What is your current camera setup? Looks awesome I’m trying to upgrade my current setup

[@maximillianmitchell4380]

Such a fun park! Underrated for sure!

[@pedalingdownhill7640]

Stoked to run into you guys this day!

[@rascal1234]

Nice to see you back at Thunder. I like some of the changes, but the Shack is a mess. Should be called "Hack the Shack".

[@SkillsWithPhil]

That's exactly what i called it on the left hehe

[@Icehso140]

Glad they bermed that worn out right turn on Trillium. It was the spot that got me to test my new helmet...twice. LOL

[@Dbz4life26]

I wish there more trails like the ones you ride where I live

[@brennanstopka9568]

come back to powder ridge, much more trails and improvements since you've last been.

[@SkillsWithPhil]

The drive to ride ratio is not worth it considering all the places in VT and NH that I pass on the way there. I'll make it back there eventually, but it's not at the top of my list.

[@MrNamesjeff17291]

Thunder has so much potential

[@vladamirtepes5567]

I was at thunder last sunday. Cat and mouse wasn't opened but I still had an absolute blast. Lots of new stuff and Yes the jumps on Gronk are way more "poppy" and seem to run better if you scrub some speed.

[@porschephile944]

Great video Phil! What gloves are you using these days?

[@goatkin3845]

I want to go to thunder MT so bad

[@ktvlm3987]

it was definitely smokey that removed your chain

[@tomassanesson902]

Soo awesome video🤘🤘🤘

[@eriktoman6340]

Do you still run the 200mm one up dropper? Can you run it fully slammed in the Medium sized Force? Thanks! Thought I saw you when I rode by you on Pulaski the other day, guess I was right! your riding looks awesome as always.

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Yes 200mm, I actually think the one on the force is ran last year was a 210mm dropper and could run it slammed.

[@eriktoman6340]

​@@SkillsWithPhil Thank you!

[@MrNamesjeff17291]

That looks like a mess of trails at the top now. lol

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Yeah, I like alternative line options within a trail but some of those sections were alternatives without a trail.

[@jordenblucher7424]

I had to race that first trail your road I was getting lost just trying to practice 😂

[@STV3TA]

What mode is your GoPro in for this video? Are you using the Maxmod lens?

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Yeah max lens in maxhyper view. I played around with it a bunch before using it and I'll be using this setup from here on out. I found when i went back to my old setup it really missed the extra fov.

[@STV3TA]

@@SkillsWithPhil Awesome, I agree that this view is the winner. I run the same set up but with a hero 10 so the FOV isn't quite as wide as the newest one.

[@lemons8390]

Can't wait for the Bolton opening weekend video, I was there on opening day and it was very sloppy

[@mitchardnixonful]

new camera angel is 🔥🔥

[@marcelloc395]

Hey Phil, love watching the channel. Just curious from our POV you have been a top rider for years now. But from your POV do you feel more risk averse these days or feel like you're slowing down? Great content and I look forward to the summer uploads!

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Thats an interesting question. I don't feel like I've gotten slower, but I don't think I've gotten faster either. I'm a smarter and better rider these days compared to when i didn't own a house and I was trying to make a name for myself. 2015 was my best year racing, i took a lot of risks, early 2016 i did an urban DH race in Colombia and within 20seconds of my first practice i was going OTB down a staircase. While i was mostly fine physically, apart for swelling and likely a concussion, That crash shook me up. I couldn't get myself to take as many risks, but i think it also taught me to be a smarter rider.

[@mattprovost3881]

Was just up there last weekend conditions are primo!

[@jacobbrownson8277]

Phil!!!

[@dredORDER666]

SLUDGE IS A A LEAF OR ANY MATTER BROKE DOWN ON A PATH THAT U CAN SLIP ON' ITS LIKE A SLUG.....

[@williamhunt8712]

🥴

[@mrupholsteryman]

Like the board game labyrinth and a mtb trail had a baby and trails were there that weren't and vice versa...😅🤣😂

[@SkiRidesMTB]

"theyre making minor improvements!" *Gets on brand new high speed quad * lol

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Haha yeah i was thinking that myself. I hadn't seen the new lift at that point and i wasn't recording when i finally did.

[@ZAYDAWG23]

You should go to Greek peak

[@KylerJenkins-um8ho]

Hey Phil I love your videos you inspire me and now I am starting to get into mountain biking but I don’t have a good bike what bike is a good one that is not over 3,000$ I’ve been saving up money for about 2 years to try and get a good one can you please reply and let me know thanks keep up the hard work

[@SkillsWithPhil]

Most brands will have a trail bike in the sub 3000 range. Some bikes are better values than others, but any of these would be good option. Bikes and parts are so good these days it's a lot harder to go wrong. If you want an enduro bike the GT Force is going for 2850 gtbicycles.com/collections/enduro-mountain-bikes/products/force-carbon-elite?variant=45862840697129 If you're looking for a shorter travel bike (I ride this bike more) for 2650 gtbicycles.com/collections/mountain-bikes/products/sensor-carbon-elite?variant=45862877364521

[@johndef5075]

Get XT. Best shifting Ive ever had by far.

[@januhelj3796]

I think ur missing the topcap on your fork Phil

[@SkillsWithPhil]

I'm aware. I temporarily borrowed the valve cap from my car, but realistically that's probably a semi-perminant fix.

[@januhelj3796]

@@SkillsWithPhil that is quite the handy fix ngl, loved the video btw

[@littlehobbies]

Is it just me or does it look like Phil is using a 360 cam to film. Video looks butter smooth and great riding as always :)

[@SkillsWithPhil]

No 360 cam, GoPro with Max lens mod. 360 cams are too frustrating to use/edit with.

[@littlehobbies]

@@SkillsWithPhil well then I have to say you have gotten the set up with the max lens mod set up better then anyone else, I really enjoy the wide angle and how smooth it is.

[@hugotaggert5105]

Lol I just noticed my friends in this video

[@MtbKING27]

If you want to come to SC I’d honestly only recommend going to The Hulk and Biggin Creek. Otherwise, there is not much reason to come down here. Marrington Plantation is pretty good for a quick visit tho

[@mitchardnixonful]

yeah driving to SC to ride flat xc loops is the obvious direction he wants to take his channel 🤡

[@dirtjax6402]

Hi

[@mototodd]

KZbin is sad these days. 10sec clips suck