Testing out NEW TRAILS - Virginia Canyon Mountain Park

[@mrvwbug4423]

I rode it friday, my new favorite front range trail. I was on an acoustic bike and had no problem doing a lap of hopper and a lap of drop shaft, I think for most people on acoustic bikes 2 laps of drop shaft is doable. That is a testament to how easy that climb trail is, it's long but never steep and never techy. Drop Shaft is really a "something for everyone" type of trail (unless you want janky tech), the main line is easier than the Sluice or Hard Money, but a definite step up in difficulty from Rutabaga. Anyone comfortable on Rutabaga should be able to ride the main line of Drop Shaft without walking features. The optional features go from no harder than the main line to pro line level stuff.

[@zacharysexton6929]

WFT is an acoustic bike?

[@danielsummers8410]

45-60 minutes of climbing sheeshh - gondala gonna be mega

[@FoxtonR]

It's almost like they purposely made it very long and windey

[@danielsummers8410]

@@FoxtonR LOL true. cant wait to get out there.

[@Behine.DeChilis]

So excited to do this! Idaho Springs is now on my ride radar. This looks first-class.

[@MattPula]

Incredible trails, so stoked to have this here in CO

[@80211Denver]

The first few trails I was thinking 'this is sooo unnatural for Colorado, way too smooth' But the more you rode, the more anxious I got to take a day off and get up there NOW. That looks like some amazing swoosh.

[@FoxtonR]

Yeah it's a bit of a shame they haven't taken advantage of the rugged terrain up there in some cases but that's the style for these trails! Hopefully the other ones they are building have some more natural or techy sections

[@konradchristen]

This looks so rad. Definitely hitting this tomorrow morning! Thanks for sharing. I was looking for a video to decide if it was worth hitting or if it was a little far beyond my skill level. Looks more than fair and all the gaps are optional! Let’s gooooo 🎉

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

I was a bit nervous since COMBA said it's on par with Hard Money on Maryland Mountain. I don't have much of a problem with that trail, but Drop Shaft is way easier.

[@konradchristen]

@@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_ after riding it today, and not yet riding Hard Money. I’d say there’s potential scary challenging lines but a safer easier line for almost everything. Only in the final “weave back and forth through the bottom of the canyon” sends you into anything with real speed that you can’t easily avoid.

[@coreydaspit8914]

Did it this past friday and loved every moment of it! Awesome work!

[@BOOSTEDDUDE]

This is sick! Thanks for the heads up! I'm surprised nobody was out there if it just opened! That double black diamond looked sick! That looked like a perfect filter feature and nice technical start for sure! It is really cool to see these nice wooden features on trails. The Hopper trail looked really fun. That's odd you find blue/black and black and double black easier than the blues or less of a problem. Good luck dialing it in next time.

[@kavjohnson7628]

Awesome video, thanks for the overview!

[@coloradomountainbikeassoci6636]

Awesome video Foxton! Great to meet you out there! and glad you like the trails. It's taken some time, but we're stoked how these first few turned out. We've got more to build out there, so consider supporting us by becoming a member or volunteering if you can!

[@FoxtonR]

Awesome, will do, and thank you! Excellent stuff

[@DoesItTrack]

Thanks for the tour man! Looking forward to checking this out.

[@stephenk2116]

Looks amazing - thanks for sharing

[@mittenmod]

Woah!

[@markosilhard2326]

What you filming on for that superwide?

[@FoxtonR]

Go pro max!

[@johnhajewski1343]

So looks like Enduro bike is mandatory??

[@FoxtonR]

I would recommend something in that range, yes

[@Sam96210]

I haven’t ridden here yet but it looks pretty smooth, I don’t see why you couldn’t use a trail bike

[@Behine.DeChilis]

I will be doing this on my 120/120, so I hope that's enough.

[@MidWestMTB]

Definitely not for what’s in the video at least, that’s all hard tail territory

[@Mtb9r]

Time to venture up the mountain see what Virginia is all about. I’ll be riding my Husqvarna E bike.

[@kump32]

Are ebikes allowed?

[@Gloogloo_919]

yes bcs he is using one

[@FoxtonR]

Yes!

[@kump32]

@Gloogloo_919 thanks, I wasn't sure if he was like 100% of ebikers who ride trails where ebikers aren't allowed technically.

[@Gloogloo_919]

@@kump32 no problem

[@suddenumbra117]

interested to see how sustainable these trails will be in the long run. It appeared that a lot of the bench cut was sloped inwards and that will hold water more than shed it.

[@FoxtonR]

They seem to have incorporated sustainability quite a bit up here but we shall see how it goes!

[@mrvwbug4423]

COMBA is usually good at building sustainable trails, the only reason why Rutabaga got so bad is because it's the most popular trail on the front range and JeffCo is soley responsible for maintenance of it and they have not maintained it since it opened in 2023.

[@BlackMountainCoaching]

The trail that were contracted by COMBA are industry pros. The drainage work is very similar to your typical downhill trail at a downhill park. Inslope for rider support to outslope for the water to be pushed off the tread. The water stays off the ridding surface with the inslope and then is pushed off with grade reversal outslope

[@80211Denver]

@@mrvwbug4423 Rutabaga has definitely taken a downward slide since the beginning of the season.

[@brandonhays5344]

Holy cow, this is amazing work from COMBA! I am proud to support them for doing amazing stuff like this. Also I appreciate your restraint in running a pre-ride, can’t imagine trying to send some of these surprise gap jumps on the first go. Also great timing opening this just as Trestle closes up 😂

[@BlacqueJacqueShellacque_]

Rode it opening day as well. I think I can make 3 laps on my e-bike before running out of juice. Super fun trail. The climb is sort of long an boring though.