Kitsuma is STILL one of the best trails around, except now it's GNARLIER!

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I'm back in the U.S. now, and I figured since I've been sampling some of Quebec's favorite trails, why not revisit one of the all time local favorites in the WNC - Kitsuma.
It's been a long time since I've ridden this trail, and as it turns out I had a bit of a surprise coming my way because I think this trail has gotten harder?! Regardless, it's still one of the best around and absolutely rips!
LFRHGS
Alexander!

[@leibysmolianski3584]

As a plant botanist in western NC your kudzu comment broke me

[@LexZolnir]

as an American who despises invasive….plant species i am w you, literally chokes out all other plant and tree life!

[@joshevans3452]

The blight of the South.

[@Robertscomments]

It’s kudzu. It is an invasive species from Japan. It was introduced to the south in the 1930s to help with soil erosion. It literally covers everything growing in an environment, causing plant and tree species to go extinct.

[@igotmystimmy9241]

some of those turns gave me flashbacks to the hardtail race you had with Seth down that trail

[@haemmertime]

always remember: uphill doesn't become easier you just get faster

[@nickcutler7371]

My first Kitsuma ride was with you and Seth like 5-6 years ago on one of the early days Patron rides. Was a muddy disaster but so much fun hanging out with you guys!

[@The_Sampler]

Man I remember that ride, and goddamn was it fun!!

[@InSearchToPacify]

Great to see you out and at it man. Thinking about your Vegas episode where you talked about your mental health. Hope you're continuing to do well!

[@rupedog]

Thanks for bringing back happy memories.... Its in v large part due to your vids i visited NC/Asheville area from UK in July this year, just to ride the trails u feature... Pisgah, kitsuma, north mills, Cherokee, kanuga etc. Thanks man... Hope the US tourist board pays you, cos u got me over from the UK!

[@kenanjones3481]

what better way to spend my afternoon recovering from a ride than watching a new Sampler video? man that trail looked gnarly. cool to hear you've been doing some climbing recently, it's become my second favorite hobby in the past couple months. If I can't get out on the bike, my second favorite place to be is at the climbing gym :)

[@haroldthomas1077]

Hey Alex, I used to get migraines all the time too. I started taking magnesium complex twice every day and I am migraine free now. I also use LMNT or Scratch on longer rides and I think that helps too.

[@Friskee62]

NICE, buddy. Always great ta see ya ride and having so much fun, KUDOS.

[@thedude9625]

Great video. Man what a flashback for me. That was the first trail I rode during my trip to NC, did it twice and then had the bright idea of climbing up heartbreak ridge (all on the same day) - I recall you did a video doing the same climb; I thought I was going to die up on that mountain all by myself. Anyway, awesome place.

[@garyharmon5386]

Great video. The vines at the start of your video looks like Kudzu. It’s all over south Georgia. Brought here from China to help stop erosion. It can grow up to a foot a day. Pedal safe

[@mrouth1981]

Glad I’m not the only one. Rode Kitsuma two weeks ago for the first time in a couple years and left thinking the same. Roots are so exposed and deep.

[@SAMTB]

Hey great video. I was out in old fort in April for the SORBA event and we rode the new gateway trails. There are some real fun trails in there. If you go in through camp Grier you can hit Rostan Trail on the right.

[@TheRiotMTB]

I’ll be out here for my bday weekend April 5-7. I can’t wait to ride this trail. My other planned ride is Spencer and fletcher. Should make 2 great days of riding

[@aaronc7082]

Love your videos mate. All the way from Perth, Western Australia. Come for a ride out here ! Keep up the good work

[@colinbusche1524]

That plant that covers the hillside is Kudzu. It is an invasive plant from Japan. Great video, I need to ride that trail, it has been some time since I last rode it.

[@The_Sampler]

I thought that's what it might be! And had to assume it is invasive. No regular plant proliferates to that extent 😂

[@colinbusche1524]

@@The_Sampler According to google it grows a foot per day under the right conditions. It grows faster than things can eat it

[@_drawkward_]

It was brought here to NC to fight erosion. It apparently narrowly beat out hemp. Way to go, guys - plant an invasive species here instead of a beneficial one. Kudzu is technically edible - they make salads with the young leaves in Japan. However, a lot of chemicals get sprayed on it to control it, so I wouldn't touch the stuff here.

[@phillipstocksdale6317]

here in Florida we call it air potatoe or kudzu. There’s two different varieties one is edible for humans the other is not. The fruit it produces looks very similar to potato, just hanging in the air. it’s extremely invasive. they actually have volunteer crews that go out to clean up areas. But it does look neat.

[@colinbusche1524]

That's cool, in North Carolina it is not that big of an issue but it will be in half a year to a year. Some people are trying to get rid of it.@@phillipstocksdale6317

[@BIKINGWITHBOBO]

kudzu dawg, stuff apparently grows one foot per day! 🤯

[@Corb13]

Yeah that stuff sucks

[@ChronoCard]

To all of those who don't believe he did it in one shot, I went to patreon to finish the video there. Alex was true to his word. Now it's time for me to do a night ride.

[@allydidier791]

props on the braid haha! I usually just do a 2 strand braid because 3 strands are harddd

[@growlith6969]

Knew it would be Kitsuma! Damn I love that trail. I ride Colorado now and I'm spoiled for choice, but my mind still wanders back to it all the time.

[@Moerkbak]

Hi Alex, i was the one that commented on the helmet and 27.5 assumption. I actually deleted my connect as i remembered about the wheelsize - but it seems you could still see it :D In any case, good to hear about the helmet, i was worried there for a bit :P

[@hootie_owl2771]

Oh wild, I just rode Kitsuma yesterday. Hadn't rode it in 6 months. It definitely felt more blown out then I remember. The climbing on it's awful but the dh is always a treat.

[@bullabl287]

love this trail so much. you seriously need to go ride at Boone again. They redid pb&j and added a double black at the top. its so much fun and needs to be rode

[@The_Sampler]

I might just have to do that!

[@TheIshter86]

11:34 “I used to be so fast on this trail” Dude, you ARE fast!

[@cambamstudios7760]

Sampler: Im not riding that fast today. Me: holding the breaks the whole way down the mountain so I dont fall off and die.

[@WanderingWheeliesMTB]

This trail is so fun! Just rode and filmed here myself! Love your video style man! I wanted to ask, do you use a lens cover or anything to keep sweat from dripping on-to your lens? I noticed you got just as sweaty as me and I had a droplet make it on to the lens and blue the left side of my image. Luckily it didnt happen til Bernard Trail and I got all the Kitsuma shred footage in tact 👍

[@andreswan1207]

Love the vids man!

[@The_Sampler]

Thanks Andre!

[@SlowpokeShred]

Definitely a favorite of mine!

[@aw71290]

I'm really liking the new intro music. Pretty cool addition to the channel.

[@The_Sampler]

Yooo thanks Adam! Coolest part is it was created by a band in the community 🤘

[@Bikesbrewsandbrutaltunes]

Bro I spent last night thinking about finally riding kitsuma and you posted this right after I woke up lol

[@The_Sampler]

Guess we know what you're doing today 🤘

[@jack_5537]

I belive the plant that was all over that hill side might be an invasive vine called kudzu? at least that's what it is over in east tennasee

[@outaouaispov5828]

Love the Groot bit!!

[@tomassanesson902]

Epik trail and awesome video

[@ACBYT]

I moved from WNC to Spain last year, and Kitsuma is probably the trail I miss the most (especially after the Black Mtn reroute). Your editing just keeps getting better man, love to see it!

[@sking6344]

Love NC vids

[@rupedog]

Ah, I miss @cognativebrewhouse, loads😢 Love my 'Take your medicine' t-shirt from there!

[@PNFDAD]

The new trail, Bernard Mountain, is great, a slightly easier baby Kitsuma. Also, two big plusses for Bernard, the climb is not soul crushing and no traffic noise!

[@crazymatt2482]

The group I ride with only wants to ride at Wilson Creek. Boy do I want to venture out to new trails but I don't know how to get to them.

[@matttill103]

That’s a thunder mountain water bottle. From Sedona! Hell yea

[@rupedog]

Have u tried Trace Ridge (pisgah).... Reckon you would love it. It's the most Stoke I have ever had on any trail ever

[@karrieevens3319]

That IS a nice braid 😊

[@The_Sampler]

YES THANK YOU!!! I knew at least a few could appreciate 😜

[@GrumpysGarageDave]

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast 😎

[@shayneb3327]

I’ve ridden there. Screaming fast and those switchbacks are legit

[@cjp8699]

GROOT iz shredding gnar gnar today!

[@k9kayaks]

In the primegrowing season of the summer the Kudzu will grill like a foot a day

[@rupedog]

Kitsuma lots of peaks, from what I recall 😂

[@robtodd4726]

Nice!

[@Powermoose1TV]

Kitsuma is great. I wish it were closer to Brevard. There’s a great brewery in old fort too. Recommend the bread pudding.

[@The_Sampler]

Oh ya? You have my attention with bread pudding 😄

[@rupedog]

It's not that far from Brevard... Not by US standards... When I rode it my friend drove from Atlanta!!!

[@Powermoose1TV]

@@rupedog I live in Atlanta. Usually when we come up to Pisgah, we stay in Brevard due to it’s proximity to Pisgah, DuPont, and kanuga. Getting to old fort is a tough sell, especially if you are with a mixed skill crowd. I’m glad to see they are adding more trail, which I hope will lead it to be a place where we can spend a couple days.

[@ndj4389]

1.2 hours from Brevard. That's w/ coffee stop at Cognitive Brewhouse! 😅 Hit me up, we can carpool!!. I want to ride that trail more. It is kind of a haul.

[@tmill2001]

Gotta earn them downhills with the climbs!!

[@rupedog]

Might wanna edit out that licence plate!

[@rupedog]

Heard otgv your 'planting house roots' in Asheville?

[@dewittall2157]

There is no way in hell I’d be able to pedal up the switchbacks of kitsuma..nor do I care to haha. Also kudzu

[@NyanNyanNatasha]

Just learned 2 minutes into the video that time lapse stretching looks funny

[@rupedog]

Ooo, parked at the bottom... But it's the most chilled climb EVER up the old road

[@Ghostrider304]

That’s Kudzu, and invasive weed that is over taking forest all over the country. Been very difficult to manage in some areas.

[@walkerswild]

Alex- I've gotta be honest. I walked the heck out of those switchbacks.

[@tims_builds]

I loved Kitsuma when I was in the area! Personally I find it to be a great progression trail bc the whole thing is rollable so newer riders can take it slower and still have a great time and really build confidence plus more experienced riders can take off and have fun and then everyone can meet at the bottom for a cold drink and some food or whatever

[@giffmann2]

That plan is Kudzu. It’s a horribly invasive plant brought to the states from Japan with good intentions.

[@harrygrimley4352]

Rocks and roots not my groove. Flow is my happy place 😊. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@Drogos79]

how much travel did you use on both ends ?

[@ssjj9584]

Yes 🙌 Sampler doesn’t need no Wussy E bike 😂

[@The_Sampler]

I still have the E-bike. Was never about 'needing' or not needing. All about fun, c'mon you know me better :P

[@Benjamin_Holland]

That rock haunted me for most of the summer, i was wondering what happened to it

[@abstraddic0442]

💯👍

[@330_Crew]

Wasn’t that the trail you and Seith hit with the Walmart MTB challenge a few years ago? Seth destroyed his bike. 😅

[@S2kDude36]

The plant is Kudzu, a totally invasive plant.

[@lcurole]

Yo how do you braid your hair it looks great? Any tips?

[@The_Sampler]

Ok here's the key... as taught to me by some girlfriends... you gotta pull it to the side and it makes it WAY easier to do on your own!

[@lcurole]

@@The_Sampler Thank you! I'm so tired of coming back with knots and tangled hair. Going to try this!

[@christopherhday]

The plant is Kudzu, brought to the US during the Great Depression from China as a means of controlling erosion. Unfortunately, it grows and consumes natural landscapes as an invasive species.

[@Deadgoat865]

Kudzu, the plant that ate the south.

[@jaydieckhaus5970]

I know you may never read this Alex, but I recently saw a clip from a migraine doctor who said that 85% of his migraine patients have a sodium deficiency. He prescribes salt water and it resolves the issues most of the time. Just FYI. Not selling anything. Just trying to help you out. Great video as always.!

[@andym436]

Maybe he should try LMNT. Maybe there is a code somewhere?

[@TheBikeRoom]

I would die riding your bike, you have the back brake on the right side?

[@louism1572]

Do you still have the E-bike?

[@philipaschliman1477]

Kudzu. How can you not know kudzu?

[@ShawnHermann]

It’s great but man them 12 + switchbacks can catch you 😂

[@The_Sampler]

TRUTH. Those never get easier

[@hootie_owl2771]

Sometimes walking is faster and easier 😢

[@MichaelRei99]

I think you should have a channel of nothing but you climbing and grunting! We love to watch you suffer!!!

[@pataskren7524]

So dang fast

[@microMobilidade]

Remember everyone, even Goku stretches before a fight. So stretch!

[@marshallsokoloff]

kudzu

[@benwigginsbikes]

Is that a carbon Trail 1 bar?

[@The_Sampler]

Yussir!

[@andrizy8864]

You had some poison ivy from where you moved that rock…

[@The_Sampler]

I'm almost positive I'm not allergic. All these years frollicking in the woods and I've still never gotten it!

[@fivetool]

Was the e-bike a bust?

[@The_Sampler]

Nope, still have it, just like to change it up

[@federaldelii]

Where’s this trail?

[@andreswan1207]

Kitsuma-NC

[@The_Sampler]

I linked the trailforks in the description, check it out!

[@federaldelii]

@@The_Sampler thanks 👍🏻

[@raeperonneau4941]

Why does it always feel like there is more uphill than downhill? 😂

[@rupedog]

The switchbacks are OK... But all the false summits on that trail are a pita!

[@biggebrein]

This was Live Free, Ride Hard and get soaked, I guess?

[@XCRiders]

Your channel is staying on target for the everyday American mtb riders!! ♥️ For the record; BKXC has lost his way someone’s got to say it.

[@The_Sampler]

Genuinely curious why you feel that way? That's my boy!

[@SummitMTB]

Used to be fast on that trail? you haven't watched your vids I'm sure, because that is anything if not fast