trekkie820

Man, what a sweet ass place! It starts with a nice warm up on some tame stunts in the beginners section, then quickly picks up the pace in the sport section. There are large berms, skinnies, teeters and the like, and the pictures on the site don't do it justice, at all. After the sport section, you can head off to do some jumps, which comprise the outer loop, or you can try the expert section. Believe when I tell you, the expert stuff is VERY scary. I did a few stunts, such as a huge double teeter, the slide bridge, and the pivoting teeter. Some parts of the expert section are barely a tire's width wide, and five feet up. If skinnies aren't your thing, then do the expert jump section, which has the large (huge) berm. After this, try the foam pit! I jumped into it a few times, and got some pictures of me doing it. The first time, my bike pitched forward and threw me OTB, only to land in pillowy soft foam. I spent about 2.5 hours, riding hard most of the time. My chain broke twice, which highlights another awesome thing about this place, they have almost a complete bike shop's worth of tools, free to all for all to use. They even have a wheel truing stand. Bikes really messed up? Oh yeah, they have FREE loaner bikes. This is a great place to bring someone who wants to try mountain biking, and you don't even need a bike. Everyone can find something fun here, no matter what the skill level. It's nice to have this only a half hour from my front door! As soon as I can link to them, I'll post the pictures.

www.raysmtb.com

Ebbtide

Sweet, thanks for the report.

I drive by it every day (off Denison?). I'm 39 and have a 100% rigid old school Mtb but I only ride road and only take the MtB out in the snow. If I go there will I be way over my head, and since I can ask this on the net, will they laugh at me? If I fall will I break my a$$?

(Special note to self: Great idea, make a urban paint ball course in similar old warehouses).

MadMan2k

https://www.raysmtb.com/confession.html

There's a road rider who did that course, he says its not too bad. I'd love to go, but it's pretty far away.

a2psyklnut

One heck of a long drive for me, but if I ever get the chance, I want to go!

urso8up

For me too I am in North Port Florida and i am talking about taking the trip just to see what it is about. I may bring my own bike instead on getting on something i am not used to riding but I hope soon i will make it up there

a2psyklnut

Do you ride Myakahatchee often?

I haven't been down there in about a year.

Lady Slipper is about as far away from my house as Alafia. Given the choice of the two Lady Slipper loses.

Do you ever log onto www.northporttrails.org?

urso8up

Every weekend i ride the north port trails they have added allot of stuff in the last few weeks you should try to get done there and check it out and see what they have done. i like it allot it is close to home and awesome riding. I want to try Alafia one of these days but the guys i ride with won't trust there bikes up there. One day i will make it there+

Yes i am the same username over there as here

Gerst240

Trekkie it was awesome meeting with yah chain problems suck . I guess its better than having a crank arm fall of jumping but on a bright side it was the first one footer i landed of the night.

trekkie820

Yeah, today the chain problems got compounded into rear cog problems when I went for a new chain, got it on, and the cog was so worn it was making the chain skip. So, I got one of those $1.50 DX cogs from Nashbar, hopefully it'll fit my hub. Ebbtide, no one will laugh at you, and pretty much all you need is a rigid, unless you want to do the expert stuff. It is a great place to learn how to ride, so check it out!

Gerst240

Rays is the greatest place its like a bar you meet all kinds of people excluding the pricks. No one will laugh at you more than likely they would give you pointers if your having trouble. Mountain biking is different than anything ive ever been a part of everyone is so friendly its kinda scary.

snoopz666

i wish they would build somethin like that in BC it would make the winters go by so much faster

Raiyn

Words can't express my jealousy.

mtnbiker66

Same here in N.C.

swifferman

I was looking at some of the pics of the expert section and they look so unsafe. Like 20 feet in the air, if you fall, dawg you dead fo shizzle.

I definitely would not try that, but the sport and beginner section look hawt. I am only semi jealous, because I know I would not be able to even try the expert section.

^oZ

Amsterdam's jealous too.

Maelstrom 

Unsafe for who? If you do this type of riding a lot they would find the course above average. I have seen pics, looks fantastic, but nothing unrealistic at all

Ebbtide

Good news, I found an 11 year old boy to go with me. Full report forthcoming, can't wait.



Edit: Wow, what a complete perv ^^^. I better not see this show up as a misquote.....[fists in air].



(my nefew, fwiw)