Dan Burkhart 

That's just the effect you get with the wide angle lens on a GoPro. I've observed the same effect on some of my own videos.
BD is correct when he says photos or videos do not accurately portray the steepness of a hill. If you watch the trail off in the distance as he crosses the bridge, you get a bit better idea how steep that baby is.
I would agree with jdon that it looks rideable, at least on a hardtail. bit trickier on a dual suspension I think.

missjean

Ha! I've done that exact thing, right down to the wording. Those short, steep hills are tricky - if you know one is coming up, you can get adjust your speed & gearing and get right up it, but, if you come upon one unexpectedly, you get half way up and.......no dice.

Rootman

Same here, not sure which browser you are using but in Firefox you can RIGHT click on a video and choose POP OUT and it takes it to a new tab full screen. The ads cover about 1/3 of the right side of all videos for me.

BluesDawg

Firefox plus Adblock equals no ads.

stapfam

We have a hill in Friston Forest.only about 100 yards long and it is on a muddy trail. In winter you keep to the edge of the trail on the grass to get traction as on the muddy surface of the trail you lose grip too easily. Starts off gentle and gradually steepens till 10 yards from the top you are on a 30%er.

Most hit the hill hard from the bottom and run out of steam just as it starts to get steep. Used to tackle it at least once a month and took me two years before I climbed it. Still try it but I can only do it about 1 in 3 and only in the summer.

Problem is that running out of energy that I have now mastered and the slope that gradually increases. First sign of how steep is when the front wheel lifts. so shift weight and you lose traction. Then the front lifts and it is a constant juggle to keep both ends of the bike in contact with the bike. Obvious way is to sit in the saddle and twist the wrists downwards- or is it upwards- to keep weight over the front wheel. It works providing you remember to do it. Saw a video of a rider going up this hill and from the bike it looks flat.

Mort Canard

• If you push something hard enough, it will fall over — Fudd's First Law of Opposition.

• Teslacle's Deviant to Fudd's Law: It goes in, it must come out.

Doesn't look like a motor operated pushover though.

crazyb

Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers

WingSuit

I think its the GoPro wide angle lens, almost gives it a fish eye look. If we had trails like that where I live I'd get another MTB. looks like fun. no roots or rocks, nice soft leaves to land in. here, the trails are all on real mountains, and most are highly technical, some with real consequences if you fall or crash. sort of like skiing's "no fall zone". rocks, stumps, roots, cliffs, steeps. the kids here love it. see em all the time in arm slings and on crutches.

BluesDawg

Trails a smooth as this are an exception here, not the rule. I do enjoy some of the more technical trails, too, but it sure is nice to have a few where I can relax and just go with the flow.

WingSuit

you do have a point there. looks like you were hauling @$$ down the slope across the bridge. riding here can be like trials riding (as opposed to trail riding!) , as they say in river kayaking, just trying to survive.

BluesDawg

Turns out the hill is climbable after all. In fact, it isn't really all that hard when you hit the right line.

.be

anixi

Thanks for the entertainment, BD! Laughing out loud at someone's misfortune always does it for me on NYE.

Steve B.

He forgot to pay his momentum bill.