Four Oak Bay High students rode Sunday, Alex, Margot, Andrew and Callum. We had promised the dirt jumper boys a trip to the North saanich Dirt Jump park, but the chance of a beginner race so close on a weekend meant we bargained to hit the 'cross race first, then head up to the jumps. As good sports, they 'jumped' in.
Callum was plagued with a mechanical: the shop tuning up his bike had put the rear derailleur inside pulley cage on upside down, so the bottom pulley derailed every 200 metres. He got pretty good at pushing it back on with his heel by the end, but it kinda took the fun out of it. Andrew gamely rode his one speed dirt jumper with the saddle just off the back wheel; yup, he stood up all the way round for 3 laps! Best form off the one jump in the course though.
Alex had a strong race, and loyally proved my point about cross being good for bikehandlng, drifted (two wheel slide) her bike nicely through the gravel on one corner and kept it shiny side up, earning a "Nice recovery!" from the guy behind. Margot also went well, for someone who doens't like to stand up and seems to be able to smile and show no apparent effort. According to her host family, Margot has said yes to every actvity they have suggested since she's been here. (Thanks to Galen and his son Jasper who have loaned the Davison/Farrar Frankenbike to her for the school road rides.)
The highlight for the boys was seeing a free ride hero of theirs, Dylan Tremblay (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxPuGjRWSLM That's him at :40> ) riding 'cross. Callum even got to say "hey".
Right after the beginner race we loaded up to head to the North Saanich dirt jump park for some thrills and skills, but found it closed ("due to weather" the sign said, despite the sunny day). It has a 10 ' foot barbed wire fence, which two other teen-aged boys were climbing, while their mother was maneuvering to back the pick-up to the fence and toss their bikes over when we left. Kids and moms are tough in north saanich... I thought that was a little much for a school-based club. ("Oak Bay coach arrested" didn't look so good in my head...) After , I called the park contact number and although they do close it after rain to avoid accidents on slippery wet clay, and protect the jumps themselves, they didn't know why it was still closed Sunday either.
But they say this website is supposed to be up to date, so check it before driving up there.
http://www.freeridebc.com/ Good video here showing the range of ability it accomodates:
http://www.freeridebc.com/free-ride-park.html
So we really owe the jumper boys an air day. For those interested, the park has a pump track and a whole range of jumps from beginner to 'hope you have a dental plan'. Margaret Jenkins Elementary bike club goes there, so you know you will find something that works for you. We've even hosted birthday parties there.
