I took an extended lunch on Tuesday to go ride my bike. After spending the first five or six hours of my day answering emails I decided it was time to get out of the house and onto my bike.
![p4pb5172225[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjcYSPPENU8vBFU7YII6NvHP9tEOOqUh-ok4tneLSWqFnfSAbvasHDlb7jU-isoDa50u2Y3JvJghw33TMRiu4G0g2Y6A1MDtbxsir1PP-6GIB71y4F7lQ-81bsAOlbu9bylhPTsCkEBU/?imgmax=800 "p4pb5172225[1]")
James has been practicing this move for weeks. It is his finishing move when the side mount does not work.
Like my hero Ricky Bobby, James has decided that it is time to go fast. The only difference between James and my hero Ricky is that James likes to go fast and hit jumps. With the right combination of jump and speed anything can happen. For me flying 25 or 30 feet on my Amp is not my idea of safe. Would much rather hit it first on my Wildcard. But James is a little bit different, he builds something and then will hit i with whatever bike he has. With both my Amp and Wildcard out of commission I was left to watch and shoot pictures.
![p4pb5082010[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhHuXyisKqPxeZxAvMEBB7ORnJS3xRxjYcf2Yo9mmQ5rAjD2qvZD6wMpbfyRVGyCPFejJx7HGvmmGmDxypk0_-28nxDX8V3NRmFk78lq3bn5zBBWSyGH5vSiqRSZxrTSqu-FwfbSfbOI/?imgmax=800 "p4pb5082010[1]")
James has been hard at work here in Kaohsiung. It is nice to come home and find new jumps just waiting for me. We rode most of Sunday afternoon, the trail was fast and the jumps felt good … the only problem is both James and I felt like we had SARS or Swine Flu.
![p4pb5056921[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXli8_SCrhPW62ijCZm1ZJPTyi4cfNzJhoKv81xVDC3lXVo3pc4ZHxuhC4JMtujg_s7KQnNn-xm1vtrc6Si3Dv1ePRttqa9hloOQ69a5p75REnWxw_CKs8-AufHcIjan5AGHwGumodMU/?imgmax=800 "p4pb5056921[1]")
We managed to get some pictures to show the trail, most with little to no style. We will do better next week.
In my absence James has been hard at work clearing out dead bamboo, clearing grass and shoveling dirt. We had been talking about building a step up and when I showed up today it was already there. Maybe I should go away more often …
Props to James for building the new step up. We spent all afternoon jumping and tweaking it.
Note: click on pictures for full size ...
I have the new Manitou Circus dirt jump fork on my Amp. I have about a dozen rides on the Circus, I had high expectations after reading initial reviews and the fork has exceeded those expectations. During Sea Otter I picked up the perfect accessory for the Circus. Thanks Rich, Len and Sean at Manitou for the hook up.
For more information on the circus go here or here or here … I would get another one just for another clown nose.
Keep Riding.
Rob Dunnet
Report a Poacher: Stealing this from Connor Luther and Pinkbike
Being an amateur photographer and currently enrolled in a photography class at my school, naturally I love taking pictures of one of the most amazing sports on this planet. My mission was to tell the epic story of a mountain biker and his life. My location of choice, the Aptos Post Office. I requested the help of an amazing rider who goes by the name Jack Fogelquist.
Read on for the story of how mountain biking is "Not Just A Sport, It's A Lifestyle."
The project was to tell a story using pictures. So instead of me describing it, here is the full visual story "Not Just A Sport, It's A Lifestyle."
This picture helps show how mountain bikers are not invincible and they live normal lives too
The term "No Dig No Ride" means even if you did not initially build what you are riding, you still need to maintain the trail or jumps you are riding. If people see you respecting what they have built, they will respect you more.
Jack is a very fun guy and he is always smiling when he is riding
This is a more artistic side of mountain biking
Jack got very hungry while riding, I really don't think his tire would taste very good
Jack getting into a three, he has such a nice style
For anybody that has never seen the entire Post Office, this jump here
is about a 4 foot hip I was also 3 feet away from getting
kicked in the face
It was amazing to work with Jack, he has such an amazing style that never ceases to amaze me. He would continually throw down the nastiest tricks where ever I moved to.
For Connor:
Connor Luther
Gamut USA
GoPro
Hayes
Optic Ride
For Jack:
Jack Fogelquist
Banshee Bikes
Gamut USA
Straitline Components
Nuke Proof
Division 26 Clothing
Scotts Valley Cycle Sport
Keep Riding,
Rob Dunnet
I will be leaving Taiwan a week today for Sea Otter. Yesterday might be the last time I ride Da Du Shan. After three years of digging and riding the riders of Taizhong will most likely have to find a new place to call home. Last weekend while they were riding a group of road builders showed up with machinery and told them their days are numbered. I took advantage of the long weekend and met up with Mike and Dominic for what I hope does not turn out to be a farewell ride.
Dominic used to ride BMX as a kid, but has not been on a bike in something like twelve years. By the end of the day he was looking really comfortable on my Amp and was clearing one of the longer tables.
Mike picked me up at the train station just before midnight the night before we rode. We then sat up changing me front fork. In the morning we ate some breakfast at a little shop and neither of us was feeling well. It took a while to warm up, in the end we took some cool pictures.
I have been feeling pretty under the weather for the past week or so. I did more picture taking and coaching than I did riding.
Thanks to the guys at Manitou for hooking me up with a new Circus DJ fork. Felt pretty nice on day one. Can not wait to feel better so I can get some more rides on it.
Keep Riding.
Rob Dunnet
