This past saturday we had a fantastic fall ride on a trail near the Idaho border. …..i was spending the day getting to know the El Rey , which is one of Ventana’s 29″ wheeled offerings and also one of the Red Barn demo fleet of bikes. With four inches of travel via a Rock Shox Reba up front and a Fox RP23 in the rear it has just enough suspension to tone down any rough trail (mind you that i’m typically on a 6″ travel trail bike). Honestly i’d have to say that there were certainly portions of this trail that seemed a little easier with the larger diametered wheels…..steep, rocky sections and at average speeds just seemed sweet. The bike just rolled over the large boulders lessening the typical endo sensation and i was able to pilot the bike downhill at a very controllable rate and without locking up the brakes. Technical terrain tackled with a little bit of momentum seemed slightly easier than my 6″ bike. But in a sense it also didn’t feel like it wanted to be ridden overly aggressive….a mellow steady pace seemed to be the theme. Just find a good flow and roll with it. The mellow attitude was certainly present, maybe it wasn’t the bike at all BUT the fact that i had an entire saturday to hang with good pals and absolutely no where to be.
Also…..the Heart Lake ride is one of many throughout the Idaho/Montana region that is currently subject to be closed based on a new Proposed Wilderness ruling….the best thing that any of us can do to keep super nice trails like this one open is to join IMBA. Please consider it, thanks !
