MTB for Family Fun

In the last few weeks the weather has finally warmed up! MTB'ing has been for 30 years now my favorite sport, recently I have been discovering something that when I started riding I did not think about. Riding with Kids! What a great way for the family to get out and enjoy a day together. Nesta my 10 year old son has been riding with our customers this year and Dayna at 5 years old has just started riding in the bush this spring. Escape the summer heat,come and spend a day riding with your family here on Yatsugatake Mtn, Nagano.

My Bikes - Hooker

I bought my first MTB from the Cove Bike Shop in North Vancouver, B.C. back in 1982, it was a Specialized Stumpjumper and it changed my life. I haven't stopped riding since that first ride on the now famous North Shore. Bikes have come along way since then and I am fortunate to be the distributor for COVE BIKES here in Japan. Being the distributor means I must have some demo bikes available so I get to ride all sorts of different models. Cove Bikes specializes in high performance, Canadian made Mountain bikes. Over the next few months I will introduce some of my favourite rides,starting with the HOOKER, a bike designed as a short travel, big air, play bike. It is a one size only, 4 inch rear travel bike that our pro riders use in events like the Crankworxs Slopestyle event held in Whistler every summer. I can't jump very well myself but when I ride this bike it definitly feels like it wants to play! Very quick through the turns and super fun on the small jumps.
This is Cove rider Erik Lawrenuk playing with his Hooker:

Spring!! Winter??

This past weekend David and his son Brian came to Freeride Adventures for 2 days at the end of thier trip to Japan. The plan was to do 2 days of MTB riding but 20 cms of fresh snow on Saturday morning forced us out onto the road. At least the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and Matsumoto Castle looked fantastic with the blue sky and white mountains for a backdrop. This year the weather has really been crazy with summer like temperatures one day and then snow the next, I myself am ready for some warm weather. The snow was pretty well all gone by Sunday and we ventured out onto the trails. A bit of snow in the shaded areas kept us on our toes, and I learned a few things about the handling of my new ride. My son Nesta joined us for the afternoon and we all enjoyed an afternoon in the sun. Special thanks to Brian and Dave for being so flexible when mother nature was not cooperating.
Paul