Page 6 - Aug_2014

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By Evan Joh

A
tthe 4,241-foot summit of Killing- My guides for the day were Michael Jo-
ton, Ben Colona’s advice to me was seph, director of communications at Kil-
straightforward:
lington, and Ben Colona, Killington’s
bike shop manager. Both are seasoned
“If you happen to fall,” he said, “get
away from the bike. Jump off that thing riders (Colona has been riding the trails
and let it go who-knows-where. You can at Killington for the past seven years)
always buy another one, but it’ll be hard and were more than willing to show me
to buy new arms.”
some tricks for the trails.
Colona wasn’t joking. The bike I
STARTING EASY
was sitting on was an impressive feat of
engineering, designed to tackle what- Fortunately, my day didn’t start at
ever the mountain threw at it. With full the summit, but on the easier trials lower
suspension and massive tires, there was on the mountain, where I developed the
no question that the bike could make it techniques of body positioning, turning
down the trail; the question was whether and braking.

I would still be on it.
The morning’s rides were on ver-
And now, after giving me some tips satile cross-country mountain bikes
on the finer points of riding, I was about to with full suspension. These bikes were
follow him down what is universally known designed to go both up and down the
as “The Beast.”
mountain with 2.1-inch wide tires and
adjustable front and rear suspension, Riders take off down the hill, top photo, on high performance bicycles with full suspension and
I checked my helmet and started to disc brakes. Above, Ben Colona leans through a banked turn on one of Killington’s downhill
pedal toward the slope with a white-knuck- making them nimble and responsive on trails.
Photos by Chandler Burgess & Evan Johnson
le grip on the handlebars.
the descents and efficient on the climbs
When the ski slopes of Vermont sit (the larger and more technical downhill your back tire without losing control of the on too hard.”
devoid of snow, the mountains’ steep slopes bikes would come later in the day).
bike. If the front end seems squirrelly or Even if you’re not riding a hard-
and dense glades become home to a differ- The bike’s natural tendency is to fol-
low the path of least resistance with the wobbly, you might be leaning too far back.
tail, keeping your legs bent and ready to
ent kind of speed seeker. Wearing arm, leg The best tool for absorbing the absorb any bumps is still essential. The
and chest protection, as well as full-face hel- help of gravity. Your job as the rider is to shocks and jolts of the trail isn’t the three things to keep in mind are: keep
mets, riders fly down trails in an aggressive provide enough resistance (through brak- front or rear suspension – it’s your arms your weight back, grip the seat with
and fast-moving variety of mountain biking ing) and direction (done by steering) to and legs. By keeping yourself as relaxed your thighs, and keep your knees bent
that’s been in Vermont since the 1990s. To- guide it. When riding downhill, Colona as possible, you’ll be more responsive and relaxed.
day, many of Vermont’s ski resorts are also says, this is done from two positions: a
and absorb many of the biggest hits and Admittedly, keeping relaxed is
home to expansive networks of single-track “neutral” or seated position, and an ac- keep yourself maneuverable. Keep your hard to do when confronted with nar-
and downhill biking trails as well as full tive or “ready” position for attacking the elbows bent at an angle slightly greater row turns, boulders, tree roots and sud-
rental shops with experts offering lessons to mountain. The rider’s position needs to than 90 degrees and avoid gripping the den hair-raising drops. When the going
help get you out on the hill for the first time.
be constantly changing depending on the handlebars too tightly.
gets steep, your feet can be a source of
Eager to try something new, I headed conditions.
“Ideally, you should be able to stability. By keeping your feet at 9 and 3
As you descend, keep your rear end
to Killington Resort to get some tips from drum your fingers on the handlebars,” o’clock positions (left or right foot for-
the riders that know the trails and the bikes.
as far back as possible – as far back as over
Colona says. “Otherwise you’re holding
ward, the other directly behind), you’ll

6 VTSPORTS.COM
AUGUST 2014