Stuntcok 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I just watched a Japanese made MTB video. In it were DH MTB courses and dirt jump parks that were obviously in Japan. It seems that they weren't using lifts but shuttles and I was wondering where these courses are? Anyone here MTB? I am have come to the conclusion that skiing hasn't crippled me enough and I need to pummel my body in the summer as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 When I was in Niseko a couple of summers back, there was a DH course on Hirafu - I think... I was heading over past Annupuri, so I just know it was somewhere over past Higashiyama. There were a bunch of vans that I passed that had piles of rental DH bikes on the roof racks, and also some regular vehicles with some pretty nice equipment on the roof - at least one Intense M1. IIRC, one of the Japan DH Cup races is held there. Around the Goshiki-onsen area, I saw some XC racer-boy types in their matching jerseys and tighty shorts on their carbon-fiber 100%XTR hardtails coming down a powerline road. My bike hasn't followed me to Japan yet, but maybe this August... Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Aoikiko 47 fujimi fuji pano Even Happo is considering DH biking people bomb them with emails. that said id have to buy a DH rig. The dirt jumping was ishikawa I think. Mate there are trails everywhere. I prefer the free trail though. Your bike wont hold up mate to DH riding for very long. You would need a full rig with chain gaurds etc. Link to post Share on other sites
Stuntcok 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Author Share Posted May 22, 2008 I bet my bike will last longer than my body... Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Maybe but not going DH ten rides a day. I did 4 and my bike was way out of tune. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 FT, I saw the hill youre riding, thats not going to kill your suspension that quickly...unless its old and shot in the first place. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I did say that hill best Ive done is 3 climbs in a day. The bike went out of tune the gears went all funny. Lifted DH just pounds a bike that is more of what I am getting at. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I tired to find info on summer stuff in Niseko man was that hard! Tokyu really blows balls for how it advertises its resorts. they own many! Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Ill just be riding locally, in Hakuba. Too many kids to deal with. Without websites you really dont know that things do exist. Link to post Share on other sites
nzlegend 1 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Iwatake used have a pretty decent downhill course, I went there in summer 2002 and that gondola wasnt running anymore so I rode up the course then bombed it down - more than 2 hours up, less than 10 mins down. In 2002 other than that there was nothing much at all in Hakuba. Dave at Evergreen gave me heads up on some local spots but nothing like they have now. Wanna try it out up there in the Hak! Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 SG, have you switched over the tires? Im gonna try a ride next weekend...been swimming no worries, running around school no problem, will try to get back in the saddle and engage. Lemme know when youre up for some rides. Met a cool bloke out here who rides both road/off road. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Yeah there are a ton of trails popping up. 47 will improve their stuff as well this season. Happo wont open this year but they are thinking about it. They own the old MTB stuff at Iwatake. As the sport grows resorts will be forced into doing stuff. If eiter of you can make it up for a ride please do try. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 FT, will def speak to Ewok bout going up there - going to Tokyo next month so maybe the following or even the following week after Tokyo...Just gotta have my bum healed Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted May 23, 2008 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted May 23, 2008 Look, please do not post links to businesses. We have already had a few enterprising companies posting links in this thread to their websites amongst others. It was fast becoming a link directory. Links policy As someone posted previously, a quick search on Google and other places (eg. friends brains) will bring up information if you look for it. We are really busy at the moment and do not have the time or inclination to enter discussions about this. (For the small number of people who may need it spelling out, that means we won't be pleased to see sarcastic posts about policy either). Just accept it. Thank you. Link to post Share on other sites
ianbc 0 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 EDIT... mtb is fun stuff. In regards to what Okemo says below... The way of the hip mtb world these day is all about 6-7 inch travel all mtn bikes. No longer do you need a heavy beast, most are riding mid travel all around bikes. So get an all around bike... bikes like the giant reign, Specialized SX....are really good stuff. That way you hang on any ride an d have no excuses not to go riding. Link to post Share on other sites
OkemoLoon 0 Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I have a feeling i will be purchasing a freeride bike this summer. There is so much potential in Hakuba, I really wish it was more developed and that was more of a DH/freeride scene there. In college we had a good group we would actually spend days just digging and building not riding at all. Full on DH takes serious commitment. The bikes are so heavy and they need so much maintenance. Having a DH set up in Japan would be nice, but there are not many places that I know of were its really neccessary. A nice freeride set up can cost between 2-5K depending on how much travel your looking for and what kind of components you want. Once you start doing bigger stuff and fall more into the DH/Freeride sort of riding rather than XC stuff. The bikes start getting super expensive. And even the high end stuff breaks and needs mantenance. Link to post Share on other sites
Stuntcok 0 Posted May 26, 2008 Author Share Posted May 26, 2008 Yah, MTB does look like a money pit but I can assure you it is cheaper for me than staying in Tokyo and getting bored. I could by a whole new downhill setup for some of the ill-advised nights I have spent in "gentlemen's clubs". Link to post Share on other sites
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