Escaping Death at Lake Leatherwood Bike Park in NWA - Mistakes Were Made
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.ย. 2024
- Oh man ya'll, this place is SICK!
Lake Leatherwood Bike Park in Eureka Springs, AR delivers the goods! And with a shuttle service!
I'll tell you right off the bat that this is not a place for first time mountain bikers. There's only one green trail which would most likely be a blue in Minnesota. I was actually a little surprised at just how gnarly it all is. I had seen some clips of stuff from there but what I saw was mostly of the flowy sections with jumps and of course everything looks more chill on camera.
They have 7 DH trails stemming from 2 hubs. Go to the left for the easier trails, there's a green, two blues and a double black. So I guess the easier trails and also the hardest trail lol. Like I said before the green seems more like a blue trail and both the blues are a very dark blue, probably would be black in MN. I never actually got to hit the double black and if you watch till the end you'll see why.
The other hub has three trails which are all black diamonds. I think DH 2 is a true black trail and is probably my favorite trail there. Fun rocky sections, a good drop and nice sized jumps combined with high speed that you don't have to work for is my kinda trail. This was also the first trail we hit and in retrospect probably not the best idea for a warmup. As I stated before I was surprised at how gnarly it all was. I thought it was sick but Jess wasn't too stoked on just jumping right into it like that. She made it down though. I also thought I was filming but wasn't in the middle section of the trail. I don't think I missed a lot but still that was stupid and I never got to hit it again like I wanted too. I guess I'll just have to go back at some point.
DH 3 is more of a flow trail but ya really gotta work for it. I was pedaling a good amount to have enough speed for stuff and it was very tiring. With a flow/jumpline trail I don't want to have to pedal at all and be able to hit everything at trail speed, that is not the case here. There's some really cool jumps and features on this one though.
DH 1 is really cool and maybe would've been my favorite had I been able to ride the entire trail. The rock step up took me out though. I hit the drop before with what felt like good speed so I figured the jump would just work but as soon as I was going off the lip I knew I was going too slow. Luckily I rode out of it and all that happened was bent seat and a flat spotted rim. I was able to get another rim from Phat Tire Bike Shop in Bentonville and swamped it out the next morning so that was cool. But the optional features on DH 1 are impressive. There was a rock lily pad after the step up that looked really cool and I was bummed I couldn't hit it. Oh well.
I forgot to mention that it rained the night before which made for some pretty sketchy conditions and there's a lot of rock there and with was slick. DH 4 was especially sketch and it took J Girl out but she was thankfully alright other than some scraps and bruises.
Also just was to say that Eureka Springs downtown area is super cool! It's like a magically gnome village or something haha. Lots of cool patios and shops to explore. I'd like to stay a weekend in Eureka Springs next time. I will be back!
Follow me on Instagram @ridindirt
and J Girl @jesslundeen
Send it!
I'm watching this after being at Leatherwood yesterday. I almost ran into the same tree that Jess did on DH4! I knew I was off trail, but it was off camber and I rode it out and stopped in time
That’s a tricky section! What did you think of Leatherwood?!
Just got back from riding here & it is a riot! My order of fav is 1 2 3 5 4. The combo of the jumps/flow at top w/ big hit b-lines & tech on bottom of 1 made it my fav. Definitely have to crank coming into the gap you blew up your rim on! Reminds me of the gap at the end of Sledgehammer up at Cuyuna.
Didn't ride 6 & only did the top section of 7, but similar to 3, you just don't have the speed needed to clear everything - Ebike maybe lol?!
Those greasy rocks on 4 are SKETCH! My reaction was the same as yours at 22:24 to the b-line gap 😅
Bummer about your rim & that you couldn't get more laps in! 🤘
I don’t disagree with your order at all. 1 would’ve probably been my fav if that didn’t happen and I got to ride the entire thing but 2 was my fav of the day. 3 has some good stuff but it’s such a workout. Place is a riot for sure! Definitely want to go back, maybe the beginning of this winter. Did you go to downtown Eureka Springs? Such a cool place!
@@ridindirt For sure! Place is so sick. Yea end of fall/early winter once everything closes up here would be perfect timing. We only stopped quick in Eureka Springs, but it looked like a super cool hippy mountain town! For sure would spend a couple nights there. I heard mixed reviews about the trails at Passion Play, but would definitely check em out. Howler Bike Park north of there in Branson looks really sick too - so much good riding down in the Ozarks!
@@grantschoen1726 yeah definitely want to checkout Howler!
That was my first TH-cam premier and it was SIIIIIIICKKKKKKKKKK. Ridin' dirt you so dreamy 💓
Haha 🤗
Lake leatherwood is no joke! I rode out here a month or so ago and can imagine what Matt has in store for us. I’d imagine some near death experiences for sure.
😂😂😂
System all fired up! Let’s go!!!
That was so sketch Matt. How dare youuuu 😂
Hahaha
Nice riding, dude! Been trying to find my place in Minnesota for riding and you've given me great insight on places to ride here. Learned to ride MTB (honestly, off-road biking in-general) in Utah and its been tough finding trails to ride in Minnesota to hit like back in Utah. What's your favorite in MN to hit to get the best taste of mountain riding?
Hell yeah dude! Welcome to Minnesota! Definitely nothing like Utah lol. We do have sick riding up north though. Duluth has probably my favorite trails. Spirit Mtn is always a good time and it’s lift access. Piedmont in Duluth has some pretty gnarly stuff. Giants Ridge north of there is another fun bike park. Tioga in Grand Rapids is a great trail system too
@@ridindirt Sick. I'll need to get to Spirit when lifts are running! Went once but lifts weren't going to I climbed a few time. I need to head to Duluth, sounds like a good time there at Piedmont! Giants was pretty sick, went there once. Need to head back hit up the new trails! Bentonville is on the hit list as well. Have you been to Michigan to ride? How are those trails in the U.P.?
@@lonelytrailsmtb8105 I’ve been to Marquette, MI and it’s awesome! I camped at Rippling Rive Resort which is right in the middle of a bunch of sick trails including a lift access bike park. I have playlists on my channel of Duluth/spirit and Marquette. Along with Giants Ridge and Tioga if you wanna dive into the riding at places. What town do you live in and what do you usually ride?
@@ridindirt sick, dude! I'll have to check out those videos. We live Buffalo so unfor the closest trails are Lake Rebecca and Bertram. So nothing crazy but I try to get to other systems around the metro. I need to try Battle Creek. I've heard it's a pretty fun system. This summer I'm planning on going North as much as I can though! Thanks for all the info!
@@lonelytrailsmtb8105 ok cool. Yeah Battle Creek has some good stuff for sure. That’s what I ride the most around the metro. But yeah up north is all the good stuff.
Memorial Park in Red Wing is sick too. There’s a DH line there that’s pretty sick. I have videos of that stuff too
Thanks to everyone who watched live! That was fun!
Rad day out there! That place is really fun! Bike and body came away with some character. Glad Jess is alright and you got your bike fixed quick 🔥🙌🍻
Absolutely! Thanks man, me too! 🤙🏻🍻
#5 is a blast
Agree 🤙🏻
Plan on being there Memorial Weekend
Damn Jess, way to shake off that faceplant!!
I was very happy that she was okay and had a full face on
@@ridindirt 100%!
Her crash there reminded me of the awful one I had on the first rock berm at the top of All American at Slaughter Pen. The NWA rock slabs are horribly slick when it rains. Just an FYI if you're headed that way this week. Can't miss the berms I'm talking about, before you cross the path into the heart of All-American.
@@NathanEide yeah I know exactly what berms you’re talking about. It was dry when we rode All American. I’m sure that was sketch in the wet. Those rocks don’t grip at all when wet
@@ridindirt Nope. The one day on the trip I didn't wear my elbow pads. Got a nice big scar on my forearm from that one. LOL.
Wow. That place looks amazing. A little gnarly. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Definitely! Thanks for watching Harry 🤙🏻
J girl didnt get the memo that she was supposed to catch you when you hit that slow huck…killer riding as always and glad you both came away from some that day relatively unharmed. Like someone one said, you and the bike came out with more character. Bummed about the wheel…
Also I believe you said something about being “plenty rusty”, well your rusty riding is my absolute peak riding! Haha
Yeah thanks dude. Had some more character for sure. My rim was already dented up pretty bad so I really didn’t care. Just sucked I couldn’t do any more runs but we were going to leave soon anyways.
Good stuff! So much to see down there. Gonna have to just keep going and going and going. Thanks for sharing.
Ha, same! Thanks for watching 👊🏻
You guys were shredding as always! Glad to see you were both able to make it through relatively unscathed! 🤘
Thanks! I was also glad haha 🤙🏻
Whoaaa buddy! Now that's how to hit it lol! Those wet rocks on DH4 were terrible. We took it way slow!! Glad J Girl was okay, that was a bad fall. Full face definitely recommended here. Awesome video and sorry about your rim!!
Thanks buddy! I saw you slide a bit in your vid at that same spot that Jess fell. So sketch. My rim was already so dented up I didn’t care at all. I was just bummed I didn’t get to ride the rest of the trail but I’ll be back!
Wild day for both of you here, trails look extra gnarly and that it would take a few laps to find all the lines throughout! Glad I bought Cush core and a full face helmet after watching
It’s gnarly man! Definitely want a full face here. I’ve never tried cushcore but I’m interested in trying it. I’ve wrecked so many rims. Do you run lower pressure now with the inserts?
@@ridindirt I only have one ride on it so far and I kept it at my usual 25 psi rear. It definitely feels capable of running lower pressures though, could run much lower pressures but I’ve destroyed a few rear wheels before too!
@@AndrewGehn yeah I hear ya. I run 30 or more in the rear and still ding my rim a lot. Got a double down tire coming though. But I like the idea of inserts with the double down to run lower pressure for mad grip
Why would you do that Matt!?!? 🤣
What do you mean?!
@7:54 🤣😅
@@FrankPapadakis oh yea 😂
god damn that was no joke. Thank the dark lord she wasn't hurt on that faceplate into the rock.
Yeah she got scraped up a little bit but could’ve been a lot worse! Went right into the rock jetting out. She tough though
Hey bud, it's been a minute. Looks like your doing good, miss riding with you! Hit me up anytime!
He'll yea I made the video
Haha yeah bro! 🤙🏻