I've been riding Angel Fire for years. Definitely stay off Devinci's Code and Angel's Plunge if it's dry. That side of the mountain seems to dry out much worse. For anyone traveling to the park I would strongly recommend a DH bike even if you have to rent one. Most of the double blacks and even down to a couple of the blue trails have sections that are literally just piles of sharp, knee sized rock. I love the place, but it can be harsh. The crew works hard on this mountain, but it is a lot of miles of trail in dry conditions.
🇬🇧Brian and Sarah Your downhill rides are awesome! You give me inspiration when I ride as I don't like heights I've just completed a downhill ride that most people would turn down but at 57 I've got to vindicate myself I will say this Conquer your fears and you own that moment!!💯
DH bike or not, fresh suspension is the only thing that smooths out park bumps. The slacker head angle an longer wheelbase of the DH bike makes it more confident inspiring to ride. P.S. Sarah still jumps better than you !! LOL
As a NM resident, Angel Fire has definitely gotten a bit more bumpy over the last few years. Trails were golden a few years back but last summer was rock fest. Boulder Dash was one of my favorites in years past but was blown out badly... This year doesn't look any different. I rode BD once last summer then bailed to ride some better black / double black tech trails. NM in general is rocky as hell (cmon, weren't you born and raised in Rockville?) but I feel like they've been pretty lax on keeping it running smoothly. It sure ain't Whistler. Helps to go to the harder trails that don't see as much traffic. That or we can just blame the Texans for coming over and destroying our berms ;)
@@bkxc, It was me. I was there last week. I'm Texan. LOL Until last week AF was the only bike park I had ridden, I just assumed they were all like that, at 55 it is a little rough on the body. On a side note I also hit Pajarito for the first time a couple of days later, it was pretty RAW, very cool place, I think you would like it. Love your videos.
If you want mint bike park go to killington in Vermont. It's the beast of the east. The absolute top bike park in the USA. The accommodations are amazing as well. You will never be disappointed there
I can tell y’all are there before all the rain. On the 4th of July weekend it was awesome. No dust, they’d been using the rain to fix up some rough sections, it was the time to be there. My son and I got three laps before Lunch and called it a day.
I love Angel Fire. Can't believe how rocky it's gotten! That's the way Grand Targhee is. Some great trails, but you get going 40 mph over all those bumpy rocks and it does a number on your hands and wrists! I'm also riding it on a Jeffsy, so I'm sure a DH bike would be a big improvement!
"That would be a great intro for beginners...." At my local bike park, well, steeper, more sand, rocks and roots about the same, then there is climb out. you only missing wet leaves on tree roots. but it builds characters. :)
Been riding parks more and more lately and a DH bike is a game changer. I was previously riding a 2019 transition patrol and while the geometry is basically the same that extra 40mm of travel, coil shock and 29 inch wheels on my (new to me) Commencal supreme make all the difference. The reach on the large Commencal is shorter than my XL transition, while the wheelbase is longer you maintain the stability at speed but gain maneuverability in turns. I love it
That bike park looked so fun. Loved that jumpline you guys took with all the shark fins on it. I gotta get out there and check it out. Def looked rocky on some of the trails. Glad you guys found your Rode mic okay. shewww. Great video as always Brian and Sarah.
I didn’t realize how good a rider Sarah is. That is a very difficult bike park. The speed and rocks are too much. I’d love to see you two at Tressel, so much smoother.
Look man. I live here full time. The town almost burned down to the ground due to the biggest wildfire in the country at this moment. Ofc its dry. Doesnt mean it sucks.
Hi BKXC been sent some reply regarding shortlisting winners asking me to call a number in the US. when I click on the BKXC icon goes to a blank channel. Looks like you've got someone impersonating you. Maybe?
Great video! Looking good on the jumps ya'll! I'm planning on an Angel Fire trip in a few weeks... I'm super excited! Trails look rough right now though 😂 well I'm used to loose rocky jank in Arkansas, so hopefully I'll be ready for loose rocky jank in New Mexico 😅
I've hammered down a few parks now on my 170mm travel enduro and I still haven't used it all up. Until that happens, I'll hold off on a DH bike. I do want to try one though.
It's hard to tell on TH-cam, but I've watched a ton of videos of AF and never really thought it was as rough as you guys experienced. Is it just this year or maybe bad luck with dry weather? Were the flow/jump lines just a rocky. I've never been and I'd like to go, but if as bad as it seems to be from this video I'd have some hesitation since it's a bit of a ride. Watching videos from this pass summer though and it's 1440p, but if you didn't say anything I'd have never noticed. Hoping someone can chime in and say if it's typically that bad or not.
Really enjoyed this video! I'm a newer viewer and pretty new to mountain biking. The trails around my area are more XC style but I want to be able to go out of town and hit up stuff like Bentonville one day. Would you say a Ripley AF would do everything I'd probably want?
I think you’re OK with the gas prices, because compared to your van $600 is cheap 🙄. Flying would definitely be more expensive, but you would need to add all the hotels you stayed at in the total cost. ….but then you would have missed out on all the great riding 😁
I'm still surprised by your lack of confidence when jumping. I commented about a year or so ago for you to rent a DH bike for a day and just ride jump lines while focusing purely on jumping. I still think this would do wonders for your jumping confidence (from watching years of your videos you clearly got the skills already). After gaining confidence on the DH bike, you will be able to immediately transition back to your Ripmo (ride it the next day and go right back to the same black jumplines you were doing on the DH) and start sending black jumplines from now on. Dude, you gotta trust me on this one. Pull that trigger...clearly Sarah loved it.
You do not need a DH bike for AF. And that trail you called garbage is just a simple fire road to the main hub. Usually people take ziggy. The biggest problem is the lack of rain, and of course some trails will get blown a bit due to use. Angel’s plunge has always been fast and loose. I think they’ve dumbed this mountain down too much over the years. If you think this place is Rocky, stay away from pajarito and Glorieta.
@@zdream720 Great answer😂😂, you have no clue who i am, what i do. Besides that, check out a video or two on cornering, i have a feeling you Will learn something if you really Think sitting in corners is good. It is not just a matter off good cornering, but also safety. Balance is always better on your feet than on your butt.
@@flemming_j_ I didn't claim to know you, but I know for sure you're yet another internet denizen handing out advice where no one asked for it. Ride safe 🤙
Dang that park looks awesome! Question about your Ripmo - I just picked up a 2022 V2 that's now spec'd with a Fox 38 up front. If I don't ride bike parks too often and just ride local Bay Area stuff ( Rockville, Crockett, Demo, Tamarancho, etc) do you think it's worth just running a 36? (I'm ~200 lbs kitted up) Also - how are you liking the Blackbird Sends? Debating carbon wheels but these seem pretty rad. Love your videos, you were a big reason I went Ripmo!
We got two of these for our daughters th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L the same size for age 6 and 9. It works very well for both girls. Gears were very easy for them to learn. Changing gears up takes some hand strength and is a bit hard, but they are learning. They did not come with water bottle holders- we actually got confused and thought the Derailler Guard was the bottle holder!! Regardless of these details, the bikes are fantastic- even our six year old who only just learned to ride bikes caught on within an hour of practice and loves it. Lightweight and easy for them to handle. All the parts are in excellent condition and the bikes are easy to assemble and very well packaged. Great choice for kids!
Don’t think a DH bike would make any difference there. Slacker & longer suspension is to soak up steeps & big jumps. An Enduro 160mm travel and 29ner wheels will be fine. 👍
I'm sure someone has already posted this in the comments somewhere Brian, but you basically HAVE to be on a downhill bike to truly enjoy angel fire. I mean, you CAN ride most everything on a big trail bike. But, as Sarah shows, you'll just have so much more fun and fee much more confident on a DH rig.
Blimey. That’s alarming. I’d be a bit concerned for the potential of vibration injuries. Looks amazing… but wow. How come the trails are being maintained?
I'd imagine there is a labor shortage and what labor force is available might be employed on firefighting crews battling the historic fire damage. Great trails though.
They're being maintained, but it's like trying to fill a bucket with water with a hole in the bottom. Sounds like they got some rain after I visited and were able to get things dialed in a bit more!
Brian, you've been riding a lot without gloves lately. Why? There are a hundred ways to go ass-over-teakettle on a bike. And every one of them has you landing on your hands. Come on. It's thirty bucks for a good pair of gloves, they take ten seconds to put on, and they save you from weeks of agony while you regrow the skin on the palms and heels of your hands. What's the deal?
Most of your content is pretty inspiring but I gotta say as a rider who’s rode this park a ton (on an enduro bike) pretty sad to hear how much bitching you did about this place. It’s an awesome place and they work super hard to build new innovative trails and maintain the ones they have.
I've been riding Angel Fire for years. Definitely stay off Devinci's Code and Angel's Plunge if it's dry. That side of the mountain seems to dry out much worse. For anyone traveling to the park I would strongly recommend a DH bike even if you have to rent one. Most of the double blacks and even down to a couple of the blue trails have sections that are literally just piles of sharp, knee sized rock. I love the place, but it can be harsh. The crew works hard on this mountain, but it is a lot of miles of trail in dry conditions.
🇬🇧Brian and Sarah Your downhill rides are awesome! You give me inspiration when I ride as I don't like heights I've just completed a downhill ride that most people would turn down but at 57 I've got to vindicate myself I will say this Conquer your fears and you own that moment!!💯
That's great to hear Roger!!
So many questions answered in this video. And it’s also a good reminder to trust your machine to do what it was built to do. Thanks!
Love your channel. Living the vicarious life.
I love Sara. I like it better when your not following anybody on the trail. The faster your riding, the more exciting the video.
You two are so much fun it's almost unfair. Best biking vids on the www.
They say "You can never go back". This is a case in point. A rocky downhill park is always better than a day at the desk.
Your bike skills is insane the way you navigate in narrow parts of trails.
Your a legend bro.
If only i had a bike I'll be doing trails
Really, we’ll see when we see you at the restaurant 😂. Haha looks good👍🏼
Watch Van Girl Yuka's video released today about DH bikes at the bike park as well. What a coincidence!!
DH bike or not, fresh suspension is the only thing that smooths out park bumps. The slacker head angle an longer wheelbase of the DH bike makes it more confident inspiring to ride. P.S. Sarah still jumps better than you !! LOL
Love seeing you shred my home area! Cimarron born and raised.
As a NM resident, Angel Fire has definitely gotten a bit more bumpy over the last few years. Trails were golden a few years back but last summer was rock fest. Boulder Dash was one of my favorites in years past but was blown out badly... This year doesn't look any different. I rode BD once last summer then bailed to ride some better black / double black tech trails. NM in general is rocky as hell (cmon, weren't you born and raised in Rockville?) but I feel like they've been pretty lax on keeping it running smoothly. It sure ain't Whistler. Helps to go to the harder trails that don't see as much traffic.
That or we can just blame the Texans for coming over and destroying our berms ;)
Haha, gotta blame it on Texans!
@@bkxc, It was me. I was there last week. I'm Texan. LOL Until last week AF was the only bike park I had ridden, I just assumed they were all like that, at 55 it is a little rough on the body. On a side note I also hit Pajarito for the first time a couple of days later, it was pretty RAW, very cool place, I think you would like it. Love your videos.
I enjoyed your downhill hopefully soon to have a mountain bike to try trail❤
Love how you're so stoked all of the time!
If you want mint bike park go to killington in Vermont. It's the beast of the east. The absolute top bike park in the USA. The accommodations are amazing as well. You will never be disappointed there
Moab?! Don’t forget to visit Alex at 98 Center Moab for some GREAT food!
Great video! I’m always excited for the next stop. Cheers!
I can tell y’all are there before all the rain. On the 4th of July weekend it was awesome. No dust, they’d been using the rain to fix up some rough sections, it was the time to be there. My son and I got three laps before Lunch and called it a day.
Nice!! That's awesome
Yeah I’m totally renting one for one or both girls next park experience. Evolution at Crested Butte is the only one I’ve been to that was butter 🧈
I love Angel Fire. Can't believe how rocky it's gotten! That's the way Grand Targhee is. Some great trails, but you get going 40 mph over all those bumpy rocks and it does a number on your hands and wrists! I'm also riding it on a Jeffsy, so I'm sure a DH bike would be a big improvement!
I rode at angel fire on my Jeffsy last Year. As soon as I left the park I ordered an enduro rig. Angel fire was brutal on the jeffsy.
I am so glad that yall are making a video in NM. I think it gets overlooked in the MTB community
@Ashe moses ?
Yep…everyone is sleeping on NM.
@@mike-b4h4d Sadly
Glad you found your Rode. Not quite the same as dropping a lav that plugs into it. Oh yeah, great riding, too. 🙂
Go get some shuttle laps at Brianhead and check out the new trails at East Zion.
That looks fun and awful all at the same time!! Great Video non the less. Thanks for sharing!!
"That would be a great intro for beginners...." At my local bike park, well, steeper, more sand, rocks and roots about the same, then there is climb out. you only missing wet leaves on tree roots. but it builds characters. :)
Been riding parks more and more lately and a DH bike is a game changer. I was previously riding a 2019 transition patrol and while the geometry is basically the same that extra 40mm of travel, coil shock and 29 inch wheels on my (new to me) Commencal supreme make all the difference. The reach on the large Commencal is shorter than my XL transition, while the wheelbase is longer you maintain the stability at speed but gain maneuverability in turns. I love it
That bike park looked so fun. Loved that jumpline you guys took with all the shark fins on it. I gotta get out there and check it out. Def looked rocky on some of the trails. Glad you guys found your Rode mic okay. shewww. Great video as always Brian and Sarah.
Great riding as always.🚲
Heading to NM and AF this week actually! Two days sounds about right there to me too.
watching from New Mexico. I want to go up to angel fire soon.
I didn’t realize how good a rider Sarah is. That is a very difficult bike park. The speed and rocks are too much. I’d love to see you two at Tressel, so much smoother.
Look man.
I live here full time. The town almost burned down to the ground due to the biggest wildfire in the country at this moment.
Ofc its dry.
Doesnt mean it sucks.
the best MTB couple !
Try paying for unleaded gas in the uk. It’s £1.90 per litre. That’s equivalent to $8.54 per us gallon approx. Great vlog once again. 👍
Hi BKXC been sent some reply regarding shortlisting winners asking me to call a number in the US. when I click on the BKXC icon goes to a blank channel. Looks like you've got someone impersonating you. Maybe?
Great video! Looking good on the jumps ya'll! I'm planning on an Angel Fire trip in a few weeks... I'm super excited! Trails look rough right now though 😂 well I'm used to loose rocky jank in Arkansas, so hopefully I'll be ready for loose rocky jank in New Mexico 😅
We see Sarah at ucsc trail today,hope can you see same day
Hey! NM!!! PLEASE head down to Albuquerque and ride some trails on the east side of the Sandias, there's some really good stuff!
🤫…don’t tell anyone. If this guy thinks af is gnarly, he couldn’t handle Sandia
@@mike-b4h4d that’s true 😅 Sandia has the chunk!
@@mziomek8 for real though, Angel fire has too much flow, this guy couldn’t handle pajarito or Glorieta.
@@mike-b4h4d I broke my wrist at Glorieta, it’s the real deal 😄
Was just there few weeks ago. Rode mostly greens, and yes, that road to Easy Street isn’t fun. Glad it ended better than it started!
Haha most definitely!
It’s just a simple fire road to the hub. Fast and easy. Lol
I've hammered down a few parks now on my 170mm travel enduro and I still haven't used it all up. Until that happens, I'll hold off on a DH bike. I do want to try one though.
Ya…I do the double blacks at AF and you do not need a DH bike. The enduro bikes are so capable
The faster line us never at the top of the berms.
damn bryan, you gonna let sarah outsend you like that lol
Its crazy how you'll ride inches from a cliff/drop off/death (portal) like nothing, but can't do jumps Brian lol
Butcher box contents all seemed to be packed in stand up pouches, currently not recyclable?
No Syd and Macky for angel fire? Very surprised!
Bruh, im so sad we dont have any trails in serbia for mountain biking
No ride in Colorado?
Love your videos! I was curious if you use an on-bike communication system? It seems you can hear each other very well while riding.
It's hard to tell on TH-cam, but I've watched a ton of videos of AF and never really thought it was as rough as you guys experienced. Is it just this year or maybe bad luck with dry weather? Were the flow/jump lines just a rocky. I've never been and I'd like to go, but if as bad as it seems to be from this video I'd have some hesitation since it's a bit of a ride. Watching videos from this pass summer though and it's 1440p, but if you didn't say anything I'd have never noticed. Hoping someone can chime in and say if it's typically that bad or not.
Wow amazing.. 👍
Really enjoyed this video! I'm a newer viewer and pretty new to mountain biking. The trails around my area are more XC style but I want to be able to go out of town and hit up stuff like Bentonville one day. Would you say a Ripley AF would do everything I'd probably want?
The trail crew isn't the biggest, and are doing tons of hard work all over the mountain all the time!
It's a lot of miles to work on!
what are you riding? trail or enduro?
Hey Brian, I think Sarah is getting faster than you....You could hardly keep her in sight when was on the DH bike!
She's putting on the rocket boots!
They don't call it the Rocky Mountains for nothing bro
What is Sarah’s hip pack?
Awesome content 🤩🤟🔥
I think you’re OK with the gas prices, because compared to your van $600 is cheap 🙄. Flying would definitely be more expensive, but you would need to add all the hotels you stayed at in the total cost. ….but then you would have missed out on all the great riding 😁
Just rent! Save your personal bike from the rough stuff. Great way to go.
Awesome cool 🤘👍❤
You could probably fly for cheaper but you would miss out on all the experience and views along the way.
i also rode there
Mrs. Bkxc needs her on channel
No Angels Plunge?
4:30 - 5:15 is Angels Plunge
I want!
I can't believe this park is to rocky for Brian cause most of the stuff he rides out west is bone jarring brutal and this seems mild by comparison.
Those steaks are making me hungry
Wait until you get to Cali....Gas is over $6.00!
If you're looking for something a bit more "down hill" for the Boss, @McTrailRider has a nice Deviate for sale, one careful owner😂
I'm still surprised by your lack of confidence when jumping. I commented about a year or so ago for you to rent a DH bike for a day and just ride jump lines while focusing purely on jumping. I still think this would do wonders for your jumping confidence (from watching years of your videos you clearly got the skills already). After gaining confidence on the DH bike, you will be able to immediately transition back to your Ripmo (ride it the next day and go right back to the same black jumplines you were doing on the DH) and start sending black jumplines from now on. Dude, you gotta trust me on this one. Pull that trigger...clearly Sarah loved it.
You do not need a DH bike for AF. And that trail you called garbage is just a simple fire road to the main hub. Usually people take ziggy. The biggest problem is the lack of rain, and of course some trails will get blown a bit due to use. Angel’s plunge has always been fast and loose. I think they’ve dumbed this mountain down too much over the years. If you think this place is Rocky, stay away from pajarito and Glorieta.
Sarah gives me the jitters sitting Down in the corners 😱. Plz Sarah, stand up and lean the Bike 🙏🏻
I'm sure she has more miles on a bike than you, she's fine.
@@zdream720 Great answer😂😂, you have no clue who i am, what i do. Besides that, check out a video or two on cornering, i have a feeling you Will learn something if you really Think sitting in corners is good. It is not just a matter off good cornering, but also safety. Balance is always better on your feet than on your butt.
@@flemming_j_ I didn't claim to know you, but I know for sure you're yet another internet denizen handing out advice where no one asked for it. Ride safe 🤙
Haha, it scares me too!
@@zdream720 In fact! I Would Bet Sarah actually knows sitting is not the best, but chooses to anyway. Still gives mee the jitters 😅
Dang that park looks awesome! Question about your Ripmo - I just picked up a 2022 V2 that's now spec'd with a Fox 38 up front. If I don't ride bike parks too often and just ride local Bay Area stuff ( Rockville, Crockett, Demo, Tamarancho, etc) do you think it's worth just running a 36? (I'm ~200 lbs kitted up)
Also - how are you liking the Blackbird Sends? Debating carbon wheels but these seem pretty rad.
Love your videos, you were a big reason I went Ripmo!
You’ll be more than good with what you’ve got. The ripmo can climb and a stiffer fork could help when you’re getting it on the DH.
Nice video
We got two of these for our daughters th-cam.com/users/postUgkxHL1v1R3NE5x4KiYfyt8dnQmyNYz7qi5L the same size for age 6 and 9. It works very well for both girls. Gears were very easy for them to learn. Changing gears up takes some hand strength and is a bit hard, but they are learning. They did not come with water bottle holders- we actually got confused and thought the Derailler Guard was the bottle holder!! Regardless of these details, the bikes are fantastic- even our six year old who only just learned to ride bikes caught on within an hour of practice and loves it. Lightweight and easy for them to handle. All the parts are in excellent condition and the bikes are easy to assemble and very well packaged. Great choice for kids!
New with a nice video
_Uncured_ bacon? 🤔🐖
Don’t think a DH bike would make any difference there. Slacker & longer suspension is to soak up steeps & big jumps. An Enduro 160mm travel and 29ner wheels will be fine. 👍
I'm sure someone has already posted this in the comments somewhere Brian, but you basically HAVE to be on a downhill bike to truly enjoy angel fire. I mean, you CAN ride most everything on a big trail bike. But, as Sarah shows, you'll just have so much more fun and fee much more confident on a DH rig.
I prefer the old BKXC. The pre pandemic guy non commercial and real
Oh I'm early
Blimey. That’s alarming. I’d be a bit concerned for the potential of vibration injuries. Looks amazing… but wow.
How come the trails are being maintained?
I'd imagine there is a labor shortage and what labor force is available might be employed on firefighting crews battling the historic fire damage. Great trails though.
They're being maintained, but it's like trying to fill a bucket with water with a hole in the bottom. Sounds like they got some rain after I visited and were able to get things dialed in a bit more!
The names of the stagesr r kinda weird
Did Sarah say she agreed that the secret to marriage is admitting when “she” is wrong? Maybe we’re only getting half of that nugget.
Substituting lack of skills for longer more aggresive bikes e.g.DH bikes on blue trails is never a good idea.You play with fire😎
that looks like "cheap" meat here in sweden.
Brian, you've been riding a lot without gloves lately. Why? There are a hundred ways to go ass-over-teakettle on a bike. And every one of them has you landing on your hands. Come on. It's thirty bucks for a good pair of gloves, they take ten seconds to put on, and they save you from weeks of agony while you regrow the skin on the palms and heels of your hands. What's the deal?
Bike parks with a side of steak I guess
Disaster waiting to happen
Most of your content is pretty inspiring but I gotta say as a rider who’s rode this park a ton (on an enduro bike) pretty sad to hear how much bitching you did about this place. It’s an awesome place and they work super hard to build new innovative trails and maintain the ones they have.
holy cow you guys can't cook!!!! :P
Gas tax suspension!!!!
You guys using Sena's to talk to each other?