what's the deal with big bear?

[jonKranked]

I am getting conflicting reports. Their website states a bunch of mumbo jumbo basically outlawing dh bikes:

Any one of the following four factors will disqualify a bike from being transported on the chair:

1. Bikes must be less than 35 pounds.
2. Designated tire size must be less than 2.5.
3. Front shock must have less than 6 inches of travel.
4. Bikes must have three chain rings unless they are single speed.

Which to me, doesn't make sense from a business perspective, as they are effectively banning their potentially largest segment of clientèle (lift access biking was basically invented for dh'ers). ANYWAYS. Last night riding with some guys (who had been there over the weekend) said that they rode their on their big bikes (which violated at least 3 of the 4 aforementioned rules) and no one said a thing to them. I'd like to get some riding in there this weekend, but I have no bikes that meet the above criteria (the closest is my slalom bike, but it has a single front chain ring and 9spd in the back). So what's a biker to believe?

[Pat...]

My hardtail would fit 1,2,3, but it has a singlechain ring (not SS). Even though the trails supposedly suck, they might be fun on a hardtail.

[ultraNoob]

I think the whole weight thing is because they have to lift the bikes on to the hook

The tire thing is cuz the hook is kinda narrow

The didn't say anything about me missing my 3rd ring, but then again, I had an XC fork on

I think you're ok so long as you don't bring a triple clamp

[Ozzer]

Lovebunny said DH bikes are allowed on the lift and that Rabie and Pegboy are gey.

[Pegboy]

Don't make me shut you bastards down again.

[WestCoastHucker]

the trails and the lift are open, but if you are blatently obvious that you are a DH'er, you will get turned away. besides, a dh bike would be overkill for the mellow trails that they have. a short travel fully or a ht is the way to go....

[So Cal biker]

:monkey:I went there month and a half ago on my demo 9, with 888, and 2.7 tires, i had a e-thirteen i dono if that means anything, and my friend was there on a dh comp with a dorodo and 2.5 tires and mrp, and the guy at the life looked at our bikes for a half a second and let us on no prob. and they were obvious dh bikes whal i was paying some kids hoped on the lift one with a kona stab and other with a stinky. and their were multiple big signs saying those three things are not allowed: :twitch:
1. Bikes must be less than 35 pounds.
2. Designated tire size must be less than 2.5.
3. Front shock must have less than 6 inches of travel.
4. Bikes must have three chain rings unless they are single speed.

[dhmike]

[QUOTE=So Cal biker;2702282]:monkey:I went there month and a half ago on my demo 9, with 888, and 2.7 tires, i had a e-thirteen i dono if that means anything, and my friend was there on a dh comp with a dorodo and 2.5 tires and mrp, and the guy at the life looked at our bikes for a half a second and let us on no prob. and they were obvious dh bikes .

i've heard rumors like this of big bear letting dh bikes on the lifts and then rumors of them turning away dh riders . i don't know what to belive , it's a heck of a drive to get turned away .so i think i wouldn't chance it till it's offical they let dh bikes back in big bear( it's going to happen someday).

[Slugman]

big bear's trails no longer warrent a big bike (as if they ever did). From what i hear a good all mountain bike is all you need to have fun up there... everything else is overkill

[ultraNoob]

but... what's wrong with overkill so long as you don't get suckered into riding the 5 b!tches?

[HRDTLBRO]

I am getting conflicting reports. Their website states a bunch of mumbo jumbo basically outlawing dh bikes:



Which to me, doesn't make sense from a business perspective, as they are effectively banning their potentially largest segment of clientèle (lift access biking was basically invented for dh'ers). ANYWAYS. Last night riding with some guys (who had been there over the weekend) said that they rode their on their big bikes (which violated at least 3 of the 4 aforementioned rules) and no one said a thing to them. I'd like to get some riding in there this weekend, but I have no bikes that meet the above criteria (the closest is my slalom bike, but it has a single front chain ring and 9spd in the back). So what's a biker to believe?

You may already be aware of this, but I believe Big Bear banned "DH" from the hill because of a lawsuit a few years back, stemming from a rider getting injured and paralyzed on one of the trails...

[Abstrakt51]

but... what's wrong with overkill so long as you don't get suckered into riding the 5 b!tches?

Word.

I may plan a day trip this Sunday given the lifts are still open.

[jonKranked]

You may already be aware of this, but I believe Big Bear banned "DH" from the hill because of a lawsuit a few years back, stemming from a rider getting injured and paralyzed on one of the trails...

Heard about this and actually got some additional info on it. Apparently they are self insured as opposed to going through a 3rd party insurance company. Its cheap out of pocket for day to day expenses, but when something like what happened occured and they got sued, they were pretty much up sh*t creek. Sucks. East coast mountains that have lift access DH have such broadly stated liability wavers that you are essentially signing your life away in order to ride there. Basically nothing is their fault.


And thanks to everyone for the info. :thumb:

[Pat...]

What are the 5 bitches?

[bullcrew]

1 & 2 - Dixie chicks,
3- Hillary Clinton
4 - Rosie Odonel
5- Any Preacher lady on tv! PEROID! :D
(In most cases mother in laws count as 1!

[Abstrakt51]

I think I circled the right spots. You need to hit the 5 B's to get to 1E01. Other than that, there really is no reason to climb at summit.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k49/Pham_77/ridgeline-map-2005.jpg

[dhmike]

[QUOTE=bullcrew;2703542]1 & 2 - Dixie chicks,
3- Hillary Clinton
4 - Rosie Odonel
5- Any Preacher lady on tv! PEROID! :D
(In most cases mother in laws count as 1![/QUOTE

good one, bullcrew !

[rid3HB]

ya my friends and i wanted to go up there and ride it on our hardtails. never happened tho cuz we didnt want to get turned away. my friends p.2 weighs like 38 pounds hahaha

[spookydave]

Heard about this and actually got some additional info on it. Apparently they are self insured as opposed to going through a 3rd party insurance company. Its cheap out of pocket for day to day expenses, but when something like what happened occured and they got sued, they were pretty much up sh*t creek. Sucks. East coast mountains that have lift access DH have such broadly stated liability wavers that you are essentially signing your life away in order to ride there. Basically nothing is their fault.


And thanks to everyone for the info. :thumb:

yup, so did Big Bear. I signed 100's of those wavers. The kid that sued signed one also. Most of the time those wavers are not worth the paper they are printed on. Welcome to the sue happy west coast and the land of shark lawyers.

[ultraNoob]

http://www.thepalmbeachtimes.com/Pictures%20folder/Pictures/lawyer%20shark%20picture.jpg