Taos News

Opening weekend for bike park

Angel Fire brings the Propain

By JEANS PINEDA jpineda@taosnews.com

Angel Fire Bike Park opened with a splash on Friday (May 19) as the lift-served terrain experienced heavy rainfall and little sunshine on its opening weekend. The muddy conditions made it difficult for some riders to gauge the handling ability of the Propain freeride, downhill and enduro bikes being demoed. “Soupy” was the word of the day.

Out on the trails, portions of typically manicured berms had the appearance of bubbling gumbo. Some of the flats found on the green trails turned into temporary swamps. Soggy tracks on the uphill sections of some ramps on Boulder Dash posed a tricky combination. You need speed to get up and over the lip, but there’s no guarantee the wheels won’t slip or slide under you as you’re racing uphill.

Still, on a bike park that features over 2,000 feet of elevation and over 60 miles of trails that can go from technical single-track to freeride and flowing, there were many drops and hits to be had.

“It’s all good. We have nothing to complain about. This place is first to open, so we just enjoy it,” downhiller Alex M. said.

Alex went with an aerial approach while trying out the Propain Spindrift freeride bike: “This bike and the jump line were built for each other. Really good — very capable bike in the air. It’s very progressive.”

For those first getting into the downhill mountain bike scene and wanting to rent or demo a bike, two of the simpler components to consider are rear suspension systems and wheel size. For instance, Propain demoed the Tyee; an enduro bike with a coil-spring suspension system

and two 29-inch wheels in the front and back. They also demoed the Spindrift; a freeride bike with an air shock suspension system and a mixed-wheel combo, 29-inch in the front, 27.5-inch in the back.

The bigger wheels and the heavier coil-springs of the Tyee keep the bike grounded and reliable on the technical trails, but make it tougher to get air time on the jumps. As an enduro, the Tyee gets you swiftly uphill if you have to pedal. The Spindrift’s air spring and smaller wheel in the back provided playfulness, and turned Boulder Dash into a breeze as you go from jump to berm to jump again.

Given the precipitation, the more playful bike on a jump line might be more rewarding. On a different

trail and with a different purpose, such as the upcoming Team Trail Party Downhill Rockies race held on Saturday and Sunday (June 3-4) on the World Cup trail, the Tyee enduro could be the better call.

Dominic Megalli, a sponsored rider who grew up in Los Alamos and usually rides a Transition Patrol, rode the Spindrift, but with smaller tires in the front and back.

“Been hearing a lot of great things about these Propains, and stoked to see him here and out demoing bikes, so I figured I’d pick one up,” he said. “This is the Spindrift 180 mil travel all around, and it’s a small with 27.5-inch wheels — both front and back. Feels great. Just did Boulder Dash and, honestly, I can’t wait to see if a medium pulls up, because I’d love to try that one out…this one’s super playful, which is kind of nice for today — since it’s so muddy.”

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2023-05-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://taosnews.pressreader.com/article/282239489996006

Santa Fe New Mexican