RideOttawa, 40 Chem. Sabourin, Cantley, QC (2026)

08/31/2026

It's the end of summer; how's your squish?

Your suspension is arguably the most important system on your mountain bike. It's what keeps your wheels tracking the ground, gives you control, and enalbes you to ride the good stuff. and like other parts of your bike, it needs regular service to keep performing the way it's supposed to. Both ends need it too; front and rear suspension both wear the same way, and both need love.

Performance differences show up on the trail but not all at once. Your bike might start feeling rough, sticky, or harsh over chatter and small bumps, or you might find you're just not riding as well. That might be your suspension telling you it needs some attention. Usually this happens well before anything actually breaks.

All these parts have recommmended service intervals just like your car. Typcailly 50 hours and 150hrs for shocks and forks. Most people don't actually track hours riding on their bike (an app like Strava can help if you want real numbers), so it's easier to think of it in terms of a season of riding. At roughly 1.5 hrs/week, April through October, the first service interval (~50 hrs) lands around once a season for most riders. The second interval (~150 hrs) is closer to once a year, maybe every 2 years for lighter-mileage riders. (Instrcutors service ours 2 times a season, somtimes 3!)

Whether you're closer to the yearly or the every-2-year end of that range depends on how and how much you ride. If you're putting in serious hours, riding in dusty or wet conditions a lot, or you're a heavier or harder-charging rider, lean toward servicing more often. For most weekend riders, once a year keeps things running well. Skipping the 50-hour service isn't ideal, but it's a lot better than waiting too long and turning a simple service into an unplanned rebuild.

You can mitigate these repairs with some good monthly and weekly habit. Forks and shocks that are set up poorly wear faster. Check air pressure monthly; a shock or fork that is losing air has problems and needs to be checked. A check your rebound and compression settings weekly; the dials get bumped more than you'd think when cleaning your bike. Keeping things dialed means the equipment is working the way it was inteded and will last longer.

Another favorite tip (from our old friend Ross in Whistler) is to alwasy run a fender on your fork. This helps keep dirt and dust off the crown and wipers, which makes a noticeable difference in wear of the internal and external parts. (and it shows how cool you are.)

Pros of staying on top of it:
- Suspension stays smooth and consistent
- 50-hr service (oil change and clean) runs roughly $110
- 150-hr rebuild (new seals, o-rings & parts) runs $225 + $$ parts
- Regular service catches worn seals and bushings before expeneive stanchions or dampers get damaged ($$$ Fix)

Cons of skipping it or waiting too long:
- Performance sometimes degrades gradually, so it's easy to not notice how much you're losing If you don't ride that often
- Waiting past 150 hrs risks turning a rebuild into a bigger, more expensive repair or a replacement.
- Dirty and worn seals accelerate wear on stanchions, which aren't cheap to replace

For advice and service, your local shop is the place to start. A few shops do in-house service, but others will send it out to a service center for you. Your LBS will reassemble everything for you and get you back to speed. Budget 1.5 to 2 weeks turnaround. If you typically handle your own mechanical duties, you can send ti direct to Fox and Rock Shox and DVO service centres.

If you're fussy like us, we go straight to our local Suspension Specialists, Ottawa Suspension Service (https://ottawasuspension.com/)

Is It Time to Service Your Suspension?

Ibis Cycles FOX Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Bike Instructor Certification Program Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC Phat Moose Cycles Bike Shop Full Cycle Ottawa Rebec & Kroes Cycle and Sport Kunstadt Sports

08/29/2026

New trail at Camp Fortune!

Out with the old and in with the new! Junior has been is a state of flux for few years but has now been reborn as a sub-loop to lower Sunset!

Starting at the Coaster Bridge, you can climb up through the woods and across the ski runs and connect to Sunset. So, for those who found the traverse up Humdinger to the rock climb and the perilous descent under the chairlift a bit hairy, you can lap the lower section and only miss out one of the upper berms and rock roll.

All in-all this will make for a great second lap and is a bit more blue (but not really because you still have to ace the mud bridge, false berms, double step down, hopper rocks and the tangled climb rocks).

It’s new-school switchback climbing at it finest. And there may be even more new stuff out there we couldn’t hit in the afternoon lessons.

It’s super exciting to see all the new developments at Camp Fortune. The improved signage, emergency plans, upgraded climbs, fresh berms, doubles and tables are all great.

For all of us that have trail passes, it’s great to see changes and upgrades. (For all you deadbeats that park and P9 and don’t pay, maybe it’s time to rethink your position).

Many thanks to the operations team and trail crew and trail builders TerraSculpt Inc. at Camp Fortune.

Good hunting.

Ibis Cycles Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Chris King Precision Components Smith Race Face Performance Products Bike Instructor Certification Program Ottawa Mountain Bike Association

08/25/2026

Are Bigger Rotors Better?

In the last few seasons, rotor sizes and thicknesses have increased, mostly driven by e-bikes which are heavier. Companies have increased the maximum sizes of available rotors, and there is also a trend to using thicker metal. Most bikes come with some combiantion of 200, 180 and 160 rotors. Trail bikes have mostly settled around 200mm front and 180mm rear, or both 180mm. New discs and mounts are relatively cheap to upgrade, and I wanted to know if bigger is actually better.

My new Ibis Ripmo came with 200mm discs front and rear. I was pretty happy with this pairing but decided to swap my usual 200mm Shimano IceTech rotors for a thicker 220mm Shimano rotor up front, keeping 200mm in the rear, just to test it out. I wasn't expecting much beyond more raw stopping power. This is definitely true, but I also got more power, less fatigue, and more modulation and control, with no real downsides.

Control difference show when riding. On steep descents I have more control and less skidding (not that I usually skid), and I find I am able to hold a more stable body position through rough, rocky step-downs. Cornering feels improved too, where I find it easier to reduce speed before entering corners, and I have more sensitivity to trail braking through big berms, resulting in faster, smoother lines. It's also made stoppies and nose pivots easier to initiate, especially on trail, since you can stop the front wheel from rotating more easily with finer finger control. And it's helped me hold longer wheelies with better rear wheel trail-brake (drag).

Whether you should go bigger depends on what you're running now and how you ride. If you're on 180mm or 160mm rotors, bigger front and rear discs are worth considering (no brainer for us). For most riders, 200mm front and 180mm rear is a solid setup. If you ride a lot and do some lift-access DH or just want more performance, 220mm front and 200mm rear (or dual 200mm) gives more power and control. Heavier riders in particular will notice a big improvement.

Pros:
- More stopping power for the same finger pull
- Less finger fatigue, especially over a full day and on long descents
- More modulation and easier to control (I expected the opposite)
- More durable disc, resists bending thanks to the extra thickness
- Cheaper than my usual Shimano IceTech (2-piece) rotors
- No brake fade from heat (never really a problem with 200mm either)
- No brake squeal, very quiet with metallic pads

Cons:
- Thicker rotor rubbed slightly on pads at first setup (use Shimano floating bolt mounts to fix alignment)
- Needs a +40mm mount on some forks with long mounting bolts (which can be hard to find)
- Thicker rotor feels like less lever throw until pads wear in a bit
- Disc is slightly more vulnerable to impacts on trail rides (but stronger, so it doesn't usually bend)
- Change requires some skill adjustment. You need to feel out the different braking power and adapt your modulation, body position, and pressure. It feels easy to over-brake at first, but it opens up smoother two-brake use and braking later into corners.

220mm Rotor:
Shimano RT-6B750

Available at Phat Moose Cycles:
https://www.phatmoosecycles.com/shimano-6-bolt-rotor-rt-6b750-220mm.html

Phat Moose Cycles Bike Shop Ibis Cycles Shimano Bike Chris King Precision Components Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA

08/22/2026

New Trail Day

If you’ve ever been on a ride with Mike, you might already know his favorite thing is riding a new trail the first time. You only get one time to make a first impression; same for trails. There’s only one time that everything is new and you get to ride it viscerally. And trails have personality and flavour, and that first lap often leaves a lasting imprint on you.

And so with open hearts and minds we departed Velo Montebello today in quest for fresh dirt. Only an hour from The Capital, this network fills in a space of early season riding and getaway adventure both summer and winter. We were excited to find these new loops and see what was recently added.

A trio of new segments north of the classic Enduro trails habe been added above Auf Spring with about 6km of addition.
Short answer is: good fun.

It rare to jump on something new and feel right at home, but these sections have been crafted by the ever increasingly skilled TerraSculpt Inc. team, who have been working all over our region now for many seasons. Turning off of Aug Spring (blue) onto Sorcière (blue) immediately floods you with trail scents of other locales, but fresh with the hints of the local terrain rock and soil. Flow is the name of the game here. These trails are built for continuity and momentum and they feel both new and familiar. Be ready to pump for free (?) speed and watch the rocks for cues to what’s next.

Sorcière continues left or splits right into Pommes Fatales (black, named after local punk band) which is steep. (more later). While black can be fun, the real money is continuing down Sorcière, digging the descent and then sliding into Sortilège (blue with dark blue sides). This trail is a masterwork of terrain and grade. If you like the big dips, you’ll love sections of this trail. It’s built to go down then up right away and is banked and bermed for control and flow. Peppered with rock climbs and the odd side roll, this is about as good as a new-school blue intermediate flow trail can get. (And that’s after we spent a weekend at Wilderness Tours Bike Park shuttling their amazing build). Blink and you’ll miss the 150m of descent. You do have to climb back up but it’s worth the show. If you’re up for it, we recommend a repeat lap before you exit back to Sorcière.

From here you’re dropping to the river (again) and then you climb out. But this climb is like nothing you’ve experienced before. It almost climbs for you. And there’s some beauty to behold as you head back up to the Enduro recon point. This place feels like another world. No need to stand and sprint here. Stop for a moment to enjoy and a friendly (or confrontational) Partridge may wander out to chat. There are some places in our region that feel like they are from elsewhere and this is one of them for us.

If you’re up for more picante, you can head back and find Pommes Fatales. This is a black trail. Steep, exposed, chunky, loamy and even bermy. A lot of spice in a short space. If you’re progressive enough and have some front braking skills, you can eek a few short moments of bliss from this little connector gem. It’s barely walkable in places, but no hidden drops or gaps. (4th Dimension at MSM and Won Ton Soup at Vorlage have comparable steep pitches) Check it off if you’re a trail hound. But for most, more laps on the blues gets you more rolls and tables and doubles. (If you can’t ride the entry features, not recommended for you)

We asked the trail builders about the new additions and they replied:

“The goal of this new network was to build a more adventure style trail that focusses on descending flow and ease of climbing. It took time to string together the waterfalls and other must-see areas of the forest into a coherent package that makes sense on a bike”

We mentioned the magic spot and they said:

“Trails definitely exist in 4 dimensions as they are experienced with a time variable through riding.”

There’s a lot of consideration and maybe more philosophy than we realize in the crafting of these experiences.

That’s it. Several great additions to the already fun network at Montbello. These new trails make a fully blue afternoon possible with Yessir Miller for rock work and Mastadonté for flow and jumps. Absolutely worth the drive and the trail pass.

Note that the new network trails are closed in the rain and remain closed for at least 24 hours after rainfall. Check in with the welcome centre to make sure things are open for you before you make the drive.

Hope your summer has been good so far. Have fun on the new routes. And good hunting.

Velo Montebello:
https://montebellovelo.com/?lang=en

Ibis Cycles Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Chris King Precision Components Smith Race Face Performance Products 7mesh Leatt Protectives RideOttawa Garmin

08/20/2026

How is body position different for advanced riders?

A friend of mine crashed the other day riding DH. He said his front wheel slipped off a rock, the bar got away from him and he went full-on over the bars into the rock. (He’s OK, body armour and pads for the win) His read on it afterwards: "My position was probably too far back."

As an advanced athlete he’s looking for the learning in this event. But “my position was off" is a somewhat incomplete way to look at body position. It's how most intermediate riders think about body position, as something to find and hold (and blame) when things go sideways. Advanced and advancing riders need to think differently about body position. Let’s look deeper at it.

Position is a snapshot, not a destination:
Position isn't something you achieve and maintain, it's something you move into, through and out of. Think of any position on the bike as a SNAPSHOT IN TIME; a picture shows a moment on the trail. Its a reference point your body passes through, returns to, and leaves again constantly. The rider who found their "good position" for that part of trail or feature and is holding it more than required is already behind on the next part. Most trails are not consistent for much distance. You need to adapt and move to manage the trail forces.

This is where the crash story gets interesting. The question isn't whether he was too far back. The question is whether he was MOVING at all, or whether he had locked into a position and stopped making adjustments. A static position, however technically correct, gives you nothing to work with when the trail surprises you.

What a position is actually for:
Advanced riders aren't thinking about what their position looks like. They're thinking about what it ENABLES. A strong position over a rock means traction on both wheels. A centred position going into a corner means range of movement to react to whatever the berm and exit gives them. A loaded position before a compression means the ability to apply power or absorb impact in order to pump or jump. Position is a tool, not a pose.

That shift — from “Am I in the right position" to “Does this position give me what I need right now" — is one of the clearest markers of an advanced rider. This shows up on videos, as smooth, fluid flow and movement, or dynamic and powerful maneuvers and moves. You can’t really see it in a photo.

Two positions worth reframing:
There are two reference points we often learn first, that matter most, and neither is better than the other.

The first is TALLER and RELAXED. This is the efficient home base and the position you return to between demanding trail segments. It lets your skeleton do the support work, which means the muscles are less activated and stay fresh for when you need them. It keeps weight through the feet, the body centred. between the wheels, and the arms and hands light but engaged. It's can be more stable than it looks, and far less tiring than riders expect when they use it properly.

The second is LOWER and STRONGER. This is where you go when the trail starts to push on you and the bike. It provides more range of movement, more dynamic capacity, and often more muscle power. BUT, it costs more energy and it's harder to sustain for longer segments. Advanced riders go there deliberately, for specific moments, then come back. This means lower into corners and berms, lower across rock gardens, lower to absorb rollers, and lower down steeps.

The mistake most intermediate riders make is trying to stay in one or the other. Too tall and stiffer when the trail forces need managing, or too low and and squatty with tensed muscles when the trail just needs patience. Intermediate riders pick “the position” for any given section of trail; advanced riders adapt their position to enable the skills they want to apply to the section. Improving advanced body position means moving with purpose as needed.

Relaxed doesn't mean passive:
Back to the crash. It’s often hard to remember and rethink these incidents. Asking yourself some questions can help. "Were you hanging on the bars? Did you feel pressure in your fingers?” is a better diagnostic question than “Where was your weight?" One is a physiological feeling, the other is an abstract idea. In this case If the answer is “Yes, I felt my hands pulling on the grips”, then probably his arms were already busy holding the rider on the bike, probably because weight was further back than ideal. When the front wheel hit he rock, the tire bounced off the surface because there wasn’t enough pressure to counter the force, the rubber slipped, and the front of the bike moved sideways or maybe slammed into the rock with a lot of reverse force. Extended arms without muscles tension don’t provide much resistance to being thrown sideways or forward. And a trip over the bars is one outcome.

If you're using muscles to hold your position on the bike, especially one that is not quite matched to the trail, those muscles aren't available to manage forces by pushing or pulling. It’s also worth noting that muscles work in groups so this holding tension can make it harder to, or delay activation strength in an opposite direction. Holding static positions using muscle strength reduces your ability to quickly react to new trail forces pushing you.

The goal is to be supported through the feet, using your skeleton, and relaxed enough that the muscles are ready and free to work when called on. Advanced riders are constantly making small strength adjustments in anticipation of what's coming, or in response to what the trail just did. Proactive is usually better than reactive. But that only works if the muscles aren't already maxed out keeping you upright.

Always in response to something:
The last piece is intentionality. Advanced riders aren't just moving randomly between positions, they're moving in response to trail forces or in preparation for intended maneuvers. Trail scanning is a huge component of riding better. An upcoming compression like riding up a steep face means it's time to get taller and let the trail push up through the bike; but we control this by absorbing (pushing back) as needed. A rock garden means staying centred and keeping the adjustments small and constant to achieve a quiet body. A big berm corner means getting lower and stronger before the entry in anticipation of how it’s going to push you and the bike, not reacting halfway through it by stiffening and braking.

Your position at any given moment is an answer to what the trail just did to you, or is about to do to you. Advanced riders are reading the trail early enough to proactively make body position and strength choices.

So what went wrong in the crash?
Probably not just the position, likely lack of strength or movement. Being a little farther back than was appropriate probably made the rider reactive. A rider who is relaxed, centred, and constantly making small adjustments in response to forces is hard to throw over the bars, because when the front wheel slips, they push back against the forces and can often recover.

The fix isn't to find a better position, it’s remembering to be active and strong. There are lots of other factors that come into play like riding habits, trail complacency, cumulative fatigues, and equipment changes too. Which is why we drill body position and movement to increase our range, our speed, our power, ultimately improving our reaction time.

So, what's your default on trail. Are you picking positions and holding, or are you moving and using strength?

Ibis Cycles Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Association - PMBIA Chris King Precision Components Smith Leatt Protectives Global Syndicate of Mountain Bike Coaches - GSMBC Bike Instructor Certification Program

08/08/2026

Trail Jumps and Drop.

Wilderness Tours Bike Park is probably the only place in the region with a progressive bike park skills area, and trail features to match.

Repeat laps in the skills area sets you up for boosting and dropping on Ender, Portage, Air Bud, Haystack, Melt Down and Dragon’s Tongue (new and very fun).

There’s plenty of trail here and we’re not gonna lie; the bike shuttle is pretty sweet.
(We did make Mel Bro climb for the afternoon laps after the rain though. Sometimes you gotta earn…)

Super fun day and we ran into some old friends who all have shotgun kid seats and ride here on weekends. The beach is great too. (But the shuttle is extra sweet, thanks Coop.)

Shuttle and Trail Pass Booking:

https://wildernesstours.com/mountain-bike-shuttle-service

Ibis Cycles Smith 7mesh Leatt Protectives Garmin Fumpa Pumps

08/07/2026

Afternoon Drop Progression

Great practice area and coaching feedback !

Shuttle and Trail Pass Booking:
https://wildernesstours.com/mountain-bike-shuttle-service

Ibis Cycles RideOttawa Smith Leatt Protectives Chromag Garmin Wilderness Tours Bike Park Wilderness Tours

08/07/2026

Cornering Practice

You want berms? You got ‘em.

Progression:
Space Godzilla, Ender, Portage, Kessel Run, Haystack, Melt Down, River Run, Air Bud.

Wilderness Tours Bike Park Ibis Cycles Smith Leatt Protectives RideOttawa

08/06/2026

Wilderness Tours MTB weekend pre-ride

Rode out to Algonquin Pass via White Trail and that was much better than the historic “Mud Pass” adventure. Aggressive horseflies kept the movement brisk and rests short.

It’s a cool trail with some tech and a lot of off-camber climbs and descents. Nyami-nyaminisbt seeing much love these days but but worth lapping AP a few times.

Algonquin Pass on Trailforks
https://www.trailforks.com/goto/trail/92223/

Ibis Cycles Smith Race Face Performance Products 7mesh Chris King Precision Components

08/06/2026

Off we go !!!!

Ibis Cycles

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