hardtail downhill in whistler

[ka120990]

ive been wanting to make a trip to whistler for the longest time. ive been on riding seriously for about a year now and i think this summer is the time for me to go. i would be coming from san francisco. ive been told that i need a much more forgiving bike to ride whistler. im riding my hardtail scott reflex 45. its been great for skeggs point in woodside and waterdog in belmont. you seem to be doing great on a hardtail, so my question: is it still worth making the trip even with a hardtail?

[tuckfield656]

my hardtail has 140mm travel fork, boobar downhill bar, and downhill tires:)

[metalmalicha]

love DHardtail!! 

[MrDoogandog]

Sweet ride mate, I just bought a moutain bike and it's a hard tail so stated watching youtube and started thinking I should have bought a duely but you have shown me the light.!!

GREAT VID..!!

[tylersobol]

Bad ass riding and a great choice for the music!

[lgoldie08]

hey there mate its lgoldie from mtbr :) wicked vid :)

[Trailsuender]

Cool. Like it. :)

[conor347]

know what they say lol u go down u still gotta go up to get were u came from lol

[HeretiCflow]

He just dissed every DH rider in the world with 180mm front and rear... HE does the shit on hardtail with a 140mm fork! xD

[TomKang84]

haha everybody this is not this guys video this is Jinya Nishiwaki pro mtb rider. What a FAKE

[ellsworth1986]

@TomKang84 Yes that's me.

[AlexdeLarge6655321]

Good work! Next time, rigid fork...

[pedromaximusalex]

wow this guy gots mad skills all in a hardtail......

[saunbym]

Awesome video and amazing riding! Proving that its not all about stupid amount of full suss travel! Big up the hardtails! Really - amazing job!

[SqrrAnthony]

Nice!!!! You provide a perfect example for the argument that it's all about the rider's skill and not the bike.

[jismad1]

hows your teeth? :)

[ellsworth1986]

@jismad1 sorry?

[stormfighter117]

wow, respect man! nice job

[jorgequinterom]

hardtails are great for everything

[ZeAmukinado]

Sir, I'm adding you to the "People who inspire you" list on facebook.

[1slippy]

this guy is ripping on a hartail... would love to see what he could do with a FS bike.

[luispa76]

i´m impressed...........i got nothin to say. can a shimano xt wheel set handle that kind of abuse??? seriously!!!!

[Managementshahril]

i ride scott contessa and i love free ride



[marinpioneertrail]

this is what i call hero's in action

:)

[caballoalizeero]

i give you my specialized demo I 2009 for your bike, if youre interested chevaldusiecle@hotmail.fr

[ellsworth1986]

@caballoalizeero haha merci, but I'm good.

[timochey]

Awesome - So I'm kinda new to mountain biking - got a Giant Boulder 2 or 3...

But e.g whats the difference between your mountain bike here, and say the giant boulders?

Though I'm fairly sure my bike can't do any of that stuff up there^

[skittlz74]

much respect guy.  great job, even more so with a hard tail. very, very slick. i enjoyed this vid

[tstark05]

Haha haven't heard this song in a while

[muhammadjaka1897]

although with hardtrail frame....you can doing this thing with hard skill...hohoho

[polarzxxx]

This is sick

[aliikane10]

Nice. Takes a lot more skill to ride the rocky rooty chop on a hardtail than a dh rig.

[MrVegStew]

Great skill, I enjoy how well your backend behaved for you. Again great run.

[core6198]

In this world there's only 4 kinds of mountain bikes. Hardtail, Full Suspension, Downhill, and Dirt Jump. Of course every kind has its own design bikes for different riding. 29ers,full suspensions for trails or free riding, hardtails for XC or just hitting the trails and FR aswell, ETC ETC ETC...

[ellsworth1986]

@core6198 It doesn't matter what you ride just for fun. It matters only when you want to win a race.

[core6198]

@ellsworth1986 true that my friend. well i still admire you for downhilling on a hardtail.

[motorizedcam2]

this video could be really cool. But the music you picked..that punk rock stuff...ughhh

[MadeFromCarbon]

This really does show that it's not the bike that will get you through, it's the skill of the rider. :p

[xzistpo]

Man, you're fast.

[goinghard101]

Imagine how fast you'd be once you tried a fully.. man!

[GadgetMart]

Great riding respect geezer!

[pegasus619Q]

cant imagine how many runs it took to get that smooth on a hardtail. mad skill, more balls, and even more fun. looks like a great time.

[BMXunlimited]

i also ride ive been looking for some proof of a hardtail in a park

[rusty7two]

Good Song + Great Riding = Bad Ass Video

[97beanhead]

man ur sick and big up the hardtail massive :)

[arisha2905]

is that a jump bike or all mountain hardtail?

[ellsworth1986]

@arisha2905 it's a 4x/DJ oriented trail bike

[rupetify]

wow ur really gd just goes to show u don't need a expencive full sus bike

[epicbikerguy]

@ellsworth1986 This is good stuff. I attack the trails like this too with my hardtail. I need quick advice though. I've always riden a hardtail because I do a lot of street riding too.  I'm going to upgrade my ride this year though. What's your opinion on hardtail vs full suspension for biking in 1,000 ft elevation ranges?

[goinghard101]

@epicbikerguy Just to butt in here. If your doing tons and tons of park riding, or lots of trails that are rooty, rocky, and bumpy all together, get a fully. You'll be able to ride a lot more throughout the course of the day ( as in, wrists / arms not getting tired so damn quick ) And they make fulls, out of the box, so light now adays, that the saving weight argument has been thrown out the window. my 2cents

[99cumminskid]

i wish i could do that but my hardtail is aluminum and theres no dh tracks where i live

[soulzerosix]

Man, you make this look easy! This video is proof that skills are better than suspension.

[Helaku]

Nice riding dude! :)

[IndoorLifeTV]

thats dope!!! cant even ride his fast with a fh bike!

[theskibum123]

if only this song wasnt awful

[twizz420]

@theskibum123 So you're too lazy to hit the mute button, but you'll take 20 seconds to write out a stupid comment that has nothing to do with the actual video?

Sounds like you're just being a whiny bitch if you ask me.

[PhilStPierre]

You really rock !!

[FettyMusikCFG]

Nice glasses :D

[90Zook]

Nice riding, saw that foot ;) 1:50 but I can't talk, I'd be bouncing everywhere....

[TTGIBBZ93]

how bout a rigid fork next time? haha

[yarek16]

This is not normal speed film...

[itwasclose]

Nice vid man ! in 1:34 you ride bike down the rock was awesome ! :D

[IKARTRACER]

crazy man!!

[FaMiization]

how you can keep the back tire on the cround like that because when i am riding the back tire is pumping in every rock or root so could you help me

[ellsworth1986]

@FaMiization push your feet down

[FaMiization]

@ellsworth1986 thanks dude

[skypejacker1]

@FaMiization try clipless pedals?

[BraveMavrick]

I use a arron chase ht for everything, A hardtail works well for trail, freeride and dh. Just buy a good back rim!

[TheBrown1983]

This guy is animal!! Hardtails are bad boy!!

[krissboo]

Smooth and Fast......

[MyMuschilover]

That just proves you dont need 8 inches of suspension and $5k to ride the trail like this one.

[samg9022]

i have a hardtail but never tried to go full downhill incase it broke or something but i gona try it now lol ( i have pretty good forks )

[flappers72]

your a great rider

[HrvojeMaretic]

Does your back hurts? Damaged LS ?

[MountainBikerxz]

WHISTLER IS MY HEAVEN

[nifflan]

This is so hardcore, no body protection either. Sick!

[backsidefrontside1]

HOW...

[nicoskie]

is your chromag gypsy an alluminum or chromoly? and what would you suggest to use in this type of riding? an alluminum frame or chromoly frame? thanks :)

[ellsworth1986]

@nicoskie its chromoly. I've never tried an alum ht for dh/fr and i don't think i will. it's unforgiving, i guess.

[compaqnc6340]

this make me feel good having raced a 125 this season, just got a wilson though so i look forward to shreddin gnar on that

[danman789]

do you think a completly rebuilt norco rampage will work? i currently have a dj2 on it

[ThePantyDroper]

That's awesome. I have a devinci code which is a dirt jumper. I do freeriding with it but have never tried downhill. After watching this video I think I'm going to hit up whistler.

[saschug]

Nice video! I race cross country on a rigid 26", so I can relate to your mechanical problems! You are very skilled; much respect. :)

What kind of tire setups do you run?

[reedfe]

too bad theres no mountains in florida

[patrq]

as far as i kno thres no DH HT downhill bikes rite???? so what would that bike be XC. I just got a Trek X-Cal i love it wonderin if it could take that knida abuse wit the Reba forks???

[ellsworth1986]

@patrq there certainly is .

[armaholic99]

@patrq norco sasquatch 5 star dh hardtail

[Bansheerider1979]

@patrq I have a Banshee Morphine hardtail that I set up for DH/Park riding. It is a big heavy beast of a bike but handles NorthStar very well

[Allrotor13b]

@patrq

Try Kona or looking for a dirt jumper. The Dirt jumper frames will have super slack geometry when you put a mid-travel fork on them, but Kona and a few others (maybe Yeti and Specialized) make frames designed for long (160mm) travel forks.

Hardtails rule.

[kyleduplessie]

@patrq my kona shred is labled a dh bike and its a hardtail

[marcialbeats]

how often do you have to true your wheels riding like that on a ht? do you get flat spots or tacoed rims?

[ellsworth1986]

@marcialbeats it was a daily basis, always brought a spoke wrench when riding at the park. went through 5 back rims due to having too many flatspots and there was no way to true them for the first season. had a flat just once.

[ktsingos]

Very nice vid man. I think is the best DH with a HT!!!!!! What fork suspension do u use because mine I don't think will last with all this abuse!

[Borne9]

Serious skills and obviously spent much time on a bike and on the trail. Awesome.

[BoringBaldi7]

Excelente video dude, just wondering to ask something to anybody who can answer... How different is DH with HT bike? I've been always doing DH with a FS but I never realised that DH can be done with a HT bike, what do you think about that? It's more difficult and slower with a HT? Waiting forward to your answers!

[ellsworth1986]

@BoringBaldi7 imagine your rear wheel is on the ground half less than that of your FS's. no traction on berms unless you give it to your rear wheel. you just need to control your bike a lot more than what you do on a FS, so it's def hard.

[eoley]

bossing on a hardtail

[ziiimp]

you are quite fast on hardtail, wonder how fast you can go with fullsuspension then... :o

[icebalz]

dh track+ hardtail = pain/fun/broken bike... pretty good outcome dont u think?

[TheSodomkiller]

un tueur ce ptit gars, vive la dh hardtail!

[esmeben]

Fantastic

[brunedeezy]

1:34 Fuck that.

[rcandpc]

Great video! You have some serious riding skills. Thanks for posting that.

[mrgoatcabin]

Real men ride hardtails. :D

[Lorijenken]

hardtail FTW!!!! canadian style >:D

[adamdziuban]

respect for HT!

[KinhWilliams]

Fucking shred that mountain! 

[psychosirkibs]

clearly slower than on an FS bike...but damn you made that look easy, bro lol

[miliziametallica]

nice trail and super jump at the end!!

[kayakergod]

Amazing control! What sort of fork are you using?

[Liamhaw]

nice i have a hard tail like that too

[tremayne6489]

like a boss

[Flit31]

Very impressive man, I love that you've gone so far with a hard tail. people are going more and more towards full sussy for downhill and honestly I don't approved. you can be just as good on a hard tail, you just have to be better. You just proved this.

[lakiask8ter660]

can u use clipless on downhills like that?

[ellsworth1986]

@lakiask8ter660 might be easier to pick up a line and hang on.

[slinginlead1]

@lakiask8ter660 yes, but clipless are ideal for long rides where you have to pedal uphill

[lakiask8ter660]

man ur nuts lol but good. i would never do that with a hard tail

[MudLinerProductions]

very cool bro!

[doobaas]

Nice video man i ride a HT (mainly 'cause that all i can afford) on my local dh track, its awesome. But not nearly as skilled as you although faster then some guys with FS 5 times the price for my bike.

[MacTireFear]

Awesome.



[brismandem]

fair play mate you got balls, but the womens seat cant be doin much for them.

[redhotjoeypepper]

I cant even ride my full suss. as well as you.

[DRroudz4lot]

nice ride

[NOMOMOMOMOMOM]

hardtails ftw. they fuck your legs but totally make you choose a better line and subsequently become a better rider.

[simplyandrews]

bloody hell!

[jamesrusson97]

HI, great vid. I was looking for a nice seat and i really like yours, what seat is it thanks ??

[ellsworth1986]

@jamesrusson97 hi, tanks. I use chromag juniper which is a female specific saddle for DH riding.

[TheBaddy28]

@ellsworth1986 aren't you a guy? so whats the female seat for?

[ellsworth1986]

@ellsworth1986 it's similar to Lynx seat with a different logo.

[MsSpitfire08]

WOW :O

[Nordicdudester]

so bad ass considering you were in jeans riding a hard tail. one of the best mtb vids on youtube

[SuperFunder]

thats fucking rad! most people I know wouldn't do anything at this level with a hardtail

[chuckstr3000]

is it hard to do downhill on a hardtail jw

[ellsworth1986]

@chuckstr3000 just go out and try it. you'll find out, easy or hard.

[funnyamericans93]

@ellsworth1986 its actually better to start off on hardtails, so you can get used to the way the bike moves and feels, you also actually get a better knowledge of the bike, which makes you a better rider ;)

[IsthereAvailablename]

dont speed up the next movie : /

[TheBaddy28]

@IsthereAvailablename its not sped up geez.obviously you skipped out on scienceclass, because in the beginning of the video where he jumps and a turn where you can see his bike drift and displace some dust physics prove you wrong, if he was speeding the video up, the gravity would have to change to have such a slow jump, and the speed built from pedaling down the hill would have to not convert to momentum and sending him over the jump, and the dust won't displace if he's not going fast enough.

[ellsworth1986]

@TheBaddy28 thank you for backing me up. those who doubt it's not sped up should just come ride with me.

[ben9207]

Things about hartail is that!, if your off by a split second on a good cause the hardtail bike always makes damn sure you know it, FS are a lot more forgiving. But my choice is HT because its soo much more fun and demanding! :D

[jamieconn]

good ridin man

[grrock]

amazing!!! im definatly adding this to my favorites :D

[Mrgs1000g]

Sweet riding mate, wish I could ride my Ragley bluepig as quick...!

[harsjkasnbkf]

mate, you can ride.

but the music! why oh why.

[egachc]

@harsjkasnbkf No FX is cool. But now sometimes when I'm doing something downhilly with my HT I start to hum "doo-da-doo doo-doo-da-doo...to the million dollar happiness..."

[vboxeca]

@harsjkasnbkf Yeah... 

[Specteryo]

Hardtail FTW

[delameu]

sick

[nicofaa]

Dude, it's fuckin' awesome!!

[nicoskie]

i want to build a bike like this.. i hate full suspension :)

[downhillful]

brutal

[chopgr]

Your going fucking fast man! Do you own a DH bike too?

[ellsworth1986]

@chopgr not yet

[TomWebb1992]

you're f$%£ing ace! Just one question, how do you stay on the pedals?

[hardtailsteam]

yeah Men! Great riding! We also ride DH/FR on Hardtails in Poland! Maybe its a bit slower than on FS, but it's more technical and for us it gives us much more fun!

Check up our FB profile if you are interested how we do it in Poland!

[wests12live]

Does this bike have gears?

[ellsworth1986]

@wests12live 2x9, yes

[billyreiid11]

insanee

[Jakeyboyshow]

Nice one buddy! I too am a die-hard-taily! ;-D so much more fun than a dually and I think more technical too...not dissing the full sus boys out there by any means, but I just feel like I've earned my fry-up at the end of the days riding just a little bit more that my full-sus mates, and thats not even mentionning how much better it is on the climbs! Ride safe, ride Hard!

[caly101]

I ride a HC/HT aswell i belive there versatility just over wieghs having a Full Susser. But i do have a FS freeride bike to for the bigger/Rockier stuff. I just find HT ALOT more fun.

[independenzavideos]

at least ! ! we like music and we like the vids...good moment

[Aliacbanrafsanjarne]

I have a new hero - seriously dude that was sweet!!

[ariffinjuanna]

Wow .... Really Awesome bro ... !!

[BASSonSTEROIDS94]

yo, I'm new to MTBing, got a Trek marlin 21" and i was wondering if you stand up the majority of the time when downhilling and how low you put your seat for downhilling. may sound like a dumbass for asking it but i really have no idea! Thnks

[ellsworth1986]

@BASSonSTEROIDS94 Does this video show you all, doesn't it?

[hortonas786]

@BASSonSTEROIDS94 listen to what fits me

1) have your seat mostly hight but at a point where you feel comfortable with it

2) YES, standing up is verry imporntant cause it lets you have better muscle control and control of the bike,m and for dowhill thats VERY important

[andrew47ka]

Maybe it`s just me, but:

0.36-0.39 – leaves in low left quarter of screen move a little too fast in the wind (notice that they are in front of a rider)

1.28-1.32 – front wheel drops down too quickly on the roots, legs and cranks are little jerky.

So it looks to me like _some_ parts of video have been speeded up.

[ellsworth1986]

@andrew47ka it was my first time ever to edit a video and i even wish i knew how to speed it up then ;)

[BillysAutomotive]

@BASSonSTEROIDS94 Try sitting down and doing this stuff. You will not have a spine by the end of it. And youll be bouncing like fuck

[silentsmokey]

@BASSonSTEROIDS94 i have a 2010 norco bigfoot hardtail and i can tell you from my small amount of experience...when your going down hill you want you seat fairly low cause you don't wanna hurt your ass when you do jumps or drops....also when doing a downhill your ALWAYS standing... tip? get a backpack and take up spare TIRE TUBES,tire pump,water or gatorade and small snacks...cause trust me..a flat tire can ruin your day...especially when your on top of a mountain.

[TomWebb1992]

@BASSonSTEROIDS94 yeah you stand up, best have your seat low so you can lower your centre of gravity without it going up you're ass, if you have to go uphill as well as downhill then you need a happy medium, I recommend adjusting your seat so your almost all your foot is touching the ground when seated. Hope it helps!

[nickmurphyrock]

dude that nis sweett the only way i could keep up with you is on my bootr

[runflizzows88]

stop Bitching just ride. Thats the way!

[skibike888]

you're crazy man! thats awesome keep it up!

[chazamis]

Sick riding, can't wait to get out to Whistler!

[ppaauulloohhaarraa]

wow you were flying there! i havnt the balls to be that quick yet, ive only been into mtbing a couple of months so im just finding my feet, keep up the good work!