Ray's trip advice?

[JohnA]

I think I'll be heading to Ray's in Cleveland next Monday. This will be my first time there and I was wondering if anyone had any advice. We'll be just day tripping.

Thanks

JohnA

[c0nsumer]

Ride the XC loop, start easy, and enjoy yourself. Knee pads may be advisable as it's not-that-hard to wash out on the plywood and concrete.

[TenSpeed]

I have been twice in the last two years. I would suggest a beater bike, or renting. I also suggest not going clipless if you are so used to. My last trip out there, I tried to run clipless, and it was a huge mistake. Other than that, I would check out the park first at a casual pace, and then as you grow accustomed to the layout, you can haul it.

[ColorVoyeur]

Best advice I can give is to pick me up on your way there

They're bike stable for rentals are really solid, and you'll have way more fun on a dirt jumper or bmx than an XC bike. The XC loop there is fun for about 3 minutes... the rest of the time you'll be playing on jumps, pumps, and skinnies.
Knee pads are a must if you're not familiar with riding park.

[JohnA]

Can you swap rentals mid-day?

[AirGuitar29]

I'm sure you'd be able to swap rentals mid day. The people who work there are super laid back.

Have fun!

[300hp]

yes, you can swap rentals mid day. While you can ride any bike at rays, a hardtail/dirt jump bike is by far the most fun, even on the XC loop. Their rentals are very reasonable. I make it a couple times a month, and always wear my full face down there, but I like hitting the jump lines and I've had jaw surgery twice. Knee pads are a must, and if you want to try the skinnies and stunts, platform pedals are much more condusive to learning. If its your first go round, bring your bike if its not too much trouble, but renting a bike there is the way to go. You won't worry about it as much, and if you ride a 29er like everybody in michigan does now, you'll appreciate a nimble 26" bike at rays.

Have fun, and get ready to go down there all the time. My first season that place was like crack.

H.

[dirt]

Just wanted to say, I've visited Ray's about a half dozen times, and I've always run my 29er bike (geared and ss) and have always used my clipless pedals. Now, I don't jump and stuff like that, but I spend the whole day in the XC loop and the sport section.

The rental bikes are nice, platforms are good if you aren't completely comfortable for some extra safety, but I've never had a problem running the same gear I run day in and day out at Ray's.

[Brent]

FYI the knee pads and elbow pads are free and worth borrowing (my knee still clicks when I run from a fall there)

[Trailbanditt]

Dirt typed

Just wanted to say, I've visited Ray's about a half dozen times, and I've always run my 29er bike (geared and ss) and have always used my clipless pedals. Now, I don't jump and stuff like that, but I spend the whole day in the XC loop and the sport section.

.........Come on your kiddin right?Your at Rays and you only ride the xc loop and sport section thats messed up.Thats like going to the bar and only drinking water!!.Ditch the clips and rent a 26 inch dirt jumper.Rays is a perfect place to improve your skills.Have fun

[Brent]

I have been to Rays a dozen times or so, ridden everything there (but the BIG ramps) in my clipless, I always bring several bikes and both styles of pedals, but always end up riding my clipless. I know you guys love those flat pedals, but after 15 years of riding only clipless I feel I have much more control of my bike. And not to beat a dead horse but I think this topic was recently in another thread.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=101387&hilit=rays+clipless

[dirt]

Dirt typed

Just wanted to say, I've visited Ray's about a half dozen times, and I've always run my 29er bike (geared and ss) and have always used my clipless pedals. Now, I don't jump and stuff like that, but I spend the whole day in the XC loop and the sport section.

.........Come on your kiddin right?Your at Rays and you only ride the xc loop and sport section thats messed up.Thats like going to the bar and only drinking water!!.Ditch the clips and rent a 26 inch dirt jumper.Rays is a perfect place to improve your skills.Have fun

Ray's really only consists of 4 areas, the XC loop, the beginner, the sport, and the expert section. I didn't mention the beginner, since it was pretty obvious that if I did the sport section, I did the beginner also. (There is also the pump track, but that's really part of the sport section too)

So, out of 4 areas, I hit 3 of them. That's like only drinking water at a bar? It's more like drinking everything but the Everclear.

As for skills, I don't think the Expert section does much other then take the same skills that the sport section offers, and making them skinnier and higher.

[SSSparta]

I went last year and took my SS 29er, but put flats on instead of running clipless. I did the XC loop a bunch of times and spent a couple of hours on the pump track. The beginner and Sport sections were fun, and there are so many routes you can take it didn't get boring. I only went on the Expert part for a few minutes since I wasn't wearing pads and the concrete looked hard.

[c0nsumer]

I went last year and took my SS 29er, but put flats on instead of running clipless. I did the XC loop a bunch of times and spent a couple of hours on the pump track. The beginner and Sport sections were fun, and there are so many routes you can take it didn't get boring. I only went on the Expert part for a few minutes since I wasn't wearing pads and the concrete looked hard.

I've only been there once, but I too found myself plenty entertained by the XC loop and beginner/sport stuff. The numerous easier lines leading down from the big platform with things such as swinging bridges, stumps, and stuff like that provided plenty of excitement and challenge, yet being only a few inches off the ground there wasn't a massive downside if I screwed up. Usually I could just ride off of them and go again.

[scat silvurz]

Rent a park bike from Ray's - it's a waste to bring your own [took a few times to realize this]. I'd recommend the jump bike, because it's low center of gravity, and stand-up-on-it riding position is perfect for plonking over all the fun stuff, and if you wanna get jumpy, well - you're on a jump bike! Also, if you rent a bike, you'll be on flat pedals and will want a shoe with a grippy sole [you may have time to order up some FiveTen Impacts.....which I'd recommend]. And I agree that riding with your XC clippy style pedals really limits what you will allow yourself to try. Leave the 'efficient' pedals at home. Ray's isn't about that, but it's your choice.

Whenever I go to Ray's, I always session the Beginner area to warm up. This is no joke. After a full day at Ray's, you will absolutely be drained of all energy [know when to call it a day too - - if you find yourself saying "I'm gettin' tired, but oh, maybe just one more run", you may have crossed over into the zone where one will eventually get injured]. Ray's is very physical, so keep up on your food/water. FYI, I normally despise Domino's Pizza, but the store that delivers to Ray's actually makes a halfway decent pie [or, maybe I'm just famished!]

Also, in the beginner area, there's an area where there are placed on the ground various arrangements of 2x6's, 2x12's, low-logs skinnies, etc. that will really get your head into the whole "Ray's" thing. If you can ride those skinnies that are sitting directly on the ground, there is no difference when you transition up to the intermediate and the expert areas. That said, there are some skinnies in the expert area that are no more difficult than the ones in the beginner area [just elevated a bit] - - it's 100% mental. That's the thing about Ray's, it will give your mind a huge workout, and you'll find that if you can tell the little voice in your head to shut-up for a few seconds, you'll be able to clean segments that you'd normally say "no way".

Try the Pump Track line - do a little research googling 'pump track' and the techniques involved to use body english to work the bike around a loop without even needing to pedal - it's incredibly gratifying to do so, as well as a killer workout!

Lastly, I'd recommend Fatheads Brewpub, for apres' Ray's festivities. Their smoked humongous Wings are simply the best I've ever had....and the home made beer is really nice too. It's impossible to have a bad day when hittin' Ray's. Oh, and lastly, try not to do THIS.......