Luge (Loop 2)   (1.15km)

Notes:

Luge is simply the next stage of Skyline but the trails are worlds apart.  While Skyline was a long, straightish, flowy, pumpy, fast, trail Luge is well .. like a luge track.

Large banked corners rolling into more large banked corners, rolling into more large banked corners .. a small respite .. more large banked corners.  I think you get the picture - Luge is about large banked corners.

I'd never ridden a trail like this before and it highlighted pretty quickly how bad my cornering skills were.  It is however an exceptional track to practice on.  At the time of riding the berms were perfectly groomed giving me far more confidence to get off the brakes and try to get my body positioning right .. try being the operative word.

In the most part the turns are well spaced but there are some occasions where the trail flips from one berm to the next.  It certainly keeps you on your toes.  There are some small straights between the corners that give you a chance to relax however these sections often have challenges of their own in the form of rollers, rocks or A-B lines.

At the time of riding the trail was still damp, so grip was pretty good.  I'd rode it previously in summer when the dry dusty trail was quite slippery and drifting to the edges meant certain carnage .. it took it's share of blood from The Boy.

Luge requires a lot of energy and concentration which can be hard to find after the long climb up and long descent through Skyline.  I recommend taking a break at the Bridge to recharge so you can enjoy Luge's super fun features.

Blog articles that mention this trail

• 27/2/2016 - VIDEO: Top XC Rides of 2014/2015
• 28/6/2015 - VIDEO: 365 Days of Reign - The Third (year of serious mountain biking)
• 1/1/2015 - VIDEO: MTB-TVs TOP 10 Descents of 2014
• 10/12/2014 - VIDEO: Return to the Redwoods Part I - We're Going To The Redwoods
• 7/9/2014 - Broken Bone on Breakout
• 22/2/2014 - VIDEO: Rotorua Redwoods - Create Breathing Space
• 1/1/2014 - 2013 Another Year of #FAIL
• 28/12/2013 - We're going to ride the Rotorua Redwoods
• 3/7/2013 - STROMLO BABY! The Trail Gods come good

Comments: