Info on RAYS MTB

BiknBen

Well-Known Member
I have a real urge to go out there. Is there a time of the winter that is better/less cowded? Do people pound the place this time of year and then it is slower later in the winter?

I'd love to go but I'm not a trick type rider. I'd rather have the place a little less crowded so I can make an ass of myself without dozens of people laughing at me. :rolleyes:
 

THATmanMANNY

Well-Known Member
jim I think i've watched that one before :rofl:
Got skillz tho brotha

I'm definately gonna post a caravan trip to rays in 09' :D
 

FFT

Gay & Stuffy
I'd love to go but I'm not a trick type rider. I'd rather have the place a little less crowded so I can make an ass of myself without dozens of people laughing at me. :rolleyes:

just go, it is worth the trip. The stunts start at 4" of the ground and grow. The jumps are as small as 18" gaps and grow as well. It is also cool to watch the bmxicans double whip flips and 3 everything in there.

But please lower the seatpost, thats the only thing that will attrack a good laugh.
 

sixseven

New Member
I have a real urge to go out there. Is there a time of the winter that is better/less cowded? Do people pound the place this time of year and then it is slower later in the winter?

I'd love to go but I'm not a trick type rider. I'd rather have the place a little less crowded so I can make an ass of myself without dozens of people laughing at me. :rolleyes:

You would love it Ben. I got in last night, checked in to the hotel and then went over to Rays. Got 4 hours of riding in, crashed out and got 4 hours in this morning. Plenty of stuff to do that is not about tricks. Tons of ladders, skinnies, jumps, pretty much anything you can think of but it is set up more like a gym. And the progression works like a gym, it happens pretty rapidly.

Like Manny said, you can hit it all and link up rides between the different sections. Mastering everything is another story.

It was getting crowded before I left for lunch today but it's not like it matters since there is so much space and so many lines. There is no waiting, only down time to catch your breath. You do one section and then hit another, even the beginner room is fun. The xc line is fast and fun, feels like 6 Mile but on wood. The jump lines are great and they have great tunes playing the whole time.
I'm no trixster either and I am having a blast.

Very cool vibe to the place, very friendly and it is great to see some of these kids whipping of insane tricks. Great to see whole families out together riding. All levels/types of riders going at it. This place is super fun.

Lower your seat post for sure.

Off now for an old man nap and then another 4 hours tonight. Repeat tomorrow.
 

Dusty the Whale

Mr.Chainsaw
i went out there in 03 to see a titans game...place is a ghost town, the cool place to go is the flats, thats where the bars are. tell everyone you see "the Browns are the same color as shit" they will love you
 

f2f4

New Member
Just got back from Columbus; spent about two weeks there.

I must have gone to Rays about five times. Only about a 2 hr drive; easier than going to Diablo from base! They have some FUN lines, and everyone is nice. They have a deal with Donatos/Dominoes (forget which) so you can have pizza delivered there for cheap.

If you have a hardtail, bring it and slam the saddle and throw on some good flats. If you have a park bike / DJ / BMX, even better. Singlespeed is by far preferable; less stuff to worry about! A lot of the place revolves around flow anyways; no need for granny.
If you have some icky full squish 3x9 bike... well, bring it anyways, but at least drop the saddle. :p

They rent out some really nice bikes for only $10 a day. I fell in love with the 21.5 BLKMRKT Three57, a dirtjump/urban hardtail. Prolly picking up one soon. They also rent GF hardtails, BMXs, a Predator, and even some full squish bikes (dunno why). Same price, and you can change bikes throughout the day as long as you don't do it too often.

Difficulty is nice, the beginner room progresses really well. The rest of the place is really well thought out. All the jumps are either tabletops or rollers, so you don't have to worry as much about clearing them all on the first try. Pump sections are amazing. People of all skills ride there, I saw a few families / old people, a lot of guys like me, some BMX pros and even ran into Lenosky (again?!? haha).
If you do BMX they have a really nice semi-secluded bowl, halfpipe, and grind room area. As well as huge jumps with a foam pit.

Everyone else is right about Cleveland, the rest of the city blows. Hard.
I was talking to the staff about expanding, trying to convince them to make a a place somewhere in Jersey or even NYC. They would make a killing.


Can't wait to go there again!
 
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don

Well-Known Member
Some info that he posted on RM from my buddy Scott who lives in Cleveland. Seems like there are a few things you can find to do if you're not riding.

Axis said:
Definetly check out

http://meltbarandgrilled.com it is not far from the rays hotel... the food is amazing, low cost and the beer selection is top notch. This is my neighborhood bar and I feel lucky to have such a cool place nearby.

There are two private skateparks.. one of which is fairly close to the hotel you should check out. http://www.chenga.cc/

Places to check out closer to DT would be the great lakes brewery and the ohio city area, little italy and the treemont area. There isn't much to see IMHO in DT but the warehouse district (w6th and lakeside has a few good bars)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_Ci..._County),_Ohio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Italy,_Cleveland


Axis said:
Oh as an FYI the locals mainly post on http"//spokejunkies.com int he RaysMTB forum.

Also check this thread as it looks like a lot of SJ peeps will be riding Rays on Jan 31st. Most SJ are xc riders - fyi.

http://www.spokejunkies.com/forum/i...o. [url]http://www.myspace.com/nowthatsclass
this place has some indoor ramps on the stage side of the building... menat for skaterboards but they could care less if you want to ride bikes on them... if you go on a Thurday you get a free beer (any beer) for riding your bike there... just bring it in. This is the epicenter of fixed gear culture in Cleveland too.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endID=81558717
this place had a mini ramp inside too... think it's gone not sure but bike were cool there too.

http://www.myspace.com/thehificoncertclub
This place is owned by the guys in Warrant. Yes you might see Jani Lane flipping burgers oir serving brews. Don't start singing Cherry Pie. Just warning you. It is a cool place.

The live music at these joints normally really good. Mostly bands like the black keys, black lips the selmanairs etc.
 

don

Well-Known Member
I was talking to the staff about expanding, trying to convince them to make a a place somewhere in Jersey or even NYC. They would make a killing.

Can't wait to go there again!

Sounds like you had a great time. I've talked to Ray about a place in the metro NYC. Didn't sound like he would want to do a Ray's II or anything but had a bunch of info for someone that would want to do it on there own. The main thing is real estate costs in the NY/NJ area compared to OH. Somewhere around $1 Sq/Ft vs. the $10+ in our area.
 

dhsean

Member
Back in the day - son!

Dam, that's from the way back machine. It's super double size girthy Jim and stiff jumping Sean. I'm pretty sure I got a little more style and hip movement in the jumps now but I still suck at the skinnies and Jim got stupid fast. Jim, post the video of our pump track wars.

By the way, February 20, 21, 22 is ladies weekend at Ray's. I hear it is fun for the guys and girls.
 

Steve Vai

Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
my girlfriend said the band in the clip was yours...

Yeppers. That's from when I played in HALO-GEN(eration). Your girl was nice enough to take many photos of us, like this one, where I'm like sooo mean:D

n1291834825_167985_9281.jpg


-Jim.
 

don

Well-Known Member
according to a post on Ridemonkey, Taj literally jumped thru the rafters on at the Odd Couple contest. His teammate was Lenosky

Per Scott/Axis:

Taj jumped through the rafters (and heater) launching from the spine in the subaru park and landing on the vert wall.

Sounds bee-nanas - I've ridden that spine just floating a foot or 2 float over it... I cannot imagine what the hell he did to do what Axis is describing.

Once I find the vid of it I'll post here. Even with that I think move Jeff and Taj only got 2nd place.
 
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