SPOILER ALERT: free cycling speed balloons under 15 minutes

porquai · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:46 pm **Posts:** 126

Quote:

Ok, lets go over this again, I don't get it. I leave the dry lake bed, jump off the ledge by the fence (my preferred route) and head towards the balloon on s ledge. After popping the balloon on the s ledge I continue on (the view is of the lighthouse and windmills in the distance) slightly right following the rock wall and go over the ledge keeping my front wheel to the left and I should end up on the lower road heading towards the waterfall? If this is right a screen shot of the drop off point would be helpful as I just keep up being on the ledge heading for where the balloon used to be.
Usually after popping the balloon I turn sharply, follow ledge to start of fence and drop off, landing on road below heading toward waterfall keeping wheel to left and head towards balloon by the bridge.
Using your spot I dropped off everywhere along the cliff but couldn't get it to work. Is this spot as finnicky as the one at the start of the ride onto the saddle rock (though I can't do it either and even if I could, can't see the advantage of)

Yup, it sounds like you got it right.

The trigger for this moves around and can be anywhere between the rock wall and into the next darker green stripe.

I usually have the best chance of hitting it by following the rock wall, braking and going slow and turning to the left just before dropping off the cliff.

Some days it just doesn't seem to be there. Pretty much like the Duckling Lake shortcut in ease of access.

I've hit it the first time quite a lot in practice. Just hasn't happened during a real run yet.

jvv · **Posted:** Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:50 pm

So you are trying to win by having me beat my head against the rock wall and jumping fruitlessly over the cliff :-)

I've been here before, I think it was called the Duckling lake Drop and my Mii still has bruises :-)

But I will keep trying for awhile.....

porquai · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:46 pm **Posts:** 126

I had a slow start today so tried the plunge but only got it on do-over #5. I did a circuit and then tried it again and got it on do-over #2.

Where I am at now, shaving seconds is what's left. Like hitting a rock wall. This looks like my best bet to get a much better time.

Yesterday I was at 28:08 at the top green (I have been pushing the speed around the castle) so I did a regular circuit but pushed the speed limit too much and got the slows at times. I beat my best by .02 seconds.

kescah · **Posted:** Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:03 am

porquai wrote:

Just to be sure we've got the count straight for the beginning of the course, ahem (pompously): :ugeek:

1- After popping the first balloon, you return and ride the lakeside ledge of hump rock, negotiate the notch in the middle, ride up the small hump on the other side and plunge into the lake and resurrect on the road to the castle.

2- Ride up the road a short distance, plunge off the cliff and resurrect on the drawbridge. Negotiate the castle clockwise and pop the balloon and exit left.

3- Keep going straight and then the road curves to the left. You go up the road a smidge and plunge off the cliff and resurrect farther up the road.

4- Ride up the road and curve to the right and, when the sun is in your face, plunge off the cliff and resurrect on the first green patch and pop the balloon.

5- Ride up the road until you come to the cheering Miis and plunge off the cliff and resurrect on the top grassy patch. You then descend and plunge to the dry lake bed.

2) Hmmm, did it but the clock keeps going, so I don't see how you gain time. But then you are faster than I so I shouldn't argue it.
3) Where do you go off the cliff? I tried various places but found no advantageous ones.
4) That is better than where I was going off the cliff before, just before the grass, which didn't save much time.
5) This was new to me and very helpful! Thanks!

I also tried the jump off the s shaped ledge at the beginning of the lower fence and got the right spot once in a dozen tries. :mrgreen:

Is it that hard for you, or do you know the exact spot?

jvv · **Posted:** Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:29 am

I know what you are saying porquai, once you get to a certain point there seems little speed to be gained and it is quite difficult actually to repeat your fastest time sometimes. We have to just keep looking at areas where we can improve and see what happens. When I had my best time I could actually see the possibility of getting below 15 minutes but it will take some work. I usually have to fine tune the shortcuts to determine the exact best spot to exicute them for best advantage.

kescah · **Posted:** Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:35 am

Maybe they will upgrade again and new challenges will appear on the island. That would be nice.

porquai · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:46 pm **Posts:** 126

Quote:

2) Hmmm, did it but the clock keeps going, so I don't see how you gain time. But then you are faster than I so I shouldn't argue it.
3) Where do you go off the cliff? I tried various places but found no advantageous ones.

Best to practice and find the closest spot where the plunge works. On 3, I line up with end of the cliff that can be seen in the distance as you go around the left hand curve and pedal up the road. Hope that helps

Quote:

I also tried the jump off the s shaped ledge at the beginning of the lower fence and got the right spot once in a dozen tries. :mrgreen:

Is it that hard for you, or do you know the exact spot?

I sometimes miss it. It takes practice. You need to be going at a good speed and just miss the beginning of the fence as you keep as close to parallel to the cliff face as you can.

kescah · **Posted:** Wed Nov 24, 2010 6:54 pm

Thanks!

porquai · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 11:46 pm **Posts:** 126

A new record for me - 15:21.

It was a pretty good run. I was only at 28:06 at the top green and I did hit a bit of the ledge when approaching the small ledge next to the steel ramp tunnel; that slowed me a bit. No warnings for going too fast.

I did make some seemingly trivial shortcuts on the route which must have helped. I am only making trivial improvements to my record, after all.

I can see the teens on the horizon.

kescah · **Posted:** Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:37 am

Well you can't see me at all cuz I am way behind you. :shock:

Congrats on your sliver of improvement. I hope you can keep improving- the challenge is nice.

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SPOILER ALERT: free cycling speed balloons under 15 minutes