Hi Everyone.

NB SORRY Please disregard this post, tried in free course did not work sent me back to inner ruins area, then the penny dropped any dive off will usually send you back to close to the last flag u got or in free course close to the area you fell off or plummeted from....serves me right for getting over excited

Auldnewbie

I'm a complete novice 11/2 months but addicted to the cycling, I have been reading the forum & watching you tube vid's of the balloon runs etc and getting loads of helpfull info for the last few weeks, has helped me get down from using almost the entire 30mins down to just 21mins-so I stand in awe of the times I have read about from some of the members!
I decided today to spend time at the ruins in the expert course trying to suss out if there was a shortcut down, well just to the left of the ramp to ruins, the roped fenced ends, and I wondered if it was like many of the other plummets at the end of the fences ie on to the s shaped ledge.

I went off the edge as close to the end of fence as possible (bearing left) and i plummeted an came out ON THE BLACKTOP ROAD!!
As a complete novice who is not great at handling the bike brakes etc. I couldn't replicate it tried countless times, it takes me a while and number of attempts to use some of the documented plummets...

Can any of the experts give it a try.....I'd love to know if its a workable shortcut from the ruins

Many Thanks
Auldnewbie

Hi, kind of late to find your post, but I can't disregard completely. I want to go mountain biking/slickrocking around the island, and get to some places that can't be accessed. The only possible spots I've found are on the rock slopes around the ruins.

Will try to get some pictures of some of the unusual stuff that has happened. Just can't get enough power to get to climable spots, or jump up to various ledges that might be climable or descendable.

Keep me posted as you cycle on. I'm toning up, but not losing a lot of weight. try to cycle as much as possible.

Here is a video I posted. Kind of interesting, doesn't necessarily mean anything, maybe just weird. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDLOKCgDTlg

It might be like the Duckling Lake jump, then. For those who can get it once, or even twice (ahem), that is great, but don't count on it ever again.

Describe the duckling lake jump, paleeeze? Anyone....anyone? I know it's buried in the archives, but...

Maybe a video?

I would make you a video but I'm not in a place to do so right now.

Here is Ol' bil's catalogue of cycling jumps, etc :http://www.a1a.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Right, thanks for the link. Got the starting point figured out, I think. Ended my run at the green between Hump Rock and the castle, facing the castle.

At the end of my run, going back topside, I detoured to the dead end, picked up a pet, and took it along to the end point. Wonder if it will be there at the start? Kind of handy for hitting that first balloon.

Now if I can just pick up the pet at the first town balloon...

additional information: reviewed the Duckling Lake jump, with several postings showing the approaches from both directions, made it several times. Fun, but I can't make it predictable. The jump to the dry lake bed and the red iron bridge jumps are my only achievements.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the information and friendly competition. I'm really eating dust, but it's great to keep improving a few seconds at a time.

The Duckling Lake jump we usually talk about is NOT on Porquai's video, just so you know. It is a jump down to the ledge with the balloon and then Dog's Leap ledge. It is useless on Didi's route, but might make for a different good route if it were not nearly impossible to do. Someone made pictures of their fall on that one. Is that the one you've done so often? I must retain my crown.

Someone made pictures of their fall on that one. Is that the one you've done so often? I must retain my crown. [/quote]

Right. I've used the pictures as a cheat helper, been able to make it after several passes, but it hasn't proved helpful for any speed attempts. Too unpredictable, doesn't seem to give an advantage since I lose the pet.

Made a speed attempt from the highest green where the volcano entrance is blocked off, picked up the pet there, got to the castle, but the pet didn't seem to help with that balloon, so I debated going over the edge after the lake balloon, but decided to keep the pet and head down the tunnel, then ditched on the underground bridge and lost the pet anyway!

This run was surprisingly fast in spite of the lost pet, which would have been helpful all around, but the DiDi route gives the best results so far. I am still in the 18:40 range, and having some trouble with my left knee, so trying to favor that knee and still make some runs.