01.16.14 #KDMSHREDSESH

Well this road trip started at 8pm on Thursday January 16th when 3 friends hopped in a car and traveled North. It began as a Facebook event labeled Shred Sesh at Ray's MTB Park and turned into a trip I will never forget.

The car was packed with bags and bikes were securely posted on the bike rack for the 8 hour drive north to Charlotte, NC where we pick up our 4th passenger. With tons of good music and story telling we arrived in NC at 6am.

 We loaded up our final passenger and then the car was officially full. This photo shows everyone was on board for this road trip from (Left to Right) Tyler Clark, Jacob Teer, Britney "Betty" White, and me Carley Young. Friends joined by bikes we were ready to keep the miles going towards Pittsburgh, PA. Amped up to ride we blasted thru 8 more hours with ease excited to ride at The Wheel Mill. We arrived at the park on Hamilton Ave at 3pm so excited we ran into the park, got everyone signed in and took a quick tour.

Came back out to get our bikes and met the Halahan Family by the car! Lukas, Nathan, Shane, Jen and baby Kaci were all ready to get this day started with us. It just happened to be baby Kaci's 1st birthday that day we were so pumped to be able to be there for her birthday. We just couldn't get enough of that park we rode from 3pm till about 8pm non stop. Endless laps at the pump track and the Jump Room with the best wooden trails you could ask for. With a park big enough I didn't see my road trip buddies for hours we were all shredding something different. I was excited to ride the new pump track as I have not been there since the summer and they were still fundraising for it.

All their hard work paid off man that place is not even a year old and they are killing it with an amazing indoor park that is for any and all skill levels. We ended our session with an amazing group photo of some of the raddest little shredders. The Halahan clan Nathan, Shane and Lukas and Domi Crowley who impressed me the most with ramping a spine and getting it in the jump room just sending the lips to the moon! Nothing makes me smile more then seeing little kids just stepping up their game and riding like the pros. If you have never been out there look at your schedule and plan a trip with some homies you won't be disappointed! www.thewheelmill.com and make sure you like them on facebook www.facebook.com/thewheelmill @thewheelmill on Instagram

 

Tyler Clark going big on the wall ride and flare on one of the smallest ramps in the park. 

Check me out getting some style in the jump room!

From there we headed to the new Halahan Compond located right outside of the city of Pittsburgh, PA. With a growing family the Halahans bought a sweet 9 acre property with a house that is perfect for them.

We got back from a long day of riding got showered to get rid of the knee pad smell and 16 hour car ride for our bodies we sat down as a giant family and watched Despicable Me 2. Laughter always good for the soul we ended the night snuggled up on the coach by the fire with one of the best families in BMX. We woke up as early as our bodies would allow Saturday with plans of heading to Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park in Cleveland, OH.

When we woke up the grounds were covered with a beautiful snow cap. As we loaded the car we were instantly distracted by natures beauty and Jacob Teer pulled out his camera and made some magic.We were running around like little kids in the snow siked on life that we were in such a beautiful environment. The Halahans watched from the window a lot warmer then us as we were running around getting rowdy in the snow.

Once we were done capturing our witty personalities in the snow we warmed up the wagon and got on the road. PA Turnpike heading to Ray's we were singing and dancing having a good times. We made a quick stop for gas where the question was asked "Excuse me do you think I'm attractive" and this became a quote for the weekend. Good times at the rest area showing the general public how BMXers like to act in public! Getting back on the road I was excited to take Jacob and Tyler to Ray's as they have never experienced it's awesomeness before. With our quick stop at a rest area we made it to Cleveland, OH in about 2 hours. Arriving we were greeted with many familiar faces as we were about 4 hours late to everyone else who had been there since they opened, but sometimes road trips have add in's! Who couldn't resist those photos we took in the snow!!!

Getting checked in was a breeze and we found a spot where we all could sit and instantly began to shred. I was so stoked to see the new changes the new cross country (green line) is so dope with the big boxes in the back you can seriously go full speed thru that section wrist dropped 5th geared pinned and blast those to the moon! We stopped to eat later in the day and took a group photo of some of the kids who came out to ride with the Kid Dyanmite team. We had more kids who were riding at the park we just didn't get the word out in time and we had some people leaving so we were able to get a half group shot.

When i created the event on Facebook we had 30+ people respond that they were going to attend and I wanna say we had about 40 riders in Kid Dynamite shirts just shredding. I am so thankful for everyone who came out and had a good time at Ray's. Some of them it was their first time and some were returning but everyone had a blast and other then a few bumps and bruises there was no injuries. The best thing about this trip was we had kids as young as 5 and riders as old as 30 and there was something for everyone to do a the park and no one felt left out and we rode every line!

After an amazing session of riding we rode until about 8pm bodies tired we were hungry for some grub. My good friends Gretchen and JT were nice enough to let us stay at their crib this weekend to cut costs and make our trip that much more awesome. They took us to a local spot called The Melt not far from their place. We devoured some delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and fries then got some much needed rest for another jam packed day of riding the following day. Sunday we woke up and met our friends at the park around 11am. Siked we were able to sit in the same spot again we got stretched out and ready to ride. More Kid Dynamite riders showed up on Sunday that was awesome to see.

Another successful day of riding without injuries and big tricks thrown we were all siked to be riding inside in short sleeve shirts. Last group photo was taken about 1pm when the Halahan family had to get on the road this photo says it all. Tons of smiles and good vibes this was our crew and I was thankful everyone was able to make it out to this #kdmshredsesh at Ray's MTB. I must say the KDM family is a good looking group of riders. Make sure you check out www.raysmtb.com and like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/raysindoorbikepark @raysmtb on Instagram

Shredding the day away we left the park at about 8pm again where we headed to a local spot for dinner by our good friend's hotel. The restaurant was called the Harry Buffalo and man was it perfect for a group of rowdy bmxers. We ordered our food and were telling good stories from the weekend. Some good jams came on the speakers and Jacob, Jase and myself showed Cleveland how to get down in the lobby of a restaurant as we had our own Kid Dynamite dance party loud and proud.

Getting down to the jams we had the locals in shock of our sweet dance moves. Our waiter ended up being one of the coolest people we ever met so pumped on our energy and even Kid Dynamite. Before we left for the night both him and his girlfriend has purchased some KDM gear to rock in the 216. This was a long day so we headed back to Gretchen and JT's place where we watched B White break it down with her band! It was really cool because other then hearing her jam on it with her ukelele I never knew she was so passionate about music. Her old band got together and were jamming with all their hearts like they have not been apart for almost a year.

As we settled into bed I thought how thankful I am to have all these people in my life. A week ago I was feared I was not going to be attend the event I planned because I did not have a car full of people to make it affordable to go. Last minute we got Tyler and Jesus on board to come and B White had her seat on lock from the beginning. We woke up with plans of having a snowball fight with Binny, Jase and JonPFun but due to time we had to go our separate ways back to NC. We stopped about an hour from Cleveland, OH at a TGIF for lunch and met another amazing waitress and hostess.

 Me and Britney had to take a photo with him before we left! We have made some amazing friends while on this trip just being open with people in public and talking to complete strangers! Tyler and Jacob developed a bromance while on this trip and decided to share their food. We always remembered to smile and have a good time and make the world a place. The positive energy we had in our group of friends all weekend was amazing. Like Binny and Jase we were super pumped they were able to make it up this weekend to shred with us!

The rest of the road trip went like so we drove from Cleveland, OH to Charlotte, NC with plans to dance the night away but when we made it to Charlotte we were tired and spent the night at a friends house with good vibes and smiles all around. Britney got to play her ukelele and sing her rap cover songs that rock the boys partied and I got to tear it up on an endo board. 

Thanks to Jacob for the place to stay that night it was nice getting some rest before continuing our journey South to Florida. When we woke Tuesday we stopped in Ballantyne, NC for a delicious breakfast at the Terrace Cafe thanks to my good friends Mel and Ryan Adams for always taking great care of me and my friends. We shared a delicious Red Velvet Waffle that was to die for!!!

Charlotte is such a beautiful city I can't wait till I return in April. From there we drove 8 hours to Spring Hill, FL where my parents live and Tyler and Britney both had an additional drive home. We said our goodbyes took our last bathroom selfie and they got on the road. Got texts from them that they arrived home safe and I passed out!

Well the trip has come to an end and I want to say Thank You to everyone who made this trip possible. Thanks to my friends Tyler, Britney and Jacob for being in a car for a crazy amount of hours and none of us tried to kill one another.

Thanks to Mike and Jen, Gretchen and TJ, and Jacob for the places to rest our heads during our road trip. Make sure to follow my friends on Instagram Tyler @thetylerclark Britney @velolust Jacob @teerdrops Big thanks to Murphy Moschetta for taking photos of me at The Wheel Mill, and Jacob Teer for all his amazing photos and the rest of the photos were taken with Britney, Tyler, and my phones. Make sure you like Jacob's Photography Page www.facebook.com/BackPocketProductions  Thanks to The Wheel Mill and Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park for giving us amazing places to ride. Thanks to all my friends who came out to the parks and rode with us we had a blast. Thanks to Jen Binns and Jen Halahan for helping me with the Kid Dynamite stuff during the weekend and being amazing BMX mom's as always.

Big Thanks to all my sponsors who make my riding all possible Kid Dynamite, Dans Comp, Ride Like A Girl, 24Seven Design Lab, Fly Racing, Novik Gloves, Alienation Rims, Stealth Hubs, Plus Size BMX, and Juice Plus.

 

 Until next time...........