Lurking in an unknown corner of North Carolina lies the smallest and sketchiest bike park in the southeast. A booster shot to prevent tetanus and a current medical insurance policy is mandatory however, common sense is optional. Due to the lifeless humidity of the air and a severe infestation of mosquitoes in the summer this park operates from early November through late March…or April…or May…or whenever the giant insects return. This year the park is better than ever with a massive one-tenth acre expansion including an extra pile of dirt on the lander of the main jump line, even more rusty nail filled construction debris to gap over, and a hip straight in to the adjoining creek side mosquito farm. Make sure you dress warm because the park staff only lights an oil drum full of toxic pressure treated wood scraps on fire for special events. If you’re the sensitive type you may want to find another place to ride. The staff at Nailz N’ Shankz prides itself on talking trash to any and every one on site. If you dare to ride without a pass beware of the vicious guard dogs on patrol at all times. They’ll be sure to alert the barefoot security guard to chase you down the road in his pajamas.
This was an extra special day at the park. Not only was it opening day but for the first time ever there was a sick jump competition complete with killer prizes! The weather was nice and chilly in the shadows of the woods. Needles to say the lone spectator at the event was amped to have a first row seat to the action. Necker, Mini-Boy, Uncle Ronnie, Steve-O, C-Los, OG, and yours truly enjoyed pushing our limits with blazing 10 second runs down the huge 25 foot gravel slope. All in all it was a great day of shredding and hurt feelings. So relax, kick back, and enjoy the pictures form an epic day of competition and opening festivities at the best little bike park in the world! Special props go out to our very own Nate Dogg for the photography on this one.

The heat and humidity of a North Carolina summer have lifted and the cool crisp air of fall has settled upon us. There’s no doubt that fall in the Pisgah National Forest is the crown jewel of the riding season. Those wild boys from Gastonia are no strangers to how good the riding is around Wilson’s so a few weeks ago we joined them for a day of ripping the local trails. We had a great group of fellers for this one; Guido, Wes, Morris, Mini Boy, Necker, OG, Steve-O, C-Los, Uncle Ronnie, and yours truly all showed up for the ride. We decided to hit up a classic peddler and set up a shuttle to run Greentown to Raiders to Harpers. It was classic Wilson’s fall riding at its best. The sky was blue with warm beams of sunshine spotlighting the trail. The leaves had begun to shed and the forest around us became visible again while the trail beneath us was covered with a colorful blanket of scattered leaves. This gave the turns a bit of drift and made things just sketchy enough in some spots to get the butterflies floating around in your stomach.
A trail like Greentown begs to ridden at full speed but all of us know better than to push things to hard at the beginning of a leaf covered ride at Wilson’s. It can quickly become a log ass way back to the truck if you get slammed hard toward the bottom of Greentown. All of us earned our turns climbing through the beautiful fall day up the backside of Greentown. Once we dropped in to Raiders the urge to hit warp speed in a couple of sections couldn’t be resisted. We were running the caravan of bikes so tight that it resulted in a few comical pile ups in the deep ruts. We were all laughing our asses off and having a blast. Flowing down Raiders in the cool mid-morning air feels like you’re standing in front of an air conditioner vent at full blast. Needless to say it doesn’t get much better than this. We finished up the ride with a quick fire road pedal back to the shuttle. A few of the guys had to get back into town to make it in time for work and a few of us stayed behind for another run. Props to all of the riders that showed up to make this a ride filled with all the things we love most about Wilson’s: s#!t talking, high fives, laughter, and ripping killer trails!

Every now and then a video clip surfaces that makes you want to drop everything you’re doing and ride. Enjoy this little jewel from Devinci bikes.