Official mountain biking thread

13723054:californiagrown said:
Bellingham is the best place in the states to mountain bike, IMO. But, you want a local to show you the goods, because most of the really, really good stuff is "secret" trails on timber company land.

Loam doesn't exist on popular legal trail systems.

I feel like Oregon has SOOO much potential, but no one ever digs and creates these badass unsanctioned trail systems that seem so numerous one state up.
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Yeah I don't get it it. Maybe I just don't know the right people. I still have to go ride wildcat. Heard thats nice and loamy and steep. I drive by it every time I go to bham to ride
 
13723054:californiagrown said:
Bellingham is the best place in the states to mountain bike, IMO. But, you want a local to show you the goods, because most of the really, really good stuff is "secret" trails on timber company land.

Loam doesn't exist on popular legal trail systems.

I feel like Oregon has SOOO much potential, but no one ever digs and creates these badass unsanctioned trail systems that seem so numerous one state up.
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yeah, i need to get up to bham the problem is it's so far out of the way for me. one of these days i'll get up there.

there are decent trails in the post canyon trail system out of hood river. built jumps/berms and everything from small rollers to godzilla size gap jumps. it's on county owned land so it's all sanctioned/signed/etc.

the other issue is i think about 10 years ago these spots were probably really sick because they were largely unknown and you could ride and have the place to yourself...days like that are largely gone in oregon.

but yeah i agree with you, oregon does have a lot of potential the forest service down here has bigger fish to fry than building kickers for jackoff mountain bikers to wreck themselves on. they gotta be overwhelmed with the recent population growth.
 
13723073:GANDALF said:
Yeah I don't get it it. Maybe I just don't know the right people. I still have to go ride wildcat. Heard thats nice and loamy and steep. I drive by it every time I go to bham to ride
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it's pretty sick, probably the closest to bham loam gnarliness you'll get in the area. short and steep. one big jump. rode it about a month ago and the ruts were starting to get a bit sporty but i was on my 26 so i think that was part of the problem
 
13723076:howlongcanausern said:
it's pretty sick, probably the closest to bham loam gnarliness you'll get in the area. short and steep. one big jump. rode it about a month ago and the ruts were starting to get a bit sporty but i was on my 26 so i think that was part of the problem
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Let's go ride it! I need to find some like-minded bikers around here. It's only a couple hours away for me.

and yeah oakridge is over rated as fuck. I had that same feeling of, "ok when is it gonna get good?" Then I was at the bottom.
 
13723073:GANDALF said:
Yeah I don't get it it. Maybe I just don't know the right people. I still have to go ride wildcat. Heard thats nice and loamy and steep. I drive by it every time I go to bham to ride
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It's a lot of meeting the right people I feel like. If I didn't switch companies a year ago and randomly start working with one of the more well connected guys in the area I wouldn't know about anything other than the legal popular spots. I lucked out. You will too probably.

Jumps are fun, but my favorite trails are anything like the trails you had pictured above. That's the kinda stuff that gets my rocks off.

Btw, how do you like the fannypack? My backpack is falling apart and I'm thinking about just throwing a bottle cage on the bike and getting a fanny pack for my tools and maybe an extra bottle.
 
13723097:californiagrown said:
It's a lot of meeting the right people I feel like. If I didn't switch companies a year ago and randomly start working with one of the more well connected guys in the area I wouldn't know about anything other than the legal popular spots. I lucked out. You will too probably.

Jumps are fun, but my favorite trails are anything like the trails you had pictured above. That's the kinda stuff that gets my rocks off.

Btw, how do you like the fannypack? My backpack is falling apart and I'm thinking about just throwing a bottle cage on the bike and getting a fanny pack for my tools and maybe an extra bottle.
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Yeah I don't need jumps to get off. Fast, loose, loamy and raw are just the way I like it:)

Fanny pack is great. It's perfect for quick shuttle laps or short rides. I have a camelback for longer ones. I need a bottle cage for my bike tho.
 
13723074:howlongcanausern said:
there are decent trails in the post canyon trail system out of hood river. built jumps/berms and everything from small rollers to godzilla size gap jumps. it's on county owned land so it's all sanctioned/signed/etc.

the other issue is i think about 10 years ago these spots were probably really sick because they were largely unknown and you could ride and have the place to yourself...days like that are largely gone in oregon.

but yeah i agree with you, oregon does have a lot of potential the forest service down here has bigger fish to fry than building kickers for jackoff mountain bikers to wreck themselves on. they gotta be overwhelmed with the recent population growth.
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Was gonna mention Post Canyon. Really well built trails there. Comparable, if not better, to some of the stuff I've ridden in Bellingham and Squamish.

10 years ago there were far less people riding mtb, and flow trails hardly existed. With popularity comes money and more people to lobby for more trails, ect. Catch 22.
 
MN north shore riders (Tinga and Allen) tell me which trails need to be hit for a short stint in Duluth.

One day at Spirit is planned, but I want to hear about the newer trails around town that didn't exist the last time I rode in the area.
 
13724039:division.bell said:
MN north shore riders (Tinga and Allen) tell me which trails need to be hit for a short stint in Duluth.

One day at Spirit is planned, but I want to hear about the newer trails around town that didn't exist the last time I rode in the area.
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you're going to want to hit piedmont and brewer for sure. Thats where all the gnarly gnar lives.

Lester is also one of the better trails in town. It's not techy or steep or anything but fast and flowy for sure.

Hartley got destroyed and wasnt worth visiting to begin with. Mission creek is pretty far out and would be the third trail system to visit if you have the time. But If you are riding spirit and piedmont/brewer as well as lester you should be destroyed before you get to mission.
 
Christ are there any east coast bikers here? Where do people like to ride in northern NE? How about VT?

And all you guys complaining about how you can only access 50 trails from your front door and not 100 or that the best trails around couldn't possibly be XC cuz who even likes that cuz trails aren't worth riding if you have to (God forbid) pick a line through a turn can fuck right on off so those of us who don't take our local trails for granted can thrive. Move to the east coast where driving to good trails is the norm and then maybe you'll appreciate them. /endrant /partialsarcasm /partialjealously /partialyousoundlikeadouche
 
13724623:CheddarJack said:
Christ are there any east coast bikers here? Where do people like to ride in northern NE? How about VT?

And all you guys complaining about how you can only access 50 trails from your front door and not 100 or that the best trails around couldn't possibly be XC cuz who even likes that cuz trails aren't worth riding if you have to (God forbid) pick a line through a turn can fuck right on off so those of us who don't take our local trails for granted can thrive. Move to the east coast where driving to good trails is the norm and then maybe you'll appreciate them. /endrant /partialsarcasm /partialjealously /partialyousoundlikeadouche
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I'm on Long Island, so I ride this short trail a lot called Stillwell Woods and one time I went to Kingdom Trails in VT
 
13724623:CheddarJack said:
Christ are there any east coast bikers here? Where do people like to ride in northern NE? How about VT?
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I live in the Austrian Alps now, and don't get me wrong the riding is amazing, but I definitely miss riding the trails in Northern Vermont/Quebec. The trails, the trail crews, and the overall network is something that blows Austria out of the water. Austria hasn't quite figured out how to make good trails that go up (it's mainly riding fire roads up and trails down).
 
13724623:CheddarJack said:
Christ are there any east coast bikers here? Where do people like to ride in northern NE? How about VT?

And all you guys complaining about how you can only access 50 trails from your front door and not 100 or that the best trails around couldn't possibly be XC cuz who even likes that cuz trails aren't worth riding if you have to (God forbid) pick a line through a turn can fuck right on off so those of us who don't take our local trails for granted can thrive. Move to the east coast where driving to good trails is the norm and then maybe you'll appreciate them. /endrant /partialsarcasm /partialjealously /partialyousoundlikeadouche
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Rode the North Creek Ski bowl on Thursday, Pine Hill Park in Rutland yesterday. Riding Gurney Lane in Lake George today. Heading to the Lake Placid area to ride tomorrow.

In New York...

The Lake Placid area trails are blowing up thanks to BETA. Check out Craigwood and Otis if you head over that way. Mt Pisgah is good but some of the bigger freeride stuff is really sketchy. If you're looking for more traditional XC stuff with climbing, head to the flume trails. Less climbing, but a bit more modern with man made features check out the Lussi/Loggers area. Shuttleable DH, look for the Poor Man's Downhill or PMD. Maps are available at local bike shops (Leapoff, Placid Planet)

SMBA has the classic old school XC behind the Skidmore College Stables.

Pretty uneventful flow trails down in Luther's Forest.

Haven't checked out the Pittstown trails that are East of Albany, but I've heard good things.

Wilderness Property Management has been working on public parks at the Ski Bowl in North Creek (Gore Mountain) and Gurney Lane (Queensbury town parks & Rec) and is scheduled to start one behind the HUB mtb shop/brew pub in Lake George.

Ski Bowl has a bit more climbing but well built with a good mix of flow and tech. Not much in the way of freeride features for any of WPM's stuff, though.

Gurney Lane had some pretty basic had build trails on the "social network" side - Home page, twitter, and tumbler. Take Excalibur across and you're into the machine built flow trails with some good alternate lines and features.

In Vermont...

Pine Hill Park is rad - a good mix of flow and techy stuff. Pretty expansive network. Climbs are generally well built.

Never been to the Kingdom trails, but I hear nothing but good stuff about them. I think it's a few $$ just for area access, though. Same with Millstone.

The Green Mountain trails on rt 100, North of Killington are well built and free. You're greeted with a 1000 ft climb right out of the gate, but it's machine built to a sustainable grade. Don't lose half your vert by going straight down a double track work road.

The STAB trails rode pretty well. Not much in the way of freeride features but a good, big network of trails in S VT.

The Putney School north of Brattleboro has a pretty decent trail network of techy xc.

I've ridden Kimmers out of Stowe. I don't remember much about it, but there seemed to be a healthy dose of trails in the region.

I grew up in the Saratoga area, spent the past few summers riding around the ADKs and a bit of Vermont. Gravity Logic, the same company who built the Whistler Bike Park and the Squamish area trails, built the Killington Bike Park and a few trails down at Windham. If I didn't stay out West after this winter I would have bought a season's pass, but I probably would've needed to buy a bigger bike, because a '11 Stumpjumper isn't exactly built to survive DH.

Was riding DJ and urban on a 26er before I got my drivers license and took a hiatus from the bike scene. I have spent a lot of my time on old school style hand built techy trails, but a lot of the new stuff being built is super manicured machine built stuff. When it's good, it's really good, and that's kind of what you need when you're getting into airs and massive berms. I've both built and ridden stuff that isn't exactly professionally mapped (and even some that is), and there is a notable difference. It really sucks to send it and get into a corner that's way too tight or send you off trail into trees. Riding a lift served bike park that gets routine repairs is amazing, but there just isn't a lot of people who know how to do it correctly that are willing to volunteer to do it for public parks. Most of the trail building companies get contracts for the initial build, but not maintenance. At about $1000 per 1/10 mile, the true professional stuff is hard to come by.

Not everywhere in the west has perfect trails nor can be accessed right out the door. The good places are pretty far apart, but people seem to be willing to travel more for destination riding out there. I put about 4000 miles on my car over four separate trips this spring. Twice from Salt Lake to Zion/Springdale, Once from Salt Lake to Moab/Fruita, then headed the opposite direction towards Hood and Bend, and another from Eastern Oregon to Leavenworth, Squamish, Whistler, Bellingham, and Hood area. Sure, there are lots of people who live locally who ride there a lot, but there were many people from pretttty far away, too.
 
13722402:GANDALF said:
The dirt - in bend, it's sand with lots of volcanic rock. A lot of places kinda feel like the beach. Bend is High desert so there is not a ton of moisture. Bham has some of the best dirt in the country.

The terrain - it's pretty flat here. The downhills are very pedally. Nothing steep and everything is pretttttty mellow and buffed out. I'm not much of a bike park guy, but I've been spending most the summer riding bachelor because it's at least got some more challenging and faster/ steeper things to ride. That being said it's pretty pedally for a bike park.

The trails - old school. There are a couple more "newschool" trails like tiddlywinks, and some parts of Tyler's traverse, but lots of old school xc.

I've seen lots of areas here in bend where there is tons of potential for some good downhills. But apprantly the forest service is not stoked on it. Same with building wood features on trails. The dirt is really hard to work with so I don't know why there isn't more wood on the trails.

I just never really get that "holy shit I was ripping" feeling.

I probably sound super salty in this post, but look at where I moved from. It's hard to beat. I still have fun riding here and I still ride, but it's just not my style.
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Hahaha, this post is awesome. Currently chilling in my hotel room here in Bend...looking forward to riding in the heat tomorrow morning.

While I do love riding here in Bend, I only do so because I don't live here. It's not what I'm used to riding in WA either, but that's what keeps it interesting I think.

If you're down to ride over the next few days hit me up.
 
13724889:tBatt said:
Never been to the Kingdom trails, but I hear nothing but good stuff about them. I think it's a few $$ just for area access, though. Same with Millstone.
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It's well worth the $15, its an insane amount of trails, especially for the Northeast

kt-map1-1024x789.jpg
 
13723118:GANDALF said:
Yeah I don't need jumps to get off. Fast, loose, loamy and raw are just the way I like it:)

Fanny pack is great. It's perfect for quick shuttle laps or short rides. I have a camelback for longer ones. I need a bottle cage for my bike tho.
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We done made the begginings of a jump trail out there at the gated hunting zone!

Spent Saturday in whistler, then drove down and stayed with a buddy in bham so we could ride that zone all Sunday. The "new jump line" is probably the funnest trail ever now. Only two 15-20 ft gap doubles, and a whole bunch of long and lows and built up natural step downs with never ending landings. Silly fun. Dirt was all time, but there was probably 5full time shuttle trucks going the whole day... was packed.
 
13727620:californiagrown said:
We done made the begginings of a jump trail out there at the gated hunting zone!

Spent Saturday in whistler, then drove down and stayed with a buddy in bham so we could ride that zone all Sunday. The "new jump line" is probably the funnest trail ever now. Only two 15-20 ft gap doubles, and a whole bunch of long and lows and built up natural step downs with never ending landings. Silly fun. Dirt was all time, but there was probably 5full time shuttle trucks going the whole day... was packed.
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That sounds like a blast... I'm so jelly lol. I'm stuck in college in PA with no actual trails within a 25 mile radius and no car. The closest thing I got is 7 springs bike park, but no way to get down there
 
13727620:californiagrown said:
We done made the begginings of a jump trail out there at the gated hunting zone!

Spent Saturday in whistler, then drove down and stayed with a buddy in bham so we could ride that zone all Sunday. The "new jump line" is probably the funnest trail ever now. Only two 15-20 ft gap doubles, and a whole bunch of long and lows and built up natural step downs with never ending landings. Silly fun. Dirt was all time, but there was probably 5full time shuttle trucks going the whole day... was packed.
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Yeah I've seen some vids of the new jumps. Look sick. I'll be there in a couple weeks. Shitty that's it's so blown up now tho. Hush hush
 
Yesterday we went to golden to bike. Ended up tearing my mcl on the trail redbull psychosis was held on. Anyone here had the same injury and can give me an idea of what recovery is like?
 
Shoutout to whatever fucking scum just stole my bike. Any of you Calgary/Alberta guys, if you see an orange GT Verb with a 1x riding around, fucking take it back.
 
any of yall ridden a newer lapierre spicy or zesty? any o the models. starting saving for a new bike.
 
13728733:mike759 said:
How do people lose their bikes so frequently? Do you lock it up?
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I always bring my bike inside, but I went out with my gf, and totally forgot to. Of course, the one time... oh well, life goes on, might turn up.
 
13728733:mike759 said:
How do people lose their bikes so frequently? Do you lock it up?
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Mt Bikes are usually the second most expensive thing that can be stolen from a person behind their car. Thrives will go out of their way.
 
Anyone in PA frequent the 7 Springs bike park and would be willing to give a bro a lift? I'll pay you if you want, I'm desperate to hit that place but I don't have a car on campus.

Just looking for a ride and someone to shred with
 
Yesterday I impulsively bought slx 2x10 shifters because I wanted a clutch mech, but the shifter requires a shimano brake lever. Which I don't have. Fuck me
 
13735093:No.Quarter said:
Yesterday I impulsively bought slx 2x10 shifters because I wanted a clutch mech, but the shifter requires a shimano brake lever. Which I don't have. Fuck me
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you may be able to find a clasp that will attach to the shifter instead of needing to be attached to the brake lever.
 
13735119:Tinga said:
you may be able to find a clasp that will attach to the shifter instead of needing to be attached to the brake lever.
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I've been trying to find something but I think the cheapest option would be to just buy a Zee shifter for $20
 
13736065:Slush said:
Rampage is so insane holy shit
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Absolutely. Last year a lot of attention was focused on if rampage was worth it safety wise. this year there didn't seem to be too much focus on that. I wonder why.

But Has anyone heard any updates on Aggy? He was moving around when they had him on the backboard. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.
 
13736246:Tinga said:
Absolutely. Last year a lot of attention was focused on if rampage was worth it safety wise. this year there didn't seem to be too much focus on that. I wonder why.

But Has anyone heard any updates on Aggy? He was moving around when they had him on the backboard. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.
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I heard they made quite a few changes with regards to safety this time around. I guess judging was supposed to have more of an emphasis on flow, style, and creativity than straight up amplitude, along with getting rid of qualifying to reduce the pressure to perform just to make the big show and paying all of the riders instead of an all-or-nothing reward format.
 
13736246:Tinga said:
Absolutely. Last year a lot of attention was focused on if rampage was worth it safety wise. this year there didn't seem to be too much focus on that. I wonder why.

But Has anyone heard any updates on Aggy? He was moving around when they had him on the backboard. Hopefully it's nothing too serious.
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I heard rumors of a broken hip.

13736253:byubound said:
I heard they made quite a few changes with regards to safety this time around. I guess judging was supposed to have more of an emphasis on flow, style, and creativity than straight up amplitude, along with getting rid of qualifying to reduce the pressure to perform just to make the big show and paying all of the riders instead of an all-or-nothing reward format.
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Ya, my high school friend, Jeff Herbertson shattered the shit out of his tib-fib last year in the qualifiers after getting 7th the year before. Qualifiers are cool and all, but I like the new setup, and giving everyone an equal chance, with an emphasis on ingenuity over amplitude.
 
13736253:byubound said:
I heard they made quite a few changes with regards to safety this time around. I guess judging was supposed to have more of an emphasis on flow, style, and creativity than straight up amplitude, along with getting rid of qualifying to reduce the pressure to perform just to make the big show and paying all of the riders instead of an all-or-nothing reward format.
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It also sounds there there are more judges who've actually competed in the Rampage before, so they have a better understanding of what's actually going on up there.
 
13737037:lowell.wolfe said:
Just what the scene is like. Im from Duluth MN, so the mtb here is as prime
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Haha you'll be in for a surprise.

It's world class here. The legal trail systems are all super, super good and year round open. The unsanctioned stuff is even better. Go to a few races, make friends, offer to help throw dirt and you'll get shown the goods.

What kinda trails you looking to ride?
 
13737042:californiagrown said:
Haha you'll be in for a surprise.

It's world class here. The legal trail systems are all super, super good and year round open. The unsanctioned stuff is even better. Go to a few races, make friends, offer to help throw dirt and you'll get shown the goods.

What kinda trails you looking to ride?
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XC/All Mtn usually but Im down to try other stuff. Thanks for the tips man!
 
13737026:lowell.wolfe said:
Anyone know anything about the Seattle/Washington mtb scene
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It seems like the majority of people who post here are Washington locals. There are tons of awesome trail hubs within an hour or two drive of the city, and a little longer up to the incredible stuff in b-ham and whistler areas. Tons of people ride and its easy to find buddies to show you around. I sure do miss my bikes.
 
13737036:californiagrown said:
There is no riding here. It only rains. Yada yada.

What do you want to know specifically?
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Every time I go to pinkbike and see edits from there it always seems so sick just cause the dirt is almost always the prefect wet, but that could just be me because in Boise in the summer it never rains and when it does the dirt holds it like shit
 
Can anyone recommend me some trails near Fruita CO?

I spent a short amount of time riding in the "Road 18" area earlier this summer, but there has got to be some more riding around there.
 
I was thinking about getting the Stance 2 as my first full suspension bike, is it good or just a crappy entry level bike?
 
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