K2 / Proflex Riders Group
General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: jeffhop on May 13, 2005, 06:25:55 am
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i read a post a few weeks ago and someone asked wouldnt it be cool if we could see where everyone is riding so i thought id start a thread on the subject (as im a nosey old git!!) anyway i live in the north east of england and my local trails are in hamsterley forest, if any uk based riders have been up here im sure you will agree that its a fairly good place to ride, but its getting better and is well worth a visit for anyone thinking of a weekend away in good old england. have a look at the website and let me know what you think
http://www.hamsterley-trailblazers.co.uk/
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I ride in the good ole' Santa Susanna Mountains of SoCal. The area is most famous as the hidout of the Mexican bandit Pancho Villa. And the rancho where Charles Manson(Leader of the cult that murdered several people close to Hollywood in the 70"s) hung out.
Also ride in the Sant Monica coastal mountains above Malibu.
Terry
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i used to live in ventura county, california and rode in the santa monica mountains, cheseboro canyon and sycamore canyon.
but i now live in napa, california, former home of one of the world cup races. i ride the skyline park where the race was held, (it's right in my backyard). i also ride in angwin, annadel state park and china camp state park. these are all within 30 minutes of home. and annadel is one of the best state parks for mountain biking.
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I mainly ride at The Queen Elizabeth Country Park
which has 2 dedicated mtb trails,one expert track and the other a family friendly track and the park is only a short ride from my house,
I also ride on the south downs way which is also a short ride to link up with,this trail is approx 100 miles long and starts from the city of Winchester and finishes at Eastbourne,mainly I only ride parts of it but this year I intend to ride the whole trail,this is normally done over a 2 day period,Sprucey has completed this ride more than once,
I also ride occasionally a local trail called the Hangers which is basically an ancient right of way (bit like the southdowns on a much smaller scale),
another ride is a short drive away called the Devils Punch Bowl,which is just a very large hole shaped like a bowl, within it are many trails amongst the trees and vegetation,not a bad ride for just going some where different,
We intend to hopefully get some rides in a bit further a field this year and hope to visit some trails in Wales,
Simon.
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Hey Bikendan,
I ride Sycamore as often as I can. Twice a year or so we take the RV to camp at the campgrounds and bike all weekend. The Guadalasca-Backbone loop is killer. I ride Cheseboro maybe twice a year, not as much when it is hot. Been doing Mount Wilson lately, and Redbox to JPL. Done it?
Cougars are high in the mountains now, but are numerous, watch out. Tracks everywhere.
Simon, we have a "Devil's Punchbowl" in the Angeles National Forest also. Although I have never been there I have heard it an awesome site. Will have to go.
Jeff, UK sounds awsome!
Terry
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Hi,
Please everyone, tell us what state/region and what country you live/ride in. I, for one, am not into guessing. Having said that, I think this is a great thread. I am fascinated by all the different places we ride in.
As for me, I live on an island, Long Island, to be exact. It is a long island. It is part of New York State, USA, and where I live, on the north shore, is about 30-40 miles east of New York City.
Believe it or not, the north shore is quite hilly and there are plenty of woods left. I mainly ride two trails. One is called the Nassau-Suffolk (its on the border of these two counties) Green Belt Trail. It runs North-South and goes from the north shore of LI to the south shore. along the way, one has to cross a couple of major roads/highways, but the riding is good. all narrow, winding single track. the southern end of the trail is basically flat and goes through some meadows (old farmland), through a park (Bethpage State Park), but it is constantly winding so is challenging that way. The northern is extremely hilly and rooty, winding, singletrack through trees. its easy to catch a handlebar on a tree on most parts of the trails around here. The down and back trip is around 20 miles (I usually ride to the state park, sit down at a picnic table and eat lunch.)
The other trail I ride most often is called the Stillwell Park Triangle Trail. This is a loop trail that is about 5miles around or so. It is very challenging and has whoops and steep uphills, down railroad tie steps and other such fun stuff. It has many personalities from hard pack to sand to a rock garden, and roots. It connects to the Green Belt so many times I ride almost the loop, down to Bethpage park, and back up to finish the loop. that is about a 25 mile ride altogether. Further east on LI, ( I live about halfway out) there is another loop trail that many people ride. It is called the Rocky Point Trail and is in a state park. It is a 20 mile loop. I haven't ridden there since it is about an hour away, and the other trails are only 5 minutes by car from my condo.
I have also ridden in Connecticut, Vermont, Washington State, and Baja California (Mexico). However, I guess I am used to tight singletrack through trees and so I actually prefer riding here on LI, although I would like to visit and ride the many different places where you guys ride.
Looking forward to reading more of these posts. It would be great if we posted a pic of these places. I promise to take a pic or two soon and will post them soon.
[smiley=groucho.gif]
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My location is about 10 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California. I live in the San Fernando Valley(same place as the Northridge earthquake of 1994). The Santa Susanna Mtn. range has my favorite trail system. Chumash trail to Rocky peak road, to Hummingbird trail, swinging behind the Jewish cemetary back to Chumash. This 10 mile loop is about a 15 minute drive from my home.
Sycamore Canyon takes me about 30 minutes to get to. I have to pass the Ronald Reagan presidential Library along the way.
Mount Wilson trail system is about 40 minutes in the other direction passing through Pasadena California. Mount Wilson is home to an observatory, but is most busy as the location for television, radio, and satilite relay transmitters above Burbank and Hollywood.
Terry
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i honestly ride my road bike 80% of the time just around the "neighborhood". there are some very good places for mtn bikiing but I just seem to pull the 5200 out of the garage more than the others.
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?id=1241
[smiley=beer.gif]
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I live in the East Bay communtiy of Richmond, California (San Francisco Bay Area). I read somewhere that your favorite trail is the one you ride the most. I ride about a half of a mile to one of the many trailheads of the East Bay Parks system. There are endless miles of interconnected fire roads and occaisonal double tracks located in various regional parks that follow the ridgelines of the East Bay hills. I ride them often. It is hard to believe that so much uncrowded riding is available so close to a major population center. I can put together loops of 15-30 miles to suit my mood. Further to the east is 3800' Mount Diablo which can be brutal. I also frequent China Camp State Park (30 min. away). Then there is Tamarancho (Boy Scouts fee trail) which is awesome. There is always Mount Tamalpais and the Marin Headlands if I want to deal with self righteous hikers. Enough to wring out my K2's....
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Carbon Angus,
thanks for including a link to your area (as a couple others have done) and for being honest about your ratio of road to offroad riding. I too do the majority of riding onroad. currently, I am road riding on the weekends, and then offroad during the week when I am able, maybe 1 or 2 days a week. I like to ride on road when there are fewer cars on the road (weekend mornings) and off road when there are fewer riders on the trails (early weekday afternoons).
here is a link to the local mountain bike club. this website also includes trail maps for the major trails here on LI.
I am fascinated by this thread.
http://www.climbonline.org
[smiley=groucho.gif]
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I live in the Carson Valley, Nevada. Which means we all hit the trails down here in the valley during the winter and spring. When I ride to work, I have been known to hit the trails on the way home. The closest to my house is about 3 minutes, by bike.
When the weather gets warmer and snow in the mountains melts, I can be found riding the trails around Lake Tahoe. Kingsbury to Spooner ( the bench ride ), is probably the most popular. but I also like Big meadow, to Round lake, to Dardenelles Lake, to Christmas Valley.
Countless miles and trails to chose from, just depends on the mood, and how technical I feel like riding.
Ed
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As a frequent traveller, this is the best thread yet! As you all know, it's tricky to show up somewhere with an MTB outfit and get decent trail information from "civilians."
("Jethro, didja see that feller ridin the woodsbike with short pants?")
I ride mostly in the pineywoods of East Texas. We've got the Tyler State Park with 13 miles of singletrack. It's a little technical in some areas and has some 300' elevation changes. (Not quite like back home in New England, but decent.) There are other secret trails, but seem to be turning into golf courses and "luxury homes" at an alarming rate. When will it stop?
I often ride in the Ouachita mountains of Eastern Oklahoma/Western Arkansas. (Part of the job... ;)) The Fort Smith area is full of scary singletrack characterized by steep hills and football sized rocks. Many of the trails are near suburban areas for great access. There are also genuine wilderness trails in the Winding Stair National Monument. (Very remote. Don't get hurt!)
The 856 is great for East Texas, but may be a little overmatched in Arkansas. At least until I "Simonize" it!
Looking forward to some more Colorado and Arizona trips this summer/fall.
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I live in Orem, UT about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City. The snow capped Rocky Mountains are in my back yard and the rich red desert is about 3 1/2 hour drive away. If you haven't seen this web site www.utahmountainbiking.com check it out. It has a fix it, first aid, trails, maps, and even videos. The site is free and packed with info.
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Carbon Angus,
thanks for including a link to your area (as a couple others have done) and for being honest about your ratio of road to offroad riding. I too do the majority of riding onroad. currently, I am road riding on the weekends, and then offroad during the week when I am able, maybe 1 or 2 days a week. I like to ride on road when there are fewer cars on the road (weekend mornings) and off road when there are fewer riders on the trails (early weekday afternoons).
here is a link to the local mountain bike club. this website also includes trail maps for the major trails here on LI.
I am fascinated by this thread.
http://www.climbonline.org
[smiley=groucho.gif]
which county are you in ??? i have a non riding bud who lives areound the Babylon area, he'd tell me some horrific traffic stories about getting into and out of NYC at times. i used to ride a ton on my mtn bike...when the kids were younger and my life was simpler..maybe again someday. the road bike gets out to ride, but the hardtail is my to-the-beach-bike...the Oz is for trail stuff..now just more into fitness and recreational riding. might take up surfing...might [smiley=laughing.gif]
[smiley=beer.gif]
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Carbon,
I live in Suffolk County, but right near the border with Nassau County. Babylon is quite near where I live. Thankfully, I work about 15 minutes by car from where I live. No NYC for me. I can hardly remember the last time I went in there. The traffic is horrendous!! so much so, that when I leave the island (which is quite often) I go east to Port Jefferson to take the ferry across the Sound to Bridgeport, CT. A much more civilized way to travel. Plus, I get a little over an hour to grade papers and have a bite to eat while on the ferry.
Go Surfing!!! I used to surf when I was in hs (LI surf is fairly small, but still fun). Quite a few years ago I got into windsurfing and do that when I am not out sailing big boats or riding bikes. I even built my own windsurf board which I still use. It is really cool to sail on something I designed and built (made).
have a great day.
[smiley=groucho.gif]
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I live in Plymouth, ME, USA. There are a ton of snowmobile trails in the area that were good to ride when I was in college, but after 5 years in the Navy I got home 2 years ago now and haven't ridden too much, but I have ridden in the park in Bangor (30 miles away). It is reffered to as the "Bog", or the "Dump" These are BY FAR the most technical trials in Maine, and maybe the whole east coast. I raced in VA, WV, and MD while I was in the Navy. I did some riding in the San Diego area and they weren't very technical at all, and almost boring, if they weren't so nice an flowing at times.
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I live on the South coast of the UK about 30mins drive from Simon.
I ride all the trails around the ridgeline of the Southdowns, a range of chalky hills running along the south coast.
We have a group that meets every Tuesday evening - rain or shine, winter or summer, light or dark. We meet at a different pub (bar) at 7pm, start riding at 7.15 and do 2hour ride - then back for those all important beers! [smiley=beer.gif]
There are purpose built trails in south Wales which are day trippable from here and I also ride in the French Alps a couple of times a year.
As Simon says, I have ridden the 100mile South Downs way on several occasions but this summer we aim to do the whole 100miles in a day - an informal ride for charity. It will be tough but I like a challenge!
Sprucey
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I live in Kansas. Used to ride trails at an old rock quarry called Rockville (imagine that [smiley=laughing.gif]) It was shut down a few years back. Teenagers looking for places to party illegally found this place and were actually using guns to shoot at trees until they fell so they could start bonfires [smiley=disbelief.gif]. Local farmers closed it off due to that, so now all I can ride locally is some trails along the Arkansas river, unless I want to load up and drive for an hour just to get to a lake that has some nice sandy trails.
Have taken the bikes along with us on trips and found some good riding that way, just can't afford to do that often enough. :(
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Here is a link to a panoramic view (http://home.thegrid.net/~i660314/images/MYRIDES.JPG) of my local stomping grounds. I live in Los Baños California; smack dab in the middle of the Central Valley, which is shrouded in fog in this photo. The hills that are just barely poking through the fog in the center of the photo are Pacheco State Park, where I do most of my riding. The photo is taken from the southern border of Henry Coe State park, looking south.
As you can see, there is a lot of brutal climbing and ripping downhills.
Another local riding spot is Los Baños Creek State Park, about 10 miles further south.
I also ride occasionally in the central Sierras and sometimes get out to the Santa Cruz area for some coastal riding.
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Speaking of panoramas... Here's a picture of one of my favorite trails. Guardsman's Pass is up Big Cottonwood canyon overlooking Solitude and Brighton ski resorts. You also get a great view of the valley on the other side (behind where this pic was taken). Great technical sections, but mostly a short gruelling climb followed by a long screaming descent on fantastic singletrack.
I don't live in Utah anymore, but this is about 20-30 minutes from where my parents now live in Salt Lake City (as of last week - they moved from Manhattan), so I hope to be visiting "them" often! I was out there last month, but the mountains are still covered in snow so I had to "settle" for southern Utah and the fabulous trails system in the foothills of Alpine, UT... ;)
http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/matno/Guardsmans_Pass.jpg
(If your browser autonatically decreases the picture size to fit on your screen, I highly recommend zooming to get the full panoramic effect!)
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Very, Very Nice.
Terry
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I wanna mooooove! [smiley=laughing.gif]
Sounds like some great places to ride.
My turn... location is Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
I'm blessed with a plethora (today's "big word" kids!) of places to ride - unfortunately not always the best weather (at least on the weekends).
Hardwood Hills and Blue Mountain are about an hour drive North. I've been to Hardwood (way back when) and I loved it. Now that i'm back into things i'll be there more frequently - I hope. Never been to Blue Mountain, but i've come to understand it favours DH riding. I plan on going there. Both are ski resorts in the winter - and you gotta pay $$$.
Immediately North is Albion Hills Conservations area, which has mostly single-track riding. Been there once, but to look, not ride.
To the East there's Durham Forest and a few other places that I don't remember the names of, that i'd like check out. Durham is free. ;)
To the West, within a half-hour drive, is Kelso Conservation area, which also has mostly single track, but a little DH, too. Pay to get in - like with all Conservation areas.
Also, I recently learned of a trail that connects with Canada's world-renewned Bruce Trail. Several access points are available in the area, so i'll hopefully have time to check that out, too.
Seeing as how i'm only "getting back in the saddle" this year after years of not riding i'll be busy this year (IF Momma Nature and that Murphy guy stop goofing off :o ) driving-to and discovering what all these places are about. Yes, i'll be sure to bring my digi-cam and post on my web-site (no, it's not up yet).
Also, locally there is a network of paved walking/biking trails. They must span over 100 km when put together. They're free, make for great exercise rides (well, that's what I call them) and can be a lot of fun if you go out at the "right time" as not to get caught in "traffic". Small, short, off-trail dirt paths abound. They all make they're way down to TO's Lakeshore, which always has lots of (take's a quick look around) "pretty's", shall we say. :-[ (I call it "bird watching" ;) )
There's also an off-road trail network on the East end of town called Don Valley trails. Never been. Might go. It's encompasses TO's Sewage Facility, so i'm not sure I want to find out what it smells like - if it's a problem at all.
Okay, maybe I don't wanna move afterall. ::)
Okay, i'm finally done yammering-on.
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nice to hear where everyone rides on here, its very interesting to see just how many english place names there are in the us and canada. suffolk, richmond, plymouth, toronto!! (ok my toronto is a small village not far from where i live but its the same name) and my own personal favourite durham, which is where im from in england
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Minneapolis Minnesota, USA is home base. I ride at Lebanon Hills. Spend some time in the site I linked below. It is awesome and will give K2 Proflex Riders Group members a sense of the great local bike culture which exists here.
http://www.morcmtb.org/trailreviews/metro/lebanon.shtml#Pictures
Used to live in Phoenix AZ. While there and when visiting, I ride at South Mountain Park which is AWESOME. If you visit there to ride, go during the last week of March. Sunny, 90 degrees, and sprng training baseball games. Perfect! + the best quickie Mexican food is a mere 5 minutes from the mountain. Ask me and I'll hook you up!
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I ride in Newcastle Australia, generally at a place called Glenrock. The trails are only a 10 min ride from the centre of town and are on a strip of land only a few km's wide bounded on the east by the ocean.
I'll start with some links to a few picks of some of our single trail.
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/down1.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/down2.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/down3.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/mcalpinecnr.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/switchback1.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/switchback2.jpg
http://home.kooee.com.au/lennyvonne/glenrock/switchback3.jpg
If you want to know more about our trails and our fight to save them come have a look at http://www.glenrocktrailalliance.tk