Ahhhh, home sweet home
Your local trails: they’re the home stadium, your turf. I submit that there are a huge list of things that make your go-to singletrack a very special place indeed. I got to thinking about this when I went out for an after work ride to grab some pictures of my new neighborhood spot. I rolled through at an easy-breezy pace, stopping to capture some images and thinking about how I would describe these trails to my buddies back home.
Come on in
These trails are pretty new to me. I moved to Wisconsin in January (I know, didn’t think that one through) for a new job and it’s taken quite a bit of getting used to. The first bikey thing I did was buy a snow-capable bike to get my ass back into shape after a long winter spell of sloth. After some fitness training and indoor riding that didn’t require the snow to melt I was feeling good and counting the days until the local trails were officially opened for the spring. When the go ahead was given by our trail keeper I was pumped and ready to hit it.
When I say trail keeper I mean the guy who is a full-time paid employee at the company that makes features, clears the brush and fallen trees, changes up the routes seasonally, fights erosion, etc. One of my coworkers asked me if I was enjoying “country club mountain biking.” He’s exactly right, short of a pro rider I can’t think of anyone who has it this good. For lunch I get changed in the locker room, pedal less than 10 minutes up the street to the trailhead, then get rad for an hour. Once that’s done I head back to the office, take a shower, change and lean by bike up against my desk to wait for the next session. How sweet it is…
High road or low?
So anyway, how would I describe these trails to my Philadelphia riding buddies? I’d say they’re a bit like White Clay in Newark, Delaware with the fast, flowy, almost pump-track quality of the David English trail. But the real difference is the man-made features everywhere. White Clay has a compact but very challenging skills section, but my Wisco trails have good stuff like the above all throughout. Plus there’s a double diamond trail with huge gaps, high drops, and wicked speeds if you can clear everything.
Some serious Forest of Endor shit going on
The magic of the local trail dawned on me while I was riding and thinking about this post. It’s the trail you head to if you’ve only got a couple hours after work, or before you have to mow the lawn, or if you’re a little too hung over for an all-day grinder. You know all the routes like the back of your hand, and you can pick and choose depending on whether you want to go balls out or just keep sharp and work up a sweat. The value of knowing the location of every root and rock, where it stays greasy the longest after the rain, or that straight section you know you can pin it on is immeasurable. This is your training ground. There is an uphill switchback that I’m still figuring out how to carry speed through without going wide and losing momentum. There’s a fast downhill section with 7 whoops in a row that I’m now able to blast my way down without a second thought or hesitation. The familiarity you have with your “backyard” lets you build skills, boost confidence, apply laser focus to your technique and have a blast all at the same time.
Haven’t mastered this one yet…
So get out to your local dirt! If you can pedal in from home it’s all the better. No loading the car, backing over the front wheel you forgot to put in the trunk, leaving your shoes at home, or getting stuck in traffic and running out of light. Plus it’s a built-in warmup. No matter where they are, your go-to trails provide fun, features, fitness and the chance to keep your game tight. The more you ride them, the more severe the smackdown you can put on your out-of-town buddies when they come to visit.
Tell us about your local go-to trail ride!
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This is one of the most entertaining articles I’ve ever read, and it got me pumped to ride today at my local trail!
When your local trail looks like THAT, you don’t have to go anywhere! I knew Trek had their own private trail system but DANG!
You make excellent points about the advantages of the “local trail.” I usually choose to explore new trails over riding the same-old, same-old every weekend but when I DO go back to familiar trails I definitely learn new stuff and enjoy railing at full speed.
When I lived in Colorado Springs Palmer Park was my local trail – seems like I’d ride there after work at least once a week. All that repetition paid off and eventually I was able to clean a particularly nasty trail consistently (the Cheyenne Trail for those who are familiar).
These days my local trails are much shorter and less manicured but I still get a kick out of cleaning what seemed impossible the first time.
I love riding new trails but you can’t beat the home turf!
What a cool trail man, you’re pretty lucky. A full-time trail keeper? How sweet is that?
I may have missed it, but what trail is that?? lol. That’s a SICK home trail. I consider the trails near my work my “home trails” because the ones near my home are slightly lame.
I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. Actually, it’s in Waterloo Wisconsin, but special permission and an escort are required for non-employees.
ahh very cool.
They should put more rocks in the trail so that the Gary Fisher frames break *before* they get out here to Colorado.
Where can I apply for a job like that.
As an older mtnbiker(72) living in central CA I have 4 or 5 good local trails within 15 miles by car. 1 trail, Goat Mtn. Trail near Bass Lake, CA @ 6 mi from home. I know there is a closer way by bike but haven’t found it yet but will shortly. Have some trail photos on my Facebook page.
I love our local trail, but that one in your back yard is sweeeeeeeeet!
@mtbgreg1 that is true some pretty crazy singletrack.
@trek7k i totally agree with this. “You make excellent points about the advantages of the “local trail.” I usually choose to explore new trails over riding the same-old, same-old every weekend but when I DO go back to familiar trails I definitely learn new stuff and enjoy railing at full speed.” I wish I had a little more money and time to explore more.
@luke E paid trail employee? Who pays him? It seems cool but I wonder if it cuts down on some of the community aspect of mountain bike trail maintenance?
@RidingPastor – LukeE works for a very large bicycle company based out of Waterloo, Wisconsin (a little Google work and you’ll figure out who
)- this trail system is theirs, they own it, they pay the guy to take care of it. It’s not exactly open to the public from what I understand.
I agree with mtbgreg1, why would you go anywhere else with local trails like that? What an awesome place. I doubt I’ll ever be up near Wisconsin with my bike but if I am…I am riding that trail.
@ The latest commentator, see dgaddis’s previous comment about access to this trail
I have heard that once in a great while they’ll do a one-day event and open it to the public, though.
You’ve just got to make a friend or two in order to ride them. Not too difficult, we’re all mtb bros and girls
as a beginner the local trail has definitely been a big advantage getting used to it helps as i learn the bike as well. I do however have several trails to choose from where i live in GA, but right now have to say i favor Tribble Mill Park in Lawrenceville it has a little of everything for me and some good challenges for the more experienced riders i go with.
an excellent article and pics! i’ve been riding two semi-local singletrack trail systems (30 minutes away) this year, but a month ago i found one that is literally 5 minutes away from my house by car or 15 minutes by mtb, and this inspires me to put some effort into learning more about and improving this trail system like the article illustrates. thanks for the inspiration Luke_E!
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Great write-up Luke!!!