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Posts
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Where is your local riding area? What’s your favorite part of it?
Mine is any and every trail. I travel somewhere new almost every weekend.
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Ride a lot in the Cairngorms National Park mainly around Aviemore. Started to explore trails in the east around Ballater. Here is a video of some unique terrain for Scotland.
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Mostly so far in the Lunch Loops area, Third Flats area, Little Park area, but have gonna out to a few places within a 20 mile radius. I’ve only been riding since Oct 2017.
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What’s your location. I’m in LA, so I ride the SE States a lot.
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Irudkin, that video is awesome. Did you create it yourself?
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Mickey Young: yes created the video myself. Used 2 static GoPro and GoPro karma stabiliser hence the big back pack
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Yeah – nice video irudkin! Do you place cameras, circle back and then ride past them? I’ve done similar and it can make the ride much longer eh?! Anyhow i’m in based in Cheshire, not sure i have a local area as such which is a curse and a blessing in equal measure. Peak District and North Wales generally, Delamere Forest occasionally in the summer ! On a side note, the GoPro Karma Grip isn’t cheap !!! Assume its worth the investment ?
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Great topic Mickey. I hope lots of other riders respond. Irudkin, looks like some interesting riding in Scotland. My local area is Ulaanbaatar the capital of Mongolia. “UB” has about 1.5 million people but is surrounded by small remote mountains which have endless, undocumented and unexplored trails. You can be on a trail inside the city limit and feel like you are deep in backcountry. Coolest part??? Tough question. Blazing fast descents off high mountain ridges ranks high for sure. =) But probably it is the overall backcountry adventure that I enjoy the most — beautiful pristine forests, rugged rock formations, charming little mountain creeks, wolves, mountain goats, eagles, owls, falcons, kites, the exploration, navigation, the unknown – not knowing where a trail is going or when it will end and having to throw the bike on my shoulders, the pre-ride preparation and anticipation – a ton of Google Earth sat image work, and not knowing for sure I will make it home by night fall on any given ride.
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Mongwolf, Sounds like your in a great place to do a lot of bike packing. Most of the areas I ride are to rural, which makes the trails 8-10 miles long on average.
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I live just a few miles from any of the TH’s in the Santos network in Florida. I also own a home south of Portland, Oregon and travel there each summer. I like riding in Florida mostly for the weather in the winter months. There is plenty to keep me entertained; lots of miles, features and a good group of volunteers that are continually improving the trails. Additionally, there are several places to ride in the surrounding area. Alafia near Tampa is the best known, but Graham Swamp, Chuck Lennon, San Felasco are easily accessible and good rides. Long weekend trips to Alabama, Georgia or the Carolinas open up some of the best riding in the southeastern states.
In Oregon, trails close to my house include Molalla River Recreation Area, Post Canyon, Sandy Ridge and all the trails on Mt. Hood supply the one thing Florida doesn’t…..downhill fun! Oakridge, McKenzie River, Alsea Falls and numerous other trails are available with short road trips. Additionally, there are several great trails just across the Columbia River in Washington. Then there is the Bend area which requires at least a few days stay.
In between there are more trails in all the states along the way. It is always fun to ride some of the better known places, but the unknown surprises make the road trips special. Switchgrass in Kansas and the trails around Vernal, Utah and Sunsanville, California come to mind. Looking forward to more discoveries. -
Hap, I love that each year you get to do two major biking trips across the country to get to your first and second homes. How cool is that? It sort of makes much of the country your local trails (at least for a couple of months or so). It must be a great way to add substantial variety to your riding and keep things fresh. I remember your story about the best beginner trails in the US (or something like that). Hope you write some more about your adventures. Here’s to safe riding AND safe driving. Heck, the driving is probably more dangerous than the riding these days. And now I will digress =) … … How crazy is it that people lock in behind other cars, going 60 to 80 mph with only four to 10 feet or so between them? They say that “speed kills”. Well maybe. But really it is the tailing that kills. Whatever happened to the three second rule. We would have FAR less fatal accidents if people would stop tailing. Totally dangerous, totally unnecessary, and honestly, totally narcissistic, putting so many others in harms way. I even see highway patrol doing it these days. Be safe out there Hap, and RIDE ON !!!!!!!!
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@Mongwolf I agreed there are many drivers that are dangerous especially on interstate highways (tailgaters are the worst). I try my best to avoid those when possible. I hardy ever drive over the speed limit and try not to get in a hurry on my trips (my brother-in-law says I live in “Hap time”). My road trips aren’t usually direct and take 10-14 days. Plenty of good people and country to see. Unfortunately I only have my dog to share the road with now and she isn’t a very good conversationalist . She does enjoy trails though.
Now that I am alone, I have worried some about solo riding, especially in new areas. I guess I could just send a text to some one at a local bike shop, alerting them of my start and finish, if I made arrangement before hand. Maybe I’ll investigate the tracking devices that are available.
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@Hap. “Hap-Time” … … hilarious. Life is too short and sweet to be in a hurry. And here’s to staying away from those crazy drivers out there. Thank you for sharing about your loss. Sounds like you have lost your life companion. So very sorry to hear. Thanks for being so willing and open to share that. If your life friend was like mine (is), that indeed is a great loss. Irreplaceable. Yes, a device might be smart for solo rides. Plus, as I’m sure you well-know, when riding alone, it’s important to ride smart. I do a ton of riding alone in Mongolia in quite remote settings. I have many friends and a dear wife, all who would come looking for me if I didn’t make it back home from a ride. But it is likely that if I got seriously hurt, someone may not find me in time. So I definitely hold back a little on certain sections of trail when riding alone. It just gives me a peace and even a greater enjoyment when riding alone. But I also feel like I want to ride with no fear. If I was to end my life on my bike in the backcountry, I would be at peace. I have settled that issue in my heart. And to be truly open and honest myself … and I’m not trying push anything on you … I know my faith in Christ gives me a great peace in the backcountry. I have lived my life for Him, and I enjoy time alone with Him in the backcountry so much. I know that He has provided for my eternity through His death. So I really need not fear death … or maybe even worse … a severe life-altering injury or disability. Through Him, I know that I can live life to the fullest whether that be in health, sickness, disability or death. So I can ride on without worry or fear … not perfectly of course, but mostly … and I still try to ride smart also … well, most of the time. =) Hey, please put up a few photos/videos of your trail pup. I have always loved dogs, and just love seeing the joy of dogs running on the trail with their mountain biking masters. Again, thanks for sharing … … definitely a great part of Singletracks. Good night from Ulaanbaatar.
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