[ktmillerfla]

"finmgr" wrote

Are there areas of Wissahickon Park that are more for beginner/intermediate riders. Me and my son went out there a few weeks ago, and it was extreme. If there are better parts of the park for beginner/intermediate, can someone please let us know where the trialheal is, where to park? Thank you.

Hey finmgr – I consider myself more intermediate and actually really prefer Belmont Plateau. There’s no comparison to the amount of trails at Wissahickon, but I like the trails at Belmont much better. Whereas the Wiss offers lots of climbing and TONS of sketchy, rocky trail descents, Belmont has nicely groomed, relatively flowy dirt singletrack with some moderate climbs but nothing compared to Wiss. The guys that maintain Belmont do a fantastic job – just don’t let them catch you skidding. It isn’t easy, but it’s a fun spot where you can also get a good workout. It’s also rarely busy on the weekends to the point that I can bring my dog with me. I don’t usually see more than 3 other people biking so we can both get a good ride in without bothering anyone or being bothered.

Let me know if you’d like more info or if you’d like to catch up for a ride.

[ktmillerfla]

I love bringing my dog with me on rides – he needs and loves the exercise and I get the extra enjoyment of seeing him thoroughly enjoying himself. I live in the Philadelphia area, so I have some easily accessible trail options and I’m careful not to bring him to busy Wissahickon park, but I do bring him to other, much less busy trails. I’m always careful to yield to any other riders with him and will often simply move to the side and have him heel until other riders have passed.
Riding with my dog is a fantastic bonding and exercising opportunity for both him and me.

[ktmillerfla]

Chili – I did ride HCMT last weekend and had a pretty good ride: took the blue trail all the way to the back but got a freaking flat at the very end and had to walk my bike all the way back out. We threw it in the back of my bro-in-laws truck, took it to Infinity Bike Shop in Melbourne (great shop, great guy running the place) and came back to finish what we’d started. I might try GFT next time I’m up there, but I’m concerned that my rigid frame isn’t made for what seems like a ton of jumps (…MTB trails built by former BMXers…). Maybe I’ve got the wrong impression, but I don’t know how many air drops my bike (or I on a RF) has in it… I do want to check out Wickham trails as I’ve heard that’s a decent ride but further north.
As far as Palmetto Scrub: I figured that’s the feedback I’d hear. I’m hoping there are some SoFla riders checking this site that know anything about the MTB history here (assuming there is some). The park is an easy ride from FAU which would lend itsself to quite a bit of "business" if a fun trail was made available. Hell – Boca could even charge a couple bucks to get in… Sounds like a red-tape nightmare if you ask me. Thanks for the feedback and I’ll let you know the next time I’m heading up north.

[ktmillerfla]

I’ll be riding the Ho Chi Minh trail tomorrow some time around 1 – I’ll be on a gray Gary Fisher Wahoo rigid frame and my brother in law will be on a gray Diamondback. How are the trails up that way?

[ktmillerfla]

Thanks for all the recommendations and suggestions. I appreciate them and may look into that book.

Chili – hit me up if/when you head down to Quiet Waters; I may be able to ride with you. Not sure you’ll be blown away by Quiet Waters since you seem to ride Alafia, Santos and other elite trails, but it’s a good workout and the volunteers are improving the ride every month.

Keith

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