The Official MTB (Mountain Biker's/Biking) Thread

[red_5ive]

Thought I'd start a thread where we could discuss everything mountain biking. Share your adventures, what type of bike you ride whether acoustic or electric, MTB gear, whatever you want related to this awesome sport!

[red_5ive]

As for me, I rode a hard tail for 13 years until finally going full squish 4 years ago, but not having grown up in the YouTube generation I'm a little behind the times so I have zero video of my rides. However, I'm getting caught up and have a sport camera and chest strap waiting to be unboxed and setup.

My old Canondale F1000 hard tail was retired back in 2017 when I got a new hard tail. In which case, my current rides are:
- 2017 Giant Talon 2
- 2019 Specialized Evo Stumpjumper FSR Alloy
- 2022 Specialized Levo Alloy

I'm still a little hard-headed when it comes to modifying my rides, having ridden hard tails for so long. So I tent to keep them stock, particularly with the suspension. The fact that I even have a rear suspension has been a dream. Maybe some day....

Places I ride in Southern CA:
- Greer Ranch
- Vailocity Park (Vail Lake, Temecula)

Here's a video of one of the trails at Greer, which is less than a mile from me.

youtube.com/watch?v=uqV_VxYAtWc

And one of the most popular trails at Vailocity Bike Park:

youtube.com/watch?v=wEPZU-I3huM

[ratandjmt]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

Thought I'd start a thread where we could discuss everything mountain biking. Share your adventures, what type of bike you ride whether acoustic or electric, MTB gear, whatever you want related to this awesome sport!

You mentioned the Texas area. I've been in San Antonio for almost 8 years now. It's kinda flat around here but if you know where to go you can find some fun trails.

I have a YT Capra and my wife has a Kona Process 134. We've been riding together since we retired from the Air Force. Helps keep me from getting fat and I enjoy the outdoors.

Like I said. I've worked with our HOA and built close to 13 miles of trail through our neighborhood. It's awesome having it in our backyard.

This is one of the most recent videos from our trial. This one is with my wife

Afternoon ride with Jessica - YouTube

This is a video of Government Canyon. It's one of the closest chunky areas around here. You can also see the dinosaur tracks out there.

Government Canyon ride with Jessica and Gary - YouTube

If you've ever looked at any mountain biking in Texas you've probably seen this trail system mentioned. It's called Spider Mountain and has the only chair lift in Texas.

Antidote to Recluse to Vipers Den - YouTube

[superpacman]

I dont have any recent vids, but the one below is showing one of my rides. My cameras are hard mounted on my bike, gopro on front and cycliq for the rear.

My rides are old, and not sure when I will upgrade. I do love'em.

2013 Trek superfly comp, all carbon.
2012 Trek Marlin.

Superfly is my trail and marlin is my mileage ride..

youtube.com/watch?v=YNWZ5G0vpj8

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by ratandjmt

You mentioned the Texas area. I've been in San Antonio for almost 8 years now. It's kinda flat around here but if you know where to go you can find some fun trails.

I have a YT Capra and my wife has a Kona Process 134. We've been riding together since we retired from the Air Force. Helps keep me from getting fat and I enjoy the outdoors.

Like I said. I've worked with our HOA and built close to 13 miles of trail through our neighborhood. It's awesome having it in our backyard.

This is one of the most recent videos from our trial. This one is with my wife
Afternoon ride with Jessica - YouTube

This is a video of Government Canyon. It's one of the closest chunky areas around here. You can also see the dinosaur tracks out there.

Government Canyon ride with Jessica and Gary - YouTube

If you've ever looked at any mountain biking in Texas you've probably seen this trail system mentioned. It's called Spider Mountain and has the only chair lift in Texas.

Antidote to Recluse to Vipers Den - YouTube

I watched some of your videos and also saw that you mentioned San Antonio so I brought up Texas being that my wife and I have been considering moving there for years now. I was last there in 2018 for work, had a contract with Toyota and was in Plano and Dallas/Fort Worth. We both love it out there. Love the open space, the people, and the Texas beef is just ridiculous!

I haven't been to San Antonio since the late 90s, but good to know there are trails there. I haven't actually scoped out any Texas trails in general but in passing I've seen a few on trail maps. Your videos are actually the first I've watched of any Texas trails. Even if the trails are mostly flat, that's cool with me. My wife rides with me every so often and does the lighter/beginner stuff, but it wouldn't bother me if I had to stick with mostly XC stuff going forward vs DH/enduro. I'm actually starting to favor XC trails more now being that I'm getting older and it's taking longer to recover from a lot of the DH stuff. One of my local trails called Sylvan Meadows actually resembles the Government Canyon trail you posted. That has become my go-to trail for times I'm riding solo. There is one flowy trail in the Greer trail system (the first video I posted), and it takes me maybe 15-20 minutes from my doorstep to get to the top of it, but it's a jump trail and although the jumps can all be bypassed for a nice/fun flowy single-track, I still end up driving 9 miles to Sylvan Meadows instead half the time.

Anyway, we've talked about heading out there to scope out some areas, but just hadn't gotten around to it. I'll definitely have trails in mind now if/when we decide to visit.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by superpacman

I dont have any recent vids, but the one below is showing one of my rides. My cameras are hard mounted on my bike, gopro on front and cycliq for the rear.

My rides are old, and not sure when I will upgrade. I do love'em.

2013 Trek superfly comp, all carbon.
2012 Trek Marlin.

Superfly is my trail and marlin is my mileage ride..


youtube.com/watch?v=YNWZ5G0vpj8

I envy you guys having trails with a lot of cover like that, and the forest views is just awesome! We have nothing like that where I live in Southern Cali. I have to travel at least 4 hours to find something like that.

I'm in the low desert so it's mostly open and little-to no cover. There is one exception on a local trail that is mostly covered but it's only for the first mile where it opens up to a wide open long climb and DH trail.

Nothing wrong with older rides as long as you get out there! My first hard tail (Cannondale F1000) went for 13 years before the front "fatty" fork finally gave out. The whole assembly was proprietary though and in 2017 it would have cost me a whole new bike to get it fixed. I miss that bike. It was 18 lbs of joy! Felt like nothing under me and I felt like I could hop over anything. It was a bit of an adjustment going to full suspension and I still find myself adjusting because of "muscle memory" from the hard trail, but man is FS way easier on the joints. I resisted for so long and for years I was in that anti-full-suspension camp lol, but I'm happy to be on one now.

Edit: I just realized that first video I posted above was the one you posted from the Horizon FW thread lol. I must have copied your link instead when I was trying to re-post the "Overdrive" video above that I originally posted in the Horizon thread lol. Anyway, it's fixed now.

[superpacman]

Originally Posted by red_5ive

I envy you guys having trails with a lot of cover like that, and the forest views is just awesome! We have nothing like that where I live in Southern Cali.

It is amazing the temperature drop once you enter into the area, and the breeze that flows through.

Only happened once, but I had finished a ride, and gotten back to my car... it was too damn hot. And I went back on the trail to stay cool.

The first year I rode that trail, I did not do 25%(maybe 15%) and thought I was gonna die after each try... I'm not sure why a buddy of mine would go, because he had to frustrated when riding with me with how long and any times I needed to stop.

It's a 7mile loop, but it's a part you sorts loop back on and it makes the ride 10miles. I was doing that twice, the last season(summers in Michigan). Also, doing one loop. I had to wait on my buddy.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by superpacman

It is amazing the temperature drop once you enter into the area, and the breeze that flows through.

Only happened once, but I had finished a ride, and gotten back to my car... it was too damn hot. And I went back on the trail to stay cool.

The first year I rode that trail, I did not do 25%(maybe 15%) and thought I was gonna die after each try... I'm not sure why a buddy of mine would go, because he had to frustrated when riding with me with how long and any times I needed to stop.

It's a 7mile loop, but it's a part you sorts loop back on and it makes the ride 10miles. I was doing that twice, the last season(summers in Michigan). Also, doing one loop. I had to wait on my buddy.

I do get to experience that at least once a year. We make an annual trip to Mammoth Lakes, CA. It's mostly known for fishing, but is also home of Mammoth Bike Park. It's acres and acres of forest. We're usually there late spring/early summer where it starts to warm up, but the brisk breeze that rushes through the forest, coupled with that mountain air is just so relaxing. I usually pack a small thermos filled with coffee with me and enjoy a break in the wilderness. We'll be there in July this year.

Here's a couple of pics from last year's trip, just the wife and I exploring random hiking/biking trails up there. Not really mountain biking specific, more just enjoying a trek through the scenery.

[red_5ive]

First ride of 2023! Missed my bike!

[red_5ive]

This morning's ride. On the way up to Greer.





And the obligatory toy shot.

[red_5ive]

Been a while since I've ridden, but it's starting to warm up here in Southern CA. Planning a ride this weekend if the weather holds, or may just keep it local.

Gotta bust out the carrier and get the bikes ready (shot from a previous ride).