So I have ridden Pacifica a few times now (XXX once, The Mile 2 times, and Boyscout 3-4 times). As a fairly new rider I can't attempt all the drops and gaps on these trails yet. I am curious what skill level people would rank these pacifica trails, because some parts of these trails seem quite challenging. Would you say the pacifica trails like XXX and The Mile are Beginner/intermediate/advanced/expert? Thanks for the insight, just trying to get a feel for the trails I am riding.
Pacifica Skill Level
mayjamest
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So I have ridden Pacifica a few times now (XXX once, The Mile 2 times, and Boyscout 3-4 times). As a fairly new rider I can't attempt all the drops and gaps on these trails yet. I am curious what skill level people would rank these pacifica trails, because some parts of these trails seem quite challenging. Would you say the pacifica trails like XXX and The Mile are Beginner/intermediate/advanced/expert? Thanks for the insight, just trying to get a feel for the trails I am riding.
I find the rocky stuff to be more fun than the drops and gaps which are a bit more scary for me. But as a rider who is still picking things up along the way, I couldn't help but think to myself "man, you have to be pretty skilled hit this jump/drop".
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... and yes they are hard (to ride well anyway).
The cool thing is there's something for everyone there. And you can't help but to progress your skill level if you ride there a lot. It's a gem, and it would suck to lose it:
http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/own-piece-pacifica-981591.html
The cool thing is there's something for everyone there. And you can't help but to progress your skill level if you ride there a lot. It's a gem, and it would suck to lose it:
http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/own-piece-pacifica-981591.html
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dang. i work in Pacifica. i should bring my bike to improve my lunch break.
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The first and second ones you mentioned depending on what line you take would definitely be considered expert and a big bike required. The last one is fun for the whole family........from big bike to dirt jumper, to bmx, to walmart bike. Have fun out there but be careful if going solo. Not much traffic on the first two you mentioned to find you and help you out in a timely manner.
Well, hard to say. If you are skidding and braking down these steep trails, then you cannot consider yourself at the skill level of the trail. I guess what some people misunderstand is that how you ride the trail matters, not just that you can. See: Trail, Flow in Demo.
I am not sure saying "using a brake on a trails equates to you not being high enough skill to ride it"
^^ He was just saying that there's a difference between merely surviving the trail and riding it well at speed!
Regardless, I think there's some truth to what everybody has posted.
Pacifica is no joke, that's for sure, and as a newer rider if you're riding most of that at any speed then you're way ahead on the learning curve. The tread out there--loose stuff over hardpack on steeps--makes it especially challenging as braking isn't always an option.
Regardless, I think there's some truth to what everybody has posted.
Pacifica is no joke, that's for sure, and as a newer rider if you're riding most of that at any speed then you're way ahead on the learning curve. The tread out there--loose stuff over hardpack on steeps--makes it especially challenging as braking isn't always an option.
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This^^^ - there is a difference b/t skidding down a trail out of control while being bounced around, and judiciously using your brakes and weight distribution and strategically picking a line to ride the trail - but, IMO the only way to advance to the next level is by riding trails just slightly above your skill level - pretty soon trails that seemed super steep and technical don't seem that bad - then it's time to find some slightly scarier ones!
Having said all that, I think we can almost all agree that most Pacifica trails are advanced to expert - I'm sure there will be some bada$$ who says they are easy compared to the shore! :band: - they are definitely rowdy though
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Those trails would be considered an expert (single black diamond) level trail in my opinion. Not exactly hard if you don't hit the big features, brake correctly, and ride in your comfort zone. The trails get a lot more "exciting" when you start hitting the big lines, finding lines you don't even know exist and still ride within control. Some of the trails out there would be considered "double black diamond" and truly are a great ride.
I've done a bit of digging out there, but nothing like most of the local guys. Those trails are a gem, they've been awesome because they are a little bit hush hush, lots of fun out there to be had, but you can also get in over your head quick!
Have fun out there! I feel it's by far the best place in the Bay to ride.
I've done a bit of digging out there, but nothing like most of the local guys. Those trails are a gem, they've been awesome because they are a little bit hush hush, lots of fun out there to be had, but you can also get in over your head quick!
Have fun out there! I feel it's by far the best place in the Bay to ride.
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it is best practice to not use trail names.
trail rating is relative. you can ride down any of those at a snail pace and skip every feature or you can haul the mail and send it. speed makes the trail completely different.
i'd say stay off the jump trail as much as possible until you work up the skills to hit everything. ride around lines over the past year or so have widened that trail severely and added unnecessary erosion. the trail is almost beginner if you ride around everything.
trail rating is relative. you can ride down any of those at a snail pace and skip every feature or you can haul the mail and send it. speed makes the trail completely different.
i'd say stay off the jump trail as much as possible until you work up the skills to hit everything. ride around lines over the past year or so have widened that trail severely and added unnecessary erosion. the trail is almost beginner if you ride around everything.
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Right?
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Why make it worse? Promote a culture of keeping it on the DL and stuff will stick around longer. Noobs like OP might not know that that is the unwritten policy. That said, mile and BS are public domain, everyone knows those and yeah there are tons of videos on those out there. That other one, not quite as much... and if you search based on name you're probably going to get a lot of, uh, non-bike-related links.
looks like some stuff has been removed from the osm and google maps.
oddly that trail you really seem to want to keep, uh, in a brown paper wrapper, is there but not in the shape i'd expect. it's in a shape which traces what you can see in the 'satellite' view! but i've not really ridden it so who knows.
note: you may be able to edit the google map if you care.
oddly that trail you really seem to want to keep, uh, in a brown paper wrapper, is there but not in the shape i'd expect. it's in a shape which traces what you can see in the 'satellite' view! but i've not really ridden it so who knows.
note: you may be able to edit the google map if you care.
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