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Every Rider is a Product of Their Local Trails

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Discussion starter · #61 ·
BV2 said:
Ya right, forgot about Pacifica. Yes I have ridden three, just once though. A buddy took me on a sampler platter ride of the area. Starting over at the bowling alley ending up over near crack and mile. We did not ride any of the Boyscout, which I think is the park style stuff? I think it was crack that there was one tiny little section that I walked, like 10-15'. I probably could ride but simply not worth the risk, 20 years ago sure.
I would like to do some recon on the "progressive" boy scout stuff. Have seem plenty of video footage.
Seems like things are building in Half-moon Bay
I am really wanting to go up to Nevada City
Stuff like Boondocks is my cup of tea. Mix of both built and natural features
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BV2: That's part of the problem though as I mentioned in the OP. Technically, the progressive trails at Pacifica are not legal per se as from my understanding Boyscout and Treeline are built on private property that has a blind eye policy for now, but there is no guarantee of that in the future. Some of the other progressive lines like XXX or the newer stuff on Cattle Hill are on public land but are not sanctioned. If local/regional LMs allowed building trails like those found in several off radar areas, this would be a mute point.
 
Discussion starter · #63 ·
looks easy from here said:
I will never not be baffled hearing about people complaining about stuff like this.
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Yeah it’s an easy trap for people to fall into as they want something that allows them to progress not the broader community. I’ve always tried to be mindful of the locals as a whole and not as individuals.

One of the coolest things I’ve seen is going up to a little communal trailhead that I built a short little pumptrack at. Rode up and saw a dad with two small kids, one of them on a sparkly bike wearing a unicorn helmet and the other on a strider. That’s how you know you’ve done something for the community :)
 
#64 ·
@NahBrah, do you mean that the folks criticizing only want more advanced trails? I think one of the key issues in our area is that we don’t have many beginner trails - our lumpy land tends to lead to roads and trails that are demoralizing to learn on. I think that’s one reason that Calero - Rancho San Vicente has been so amazingly popular (I believe it’s the most popular MTB trail development in the Bay Area since Flow and likely even more). It’s a rare place where you can take a kid and ride trails that are built for people. To your point about progression, it’s also true that when easier trails have been built, they don’t usually provide that path to advancement.
 
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Discussion starter · #65 ·
Yeah some of the better riders are always looking for something bigger and better. They are also the riders who ride all the time so it makes sense they are the more vocal community and I see them more often.

I try to scratch that itch as well but sometimes easy / cruiser trails are needed to keep that level of riding fresh. It is also weirdly true, easier trails are harder to build in our local environment so there is an always a logical temptation to build with less effort which results in more difficult trails.
 
#67 ·
I live in Sacramento and travel all over a 3 hour radius to ride. One of the things I've said most over the last few years is I don't think there is much purpose built stuff in our area that really leads to progression. Most of the "jumpy" stuff is built unsanctioned and typically by riders that are already pretty good. So you end up with bigger features, but nothing for people learn on to get there. In additions, since we are a product of our environment we do have the upper hand on the PNW types when they visit and have no idea how to ride on a dry AF sandbox. Bwhaahahahahahaa!
 
Discussion starter · #68 ·
looks easy from here said:
Are they also the riders who dig all the time?
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Some do, some don’t. Most people’s idea of digging is building a takeoff. They often strangely forget about the climbing trail, the connecting bench, and the landings haha.
 
#69 ·
NahBrah said:
Some do, some don’t. Most people’s idea of digging is building a takeoff. They often strangely forget about the climbing trail, the connecting bench, and the landings haha.
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Hahahahahaha, so true. I will say from experience nothing is more boring than building a climb trail. It takes serious dedication.
 
Discussion starter · #70 ·
jpre said:
The belief in the concept of this thread is how I can keep from being jealous or angry about now being old and trying to take advantage of the little pump track jump areas that are popping up around. There just weren't many of them for decades so I'm a product of what was somewhat close by and I'm ok with that in a realistic sense. And once in a while I think maybe there was some advantage to not being seriously injured to this point.
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Hit me in the feels dude! Same same... So I decided to change that locally.

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#71 ·
Drive up to Willits to see what a grassroots community effort to build out an all-levels trail system looks like. We are working on a beginner progression zone with real flow trails and jumps, and also have a good selection of steep tech. This system is going to continue to grow over the next several years, and the community hopes it can be at least a regional destination someday.
 
#72 ·
Abies said:
Drive up to Willits to see what a grassroots community effort to build out an all-levels trail system looks like. We are working on a beginner progression zone with real flow trails and jumps, and also have a good selection of steep tech. This system is going to continue to grow over the next several years, and the community hopes it can be at least a regional destination someday.
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This is Brooktrails? Is that all funded by WAC (501C3) or is there another funding source?
 
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#73 ·
Abies said:
Drive up to Willits to see what a grassroots community effort to build out an all-levels trail system looks like. We are working on a beginner progression zone with real flow trails and jumps, and also have a good selection of steep tech. This system is going to continue to grow over the next several years, and the community hopes it can be at least a regional destination someday.
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That's great to hear! I would ride there and save Mendo for hiking.
 
Discussion starter · #74 ·
Abies said:
Drive up to Willits to see what a grassroots community effort to build out an all-levels trail system looks like. We are working on a beginner progression zone with real flow trails and jumps, and also have a good selection of steep tech. This system is going to continue to grow over the next several years, and the community hopes it can be at least a regional destination someday.
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Sounds awesome! I'll have to spend a weekend up there and check them out!
 
#76 ·
form49b said:
This is Brooktrails? Is that all funded by WAC (501C3) or is there another funding source?
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Yes, WAC is the driving force behind these trails, which are all on open space property owned by the Brooktrails municipality. We don’t have any public funding except for some very small grants, but the landowner is willing and supportive of anything we can bring to the table. It’s an all-volunteer affair except we have fundraised enough to have a pro builder help out a lot. Major plug to Kevin Smallman of Downtime Trails.

My advice for a Mendocino County mountain bike weekend at this point would still be one day riding at the coast in Jackson and then a day in Brooktrails/Willits. Our system is still small enough that you can hit all of the good stuff in one solid day (3,000+ feet of climbing) but in the next few years I’m hoping that can change, because of expansions to the existing system and other potential longer term projects in the area. If anyone wants route suggestions or a tour guide hit me up or Willits Area Cyclists on Social Media.
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#77 ·
Abies said:
Major plug to Kevin Smallman of Downtime Trails.
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Thanks for that info. I saw Kevin was riding there the other day. I’ll have to plan to get up there. I’ve done some riding in Mendocino and Anderson Valley but there’s lots more to explore.
 
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#78 ·
B1KER said:
I live in Sacramento and travel all over a 3 hour radius to ride. One of the things I've said most over the last few years is I don't think there is much purpose built stuff in our area that really leads to progression. Most of the "jumpy" stuff is built unsanctioned and typically by riders that are already pretty good. So you end up with bigger features, but nothing for people learn on to get there. In additions, since we are a product of our environment we do have the upper hand on the PNW types when they visit and have no idea how to ride on a dry AF sandbox. Bwhaahahahahahaa!
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Also in Sacramento and very much agree especially as someone who is "advanced-lite" meaning I'm good with most blacks but cautious on mando drops and large jumps. It is either tool around with some blues on a hardtail or straight send it on steep doubles or big jumplines on illegal trails in EDH/Sly Park/Auburn. Riders like me would benefit from more moderate black trails nearby but all the legal trails are just multiuse and tame. We need more features!

The new bike park planned for EDH (powerline) will have progressive feauters from green to black really without much elevation. How can we get stuff like that closer to Sac? Look at Bentonville its fairly flat and they made it a great place for progression without much elevation. Seems like FATRAC has their hands tied whenever they build new trails...
 
#79 ·
I'll just say that aside from issues with landowners, in my opinion many trail groups could benefit from increased involvement by younger riders looking for these types of trail experiences. There are groups out there who don't have ambitions or desires beyond outsloped bench cut multi-use singletrack.
 
Discussion starter · #80 ·
Abies said:
I'll just say that aside from issues with landowners, in my opinion many trail groups could benefit from increased involvement by younger riders looking for these types of trail experiences. There are groups out there who don't have ambitions or desires beyond outsloped bench cut multi-use singletrack.
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I am sure this is accurate in many places but locally it’s us older guys (50+) pushing the limits and building progressive lines. I had one of the current local NICA racers ask me, “Why are you so obsessed with jumps and features??” Haha I took that as a compliment! Interesting thing is he just graduated so maybe he will join us in some of our sessions :)
 
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