[Lgmoto356]

Hi all! First post in a long time. I moved to a very flat place for a couple of years and sold my mountain bike. I am moving to San Diego in the spring and I can't wait to get back to riding! I have been doing a bit of research but just wanted to get your input on what type of trails there are and how much bike you need/want for them. Location-wise, I will probably be living in pedaling distance from black mountain (although I could still end up a bit further north toward Carlsbad). Before my last move, I rode a Ripmo and did a lot of climbing for a mix of technical descents, flow trails, and jump lines with ~30ft jumps and ~10ft drops. I don't plan on going quite as big or as fast as before, but still want to enjoy technical terrain up and down. I am trying to decide if I want to go for the bigger bike with either the Ripmp/Offering or something a bit more nimble like the Ripley/Following. Any thoughts on which bike would be better suited to the local terrain?

Also, trails to check out or general advice on moving to the area is super appreciated if you have it!

Thanks!

 

[memorylasts]

I ride black mountain often and ride a sb100. I would like a little more travel, but I really enjoy railing the 100 around.

Granted I've seen full coil bikes up there...so it's all preference.

Welcome.


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[sips]

Hey man, welcome to North County!

I live in the Carlsbad area and mostly ride Rancho La Costa and now Calaveras on a 150/130 Knolly Endorphin. My bike is plenty for the trails around here, though I know I'd be faster in the rough chunk if I had a longer travel 29er.

So I'd say, something shorter travel that is lively will work great around here. Go more in the middle (160/150) if you want something that can do the local trails but also hit up gnarlier black diamonds within an hour or so drive, or even Big Bear's bike park. Go full long travel (170/160 29er) if you want to be able to take on the biggest trails you can find in SoCal. But a bike like that might mute the North County trails a bit more than you may prefer.

Again, it all comes down to personal preference. Hope that helps!

 

[Moosedriver]

I’m a little north in Temecula and have my bike set-up at 160/150 and that’s been plenty for me, but I also don’t spend much time on jumplines. The few times I’ve paid attention to the amount of travel that I regularly use, a 150/140 bike would work well, too. I previously was on 130/120 and that seemed too little, but probably because I like bashing through rock gardens more than finding the lines around the rocks. Sips is spot on with his comment above.

I see a lot of Intense, YT, Specialized, Trek, and Canyon bikes around here if you want some other brands to look at.

There are a few YouTubers that you can watch to see what the trails looks like if you haven’t found them yet. Tommy Huynh/Wreckless Riders, MTB Flow, MTB Alan, and The Outsider MTB are a few that I can think of initially.

 

[jcmonty]

There is a lot of variability on trails out here. I have always ridden a 150mm+ full suspension, but I also now ride a hardtail to mix it up. I think you can get away with any bike out here depending on your style and what you would like to do. I know some guys that routinely would put in 50+ miles on XC bikes on the same terrain I would on my "enduro" bikes. And then I know some guys who will bring out their dual crowns on certain terrain.

Ripmo would be a great do it all bike for pretty much anything out here plus be decent for Big Bear, Mammoth and other weekend locations. I would be a little less likely to run a smaller trail bike at those locations, but you would be fine for most of SD.

 

[p1nhead]

I think a Ripmo would be a great bike for most anything in San Diego county. It'll be a bit much for some of the trails, and just right on others. I have a Fuel EX (130 f/r) and it's OK for Black Mountain La Costa, etc - but I wouldn't complain about another 10mm or so of travel if I could get it when I ride those places. My home trail is PQ, and there, the 130mm bike is probably about 30mm too much. Tough call. You could get a Ripley AND a Ripmo! Then you'd be covered.

 

[DETarch]

Did you like the Ripmo when you had one? I think that’s a pretty great 1 bike solution for the greater SD area, assuming you don’t plan on getting into XC racing or anything.

I’ve had an SB130, SB150, and a Stumpy Evo since living here, and the 130 and Evo are very well-suited to the area as well. 150 was just a little too much unless it was really railing steep stuff, IMO.

I also have a 100/100mm travel XC bike for the tame local stuff, and that’s a fun way to keep things interesting.

 

[Jesse Hill]

I’m a little north in Temecula and have my bike set-up at 160/150 and that’s been plenty for me, but I also don’t spend much time on jumplines. The few times I’ve paid attention to the amount of travel that I regularly use, a 150/140 bike would work well, too. I previously was on 130/120 and that seemed too little, but probably because I like bashing through rock gardens more than finding the lines around the rocks. Sips is spot on with his comment above.

I see a lot of Intense, YT, Specialized, Trek, and Canyon bikes around here if you want some other brands to look at.

There are a few YouTubers that you can watch to see what the trails looks like if you haven’t found them yet. Tommy Huynh/Wreckless Riders, MTB Flow, MTB Alan, and The Outsider MTB are a few that I can think of initially.

Tommy and those guys are more North in SoCal. There is a very big difference in riding once you get south of Leguna area. At least every time I go to San Diego the legitimate (legal) riding spots are very limited and talking to a local last time (in a non Legitimate area trying to find more like it) I guess there is a rule there that all trails built have to have some avg grade or something like that as he explained it So every time your just getting into speed and the rhythm they throw in an uphill. Only real fun legal spot I’ve seen that far South is Noble Canyon but I know there is other stuff out there you just have to find the locals that will show or tell you about them.

 

[sips]

At least every time I go to San Diego the legitimate (legal) riding spots are very limited and talking to a local last time (in a non Legitimate area trying to find more like it) I guess there is a rule there that all trails built have to have some avg grade or something like that as he explained it So every time your just getting into speed and the rhythm they throw in an uphill. Only real fun legal spot I’ve seen that far South is Noble Canyon but I know there is other stuff out there you just have to find the locals that will show or tell you about them.

Pretty much this.

 

[Radium]

Find yourself an LBS and go in there to buy some tires that fit for the trails that are around. Then ask them about the local trails you can access from the vicinity of the shop and your new abode...

 

[Andrew8404]

I’m sorry about the move back to Cali ha ha. Ripmo climbs so good it feels like a trail bike. I’d stick to one of those.


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[jcmonty]

Pretty much this.

yeah - there really isn't any "flow" type trails on the map. Some extended DH can be found, but they are very much more raw style of trails. Black widow at Black Mountain is an example of trying to appease multi-user types on the trail, and conforming to city regulations (I am assuming). It has quite a few anti-flow features.

 

[DannyHuynh]

I live right next to black mountain. my profile picture is @ blk mtn. I ride there pretty often, also ride ted williams and LPQ a lot as well. Im on a 150fr 140rear 26er and have never felt underbiked. The only time thirst for more bike is when i go to snow summit and ride brake bumps all day. My next bike is going to be a 160/170rear 160-170fr 29er. Why so much travel? For those few days a year when I ride bike park and to smooth out the few gnarly trails I ride from time to time and to soak up my cases when I "jump".

 

[BullfrogFro]

I ride a sb100 like @memorylasts and it is great for black mountain and lusardi but beats me up in the rough after a while. Looking for something bigger for Santee, Double Peak, Calavera, etc.

Agree with @jcmonty that black widow isn't flowy or even very fun. I generally stick to miner's and lusardi when I hit black mtn.

 

[Scott2MTB]

Lots of great replies here. My thoughts are it really depends on how you ride. I find the 29er Revel Rascal at 130/140 and the 27.5 Ibis HD5 at 150ish/160 perfect for everything just about, with minor caveats and compromises. I ride everything as if I was on my trials bike these days though so I spend a lot of time seasoning (goofing off) on features both up and down and I'm not trying to be the fastest in either direction. There's enough varied terrain here that you can justify just about any travel bike that's in alignment with how you want to ride.

 

[BeenDecent]

Not much to add in terms of bike choice cause I'm riding a 150/130 similar to most other people on here. But I do have some videos of the more well known trails in the area @ youtube.com/c/brendangood if you're looking for an idea of what the riding is like. There's a lot of good hand cut trails around that I and most other people don't post just takes a little bit of digging to find them!

 

[Lgmoto356]

I’m a little north in Temecula and have my bike set-up at 160/150 and that’s been plenty for me, but I also don’t spend much time on jumplines. The few times I’ve paid attention to the amount of travel that I regularly use, a 150/140 bike would work well, too. I previously was on 130/120 and that seemed too little, but probably because I like bashing through rock gardens more than finding the lines around the rocks. Sips is spot on with his comment above.

I see a lot of Intense, YT, Specialized, Trek, and Canyon bikes around here if you want some other brands to look at.

There are a few YouTubers that you can watch to see what the trails looks like if you haven’t found them yet. Tommy Huynh/Wreckless Riders, MTB Flow, MTB Alan, and The Outsider MTB are a few that I can think of initially.

I actually have followed Tommy Huynh for a while! I'll check out the others you mentioned as well. Thanks!

 

[Lgmoto356]

I think a Ripmo would be a great bike for most anything in San Diego county. It'll be a bit much for some of the trails, and just right on others. I have a Fuel EX (130 f/r) and it's OK for Black Mountain La Costa, etc - but I wouldn't complain about another 10mm or so of travel if I could get it when I ride those places. My home trail is PQ, and there, the 130mm bike is probably about 30mm too much. Tough call. You could get a Ripley AND a Ripmo! Then you'd be covered.

If it wasn't for San Diego rental prices that is exactly what I would do! lol

 

[Lgmoto356]

Did you like the Ripmo when you had one? I think that’s a pretty great 1 bike solution for the greater SD area, assuming you don’t plan on getting into XC racing or anything.

I’ve had an SB130, SB150, and a Stumpy Evo since living here, and the 130 and Evo are very well-suited to the area as well. 150 was just a little too much unless it was really railing steep stuff, IMO.

I also have a 100/100mm travel XC bike for the tame local stuff, and that’s a fun way to keep things interesting.

Yea I really did love the RipMo. As I remember, I actually sold it to someone in the San Diego area, so it probably beat me to the trails!

 

[Lgmoto356]

Tommy and those guys are more North in SoCal. There is a very big difference in riding once you get south of Leguna area. At least every time I go to San Diego the legitimate (legal) riding spots are very limited and talking to a local last time (in a non Legitimate area trying to find more like it) I guess there is a rule there that all trails built have to have some avg grade or something like that as he explained it So every time your just getting into speed and the rhythm they throw in an uphill. Only real fun legal spot I’ve seen that far South is Noble Canyon but I know there is other stuff out there you just have to find the locals that will show or tell you about them.

Yea I have heard that most of the best riding is not technically legal. I followed a couple of IG pages that would put out warnings about rangers ticketing the area and whatnot. How are theBlack Mountain trails in your opinion?