[soysurfer]

Howzit NorCal,
I'm going to be visiting Stanford U on Friday and hope to get on a trail bike Saturday July 15 before coming back home to the islands on Sunday. Would appreciate any advice on trails accessible from the Palo Alto area. Hoping for some technical riding, boulders, air drops < 3 ft or so, skinnies and catwalks, whatever. Not necessarily shuttling but could be. Maybe just a good XC ride. Will need to rent a bike so if there is a good bike shop near SU please advise. Or if you have an extra trail bike and guide skills and would like to ride with a mellow guy and decent rider and make a few bucks, or know of someone who does, then let me know.

mahalo
John

 

[singlespeed.org]

This area is definitely more XC oriented.

Have a car? Or willing to ride a bit to get to dirt?

Closest dirt to Stanford is a place called Arastradero. Given what you are after, it would be a bit boring. http://mtb.live555.com/rides/Arastradero.html has some info.

You could take a train (or a 45 minute bike ride) to Waterdog Lake in Belmont. Check out http://www.passiontrailbikes.com/pages/rides for some ride options and a map of how to get there (map is from the shop, but the train station is at the corner of Ralston and El Camino, which is shown on the map, so that could guide you to the dirt also). This message on their Blog also has some photos/video clips from their shop ride last Wednesday evening -
http://www.passiontrailbikes.com/articles/2006/07/06/photos-videos-from-ride-jul-5

A bit more technical, but still XCish would be El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space (often calls Skeggs). That would be an hour plus by bike up into the hills. http://mtb.live555.com/rides/ECdMOSP.html

Along the same line is Soquel Demonstration Forest (or The Demo). Definitely a drive. http://mtb.live555.com/rides/SoquelDemo.html (note - this write up is out of date, as it doesn't list a relatively new trail called Braille Trail).

 

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Another option rideable from Stanford would be the end of paved Alpine Rd, leads you up into the Russian Ridge and Stevens Canyon areas depending on your stamina. Generally there's not much of the kind of riding you describe on the peninsula or even in the general bay area.

 

[soysurfer]

Thanks for the info. I'll check 'em out.

 

[Cannonhead]

Waterdog is fun...

but there's some great stuff if you look on the other side of the ridge...just exactly what you're looking for. Search Carlemont High School...though I think those in the know have another name for the place, I just don't remember right now.

 

[singlespeed.org]

but there's some great stuff if you look on the other side of the ridge...just exactly what you're looking for. Search Carlemont High School...though I think those in the know have another name for the place, I just don't remember right now.

It's often called DMC. Mostly a whole bunch of doubles. A few steep drops. 2 or 3 wooden jumps.

There is some information about how to find the top of it at http://www.passiontrailbikes.com/pages/ride-crazyadvanced

 

[kev1n]

What about the stuff up in Pacifica (on Montara, I think)- the crack, boyscout, mile, etc.? The crack has some steep rocky stuff that's fun, and there is (or at least was) some stuff built up at the bottom. Probably kind of hard to navigate if you haven't been there though...

 

[singlespeed.org]

What about the stuff up in Pacifica (on Montara, I think)- the crack, boyscout, mile, etc.? The crack has some steep rocky stuff that's fun, and there is (or at least was) some stuff built up at the bottom. Probably kind of hard to navigate if you haven't been there though...

And kind of hard to get to from Palo Alto...

 

[Loll]

howzit brah,

If u like ride mainland style stuffs, go to demo in aptos/ santa cruz. Imagine Peacock flat on Oahu, but added with light freeride elements and minus that steep uphill.

Montara over at Pacifica is like decending Kealia trail on Northshore, but like twice the difficulty.
Solid stuffs though. dont ride xc bike on it.

If you like some stuffs closer to Aiea loop style, but much less roots, then do Waterdog Lake by Carlmont High. Choke fun. Skegg is good too.

I imagine u, similar to me, got tired of the stuffs on the islands and want to do some riding that u see on the video for mainland kind stuffs. If that is true, skip Arastradero, even though is close by. Any of the stuffs listed above are all good.

Laterz. Hope this helps.