Apr/132
The Dawn of a Golden Age for California Singletrack?
Mountain Bike Trail Groups Gain Access for Riders Throughout the State
By Matthew De Young
I grew up mountain biking in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place that has been simultaneously a mountain biker’s promised land and a kind of purgatory. While there is a huge amount of public land and miles of trails easily accessible from most points in the Bay Area, many parks and trails are closed to mountain bikers. As a teenager I became acutely aware that as mountain bikers my friends and I were the “black sheep” of the trail user community. The singletrack we rode was often built illegally and we were never certain how long any given trail would last before it was “erased” by land managers. Even trails officially open to mountain bikers could be an unpleasant experience. Rangers hiding in the bushes with radar guns ready to issue speeding tickets were not unheard of. Hikers often eyed us with a wary distaste, and addressed us with cold words. In typical teenage fashion we embraced our outlaw reputation, and this did nothing to help the cycle of marginalization.
Eventually I left California for Colorado to work for a company that specialized in building trails catering to mountain bikers. Our clients were mostly public land managers, the counterparts of those I had demonized through my youth in California. I found that I had to let go of the chip on my shoulder as rangers, hikers, and horseback riders in most instances seemed to regard cyclists as their equals on the trail. Most of the trails we built in Colorado were multi-use trails, laid out with the intention of reducing user conflict while still providing an enjoyable experience for all. This was achieved by maximizing sight distance and incorporating features that limit biker speed while still providing some excitement. We also built trails designed for the sole use of mountain bikers, trails that allowed for high speeds with jumps, berms, and other technical features. I could not get over the fact that we were building these progressive trails in city parks, in state parks, and on Federal Lands where they were easily and conveniently accessible to local residents. If this was becoming the norm in Colorado, what was the major malfunction in California?
What I came to realize is that mountain bikers in Colorado had not simply been handed these facilities out of the blue, but had put in serious effort in terms of painstaking diplomacy to make sure land managers addressed their needs.
After a couple years in Colorado, I moved back to California. I was keen to get involved with local trail advocates and to find out what was going on statewide. What I found was that there is a growing culture of trail advocacy among mountain bikers in California, and that while the State is lagging behind many parts of the U.S. and Canada in terms of opportunities for mountain bikers, various groups are working to change that in a hurry. Here is a regional breakdown of some of the progress.
Santa Cruz
New trail tools ready for work in Santa Cruz. Photo: Root One Productions
While Santa Cruz is widely regarded as a mountain bike Mecca, a first time visitor would be curiously hard-pressed to find much in the way of riding. Looking at a trail map of the Santa Cruz area a mountain biker might be left sorely disheartened to note that legitimate trail access opportunities are limited. In fact, most of the public lands surrounding Santa Cruz aren’t open to mountain bikers or only allow them on fire roads.
So why do mountain bikers still flock to the area to ride? Quite frankly it’s because riding illegally in Surf City is the accepted practice. Extensive illegally built trail networks crisscross the hills above the town. Linking these illegally built trails with other trails closed to mountain bikes makes for some of the best riding in California. And while the riding in Santa Cruz is extensive, the quality of the trails vary widely, as many of these pirate trails have built been built with little concern for sustainability and only see sporadic maintenance. Riders also risk hefty fines if they are caught riding in certain areas.
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) was formed in 1997 with the goal of changing the situation promoting mountain biking as a legitimate form of recreation in the area. MBOSC has been instrumental in maintaining mountain bike access to trails, bringing riders together to perform trail maintenance, and collaborating with land managers to provide new access opportunities for mountain bikers.
Volunteers shaping a berm on the Emma McCrary Trail in Santa Cruz. Photo: Root One Productions
One of MBOSC’s most notable successes has been the approval and ongoing construction of a new multi-use trail linking the city of Santa Cruz with surrounding State Parks and UC Santa Cruz. The trail, dubbed “The Emma McCrary Trail” after the recently passed stalwart fixture of the Santa Cruz Trail community, traverses Pogonip, a Santa Cruz city park historically closed to mountain bikers. The approval and construction of this trail is a watershed event for MBOSC who faced entrenched and fierce opposition from land managers, city council members and other user groups in its efforts to establish trail access for cyclists through Pogonip.
Nearly 2,200 volunteer hours have gone into trail construction thus far, according to Drew Perkins, MBOSC’s trails officer, who has been hired by the City of Santa Cruz to oversee trail construction. The trail is slated to open in the spring of 2013 and will be open to hikers, bikers, and equestrians. MBOSC has plans to build on this success with the construction of new trails in nearby Soquel Demonstration Forest and the reconstruction of trails in De Laveaga City Park.
Marin
Marin County has been the stage for some of the fiercest anti-mountain bike battles in the state, and likely the nation. The National Park Service set the precedent for land manager’s exclusion of mountain bikers when it shut down trails to riders in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in Marin, the sport’s birthplace(!), in the 1980s. Equestrian, hiking, and environmental groups have provided consistent opposition to any attempts made by cyclists to establish mountain bike access on public lands. While the mountain bike community continues to work with public land managers with limited success to establish mountain bike access, riders have found an ally in the local Boy Scout Council.
Camp Tamarancho is a Boy Scout Camp just outside of Fairfax. In 1996, Jim Jacobsen, then President of the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin and a professional trail builder, approached the Marin Council of the Boy Scouts of America about building mountain bike oriented trails at their Camp Tamarancho property. The Boy Scouts were receptive to the idea and thus began a six-year campaign of trail construction. Over 10,000 volunteer hours went into the creation of an 8.2 mile network of singletrack. Not only do these trails serve as a playground for Boy Scouts, but they are open to the public as well for a nominal fee. The Boy Scouts charge riders $5 for a day pass or $40 for an annual pass. These revenues go directly back into camp operations and also support the Friends of Tamarancho volunteer group, who maintain and take charge of new trail projects.
The Friends of Tamarancho are currently working on a new trail extension that employs progressive, mountain bike specific trail construction, the first of its kind open for public access in the region. The extension will be approximately two thirds of a mile of head-high berms and large rolling jumps. It will link up to an adjacent skills park with log rides and other technical features. While this may sound like an experts only affair, it is being built to appeal to most riders. The features are designed so that they can provide advanced riders with the opportunity to catch some air while still allowing beginners and intermediate riders the opportunity to keep their wheels on the dirt. The trail will be directional, with only downhill traffic permitted.
San Luis Obispo
New trail at Montana de Oro State Park near San Luis Obispo. Photo: CCCMB/FTA
Trail access for mountain bikers in San Luis Obispo County is expanding rapidly. This is largely due to the efforts of the Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers. CCCMB was founded in 1987 in response to trail closures at Montana de Oro State Park just south of Morro Bay. Since then CCCMB has collaborated with State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, the City of San Luis Obispo, and San Luis Obispo County to promote mountain biking. Not only has CCCMB preserved mountain bike access to lands managed by the aforementioned land managers, it has been the driving force behind new trail construction on their lands as well. CCCMB has a large volunteer base and regularly draws sixty plus volunteers to its workdays. On the last annual Super Bowl Sunday Trail Workday, 245 people showed up to volunteer. This large labor force has given CCCMB the ability to push projects forwards even as land managers are cutting staff and scaling back operations by backfilling their losses with volunteer labor.
CCCMB has had success in partnering with other user groups, an area where many advocacy groups struggle. Its board of directors includes equestrians and hikers. Equestrian and hiking groups have donated money to CCCMB for trail construction and maintenance and have collaborated to fund environmental assessment for new trail projects for cash strapped land managers. This unity among user groups has resulted in increased trail access for all.
CCCMB is currently working on an extensive trail project at Montana de Oro State Park. After the initial closure to bikes in the 1980s, it was determined that a portion the park would be open to bikes, while the other portion would be reserved for hikers and equestrians. State Parks approached CCCMB in 2008 with hopes of utilizing CCCMB’s trail design and construction expertise for some trail reroutes on some badly eroded trails in the part of the park closed to bikers. As a token of good will CCCMB dove into the project and undertook design and construction. It has since been determined that bikes will in fact be allowed on much of the new trail construction.
The project includes rerouting the four-mile Oats Peak with seven miles of sustainably constructed trail as well as the construction of several miles of new trail. CCCMB volunteers, the California Conservation Corps, and the Forest Trails Alliance (FTA) have performed construction. FTA, a non-profit mountain bike trail advocacy based out of Forest City, has performed all of the mechanized construction on the project utilizing a mini-excavator and a skid steer. Their fees have been paid by State Parks with money furnished by AT&T as mitigation for construction performed within the park. The San Luis Obispo Parks Open Space and Trails Foundation (SLOPOST) have covered additional expenses. As a non-profit, FTA’s revenues will go directly back into trail advocacy in the Forest City area.
Humboldt
While Humboldt County has huge tracts of public lands, historically mountain bike access has been limited. The Bigfoot Bicycle Club based out of the Arcata-Eureka area has been hard at work to change this. After years of working with various land managers, Humboldt County mountain bikers are achieving great success, as evidenced by the number of trail projects underway and in the pipeline.
The California Conservation Corps transporting a culvert during construction of the Paradise Royale Trail in Humboldt County. Photo: Gary Pritchard-Petersen
The construction of the Paradise Royale Trail in the King’s Range National Conservation Area, on southern Humboldt’s Lost Coast, was a major success for local mountain bikers. When the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opened its land management plan review for the King’s Range NCA for public comment, mountain bikers showed up, some affiliated with the Bigfoot Club, and voiced their desire for trails open to mountain bike use. Gary Pritchard-Petersen, the manager of the Kings Range NCA recognized the need for legitimate bike access and engaged the cycling community to meet their needs. Local mountain bikers, the Bigfoot Cycling Club, and IMBA became involved, and the Paradise Royale trail was born.
The Paradise Royale Trail is a treat. The views of the Pacific nearly 2,000 feet below are epic, you can ride from your campsite, and the campground has its own skills park. The Paradise Royale Trail is a perfect example of well-designed singletrack. There are no awkward turns requiring the rider to dump a bunch of speed with a fistful of brake, all of the switchbacks are rideable, and you are constantly kept on your toes. It is worth the trip.
Farther north, twenty miles northeast of Eureka, lies the Lacks Creek Management Area, a nearly 9,000 acre piece of land also managed by the BLM. The Bigfoot Bicycle Club as well as the Humboldt Trails Council have been working with the BLM to open up trail access to the property. Environmental assessments have been performed, clearing the way for nearly thirty miles of trail construction. This will include ten miles of mountain bike specific trail, including a downhill specific trail, and fifteen to twenty miles of multi-use trail, of which a few miles have already been constructed.
The Arcata Community Forest, is a 2,350 acre forest owned by the City of Arcata. The forest sits directly adjacent to the City as well as Humboldt State University. Sustainable logging revenues fund forest management, habitat restoration, and creation and upkeep of recreation facilities in the forest. The forest features just over eleven miles of mostly multi-use trails. The city recently purchased an adjoining piece of property known as the Sunny Brae Forest, which had been the site of several illegally built mountain bike trails. Bigfoot Cycling Club has worked closely with the city on the trail development plan for this new acquisition. Several miles of multi-use trail will link the Sunny Brae Forest to the Arcata Community Forest, and construction on these trails began in the fall of 2012. Plans have also been made for the construction of directional mountain bike specific trails catering to every skill level.
These victories are just a few examples of what mountain bikers can achieve when they organize themselves, even in the face of staunch resistance. By working with land managers and with other trail users, these groups have provided increased trail access not only for cyclists but in many cases for hikers and equestrians as well. Turning mountain bike access from a divisive issue into an opportunity for community growth has been an additional success story for these advocacy group.
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Want To Get Involved?
California Mountain Bike Trail Access Groups by Region
Auburn – Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) – www.fatrac.org
Downieville – Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) – www.sierratrails.org
East Bay Area – Bicycle Trails Council Of The East Bay (BTCEB) – www.btceb.org
Forest City – Forest Trails Alliance (FTA) – www.foresttrailsalliance.org
Kern County – Southern Sierra Fat Tire Association (SSFTA) – www.ssfta.com
Lake Tahoe – Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) – www.mountainbiketahoe.org
Los Angeles – Concerned Off-road Bicyclist Association (CORBA) – www.corbamtb.com
Marin County – Access4Bikes – www.access4bikes.com
Marin County – Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) – www.marinbike.org
Mendocino County – Ukiah Valley Trail Group (UVTG) – www.mendotrails.org
Monterey – Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA) – www.morcamtb.org
Nevada City – Bicyclists Of Nevada County (BONC) – www.bonc.org
Orange County – Share Mountain Bike Club – www.sharemtb.com
Pasadena – Mount Wilson Bicycling Association (MWBA) – www.mwba.org
Reno – Poedunks – www.poedunks.org
San Diego – San Diego Mountain Bike Association (SDMBA) – www.sdmba.com
San Luis Obispo – Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB) – www.cccmb.org
San Mateo/Santa Clara County – Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers (ROMP) – www.romp.org
Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMTV) – www.sbmtv.org
Santa Cruz – Mountain Bikers Of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) – www.mbosc.org
Sonoma County – Sonoma County Trails Council (SCTC) – www.sonomatrails.org
Tehachapi – Tehachapi Mountain Trails Association (TMTA) – www.tehachapitrails.org
May/120
The Way Bobby Sees It
You can order the documentary at: poisonoakproductions.com.
The Way Bobby Sees It is a gripping documentary about Bobby McMullen, a competitive mountain biker on a mission to race the most demanding downhill course in the country. Adding to the difficulty: Bobby is legally blind.
With the help of a guide and a rigorous training schedule, Bobby is determined to race his bike down a course riddled with obstacles and flanked by steep, life-threatening cliffs. But, the racecourse isn’t the only challenge in Bobby’s life. Between thrills, spills and jaw dropping helmet camera footage, we see how Bobby uses humor, determination, and unshakeable optimism to battle adversity – both on and off the bike.
Bobby was featured in our April/May 2012 issue in this article.
Apr/120
April 14-15: Santa Cruz MTB Festival Cranks Up
Photo: Sean McSorley
Having quickly cemented a place on the calendar a week ahead of the Sea Otter Classic, the third-annual Santa Cruz Mountain Bike Festival returns to Aptos Village, April 14-15, for a celebration of bikes and dirt.
Hosted by Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), the two-day event includes the first legally sanctioned enduro race through Soquel Demonstration State Forest, as well as dirt jump and pump track contests, cross-country short track races, a kids’ fun lap, and skill demonstrations and clinics. Dirt jumpers can also practice landing hair-raising maneuvers worry-free, with the help of a giant air bag.
Fox Racing Shox of Watsonville will again be the title sponsor and is donating prizes and a ton of awards, swag and raffle items.
Even if you’re not competing there will be plenty of other diversions, from ogling and demoing bikes — manufacturers will include Ibis, Niner, Pivot, Specialized, Giant and Santa Cruz — to refueling at the food court and beer garden. The beer garden will feature local brews from Seabright Brewery, Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, Boulder Creek Brewing Company, Santa Cruz Aleworks and Uncommon Brewers.
An “After-Party” on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. will feature live music from Oakland’s WhoGas, a funk/reggae/rock trio, beer and dancing.
For more details: santacruzmountainbikefestival.com.
Apr/120
Dedicated To The Dirty Work: New Mountain Bike Trail Groups In Tahoe
Brian Kelly breaks out the heavy artillery during a TAMBA trail day on the Christmas Valley Trail in South Lake Tahoe. All photos by Brian Fish.
Story by Seth Lightcap, Photos by Ben Fish
Judging by the number of mountain bikers that ride trails on the daily, yet never help build or maintain them, you would assume that singletrack grows on trees. Just shake the branches and down falls a sweet berm corner right? Not so much.
Pick up a shovel and start digging a trail and you’ll quickly realize that every inch of new or rehabbed trail is hard earned…and the shovel work is often the easy part. The planning and permitting process for building a new legal trail is typically beyond difficult, bordering on impossible.
It would be nice if we could water the ground and grow trails, but the reality is, trail building and maintenance is hard work on paper and in practice. Which is all the more reason to support mountain bike trail stewardship organizations if you’re an avid rider. These groups are doing the dirty work for your dirty fun! Becoming a member and volunteering for your local trail crew is the best investment you can make towards improved future trail riding opportunities in and around your region.
No doubt many of you enjoy riding the singletrack around Lake Tahoe so you’ll be interested to hear about two new trail groups in the Sierra that are worthy of your support. The Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association and the Truckee Pump Track Project both have exciting plans in the works. Read on to hear what they are up to, and if you like what you hear, don’t just get stoked, donate!
TAMBA's tools of trade.
Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) –
Like a phoenix rising from the dust of a blown out switchback, the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association is a new incarnation of a decades old Tahoe trail stewardship group. TAMBA was originally founded in 1988 as an IMBA chapter that lobbied for mountain bike access to Tahoe trails. After success opening many Tahoe trailheads to fat tires in the 1990s, the group slowly disbanded.
In 2011, TAMBA was resurrected and re-organized with the mission to promote new sustainable, multi-use trails, help maintain existing trails and preserve trail access for mountain bikers. Though they’ve been back on their feet for less than a year, TAMBA’s efforts have already found substantial support.
“Our biggest success thus far has been our growth,” said TAMBA president Kevin Joell. “We went from a small group of people who talked about reviving the organization in October 2010 to ending 2011 with over 350 paid members.That growth has helped us do a significant amount of volunteer trail work last year and forge positive relationships with several land managers in Tahoe.”
No doubt TAMBA’s project list has riders from around the Tahoe basin and beyond aligning with the group. They are planning for exciting trail work in both North Tahoe and South Tahoe for many years to come. Just don’t expect miles of brand new singletrack to pop out of the ground overnight, says Joell.
“New trails in Tahoe are a multi-year project just to be able to break ground,” said Joell. “The trails that are being built now were planned several years ago and the new projects we are
helping plan now won’t be in the ground for several years.”
Looking for a new Tahoe trail to ride this summer? The Sierra Canyon Trail is a new 9-mile connector trail from Gonoa, NV to the Tahoe Rim Trail that was completed in late 2011 thanks to the tireless efforts of the Carson Valley Trail Association.
That said, the group does have a couple new trail projects in the works that should see tire tracks sometime soon. TAMBA is spearheading the effort to build new pump tracks in South Lake Tahoe and Reno. A pump track is a short looping trail system built to be ridden without pedalling. The berms and bump runs found in pump tracks provide infinite fun in a finite area, much like a skate park. According to Joell, both tracks are likely to break ground this spring/summer and represent important successes in TAMBA’s MTB advocacy mission.
“Pump tracks are important because they will be high profile in their respective communities,” said Joell. “It will take dedicated volunteers to build and maintain them, and they will enable us to introduce mountain biking to more people, especially the youth. That will help with continued growth of the sport and energy for our other trail projects.”
The TAMBA crew will also break out the McLeod rakes to help rehab and maintain existing trails. Once a month from May to October, TAMBA hosts a trail work day including a free BBQ lunch for volunteers. Potential locations for 2012 trail work days include Angora, Mr. Toads, Tyrolean Downhill, Burton Creek State Park, Missing Link and the Snow Peak TRT. Tentative trail work dates are May 19, June 9, July 21, August 25, September 8 and October 13.
For information on TAMBA or to become a member visit mountainbiketahoe.org
Truckee Pump Track Project –
Never fear North Tahoe riders, you need not feel left out by TAMBA’s proposed pump tracks in Reno and South Lake Tahoe. There is also a pump track coming to a town near you – Truckee! The Truckee Pump Track Project is working towards the construction of a 17,000 sq ft pump track facility adjacent to the current BMX track at the Riverview Sports Park in Truckee.
The project has gone from concept to reality in less than a year thanks to the efforts of co-founders Brooks McMullin and Mark Featherstone. Upon organizing the idea last summer, the two friends have been bombarded with support.
“The Truckee community has totally embraced us, from the municipal boards to the local riders,” said McMullin. “Even people who aren’t able to donate money have donated time or services.”
The first phase of the pump track facility will include a pump park with multiple cross-over lines, an intermediate track and a ‘toddler’ track circling the outside. The track design was created by renowned trail builder Randy Spangler thanks to an IMBA Trail Building grant and substantial donations from Specialized, High Fives Foundation and many others. In March, the plans were approved by the Truckee Rec and Park District, who also gave the go ahead to break ground this spring.
The construction schedule is tentative as the project still needs to raise about a quarter of their estimated $43,000 construction budget, including $8,000 in dirt costs. If you happen to have a dump truck load of clean, clay-rich dirt that you’d like to contribute the group is open to both in-kind and monetary donations. The plan is to have Spangler and his crew build the course in the span of about two weeks in May or June of this year. Once completed, the Truckee pump track will be open sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, with short daily closures to allow for irrigation. Yeah, you heard right, the track will have sprinklers lining the course!
“The Truckee pump track will be a fun place for riders of all abilities to build their bike skills and socialize with friends,” said McMullin. “If you’re interested in helping making it happen, find us on Facebook and make a donation.”
After connecting with the Truckee Pump Track Project on Facebook, look out for an announcement about an April fundraiser party featuring a movie premiere and live music.
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SIDEBAR
Mountain Bike Trail Advocacy Groups By Region
Auburn – Folsom Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) – www.fatrac.org
Downieville – Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (SBTS) – www.sierratrails.org
East Bay Area – Bicycle Trails Council Of The East Bay (BTCEB) – www.btceb.org
Forest City – Forest Trails Alliance (FTA) – www.foresttrailsalliance.org
Kern County – Southern Sierra Fat Tire Association (SSFTA) – www.ssfta.com
Lake Tahoe – Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) – www.mountainbiketahoe.org
Los Angeles – Concerned Off-road Bicyclist Association (CORBA) – www.corbamtb.com
Marin County – Access4Bikes – www.access4bikes.com
Marin County – Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) – www.marinbike.org
Mendocino County – Ukiah Valley Trail Group (UVTG) – www.mendotrails.org
Monterey – Monterey Off Road Cycling Association (MORCA) – www.morcamtb.org
Nevada City – Bicyclists Of Nevada County (BONC) – www.bonc.org
Orange County – Share Mountain Bike Club – www.sharemtb.com
Pasadena – Mount Wilson Bicycling Association (MWBA) – www.mwba.org
Reno – Poedunks – www.poedunks.org
San Diego – San Diego Mountain Bike Association (SDMBA) – www.sdmba.com
San Luis Obispo – Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB) – www.cccmb.org
San Mateo and Santa Clara County – Responsible Organized Mountain Pedalers (ROMP) – www.romp.org
Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers (SBMTV) – www.sbmtv.org
Santa Cruz – Mountain Bikers Of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) – www.mbosc.org
Sonoma County – Sonoma County Trails Council (SCTC) – www.sonomatrails.org
Tehachapi – Tehachapi Mountain Trails Association (TMTA) – www.tehachapitrails.org
Jul/100
Sierra Adventure Rides
Three All-Day MTB Epics from Bishop to Tahoe
Story and photos by Seth Lightcap
Sierra Adventure Rides
Though the dirt is decent and the rocks are wicked fun, one of the best things about mountain biking in the Sierra Nevada is the fact that there is a trail for any occasion. Whether you only have an hour to cruise or you have all day and are looking for an ass-whupping, there are countless ride options.
Finding a Sierra destination for your average three-hour ride window is easy. Chances are you’ve already spent an afternoon or two on a few great ones. But what about those dawn to dark days? Where would you pedal if you had 12 hours to burn and were allergic to riding laps?
Here’s your answer. Check the specs on the three all-day epic rides profiled here. These rides are adventure testpieces that will challenge your legs, lungs, and navigation skills with big mileage, high elevation, and tricky route finding. Don’t expect your average ‘cross the dam and head into the woods’ endeavours as all of these point-to-point routes cross rugged alpine terrain via some improbable pathways. Due to the distances, these rides also require car shuttles, so read on, feel the stoke, and inspire your friends to join you on the journey.
The Coyote Flat Traverse: Bishop to Big Pine
The Lowdown
The Coyote Flat Traverse is no doubt Type II fun. How else could you describe a 35-mile sufferfest that climbs 3,000 feet over an 11,000-foot plateau and includes more sandy doubletrack and hike-a-biking than singletrack? That said, this grand tour from Bishop to Big Pine is a spectacular adventure, well worth the pain if only for the glacial views and the chance to rip rarefied singletrack from the High Sierra to the Owens Valley.
This radical journey should only be attempted by strong riders with a keen sense of direction as route navigation is by far the crux of the trip. Your pedal payment won’t be the only sacrifice as the ride requires an hour car shuttle in both directions. Don’t be put off however. Just prepare well and roll with good company.
Trail/Shuttle Info
The car shuttle begins in Big Pine where you can leave a vehicle along Glacier Lodge Road. Cruise back to Bishop and make a left on W. Line Street (168), then a left on South Lake Road 13 miles later. Park at a turnout on South Lake Road just past Bishop Creek Lodge. The ride starts about a quarter mile up the paved road where you’ll make a left onto the first obvious dirt road and cross a creek on a gated bridge. The road looks like a private driveway but it’s a Forest Service easement.
Follow the road past a home then veer left and begin climbing as the road contours up the side of the valley. After grinding up 3,000 feet in six miles you’ll be greeted by stellar views as you reach the top of the plateau. At this point a map will be key as you’ll need to navigate the jeep roads across the massive Coyote Flat. When you pass a marked landing strip you’ll know you’re on the right route.
About a 1/4-mile past the airstrip you’ll reach a critical junction. If you head left you’ll climb up over a saddle and descend fast moto-banked jeep roads for about 15 miles back to Big Pine. This alternative route stays on dirt longer but misses out on the technical singletrack that awaits if you stay right and follow the original route.
If you hang right you’ll begin trending southwest following a road along a low-lying ridge until it dead ends at a hunting cabin. Riding out behind the cabin look for a faint horse trail that crosses a creek just after a barbed-wire fence. From here get ready to hike-a-bike a fair bit as the singletrack trail gets loose and steep as it climbs and meanders across a high meadow that overlooks the Palisade Glacier. After a couple miles of on/off climbing, the trail will drop sharply into rowdy technical switchbacks that cross another meadow or two before descending into the Big Pine Creek drainage and finally to trail’s end at Glacier Lodge. Zip down Glacier Lodge Road for nine miles back to your car.
Additional Info
Do not underestimate this 35-mile adventure. It is long, arduous, and extremely remote. Getting temporarily lost is probable, if not guaranteed. Prepare for a 12-14 hour day on the saddle. Following the route description in Mountain Biking Mammoth, a guidebook by David and Allison Diller, will vastly improve your odds of success as would bringing a GPS. The plateau is quite exposed so dress accordingly and abandon plans for the ride if you wake up to mixed weather. It’s also worth noting that there is a short cut variation to this ride that will take you back to Bishop after gaining the plateau. This route drops off to the north after 11 miles.
The Black Canyon of the White Mountains
The Lowdown
OK, so this one isn’t exactly in the Sierra but rather looks out upon them. The White Mountains are the massive and under-appreciated range that looms to the east of the Owens River Valley outside of Bishop. Though well-known as the home of the Bristlecone pines, the oldest living things on earth, few people recreate the sprawling escarpments of the White Mountains as they are hard to access and not quite as picturesque as their High Sierra counterparts to the west.
Riding the Black Canyon is a top-to-bottom thrill that drops from the brushy ridge crest to the streets of Bishop, a 4500-foot plummet over 10 miles. The route starts on singletrack as it traverses into the canyon but soon joins a rocky old road that winds down the mountain. You’ll want fresh brake pads, wide tires and a couple extra tubes for this one as the narrow road is undeniably loose and ridiculously fast.
Trail/Shuttle Info
A Black Canyon descent begins with a long shuttle up to the top. The best place to leave your car is at the end of Warm Springs Road, a road found a couple miles south of Bishop off Hwy 395. Follow Warm Springs Road for approximately seven miles and park at the first major intersection. Head back to 395 and drive south to Big Pine where you’ll make a left on SR-168 going toward Westgard Pass. After 13 miles on SR-168, make a left on White Mountain Road and continue until 1.1 miles past Grand View Campground where you’ll see an unmarked dirt pull-out on the left. Park here.
The trail starts as a northbound dirt road leaving the back of the pull-out. Pass the first faint road heading left but take the second left that quickly becomes a singletrack trail. The trail traverses across a few drainages before dropping into the Black Canyon after a couple miles. The bottom of the canyon is marked by a major intersection with a road, at which you’ll take a left and start ripping downhill. The route is obvious from here as you stay on the main road as it drops another seven miles through alternately lush then rocky, barren terrain. Hang on tight and don’t let the Sierra views distract you too much as the loose trail surface demands attention.
Additional Info
This ride is notorious for flat tires, especially if you have XC rubber on your bike. Throw on wider tires for better scree surfing and bring two tubes per person PLUS a patch kit. A mile-by-mile route description can also be found in the pocket-sized guidebook Mountain Biking Mammoth, a very worthy addition to your trail pack.
Spooner Summit to
Mr. Toad’s: Lake Tahoe
The Lowdown
The details don’t lie on this ultra-mega Tahoe Rim Trail link-up: 40 miles, 6300 feet of climbing and 7043 feet of descending. Whoa!
This ride requires some serious gusto but you get paid royally for the pain as you’ll travel through remote Tahoe high country before descending one of the most famous trails in the region, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Other than a few intersecting portions of paved road, the entire ride is on perfect singletrack with several hyper-fast sections.
The route is locally known as the “Super Punisher” but it’s doable for mere mortals if you get an early start. The first 12 miles from Spooner Summit to Kingsbury Grade are a perfect warm-up as it climbs awhile then descends awhile leaving you well-balanced for the big push up to Mr. Toad’s. The climbing on the back half is also broken up fairly well providing opportunities to rest. A quick dip in Star Lake at the base of Freel Peak is also not to be missed.
Trail/Shuttle Info
The shuttle drop-off for this ride is at a OHV parking lot just outside of South Lake Tahoe. To reach the trailhead go south on Hwy 89/50, take a left on Pioneer Trail Road, then a right on Oneidas Road. Park at road’s end. Head back into South Lake Tahoe and drive east around the lake following US 50 to Spooner Summit. Park along the side of US 50 at the Tahoe Rim Trail parking lot.
Rolling onto the trail the route is straight forward as you follow the Tahoe Rim Trail for 12 miles as it climbs and descends about 1800 feet to the intersection of Hwy 207 (Kingsbury Grade). Once across 207 the route follows Tramway Drive up to Heavenly Ski Area where the Tahoe Rim Trail picks up again.
The next 15 miles of the route are the physical and mental crux as you climb over 3000 feet up to Freel Pass (9,700′). Dropping off Freel Pass, the pain eases for a bit as you descend awhile before climbing another couple miles to Armstrong Pass (8700′).
Five miles after Armstrong Pass you’ll reach the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride turnoff, also known as the Saxon Creek Trail. Bust a right and muster some energy as you have another five miles of fast and technical singletrack to rally down to the car.
Additional Info
The sheer distance of this journey demands respect, let alone the fact that you climb 6000 feet over the 40 miles. That’s a lot of pedaling giving you ample opportunity to do stupid things like flail shifting gears and rip off a rear derailleur. Be patient climbing and don’t hesitate to put a foot down before you tie your drivetrain in a knot. The rocky sections of Mr. Toad’s are also quite challenging so keep your game tight in the last five miles. Finishing a 40-miler with a broken collarbone would put a serious damper on your day.
Oct/090
Technique Clinic: Winter Mountain Bike Maintenance
A Gear & Maintenance Clinic
by Dan Curtis Cummins with Nick Neuhaus of Mike’s Bikes
Mountain biking is a great way to beat stress and stay in shape. However, many riders shamefully store their ride for the winter even though winter in California offers some of the best, dirtiest riding of the year. It just takes a little more care and preparation to get the most out of the rainy season. Proper preparation means having the right gear and taking care of your other half in the sport–your bike. One of these responsibilities is to not allow your bike to get dusty or rusty after a mud-slinging singletrack attack. Nick Neuhaus and the folks of Mike’s Bikes in San Rafael shared their expert opinion on how to prepare your bike, and yourself as a rider, for the upcoming winter season.
The Bike Bath
Your bike will need a regular bath. Nick recommends that riders clean their bike every time they ride. You will want to clean the frame and components as well as conduct a thorough drive train cleaning and lubing.
To get started, find a hose with no high pressure nozzle attached, a bucket of soapy water, sponges, and gear brushes to clean your bike. You will also need rags/towels to dry your bike. You must dry it after you wash it.
Wet the entire bike to loosen any dirt, mud or grime before you gently scrub the bike with your sponge (so as not to scratch the paint). Use the brushes for behind the crankset; around the brakes, under the fork, around the hubs, and in all the nooks of the drivetrain. If you have standard brakes (not discs) be sure to scrub the rims, especially the sidewalls because they’re your braking surfaces. You can scrub them with the rough side of a standard dishwashing sponge. Keeping the rims clean ensures positive braking.
You can use a chain cleaning tool and some citrus cleaner to clean a mucked up chain. Wet winter lube mixed with mud is notorious for gooping up the chain and rear derailleur.
Once you’ve scrubbed all the dirt off your bike, finish the job by rinsing and drying. Rinse the bike gently with clean water to remove all the soap and dirt, and then dry the bike with a towel or soft chamois. Be careful to not spray water directly into the cable housing. The grit from the mud can throw the shifting off.
According to Nick, it’s really important to keep it dry and keep the chain lubed, after regular winter cleaning. For winter, Nick recommends Dumon Tech liquid grease to lube the chain and components of the drivetrain.
Storage
Proper winter storage is essential for keeping your ride in good condition. Moisture can create rust spots, especially in the chain. Salt in the air is particularly bad because it not only causes rust but can also create some corrosion areas. Nick insists on storing his bike inside, and suggests the same for everyone this winter. “Inside, in a garage…not under a tarp,” or in any moist place, he commented. In your bed is fine if your bike costs more than your car.
Gear
As far as preparing your bike and gear for winter riding, a few key bases must be covered to keep you and your bike rolling. Nick suggests everyone carry a thin rain jacket or disposable poncho in their hydration pack if riding on uncertain days. He discourages leg and arm warmers for his type of aggressive riding, where he says he’s exercising really hard and moving around so he doesn’t need them to keep warm (although they may be a good idea for those more timid riders). Neoprene toe or shoe covers can be beneficial for long descents that don’t require much pedaling. Gloves are essential because it can be hard to brake and shift with chilled digits.
You should also consider purchasing a good night riding light system to maximize riding opportunities. The daylight hours are hard to come by in the winter, but with a good light you can ride anytime.
Tires
Nick recommends riders swap their light summer tires out for those with an aggressive tread pattern for the winter months. He especially likes the Maxxiss “Holy Roller” for muddy and wet terrain. Overall, look for thick, deep treads that will allow the mud to spin out of the tires.
Tools
Besides a regular travel toolkit (with a chain tool) and flat repair kit,
Nick highly suggests always carrying a gear brush on the trail, stowed in your hydration pack to be ready to quickly brush down the chain in extremely wet and wild days. “Mud can weigh a lot,” he said, “and cleaning the chain mid-ride can save a lot of drivetrain failure and energy.”
Follow these words of maintenance wisdom to keep riding on the trails this winter, rain or shine, mud, puddles, or slippery rocks. Be prepared and you will enjoy riding in the mud as much as riding in the sun-you and your bike
will just get a bit dirtier, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Oct/090
DESTINATION MAMMOTH—AUTUMN SPLENDOR SANS THE CROWD
By Pete Gauvin
Now is one of the best times to visit the Eastern Sierra for a dose of alpine solitude and adventure. The twilight of summer and the onset of fall is arguably the most peaceful time of year in this bold landscape tucked away from California’s swarming population centers by a little range of hills called the Sierra Nevada.
The summer crowds have begun to retreat to the suburbs of SoCal. The trans-Sierra passes have yet to be closed by snow, making the drive hours shorter for central and northern California residents via Tioga Pass through Yosemite or Sonora Pass to the north. The furnace-like heat of the Great Basin has been turned down to pleasant to encourage vigorous mid-day activity. And the aspen-lined canyons are choked with autumn color as an invitation to the high country.
There’s no shortage of accessible lands for active individuals to stoke their fires. Approximately 98 percent of the land in Mono County is public. Among these lands are Inyo National Forest, Mono Basin National Scenic Area, Devils Postpile National Monument, and the John Muir and Ansel Adams Wilderness areas.
Bring your mountain bikes, backpacks, climbing gear, kayaks, or just a pair of trail shoes, and you’ll find outdoor nirvana in this expansive, stunning playground of alpine splendor and high-desert lonesomeness. You’re certain to find energy in the landscape.
Here’s a sampling of ways to spend it, utilizing the Mammoth/June Lake area as basecamp:
Hiking/Backpacking
San Joaquin Ridge is an easy but spectacular warm-up hike beginning just above the town of Mammoth Lakes. This 4.8-mile round-trip hike begins at the 9,265-foot Minaret Vista, which offers superb views of the 13,000-foot spires of the Minarets, Mount Ritter and Banner Peak. The views only get better as you hike along the ridge toward Deadman Pass. You’ll walk on the Sierra Nevada Divide separating the east and west watersheds, while 11,053-foot Mammoth Mountain dominates the skyline at your back. A couple moderate climbs bring you to a 10,255-foot knob, where you a can survey a 360-degree panorama from the Yosemite high country to the White Mountains down south.
For a longer dayhike, an overnight backpacking trip, or the beginning to a longer high-country adventure consider the trail to Shadow and Ediza lakes, which lie at the base of Ritter, Banner and the Minarets. Beginning at Agnew Meadows Campground, it is 3.6 miles to larger Shadow Lake and an additional three miles to Ediza. Make your camp at Ediza, which offers a serene setting that is awe-inspiringly close to the serrated summits of the Minarets.
Mammoth Mountaineering
Supply in Mammoth Lakes is a good place to get other suggestions on many other hiking opportunities and pick up any last-minute gear needs.
Mountain Biking
Mammoth Lakes is the epicenter of mountain biking in the eastern Sierra, and at times the whole country. Riders can choose from the pay-to-play high-adrenaline excitement of Mammoth Mountain Bike Park (800-228-4947),
where the US Mountain Bike National Championships will be held Sept. 23-26, or pump up their lungs and quads on the ample single-track and fire roads stretching from the sage to the summits.
For spectacular fall color in a little-visited area northeast of Mammoth Lakes, try the Sagehen Loop, a remote and scenic 20-mile ride through Jeffrey pines, alpine meadows and aspen groves. The ride begins at the Sagehen Summit (8,000 feet) on Highway 120. The turnoff for 120 from Highway 395 is five miles south of Lee Vining. For a good route description, see “Mountain Biking Northern California’s Best 100 Trails” by Delaine Fragnoli and Robin Stuart. Plenty of water is recommended.
Another out-of-the-ordinary two-wheel adventure is a ride to the ghost town of Bodie, elev. 8,369. It’s a better way to appreciate the austere landscape surrounding this once bustling gold mine town of 10,000 hearty souls and imagine what it must have been like to live in this high, lonesome country. A state historic park, Bodie is masterfully kept in an “arrested state of decay.”
On Highway 395 north of Mono Lake and Conway Summit, park at the junction with Bodie Road (Route 270). From here it’s a rolling 13 miles to Bodie, the last three on dirt road. If you want to do a more strenuous
loop ride and you have an extra car to use as a shuttle, park it in Bridgeport (7 miles north on 395 from Bodie Road) and follow the directions above. After exploring Bodie, follow Geiger Grade and Aurora Canyon Roads, both dirt, north 17 miles to Bridgeport.
Paddling
For low-stress paddling, the lakes of June Lake Loop (June, Gull and Silver), Lake Mary near Mammoth, and Convict Lake further south are popular lakes to canoe and kayak. Rentals are available at several of the lakes. The saline waters and tufa towers of Mono Lake, accessible to paddle craft on its southwest side off Highway 120 east, offer a one-of-a-kind paddle experience.
Climbing
If you don’t know that fall is perhaps the best time to visit thesport-climbing mecca of the Owens River Gorge, 30 miles south of Mammoth, and the famous boulder fields of the Buttermilks, west of Bishop (another
14 miles south), you’ve never been plastered to the rock during the height of a summer’s day in the Owens Valley.
Nestled between the Sierra and the White Mountains at an elevation of 5,500 feet, the Owens River Gorge offers dozens of excellent crags on volcanic tuff. Most of the more than 500 routes involve endurance climbing
up vertical and slightly overhanging faces with square-cut edges and incut pockets for holds. Consult Owens River Gorge Climbs by Marty Lewis for thorough descriptions of the various climbing areas and routes within the
Gorge. Wilson’s Eastside Sports in Bishop and Mammoth Mountaineering Supply are good sources of expert local information on the myriad climbing opportunities in the area.
Hot Springs
When you need a break from working your muscles, soak ‘em in one of a ‘Mother Lode’ of hot springs east of Mammoth Lakes in the valley, from unregulated and undeveloped springs like “Crab
Cooker” and “Pulky’s Pool” to the conventional public swimming pool at Whitmore Hot Springs. Most of these sites are accessed via a network of dirt roads by turning left onto Benton Crossing Road from southbound 395; keep your eyes peeled for the “little green church.” See Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest by Marjorie Gersh-Young for further descriptions and a map.
Perhaps the most interesting geothermal oddity you could ever immerse yourself in is Hot Creek (turn east on Hot Creek Hatchery Road from 395 three miles south of Mammoth Lakes). Small fissures in the streambed spew hot water into the cold main flow. Swimmers experience rapid contrasts from the hot and cold mixing. Be careful where you dip your toe – most but not all danger areas have been fenced off for those who don’t recognize that steaming vents and boiling water are scalding hot.
Sustenance
For strout coffee and a spirited vibe, visit the Loony Bean in Mammoth Lakes. For unexpectedly good grub on your way to and from the East Side, stop in at the Mobile gas station on Tioga Pass just west of the junction with Highway 395. Undoubtedly, it will be the best meal you’ll ever have from a filling station.
Sep/090
IMBA’s Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is Saturday, Oct. 3
IMBA will celebrate its sixth annual International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. This is a great opportunity for you to pass your passion for pedaling on to kids!
You can find an event in your area on our new Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day Worldwide Map. Clubs and individual groups from around the world have already registered events in Canada, Italy, Mexico, Myanmar, South Africa and all over the United States.
IMBA’s International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebrates the life of Jack Doub, an avid teenage mountain biker from North Carolina who had a true passion for the sport from an early age but passed away in 2002. Funding is provided by the Jack Doub Memorial Endowment. The event takes place each year on the first Saturday in October.
Assistance provided by Trips for Kids, helping disadvantaged kids discover mountain biking since 1988! Trips for Kids chapters nationwide make a difference in kids’ lives by opening their world to mountain biking. By starting a Trips for Kids Chapter in your town, you can take disadvantaged kids on mountain biking all year round. Learn how to start a chapter.
Sep/091
A Taste of the Two-Wheel Future: Innovations from Interbike 2009
By Seth Lightcap
Despite an economy that can barely afford a garage sale ten-speed, the bicycle industry showed both optimism and enthusiasm at the annual Interbike trade show last week in Las Vegas. There was no damper on the excitement about countless new products as manufacturers presented innovations worth tempting even your extra, extra hard earned dollars.
Green products such as electric bikes and accessories made with recycled materials were especially hot items. Two companies with cutting edge offerings in this eco-market were Kilowatt Bikes and Green Guru Gear.
Brand new for 2009, Kilowatt Bikes out of Fort Worth, TX had the sexiest electric bikes at the show. Riding a philosophy that you can reduce your carbon footprint and look good doing it, Kilowatt’s designs offered an elegant rationalization for ditching your car and zipping around everywhere on an e-bike.
Kilowatt’s Cruiser was big pimpin’ with clean lines, a polished dual-crown fork, and an efficiently packaged battery system tucked in the rear rack. The throttled power-assisted pedaling comes courtesy of a 250 watt DC motor hooked to a lithium-magnesium battery. The electric motor can hit speeds of up to 20 mph with a range of 30-50 miles. Stickered at $2415, the Cruiser is a spendy townie bike but the price tag should be no surprise for such a swanky smart ride. For more info: www.kilowattbikes.com
Green Guru Gear out of Boulder, CO showed serious recycled radness with their finely detailed messenger bags constructed out of mountain bike inner tubes and other reclaimed materials.
The MTB Messenger felt extremely durable and notably well-designed as the internal organization included a padded laptop compartment and an internal water bottle holder among a host of other nicely zippered pockets. The bomber shoulder strap was also fully padded and anatomically designed to stay put while pedaling. $140 will sling this ultimate inner tube creation over your shoulder. For more info: www.greengurugear.com
Thinking ahead to a few multi-day mountain bike rides I’d like to tackle, my eyes instantly drew to this ‘one rack fits all’ carry system from a new company out of New Zealand called Freeload.
The Freeload is the world’s first fully adjustable bicycle carrier rack that can be fitted to the front or rear of any bike, including full-suspension rigs. The rack arms and webbing straps can be positioned to attach to either your frame’s seat stays or your fork and are rated to support over 50 pounds on the molded plastic deck. Shaking the rack on the demo stand it felt glued to the bike and seemingly plenty capable of hanging tough through rough terrain. With a turbo overnight kit and a sack of extra food lashed to a Freeload I can envision the range of my epic off-road rides to extend many, many miles next summer. About $85 bucks will get you racked up with a Freeload. For more info: www.freeload.co.nz
Another clever innovation beating a new pulse at the show was the Gate’s carbon belt drive system. Can you imagine never getting chain grease on your pant cuffs or fingers again?
Gate’s belt drive system is just like your standard chain and sprocket system only there is no grease, no noise, and less drivetrain maintenance (The belts last three times as long as your average chain). The system requires uniform belt tension so changing gears with a derailleur isn’t part of the program, but you can get away with an extra speed or three using a multi-speed hub. Expect to see the carbon belt drive on more and more new single speed and metro cruiser bike models as the system has been well tested by the motor sports industry and is primed for a bright future in bicycles. For more info: www.carbondrivesystems.com
Rolling into the rainy season I couldn’t help but notice this sweet new jacket from Showers Pass, an outerwear company from Portland, OR.
The Mountain Elite jacket features a 3-layer eVent fabric body with additional abrasion and tear-resistant SuperFabric patches protecting the elbows and the shoulders. The SuperFabric is also non-slip so your hydration pack will stay riveted to your shoulders. A stowable drop down tail piece and optional hood add to this garment’s killer design. $249 will see you sporting this beauty next rainy ride. For more info: www.showerspass.com
It just wouldn’t be an Interbike report without drooling over some carbon so I’ll wrap things up with two fantasy frames debuted at the show.
This is not your father’s Ibis Mojo. This is the freeride remix – The Mojo HD. Bigger and badder than the orginal Mojo, the Mojo HD has been reinforced to run up to a 180 mm (7 inch) front fork and it’s geometry has been relaxed to improve the performance in the berms and off the jumps. Just announced, the Mojo HD has no release date nor price set yet, but there is no doubt this frameset will be on the tip of people’s tongues in talk about the hottest all-mountain bikes of next summer. For more info: www.ibiscycles.com
Famous for outfitting the Phonak race team, BMC introduced the Team Machine SLR01. The full carbon frame weighs in at a scant 840 grams and features seat stays about the diameter of a marker. Despite the featherweight countenance the SLR01 is slated to ride as stiff as any frame the legendary Swiss manufacturer has ever produced. $4000 will allow you to test those claims and keep the bike in your garage or next to your bed, whatever you prefer. For more info: www.bmc-racing.com
Jul/070
Getting into Adventure Racing
By Gordon Wright • Photos by Doug Nurock/Nurock Photography
One of the most common questions people ask adventure racers is, “How do I get into adventure racing?”
The short answer is: Keep hanging out with adventure racers. They’ll suck you into the sport eventually. The even-shorter answer is, “If you’re reading this, you can probably do it.” Todd Jackson, who runs 7th Wave Productions, the biggest local event organizer in adventure racing, says that anyone who has ever done an off-road triathlon has what it takes — athletically – to get into the sport.
“Any reasonably fit recreational athlete can get into adventure racing,” says Jackson, who also promotes off-road tri’s and trail runs. “But there is a learning curve. You should start with a sprint race, and as you develop proficiency you can move up to longer races.”
No matter if you’re considering a three-hour race – considered a “sprint” distance in adventure racing – or a multi-day epic, certain essential elements are paramount to consider:
Teammates
At its core, adventure racing is a team sport. Many races accept solo racers, but the real reason to sign up for a race is to have fun and suffer with friends. Choosing teammates wisely is perhaps the most important strategic decision you’ll make, because the heat of competition and the emotions brought to bear with sustained suffering can bring out the weirdness in people. I once raced with a woman I didn’t know well, a great athlete who held herself out to be a crack navigator. She wasn’t (and wouldn’t admit it even in the face of painfully obvious reality), so we spent 41 straight hours hiking in circles in the woods of western Maine before withdrawing from a race ignominiously. We’ve never spoken since.
Mark Richardson, a top regional racer and one of the organizers of Team Karma’s Gold Rush races, maintains that the biggest negative characteristic a teammate can have is “a big ego.”
“Anyone who is too proud to allow another teammate to help them should stick to triathlons,” notes Richardson. “I have had too many teammates whose pride didn’t allow them to accept help, and this has proved especially true of racers with less experience. Nothing frustrates me more. Individual pride and ego have no business in the sport, because it is a team endeavor and teamwork is the single most crucial aspect in adventure racing.”
Mountain Biking
Mountain bike skills are an absolute requirement in adventure racing. Even sprint races can present up to 25-plus miles of rigorous off-road riding. You need to know basic bike repair, you need to enjoy climbing, and you need to be able to descend tricky terrain
with confidence.
And have you ever tried to eat during a mountain bike ride? You should probably figure it out before you enter a race, because maintaining your energy levels on the fly is a crucial element to even the shortest race.
Hiking and Running
With the exception of sprint races, you won’t be doing much high-aerobic running work in adventure racing. A common tactic of most races longer than six hours is to run at moderate speeds on flat land and downhill. As for the many uphill pulls you’ll see at any race, a moderate-to-vigorous hiking gait will keep you near the top of any competition. Your training should include at least half as much strenuous trail hiking as flat-land running. And always, always wear a backpack in training. This habituates your core muscles to deal with the load you’ll be bearing during a race, and gets you familiar with accessing your food and equipment on the fly.
The most essential thing to remember for foot sections is to maintain a relentless forward motion. A team that sustains consistent forward movement usually will beat a team that surges forward only to stop repeatedly to eat, futz with gear, decide on directions or tend to minor physical ailments. And yes, peeing without breaking stride is not only possible but a highly-prized ability.
Paddling
Paddling of some sort – be it flat-water canoeing, ocean kayaking, or downriver running – is a central feature of almost every race. Much like the swim leg in any triathlon, being a poor paddler won’t necessarily lose you the race, but you’ll have a difficult time being competitive.
Like swimming, paddling is relatively easy to gain adequacy, but difficult to gain mastery. The more time in the water you spend, the more comfortable and competitive you’ll be. That being said, even completing a one-day paddling course from a local outfitter is enough to see you through an entry-level race. Paddle shops and outfitters that offer classes include California Canoe & Kayak (Oakland and Sacramento), Outback Adventures (San Jose and Marin), Aquan Sports (Peninsula), Sea Trek (Sausalito), Current Adventures (Sacramento), REI’s Outdoor School (Bay Area and Sacramento), Kayak Connection (Santa Cruz), and Monterey Bay Kayaks.
Navigation
Hiking, mountain biking, even paddling: these are the core sports of ASJ readers. But navigation can be the great stumbling block, the great barrier to entry for many aspiring adventure racers.
The good news is – it isn’t as hard as it looks. The bad news is – you can’t fake it. You have to know how to use a compass, and you have to know how to plot Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) points on a map. Those are the two basic skills, and attaining them should take you about 10 hours, a bit of practice and a good book or two.
Keep in mind that the difference between a good race experience and a bad one is all about navigation. The better you are, the faster you go. Being able to read terrain features and translate those onto your map is critical. Having a good sense of direction and a healthy dose of common sense are pretty key as well. And remember – you’ll be navigating at night for any race billed as a 24-hour event, and that is a true navigation challenge.
Gear
Doug Giles, a beginner racer whose first attempt at the sport was in last fall’s Tahoe Big Blue 24 Hour, failed to finish his inaugural effort. It wasn’t his fitness level, or his lack of proficiency in the basic skills. Rather, it was his unfamiliarity with apportioning his gear and food to account for the race’s dramatic length and disparity of conditions.
It is the simple things that will undo you. The lack of a dry, warm layer for cold nighttime sections. The bonk you get when you forget to eat on the run. The unattended hot spot that develops into a debilitating blister. The dehydration that sneaks up on you in the heat of battle.
Thankfully, every race organizer posts or distributes a gear list prior to your event. You need to assemble that list, and test it during your training to dial in your equipment, food, and hydration needs, or you’ll be pulling out of the parking lot long before the winners cross the finish line.
Attitude
A good attitude is one shared by all team members. However, that attitude can be different for every team. I would fare poorly on a team like DART-NUUN, a fantastically fast team based in Seattle. They are relentlessly competitive, speed-oriented and wholly intense. My teams tend to resemble auditions for the Improv. We like to laugh, solve marital woes and tease each other about how bad we look.
Whatever attitude you carry into competition must be the attitude carried by all of your team members, or else you’re bound for team discord and dysfunction.
In short, adventure racing is a real, but attainable, challenge. It is a glorious chance to hang out with friends. But perhaps what is most appealing about the sport is its transformative potential. It may not change your life, but finishing your first race may recalibrate your knowledge of what you are capable of.
Resources
- www.BAOC.org (navigation basics)
- www.BAARBD.com (online community)
- http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/baar/ (online community)
- www.Adventureracereports.com (race calendar and race reports/research)
- www.Teamkarma.com (race organizer)
- www.Bigblueadventure.com (race organizer)
