Alabama Mountain Biking Thread

It wasn't all up hill. To you maybe, but I had a great time riding the downhill portions on Patriot. If you want a more direct route, be my guest and climb Claymore. If we're doing that, we'll figure out a way to shuttle or at least a route on the fire roads.

 

there was like 100ft total of downhill on patriot lol!

 

Whatever. I enjoyed it, thought you might too. Sorry for making you pedal your new bike a little.

Next time we can start on the other side and hit MOAB. I believe there are service roads all the way up.

 

lol don't be so sensitive! you know I hate uphills. and patriot wasn't even the half of it...chinook is 100% uphill the direction we took haha!

I don't honestly know the best starting point out there, and can't seem to really see a good route on trailforks that gets you to the "top" because it doesn't really show where the service roads connect to anything below...

 

this sort of looks like the best as far as parking, and taking the service road up to the top. then you could ride down to the parking from sort of wherever.

 

The service roads are in purple. Didn't know if you knew that. I think there is a route on the back side. But you're right, chinook was all uphill and to be fair I had never ridden it. It was still less steep than the part of the service road I was telling you about though that was near vertical it felt like.

 

We should try it from that side next time.

 

BRO HOW DID YOU NOT TELL ME THERE IS A CHARLEYS PHILLY STEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

 

I had no idea. I hope that's true. Lol.

 

that has got to be a mistake lol.

I feel like we really need to make more local friends that KNOW the best routes when riding instead of just finding out ourselves lol. I know we would've sucked ass at Black Mountain without Mark.

 

We're becoming those people that KNOW. I enjoy figuring it out too. Its just part of exploring. If you really want to map out your ride, you could always analyze a topographical map of the area and decide which way is the best to ride.

 

well trailforks has the elevations thats all I have to go off of. are we allowed to drive the service roads and park on them?

 

Yep. As long as you aren't hopping a fence, you can drive wherever you want.

 

I know it's lame to "shuttle" but I want to enjoy more downhills, even if it's repeating a trail. I don't mind the occasional uphill but "earning it" is stupid to me...I don't want to be spent when I get to the fun part, and I don't want to only have time/energy to do 1 fun part...

our MTB time is already limited so I like to make the most of it.

 

I get that. My mountain biking consists of enjoying the climbs too. I enjoy both and its not really due to the "earning it" thing. If I could get some time for just downhill, I'd be cool with it. Shuttling is just a pain when its only us two though and I'd rather have more saddle time.

 

I agree, just uphills I can handle lol. Like I wouldn't mind doing the road at Monte Sano climb now with my new bike, but I don't want to climb just to climb..

also, have you seen the photos on trailforks? some guy uploaded photos of a trail "Village Bound" that looks AMAZING and I was like where the heck is that....couldn't find it on the map....what the heck....just clicked on the name of it....ASPEN COLORADO WTF MAN why is that uploaded here?! got my hopes up bigtime...

https://www.trailforks.com/region/redstone-arsenal-1521496510/photos/

 

Those people suck. I ran across that exact same thing a while back.

 

@stronghammer have you bought anything to protect your frame yet? Get some of this stuff and put it on your downtube. Its a thick rubber with adhesive on the back. I use it on my bike. Its call Mastic Tape. https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-Scot...ic-Electrical-Tape-Black-50727-BA-5/202195402

 

but it's black...

 

Black matches everything. Or you can spend 3 or 4 times the amount and get a cute little frame protection kit that matches your bike.