All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

Almost 20 miles on the minions...damn these are good tires. I can definitely feel the difference in weight compared to the chupacabras but the grip is like a billion times better. I kind of want to change up my gearing but I might just wait and see if I get used to it since I don’t normally do any super long climbs.

 

That makes me sad lol. About to move to Virginia and was excited about new trails

 

What part of Virginia? Northern Virginia has a few solid trails, most are less technical though. Western Virginia is amazing though. About 2 hours west of me is some amazing riding. Long climbs and long descents!

 

I'm headed to Bend, OR this upcoming weekend. Buddy and I will be camping on a friend's property.

Plan on riding Phil's trail system and checking out the Deschutes Brewery.

Any other recommendations for trails?

 

Norfolk is where she’s stationed when she gets back from deployment

 

Ah, I’m not too familiar with riding down there. Definitely a good bit further from the mountains. I’ve heard of this place called freedom park in Williamsburg, supposed to be super fun with all kinds of riding, including jumps and drops. Not sure about other riding though.

 

Boneyard and Crux for beers. Cog Wild MTB tours may have some good recs and they could shuttle you a little further out from Phil's to ride in - Phil's has some good stuff and will keep you busy.

 

I am at Quantico for school right now - my MTB is still in California though. Where in Northern + Western VA have good trails? Anywhere else that has some decently technical riding?

 

Quantico used to have some decent trails, I haven’t been there in years so they might be closed. In South stafford there is Lodi farms and in Fredericksburg there is the quarry. Those aren’t really northern Virginia though. Not super technical either

best trail in northern Virginia is fountainhead, that’s where I usually ride it’s super fun and plenty technical to keep the skills sharp. Then there is meadowood, Laurel hills and Wakefield park. I know maryland has some good ones too but I haven’t ventured there yet.

if you want some big rides then western Virginia, western Maryland and West Virginia have riding for days. Massanutten western slope has some amazing riding but you have to pay for it or volunteer throughout the year. The western slope is closed during hunting season except for Sundays I think.

Then there is the George Washington National Forest up and down western Virginia and West Virginia. Some amazing riding out there. If you want technical all day rides then that’s where you want to go. Check out Shenandoah Valley bicycle coalition, they do some awesome work to keep all those trails up and running.

 

Is anyone in the market for a Yakima Hitch Bike Rack?


I have one sitting in my storage unit that is in excellent condition. It's the Double Down 4, and as the name signifies, it can hold 4 bikes. I also have the integrated locking bike cable and locking hitch pin that will come with it.

Here's my listing over in the marketplace: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-like-new-price-reduced.625773/#post-21719957

DoubleDown 4
Hitch Bike Rack
SKU: #8002424
http://www.yakima.com/doubledown-4

Asking $200 $175 OBO

 

Get up as high as you can. Dutchman, I think.
Bachelor is fun too.
MRT is beautiful and fun.

 

Don’t skip or ignore Richmond and the trails around it... Pocahontas has some excellent trails, skills areas and a sweet pump track. Some good technical lines as alternates with rock drops, etc.. The trails in downtown Richmond will test your patience with technicality, roots, concrete abutments, walls, drainage culverts, and old cobblestones. Easily 15+ miles of trail there.

 

New to me MGM taco and my Scott Ransom loaded on a oneup USA rack. Pretty sure my bike and the truck have the same diameter tires. Need to change that ASAP!

 

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How do you like the Ransom? How does it pedal?

 

The ransom is the real deal! If you have the terrain to use it on I highly recommend it. Twinloc feature makes the bike able to do anything. Climbs really well in 120mm mode. Then open it up to 170mm mode for the fast, gnarly DH. Even seated it climbs well in open/170mm but hammering out of the saddle will soak up some of your energy in open. It’s basically a mini DH bike that can be pedaled up to the top of anything.

 

Got in a decent ride over the weekend and managed to snap some pictures.

My main squeeze.



Obligatory Tacoma shot?

 

Is that meadow?

 

The other guys have given some great advice for the Virginia trails, so I'll only add a few more specific trail systems to the list for ya: 1) everything at Douthat State Park -- it's amazing!, 2) Schaeffer Farms in Germantown, MD, 3) Shenandoah River State Park just outside Front Royal, VA, and 4) Lake Fairfax, VA.

They used to host a 6 or 12 hour race on the base at Quantico, so those trails should be decent enough for every-day riding when you get off work. I'd probably make the trip to Fountainhead every weekend, though -- the blue and black loops at FH are just excellent.

 

I believe it's one of the features on Fountainhead's Black Loop, but I could be wrong.