Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Mountain Biking
Reload this Page >

Where could two newbies go for an amazing mountain biking adventure in April?

Notices
Mountain Biking Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out this forum to discuss the latest tips, tricks, gear and equipment in the world of mountain biking.

Where could two newbies go for an amazing mountain biking adventure in April?

Old 02-18-19, 03:36 PM
  #1  
hhk25
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 277

Bikes: 2017 Marinoni Tourismo Extreme, 1984 Trek 520, 1987 Niskhiki International, 2013 Brompton M6R, 2016 Brompton P6R

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 17 Posts
Where could two newbies go for an amazing mountain biking adventure in April?

I have a week off in early April and I'm itching to spend it on a bike on a trail.

The thought of trail riding in open country really appeals to me. I live in the North and all our trails are basically tree tunnels. I'm thinking something like Moab but our free time is in early April. Is that too early for Moab?

What are some other places where I can find beginner to intermediate terrain? We are both experienced road bikers but new to off road. We would need rentals.
hhk25 is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 03:48 PM
  #2  
Mtbphill
Mtbphill
 
Mtbphill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 4

Bikes: Whyte T130, Whyte 905, Fausto Coppi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
MTB for newbies.

Hey fellow MTBers.

I’d recommend checking Brian Kennedy out via BKXC both on the web and YouTube. He’s a gurú when it comes to US trails.

Good of luck and hope you have a great trip shredding those trails.

Phill.
Mtbphill is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 06:16 PM
  #3  
2cam16
Senior Member
 
2cam16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 4,349

Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 928 Times in 594 Posts
Whistler might have some blue and green trails. Definitely Moab is a must. Sedona and Las Vegas have some good ones but not sure if they have beginners. Of course here in California we have TONS. Washington state has some good stuff too.
Like mtblhill suggested, BKXC is a good resource but he's way advanced in riding. Also check out Awesome MTB, Singletrack Sampler, Daily MTB Rider, MTBing Adventures, and MTBdropIn channels for US and Canada trails that they've ridden.
2cam16 is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 06:34 PM
  #4  
Darth Lefty 
Disco Infiltrator
 
Darth Lefty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,775

Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem

Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,102 Times in 1,366 Posts
We have a million mountain bike areas around here. Santa Cruz is maybe the hub, you can demo a Santa Cruz or an Ibis right out of the factory. But there are definitely a ton of places all over the Bay Area and further inland. By April the winter is over and it's pretty dry although we do usually get one big late storm.

Arizona and Colorado are other places I'd look with very active communities of MTB'ers and lots of trails. Arizona has a lot of state trust land you can just explore in, whereas California is very strict about what's a MTB trail and what's a horse trail.
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Darth Lefty is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 07:25 PM
  #5  
ljsense
Senior Member
 
ljsense's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Madison, Wis.
Posts: 756
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 152 Times in 92 Posts
I was in the same boat a few years back and went to Las Vegas for a work convention and spent an afternoon riding mountain bike trails about a half hour out of the city. It was very scenic, good flowy trails for a roadie getting into mountain biking, and there was a bike shop that had great rentals -- I got an Ellsworth Epiphany for a reasonable day fee.

I can't compare it to many other places, so someone with more experience surely has a more informed view, but in terms of trip planning, LV is usually a pretty cheap and easy destination, and early spring would be a good time to go.
ljsense is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 07:31 PM
  #6  
Steve B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,826

Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3185 Post(s)
Liked 2,020 Times in 1,158 Posts

Perfect time for Moab.

If you have the money and 3 days, see if you can pick up on a supported tour of the White Rim Trail. 100 miles, northern section of Canyonlands. Not technical, just a lot of dirt jeep trail riding in a remarkably beautiful area.
Steve B. is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 09:29 PM
  #7  
hhk25
Full Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 277

Bikes: 2017 Marinoni Tourismo Extreme, 1984 Trek 520, 1987 Niskhiki International, 2013 Brompton M6R, 2016 Brompton P6R

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times in 17 Posts
I called rimtours.com and they have a couple of trips planned but not yet confirmed (lack of committed riders). I'm going to check back at the end of the week. Are there similar outfits in California? Might be nice to fly into LA and do a bit of skateboarding then MTB. Or fly into San Francisco and fortify on crab and Anchor beer before heading out for a 3 day MTB tour.

I don't mind renting and doing day trips but the ideal for me is a supported 3 day camping trip in a fairly wild area.
hhk25 is offline  
Old 02-18-19, 11:29 PM
  #8  
2cam16
Senior Member
 
2cam16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 4,349

Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 928 Times in 594 Posts
Originally Posted by hhk25
Are there similar outfits in California? Might be nice to fly into LA and do a bit of skateboarding then MTB. Or fly into San Francisco and fortify on crab and Anchor beer before heading out for a 3 day MTB tour.

I don't mind renting and doing day trips but the ideal for me is a supported 3 day camping trip in a fairly wild area.
I'm pretty sure there are similar outfits.
2cam16 is offline  
Old 02-24-19, 10:58 AM
  #9  
sandy...man
Newbie
 
sandy...man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Squamish BC
Posts: 4

Bikes: giant trance

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Squamish BC Canada
you can check out the trail maps on the SORCA web site
sandy...man is offline  
Old 02-25-19, 08:14 AM
  #10  
hig4s
Senior Member
 
hig4s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 662

Bikes: Evil Insurgent, Giant Stance, Wife has Liv Cypress, son has Motobecane HT529

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 93 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Mulberry Gap near Ellijay Georgia is supposed to be very nice. They have cabins, food, and guided rides if needed. The bike shop in Ellijay rents bikes. https://www.cartecaybikes.com/ Of if you want less rustic accommodations Blue Sky Cabin rentals has places all around Ellijay. We getting a Blue Sky Cabin for 8 days this year, but being from Florida we are waiting until summer when their temperatures are closer to what we are used to. In April average high is 69F average low 47F.
hig4s is offline  
Old 02-25-19, 09:45 AM
  #11  
bakerjw
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NE Tennessee
Posts: 917

Bikes: Giant TCR/Surly Karate Monkey/Foundry FireTower/Curtlo Tandem

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 84 Times in 62 Posts
Originally Posted by hhk25
I don't mind renting and doing day trips but the ideal for me is a supported 3 day camping trip in a fairly wild area.
Dive right into bikepacking.
Of course I live for getting on the bike and heading out for a few days in the wilderness with all of my gear on my bike.
bakerjw is offline  
Old 02-26-19, 05:20 AM
  #12  
c_m_shooter
Senior Member
 
c_m_shooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Paradise, TX
Posts: 2,087

Bikes: Soma Pescadero, Surly Pugsley, Salsa Fargo, Schwinn Klunker, Gravity SS 27.5, Monocog 29er

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 186 Post(s)
Liked 234 Times in 166 Posts
Moab is great, but may be a little rough for new riders. The trails around Albequerque NM are epic also.
c_m_shooter is offline  
Old 02-28-19, 04:45 PM
  #13  
24/7biker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 90
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Go to Moab! Tons of trails there, plenty of stuff to ride even if you're not the most experienced mountain biker. Scenery is absolutely epic everywhere you look out there.
24/7biker is offline  
Old 02-28-19, 06:02 PM
  #14  
Steve B.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 6,826

Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3185 Post(s)
Liked 2,020 Times in 1,158 Posts
Originally Posted by c_m_shooter
. The trails around Albequerque NM are epic also.
Was going to recommend NM as well, ABQ and/or Santa Fe. Nice time of year, though you can get some cold and snow in April in SF as it's at 7,000 ft. But it melts that afternoon. Lots of options all thru that area, if it snows one morning in SF, head south an hour to ABQ.

TrailForks is good at showing where all the riding areas are as well as difficulty.

The northern NM area as well as the best food you will find in the southwest.
Steve B. is offline  
Old 03-01-19, 06:03 PM
  #15  
dminor 
Moar cowbell
 
dminor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: The 509
Posts: 12,481

Bikes: Bike list is not a resume. Nobody cares.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by sandy...man
Squamish BC Canada
you can check out the trail maps on the SORCA web site
Haha, Squamish isn't exactly newbie territory. Blues are other people's blacks.

To the OP - - Kingdom Trails might be just the ticket and closer to you that a lot of other suggestions. Never been there but they bank their sell heavily on flowy, all-abilities-friendly trails.
__________________
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
dminor is offline  
Old 03-01-19, 06:21 PM
  #16  
Cyclist0108
Occam's Rotor
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,248
Mentioned: 61 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2366 Post(s)
Liked 2,331 Times in 1,164 Posts
Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
We have a million mountain bike areas around here. Santa Cruz is maybe the hub,
At the moment, everything here in Santa Cruz is soaking wet.

It really depends how dry March is, but I wouldn't count on it this year.

Moab would be great. I've been before in April. Weather obviously can be variable, but at least the heat won't kill you.
Cyclist0108 is offline  
Old 03-03-19, 06:40 AM
  #17  
Maelstrom 
Wood Licker
 
Maelstrom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966

Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 2cam16
Whistler might have some blue and green trails.
Whistler won't be open in April. The goal for the mountain is to usually dig out lower mountain for a may 24 opening. Some of the xc stuff will be available lower in the valley, but they have had a good snow year unfortunately. Of all the areas this is likely the most range in trails from true greens to true double blacks. Since their focus is family adventure they need to be absolutely accurate in their ratings. Even then some of the greens are kind of nuts. I took some fit newbs out on lost lake trails and quickly realized just how technical those blues were. The skill jump between green and blue was kind of intense. Fun... and with some time they started to get it and look ahead and work the brakes instead of grabbing fistfuls, but it was a coaching session more than a riding session

"Vancouver" BC would be good, but slick and wet.

I happen to be in Sedona now, and it would be perfect in a month. The riding here is mostly blue to black riding, but I will be honest, the blues are pretty reasonable. Skywalker for example is a trail that is easy and I would gladly take my wife on. Lots of options in the "valley" too. You can progress as fast or slow as you like AND their is a tonne of bike rental options. Sedona partially rates on "exposure" vs the actual technical features. Taking sky walker again, it is easy, but one misstep to the left and whoops you fall. Its not that extreme but the rating is there.

Trailforks would be your friend in any west coast riding (West of Dallas), since the trails are updated frequently. East of dallas I think MTB project would be your friend.

Just a pre-warning, a blue trail on the north shore of Vancouver does NOT equal a blue trail in Scottsdale and does not equal a blue trail in Sedona. Definitely check out various you tube channels to see how technical the riding is so you don't end up in an area where the blues are so deep you end up over your head. I tend to get around quite a bit and speak to the rating system in my vids on my youtube channel Clydesdale Mountain bike. Mostly Dallas, all of BC, Arizona and some California biking. Its getting better with ratings being split between the climbability and the technical aspects. Makes my selection easier when I find a black climb, and green technicial.

Last edited by Maelstrom; 03-03-19 at 06:45 AM.
Maelstrom is offline  
Old 03-03-19, 06:41 AM
  #18  
Maelstrom 
Wood Licker
 
Maelstrom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whistler,BC
Posts: 16,966

Bikes: Trek Fuel EX 8 27.5 +, 2002 Transition Dirtbag, Kona Roast 2002

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by dminor
Haha, Squamish isn't exactly newbie territory. Blues are other people's blacks..
It would be a great way to learn what steep is pretty fast. Welcome to mountain biking, here is a rock face...
Maelstrom is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
clengman
Mountain Biking
4
08-02-18 11:16 AM
mbruemmer11d2
Mountain Biking
7
05-15-12 08:54 PM
worldtraveller
Western Canada
2
08-19-11 01:29 PM
SpecialCK
Pacific Northwest
5
08-24-10 09:32 PM
eds49721
Great Lakes
8
05-10-10 01:27 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.