Riding Bike Parks

So you are getting a little bored of our local trails since you have done them a thousand times over. Sure you can take a road trip to some other trails but that involves researching how to get there, how to find the trailhead and where to go so you don't get lost. I'm not saying you shouldn't be doing this by any means but sometimes it can be a gamble.

One alternative to trail hunting is to try a bike park. This way you can have a variety of trials to choose from and they will be clearly marked so you don't get yourself lost. Plus most of them offer maps so you can plan ahead and find your way while out on the trail. And if you are not sure of your skills the trails will be ranked on difficulty level so you don't get over your head. And most importantly if you are lazy and don't like to ride up you can take the chair lift to the top and simply ride down!

The key to bike park fun is finding one that has the types of trails you can ride for your skill level and of course finding one that is not thousands of miles away. If you are not in close range to one then many of them offer bike rentals and even gear rentals so you can just show up and ride without having to worry about hauling all of your stuff for a long car ride. If you do decide to bring your own bike just make sure it’s the right type to handle the type of trails you will be riding there.

Most bike parks offer custom made trials with features such as natural jumps and drops as well as wood ramps and walls for the more advanced rider. There can also be trails that are considered advanced without being man made simply because the terrain is steep or very rocky making it difficult to ride down unless you have the skill level to do so. Lately more bike parks are building green trails that are made for beginners with lower skill levels. These trails are usually not too steep and are smoother than the more difficult trails. Be sure to do your homework first before going to any particular bike park to make sure there are trails there that you can even ride.

Once you have found the bike park for you then you can get your stuff together and hit the road. If it's a weekend or a holiday weekend then things can get a little crowded but they never seem to be as bad as ski parks can be during the winter. Larger bike parks with more trails and lifts usually have shorter lines if any at all. Try and plan out what trials you are going to ride before hitting the lifts so you don't waste your day trying to figure out what you are going to do. One very helpful thing you can do if find YouTube videos of the trails you plan on riding to see if they are something that you would find fun or that matches your skill level. Also the more you do the same trails the better you will know them and that makes riding a lot more fun because you know what you are in for and can attack the trails and ride them faster. So if you are looking to spice up your rides and have a bike park within a reasonable distance to you then we definitely suggest checking it out!

Posted by Preston Mason