Coming home, where to ride???

[stevo]

I'm coming home to Minneapolis from Bozeman, MT in late July for a week or so and I was wondering where the good spots are to hit? When I moved 6 years ago I only rode BMX bikes, so I am at a loss for where to go with a big bike. I will be bringing my DJ along too since Monkey Village is less than a block from my parent's house. (is it still called Monkey Village? I'm so freekin fired up to ride there again!) Should I bring my DH race rig or my 6" bike (or even my 3.5" MTN-X bike???) for the other riding? I heard Spirit MTN has some good riding, anywhere a bit closer? Within an hour or two from the cities? Thanks for any info! -steve

[Danimal]

I'm coming home to Minneapolis from Bozeman, MT in late July for a week or so and I was wondering where the good spots are to hit? When I moved 6 years ago I only rode BMX bikes, so I am at a loss for where to go with a big bike. I will be bringing my DJ along too since Monkey Village is less than a block from my parent's house. (is it still called Monkey Village? I'm so freekin fired up to ride there again!) Should I bring my DH race rig or my 6" bike (or even my 3.5" MTN-X bike???) for the other riding? I heard Spirit MTN has some good riding, anywhere a bit closer? Within an hour or two from the cities? Thanks for any info! -steve

LEBANON, LEBANON, LEBANON!

[stevo]

Is that the same Lebanon Hills I rode an XC bike around in circles untill I threw up? (I don't expect of you to remember that unless you were on that random Penn Cycle shop ride 8 years ago. that would just be strange)

[Danimal]

Nope, been here about 2 years and that place now rocks! Log drops, skinnies over gullies, log piles, teeter, and tabletops. Check out the Trail Guide on top of MORC's web page and find Lebanon Hills in the Metro Area.

[stevo]

so... same place as before but different? I can look it up too... Is it mostly slower shore-style riding?

[SpecHR55]

so... same place as before but different? I can look it up too... Is it mostly slower shore-style riding?

Nah it more like extreme single track. Fun and you should check it out but its a single track trail with a few goodies thrown in.

If you want FR stuff go to either JSAW or Hopkins underpass skatepark. They both have decent jumps and things to play around on.

[stevo]

anything DH race or 4X like?

[RIPPER]

Lebanon is ok its an XC with a few small goodies thrown in. But its still fun to ride about the only place in the Twin Cities area.

[Danimal]

Ohhh, your a freeride / DH type person. I now understand.

[Trialsdave]

Spirit Mtn will possibly be your best bet. There is also Steeplechase, but I know absolutly nothing about it. Get in contact with Buck, he knows everything.

[waitabit]

anything DH race or 4X like?Yes, a new downhill course just went in at Memorial in Red Wing, its worth a try, and Red Wings a short drive.

[devo kenivel]

dude, go back to montana if you want dh. you know the size of the hills here :) the scene has gotten way better here but we still don't have the terrain by any means that montana does. i've been out there, the riding is sick. leb is cool but gets boring and same with theo in golden valley. mammoth is in chanhassen and i think has the most potential just because there are a lot of trails and is super hilly but is not really built up like the other places probably cuz it's out in the sticks.

[stevo]

I know the hills around the metro area are not exactly that big, I was just curious about what has popped up in the area with our sport getting bigger. We have berm, jump trails here that we have built in the foothills around here in Bozeman that are not much bigger than anything around there. I'm not expecting to ride much in the order of 1,500 ft decents, just hopefully some shorter session spots, like some berm, jump, drop style singletrack like what I picture Lebenon to be like. I think its rad that there is stuff in Lebenon, I remember it being a single loop, but still pretty fun back then. I miss the riding back in Minnesota, we don't have dirt like that in Montana - even if it's considered buff singletrack, it's still not something well suited to a hardtail. I look forward to riding at Monkey Village, that's roots for me, I remember when the biggest jump was only 5ft long and the "older" smoker kids in high school trashed our jumps every day. Wow that was a LONG time ago. I'm hitting up Lebenon for sure, but just was curious what else may exist. I'm a DH/4X racer with BMX roots, I'm just not that great at the slow balancy stunts - still no reason not to do it! PEACE!

[devo kenivel]

you'll like leb for sure then. there's plenty of berms and jumps there too. i've just been riding there way too much to keep it extremely interesting for me.