New to MN, where to ride, what to ride.

[erok]

hello all.

I am moving to white bear lake next week, and I am wondering what kind of trails are in the area, and what kind of bikes everyone is riding... I am moving from the UP of MI... Marquette.. I am interested in very technically demanding trails and downhill type trails.. Any advice where I might head once the snow melts will be greatly appreciated. thanks:banana:

[batjerk]

Battle Creek.

[bakkeb]

I'd say that you will have to drive a ways to get to the trails, but it will be worth it. Try Lebenon Hills in Eagan, Memorial park in Red Wing, Hillside in Elk River and I agree, Battle Creek in St.Paul/Maplewood. Check the "trails" link on this site to get a better feel for where all of the trails are. Hit them all to get a feel for what you like. Judging from where you are coming from and what you seem to like in trails, those four should be fairly satisfying.:etard:

[transplant]

There are a few of us MORCers in White Bear Lake. We can carpool to the trails. :banana: We also have road rides up here too if you're into that.

[Nita]

Hey Erik, welcome to Minnesota and MORC forums. Check out all the listed trails that are detailed under the Trail Talk area including the ones located in Wisconsin like Levis and Cable. They are worth the 2 to 3 hour drive for sure (especially the Hayward area in Wisconsin). Some will be more satisfying to ride then others of course, but you should check them all out anyway. There's a area for posting up group rides, so look into that forum regularly and you'll meet some pretty nice people to ride with. As far as bikes go, I have seen everything from long-travel to fixed and single-speeds and I don't think that there is any one type of bike that rules here. One of the best riders I've ever seen rides a fixie. What I do think you'll find are a lot of passionate people about their chariots though, and they'll argue you to the death over what really is better to ride. :p

[Slimpee]

What I do think you'll find are a lot of passionate people about their chariots though, and they'll argue you to the death over what really is better to ride. :p

The answer of course being 12-yr old aluminum hardtails w/ Quadra 21R forks...

[Nita]

The answer of course being 12-yr old aluminum hardtails w/ Quadra 21R forks...

Game on! 5 inch f/s need only reply :D.

[bigwheel]

Welcome to MORC, Eric.

The others have summed it up.

Check out the Trail Guide on this site.
http://www.morcmtb.org/trailreviews/index.htm

Lebanon Hills is the best trail in the world, but the others are nice, considering that they are all in town, reasonably close to home.

For starters, the trails in town (in rough order of popularity)

Lebanon Hills
Murphy Hanerhan
Theodore Wirth
River Bottoms
Battle Creek
Salem Hills
Terrace Oaks

Also, check out the group rides. Group rides are simply an informal "I'm gonna ride here if anyone wants to join me". They are not very organized, and definitely nothing official. Right now, we are mostly night riding in the snow (Lebanon Hills tonight), but there are others during the day (Theo on Saturday).

In a few more weeks, it will start to melt, and the trails will be closed until they dry out. At that time, we switch to what is called Urban Rides. They will go anywhere from 10 miles up to nearly 100, depending on the ride. Plus, there are a lot of stops to play on stairways, big rocks, curbs, etc., and hone your skills. They are lots of fun, and an easy way to meet people. Most people ride their beater mountain bikes. If you don't have one, just scare up a set of junk tires and put them on your good bike.

Bob S.

[TML]

Adding another to the north side ranks! One of these days we may even get a trail nearby! ;)

White Bear is a great area Erik. I live just north of the lake. Instant access to awesome road biking if you want to do that in-between Mtb rides. I highly recommend it!

Battle Creek is the closest trail to us and has a bit what you're looking for (technical/downhill).

You've got some great riding in the UP. I ride up there quite a bit since my in-laws are in Ontonagon. For what we've got to work with, we've got a pretty got assortment of trails in the cities. And for what we lack in terrain, we make up for in the social aspect of a great riding scene.

Like others have said, keep your eye out on the group rides section and join up with as many as you can. I plan on hosting at least a few right from my place in WBL so that'd be super easy for ya.

Good luck with the move.

[Shorty]

I am interested in very technically demanding trails and downhill type trails.. Any advice where I might head once the snow melts will be greatly appreciated.

It's only about a 7 hour drive back to Marquette right? ;)

[EDahl]

hello all.

I am moving to white bear lake next week, and I am wondering what kind of trails are in the area, and what kind of bikes everyone is riding... I am moving from the UP of MI... Marquette.. I am interested in very technically demanding trails and downhill type trails.. Any advice where I might head once the snow melts will be greatly appreciated. thanks:banana:

erok??? Sounds tough.

[DareDevilDarin]

hey eric dont wait for the snow to melt you can ride harder on the snow than dirt!! and no road rash what so ever!! geuss if your looking for hard core down hill?? Afton Alps is going to be your most challangeing if you put the speed to it!! all eles is pretty easy stuff, but fun rides! get a 4dsnowbike kit and the hard core trails are everywhere!! once it white out! no body yellen stay on the trails and matiance is done next time it snows!! enjoy eric and ride and party safe with morc! hope you get to ride more!

[Danimal]

Darin, where did you go to school?

Oh, Elk River is a good ride as well, closer to your location as well.

[ebrandel]

Just so you know, there are an abnormally high number of Eric/Erik/Ericks on here. It probably has something to do with how awesome we are.

[gus man]

The answer of course being 12-yr old aluminum hardtails w/ Quadra 21R forks...

[quote=Nita;269567]Game on! 5 inch f/s need only reply :D.[/quote

I'm with ya Nita. 5 inchers rock. However I find interesting that quadra 21r is still running. More so that somebody other than me still remembers that name

I think you'll like the Red Wing dh. Not the biggest but darn tooten good for the local terain

G

[Slimpee]

However I find interesting that quadra 21r is still running. More so that somebody other than me still remembers that name


Actually, i'm on my second one. I got out of mtn. biking around 2000 so the Q21R isn't that "old" to me...

[gtbikes]

It's only about a 7 hour drive back to Marquette right? ;)

The trails here are great...for MN. If you are coming from Marquette, you will not find the likes of Jedi trail, Top of the World, Art Sharp (I mean the Flow), Your Mom, Your Sister, Goat, Etc here. However, you will still have fun with the more xc style with obstacles. The Bluffs in Lacrosse are nice too.

[gtbikes]

Darin, where did you go to school?

Oh, Elk River is a good ride as well, closer to your location as well.

Marquette, MI= Northern MI University tto bad no decent jobs to stay there:mad:

[EDahl]

Just so you know, there are an abnormally high number of Eric/Erik/Ericks on here. It probably has something to do with how awesome we are.

You are right on the money.

[batjerk]

Just so you know, there are an abnormally high number of Eric/Erik/Ericks on here. It probably has something to do with how awesome we are.Probably much more to do with a large number of couples that couldn't think of anything else...:D
You are right on the money.

[Shawno]

[quote=gus man;269882 I'm with ya Nita. 5 inchers rock. [/quote]

You're talking about suspension; right? :laugh: