If you only had one day...

[gee_phlow]

Hello from Seattle...

I'm going to be in DC over xmas and wanted to ride at least once while I'm there. So I've got a couple of questions for everyone:

1) what's the best day ride in the area? (I'm not a serious racer, but I've done a couple of 24hrs this season, and ride mostly intermediate/expert freeride and XC trails out here.)

2) are there any good shops where I can demo/rent a FS rig? I'm thinking about buying a santa cruz blur...any local dealers?

thanx,

g

[Dirt]

Hey g.

There are a few Santa Cruz dealers in the area. One happens to be the shop that has given our club very good support over the last few years,

The Bike Lane (http://www.thebikelane.com/index.html)

They list the Blur on thier web site, but I don't know anything about the availability of demos. When I was shopping for my Ellsworth, I went to a shop up in Western Pennsylvania called Speedgoat. They had the bikes that I wanted to ride and singletrack 1/4 mile from their front door. Tough combination to beat.

As for "If I only had a day" rides in the area, I think either Gambrill State Park near Frederick, Maryland or Elizabeth Furnace near Front Royal, VA would qualify.

All of the rides in this area are very dependent on the trail conditions. I've done some riding with friends in the Seattle area, and many of the trail systems seem to hold up very well when wet. The trails around here don't have that luxury. If its wet, it is best not to ride. It doesn't take much to do some pretty serious trail damage in this area.

For other options in this area, Martin Fernandez (one of the folks responsible for this site) has a great book, "
Mountain Bike America: Washington DC/Baltimore/Northern Virginia (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762707054/qid=1033058018/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-2152722-5775915?v=glance)". I just got my copy from Amazon.com for about $13.

Check this web site when it gets a little closer to the holidays and you'll see some of the scheduled rides that we normally hold. If you night ride and have lights, we've got a regular crew that goes out every Thursday night to a local park that allows it (weather permitting). There are usually a few groups that accomodate riders from hammerheads (not my style) to glacial (more my pace).

Drop me an e-mail at pedrogringo@yahoo.com if you've got any questions.

Peace!

Peter

[martin]

Thanks for the plug Petter!

G,

Your best bet is to keep posted to the site and see what club rides are going on around the time you come.

Post again on the forum closer to the date you'll be here and I'm sure one of us will be happy to take you out to one of our favorite spots.

Martin

[Dirt]

You're welcome, Martin.

The cool thing about the book is that I ride at a slower pace than most of the more rides. The descriptions and maps in the book allow me to go all the same places, but do them at my own pace.

After reading the book the last few nights, I can already see that its going to open a lot of trails to me that I otherwise wouldn't hit without a little guidance.

Thanks!

Peter

[gee_phlow]

Thanks guys!

I'll lurk on the forum and check back on riding schedules and weather conditions in Dec. I'd definitely be up for meeting some of the MORE folks for a group ride.

And if anyone's out in the Seattle metro area, I can hook you up with some sweet NW singletrack. Drop me a line at:

lazlotothamerican@hotmail.com

g

[racer-x]

Hey G.
Some of the more commercial shops out here may not be into renting you one of their FS rigs for a day or two. However, if you're a member of REI you might want to check with them. I know they rent all kinds of outdoor equip.
You may not get a real schwag FS ride from them, but it should be more then sufficient for the trails around here.
Cheers,
racer-x