Mountain Bike Trails

[frosty]

Okay, Beakjones, you are officially TRAIL BOSS!!!

Lets throw out some dates! The only thing I have going on is a party this Saturday night I have to be at, but free after that. Weekends would probably be best for the Kettle Moraine or run down to Palos?

Unless, you all want to go some place else.

I game, I just want to do some riding.

God............I thought I would only say that for SLEDDING?!!!

 

[cuzzinolaf]

Okay, Beakjones, you are officially TRAIL BOSS!!!

Lets throw out some dates! The only thing I have going on is a party this Saturday night I have to be at, but free after that. Weekends would probably be best for the Kettle Moraine or run down to Palos?

Unless, you all want to go some place else.

I game, I just want to do some riding.

God............I thought I would only say that for SLEDDING?!!!

You gonna let me show you how to ride that X-Fire this winter? LOL

How about local rides with me? I'm not feelin' any love here.

 

[frosty]

Cuzz

Shoooottt!! Show MMEEE how to ride the X-Fire?! You probably will.......

As for the local rides, lets go! Thursday, 7pm, Grant Forest Preserve at the tunnel on Monaville road!!!! BE THERE, or no mercy this winter!!!!

 

[cuzzinolaf]

Cuzz

Shoooottt!! Show MMEEE how to ride the X-Fire?! You probably will.......

As for the local rides, lets go! Thursday, 7pm, Grant Forest Preserve at the tunnel on Monaville road!!!! BE THERE, or no mercy this winter!!!!

I'll see if I can make this work. Had plans for Thursday I might be able to postpone..

 

[5_spot]

No charge to ride at Palos.

Southern Kettles - $20 trail pass for the year and $4/day $20/y vehicle pass (same as all the other wisconsin sites)

Kettle is better, I've been there a *few* times...

I've been hitting Palos for 15 years and have done all Kettles a few times. You had to be on the wrong trails at Palos if you think Kettle is better. I will say the one way trails are nice, but for terrain, I think Palos blows any of the Kettles away. While Kettles erosion mats make climbs/descends a little easier, we prefer the challenge of Palos' roots, logpiles, rocks & ruts. Keep in mind, for the trails you see on a Palos map, there are double that in unmapped single track. Since you can go two ways, direction in picking a loop is a factor as well. One way can be blast, reverse of that only so-so. If you ever try there again, let me know, I can tell you some good routes.

 

[beakjones]

5 spot, not sure when youve last been to Kettle, but I will say it has gotten so much better in even just the past 2 years. the erosion mats are gone, replaced mostly by more fun, sustainable sections. I fail to see how the blue loop at southern kettles doesn't provide a challenge. What about the connector and Emma Carlin trails? Emma has had a massive re-route this year that got rid of the huge erosion-matted descent after the massive hill and it's now a set of maybe 10-15 switchbacks that keep you on your toes! Sure, some of Kettle is smooth and non-technical... but those are the hammer down sections and I figure it's nice to have variety rather than a constant chunder-fest. Really Palos is the same in that regard. I guess I haven't been on the super tech at Palos, it probably is a ton of fun. I think the most "tech" i've done there is the 3 ravines section, but I didn't find that very tough. What's your routes? got an GPS tracks maybe? I haven't been there in a season, if we all got a group to go (either place) i'd be down!

 

[frosty]

5 spot and Beakjones, lets settle this! Will set up a ride for both places in the coming weeks. You both seem to know it like the back of your hands. Its no different than when ur riding sleds and u got a guy up front who knows all the fire roads and short cuts or the killer offtrail through the woods!

Come on lets do this!

Cuzz, let me know about Thursday, it u can't make it, throw me a date.

Also, for Thursday, all are welcome to come if u guys live in the area.

 

[beakjones]

I won't be able to go this weekend as I have the bike shop rebuilding my main bike and will be bikeless, after that, I'm good to go. Thing about Kettle is there really is no secrets - just ride it all haha.

 

[frosty]

Ok beakjones, ur scaring me! What do u mean ur having ur whole bike rebuilt? Or is just the bushing and bearing that are shot and need replacing?

Any of u guys part of CAMBR? Looks like an interesting group, but it isn't like the JD clan.

I don't think they ride sleds.

 

[beakjones]

ehh just moving my wheels and fork to a new trek 8000 frame. All the other parts are new though. Pretty much got as much into this bike as my sled cost now haha. I think it's worth it though, I had a decent bike to start with... threw a good set of wheels and a really nice fork and it just transformed the bike. I think it's crazy how nice bike have gotten in the last 15 years, really...

CAMBR is okay... maybe a few sledders, but nothing like here heh

 

[frosty]

Man Beak, thats a hardcore frame! Is it the current frame or something thats got some miles on it. Are putting on all aftermarket stuff?

Man I got questions for ya, we need to hook up, so you can shed some light on all the craziness I think I want to get myself without hopefully putting myself in the hospital.

 

[beakjones]

Yea it's either a 10 or 11 year frame, has a race or two from the previous owner who is a friend of a mutual friend. Basically, he used this frame, fork, wheels and tires, then got rid of the bike (he gets them mighty cheap and gets different stuff ALL the time). So I poached parts off my bike and the guy also hooked me up with new derailers, crankset, shifters and a nice seatpost for it.

What bike are you on and where have you rode so far? Finding trails that have rocky sections (all gravel here of course, no bedrock) and exposed roots will make you learn a lot about bike control if you're new to the sport. I've been doing it for the past 4 years pretty regularly and have been in a few races the past two years and still notice differences in my technique almost everytime I ride.

I'll just be riding on a borrowed bike this saturday and sunday in crystal lake, but next weekend I'll be game for going to Kettle if anyone wants to meet up. I usually only average about 9 mph, so I'm not that fast, and always enjoy riding slower then crusing the faster sections haha

 

[frosty]

Hey Beak, still pretty new to the whole MTB. I bought a Giant 09 Trance X2 about 3 weeks ago and been riding pretty steady since I got it. I'm trying to build my stamnia and legs back to when was I hardcore roadbiker. I got a long way to go and some pounds to shed before being like I was before kids.

The only trails I've been riding has been over by my house. I have the Grant Forest Preserve right down the street. Its nothing spectacular, but it beats riding on the road or shoulder. Theres no single tracks and really no hill climbs, just kinda up and down on the gravel trail they put in. I wish the FP would allow some single tracks to be created or some technical stuff put in, that would definitely break up the same old same old.

I up for Kettle next weekend or if you some other place in mind, just let me know.

Heading out for a ride right now.

 

[frosty]

CUZZ, where are you?! I waited and waited and waited.........................still waiting, the cars are getting awefully close now!

 

[beakjones]

Dang, that's a pretty slick bike Frosty. That price point is pretty much where you get the best bang for the buck, everything is really good without spending tons more to start shaving the grams on lighter components. I might end up hitting Kettle on Sunday because my cousing wants to ride somewhere and I might just tell him "well, i'm going there anyways..." as an excuse to not stay in crystal lake.

 

[frosty]

Beak, u heading out this Sunday to Kettle. What time u guys heading out and would u mind a tag along? Or as my wife puts it, an anchor in her a$$! I think its the other way around.

I really think I got a pretty good deal on it. The guy I bought it from said it was pretty expensive new, but I knew when I started this I wanted a full suspension and not to screw around and upgrade later. I wanted something I could grow on, but not outgrow in a year.

 

[beakjones]

Did not get out to kettle on Sunday, will be going sometime this week and maybe again next weekend. Only got in 22 miles between Friday and Sunday around here so I'm feeling the need to get out for some fun this week. I'm hoping to get some guys from my last job to go up sometime so we can have a bigger group - the one guy I usually ride with races (so do I, but he's a level higher) and isn't too beginner friendly so it'd be much easier to ride with a bigger group.

 

[frosty]

I'm all for more the merry. Let me know when you want to go, I'm in!

 

[beakjones]

Was out at the kettles twice this week, got in a solid 42 miles between the days and about 6 of those at night (which is allowed there) with guys from my last job. Probably going tomorrow for a while, ill let you kmow if I got a group and time lined up for that.

 

[frosty]

Hey Beak, just give me a couple days notice and I'll make arrangements to b there. I was shooting youth flag football all weekend. It was fun watching the little guys play. I don't know why they call it flag when the kids were playing it like it was Rugby. Instead of going for the flag, they would just tackle each other.

I'm game for whenever.