BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

FLOCK YES!

I've been looking for an excuse to try MTB; I'm in.

That would be awesome. We'd best start soon, however, to ensure that we have enough daylight to get a ride in. Frick has some easy track, as does Schenley. Those are closer in for most riders, and might be good places to start. Don't start before 7 though -- I can't get ANYWHERE by 6 or 6:30 without superhuman effort.

the issue with frick is that so much of it ends with a fairly steep downhill (or starts with a long steep climb) that we would wind up on the jogging trails a LOT. i was thinking about doing this on the weekends instead of making everyone try to get somewhere and be in the woods by 6:30-7 during the week (thats the only way to get a decent amount of riding in before you need lights)

what we always did with the dorc rides at thick was find a place and time to meet up and caravan to the ride location so anyone without a car could easily get a ride. the dorc rides just got way too fast and "race trainingish" for beginners and i thought this was a better way and place to reach out to people who would be intimidated by fast, long night rides on technical terrain.

God I want to go just cause of that image.

If only I had a mountain bike...

Does the tallbike do offroad?

I'm interested. I've got a mountain bike which has seen little use over the past 2 years.

Weekends make more sense if it is going to be out in N or S park due to traffic. My preference is Saturday morning.

I'd be in once my leg heals up in a few weeks. I've been traveling too much this summer to get much use out of my mountain bike, so this would be a good excuse to get back on it.

If it's anywhere but Frick, I agree that weekends would make life a lot easier for getting out there.

Knobbies on the tall bike.....

Colin, I think it's a great idea. Feel free to organize it as a FOC ride.

Think the trails in mind could be handled on a cyclocross bike, or am I going to have to buy a mtb?

cross would probably work for almost all of it. you MIGHT need to get off and walk once or twice a ride at most.

I would consider riding out to North Park or South park to do a MTB ride, but Frick, Schenley, or Riverview would be convenient. I might even take the T for South Park.

Travelling out to NP or SP in a car or van to do a bike ride? The idea strikes me with horror and revulsion.

Just my opinion.

My view might not be the norm for bike riders, I dunno, but at least one other person on here has expressed a similar view.

I don't recommend Riverview for a beginner ride. It is very hilly.

+1000 for Frick or Schenley Park

the criteria for places to do the ride is simple. easy to find, lots of beginner appropriate trails that are single track, not of lot of nasty climbs and not too many steep downhills.

i'm planning on doing this at either north or south park. we can do a more advanced ride in frick too, but i have tagged along on the porc beginner rides with friends there. most of the ride is on the doubletrack/jogging/limestone paths. i want this ride to be in the woods, on singletrack. its a very different experience from riding the jogging paths in frick.

when i post the ride there will be two meeting times/places listed. one for the in town meeting point to get/share a ride there and one for the trailhead. that way if you want to ride there or its easier for you to drive there from wherever you are without going into town, you can do that too.

if you don't want to ride in a car/truck/etc to get to the ride, i totally understand, but that's not how i roll. my soft, knobby mtb tires don't get destroyed on pavement and my road bikes don't get murdered in the woods.

This makes me think - I live an easy 15 mi road ride from Bavington. If I got some 26x1 slicks for the mtn bike, put knobbies and tubes in the backpack and swap out there, then ride the trails, swap again and ride home. That would be a kick-ass day. I may try this.

bavington is also excellent for a cross bike. some of the nicest rolling single track around. plus its in a pine forest!

You waited until now to post this just so I could reconsider my decision not to buy a new mountain bike until next year, didn't you?

I'm also going to throw in another vote for weekends, if possible. Just because it's much easier than worrying about how fast I can get somewhere after work.

Chris, I made the same decision to put off a mtb for another year... I still may put it off and just ride a cross bike--there is no shame in walking.

i'm thinking sunday afternoon/evening.

now i just need to decide between north, south and bavington.

i would love to do a bavington ride with a bunch of novice mtb'ers as its a beautiful place, a nice rolling loop and so quiet and secluded. its just a bit more of a drive from the city and doesn't have any transit options that i'm aware of.

also if you need a mtn bike remember you get a 10% discount at thick with your bike pgh card!

I put off my MTB until next year as well. Have all the parts sitting in my basement.

I would love to give this ride a try. I have a mtb but have only ridden the rails to trails with it. nothing to extreme for me but trails in the woods sounds fun.

Any more thoughts on making this happen? I'm definitely down.

I can even offer a ride to one other person (including spot on my car rack) if it ends up being out at one of the suburban parks.

I am down. haven't been riding my 29er nearly enough.

think next weekend is going to be the first ride. i have bachelor party riding to do this weekend. i will post more about it when i figure out details. anyone thats willing to help car pool would have my deepest gratitude. pm me if you are interested.

does anyone read this title phonetically and think about operation hot rod?

does anyone read this title phonetically and think about operation hot rod?

Well, not until NOW.

so i cant always read allllll these FOC threads... is this happening? is it something that will appear on ye olde facebooke?

I will give nick the info for fb once I nail down the details. It's definitely happening. I just need to pick a day, time and park.

Did this ride happen? I would love to get in on this ride if it ever happens. I do need a new casette for my bike but I'm sure I could make it work. I miss mt. biking : (

bump to remind people that they were excited about it before i took too long to plan it

again:

Ride to the Hills! or FOC in the Woods North Park Edition

Sunday, August 15th 9am-11:30am

Meet at Pie Traynor Field, North Park 8:30am

Helmet REQUIRED, knobby tired mtb or cross bike recommended.

Bring $5 for the swimming pool and a swimming suit if you want to swim after the ride.

MAP HERE

green arrow marks the meeting point

I intend to be back in HP/Morningside in time for the Zoom to the Tombs ride at 2pm. If people need/want to carpool out to North Park the other thread would be the place to discuss.