Leaderboard

Taking into consideration the limitation in elevation we have here in central TX, what would your ideal trail entail if money was no object, i.e you could buy whatever dirt, wood, equipment, labor (skilled or otherwise,) etc. to make it happen? Tight and twisty like sooooo many trails we have here? You know the ones....you get a decent bit of speed going downhill and then have to make a 180 degree turn to go back up hil and repeat the suck ass flow? Also, this kind of trail leads to the technical aspect due to erosion caused by poor design? Pump and jump-y stuff? Flowy, wide, and smooth singeltrack? Endless dirt jumps and berms?

I ebb and flow with regard to riding to the trail(s). I'd say my primary determinant is fitness. Once I get a base of fitness I prolly ride to the ride about 75% of the time. The times where I don't are usually because the trail system is a bit further than the OVERALL time alotment I have for the day. All that said, every place we've lived (or bought a house) in Austin over the passed 25 yrs. we have factored in road & mtn bike routes from home (to the trails or group rides). Its not the #1 factor, but its in the top 5 for sure. Later, CJB

A couple of observations of your valid concerns: First, are you accounting for the time it takes to drive there? I will ride to Walnut Creek for a group ride, and if I take a more scenic route to include some single track and riding that is not road , it takes me just under an hour and I get 10 miles in. If I drive there, it takes me 15 to 20 minutes. I just leave early enough to meet the group for the ride time, so it doesn't cut into my trail ride time. Next, I certainly understand the concern about cost. I chewed through a rear Maxxis tire that was not cheap. However, I add that to my health budget, as I am much fitter and healthier now that I ride to the trail a bit more.

This question feels like the same type of "what would be your dream car if money was no object"? I simply don't enjoy playing in those kind of (mind) spaces, its just not real. So my reply is going to be based in reality (of which, my 'dream answer' would lie around there too). I absolutly love the BCBC type of trail riding. I love tight techy narrow off-camber single track that makes you stay focused. The stuff that you have to thread together 2-3-4 moves in a row so that you can keep progressing down the trail. In this same category, I have to give Thumper the nod also. When the weather is really nice, the trail bed is perfectly tacky, and the canopy is clear...I luv, love, LOVE, riding Thumper. There I said it!!.... LOL It'w worth noting though, when I go to Bentonville and ride some of the fun, machine-built, fast and flowing stuff (ex: deep into Little Sugar)...I find myself getting to the bottom to pause and laugh out loud at how much fun those sections of trail can be. Simply put, good single track is good signle track. Cheers, CJB

Getting some popcorn for this one😁