Question from Singletrack Noob

Trail Conditions, talk about a ride that you went on. Where to ride? If are looking to organize or join a ride please post in the "Upcoming Rides and Events" forum.
Post Reply
Poindexter
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:18 am

Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by Poindexter »

I got my first taste of mountain singletrack last summer and really enjoyed it. I live in the bald a$$ prairie (SK), so it was a great change of pace to try some technical offroad. I'd like to make the trip to try again, but I'm wondering if there is any sort of vague ratings of each trail. Does such a thing exist so I don't accidentally end up somewhere I shouldn't have even attempted? I'm not looking for anything too detailed since it's kind of subjective and trail conditions change regularly. More of a "no problem; give it a shot if you're feeling good; don't even think about it til you can ride with the advance group". According to one of the locals I rode with, I'm comfortably in the intermediate skill level and probably a fast intermediate until steep descents are involved. I'm overly cautious there since any hill over 10' is considered a mountain is SK ;)

Any advice would be appreciated!

User avatar
cedric
Novelist
Novelist
Posts: 1395
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 5:48 pm
Location: between the ditches...

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by cedric »

The trails in Bear Creek near Kelowna have ratings. I think the stuff in Revelstoke might as well. None of the stuff close to Calgary has any official ratings. I think you will find that most of the singletrack around Calgary is fairly technical and challenging. Only place I know of that has singletracks that a total bike noob could be comfortable on is Koocanusa. There are not many trails (at least not legal ones that you will just stumble across) that are "extreme" or very dangerous. Not many with obstacles that require major commitment like some downhill MTB trails do. The big difference in the skill levels is not so much the types of trails they ride but the pace at which they do it. A lot of people call themselves "Intermediates", but it means a lot of different things to different people. Go to an XC race and see how fast the official "Intermediate" class is, those guys are hauling!

Poindexter
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:18 am

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by Poindexter »

Thanks for the reply!

The local considered me "intermediate" as far as your Wednesday club rides were concerned. I expect I'd be in a "scooty puff Jr." class for an XC race!

I rode a lot of the trails near Fisher south (barwell, log hopper, cloud 9, area 51 for example) and didn't have any trouble technically. I was just slower than the fast guys I was with. Would that put my skills high enough to try all the others? Anything in particular I should avoid? I don't mind finishing slow just as long as I finish!

Thanks again!

boland
2024 RMDRA Member
2024 RMDRA Member
Posts: 659
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2012 1:50 pm
Contact:

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by boland »

Sounds like you should be fine to tackle any of the legal singletrack at mclean. There's a few that are a bit more technical then the ones you mentioned but not by much.
KTM 300 XCW
#184A

User avatar
350scott
2024 RMDRA Member
2024 RMDRA Member
Posts: 967
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 9:36 am

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by 350scott »

The only area's you might find really difficult (depending on conditions and direction) are around Ewok, Voodoo and Viagra. Particularly as there are a few trails and lines in that area that you could end up on that are not legal, but more difficult. The good thing with McLean is that if you can't do something you can always turn around and go somewhere else. Shameless plug : join RMDRA then come to club rides and get a map, you'll learn your way around and get better.
Scott
Apprentice Court Jester
2017 450XC-F
2015 450XC-F
2013 450XC-F

trailguy
2024 RMDRA Member
2024 RMDRA Member
Posts: 1190
Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 6:18 pm

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by trailguy »

X2 on joining the club. You will also get access to a "Up coming events and rides" section on the forum ( which you can't see until you log in) that you can hook up with club members for rides. A large number of club members seem to be of similar skill level as yourself.
To add to the trails Scott mentioned that are some of the most challenging in McLean are Forget Me Not Lockout, West Hills, Dylan's Diggs and the 4 Swany's trails.
I would try any of the trails in the N.E. section of McLean, they are all very ridable.

Poindexter
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 11:18 am

Re: Question from Singletrack Noob

Post by Poindexter »

If I'm able to make it out even once this year I'll be buying a membership just to try one of your group rides. You could probably even trick me into joining a trail maintenance ride so I could learn what that's all about too!

Post Reply