First ride on a popular local trail (pics & video)

As some of you already know, I'm just getting back into mountain biking after 15 years of road cycling. I've done four mtb rides so far on my new 29er. The ride reports with videos and pictures from all three rides have been posted here in TE.

This is the Foresthill Divide Loop Trail (FDLT) near Auburn, CA. I thought it was supposed to be a 23 mile ride, but it ended up being less than 12 miles. It's only 23 miles if you include some of the other trails in the area. Near the end of the ride I ended up riding some parts of the trail twice when I entered it from the trailhead I parked at. That brought the amount of climbing from 1,500' to almost 2,000'. Still not as much as I'd like, but it'll do. I'll make up for it on the next climbing ride. :D

When I arrived at the trailhead the parking area was full and there were three other vehicles waiting to park, so I drove down the road a bit and parked at another trailhead. So far, I have had to ride on the road to get to every mtb ride I've ever done due to parking shortages, which is kind of cool as it adds to the climbing.

Foresthill Divide Loop Trail by freighttraininguphill at Garmin Connect - Details

Here's the ride video. Still no bobcat sightings (damn!). As with all my videos, this one is 100% natural sound. This means plenty of suffer sounds on climbs, so be forewarned!

Foresthill Divide MTB ride 3-4-12 - YouTube

The first good view from the trail.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6...4889ba02_z.jpg
view from Foresthill Divide Loop Trail by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

After crossing Foresthill Road. This is the trailhead across from Drivers Flat Road.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/6...3df6ef5c_z.jpg
FDLT Drivers Flat trailhead by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Trail signs with mountain lion warning sign.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6...6b378ab0_z.jpg
FDLT trail signs with mountain lion warning sign by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Trail signs put up by the Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/6...87952cbc_z.jpg
FDLT trail signs by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Return trip view
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/6...fb99b0b6_z.jpg
view from Foresthill Divide Loop Trail 2 by freighttraininguphill, on Flickr

Trailhead I parked at
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7040/6...f8249df9_z.jpg
Brushy Mnt-Fuel Break trailhead by freighttraininguphill, on Flick

sigh........i need to move.....these trails look so flowy.lol.I just had a typical winter in Richmond- slippery, rooty, gnarly mud ride in the cold gray drizzle..............thanks for sharing pics (:

Ah, I do love your videos and pictures of home. I so miss the west coast. Those pine trees just don't happen here in the east.

Thank you. :) I love our pine trees. I also love the smell from them. It's especially heavenly up in the high altitude mountains.

Looks so nice....I have to wait a few more months until I can get out on my bike. There is still quite a bit of snow on the trails. Maybe by mid May.:D If you have the time take a quick ride for me. Thanks!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Savra

Ah, I do love your videos and pictures of home. I so miss the west coast. Those pine trees just don't happen here in the east.

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.......neither does the open, flowy sunshine lit trails! (or do you have them in NY?) Our trails are all closed in, very tree squished and usually rooty as well....(though the shade is good when it is 98.....)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tealtreak

.......neither does the open, flowy sunshine lit trails! (or do you have them in NY?) Our trails are all closed in, very tree squished and usually rooty as well....(though the shade is good when it is 98.....)

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Oh no - NY trails are also very choked in and rooty. The west has some beautiful open trails surrounded by big rocks, trees, brush and dirt with sun all the way through. :) You are right though - I always get a nice shady camp site in summer so as not to die of heat.

Here's a couple short random clips that show how friendly people are on trails. Since I started mountain biking again I've noticed that the hikers, equestrians, and other cyclists are often very friendly.

This is near the end of the ride when I was riding part of the trail twice for more climbing. I stopped to change camera batteries and eat some energy chews, and a hiking couple stopped to chat.

The second clip is a friendly rider I yielded to at the top of a climb.

http://vimeo.com/38066186

Here's why I'm not a super fast descender, especially on singletrack. Even though I wasn't riding that fast on this downhill, I still surprised the lead rider in the group of climbing cyclists I yielded to.

http://vimeo.com/38064593