Introductions - Ride on in Maryland

Hello All!

I just joined this forum last night, although I have been riding a bike since well, I was 4 or so. I am in the market to upgrade in the mountain bike area, lookin for a full suspension setup with a max price of $1500. I have looked at a few of the big names, but im still having a hard time deciding. Most of the riding I do is trail riding, and I have a hardtail that I still plan on using for road and not so intense rides. Anyway I hope I can learn a lot on here and maybe get some suggestions on a bike to purchase. Thanks and happy riding :)

I do all of my riding on the road, but just wanted to say welcome to BF.

Welcome to forum! Where in Md. do you live? I used to live in Parkton (north of Timonium), sure miss the trails around Shrewsbury and York, Pa. (was just a jump up the road). As to which suspension bike-you'll have to try some out. I like simplicity, so I'd probably go with a single pivot, but then some of the new designs isolate "bob" better, all depends on what you like. Try a few, see what you like best. BTW-I still ride a hardtail, but I don't ride a lot or as well as many, so that's fine for me.

I live in the White Hall area, North Baltimore/Harford County so PA is pretty close to me. How sturdy would you say an XC bike compared to all mountain is? I do some trail riding, then like to do a downhill run now and then so I want something that will hold up to some small jumps and drops. Im 6'2 and about 190

Hello All!

I just joined this forum last night, although I have been riding a bike since well, I was 4 or so. I am in the market to upgrade in the mountain bike area, lookin for a full suspension setup with a max price of $1500. I have looked at a few of the big names, but im still having a hard time deciding. Most of the riding I do is trail riding, and I have a hardtail that I still plan on using for road and not so intense rides. Anyway I hope I can learn a lot on here and maybe get some suggestions on a bike to purchase. Thanks and happy riding :)

Hey, I'm mostly a road rider myself, but I also live in Maryland! I'm down in College Park. I'd probably be more of a mountain biker if I was in a good area like you've got up north of Baltimore :)

Well I'm down in Montgomery County, a returning newbie! welcome to the forums and have lots of fun

I live in the White Hall area, North Baltimore/Harford County so PA is pretty close to me. How sturdy would you say an XC bike compared to all mountain is? I do some trail riding, then like to do a downhill run now and then so I want something that will hold up to some small jumps and drops. Im 6'2 and about 190

Then you are right around where I used to live. You are real close to some great trails! Lake Redman and Lake Williams (same area) have great trails (around Shrewsbury), and Rocky Ridge in York is fun for some technical riding. Sounds like you'd probably want an "all mountain" bike for what you have in mind.
Here is the link to YAMBA (York Area Mtn.Bikers Assn.) :

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/yorkareamountainbikers/

Good group, and the site has those trails listed (and others), which I think you'll enjoy once you get familiar with the layout of the parks. Damn I miss riding up there!

I live in the White Hall area, North Baltimore/Harford County so PA is pretty close to me. How sturdy would you say an XC bike compared to all mountain is? I do some trail riding, then like to do a downhill run now and then so I want something that will hold up to some small jumps and drops. Im 6'2 and about 190

So, the Northern Central Railroad Trail is just about in your backyard. IMHO, an XC bike would be perfect for doing the NCR Trail (crushed gravel), but allow freedom to enjoy the rolling/hilly roads in that area as well.

So, the Northern Central Railroad Trail is just about in your backyard. IMHO, an XC bike would be perfect for doing the NCR Trail (crushed gravel), but allow freedom to enjoy the rolling/hilly roads in that area as well.



I rarely go to NCR, too tame for my liking. I visit Loch Raven and Patapsco most of the time. And occasianal trips up to PA. But NCR is very close to my house, I just wish they had some more advanced trails.

From White Hall, you are probably as close to Lake Redman/Williams as you are Loch Raven, and the Lakes have lots more trails (more on the aerobic side, but some technical-if ya want technical, go to Rocky Ridge). To get to the trails at the Lakes, go up York Rd., through Shrewsbury. The dam to Lake Redman will be on your right (hard to miss-has, or had, a BIG sign), and across from the dam is a pull off for parking. There should be some maps at the sign at the pull off. I heard the trail 4 had some timber taken out by some power company or something, so not sure about taking that trail, but south of the dam, on the same side, is a gate you can ride around, with good trails back in there. It's better to ride with someone from YAMBA, as there are lots of trails and ways to loop them together, but might not be that easy to locate them all first time. And just looked at their site, not sure there are trail maps there?