Mountain Biking - MUST DO list for any Mountain Biker?

I was reading the post on the Sea Otter and was going to reply that it's one of those "Must Do" things that a Mountain Biker should do in his life and was wondering what are some thoughts you guys have on other things:

Here's some of mine:

Visit Whistler

Spend a Week in Moab

Ride in Sedona

Camp in Crested Butte

Race a Norba DH Event (Even if just beginner class)

Compete in a 24 Hour Endurance Event

Do shuttle runs at Snowshoe

The list goes on and on and...etc.

Sweet list!!

Whistler isn't quite my thing because I dont free ride.

I am planning on going to Moab and Fruita in April after my exams though!!

And I'm doing my 1st 24 hour event with a fairly competitive team this summer :D

O.k.,

Now tell us some of the things you've always DREAMED of doing?

I've visited Whistler (didnt ride though :eek:)

I've ridden in Sedona

I've camped and ridden in Crested Butte

I have a lot to go...

I would add,


Do a hut- to hut trip.

Maybe something like the Colorado or Kokopelli trail

sweet thread btw

id love to spend a week in moab...too bad im porr as balls, and still gotta pay for college, hopefully this computers thing will pay off huge one day...maybe sell some crap to MS(ewww)....anyways, id lvoe to hit whistler, and anywhere in europe id be more than happy to go bike, namely the scottish highlands, as thats where my family hails from....havent been since i was 4, and i have a yearning to go back...

if anyone ever gets the chance to go to scotland, go! its gorgeous, absolutly beautiful, untouched in some places, big dirt country roads, hills and small mountains....xc dream...

Whistler isn't quite my thing because I dont free ride.


I think you would be surprised by the xc. We have way more of that than 'just' mountain trails (upwards of 100xc trails) :)

Nelson

North Shore

Sun Peaks

Moab

Platekill

Thats really it for me. I want to visit some places but more for the people I know than the locations :)

Race a Norba DH Event (Even if just beginner class)


Actually I wouldn't mind that at all :)

I would also love to do a heli drop, camp and then ride out.
If I could ever get in shape, the trans rocky
We have a race here called the samuri - would love to be good enough to get an invite let alone finish it before I die on the course
Compete in a team in a 24 hour race
Test of Metal - another race. Biggun

Do a hut- to hut trip.

Maybe something like the Colorado or Kokopelli trail

sweet thread btw


I had a HUT to HUT on my original list and then deleted it.(by accident, darn touch pad)

I'd LOVE to spend a week along the Continental Divide doing a Hut to Hut!


What Else?

Europe! Didn't even think about all the things I'd like to do over there!

Swiss Alps, Follow the Tour de France (be there for a couple of days)

Too much stuff.

Definately want to go to Aussie or New Zealand!!!

Nobody has anything else to add?

A2- I liked this idea so much I just made a similar thread in the Road forum

Do a multi-day self supported mountain bike epic (think Continental Divide trail)

Singlespeed the Slickrock, Porcupine Rim and Poison Spider trails in Moab.

Do above in the same day.

Dolomites

Alps (Fixed gear up Alpe D'Huez)

Northshore/Whistler

Race singlespeed in some event (gotta keep it somewhat modest)

More to come...

O.k.,

Now tell us some of the things you've always DREAMED of doing?

Ride through Canadian Rockys.

Start road racing....

Definitely do some riding during my after-graduation trip to Europe. It looks I'll need to rent a bike to do that though :D

I've really been really seriously about riding for a few years, so I haven't looked into all the places I want to go yet. I think Moab, Fruita, and near by places in Ontario should be suffice for this year ;)

I'd love to race every round in the Aussie National DH series. Do a road trip in Canada, ie Whistler, Kamploops, North Shore. Go to Moab, ride in Europe and get a top 10 finish in Elite men when I get to that class.

Definately want to go to Aussie or New Zealand!!!

Good Idea! (Australia! Australia!)

Two things I want to achieve

MOAB by the time I turn 25 (still years away)

and

DH on a rigid SS (hopfully done this summer)

I'd love to do the transalp at some stage. I'd also love to win a race or two in my class which is sports, who knows, perhaps some day even be good enough to compete in the elite section.
I'd also like to check out the dolomites, do more stuff in pyranees, go riding in the himalayas, go to aus/nz, check out canada, now that i think about it better start saving big time!

Mountain bike the whole way around the UK

Single speed around Cornwall and Devon

Visit Whistler and Vancouver

Do a 24hr Endurance race.

Do a big road gap

Kill myself mountain biking :D

Two things I want to achieve

MOAB by the time I turn 25 (still years away)

and

DH on a rigid SS (hopfully done this summer)
How about night dh on a rigid? we have a race in this area in Feb. called the icecycle. One class is called the hardass DH. Big fun!!

The two biggies on my dream todo list are:

1) solo a 24hour race. I was planning on doing that this summer but our second child is due a month before the 24 at Canmore, so it might be kind of hairy. I'm still thinking of it though, if not this year, then next.

2) race the Transrockies Challenge. This would be the experience of a lifetime I think. Might see about doing this in the summer of 06 if I don't do the 24 that year.

How about the Flume trail at Lake Tahoe. I did this last year and plan to go back this summer. It isn't too technical (just right for me) and the scenery is beautiful.

Places I'd like to ride but haven't:
Crested Butte
The whole Slickrock Trail in Moab
More of Fruita, CO.

In the states:


Moab (at least a week)
Durango (with plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere)
hut to hut in Colorado


Elsewhere:


New Zealand (anything I can get)
Biking the Swiss Alps
BC

thats about the same list as mine, so far only one is checked off, i visited whistler this summer and it was amazing, the biking and the town itself. one of the coolest places ive ever been.

How about night dh on a rigid? we have a race in this area in Feb. called the icecycle. One class is called the hardass DH. Big fun!!

Sounds interesting. I am still aftraid of night riding. Mainly the creatures that lurk at night.

All of those sound good.

This is a list of places I'd like to visit in the next 5 years. Alaska tops on my list of places in the world I'd like to trail ride. I also would like to do various weekend trips to Colorado, Utah, Montana, and the Dakota's. Next in importance would be the southwest. I have New Mexico and Arizona on my list. Eventually I'll add some international spots but for now this is a good list to work off of.

thats about the same list as mine, so far only one is checked off, i visited whistler this summer and it was amazing, the biking and the town itself. one of the coolest places ive ever been.

did you ride anything besides the mountain? River? cut yer bars? Mad Flow? Gargemel? Kill Me Thrill me?

Just curious because most people only ride the mountain and they assume its all whislter is (dh and fr)...

hm... like the idea here.

Fruita and Moab is already planned May/June...

otherwise done most of the stuff on the list in one way or another...


I'd love to do the transalp at some stage.
exactly!
a TransAlp is a MUST for a mountian biker.

for those in North America who may not know: a TransAlp or Alp crossing is a multi-day ride across the Alps utilizing the alpine Hut system. tours are usually 6-9 days but can be longer and you carry everything with you. because food and overnight is through the huts you carry 7-10kgs (15-22lbs) in a backpack.

(and just in case anyone is really interested, i lead a 9-day TransAlp every year: for 2005 end of August concentration on singletrails through the Dolomites)

for those in Europe: Riva del Garda Italy

O.k., Nathank,

But what's on YOUR list?????

Whistler
Hardwood Hills
Sea otter? ( Idont know, I think its an event, but I mean where its held)

Cali...sea otter is likely the biggest bike event of the year. Lots of racing, jumping and corp displays.

When you said corp, I thought you meant corpse and I'm like "holy hell!!??" And then I thought of corporation and cooled down.

Suggestions for Americans - New Zealand is the place to go! I love Australia, but it can't match NZ for variety and adventure. On the South Island you can take a helicopter up to a mountain top, then ride something like 20km downhill in the snow. Queenstown also has killer trails for all skill levels. On the North Island, Rotorua has awesome tracks that seem to go for days through leafy rainforest-like bushlands. It's cheap to fly there, cheap to stay there, cheap to eat, the people are super friendly, and the country itself, once you get out of Auckland, is beautiful. Unlike a lot of other places, you can camp/park overnight just about anywhere. I rented a small motorhome and spent some nights at campsites with hookups, and the rest of my time either at the side of the road, church parking lots, even McDonalds. We built our tandem for the purpose of touring NZ next year.

Yes, I'm dreaming of NZ, someday it will be me, my mountain bike, my fly rod and some angry NZ browns.....

Lake Taupo for the browns. You can't order a native fish in a restaurant there. You have to catch it and have them cook it for you. By the way, I'm from Westlake Village.

Tsali...

Such a fun place to ride, IMHO.

No one has mentioned Downieville!
that is THE best 16-mile singletrack I have ever done.

But, of course I do wish to go to whistler. and the tahoe rim trail. and snowcwalme. and middle earth; they have some sick drops at the shire!

Articles say that I live in the "Best Riding Area East of the Mississippi River", so I guess I'll have to pick somewhere like Mt. St. Helen's. Seen it in a mag once, and would love to see that area.... Or Hawaii of course (while we're still dreaming).

I've done a lot of cool places, Slickrock, Porcupine Rim, Big Bear, Boulder, Sedona (Did a 5 day camping/riding trip leaving from Flagstaff and touring the area.)

My goal is to ride a "classic" trail in all 50 states. I also want to road bike a century to the highest road elevation in all 50 states.

Continental Divide trail is probably a little ambitious, but it's on their.

I hadn't heard of it, but this trans Alps trip sounds fantastic, I think I'll add it.

I'm going to ride in Russia next summer. Road and Mountain. Don't have too many friends that can say that one.

Here's NC's highest "Road" ride....
My brother (BiAthlon athlete) does it.

http://www.freewheelers.info/assault.html

Here's NC's highest "Road" ride....
My brother (BiAthlon athlete) does it.

http://www.freewheelers.info/assault.html

The highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway (which is on this route) is about 20 miles from my In-Laws house. I ride to it about 10 times a year. If we lived there, I'd ride it more.

Must live in/around Waynesville/Sylva then. I grew up there, and the highest point on the BRP is Richland Balsam, just out of Waynesville, NC.....

Try riding up WaterRock Knob sometime.....

Bright Angel lodge, rim trail to South Kaibab Trail, then west along the Tonto Trail to Indian Garden and up the Bright Angel.

The decent would be in very early morning and the assent would be at night by moonlight.

Must live in/around Waynesville/Sylva then. I grew up there, and the highest point on the BRP is Richland Balsam, just out of Waynesville, NC.....

Try riding up WaterRock Knob sometime.....

They live in Maggie Valley, NC. Do repeats to WaterRock Knob sometimes (starting on the Parkway, not in Maggie Valley.) Another good one is the climb back up from 441 down by that old pioneer settlement museum.

Cali...sea otter is likely the biggest bike event of the year. Lots of racing, jumping and corp displays.

And incredibly ho hum terrain.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone put the Sea Otter on their short list of places to ride.

hm... like the idea here.

Fruita and Moab is already planned May/June...

otherwise done most of the stuff on the list in one way or another...


exactly!
a TransAlp is a MUST for a mountian biker.

for those in North America who may not know: a TransAlp or Alp crossing is a multi-day ride across the Alps utilizing the alpine Hut system. tours are usually 6-9 days but can be longer and you carry everything with you. because food and overnight is through the huts you carry 7-10kgs (15-22lbs) in a backpack.

(and just in case anyone is really interested, i lead a 9-day TransAlp every year: for 2005 end of August concentration on singletrails through the Dolomites)

for those in Europe: Riva del Garda Italy


do you have a web site or anthing?

Amazing how fast google works

http://transalp.upsolutmv.com/en/

And incredibly ho hum terrain.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone put the Sea Otter on their short list of places to ride.

If you don't then you obviously don't get it. The Sea Otter isn't about the riding, it's about the event. You go there to mingle with people who ride two wheeled things that bridge virtually every discipline, sub-discipline and sub-sub-discipline of cycling. That's why one goes to the Sea Otter and why it should be on everyone's list regardless of what you ride.

Anyway, my list is:

Whistler (probably doing it this summer)
Moab (some time in the next 18 months)
Europe (probably Switzerland or Austria to kick things off)
Australia (I'll likely be there some time in the next 18 months...I'm going to fulfill another dream here to: Great White shark diving :eek: )
NZ (It just sounds great)
Tour de France (I want to do the tour where you ride select routes - or as much of them as you can - the day before the riders, watch the stages and then move on to the next one. It's expensive but it looks like a blast!)

Australia (I'll likely be there some time in the next 18 months...I'm going to fulfill another dream here to: Great White shark diving :eek: )
NZ (It just sounds great)


Shark diving?

<whispering> NZ is probably better for riding.

If you don't then you obviously don't get it. The Sea Otter isn't about the riding, it's about the event. You go there to mingle with people who ride two wheeled things that bridge virtually every discipline, sub-discipline and sub-sub-discipline of cycling. That's why one goes to the Sea Otter and why it should be on everyone's list regardless of what you ride.

Oh, I get it alright.

The "event" is no big deal and the riding is ho hum.

I've been to a couple of Sea Otters, riding and shooting stills, and I won't be returning. It simply doesn't compare to riding in mecca-type places, let alone the decent riding in Norcal.

Being someone who hasn't ridden in a number of the "top" spots, the basis for your opinion is severely lacking.

There are ancient native spirits abundant along the McKenzie River trail... I just get a certain chill up my spine every time I ride it, especially in this one section where I swear the spirits are sitting up on the ledge smoking their opium observing me ride on by. The trail's not that bad, either. I'd suggest that trail to anyone. I don't think you can find a better river trail.

Oh, I get it alright.

The "event" is no big deal and the riding is ho hum.

I've been to a couple of Sea Otters, riding and shooting stills, and I won't be returning. It simply doesn't compare to riding in mecca-type places, let alone the decent riding in Norcal.

Being someone who hasn't ridden in a number of the "top" spots, the basis for your opinion is severely lacking.

Again, you go there for the comraderie, not the riding and it's quite apparent that you dont "get it" on this one. It's the same reason that 24 hour races are so incredible; you get to bond with your fellow riders in a more profound way than you ever could otherwise.

As for the fact that you believe my opinion to be lacking simply because I haven't ridden what you consider to be "top spots," well, that's just asinine. My opinion is my opinion, if you don't like it, I really don't care. I've ridden some incredible, epic trails that fall right into that 1A tier of riding so, the fact that I haven't done Moab doesn't mean anything.

Shark diving?

<whispering> NZ is probably better for riding.

Yup, in southern Australia there is apparently a very large population of Great White Sharks and, one of my lifelong dreams is to do a cage dive with them. I'm facisnated by sharks and think the great white is one of the most magnificent animals on the face of the Earth so I want to get up close in personal with one...or more.
:D