HybridWheeler

Howdy!

I own a Trek hybrid but my wandering eyes are starting to rest on a mountain bike. I think it would be cool to venture off the paved trail once in a while and be a rebel and make my own path but I can't do that on a hybrid. Well, I can to some extent but I want to know where you folks ride when you own a true mountain bike? It would seem to me the choices would be very limited, at least where I live but I know nothing about it.

Don't get me wrong, I love riding my hybrid along the attractive, tree-lined paved bike trails but it does get old dealing with joggers, walkers, and roadies racing by me in their Lance Armstrong wanna be fashions. Gotta love Spandex.

I think I'm trying to say....I'm looking for something different?

ncfisherman

Where in Ohio are you? The first thing to check would be for any local mtb clubs - that's where you would find all your info on local trails.

Luckily, I live in a pretty good area for mountain biking and our choices are more unlimited than limited.

HybridWheeler

Yes, I suspect this way of riding would require living somewhere other than the suburbs. I live in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. We have tons of parks and a good amount of bike paths but I don't think I've ever seen or heard of places to ride with a mountain bike. It's just not the most popular thing around here I guess.

I'm not looking for those hill jumping, BMX type places with a bunch of teenagers. I'm talking about those scenic rides. Didn't even know those existed.

JonathanGennick 

Start here: https://www.coramtb.org/

Follow the "Trails We Ride" link on the left.

To your original question, an awful lot with mountain-biking depends upon where you live. Plenty of old logging road to ride where I live. There's a decently challenging trail 20 minutes away. The really good stuff is an hour away making it a weekend-only thing.

BTW, don't sell your hybrid short. I'd take a hybrid on any of those trails I saw pictured on the coramtb page. The one exception might that Mitchell Memorial Forest trail w/the rocks, but I'd probably hit it anyway. Depends on what style hybrid you have.

Zephyr11

Bike shops are another resource. Ask for recommendations at your local shop. At the very least, they can point you to trails. Some of them may even have maps on hand.

musikguy

Google is your friend. When I first moved to Colorado from Texas I just googled 'Mountain Bike trails Fort Collins" and went down the list trying each one.

A quick google of 'Mountain Bike trails Cincinnati, Ohio" came up with lots of links to trails (of different types) in your area with a map to the Little Miami Scenic Trail which apparently is 75 miles and has several mountain bikey type sections.

In this day and age you can find anything, with a map included, in 10 seconds.

HybridWheeler

True. How funny we always forget to Google stuff. I should know better. lol

Thanks folks!

Dirt Farmer

The MTBR forum has a midwest section, which includes Ohio. I'd try snooping around there.

Daspydyr 

I also look around on Google Earth to find roads and trails. Its easy out here there is so much desert and the trails (white) stand out boldly against the brown desert. In addition to the LBS's Websites and Bike clubs you can look for Mountain bikers and cars with Mountain bikes on them. Follow them and ask riders. Or see where they go. Sometimes Mountain bikers will meet at certain restaurants or coffee shops to talk bike stuff. Most Mountain bikers are down to earth helpful people.

As far as clothes, I get cargo type shorts from Costco mainly. You can buy bike short liners that have the diaper inside them. That way anything you have in the closet works. Its not very humid out here so any cotton tee shirt works well in the summer. Good riding! All my relatives are in Holmes County, be good to the horses.

yep202

Check with the local bike store is a good start. I go on and off trails on my ride into work and back. Plus some of the roads are so bad its almost like mtn biking but you in town. You would be surprise where you find trails. Sometimes you need to know a local to take you to them. Good luck.

HybridWheeler

Thanks guys for the info. I'm still debating to get a mountain bike and it won't be for a while cause I haven't owned my hybrid very long.

I am starting to find out riding on bike trails where walkers, joggers and roadies flying by isn't all the fun sometimes, especially when it gets crowded. Almost hit a dog the last time out because some woman had one of those retractable leashes (hate those things) and I spooked the dog as I rode by them and it almost went under my bike. Wouldn't have been a good situation. lol I rang my bell and vocally announced my passing but nobody really cares or pays attention. Unless I hit the paved trails real early in the morning there are just too many people out there. I don't think I'd have to worry about that when mountain biking.

Zielvos

I have the same problem in my area. I'm not sure how your trails are set up but the area I live is an old mining town and the paved bike/walk trail goes along one of the many old truck routes. If you have anything like that around try using that and make your own trails. It is weird to pop out at random places and people give you weird looks but you get to see a lot of cool stuff in the places that no one else goes.

HybridWheeler

The trails around here (I should call them paved surfaces) are typically designed around and through wooded areas where a hybrid would have a difficult time making it's own path. Even though I own a hybrid I really feel it's not meant for being off pavement, at least it's not a very confident ride for me when I do. It feels like I'm taking a road bike off it's natural surface. Maybe that's just me. I would never trust a hybrid tire off pavement. They seem to thin and smooth for trails, rocks, gravel, etc..now that I've tried it several times.

If I ever pursue a more challenging ride off pavement I would purchase a bike specifically designed for it.

ColinL

Tire width and volume is huge. It will make a big difference in how well the tires can handle rocks and roots.

Some hybrids are limited to very narrow tires, most use cyclocross and 'monstercross' tires, and a few can actually use 29er MTB tires. (The Trek DS series for example, can fit up to ~2.1" 29er tires.)

I rode a Cannondale Quick CX on 35mm cross tires a few times on rooty, rocky singletrack and I couldn't do it as a rookie rider-- but it was VERY doable on a proper MTB! Just yesterday, I saw a highly skilled rider (employee at a local LBS) riding an actual cyclocross bike on that same trail. So when someone says 'yeah, your hybrid can handle a real trail' ... maybe with the right rider, but not a novice.

speedy25

There are trails that can be ridden easily with a hybrid that arent paved. Go exploring! Look for ratings of trails.

When you get an honest to goodness MTB then start looking at singletrack trails. More hills, more dirt, but they are still fun. I fit in the 50+ description but I'm having fun in the dirt on a 29er.

If you come up north I'll go riding with you.

-SP
NEC oHIo