OT: Seeking advice on trying out mountain biking

[Rich Toscano]

Hi Piggs —

So the missus and I wish to give mountain biking a try. Neither of us owns a bike, and neither has been mountain biking. I was thinking a good idea might be to rent them for a day just to see if it’s our cup of tea.

Does anyone have any advice on:

– A good place to rent mountain bikes for a day?

– A good trail (or trails) for a couple of totally inexperienced but reasonably in-shape people to get a good flavor for mountain biking?

It would be extra cool if both things were close together, as we don’t have a bike rack and I’m not sure how easy it will be to cram a couple bikes into our little hatchback. But that might be too much to ask.

Thanks!

[scaredyclassic]

It’s very tiring. Loose traction will make you sweat like a pig and realize you’re not in nearly as good shape as you thought.

I hate falling.

It’s difficult to never fall on even mildly challenging trails. Wherever you start go on the way easiest beginner trails. Anything past that will look super hairy to a novice.

Trend: underbiking. Using less High tech bikes on dirt and u tiling riding technique over spring technology.

There’s a lot of cool dirt roads east of Temecula and going north toward diamond lake that can let you ride dirt for hours…

Odds are you won’t like it. Anyone with a natural sense of self preservation would be scared. I was coming down a hill once in new Mexico and my bike did a 360 degree flip in the air. I landed with minimal injury but though godfuckingdammit I could a just died.

[spdrun]

Disagree about it being dangerous — it just depends on how and where you ride. Bombing down mountains at 30 mph — sure, there are quite a few ways to kill yourself. Start out on prepared gravel trails and move from there.

[CDMA ENG]

Rich,

Not too much information on where to rent or the trails here from my end but I would make some recommendations on other fronts.

First, MTB can be a little rough to start with. I would suggest doing some road work with bikes first. Even if you are a runner you will find that you are using different muscles and it won’t be the same. You are in pretty good shape so doing some basic road work will be easy. I would go climb some hills after warm up to get legs use to the hard push.

In MTB you have those constant little challenges of having to get over this little hill or that stump so you legs have to be ready to do a little peak performance push… Even on the easy trails. If you do a little prep work MTB will be more enjoyable and your first time out won’t be a tiring miserable experience.

If you are one of those guys that do spin classes…

Then you are more than ready to tackle MTB.

Also… Not to offend but the tracks here locally aren’t that tough. They tend to be more XC class than technical so again it won’t be a blood-fest. I rode a lot in AZ where the trails were very technical vs. what they have here.

I also agree with spd about the danger levels. For the most part you make it as dangerous as you want it. That being said even walking down the street isn’t without its risks.

Lastly before you go out on a MTB trail for the first time try out several bike with varying tire sizes first. This is a major choice for today’s MTB’er. A couple of years ago there was only one choice… 26″ wheel. Now there is 29″ and 27.5″ that serves as a compromise for those who don’t like the 29″ wheel. The 29″s feel strange if you are use to a 26″ but roll over everything much easier and since I don’t think you are biased like other having rode the 26″ for years you might prefer it making your first time out a bit more fun.

I think you could start out on some of the intra-canyon space open space trails as a nice first start.

Hope this helps…

BTW… Rode BMX from the ages of 6 to 18… Migrated to MTB during my college years (riding as much as 1500 Miles a month) then doing some road work when I was a consultant…

CE

[CafeMoto]

See if you might borrow a few bikes from friends, if no time call Performance Bike in Sorrento Valley see if they can help out. Fun central ride: is Penasquitos Canyon plenty of passers by if you get a flat or some other unlikely mishap I always enter from the West end. I think front suspension hard tails are the way to go (less energy lost), full suspension is for downhill riding and overkill for trails IMO. its a fun activity and a cool run/hike area too http://www.mountainbikebill.com/LosPenDelMar.htm

[scaredyclassic]

ok. maybe i was exaggerating. but it is a little scary sometimes. take it easy.

27.5 inch is actually the classic 650b size, which was extinct, or near extinct.

650b was the preferred/only tire size of french tourists in the 40s and 50s, and fell out of vogue when the 700c racing wheel rose to power in the 60s and 70s.

650b is now in trendy resurgence, first on roadish bikes, then migrating to mtn bikes.

some believe that 650b has magical properties that it is indeed the perfect sized wheel.

. there was an alliance of french people called the i think “les confreries de 650b” whose sole purpose was to keep the 650b tire size alive in the dark years where no tire mfr whatsoever was making 650b tires. those were dark times indeed.

650b aka 27.5 inch is now extremely cool, perhaps the most stylish tire size i can imagine. custom bike builders offer it. there are few nonmtn bike options i know of.

it evokes french factory workers on holiday on rutted wartorn countryside roads, wearing berets and smoking gaulouises, stopping to have wine and bread perhaps with their cherie on the back of a rene herse tandem? their strong powerful legs glistening with well earned sweat, they appreciate this day off from the factory, happy to be alive and free of german occupation.

freedom! free to ride their french made bike with special french parts that fit only french bikes and no other bikes weird french idiosyncrasises that make it difficult to repair and restore older french bikes) and of course, the 650b tires….

650b is the tire size i would go with if I were having a custom bike built around my size.

i can’t remember the whole story, but i think the original mtn bikes were roughly converted kids cruisers, and the 26 inch wheelsize is a leftover anomaly from that early adaptation by a few riding rebels in marin county, maybe?

viva la 650b!

i believe the wheel size has magical properties.

http://www.confreriedes650.org/

[NotCranky]

I’d second penasquitos canyon, maybe you have run there?

Tecolote Canyon, Possibly the most accessible on surface streets from where you could rent a bike…not sure.

Sycamore canyon,
Mission Trails,

Kayaking is really neat…if mountain biking isn’t it, you might try that…easy to rent right on the water.

[zk]

I love mountain biking. The first time I did it (about 20 years ago), I felt 12 years old again (I normally feel about 14). Going over little jumps and leaning into turns. Great stuff.

Penasquitos is a very easy trail, and is easily suitable for your first ride. Check for ticks when you’re done, though. They climb to the tips of grass and hitch a ride when you brush by. If you can stay clear of the grass, you won’t get any. (Contrary to popular belief, they don’t drop from trees.)

[CDMA ENG]

[quote=CafeMoto]See if you might borrow a few bikes from friends, if no time call Performance Bike in Sorrento Valley see if they can help out. Fun central ride: is Penasquitos Canyon plenty of passers by if you get a flat or some other unlikely mishap I always enter from the West end. I think front suspension hard tails are the way to go (less energy lost), full suspension is for downhill riding and overkill for trails IMO. its a fun activity and a cool run/hike area too http://www.mountainbikebill.com/LosPenDelMar.htm%5B/quote%5D

CM,

Has a great point. Make sure you can change a flat before heading out and have the gear to do it… Nothing worse than going for a short ride that turns into a long walk.

CE

[SD Realtor]

Rich definitely go for it. PQ trail is a nice place to start. There are two entry points, one near Black Mountain Canyon park near the horse stables and another down at the bottom of the canyon kind of near the base of Qualcomm Hill. Basically it is the Sorrento Valley exit off of the 5 but it is hard to explain on the blog but easy to find with a map. Not so sure about renting bikes but yeah try Performance. If you do end up doing it more DO NOT go buy a new bike. Used mountain bikes are the easiest thing to find on craigslist. Make sure you talk to the guys at performance about how to figure out the correct size for you.

The best piece of advice so far is the flat repair. Patch kits are cheap but for beginners just brink an extra tube or two in a backpack and a small pump. As CE said know how to change the tube. Although the PQ trail is so well travelled that someone will be able to help you within a few minutes of your flat.

Another nice starter trail is the park that runs along the 52. Nice easy flat trail there as well.

Once you get your legs under you we can go up to Noble Canyon and ride.

Here is a link to some trails. San Diego is an awesome place to ride. Don’t listen to any BS about mountain biking being dangerous or any of that crap. It is no more dangerous then riding a bike on cement, it is all just how much you want to challenge yourself on the trail. On PQ and the park off of 52 you can take your kids on a big wheel and they will be safe.

http://www.singletracks.com/California-bike-trails_5.html?sortBy=field168%2BASC%2B%2B&filterBy=&pageNo=5

[outtamojo]

“It is no more dangerous then riding a bike on cement…”

I heartily agree. Imo riding on a trail is waaay safer than riding on cement- no preoccupied drivers to worry about.

[zk]

[quote=outtamojo]”It is no more dangerous then riding a bike on cement…”

I heartily agree. Imo riding on a trail is waaay safer than riding on cement- no preoccupied drivers to worry about.[/quote]

Definitely safer than riding on roads. On roads, you’re basically betting your life that every driver going by is paying enough attention to not swerve out of his lane and hit you. Not a good bet, especially with cell phones and texting.

I have a bike (just one) you can borrow any time, Rich.

[Rich Toscano]

Thanks zk for the offer, that’s very nice… I will definitely keep that in mind!

And thanks to everyone for the tips, lots of good info here. It sounds like PQ is the crowd favorite for a good trail to start with…

[ucodegen]

[quote=SD Realtor]Rich definitely go for it. PQ trail is a nice place to start. There are two entry points, one near Black Mountain Canyon park near the horse stables and another down at the bottom of the canyon kind of near the base of Qualcomm Hill.[/quote]There is another entry point on PQ trail, located across from Creekside Elementary. You can also get at the trail near the sewage treatment plant across from I-15. The trail passes under I-15. There is at least one other entry point to the east of Creekside, but I haven’t had the opportunity to explore it yet. I tend to do a run from Sorrento Valley PQ parking lot, up to Creekside and then back when I need to burn some energy.

GPS(s):
Entry off of Vista Sorrento = 32.904863,-117.22311 (runs north side of PQ).
Sorrento Valley PQ parking lot = 32.906587,-117.206624 (south side of PQ).
Black Mtn Road parking lot = 32.939018,-117.129649
Near Sewage Treatment plant = 32.943754,-117.107605 – don’t know how the parking arrangement along Cara Way.
Creekside Elementary location = 32.945273,-117.075999

It is also possible to drop into Penasquitos from Camino Ruiz park, but I would not recommend it until you get fairly good at balancing the bike – going down, you are often nose-down, hard on the brakes, followed by trail turning sharply and briefly climbing a short distance than more down. I also recommend a helmet if you take this path – Low branches. Respect people coming up the trail. Biking up the trail is a bit, um, interesting.

May be able to enter it at Sunwood Trail..
May also be able to enter at the back of one of the large buildings parking lot off of Scripps Summit.

[Rich Toscano]

Thanks for the GPS coordinates! 🙂

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