California vs. the World

[camba715]

Im just curious to see how you guys would compare socal's mountain biking with the rest of the worlds? and what are some of your favorite places outside the US

[DISCO]

There is a scene in China, but I think BC has the lock down on the best riding

[ArrrKelly]

I know LA and SD don't have sh!t compared to Aliso.

[strobelite]

i like the gabes, and china looks boring.

[evdog]

Originally Posted by DISCO

There is a scene in China, but I think BC has the lock down on the best riding

There are lots of places with great riding. California has good riding and great weather as we all know about. I was lucky enough to get a few days riding in each of Peru and Bolivia. Both have the benefit of endless trail networks built by the Incas and other native groups (who still use them today) that work pretty well for MTB. Ditto with the Swiss Alps, except they have a huge network of trams and lifts to help connect it all together...putting that near the top of my wish list for trips. I've also heard great things about New Zealand. France, UK and Oz must have some decent trails too, to keep turning out world champion riders!

Now being from BC I may be biased, but overall I'd have to agree that BC has the best riding. I'm not aware of anywhere else that has as many great trails or as much variety. More FR and DH you could ever get around to riding, epic back country xc in all kinds of terrain, 4 ski hills with destination-class riding plus 2-3 more that are getting better, and every town in BC has a group of riders building sweet trails. 95% of the province is publicly owned land so access is easy and the land managers tend to leave us alone as long as we don't build in parks. And there's so much space we have few conflicts with other users.

[Kaboom]

Originally Posted by camba715

Im just curious to see how you guys would compare socal's mountain biking with the rest of the worlds? and what are some of your favorite places outside the US

We have it pretty good in California for XC/all mountain riding. I rode in the French Alps and it was great downhill riding. Long trams with huge vertical drop.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Kaboom

We have it pretty good in California for XC/all mountain riding. I rode in the French Alps and it was great downhill riding. Long trams with huge vertical drop.

I agree... one of our biggest assets in So Cal is year-round riding. There's a lot of places that are mountainous, but have snow for 1/3 or more of the year.

Here there's a variety here of all types of trails, but we're proportionally pretty low on DH and FR type trails in So Cal. We also don't have the expansive views and endless spectacular scenery that you get in a lot of other places.

So I wouldn't rate So Cal as a "destination quality," but for everyday riding, we've got it pretty good.

[vlad]

Its all about the weather: 75-85 a sunny every day all year long with zero humidity. No other place in the world matches that. Trail variety, but agreed probably not as much DH as BC, Rockies and some other places. Rode alot on the East Coast and California definately has less roots (on the trails, that is).

[jasonmason]

BC? Rockies? Alps? NZ? bah...

None of them have the Fullerton loop! Why bother then?

[mtbchip]

NZ was real nice, just wish I had more time there than I did.

I like the ST and travel aspects of Copper Canyon Mexico. That is some real rugged and crazy country to travel on a bike.

I look forward to going to BC for some backcountry XC heaven!

Ride on!

[station]

West Coast Son!!!