Any abandoned mines in SoCal?

[Marshall Willanholly]

After the Southridge Winter Series, we need a Summer Abandoned Mine series. It would be nice and cool underground. No sitting around in the hot sun waiting for your run!

[slowSSer]

there was a thing in one of the MTB mags years ago about mine riding. it sounded pretty cool (in more ways than one)

[el_d00der1n0]

There's an old amethist mine in the Valley of the Moon, but I'm not sure you could get a bike in there.

I think most of the mines in SoCal are strip types like the dolemite mines in the desert.

There are the mud caves in Borrego, but again, they would be impossible to ride. Pretty cool hike though IMO.

[northshore]

This is so f'ing cool!

[dutch]

maybe the coolest dh race i've ever seen. nice video too.

[stinkyrider]

The hills around Calico Ghost town near Barstow are covered in mines but I think you would have to be a lunatic to ride them. Also a lot of abandon mines by Red Mountain off of highway 395 on the way to mammoth.

[mottmcfly]

Wow that was cool.

[Koke]

Some more Red Bull mountain bike events that take place underground...

Mexico City metro station




Budapest metro station

[1FG rider]

Yeow, that's amazing schiat!

[slowSSer]

a word of advice from growing up vacationing in southwest colorado (durango area, every summer)- you're nuts to go into an old mine without knowing what you're in for- mine shafts are often vertical and were likely closed off years ago with wood.....that's been sitting in the moist underground for years. you could get extremely f-ed up.

and don't forget about bats and other varmints!

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by Marshall Willanholly

After the Southridge Winter Series, we need a Summer Abandoned Mine series. It would be nice and cool underground. No sitting around in the hot sun waiting for your run!

Hey Eric, I know of some old mine shafts out in the desert. You ride down and wait for me, I'll meet you at the bottom.

[Rockinthecasbah]

I dont think a series would ever happen with Liability in the us and ever mine i've been in in Cali was vertical or near it. I'd rather use a light and ride somewhere else too many people have died in those things

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

a word of advice from growing up vacationing in southwest colorado (durango area, every summer)- you're nuts to go into an old mine without knowing what you're in for- mine shafts are often vertical and were likely closed off years ago with wood.....that's been sitting in the moist underground for years. you could get extremely f-ed up.

and don't forget about bats and other varmints!

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

I dont htink a series would ever happen with Liability in the us and ever mine i've been in in Cali was vertical or near it. I'd rather use a light and ride somewhere else too many people have died in those things

I'm glad you guys think my ideas deserve serious consideration, but I wasn't really serious with my suggestion. I just thought it was a cool video.

Originally Posted by jfromlv

Hey Eric, I know of some old mine shafts out in the desert. You ride down and wait for me, I'll meet you at the bottom.

Just count the seconds until you hear a splat, then you'll know what you're in for.

[foofighter]

that's really cool taking a sport that was born out in the wild and bringing it to an urban setting...could we see an evolution of this sport into something that can be "canned" better for the public?

[Chewyeti]

ouch on the guy who eats it at the mine entrance! bounce off a rail! LOL

[Rockinthecasbah]

urban downhill race in san fran with metal freestyle ramps I hope it never makes it that far

[mottmcfly]

[quote=Marshall Willanholly;145191]I'm glad you guys think my ideas deserve serious consideration, but I wasn't really serious with my suggestion. I just thought it was a cool video.

I think I can speak for a few of us. The first thing I thought when I saw that was "would I even consider that?"

[Marshall Willanholly]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

urban downhill race in san fran with metal freestyle ramps I hope it never makes it that far

There's the Lisboa Downtown race in Portugal:

[foofighter]

that must be sketchy on cobblestone

[miles]

Originally Posted by el_d00der1n0

There's an old amethist mine in the Valley of the Moon, but I'm not sure you could get a bike in there.

I think most of the mines in SoCal are strip types like the dolemite mines in the desert.

There are the mud caves in Borrego, but again, they would be impossible to ride. Pretty cool hike though IMO.

If my scanner still worked I'd scan and post an old picture of me riding through one of those mud caves. SOme of them are big enough to ride in- this one opened at both ends, and we rode in one side and out the other.

Oh, and there are plenty of shaft-type mines around... hundreds of them. I'm pretty sure you'd be putting your life at serious risk riding in any of them, though.


miles