Carlsbad info needed

[honkus]

I'll be visiting a friend in Carlsbad this coming Tuesday and we might hit some trails if we can find 'em. Anyone wanna divulge and/or guide? I'm an experienced rider, and he's ...um... not, but, he doesn't seem to be concerned about getting in over his head. Anyone?

[mntbiker12]

If you're only here for one day, I'd definitely recommend La Costa Reserve. You can search STR for threads on La Costa.

Also, here's a good link for more trail info. Midweek is usually not very crowded - have fun!

[Solo]

No guide needed at La Costa, stay on the front side and there's only a couple ways up and down and all pretty much end up in the same vicinity.

You may also want to check out Calaveras. Depending on how much you like your friend, La Costa is a little more challenging/rewarding and Calaveras is more beginner friendly.

Either way, MTB Bills site has a good overview and directions for both.

[MTBBill]

Originally Posted by Solo

You may also want to check out Calaveras. Depending on how much you like your friend, La Costa is a little more challenging/rewarding and Calaveras is more beginner friendly.

If you have not been to Calavera lately, you should go and explore. The further towards the back the be better.

[sbishop]

I've just started riding in Carlsbad, only really hit Calavera so far. Are there any good weekly group rides or people getting together to ride around here these days?

I've heard Flightline used to be awesome, but is now all gone... any update on if it will ever be reopened?

Thanks!

[MTBBill]

Awesome indeed! The small portion of Flightline that has not been graded over could be revived in a season. It is on the backburner right now. The Center for Natural Land Management that manages the flightline area also manage quite a few parcels elsewhere. While flightline was shutdown, the CNLM has been working with SDMBA on some of those other parcels to allow and/or increase access to mountainbiking. La Costa is one of those CNLM managed perserves which has been pretty much a success story for both CNLM and SDMBA. I think Flightline will come around sometime in the future, but for right now we are "working" the current relationship with CNLM really well (Or I should say, as hard as we can) elsewhere.

There is a lot of stuff happening in North County. In the month or so much of the behind the scenes "grunt work" that has been occuring is going to perculate. I don't want to steal anyone's thunder so stay tuned.

[sbishop]

That's great to hear. I'm glad headway has been made in similar areas, that certainly keeps the hope alive.

I've not tried La Costa yet, I'll have to make a trip over there. Thanks for the info!

[jhardeman]

Originally Posted by sbishop

I've just started riding in Carlsbad, only really hit Calavera so far. Are there any good weekly group rides or people getting together to ride around here these days?

I've heard Flightline used to be awesome, but is now all gone... any update on if it will ever be reopened?

Thanks!

Hi - I ride over there on Tues between 11-1 with 2 others from my work and sometimes Fridays 11-1 or end of the day on my way home. What's your schedule? As Bill said, there is a lot of new stuff over there which is fun if you have an idea of where to look.

[Solo]

Originally Posted by MTBBill

If you have not been to Calavera lately, you should go and explore. The further towards the back the be better.

I think I've ridden most of the "new" trails as well as a new bridge on the southside, although it's hard to keep pace with whomever is building them. The bridge looks to be nicely built and I couldn't help but wonder if Rich was somehow involved???

The thought of opening Box Canyon as a connector to places south is indeed exciting. Right now, Calaveras is truly an island.

[MTBBill]

Originally Posted by Solo

I think I've ridden most of the "new" trails as well as a new bridge on the southside, although it's hard to keep pace with whomever is building them. The bridge looks to be nicely built and I couldn't help but wonder if Rich was somehow involved???

The thought of opening Box Canyon as a connector to places south is indeed exciting. Right now, Calaveras is truly an island.

I know its not Rich, but I'm pretty sure it is someone who has been at Flightline before and maybe even done some legititimate trailwork in the past.

[OldDogDan]

Originally Posted by MTBBill

I know its not Rich, but I'm pretty sure it is someone who has been at Flightline before and maybe even done some legititimate trailwork in the past.

There are clearly multiple trail builders at work, and boy do I have mixed feelings. The whole area is getting much more traffic, and will get even more. (Why? New housing development adjacent, people like us talking about the new trails, even my son's RBVHS PE class that will be riding out there...).

There are some shovel-wielding berm & jump builders at work in the old MX bowl playground. Okay, except they are putting in 100 yd long lines 4 feet from an abandoned effort, and pushing farther into the formerly intact sage instead of enhancing existing trail.

Out to the southwest, there are new trails that are built by someone who knows what they're doing. Twisty up-n-down stuff with moderate technical features. Contouring well enough to be pretty sustainable if not hit by brake-draggers. Real fun and could be attractive to hikers as well.

Coupla problems tho (IMO). On some fairly recent trails, someone has dismantled technical rock features -- I guess to make them faster or suit their riding style & abilities. I think that's selfish and wrong. Walk the rockpile if you can't ride it. I like to have something that'll take some work to learn to clean it.

And, the new trails are right thru the middle of designated habitat. True, it's no longer posted due to jurisdictional & funding issues, combined with signs being torn down, but that's what it is. A coupla years ago I looked at the satellite photos and walked it, and thought I'd like to put a trail thru there, becuz there weren't any and it had interesting topgraphy. But I decided against it, becuz of the habitat areas you can look up on on-line maps (and maybe some laziness). But the trail-builder did do an excellent job of utilizing available topographic features.

I've been having fun there nearly 40 years, and want others to have fun too. Open recreation space is essential. But so is habitat / species preservation. When the cities & agencies start cooperating and moving on to & enforcing management, we will need to work together to get them to keep the best trails for riders & hikers, and give up & revegetate the redundant junk and unnecessary roads. I hope it is possible.

"Stay dirty, my friends."

[honkus]

So for Calaveras and/or La Costa, which bike?

[Solo]

Originally Posted by honkus

So for Calaveras and/or La Costa, which bike?

Holy crap, talk about bringing a gun to a knife fight! Given the choices, I would bring the Big Hit to La Costa solely for the purpose of riding Double Down (aka NASCAR).

[OldDogDan]

Yeah, getting back to Honkus' original post, considering the drive, your friend, unfamiliarity w/ the area etc, La Costa & the Big Hit are the best bet. Easy route-finding (see MTB bill's site). Great trails. But you do have to get that BH up before you can come down. Have fun!

[honkus]

To be thorough, the friend is going to be riding his 12 year old rigid 18speed something. Is this trail going to make him hate mountain biking? Should I ride my hardtail to even things up? Or should we just pick a different trail? Also, how much time should we allow for this ride?

[OldDogDan]

Originally Posted by honkus

To be thorough, the friend is going to be riding his 12 year old rigid 18speed something. Is this trail going to make him hate mountain biking? Should I ride my hardtail to even things up? Or should we just pick a different trail? Also, how much time should we allow for this ride?

No, he'll still have fun. You said he'll try anything. But you got a point about having a similar bike -- he might appreciate that. When you go down NASCAR, he can walk some sections and take the easy way on others (the jumps have an easier line right next to them). Either Switchbacks or Vista Del Mar trails will be good going up. They are about equal effort, altho Switchbacks has more difficult sections going up. Both are great coming down -- Switchbacks has great berms, while VdM has longer fast sections (longer between switchbacks) IMO. I'd guess you guys may take about 1 1/2 hrs for one lap, maybe 2 if you ride around on top or stop to check out the view and BS. Then you can choose to do another lap depending on time & energy.

[honkus]

Long story short, by the time we were able to ride, we only had a half hour of sun left. It's not too bad of a drive, and he seems fairly enthusiastic, so we'll try again soon.