"Flat" and "Easy" Singletrack in SoCal?

Whiting has some flowing trails if you go in the back way, serrano, live oak & whiting road. Fun trails before the climbing starts...

 

For goodness sakes, refer her to the Trail Angels website and they will get her hooked! Girls are crazy fun, she'll ride with them and then we'll send her back to you for some more fun...

 

Sounds like I need to make a trip to Prescott.

 

Fully loop is prolly one of the most Noob friendly trails

 

yeah there are plenty of mellow trails at bonelli

 

Irvine Park is a great place to go. I used to ride there last year pulling my two kids in the trailer with my mother-in-law. Definitely less hilly than Peter's Canyon.

you could also do the Mountain to Sea bike trail through Irvine. The one that starts at the bottom of Peter's Canyon. I know it's not off-road, but it would get her comfortable riding, get the wind in her hair, and maybe suck her in to the joy of just being on her bike.

 

Here in So Cal, if it's flat we build houses on it.

 

Look up a lake in your area and see if there is a trail around it, chances are good it will be flat. (few SD lakes come to mind)

 

bonelli has a couple mellower singletrack sections, the rest is fire road. there is a section on the north side of the lake after the airport that is mellow, but it is not very long.

 

Fairfew park in costa mesa.

 

Whiting has fun flat single tracks on the east section

 

There is a reason why the word "mountain" is in "mountain biking". It depends on where the g/f wants to be in a year - does she want to be able to actually ride with him on any average MTB trail? If so, I recommend combining "flat and easy" with a challenge to get in riding shape. If she wants "flat and easy" from here on out, go to Irvine Park, rent a surry and enjoy the paved paths. Really no point in MTB if one doesn't like "rolling hills".

 

That's a great opinion and all, but if the OP followed your advice and took his gf up I think I Can, I promise you she's never going mountain biking again. That's if she even talks to him ever again.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I usually ride at El Morro and know she'll eventually get used to doing the climbs. I'm personally getting used to the downhills myself. Thanks again.

 

Perhaps... but take her out close to sunset and let her take in the views once you get to the top... it worked with my wife! 8)

EDIT...afterwards we stopped by the Pacific Whey Cafe for some good eating and live jazz...

 

If I took my wife with me, I'd have to avert my eyes from the hot women on the trail. No thanks.

 

It's not really 'in your area' but if you're up for a short road trip u could swing down to the Temecula area & try the Santa Rosa Plateau. It has some climbs but u can skip them and stick to the main loop. Also, Diamond Valley Lake has a very flat 22 mile fireroad that goes around the lake. Not sure if she has the endurance for that but its not really a hard ride just long. They have some benches & porta-potties for rest stops. It's kinda fun & I usually hit it up once or twice a year.

 

Fairview Park, Costa Mesa and Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, Newport Beach. I'm plan on taking wife and 6 yr old son there.

 

ditch the mountain bike and get a road bike for the Misses... at least that is what i did to get my gf in riding shape.

we usually bike from the Irvine civic center to newport beach and back.. about 23miles with around 400 feets of climb in total. or you can just do the newport upper bay -> lower bay will be fine too. ( http://connect.garmin.com/activity/103384096). there are always wind there to keep you cool.

just be warn, she might turned into a roadie just like my gf after few weeks or riding.. she doesn't want to do any mountains anymore.. sigh...

 

Best advice is to start with the trails around Irvine Regional as suggested and be patient. Positive support goes along way, trust me. My wife started 2.5 years ago on the flat easy stuff and now loves Mtb's. Life is much easier when the wife/family or GF can all enjoy the same thing.