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Neil
Guest
Me and the wife are thinking about going to sycamore for the first time on saturday morning. Does anyone want to join a couple noobs? Does anyone want to show us around? If so ring in.
strobe
resident noob
Didn't i just offer? Should've joined us. We had fun.
Can't make it on Saturday, but, if you go Sunday just let me know. Sycamore offers a good mix of trails to just pedal, trails to practice technical skills, and climbing to get your heart rate up. You can get a good ride in doing any one of those or mixing it up. FWIW, the park was full of bikers this past weekend. I have never seen that many ppl riding there in my whole year. I used to do all my rides mid-week though.
Can't make it on Saturday, but, if you go Sunday just let me know. Sycamore offers a good mix of trails to just pedal, trails to practice technical skills, and climbing to get your heart rate up. You can get a good ride in doing any one of those or mixing it up. FWIW, the park was full of bikers this past weekend. I have never seen that many ppl riding there in my whole year. I used to do all my rides mid-week though.
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Neil
Guest
I had to work sunday so I could not join you. I saw alot of mtb people at simpson on saturday also. Guess it was a good weekend to ride. I cant go on sundays because I work graveyard sunday nights.
wizard
tradersancho's dad
Come on up to Hurkey Creek instead...I will be in camp site 108. Closer to Hemet than Sycamore. Weather will be in the 70's this weekend.
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Neil
Guest
Sounds good to me. What time you plan on riding? Do you have a address that I can plug into the gps cause I have never been there.
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Neil
Guest
I found the address just need a time.
strobe
resident noob
I've never been to Hurkey, but, i've always seen its got fun trails. Just make sure an visit Sycamore someday soon. I think its one of the best places for us newer riders to get in miles and learn a lot of skills. Enjoy your ride.
wizard
tradersancho's dad
I will be arriving Friday afternoon and staying thru Sunday Morning. We can ride most any time. Just let me know when you are coming up. How does 0900 sound on Saturday?
Sycamore Canyon has such a huge trail network with a little something for almost everyone. You can prob ride it 100s of times and not tire of it. Lots of mini features packed into each area. It's a gem according to some outsiders and IMBA even was attracted to it. Riverside is a great city too for keeping it open it to the public and allowing people to enjoy the outdoors.
Only thing I remember from Hurkey Creek is the changing climate, cold and clammy to blistery hot and dry or hot and humid/muggy, going from flooded and muddy terrain, to snowy remnants of winter, open baked sandy and deeply rutted wide dirt "roads" (dirt roads are muddy and rutted in other places), gigantic pine cones, and a scary fast descent called defoliator, with flooded parts at the bottom. Was kind of fun, for me at least, to experience "big mountain riding". A nice adventure, or probably better worded as a nice escape, but not really something I'd personally ride very often, even if it were very close. Good time to ride up there right now.
In contrast, Hurkey Creek is more like a big loop, with optional routes (notably at the very top), than a network of trails. With a network of trails, you can chart your own route according to your preferences. Not sure if there's any bug or insect issues, but up top it's a bit chilly, though not so bad that shorts and short sleeved shirts are a bad idea (always amusing to see people having fun in the snow in warm weather clothes), and you have to pay to park. You have to invest a large amount of minimal time to enjoy it. Sycamore has free parking and JensonUSA to buy new bike parts from right by the trail entrance and you can easily and conveniently cut a ride short if necessary, and isn't far from civilization (ie. a good place to eat afterwards). On the other hand, you can ride Sycamore year round and find lots of plp to ride with, yet you won't find much opp to ride Hurkey Creek, esp with someone willing to accompany and guide a couple newbies.
I'd say go Hurkey Creek, and take up wizard's offer and experience a memorable time doing "real [big] mtn biking". Then enjoy "trail riding" at Sycamore Canyon another time, enjoying the sport and outdoors another day.
Only thing I remember from Hurkey Creek is the changing climate, cold and clammy to blistery hot and dry or hot and humid/muggy, going from flooded and muddy terrain, to snowy remnants of winter, open baked sandy and deeply rutted wide dirt "roads" (dirt roads are muddy and rutted in other places), gigantic pine cones, and a scary fast descent called defoliator, with flooded parts at the bottom. Was kind of fun, for me at least, to experience "big mountain riding". A nice adventure, or probably better worded as a nice escape, but not really something I'd personally ride very often, even if it were very close. Good time to ride up there right now.
In contrast, Hurkey Creek is more like a big loop, with optional routes (notably at the very top), than a network of trails. With a network of trails, you can chart your own route according to your preferences. Not sure if there's any bug or insect issues, but up top it's a bit chilly, though not so bad that shorts and short sleeved shirts are a bad idea (always amusing to see people having fun in the snow in warm weather clothes), and you have to pay to park. You have to invest a large amount of minimal time to enjoy it. Sycamore has free parking and JensonUSA to buy new bike parts from right by the trail entrance and you can easily and conveniently cut a ride short if necessary, and isn't far from civilization (ie. a good place to eat afterwards). On the other hand, you can ride Sycamore year round and find lots of plp to ride with, yet you won't find much opp to ride Hurkey Creek, esp with someone willing to accompany and guide a couple newbies.
I'd say go Hurkey Creek, and take up wizard's offer and experience a memorable time doing "real [big] mtn biking". Then enjoy "trail riding" at Sycamore Canyon another time, enjoying the sport and outdoors another day.
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Neil
Guest
Sounds good see you at 9
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Neil
Guest
Yes I will make my way to sycamore in the next couple weeks before it gets hot.
strobe
resident noob
Early morning and evening riding is always good here, too. Jenson's used to list a weekly night ride. Maybe look into that as summer comes around. Lights required i believe. Have a great ride.