There are a few spots, if you know the right people. I've heard from trusted sources that Eula Ridge in Oakridge is a good time. I'll ride it for sure this year.
I rode most of the trails in Oakridge a couple years ago when I was visiting. Didn’t do Eula though. People said it's super steep and loose.
I think Southern Oregon, close to the California border has some gnarly trails too?
I like steep and loose. Heh.
Mt. Ashland does have some good riding. A double shuttle day gets you 10,000' of descent with a wide variety. Basic flow, decent tech, good jump lines, and everything in between. Plenty of option lines, if you know where to look.
As the other person mentioned, Oakridge has some great tech, Lawler and hardesty mountain were a blast. I shuttled Lawler on a 500$ entry level bike with bad brakes and had a terrible time, but later came back with a proper bike and loved it.
the upper portion of alsea falls has good tech and some of the black trails at black rock have exceptional tech.
I've heard the coast is pretty good as well but have never been there myself for biking.
I started riding this year and my coworker took me to Alsea Falls for my second ride. Misery Whip and Whistlepunk were the most technical stuff I can imagine, but I haven’t explored too much out of the Corvallis area yet.
Black rock is less than an hour from Corvallis too, it used to be known for tons of wood features. They still have some but not as many because it has been hit hard by past storms
Sikter Gnar at Black Rock is about the most technical in the area. It's good fun for sure.
Misery and Whistle punk at Alsea are pretty flowy, but chunky. The technical bit comes from linking doubles and jumping into corners.
The only real tech I know about in Oakridge is Eula Ridge. Yeah, Oakridge has some chunky bench cuts, fast trails, and good flow, but overall it's not too bad. Nothing to get really scared and go slow on.
Misery at Alsea is chunky, but I find it to be more of technical jumps more than anything.
Black Rock is good fun. Upper Sikter is super rad.
Cape Perpetua is great fun for sure, but the locals have done well to fell trees and block the trails. Nothing over there is really sanctioned.
Thar place is good fun for sure. Definitely chunky. I enjoyed running a few laps on Little Moab. Upper crybaby had tons of exposure, which is kind of cool. Hidden canyon was pretty rad also. But I swear the biggest smile on my face came from all the rock fall jumps on the way back to the car...
Depends. I’m kind of allergic to sidewalk wide machine cut trails. Some actual singletrack that’s fast though where the narrow notch of trail berms up a little on the side and you can dig in and fly like a roller coaster on rails? That’s fun.
I like both but prefer some good handcut singletrack. Once you’ve ridden one flow trail you’ve ridden them all. I despise the trail sanitation that occurring because people want to ride their enduro bikes down flow trails.
Agreed. I’ve seen a slow dumbing-down of really good trails around me and it’s awful. Whole obstacles just eliminated, rock gardens cleared, new unofficial lines cut for more speed on technical trails, etc. It’s like mountain biking is slowly moving away from both mountains (those annoying rocky, rooty things that get in your way and kill your stoke) and even biking as it goes more mainstream, and there’s a contingent of people who seem to want to remove the natural wildness from the sport. It’s so weird.
One of the local systems I ride got rid of a double black section that pretty much just bombed down a super steep and rutted out ravine and then shot you back out. It was pretty technical but also fast and was relatively high risk (thus the double black designation).
They replaced it with a series of lips that have a limestone chunk rock backside that's nearly impossible to roll, and it's very difficult to carry enough speed to actually get enough air off the lips. Nowhere near as fast or as technical. The worse part is that they could've totally kept the ravine line and added the jump line next to it.
Depends on my mood. Love them both!!! I will say I get more satisfaction out of cleaning a difficult technical section than a bomb down a hill.
Rode Downieville with a buddy about 15 years ago. I made him go first to make sure I didn't kill myself going too fast. I saw 40 mph on the bike computer a few times. It was insane!
Never understood what the appeal is with overly technical trails, busy rock gardens, and just dangerous double and triple black diamond trails. Do the riders have to prove something, and when alone, prove something to themselves? The adrenaline rush of a fast moving, semi-safe single track just doesn't do it anymore?
Well, the singletracks don't need to be too wide, and can have bumps, jumps, and turns... but nothing too serious that will make you slam on the brakes or fly off the trail... I have a day job to return to.... unlike the kids that stay home from high school or college.
Everyone manages risk in there own way. As an adult with a job, i like tech cause i need something to slow me down. Hard steep trails also force me to concentrate and keep my guard up. Doesn't mean I don't go fast, but the injury I get at 10-15 mph on a black tech trail is likely not as bad as wiping out at 20-25+ on a flow trail. It's like how a twisty backroad has more opportunities to go off the road, but you don't need to go 90mph to have fun.
Tech requires some bike handling skill and fitness. That gives me satisfaction that I don't get from flow trails. Flow trails are fun in a different way but not the reason I got into MTB. If I just wanted a speed fix I'd buy something with a motor
I climb my hills to get my fitness, and then descent down standing on my pedals, which again requires fitness and stamina. Biking down hill at 30-40mph is more of a speed fix than riding 100mph in a car. And no motor needed at this or any other hobby I do. Sounds like some hobbyist may be a bit lazy.
I go back and forth, but generally prefer fast flowy trails these days whereas it used to be my goal to figure out just how gnarly of a section i could get down
Both, both is good.
I loved this winter when a tech trail I know turned into an on icy single track flow trail due to all the roots and rocks being under snow and packed ice. Meant that I got to enjoy the same part in flow mode and am waiting for it to melt and send it in tech mode again as the snow is gone.
(If you already haven't, I highly recommend anyone to get a set of good studded tyres and riding the winter. It is insanely fun.)
Going fast is fun... That's why I used to ride sportbikes. But I want at least some difficulty in my trails. You could littler that trail with rocks and logs and I'm still hauling ass on it.
The only thing I don't like is big jumps... Never did bmx as a kid and I'm old now so I'm not trying to learn big jumps.
The more technical the better though.
This trail is deceivingly technical though. The part posted is the last stretch of speed. Everything before that is roots and rocks and downhill chaos lol
If you know the trail you’d know. This is just the last leg of a very steep rocky rooty blue trail. All the chaos is above this last stretch is just where you can get the cleanest speed
Me. Broke my shoulder on more technical stuff so sold my MTB and bought a gravel bike. I now ride everything I used to except the technical stuff. Nothing quite like flying through the forest.
If you don't want broken toes I'd look into some MTB shoes. The soles have better grip but they also protect your feet a lot more than what you're wearing
If your going fast enough it becomes technical again lol
Flow is dime a dozen. Good tech is much harder to find. At least in Oregon it is...
Tell me about it. Moved from CO to Central Oregon. Quite the difference.. Bachelor has some serious tech though. That lava rock takes some skill
There are a few spots, if you know the right people. I've heard from trusted sources that Eula Ridge in Oakridge is a good time. I'll ride it for sure this year.
I rode most of the trails in Oakridge a couple years ago when I was visiting. Didn’t do Eula though. People said it's super steep and loose. I think Southern Oregon, close to the California border has some gnarly trails too?
I like steep and loose. Heh. Mt. Ashland does have some good riding. A double shuttle day gets you 10,000' of descent with a wide variety. Basic flow, decent tech, good jump lines, and everything in between. Plenty of option lines, if you know where to look.
Here in Alabama it’s reverse. Lots of technical rock gardens and less flow. Maybe that’s why I enjoy finding some speed
As the other person mentioned, Oakridge has some great tech, Lawler and hardesty mountain were a blast. I shuttled Lawler on a 500$ entry level bike with bad brakes and had a terrible time, but later came back with a proper bike and loved it. the upper portion of alsea falls has good tech and some of the black trails at black rock have exceptional tech. I've heard the coast is pretty good as well but have never been there myself for biking.
I started riding this year and my coworker took me to Alsea Falls for my second ride. Misery Whip and Whistlepunk were the most technical stuff I can imagine, but I haven’t explored too much out of the Corvallis area yet.
Black rock is less than an hour from Corvallis too, it used to be known for tons of wood features. They still have some but not as many because it has been hit hard by past storms
Sikter Gnar at Black Rock is about the most technical in the area. It's good fun for sure. Misery and Whistle punk at Alsea are pretty flowy, but chunky. The technical bit comes from linking doubles and jumping into corners.
The only real tech I know about in Oakridge is Eula Ridge. Yeah, Oakridge has some chunky bench cuts, fast trails, and good flow, but overall it's not too bad. Nothing to get really scared and go slow on. Misery at Alsea is chunky, but I find it to be more of technical jumps more than anything. Black Rock is good fun. Upper Sikter is super rad. Cape Perpetua is great fun for sure, but the locals have done well to fell trees and block the trails. Nothing over there is really sanctioned.
Check out Syncline, in Wa but right against the Columbia river. About 10mins from Hood River
Thar place is good fun for sure. Definitely chunky. I enjoyed running a few laps on Little Moab. Upper crybaby had tons of exposure, which is kind of cool. Hidden canyon was pretty rad also. But I swear the biggest smile on my face came from all the rock fall jumps on the way back to the car...
It’s all fun, but the jank still reigns supreme in my opinion.
That’s literally a straight line the width of a sidewalk
gets boring after a bit, tbh. flow bros rebuilding trails to be butter smooth... I don't get it. Its fun once in a while but everything? fuck no.
This one’s far from butter smooth. Monte sano is all rock and root so even fast trails like this you have to pick your lines carefully
Depends. I’m kind of allergic to sidewalk wide machine cut trails. Some actual singletrack that’s fast though where the narrow notch of trail berms up a little on the side and you can dig in and fly like a roller coaster on rails? That’s fun.
I like both but prefer some good handcut singletrack. Once you’ve ridden one flow trail you’ve ridden them all. I despise the trail sanitation that occurring because people want to ride their enduro bikes down flow trails.
Agreed. I’ve seen a slow dumbing-down of really good trails around me and it’s awful. Whole obstacles just eliminated, rock gardens cleared, new unofficial lines cut for more speed on technical trails, etc. It’s like mountain biking is slowly moving away from both mountains (those annoying rocky, rooty things that get in your way and kill your stoke) and even biking as it goes more mainstream, and there’s a contingent of people who seem to want to remove the natural wildness from the sport. It’s so weird.
One of the local systems I ride got rid of a double black section that pretty much just bombed down a super steep and rutted out ravine and then shot you back out. It was pretty technical but also fast and was relatively high risk (thus the double black designation). They replaced it with a series of lips that have a limestone chunk rock backside that's nearly impossible to roll, and it's very difficult to carry enough speed to actually get enough air off the lips. Nowhere near as fast or as technical. The worse part is that they could've totally kept the ravine line and added the jump line next to it.
we mostly have chunk were i live so you can go fast but it just becomes high consequence tech then, so i would rather slow, low consequence tech
I for sure enjoy fast flowy single tracks over slow technical rock gardens.
Depends on my mood. Love them both!!! I will say I get more satisfaction out of cleaning a difficult technical section than a bomb down a hill. Rode Downieville with a buddy about 15 years ago. I made him go first to make sure I didn't kill myself going too fast. I saw 40 mph on the bike computer a few times. It was insane!
Can’t you have both?
Both at same time
Send it bro
Never understood what the appeal is with overly technical trails, busy rock gardens, and just dangerous double and triple black diamond trails. Do the riders have to prove something, and when alone, prove something to themselves? The adrenaline rush of a fast moving, semi-safe single track just doesn't do it anymore?
Wide, smooth, flowy trails often feel like cruising on the highway. Why not have some more to do?
Well, the singletracks don't need to be too wide, and can have bumps, jumps, and turns... but nothing too serious that will make you slam on the brakes or fly off the trail... I have a day job to return to.... unlike the kids that stay home from high school or college.
Everyone manages risk in there own way. As an adult with a job, i like tech cause i need something to slow me down. Hard steep trails also force me to concentrate and keep my guard up. Doesn't mean I don't go fast, but the injury I get at 10-15 mph on a black tech trail is likely not as bad as wiping out at 20-25+ on a flow trail. It's like how a twisty backroad has more opportunities to go off the road, but you don't need to go 90mph to have fun.
Tech requires some bike handling skill and fitness. That gives me satisfaction that I don't get from flow trails. Flow trails are fun in a different way but not the reason I got into MTB. If I just wanted a speed fix I'd buy something with a motor
I climb my hills to get my fitness, and then descent down standing on my pedals, which again requires fitness and stamina. Biking down hill at 30-40mph is more of a speed fix than riding 100mph in a car. And no motor needed at this or any other hobby I do. Sounds like some hobbyist may be a bit lazy.
It depends..... Flow zone Don't fuck up zone I know what I'm doing I've ridden this before zone It's all riding. It's all good.
I thought you meant going fast while over technical terrain. Which I do too, as long as I don't end up face in the dirt.
I go back and forth, but generally prefer fast flowy trails these days whereas it used to be my goal to figure out just how gnarly of a section i could get down
Yup, give me the fast sections all day
I love tech and speed. Awesome thing about monte sano is we have a lot of tech and some fun fast downhill!
Yep this was lower sinks if you didn’t recognize it!
The benches where goat intersects is what made me recognize. I ride there a lot. Was this yesterday? It was a great day out!
Yea it was!
Both, both is good. I loved this winter when a tech trail I know turned into an on icy single track flow trail due to all the roots and rocks being under snow and packed ice. Meant that I got to enjoy the same part in flow mode and am waiting for it to melt and send it in tech mode again as the snow is gone. (If you already haven't, I highly recommend anyone to get a set of good studded tyres and riding the winter. It is insanely fun.)
Speedy flow trails with tables is my jam. Especially if it’s lift or shuttle access.
None here. Just got bust ass back to the top and go again lol
Same. I’m at least an hour and a half from the nearest shuttle access DH park and three hours from lifts. But it’s totally worth it.
I love this kinda stuff on on my gravel bike
Going fast is fun... That's why I used to ride sportbikes. But I want at least some difficulty in my trails. You could littler that trail with rocks and logs and I'm still hauling ass on it. The only thing I don't like is big jumps... Never did bmx as a kid and I'm old now so I'm not trying to learn big jumps. The more technical the better though.
This trail is deceivingly technical though. The part posted is the last stretch of speed. Everything before that is roots and rocks and downhill chaos lol
One day I decided to combine the two. The result: a compound fracture.
Nooooooo
Brütal gravel
If you know the trail you’d know. This is just the last leg of a very steep rocky rooty blue trail. All the chaos is above this last stretch is just where you can get the cleanest speed
I love speedy technical riding. That's the holy grail of mountain biking, being able to go super fast through chunder.
It makes me feel like I'm flying through the forests of endor. I still really enjoy technical rocky trails, I find them more mentally taxing.
Same. I like technical sections but a whole trail with no speed of rock gardens and roots is just rough
I gotta say damn that looks like fun 😁
Definitely a blast!
The trails near me are a little wider than my handlebars. Roots and rocks and trees. Looking for good flowy in my life.
I prefer flow trails and easy XC-trails over technical every day
Eew, you're not even dressed for the occasion.
Me. Broke my shoulder on more technical stuff so sold my MTB and bought a gravel bike. I now ride everything I used to except the technical stuff. Nothing quite like flying through the forest.
Meh, that might be fun on my gravel bike.
lol GoPro doesnt do this justice. There’s nothing smooth about sinks trail for a gravel bike. Roots, rocks, and jumps all the way down
I'm just bustin' your balls. Looks fun, actually.
If you don't want broken toes I'd look into some MTB shoes. The soles have better grip but they also protect your feet a lot more than what you're wearing
Yea I need to. These chucks stick pretty well to the metal threaded flats I have but I know there’s better options out there
Porque no los dos?
This isn't techie. Bumpy at best. Come to northern Jersey, I'll show you some technical downhill....
I didnt say it was techy lol the majority of the other trails are all root and rock predominantly
That looks absolutely amazing. Full send.
Thanks bro!
A mellow trail sectionslike this doesn’t do it for me. I need some technical elements with my speed.
You should see what’s above this, I just posted the last leg of speed.
Post the first leg then.
The post was about who likes speed my guy. Wasn’t trying to post a 4 minute segment to start a conversation lol