Elite Mountain Bikes For Amateur And Professional Mountain Bike Racers

Along the former railbed of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad in Washington State is the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. It’s a light gravel pathway that offers travel for hikers, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers.
The 100-mile portion from Cedar Falls (near North Bend) to the Columbia River near Vantage is managed as Iron Horse State Park.
In the 1980s Washington State Parks acquired the abandoned Milwaukee Road corridor that was built by Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad the worlds first electric rail line. This article talks about the trail on the Eastside of Snoqualmie Pass.
Some people call the trail the John Wayne Trail west of Snoqualmie Pass and the Iron Horse Trail east of Snoqualmie Pass, while others call the entire trail the Iron Horse Trail.
The trail is relatively smooth, but not paved and because of this along with its length, most people use it as a mountain bike trail. It’s an easy ride with spectacular views. On average, the trail is about half a mile from the highway and about 300 feet higher, so that the noise and exhaust fumes of the trucks on the highway are not bothersome.
On the map there are two Exits 38: Exit 38 west and Exit 38 east, about two miles apart and connected by a side road. You can access the trail from either exit. At the time this trip was documented, the trestle over Hall Creek, about a mile East of Exit 38 west, was broken and could not be crossed, although plans were in the works to fix this trestle in the near future.
The section I’ll talk about is approximately 16.5 miles to Hyak and rises steadily from exit 38 to an elevation of approximately 2500 feet.
At its peak elevation, just after Humpback Creek, the trail enters Snoqualmie Tunnel (a 2-mile long tunnel). The tunnel is indicated by yellow on the map. Snoqualmie Pass, the lowest point at which it is possible to cross the mountains here, is at 3,000 feet. The amount of snowfall at that altitude in winter is so great that it would have been difficult to keep the railroad open all winter if it ran over the Pass, to say nothing of the climb required. So it made sense to the builders of the railroad to make a tunnel through the mountain at this point.
NOTE: The ride through the tunnel can be extremely DARK. At two miles in length, the far end is just a small pinpoint of light. Be sure to have a good light and where a jacket. The tunnel is very dark, wet and cool inside. As for the trail its self, the gravel path is level and smooth making for an easy ride. Also, the tunnel is usually closed from November 1 to May 1.
After you leave the East end of the tunnel at Hyak, its time to backtrack to the trailhead. The return to the trailhead is all downhill making for a quick and easy ride (the whole trip is approximately 33 miles, round-trip).
Another option is to drop off a car at each end and then just ride one way or start at the East end of Snoqualmie Tunnel and ride downhill one-way.
For directions and current conditions check out the Washington State Parks website at http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Iron%20Horse

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Discover great new hiking, mountain biking, and backpacking trails by searching this Wilderness Trails Blog. Plus, if you’re into rock climbing and camping, you can find that too.

Being prepared while out on the mountain bike trail is an absolute must and a great rule of thumb is to always pack more mountain biking equipment the farther away from help you plan to be. There are a few important considerations you should also make regardless of the skill level of mountain biking that you plan to partake in.

The first consideration, for anyone planning on being active outdoors regardless of mountain biking or not, should be to have a well stocked first aid kit. You can purchase biker specific first aid kits, that are purposefully designed to fit nicely in a small pack, under the seat or even in saddlebags. A well stocked first aid kit will contain antiseptic, pain reliever, tensor bandages, band-aids, moleskin, and tweezers.

The second necessity is to have a mountain bike specific tool kit and there many options available as to the type of bike you have and the tools you want it to contain. The very basic tool kit should have the required tools needed to repair a flat tire and will fit nicely under your seat or in a saddlebag. Other tools to look for are an Allan key or small wrench, a chain breaker, a tire gauge, a Swiss army knife, and some strong tape.

Another highly recommended piece of mountain biking equipment to include is a spare mountain bike chain. Any experienced bikers know all to well how easy it is to bust a chain on the trail and the headache it can cause. Often a broken chain can be repaired but do not take the risk of being left without one.

Last but definitely not least is a portable air pump. These pumps come in numerous shapes and sizes and can be purchased specifically to fit your bike. Most can fit under the seat or in saddlebags, and often the repair kit includes one.

All these pieces of equipment are designed to be light weight and easily stored on your bike. Never risk traveling far from help without then because being prepared with the right mountain biking equipment can save you many hours of frustration.

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How often have you actually ridden your mountain bike down a mountain? If you mostly ride in the UK, then chances are you don’t do it very often. However, this sport that we all know and love is called “mountain biking” for a reason. If you sit at the top of a mountain pass in the French Alps, looking across towards the snow capped mountains and glaciers of the Mont Blanc range, with 1500m descent of twisty technical single track ahead of you; suddenly it all starts to make sense.

The Portes du Soleil region, in the northern French Alps, has become a Mecca for mountain biking and not without good reason. Over the winter months the area is famous for being the largest linked ski area in the world, but during the summer months it is fast becoming recognised as the largest lift served mountain bike trail area in the world.

The area really does have something to offer all styles and levels of mountain biking. For cross country riders, there are plenty of demanding climbs to challenge your fitness. For downhill riders, there are a huge number of dedicated downhill tracks ranging from easy to insane. For free riders, the area really comes into its own with mile after mile of varied terrain including bike parks, technical forest single track, exposed steep faces and north shore style courses.

In response to the growing demand from mountain bikers from all disciplines, many of the resorts in the area have invested heavily in mountain bike infrastructure.

In Switzerland, the resorts of Champ&eacutery, Val d’Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin & Morgins boast a four cross track, a north shore zone, a bike park, 3 downhill courses (including the infamous UCI world cup downhill course, and the UCI 15 km cross country loop.

In Les Gets over in the French side, there is a beginners’ downhill track at the Grand Cry Park and 2 beginners’ MTB parks; the Kid’Zone and Mini Jump Park. For the more experienced there is a dirt and freestyle jump park, a four cross track, a freeride zone in “Gibannaz Canyon”, 4 downhill courses, and 6 cross-country suitable for all riders.

Chatel, which is right at the centre of the area, has perhaps the biggest selection of purpose built MTB areas with 15 MTB tracks (14 of which are downhill profiled), 5 north shore zones, 1 four cross track, the infamous freeride “La Face” mountain style zone, 1 kid’s cross and a drop zone with jump pit, wall ride, quarter, step-ups and step-downs.

Despite having great trails for intermediate, advanced and crazy riders, the Portes du Soleil area is also a fantastic place to learn mountain biking, or to go riding with young families. There are plenty of places where you can get chairlifts up to the tops of the mountains, and then find your way around easy tracks which don’t tend to be too steep or challenging.

One of the reasons why the Portes du Soleil has become so popular for mountain biking is because the sheer vastness of the area results an incredible mix of varied terrain, and ensures that the trails never become too busy. Indeed, it is possible to ride all day and see no other riders. Couple this with beautiful alpine resorts, great value accommodation and the glorious back drop of the Dents du Midi mountains and the Mont Blanc range, and it is clear to see why the Portes du Soleil is one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world.

Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}

White-Peak Holidays offer mountain biking holidays in France and ski chalets in Chatel.

With 600 miles of trails, it’s no wonder why Winter Park has gained the title of “Mountain Bike Capital USA”. At the resort alone you will find 50 miles of single-track trails accessible via chair lifts and marked with signs identifying skill level. Once at the top of the lifts you may want to stop into the Sunspot for a quick bite to eat while enjoying the 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. From there you can choose runs like the Upper Arapahoe, the resort’s downhill race course, or wind down The Long Trail for a 7-mile novice ride.

In the Fraser Valley you can enjoy the trails of the Rocky Mountain wilderness while cradled by spectacular mountain views all around. The trails follow babbling brooks, glide through wildflower meadows and trek up rugged mountains.

All throughout the summer, there are races that are open to public and are available to many different skill levels. A majority of the races either start or end at Winter Park Resort, including the finale… The King of the Rockies.

Repairs, rentals and shops are easy to find, whether you are at the resort, or downtown Winter Park. You can also find a wide variety of restaurants and bars, with food that is just as good as it is diverse.

Music sounds better with a backdrop like the Continental Divide, and you just may find out for yourself, as there are music festivals and concerts happening almost every weekend during the Summer. Events like the Jazz Festival and the Food, Wine & Beer Festival may require advance planning for stays in Winter Park.

It would be impossible to cover all of the mountain bike trails of Winter Park and the Fraser Valley in one short article. However, once you get to here, there are a number of free mountain bike trail guides that can be found at most establishments.

Stay just a five minute walk from the base of Winter Park Resort. Slope View Bed and Breakfast offers views of the Continental Divide, unique amenities and a knowledgeable staff. 970-531-2386

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How often have you actually ridden your mountain bike down a mountain? If you mostly ride in the UK, then chances are you don’t do it very often. However, this sport that we all know and love is called “mountain biking” for a reason. If you sit at the top of a mountain pass in the French Alps, looking across towards the snow capped mountains and glaciers of the Mont Blanc range, with 1500m descent of twisty technical single track ahead of you; suddenly it all starts to make sense.

The Portes du Soleil region, in the northern French Alps, has become a Mecca for mountain biking and not without good reason. Over the winter months the area is famous for being the largest linked ski area in the world, but during the summer months it is fast becoming recognised as the largest lift served mountain bike trail area in the world.

The area really does have something to offer all styles and levels of mountain biking. For cross country riders, there are plenty of demanding climbs to challenge your fitness. For downhill riders, there are a huge number of dedicated downhill tracks ranging from easy to insane. For free riders, the area really comes into its own with mile after mile of varied terrain including bike parks, technical forest single track, exposed steep faces and north shore style courses.

In response to the growing demand from mountain bikers from all disciplines, many of the resorts in the area have invested heavily in mountain bike infrastructure.

In Switzerland, the resorts of Champ&eacutery, Val d’Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin & Morgins boast a four cross track, a north shore zone, a bike park, 3 downhill courses (including the infamous UCI world cup downhill course, and the UCI 15 km cross country loop.

In Les Gets over in the French side, there is a beginners’ downhill track at the Grand Cry Park and 2 beginners’ MTB parks; the Kid’Zone and Mini Jump Park. For the more experienced there is a dirt and freestyle jump park, a four cross track, a freeride zone in “Gibannaz Canyon”, 4 downhill courses, and 6 cross-country suitable for all riders.

Chatel, which is right at the centre of the area, has perhaps the biggest selection of purpose built MTB areas with 15 MTB tracks (14 of which are downhill profiled), 5 north shore zones, 1 four cross track, the infamous freeride “La Face” mountain style zone, 1 kid’s cross and a drop zone with jump pit, wall ride, quarter, step-ups and step-downs.

Despite having great trails for intermediate, advanced and crazy riders, the Portes du Soleil area is also a fantastic place to learn mountain biking, or to go riding with young families. There are plenty of places where you can get chairlifts up to the tops of the mountains, and then find your way around easy tracks which don’t tend to be too steep or challenging.

One of the reasons why the Portes du Soleil has become so popular for mountain biking is because the sheer vastness of the area results an incredible mix of varied terrain, and ensures that the trails never become too busy. Indeed, it is possible to ride all day and see no other riders. Couple this with beautiful alpine resorts, great value accommodation and the glorious back drop of the Dents du Midi mountains and the Mont Blanc range, and it is clear to see why the Portes du Soleil is one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world.

Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}

White-Peak Holidays offer mountain biking holidays in France and ski chalets in Chatel.