If you like Mt biking and come to CA, this is one of the best places in the world for single track Mt Biking. It's about 5500-6000ft of downhill through alpine meadows, deep forest, waterfalls, plenty of techical stuff for the pro, clear spring water, shuttle bus to the top.
I lived through 3 runs doing the Downieville Downhill Mountain Bike mayhem this Sunday. 60 miles total of techincal downhill mountain biking heaven.
3 of the riders had downhill specialist bikes with 7" travel front/rear, I had a X country bike with 4" front rear. They went a bit faster down than I did. I always caught them going up or on the flats. You do not want a hardtail bike for this ride.
Nice river at the bottom to soak dusty, muddy, trail dirt and to cool off.
Been there a long time ago, but hit most of the trails this time all in one day.
Only one broken hip on the trails that day!
If you are into full speed, full helmet, back and chest, Skin/knee guards etc.
Most take 2 hours or so for the Butcher Creek route(18 miles or so, Pauley creek is about 22 miles, Big boulder about 26 miles, most have 5000ft descents).
We did the Big Boulder and Pauley creek loops, then got lost( ahem, "exploring") north of the map and did some bike hiking up about 1500ft of Creek boulders. We had the pleasure of descending such pain on the way back. Very steep and tech riding.
Search the Downieville Downhill and videos, they rent helmet cams there also.
Did some aquatic biking as well.
There are 2 species of Potamogeton in the lakes, Packard has the giant one, literally 6" across and looks like the P perfoliatus except 4-5x the size.
Regards,
Tom Barr
I lived through 3 runs doing the Downieville Downhill Mountain Bike mayhem this Sunday. 60 miles total of techincal downhill mountain biking heaven.
3 of the riders had downhill specialist bikes with 7" travel front/rear, I had a X country bike with 4" front rear. They went a bit faster down than I did. I always caught them going up or on the flats. You do not want a hardtail bike for this ride.
Nice river at the bottom to soak dusty, muddy, trail dirt and to cool off.
Been there a long time ago, but hit most of the trails this time all in one day.
Only one broken hip on the trails that day!
If you are into full speed, full helmet, back and chest, Skin/knee guards etc.
Most take 2 hours or so for the Butcher Creek route(18 miles or so, Pauley creek is about 22 miles, Big boulder about 26 miles, most have 5000ft descents).
We did the Big Boulder and Pauley creek loops, then got lost( ahem, "exploring") north of the map and did some bike hiking up about 1500ft of Creek boulders. We had the pleasure of descending such pain on the way back. Very steep and tech riding.
Search the Downieville Downhill and videos, they rent helmet cams there also.
Did some aquatic biking as well.
There are 2 species of Potamogeton in the lakes, Packard has the giant one, literally 6" across and looks like the P perfoliatus except 4-5x the size.
Regards,
Tom Barr