California Trails

Thumbnail image for China Camp State Park to institute fee program for trail use

China Camp State Park to institute fee program for trail use

The effects of the state budget crunch are about to be felt locally for trail users at China Camp State Park, one of the parks on the California endangered parks list recently “saved” from closure. A new Park Use Fee schedule has been announced in order to subsidize park operations. The fees are part of [...]

01.08.2013 Advocacy Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for BTCEB Gala Ride Recap: Pleasanton Ridge

BTCEB Gala Ride Recap: Pleasanton Ridge

The green spaces managed by East Bay Parks feature some amazing views, and we’re lucky as Bay Area residents to have so many natural areas located close to home. Unfortunately much of the recreational experience is tarnished by the giant natural surface roads that are passed off as trails. These “trails” are wide— I’m quite [...]

12.10.2012 BTCEB Read the full story →

Shredding on Trail Bikes

Just came across this sweet video edit put together by Connor Rickey of his buddies Alex Chamberlin and Chris Jones shredding the trails in our backyard here in the East Bay. I’ve been thinking about filming a similar edit myself- there is something even more rad about shredding on a trail bike with an XC [...]

03.01.2012 Blog Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for 680 Trail Construction – Marin, CA

680 Trail Construction – Marin, CA

Whenever I think of the riding in Marin, I have mixed feelings about the whole place. On one hand, it’s the birth place of mountain biking, and there is fantastic terrain located a relatively short distance from a major population area.  However, as we all know, only  the smallest fraction of it is legally accessible [...]

10.21.2011 North Bay Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for Shuttle Smith Adventures: Aptos to Demonstration Forest and Nisene Marks

Shuttle Smith Adventures: Aptos to Demonstration Forest and Nisene Marks

Dave Smith runs a business called “Shuttle Smith” which provides a service to shuttle riders from Aptos to Buzzard Lagoon road near the East entrance of Nisene Marks. You can also use his shuttle to get from Aptos to Soqel Demonstration forest. With his converted cube van he can securely carry 9 bikes and riders. [...]

08.30.2011 Santa Cruz Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for BTCEB Women’s Ride at Joaquin Miller

BTCEB Women’s Ride at Joaquin Miller

Last month I led my first all women’s group ride, and it is likely to be the first of many. I’ve attended many group rides in the past, (once a week while traveling with IMBA) but had never actually led a one. When Karen Lynaugh from the Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay asked [...]

06.06.2011 BTCEB Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for The “Secret” Singletrack at Crockett Hills Regional Park

The “Secret” Singletrack at Crockett Hills Regional Park

Since returning to the Bay Area, we’ve spent some time attending various bike club meetings to get up to speed on the sanctioned trail building efforts happening locally. Among the inside scoops (available to everyone, we recommend attending one sometime to find out more about your local riding community) we learned of was a new [...]

05.15.2011 East Bay Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for Bay Area Parks to close to mountain biking?

Bay Area Parks to close to mountain biking?

According to a story on the Sacramento Bee, the closure of 70 state parks was announced on May 13th. The closure is part of a budget plan proposed to reducing the state parks budget by $22 million. What these means for mountain biking at these parks remains to be seen. There could be a bright [...]

05.15.2011 Bay Area Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for DH Practice at the Sea Otter Classic

DH Practice at the Sea Otter Classic

One of the best parts about racing the downhill at the Sea Otter is the practice sessions. My favorite memories of racing have always been the times we’ve walked the course, then worked to dial in lines with friends. The race is certainly the most exciting part of the weekend, but the hours of waiting [...]

05.02.2011 Bay Area Read the full story →
Thumbnail image for Rock Armoring at Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park

Rock Armoring at Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park

Every time we ride the bike friendly trails in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park we would comment on a particularly bad section of trail. It was essentially a mud bog that stayed wet all winter, even when every other part of the trail was dry. It was so bad that a go-around route had been formed [...]

04.24.2011 BTCEB Read the full story →