What Mountain Bike Blog

All blogs

Subscribe stuff

Walking your favourite trails

Marcus Farley Friday, Jul 3, 2009 1.00pm

How many times do we just ‘ride’ our favourite trails, often taking the same ‘safe’ line that we worked out long ago. 

Over the Easter weekend, I walked my favourite trail with my dad and his dog. Casting aside the usual ‘I wish I was on my bike instead’ thoughts, I began surveying the trail with fresh eyes. In doing so, I spotted so many alternate lines, some experimental, some a little crazy, but all doable.  

It suddenly made sense why the professional downhillers always walk the course, sometimes numerous times. The ground can make more sense when walking or stationary, compared to rolling over it on a full suspension bike, especially when you can chew over the lines with other riders.   

Momentarily my train of thought was broken, as a rider on an original Turner 5 Spot came whizzing around the corner that we were stood looking at.  But, instead of longing to be on his bike, I was happier thinking this:

‘From my perspective, mate, you got that corner all wrong.’

You can follow BikeRadar on Twitter at twitter.com/bikeradar.

User Comments

There is 1 comment on this post

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 comment

  • Love it. This is such a true statement. I must say though, "favourite trails" don't really exist in the South :(

  • 1

Post comment:

You need to login or register to post comments.

Please confirm you are a person by entering the words in the box below:

The Magazine

This issue

  • WMB 107 April 2010 issue, on sale now!
  • We bring you the first in a series of interviews with mountain biking legends. This month, we travel to Marin to talk to the father of mountain biking, Gary Fisher
  • Our FIRST RIDES this issue include the The KHS XC 604, Ibis Tranny and the Sanderson Soloist; PLUS Carbon vs alloy as two Yeti ASR-5s go head to head!
  • BIKETEST: We test six lightweight full-sussers between £2000 and £2500
  • ADVENTURE - MAJORCA: Dan Milner rides the GR 221
  • RIDE GUIDE – Calderdale
  • GROUPTESTS: Softshells, riser bars and multi-tools on test

PLUS much, much more...

Next issue

  • WMB 108 May 2010 issue, on sale 7 April
  • BIKE FIT UNWRAPPED: What do all those figures really mean? How do seat angles and standover affect your ride position? We take you through bike geometry and fit so you can find a bike that's made-to-measure...
  • We bring you FIRST RIDES of the Morewood Zula, Ghost ASX 5500 and the Independent Fabrications Deluxe 29er
  • BIKETEST: Our most comprehensive hardtail test EVER! 13 bikes between £850 and £1280 battle it out for the hardtail crown - and we crown a winner for each different price point
  • RIDE GUIDE – Dalby Forest
  • GROUPTESTS: Trail gloves, suspension forks & all-day riding packs

Buy online now