epic mountain biking rides

This weekend, a group of us are heading up to Pisgah National Forest for some true southeast, all-mountain riding on some of the best trails the eastern United States has to offer. Pisgah National Forest, nestled in the mountains of North Carolina, is known for dozens of mountain epics all within miles of each other, and this makes Pisgah a destination site for eager mountain bikers ready to tackle all day, technical rides. For the roadies out there…Pisgah/Asheville is also known as the training ground for Lance Armstrong as he gets ready for the mountain stages of the tour. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides some of the best climbing in the US.

As I prepare for this weekend of long miles and incredible riding, I started wondering how many of you guys spend some time during the year on cycling related vacations. Do you go on biking vacations and where do you normally go? (use comment section below for the where)

Note: Feed Readers of MTB by 198…click here to vote.

[poll id="8"]

Mike @ Sacred Rides…

…is running a contest right now to when a free mountain biking vacation.

At Sacred Rides, we eat, sleep and dream mountain biking. We travel all over the world in search of the best rides. We talk about it, write about it, take photos of it, film it.. you get the point. We simply love it.

We want to share that love of mountain biking with you and we want you to share it with us. So we’re inviting you to show us your love with our new I Love Mountain Biking video contest.

The winner of the contest will walk away with an all-expenses-paid MTB trip to Peru or British Columbia worth over $4500. The grand prize includes a spot on one of our trips in Peru or BC, return airfare from North America or select spots in Europe, and the use of a DeVinci bike for the duration of the trip.

For contest details and to enter your video, please visit http://www.sacredrides.com/ilovemountainbiking

The sooner you enter, the better your chances. Your video could be 1 to 3 minutes of anything: footage of you riding your home trails, a song and dance, a music video. However you express your love of the sport.

I look forward to seeing your entries, and good luck!

Yours,

Mike Brcic, president
Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Adventures
http://www.sacredrides.com

I am going to try something a little bit different for today’s post and get some feedback out of you guys. Everyone has a favorite trail. It can be your locals only spot or that destination that you finally got the chance to ride.

Here Is What I Want You To Do

Share your favorite riding spot in the comments section below. We all share the same passion and excitement for the sport of mountain biking, but sometimes it takes different forms on different trails. I (and everyone else) want to know your favorite riding spot and your experience riding it. Use the comment section below to share with the rest of us where that is.

What Is My Favorite Riding Spot?

Pisgah National Forest – North Carolina

There are miles and miles of the best singletrack you will ever find. From the locals only quiet spots to all out tourist destinations like Bent Creek and the new lift assisted 26 West, you can find anything within a 30 min drive in the mountains of North Carolina.

Out of all of the options you have at your disposal in Pisgah, the Laurel Mountain and Pilot Rock route has to be at the top of my list as of right now. Laurel Mountain is a scenic climb up to the worst hike-a-bike I have ever been on. When you crest the top of Laurel, you descend on several miles of switchback infested rock garden that overlooks the tree filled NC mountains. There is something about cooking it on a 6″ bike at about 30 mph through a bolder garden that really gets the heart pounding. We take a break halfway down the downhill to enjoy the overlook of the beautiful North Carolina mountains. After the break…it’s back to ripping up rock filled, tight singletrack straight to the cars. By then, you are toast.

2nd Place…Windrock…you guys up in Whistler are used to marked drops and jumps…in TN we take them blind!

So don’t waste anytime! Share your favorite ride/spot below!