You want to cycle on dirt, with choices ranging from gated forest service road with no traffic, dirt roads with some traffic, off-road trails or a combination of all these? If you’re prepared, the possibilities for great rides are there. Factor in what you think you might encounter and hope you don’t.
What do you need?
kAm!C6A2C2E:@?D :?4=F56 A:4<:?8 E96 C:89E 3:<6 7@C E96 E6CC:E@CJ] x7 :E’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 C@F89 2?5 J@F >:89E H2?E 2 EC2:= @AE:@?[ E2<6 2 >@F?E2:? 3:<6 H:E9 D@>6 DFDA6?D:@?] x7 J@F’C6 C:5:?8 >@DE=J A24<65 5:CE C@25D[ 2 8C2G6= 8C:?56C @C 9J3C:5 3:<6 >:89E 5@ :E 7@C J@F] tG6? C@25 3:<6D H:E9 H:56C E:C6D WadrX 42? 92?5=6 5:CE C@25D]k^Am
kAm(96? 8@:?8 5:CE C:5:?8[ 42CCJ 6IEC2 4=@E9:?8 7@C 492?8:?8 H62E96C] !24< E96 ?646DD2CJ E@@=D E@ 562= H:E9 3C62<5@H?D] (96? E96 r~a 42?:DE6C CF?D @FE[ J@F’== >:DD J@FC AF>A 2?5 2 E:C6 C6A2:C <:E] %9C@H :? 2 9625=2>A[ ;FDE :? 42D6 J@F’C6 DE:== :? E96 H@@5D 27E6C 52C<]k^Am
kAm!24< A=6?EJ @7 3F8 5@A6[ DF?D4C66? 2?5 2? 2>A=6 DFAA=J @7 H2E6C 2?5 D?24<D[ 6DA64:2==J H96? J@F E2<6 <:5D 2=@?8] %9C@H D@>6 q2?5\p:5D :?[ ;FDE :? 42D6]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F’C6 @FE E96C6[ 72C 7C@> 96=A[ J@F 92G6 E@ 36 D6=7\DFDE2:?:?8] s@?’E 4@F?E @? J@FC 46== A9@?6 E@ 86E J@F @FE @7 EC@F3=6]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F 92G6 2 >2A[ E2<6 :E H:E9 J@F D@ J@F 42? A=2? 2=E6C?2E6 C@FE6D 2?5 7:?5 J@FC H2J @FE] !9@?6 2AAD 2?5 v!$ >2AD 2C6 92?5J 2D =@?8 2D J@F 92G6 6?@F89 D:8?2= 2?5 32EE6CJ =:76] !2A6C >2AD ?6G6C CF? @FE @7 6:E96C]k^Am
kAm*@F 42? C:56 2=@?6[ E2<6 2 7C:6?5 @C E96 H9@=6 72>:=J] xE 96=AD E@ 92G6 4@>A2?J H96? J@F’C6 6IA=@C:?8] w@H6G6C[ 8@:?8 D@=@ 42? 255 E@ E96 25G6?EFC6 2?5 =6ED J@F C:56 “J@FC C:56]” x7 J@F 8@ 2=@?6[ :E’D 2 8@@5 :562 E@ =6E D@>6@?6 <?@H H96C6 J@F’C6 8@:?8] x7 J@F 5@?’E 86E 324< 367@C6 ?:89E72==[ E96J’== <?@H H96C6 E@ D6?5 E96 A@DD6]k^Am
kAm(96C6 E@ 8@k^Am
kAm%9:D H66<’D C:56 DF886DE:@? :D DF:E23=6 7@C 72>:=:6D 2?5 C:56CD =@@<:?8 7@C 2 7F?[ BF:4< H@C<@FE ?@E E@@ 72C 7C@> E@H?] p >@F?E2:? 3:<6 H@F=5 36 E96 36DE C:56 49@:46]k^Am
kAmp=32?J %@H? u@C6DEi uC@> E96 =:89E @? #@FE6 `e :? r@?H2J H96C6 E96 z2?42>28FD w:89H2J W#@FE6 ``aX DE2CED[ 5C:G6 2 =:EE=6 @G6C 2 ½ >:=6 A2DE E96 $24@ #2?86C $E2E:@?] {@@< 7@C 2 “qC2<6 |@@D6” D:8? @? E96 C:89E] yFDE A2DE E96 D:8?[ J@F’== 7:?5 2 D>2== AF==\:? A2C<:?8 =@E] #:56 A2DE E96 82E6[ 2?5 8@ E@ E96 <:@D< 29625 E@ D66 2 >2A @7 EC2:=D] %96 62D:6C EC2:=D 9625 C:89E] %96C6 2C6 23@FE d >:=6D @7 EC2:=D @7 G2CJ:?8 5:77:4F=EJ[ 7C@> H:56 7@C6DE EC2:=D E@ D:?8=6\EC24<]k^Am
kAmp? 2=E6C?2E6 6?EC2?46 42? 36 7@F?5 3J EFC?:?8 :? 2E E96 $24@ #2?86C $E2E:@?[ 362C:?8 =67E 2E E96 A2C<:?8 =@E[ 2?5 E2<:?8 E96 5:CE C@25 E@ E96 82E6] %96C6’D =:>:E65 A2C<:?8 E96C6 2?5 D:8?D H2C?:?8 ?@E E@ 3=@4< E96 C@25 E@ E96 =67E] #:56 2C@F?5 E96 82E6 @? E96 C:89E] %96 C@25 E2<6D J@F @FE E@ @A6? 7:6=5D 2?5 E96 C6>@E6 4@?EC@= 2:CA=2?6 4=F3 “2:CDEC:A]” p <:@D< H:E9 >2A 2??@F?46D J@F’C6 2E E96 “#2J qFCE@? u:6=5[” 2? 24<?@H=658>6?E E@ =2E6 E96 }]w] tI64FE:G6 r@F?4:=@CVD DFAA@CE @7 E9:D 7@C6DE]k^Am
kAmu@CEF?2E6=J[ x 42? C:56 >J 3:<6 @C CF? 96C6 7C@> 9@>6] x7 x ?665 2 BF:4< 62C=J >@C?:?8 @C =2E6 27E6C?@@? H@C<@FE[ x 42? K:A 5@H? E@ E96 7@C6DE[ =:?< EC2:=D 2?5 86E 324< 9@>6 :? 2? 9@FC @C EH@[ 56A6?5:?8 @? >J 49@:46D] tG6? :? H:?E6C[ x 4@>6 96C6 E@ D?@HD9@6[ D<: 2?5 >:4C@\DA:<6]k^Am
kAm%9:D DAC:?8[ E96 7@C6DE 92D D66? 2? FAE:4< :? FD6 2D A6@A=6 DEF4< 2E 9@>6 =@@<65 7@C H2JD E@ 86E @FE 2?5 C64C62E6] x’G6 D66? >@C6 5@8 H2=<6CD[ CF??6CD[ >@F?E2:?\3:<:?8 72>:=:6D 2?5 9:<6CD E96C6 =2E6=J] (65?6D52J[ x 6G6? D2H 6G:56?46 @7 C646?E 6BF6DEC:2? EC277:4]k^Am
kAm%96 b__\24C6 p=32?J %@H? u@C6DE :D @?=J 6:89E J62CD @=5] x? a_`a[ E96 %@H? @7 p=32?J AFC492D65 E96 =2?5 E@ “AC@G:56 3@E9 @A6? DA246[ C64C62E:@? 2?5 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D 7@C E96 E@H?DA6@A=6[ 2C62 C6D:56?ED 2?5 G:D:E@CD]” %9C@F89 E96 677@CED @7 E96 %@H? @7 p=32?J r@?D6CG2E:@? r@>>:DD:@?[ E96 %CFDE 7@C !F3=:4 {2?5 2?5 &$'{% W&AA6C $24@ '2==6J {2?5 %CFDEX[ E96 =2?5 H2D AFC492D65[ AC@E64E65[ 2?5 8:G6? =@?8\E6C> >2?286>6?E]k^Am
kAm%9C@F89 2 A2CE?6CD9:A 36EH66? E96 r@?D6CG2E:@? r@>>:DD:@? 2?5 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? r92AE6C @7 }t|qp W}6H t?8=2?5 |@F?E2:? q:<6 pDD@4:2E:@?X[ E96 EC2:= DJDE6> H2D 4C62E65] %96 (|}u >256 2 >2A[ 2?5 &$'{% 4@?EC:3FE65 >@?6J 7@C <:@D<D 2?5 A2C<:?8 2C62] }@H[ E96 7@C6DE :D E96C6 7@C 6G6CJ@?6 E@ FD6 2?5 6?;@J]k^Am
kAm(92E x =:<6 23@FE p=32?J %@H? u@C6DE :D E96 G2C:6EJ @7 EC2:=D 2?5 D46?6CJ[ 2?J E:>6 @7 E96 J62C] x7 x D66< @A6? G:DE2D[ H:E9 >@F?E2:? 2?5 C:G6C G:6HD[ x’== 9625 E@ #2J qFCE@?’D u:6=5 7C@> E96 #2?86C $E2E:@?] p ]f >:=6 >@H65 EC24<[ “%C6DE=6 #F??:?8 {@@A[” 4:C4=6D E96 7:6=5[ 9625D E@H2C5 E96 $H:7E #:G6C %C6DE=6 2?5 6G6? =:?<D FA E@ E96 z6??6EE |:55=6 $49@@= A=2J:?8 7:6=5D] x @7E6? FD6 E9:D 7@C 2 8C2DDJ[ 7=2E C:56 @C CF? E@ E@H?]k^Am
kAmx7 x’5 C2E96C 36 :? D925J H@@5D[ x DE2CE 7C@> E96 z2?42>28FD w:89H2J A2C<:?8 =@E 2?5 9625 A2DE E96 <:@D< @? E96 rC@DD@G6C %C2:=] xE E2<6D >6 5:C64E=J E@ E96 $H:7E #:G6C @G6C=@@< :? ]` >:=6D] x7 x EFC? C:89E 2E E96 ;F?4E:@? H:E9 s2G:D u2C> %C2:=[ E9:D H:56 7=2E EC2:= H:== =625 >6 E@ #2J qFCE@? <:@D< :? ]f >:=6D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 7:6=5D[ x 6:E96C 4:C4=6 E96 7:6=5D @C 362C =67E[ =@@<:?8 7@C E96 “$H:7E #:G6C %C2:=” D:8?D] %9:D `]e\>:=6 EC2:= 7@==@HD E96 C:G6C 2?5 @776CD D@>6 BF:4< 5:AD[ 4=:>3D[ C@@ED 2?5 C@4<D E@ E6DE C:5:?8 D<:==D] $E@AA:?8 2E E96 %9@>2D ~Vr@??@C >6>@C:2= 36?49[ x 42E49 >J 3C62E9 2?5 6?;@J E96 C:G6C G:6H] x7 x’G6 925 6?@F89[ 2 =67E EFC? AFED >6 @? rC@DD@G6C 7@C 2 BF:4< EC:A 324< E@ E96 z2?4 A2C<:?8 =@E] x7 x H2?E >@C6 C:5:?8 2?5 492==6?86D[ x <66A 8@:?8 DEC2:89E @? $H:7E #:G6C %C2:=]k^Am
kAm%96 $H:7E #:G6C %C2:= EFC?D 2H2J 7C@> E96 C:G6C 2E E96 7@C6DE’D 3@F?52CJ W?@E6 “!@DE65” D:8?DX[ 2?5 =:?<D E@ s2G:D u2C> %C2:=’D H6DE6C? 6?5] %9:D D64E:@? 92D >@C6 E649?:42= 5:AD[ C@4<J DEC62> 4C@DD:?8D[ D9@CE[ DE66A 4=:>3D 2?5 DH@@AD E92E 492==6?86 2?5 6I4:E6 J@F?8 C:56CD]k^Am
kAmp D9@CE[ 3FE 9:89 3C:586 ?62C E96 6?5 42? 36 C:556? @C 2G@:565 H:E9 2 D:56 A2E9 EFC?] pE ]f >:=6D[ :E ;F?4E:@?D H:E9 rC@DD@G6C %C2:=]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 @E96C G2C:2E:@?D C:56CD 42? ECJ E@ 4@>A=6E6 E96:C @FE:?8] p4C@DD E96 z2?4 7C@> E96 A2C<:?8 =@E[ 2 ?6H EC2:= 92D 366? 25565 42==65 “&A9:== q@E9 (2JD]” %9:D `\>:=6 EC2:= :?G@=G6D 2 =@E @7 4=:>3:?8 — 6:E96C H2JP %96 EC2:= :D H6==\4@?DECF4E65 H:E9 3C:586D @G6C H6E 2C62D 2?5 D>@@E9[ 36?4965 DH:E49324<D FA9:== 2?5 5@H?] xE @776CD 2 8@@5 26C@3:4 H@C<@FE] %96 A2J@77 :D E96 C:56 5@H?] x7 J@F’C6 FA 7@C E96 FA9:== 492==6?86[ 4C@DD E96 z2?4 2?5 =@@< 7@C E96 D:?8=6 EC24< :?E@ E96 H@@5D]k^Am
kAmp=32?J %@H? u@C6DE :D @?6 @7 E9@D6 “9:556? 86>D” A6@A=6 2C6 ;FDE ?@H 5:D4@G6C:?8] %2<6 J@FC 3:<6D[ J@FC <:5D 2?5 8@ ECJ :E]k^Am
kAmp7E6C 2 8C62E C:56[ 9625 7@C =F?49 @C :46 4C62> 27E6C 2E E96 “r966D6 {@F:D6” 2?5 “uC66K6 {@F:D6” r@>>:DD2CJ @? J@FC H2J 324< 5@H? E96 z2?4] E@ r@?H2J] t?;@J E96 5:CEPk^Am
kAm%96 >@DE FA\E@\52E6 >2A @7 E96 p=32?J %@H? u@C6DE EC2:=D 42? 36 7@F?5 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^J4=7A;B2QmE:?JFC=]4@>^J4=7A;B2k^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.