New to Mtn. Biking

[Stkx66]

I have a friend who is a runner but wants to try mountain biking. I offered to let him ride one of my bikes to see if this activity is for him. The question is where should I take him for his first ride. Telegraph in Chino? 6 miles up and all down all the way back. Floop? Black Star? He's a regular at the gym so I know he'll do ok.

 

[DangerDirtyD]

Take him somewhere with singletrack or at least some tree canopy.

 

[Obsidian]

I did my first 10 rides at Fullerton Loop and look how that worked out. 10 years ago.

Floop is not anywhere I want to ride these days, but great for beginners.

 

[gunga din]

I have a friend who is a runner but wants to try mountain biking. I offered to let him ride one of my bikes to see if this activity is for him. The question is where should I take him for his first ride. Telegraph in Chino? 6 miles up and all down all the way back. Floop? Black Star? He's a regular at the gym so I know he'll do ok.

chino

 

[Stkx66]

Take him somewhere with singletrack or at least some tree canopy.

My goal is for him to have a good time and to not get injured.

 

[Runs with Scissors]

My goal is for him to have a good time and to not get injured.

Start with the FLoop - it'll not only let him dip his toes in the bottomless pit that is mtn biking but it will teach looking ahead and evaluating terrain.

The FLoop is, after all, the deadliest trail in California.

 

[Oaken]

Irvine park. Fairly flat, lots to explore, not too challenging

 

[Y-not]

The floop is not mountain biking, it's urban dirt path.
My choice would be Chino. Depending on how he does, you can always hit up some nice singletrack around Telegraph.

 

[Redman]

Chinooooo or Whiting. Whiting has more tree coverage. That would be my choice.

 

[SnakeCharmer]

I have a friend who is a runner but wants to try mountain biking. I offered to let him ride one of my bikes to see if this activity is for him. The question is where should I take him for his first ride. Telegraph in Chino? 6 miles up and all down all the way back. Floop? Black Star? He's a regular at the gym so I know he'll do ok.

Is he a runner or a swimmer? One can be a gym rat and be strong but have little endurance. I'd take him on the smoothest, least steep dirt you can find.

 

[herzalot]

I have a friend who is a runner but wants to try mountain biking. I offered to let him ride one of my bikes to see if this activity is for him. The question is where should I take him for his first ride. Telegraph in Chino? 6 miles up and all down all the way back. Floop? Black Star? He's a regular at the gym so I know he'll do ok.

Having introduced many people to the sport over the past 30 years, I have found that people enjoy relatively smooth singletrack in the trees without much climbing. Lots of twists and turns and some upsy-downsy stuff for the "wheeee" factor. Long climbs on fireroads out in the open are contraindicated.

Whiting would get my vote. I think there's something up in the LA area called Tapia? That looks swoopy and not too hard.

 

[Stkx66]

Is he a runner or a swimmer? One can be a gym rat and be strong but have little endurance. I'd take him on the smoothest, least steep dirt you can find.

He's a marathon runner. I'd have to go do trail recon at Whiting. I haven't ridden there in ages.

 

[Obsidian]

He's a marathon runner. I'd have to go do trail recon at Whiting. I haven't ridden there in ages.

Take him up Dreaded.

 

[Stkx66]

Take him up Dreaded.

That looks a little steep for a first ride. Maybe I should put him on my E-bike instead of a regular pedal bike?

 

[DangerDirtyD]

That looks a little steep for a first ride. Maybe I should put him on my E-bike instead of a regular pedal bike?

If he's just starting out, don't pervert him with motors.

 

[Danimal]

Take him up Dreaded.

Don't take him on the good stuff the first day!

 

[Stkx66]

If he's just starting out, don't pervert him with motors.

Will do. I was matching a snarky remark with a snarky remark. He'll ride my Ripley. I'll ride my single speed or my Lynskey.

 

[Y-not]

Just get him out there in the dirt.

 

[Derkderkall]

Marshall Canyon?
If you get to the picnic table and he's still got gas, then up and around...

 

[DangerDirtyD]

Marshall Canyon?
If you get to the picnic table and he's still got gas, then up and around...

@Stkx66 if you take him to Marshall Canyon, I'll try to meet you guys out there and show you around. There are routes for all levels and lots of tree canopy. Hard-tail-able, coil-shock-able, pre-teen, elderly, etc.

 

[RIGID]

FLOOP.
Also not mentioned is Peters Canyon and if he seems bored then go across the street to Santiago Oaks.

 

[CBone]

Having introduced many people to the sport over the past 30 years, I have found that people enjoy relatively smooth singletrack in the trees without much climbing. Lots of twists and turns and some upsy-downsy stuff for the "wheeee" factor. Long climbs on fireroads out in the open are contraindicated.

Whiting would get my vote. I think there's something up in the LA area called Tapia? That looks swoopy and not too hard.

In my experience Tapia is an uphill grind before you get to the single track.
But what do I know, I ride “one of Those bikes” Just for the record I rode my Mountain Bike when I rode it.

 

[CBone]

In my experience Tapia is an uphill grind before you get to the single track.
But what do I know, I ride “one of Those bikes” Just for the record I rode my Mountain Bike when I rode it.

Can someone else edit a post? I think someone tampered with this one.

 

[Sasquatch9billion]

Tapia requires lots of climbing to get back up to the top after a full dh run.

I agreed that if you guys are in OC the basic whiting loop has some fun, fast stuff on the backside and is easy to navigate. You can avoid dreaded hill NP.
Marshall would also be a good start for not crazy climbs and enough pay-off for the climbs you do ride.

 

[scan]

Bonelli is good too in San dimas, for a beginner.

 

[Stkx66]

I'm still waiting for my friend to reach out to me.

 

[DangerDirtyD]

I'm still waiting for my friend to reach out to me.

I can show you around Bonelli as well and guide you along the milder terrain to avoid some of the enduro routes. There’re a few lines I prefer to ride with pads at Bonelli.

 

[Sidewalk]

Thinking back to my early days, coming from being a runner/triathlete, I would say physical difficulty wouldn't scare me away. But reducing risk would probably be smart since I was dumber then than I am now.

Bonelli or Marshall seem reasonable choices, of the places I have been. First choice would be somewhere like Skyline in Big Bear, but...

 

[MTBZen]

I have a friend who is a runner but wants to try mountain biking. I offered to let him ride one of my bikes to see if this activity is for him. The question is where should I take him for his first ride. Telegraph in Chino? 6 miles up and all down all the way back. Floop? Black Star? He's a regular at the gym so I know he'll do ok.

Chino Hills SP is a great choice. Lower Aliso to Bane on the Chino/Corona side is a nice beginner ride. About a 10-12 mile ride with less than 1000' of climbing. I think Mt. Biking fitness is it's own thing. No matter how good shape you think your in, Mt. Biking is like dog years! Even road biking fitness doesn't exactly translate across...

 

[CBone]

Chino Hills SP is a great choice. Lower Aliso to Bane on the Chino/Corona side is a nice beginner ride. About a 10-12 mile ride with less than 1000' of climbing. I think Mt. Biking fitness is it's own thing. No matter how good shape you think your in, Mt. Biking is like dog years! Even road biking fitness doesn't exactly translate across...

I agree with mountain biking shape being different. I have been on several rides with new riders who were very fit and they had a hard time. Different muscles and being tight because they weren’t confident riding in the dirt.