Single Track Sunday- Wissahickon (Philadelphia), PA

Single Track Sunday
Place: Wissahickon Valley Park, (The Wiss), Philadelphia, PA
Ridden: November 2013

This week we traveled to somewhere new to us, Wissahickon Valley Park, known to locals as the "The Wiss".  Despite being only about an hour drive away, we have yet to really ride there. Joël has been there a few times before.  Jess was there one time about 10-11 years ago when a friend said "hey, I'll loan you a bike, come mountain biking with me". (her triathlon days, pre-mountain biking.)  After coming home bruised and bloody holding ice packs on both knees, Jess waited 7 years to try mountain biking again and 10 years to return to the Wiss. But she still thanks Nicole for those early memories of her first mountain bike ride.

Wissahickon is an urban trail system, it travels through the city of Philadelphia.  It's a stone's throw from places like Route 76 and the Art Museum.  The trails weave their way along both sides of the Wissahickon Creek. There is a mix of technical rocky sections and fast flowing sections.  Not a lot of sustained climbing, but many shorter, punchy climbs and descents.  Along the creek is Forbidden Drive, a gravel road now closed to traffic that the trails connect to at many places.

The main purpose of this ride was to work on skills.  We rode with Harlan Price (TakeAim Cycling) for part of our time for some on the trail skills training. As the video shows, "do it again" was the phrase of the day, as Harlan had Jess practice the same spots over and over and over.  To get better and faster, skills training is an important part of mountain biking, and both of us took away important things to work on.

Vimeo link for best quality video.


Direct video for quick viewing.



Single Track Sunday- Nockamixon State Park, PA


Single Track Sunday
Place: Nockamixon State Park, PA (NOX)
Ridden: November 2013

First off, sorry for the lapse in Single Track Sunday last week.  We were visiting family for the week in a cold, snowy place, so not much riding was done.

This week's highlighted riding spot is Nockamixon State Park, located in Bucks County, PA. Lake Nockamixon is a 1,450 acre man-made lake. The park it's self has hiking/running and mountain biking trails, equestrian trails, areas for picnics, disc golf, hunting, and boating. The mountain biking trails (which are also open to hiking/running, hunting, but not horses) are in a separate area of the park, away from most of the other activity areas.

Not many rocks or roots; this place is filled with fast corners, short and steep ups and downs that have a pump-track feel; all nestled between rows and rows of cedar trees. It's like riding a roller coaster between the trees and you are never sure when you may hit one.  Sure, there are not many "technical sections" comprised or rocks and such, but testing the limits of your cornering skills and seeing how fast you can go is a skill-set to work on here.

Overall about 11 miles of trails. Multiple smaller loops that come together to make on large loop, so there is opportunity to weave around and get in a longer ride.



Vimeo link for best quality video.

https://vimeo.com/79643549

Direct video for quick viewing.


Single Track Sunday- Michaux State Forest, PA

Single Track Sunday
Place: Michaux State Forest, PA
Ridden: November 2013

The video for this week was taken during the Michaux Double Down Enduro, a Fast Forward Racing Productions/Zach Adams race.

What an awesome course.  Moss and Vista were the two trails used; both challenging and fun.  There was a little bit of everything- tight and twisty flowing sections, rock gardens, boulders to ride up and over, steep uphills, tight switchbacks, and fast descents. Besides great riding, the weather was perfect for racing (cool and sunny), we were able to catch-up with racing friends we haven't seen all year, and there was an amazing taco bar for post-race refueling.

Saucon Valley Bikes racers represented well:  Joël and Kerry second in their divisions and Jess fourth open women.



Video link for best quality.



Direct video for quick viewing.













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