Mountain Bikes & places to ride. | GTAMotorcycle.com

Mountain Bikes & places to ride.

174Racing

174Racing

Well-known member
Does anybody here ride mountain bikes on trails? Where do you go? Is there an online map I could use to find (push)bike friendly trails? I know there is a path in the Don Valley, but it seems to me the conservation areas around me (Halton Hills/Georgetown) don't allow bicycles. I never really took notice, but I remember seeing "no bicycles" on the signs as you enter Credit Valley Conservation areas... I was running so I never bothered to read the signs. Actually, I don't ever recall crossing paths with people on bikes in the conservation areas.

The websites I'm finding have riding that looks a little too.... calm. I don't want to go totally hardcore (yet) but a bit of speed and a (physical) challenge would be nice. The bike will be a replacement workout for running, I hope.

I'm not looking for downhill biking like what they have at Blue Mountain, just trails.

How strong of a reaction should I expect from the conservation people for riding on their trails if they don't allow bikes?

I probably won't pick up a bike until later in the spring, this is just an idea I've been kicking around lately.
 
Once you get into the sport, you really start to appreciate good trails as opposed to just riding in conservation lands or on gravel trails. Granted, there's a learning curve before you get there. Well-designed, purpose-built mountain bike trails are a riot.

I'd also advise against riding conservation lands because it makes mountain bikers look bad and brings a bad reaction to the sport. (Like fat harley dudes with straight pipes revving up their bikes at the Belfountain town site.)

In addition to what Newman posted:

Albion Hills isn't too far, and it's pretty good. It's the site of the 24 hr Summer Solstice race.

Guelph Lake is so-so, pretty easy. There's trails just S of the 401 at Puslinch. I think Mansfield is open for special events only.

Here in Waterloo, the Hydrocut is really good.

I bought this book a while ago and it's pretty good: http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Cycling/BooksMapsDVDs/PRD~5011-958/rider-mels-mountain-bike-guide-to-ontario-2nd-ed.jsp
 
Try Albion Hills Conservation Area north of Brampton. I used to ride the trails there when I lived in the area. A few of the trails were singletrack and MTB friendly.
 
What are you looking for bike wise?

I'm planning on getting in to it again (cross country) after a long long time off of a decent MTB. I might be going with a Rocky Mountain bike, to keep it Canadian and in my price range (~$1200). I produce quite a bit of power with my legs, and I destroy cranks like there's no tomorrow... I'm talking one every season if I ride with any frequency so that is #1 on my list is to find a bike with a good, solid, crank.

I'm lucky up here that we have free access to a really awesome trail system with different levels of ability and a good club to ride with.
 
rmemedic said:
I produce quite a bit of power with my legs, and I destroy cranks like there's no tomorrow... I'm talking one every season if I ride with any frequency so that is #1 on my list is to find a bike with a good, solid, crank.
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I know what you mean, I'm an animal too. I haven't found a crank that'll hold up. I wear soft soled shoes and run slippery tires. That helps dissipate energy.

edit: forgot to mention, I can turn brake cables to dust. I'm talking a very fine dust.
 
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rmemedic said:
I destroy cranks like there's no tomorrow.
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If you can break a set of these I'd be impressed.

Profile-Racing-MTB-Standard-(Race)-3-0.jpg
 
How do you guys destroy cranks???

I don't have anything special on my Jekyll and it's been on there for two years now without issue. Tri bike splits speak for themselves, I genuinely doubt either of you have more leg strength than I.
 
Thanks for the links guys! That's plenty to get me started.... I had a feeling that it wouldn't be a good idea to ride bikes in the conservation areas.

i haven't figured out what I need in a bike. There is a good shop in the old part of georgetown (Ollie's) I am hoping will lead me in the right direction and not take advantage of a noob. They have been good the couple times I went in, once for snowboard stuff and once for my wife's bike.

i like the idea of keeping my money in Canada though, I'll check Rocky Mountain out.

what would be an appropriate budget for a first time bike?
 
I live in Richmond Hill, and while York Region forests aren't anything to write home about, I'm still pretty satisfied with them, for a leisurely-moderate ride.
 
172Driver said:
what would be an appropriate budget for a first time bike?
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Kijiji is your friend. Get a friend who knows bikes, give him or her your budget, get them to check out the listings and check over any deals for you. Twice the bike for half the price.




Hey N3WMAN, we ridin' Rockcliff this spring? My buddy wants to come up and hit the trails. he's been in his garage all winter workin' on his car, drinkin', and puffin'. It should be a righteous kill.
 
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172Driver said:
i like the idea of keeping my money in Canada though, I'll check Rocky Mountain out.

what would be an appropriate budget for a first time bike?
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Also check out Devinci, and Kona. More well built canadian bikes.

I would say $500+ is a pretty good starting budget.

FullMotoJacket said:
Hey N3WMAN, we ridin' Rockcliff this spring? My buddy wants to come up and hit the trails. he's been in his garage all winter workin' on his car, drinkin', and puffin'. It should be a righteous kill.
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Sounds good. In the process of getting a new rear hub and recently replaced my rear derailleur. Should be good for spring.
 
caboose483 said:
How do you guys destroy cranks???

I don't have anything special on my Jekyll and it's been on there for two years now without issue. Tri bike splits speak for themselves, I genuinely doubt either of you have more leg strength than I.
Click to expand...

Don't start that non sense... Not going to get in a pissing contest about it, but think of my job and the fact that it requires me to be active with 100 + lbs on my back all day. While that isn't every day, I have to be ready for that at any time.
Practically every morning I do an hour of intervals (climbs and sprints) on the spin bike, do my normal work day and then evening is a HITT.
If I put effort in to weight training with my legs I won't find jeans that fit my thighs while still being snug around the waist. Even as a kid I always had built legs, it's genetics for me.
I work with a bunch of young athletic guys. It's a competitive place and not many can out sprint me, and even though I never run (bad ankle) I can go out and do 10km without worry at a decent pace.
The first time me ex gf saw my legs pumped up from activity while I was in shorts, she said it was disgusting.
I'm basically a Lesnar build, only 5'7" and I don't focus on lifting as that isn't my intention with sports... I have no lack of lower body strength or endurance.

I'm likely heavier than you are, and I've never had a really well built bike, especially for someone like me that is rough on things. My current bike is the best I've owned and it's only a Mountaineer (poor purchase on my part, I bought it for the wrong purpose)... Hardly a tough bike. That's likely the biggest factor as to why I go through a bottom bracket in a season easily. Likely with a real bike I won't blow something up.

I hate people saying stuff like that on the net without knowing the person they are directing it at. I bet you do have some tough legs since I've seen you talking about your athletics before, but don't negate my capabilities if you don't know.
 
rmemedic said:
Don't start that non sense... Not going to get in a pissing contest about it, but think of my job and the fact that it requires me to be active with 100 + lbs on my back all day. While that isn't every day, I have to be ready for that at any time.
Practically every morning I do an hour of intervals (climbs and sprints) on the spin bike, do my normal work day and then evening is a HITT.
If I put effort in to weight training with my legs I won't find jeans that fit my thighs while still being snug around the waist. Even as a kid I always had built legs, it's genetics for me.
I work with a bunch of young athletic guys. It's a competitive place and not many can out sprint me, and even though I never run (bad ankle) I can go out and do 10km without worry at a decent pace.
The first time me ex gf saw my legs pumped up from activity while I was in shorts, she said it was disgusting.
I'm basically a Lesnar build, only 5'7" and I don't focus on lifting as that isn't my intention with sports... I have no lack of lower body strength or endurance.

I'm likely heavier than you are, and I've never had a really well built bike, especially for someone like me that is rough on things. My current bike is the best I've owned and it's only a Mountaineer (poor purchase on my part, I bought it for the wrong purpose)... Hardly a tough bike. That's likely the biggest factor as to why I go through a bottom bracket in a season easily. Likely with a real bike I won't blow something up.

I hate people saying stuff like that on the net without knowing the person they are directing it at. I bet you do have some tough legs since I've seen you talking about your athletics before, but don't negate my capabilities if you don't know.
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Slow clap... I'm 150LBS and I destroyed ****** cranks...
BUT weight to power ratio I destroy all of you. :p
 
Whip 'em out, boys.

measuring-tape.jpg
 
rmemedic said:
Don't start that non sense... Not going to get in a pissing contest about it, but think of my job and the fact that it requires me to be active with 100 + lbs on my back all day. While that isn't every day, I have to be ready for that at any time.
Practically every morning I do an hour of intervals (climbs and sprints) on the spin bike, do my normal work day and then evening is a HITT.
If I put effort in to weight training with my legs I won't find jeans that fit my thighs while still being snug around the waist. Even as a kid I always had built legs, it's genetics for me.
I work with a bunch of young athletic guys. It's a competitive place and not many can out sprint me, and even though I never run (bad ankle) I can go out and do 10km without worry at a decent pace.
The first time me ex gf saw my legs pumped up from activity while I was in shorts, she said it was disgusting.
I'm basically a Lesnar build, only 5'7" and I don't focus on lifting as that isn't my intention with sports... I have no lack of lower body strength or endurance.

I'm likely heavier than you are, and I've never had a really well built bike, especially for someone like me that is rough on things. My current bike is the best I've owned and it's only a Mountaineer (poor purchase on my part, I bought it for the wrong purpose)... Hardly a tough bike. That's likely the biggest factor as to why I go through a bottom bracket in a season easily. Likely with a real bike I won't blow something up.

I hate people saying stuff like that on the net without knowing the person they are directing it at. I bet you do have some tough legs since I've seen you talking about your athletics before, but don't negate my capabilities if you don't know.
Click to expand...

Calm down, Brock.

Maybe your pedal stroke sucks, maybe you're a smasher? Ever talked to a cycling coach? Maybe there's another reason why you're going through cranks so quickly? I have ridden with a lot of folk over the years and I never met any that went through a crank (regardless of crank quality) per year.

Then again there are some people that think they need carbon wheels and an aero helmet to get 31km/hr average speeds.

Forget I said anything, I apologize, buy cranks in bulk and maybe you'll get a discount.
 
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