Where's my big red easy button (1st Ride at Wiss & 1st post)
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Author Topic: Where's my big red easy button (1st Ride at Wiss & 1st post)  (Read 1710 times)
podvisual
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« on: April 30, 2007, 09:31:51 AM »
Well,  I rode yesterday for the 1st time at Wissahickon Park and man oh man - I'm in need of some work  Wink  There were parts I loved, and parts I hated.  I enjoyed the trails around the top of the Houston Meadow area a lot, its a shame I found them towards the end of my ride.  For a bit I was on a very technical trail on the other side of the river for a while, lots steeps, roots and rocks - way outside of my current comfort zone.  Maybe I need to find a guide to show me around, and some of the more "Beginner" trails in the park. 

A big thanks to the two members I saw on the trail yesterday who pointed me in the right direction.  As one of them, on a red rigid single speed (29er too??) caught up to me, and then passed me on an uphill headed towards the meadow like I was standing still, as I'm frantically trying to downshift fast enough, I realized I have a LOT to learn...

Looking forward to getting back out there soon!!

Jim
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Dmitri
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« Reply #1 on: April 30, 2007, 09:42:24 AM »
Haha,
Jim, I'm glad Max and I were of help. I have two of the "Easy" buttons in my garage if you want to borrow one. I had it zip-tied to my bike for a while to annoy my buddies  Grin

Check in here often and you'll find posts inviting for group rides, and you can tag along to learn the park better

dz
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max
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« Reply #2 on: April 30, 2007, 10:14:58 AM »
and i'm that other guy...  Grin

NICE TO MEET YA!

please don't be inimidated by us singlespeeders, we are just missing some chromosome in our DNA that keeps us from fully evolving.  Tongue
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Lou
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« Reply #3 on: April 30, 2007, 12:05:24 PM »
Hey Jim, thanks so much for coming out and joining us! Hey do not be discouraged by the Wiss. It is one of the most challenging places to ride on earth. I have ridden all around the globe and this place in my back yard is right up there among the best... My advice to you is to take it one step at a time, and ride a lot! The more you ride this place, the better you get and the easier, and more fun, it is! Oh, and be prepared to take a couple falls and get some nice bloody souveniers.  Grin That's all part of this place...
« Last Edit: April 30, 2007, 12:06:59 PM by dirtmerchant » Logged
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2007, 06:05:47 PM »
Glad you had fun Jim. One thing about Wiss, no matter how much you ride there it will still keep you on your toes. I must warn you, if you ride there a lot you may fall in love with the place. Many of us chose the location of our residence because of the Wiss. See you on the next ride.
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Tom Coyle
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« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2007, 09:39:36 AM »
Quote from: Lust4singletrack on April 30, 2007, 06:05:47 PM
Many of us chose the location of our residence because of the Wiss.

That's why my wife and I just baught our first house in Manayunk this past week!!!!!!! Cheesy
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podvisual
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« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2007, 07:11:20 PM »
Thanks for the support all.  I can't wait to get back to the park. I'm thinking of getting out there this thursday around 3:30 maybe, and again on sunday afternoon.

PS - where on here can I find a trail map??
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DrSaw
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« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2007, 08:15:40 PM »
Hey, send me a message..I may be up for a ride about the same time
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What hill?
DrSaw
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« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2007, 08:26:03 PM »
http://citymaps.phila.gov/ParksAndRec/cmFairmountParkMap.aspx?ADDRESS=W+BELLS+MILL+RD+%26+WISSAHICKON+DR&PX=2674708.44619655&PY=281753.925478187&ZL=6

Try this link to start
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What hill?
max
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« Reply #9 on: May 02, 2007, 02:49:55 PM »
citymaps blows chunks!!! (i should know, i make maps for the city Wink  )

PM me with you email (anyone) and i'll send you a big PDF of the map i made of wissahickon for the ralley.

i evn can give you your choice with or without the courses marked on it...

or maybe mr. hunter could even put it up on the site for download?
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« Reply #10 on: May 03, 2007, 08:48:50 PM »
Max send me all the appropriate maps of the courses at the WISS.  I'll do a nice map section with them.  Hook me up dude!
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« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2007, 01:40:39 PM »
Want the elevation profiles too?  If so, in what format (JPG or PDF)?  Or do you already have them from the RiV?
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« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2007, 05:44:12 PM »
Jon,

You know whats appropriate for the maps section.  Send me anything you think would be good and I'll make it happen.

Chris
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"and this guy gave me a ride
I said this industrial waste sure stinks
he said he likes that smell
'cause that's the smell of money
i said "well, mister money stinks, too."
Daniel Johnston "Cold hard world
brian attig
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« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2007, 10:39:09 AM »
My name is Brian and I'm a 44 yo neophyte MTBer, just rode some of the Forbidden Drive trails last weekend.  Eager to learn more about the trails and in particular given my beginner status learn about what trail sections are good for a starter.  All comments welcome and thanks!
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crabapple hits
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« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2007, 10:40:13 PM »
Welcome Brian,

Thanks for joining up and supporting the cause to keep Mt. Biking strong in the Philly area. As for the Wiss, you can see from these previous posts, we have a huge range of difficulty. I look at it this way and perhaps this can help a beginner: there are 3 tiers of trails - upper, mid-section and lower.

You can hopefully tell that the 'Valley' part of the name is centered around the creek that has two sides (Henry Ave/Ridge (SW) side and Wissahickon Ave. side (NE)) The lower section trails on the Wiss Ave side are pretty gnarly and very technical, definately for advanced riders. The mid sections either side you can ride but be careful learning them and I'd suggest riding with someone who knows their way around. Lastly the upper sections and especially the meadows mentioned above are great typically easy riding.

Come see us Wed night at the monthly meeting if you can at the Manuyunk Diner at 7pm or look for rides and ride related stuff here on the forums!

PMBA!
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Lust4singletrack
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« Reply #15 on: September 15, 2007, 08:59:31 AM »
Hey Brian. The easiest trail to start on is the Demo 1. Here's a copied message that I wrote in another topic.

To get to demo 1 trail: Leave Valley Green parking lot and go up Wises Mill rd. It will be a left turn up the hill. You may be coming in this way.

Right before you near the steep part of the road that's close to the traffic light, there will be a stone wall and a wooden gate on your right. You should notice a trial that crosses the road right there. This is where the Yellow trail crosses the road.

Make a left and into the woods, there will a be split in the trail not too far in. Make a right and it will just dead end into the gaurdrail. If you go left you will be on the demo 1 which is a beginner level trail. As you ride the Demo 1 you will come to a T in the trail. The trail on the right leads you to Wigard ave, right off of Henry ave,  and another potential parking spot if you would like to park at the top instead of the bottom.

If you continue straight there will be one more split in the trail. If you go left, that will take you all the way to the bottom at Valley Green where you started. It's very steep and fast and it's name is 7 MPH hill. If you go right you will reach the end of the demo trail when you get to the table top jump on the right hand side of the trail.

At this point you can turn around and do the demo 1 again, which is very popular amongst beginner riders, or continue on the yellow trail.

Hope this helps. Enjoy.
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Keep trails friendly. Go by slow and say "Hello"
Tom Coyle
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