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In today’s send I’m going to talk about how to choose where to go on your next MTB adventure. I will also cover some of my favorite destination, and why I like them so much.

If you’ve got a question you’d like for me to address in the newsletter, simply hit “reply” and respond with your question.

Where should you go on your next MTB adventure?

Over the years I have been fortunate enough to go on a number of riding trips. Some have been trips with the only intent is riding, and others where it was a more traditional trip where we were able to get a ride or a few rides in. Over the last few years we have done a number of college visits where my amazing wife was able to plan in some days of riding. Picking the right place to go visit is key to a great trip.

The first and likely most important decision is whether you are going to drive there or fly. Obviously time and cost will be a factor here. You will also need to consider if you will need to rent a bike or bring your own. When driving it’s much easier to bring all of your bikes and gear. If you are planning on flying, you need to make sure rental bikes are available to those who choose not to fly with your bike.

Flying with a bike might sound like a giant production and a pain in the neck. I have done it a few times, and it’s not bad. I use the EVOC Bike Travel bag. I know the bag is expensive, but so is renting bikes. Most places I have been it can be $100-$200 a day to rent a nice bike. If I am going to be riding for more than two days I will consider bringing the bike. Most airlines allow much larger bag sizes when it comes to bikes which are considered sports equipment. If you can keep the weight under 50lbs usually the bike will just count as a checked bag. If you do end up over 50lbs there will be an up-charge of $75-$150 depending on the airline. All that said, most MTB destinations will have rental options.

The next factor will be location. You will likely want a place that is reasonably easy to get there especially if you are bringing a bike. Do you want to park once you arrive without having to drive to the trails, or do you want to stay in a central location with multiple trails within a reasonable driving distance? The answers to these questions will help you decide which vehicle to rent. I have found that minivans or pickup trucks tend to be the best for transporting bikes without a bike rack. On a few trips I have brought a Sea Sucker rack for transporting a bike. They are relatively easy to pack, and they work on almost any vehicle.

The next factor to consider will the type of trails that you want to ride. Do you want flow, tech, a mix of both? If the trails are different from your local, make sure everyone in your group is comfortable with those types on trails. For example, if you are used to flow trails, going to a high tech destination might not be the best plan. Do you want to pedal a bunch or a little as possible? If you don’t want to pedal a bunch is there a lift or reliable shuttle service? As part of this decision will be whether or not you want/need a guide for the trip. Following GPS or Trail Forks will work, and they allow you to ride on your own time. A good guide can make a good trip amazing. There is an additional expense when using a guide. You need to consider the guide fee and the tip for the guide or guides. A guide insures that you don’t get lost, but they can be a wealth of local trail knowledge.

The last factor will be deciding how long to make your trip, and decide whether or not you will ride everyday. For my three to four days is usually plenty. After 4 days of riding I need to time to recover. If you are going to plan in a down day, make sure you can occupy your time on that day. Checking out local attractions, fishing, atvs, hiking etc. are all great ways to spend a down day.

Bike I’m Eyeing: Orbea Laufey

A few of my favorite destinations.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to ride a lot of different locations from coast to coast and even Mexico. Below is a list of a few of my favorite locations and why I like them.

Kingdom Trails, East Burke VT

Kingdom Trails in north eastern Vermont is a mountain bikers paradise. The majority of the amenities in East Burke exist because of the influx of people, dollars, bikes etc. due to the Kingdom Trail network. KT is unique since a good portion of the trails are on private property. KT has a working partnership with 105 landowners to make the system a reality. It also unlike most places in New England because the trails are smooth and flowy. Most of the trails in the surrounding area are very rocky.

The trails are the reason people come here, and once you ride them you will understand. There are 100+ miles of trail accessible from town. The trails are smooth for the most part, so they cater to every level of skill. They everything from easy green trails to optional jump lines on Kitchel. There is something for everyone.

In town there are plenty of lodging options from camping, hotel or rental cabin. There are two bike shops in town that rent high quality bikes. They are full service shops should you need a repair or part. Village Sport is right on the side of the trail, and should you want a post ride hoppy beverage or coffee, they have a small bar in the shop. East Burke Sport is right in town, a short walk from the parking area. It’s a short ride to the trails from the shop.

There are solid food options in town and along the trailside too. Mike’s Tiki Bar is right in the middle of everything. If you chose to camp they have showers available. The Wildflower Inn is a trailside option. The East Burke Market is awesome too. Check out the KT page for more food and lodging options. They also offer groomed fatbike trails in the winter.

Burke Mountain is also in town should you want to ride lift service or shuttle trails.

Raystown Lake, Hesston PA

Raystown is another great location for riding located in central PA. Mountain biking is just one of the attractions to the area, so there won’t be as many/any amenities for riders. For example, there aren’t any bike rentals in the area. There are no bike shops in the area that I am aware of. State College is the nearest town with bike shops, larger grocery stores etc., but it’s a solid 45 minute drive from the lake.

Raystown itself has about 36 miles of trail built by the Army Corps of Engineers. The trail system itself is called the Allegrips Trails. It’s broken into two distinct sections. One is 25 or so miles and the other is about 10. You can ride the whole place in a day if you so desire. None of the trails are directional, but most of the trails will be more fun in one direction. The trails are built really well. You can use the undulations of trail to maintain speed going down and up trails. The hills are easier to climb if you stay on the gas on the little bits of down sections. A full day there doesn’t feel like you rode the number of miles you actually rode.

There are lots of lodging options at the lake. There is seasonal camping and houseboat rentals available. A word of caution is that if you stay at a houseboat or a lakeside camping spot, it’s a longish uphill ride to get to the trailhead. There are also tons of cabins and houses in the area to rent.

The lake is fairly remote, so depending on the time of year a lot of places can be closed for the season. From the lake area it will take between 30-75 minutes to get to Rothrock State Forest in the State College area. Rothrock is typical PA technical trails. There are miles and miles of rocky trails. They are all well marked and easy to navigate.

You can easily spend a week here, and not get bored.

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Danny MacAskill’s Campus