6MR - which direction?

JonF

JonF

Well-Known Member
6 mi seems to be more or less lollipop shaped with a loop and an out and back (with 2 trails). Which way to you folks suggest is the better direction (CW, CCW?) to do the whole enchilada or does it not matter? There seems to be some direction implied by Trailforks, but often its just related to a a traditional sense of travel and its connection to a parking area without much regard for which way the trail flows better on the bike. For example, many people climb the sweet, flowy DH trails of allaire just to then bomb down the straight, boring trails. Kinda bass-ackwards IMHO.
 
JonF said:
6 mi seems to be more or less lollipop shaped with a loop and an out and back (with 2 trails). Which way to you folks suggest is the better direction (CW, CCW?) to do the whole enchilada or does it not matter? There seems to be some direction implied by Trailforks, but often its just related to a a traditional sense of travel and its connection to a parking area without much regard for which way the trail flows better on the bike. For example, many people climb the sweet, flowy DH trails of allaire just to then bomb down the straight, boring trails. Kinda bass-ackwards IMHO.
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Start a new thread for this! you are going to get some interesting answers!
 
JonF said:
6 mi seems to be more or less lollipop shaped with a loop and an out and back (with 2 trails). Which way to you folks suggest is the better direction (CW, CCW?) to do the whole enchilada or does it not matter? There seems to be some direction implied by Trailforks, but often its just related to a a traditional sense of travel and its connection to a parking area without much regard for which way the trail flows better on the bike. For example, many people climb the sweet, flowy DH trails of allaire just to then bomb down the straight, boring trails. Kinda bass-ackwards IMHO.
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Typical direction for me - From 27 Lot - Once you cross South Middlebush Rd, Stay left at the fork towards red, stay left again on white, back to Canal Rd lot and then take blue back to South Middlebush.

Maybe you like it in another direction. All personal preference. I like to ride white backwards because of the NICA loop - leaving from Jacques Lane lot towards SMR.
 
ekuhn said:
Typical direction for me - From 27 Lot - Once you cross South Middlebush Rd, Stay left at the fork towards red, stay left again on white, back to Canal Rd lot and then take blue back to South Middlebush.

Maybe you like it in another direction. All personal preference. I like to ride white backwards because of the NICA loop - leaving from Jacques Lane lot towards SMR.
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I start at the canal but I ride the trails the same way you do.
 
jklett said:
<snip>.... white is definitely more fun anti-clockwise.
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1584727682099.png
 
So it sounds like the ideal route (regadrless of start point) is a CW loop around the main perimeter trails except for the White extension, do a CCW loop there and double back onto Red for the remainder of the route.

I put together this route in Garmin starting from the canal lot reflecting the above suggestions. Not a whole lot of elev change there so i suppose direction isnt a big factor for balancing climb vs DH.

6MIRoute.jpg
 
orange both ways....

i like the red nose on the dragon - nice touch. (gps art)

also, looks like the singletrack on red out of jaques was missed?
never mind, this is a route planner....
 
This is making me want to ride 6 mile again. I haven't gone in probably 2 years because the amount of "is six mile rideable" internet posts and the following onslaught of politics attached to said post made me avoid it altogether. But now I'm sitting here trying to decide which direction is better and remembering it is a pretty damn fun park.
 
is the part I circled in green below ok to ride? We've all done it but I remember some discussion about the park not appreciating that.
I am usually with kids (mine or team) and do NOT want to put them on Jacques Ln or Canal R, so Blue both ways it is. Or start on 27 and just skip blue; which is a shame since it is a lot of fun.

Here is blue-red-orange-red-blue we squeezed in this week before the rain

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here is the whole enchilada from a while back
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Afternoon Ride | Strava

View sparky findikli's Ride on October 7, 2017 | Strava
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6MIRoute.jpg
 
ilnadi said:
is the part I circled in green below ok to ride? We've all done it but I remember some discussion about the park not appreciating that.
I am usually with kids (mine or team) and do NOT want to put them on Jacques Ln or Canal R, so Blue both ways it is. Or start on 27 and just skip blue; which is a shame since it is a lot of fun.

Here is blue-red-orange-red-blue we squeezed in this week before the rain

Follow Nadi on Strava to see this activity. Join for free.

Join Nadi and get inspired for your next workout
www.strava.com www.strava.com

here is the whole enchilada from a while back
www.strava.com

Afternoon Ride | Strava

View sparky findikli's Ride on October 7, 2017 | Strava
www.strava.com www.strava.com


View attachment 122138
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That trail is called "Red Trail Extension" and is listed on all the major trail routing/mapping sites and apps so i assume its legit. Typically non-sanctioned trails are not listed on these sites and are policed by some park liaison.
 
JonF said:
That trail is called "Red Trail Extension" and is listed on all the major trail routing/mapping sites and apps so i assume its legit. Typically non-sanctioned trails are not listed on these sites and are policed by some park liaison.
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the ones other than the perimeter/mapped, are fire cuts, and access roads in the circled section.
These are part of the NICA race course, and some random old trails.

other than running into the hunters, with their crazy little dog packs, doing their rabbit thing, it should be ok
@jdog?
 
I most often park at Jacques and head to canal road, ride east on the blue, then east on the red, back on the orange then white.

Consider that im cutting most trails to be ridden with this bias. Honestly if more people ride it this way, it could potentially diminish the head on collisions.

Also note the sections between S middlebush and the red/orange split is the only section that is truly 2 way traffic and collisions are most possible there.

J
 
ilnadi said:
is the part I circled in green below ok to ride? We've all done it but I remember some discussion about the park not appreciating that.
I am usually with kids (mine or team) and do NOT want to put them on Jacques Ln or Canal R, so Blue both ways it is. Or start on 27 and just skip blue; which is a shame since it is a lot of fun.

Here is blue-red-orange-red-blue we squeezed in this week before the rain

Follow Nadi on Strava to see this activity. Join for free.

Join Nadi and get inspired for your next workout
www.strava.com www.strava.com

here is the whole enchilada from a while back
www.strava.com

Afternoon Ride | Strava

View sparky findikli's Ride on October 7, 2017 | Strava
www.strava.com www.strava.com


View attachment 122138
Click to expand...
This section is a gift to us by the park. They would rather it be closed (If you are reading this, Thanks), so make extra effort not to die on this trail.

The alternative is a narrow, and busy road.
 
Blue is more funner from W to E. I think it just rips better.
White is more funner from Jacques to Red near the Blue Jct. (Northeast?) Also more rippage.
Orange is funnest ridden both ways.
Red when I'm getting tired or running late. I think I like red better W to E except the gifted section which is E to W.

I don't think it's physically possible to link all that up in those ways so go with the bias. Then go the other way and see for yourself.
 
I think the consensus from the trailbuilders and riders is fairly unanimous. Main trails CW, NICA loop CCW. I'll try to ride my route soon and report back.
 
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