Looking to ride Kingdom hopefully in September, maybe even October. Any recommendations? Places to stay that are super inexpensive? After camping out in Lydonville this past weekend and not having my bike, I was dying inside knowing there was killer riding around the corner. It's a must to go back!
Kingdom Trails
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http://www.villageinnofeastburke.com/
I have stayed here twice. You can ride all of the trails right from the front door without getting into your car.
I have stayed here twice. You can ride all of the trails right from the front door without getting into your car.
Theres a campground on burke mountain. Trails literally go through and around the campground. If you can get a hold of a site (you're probably too late - we've set up our site in the early spring for peak fall season) then it's the best cheap option at KT. Hot showers (bring shower shoes), free bike wash, lean-to sites availabe.
MikeP
Well-Known Member
Just back from KT. Rode 3 days, stayed at Burke Mtn Campground. Not as nice as 7 Points in Raystown. I'd shoot for sites 8,9, or, 10. We stayed at site 6 right across from the bathroom, the bathroom door is very loud and will wake up since the spring slams it shut each time. 8-10 are still close but the noise might not be as bad. Also, there's no grilling surface just a fire ring if you plan on cooking bring your own grilling surface. You can ride right from the campground (literally next to site 10) and hit all the upper trails.
If you're riding from the site, you'll either need to drop a car at the bottom or make sure to use the free shuttle service which drops you literally 1/4 mile from the site. The climb from town to the campground would be hellacious and you don't wanna get caught with no ride. Just amazing riding, we 50 miles over 3 days and just about 5,000ft of climbing. If you start from the welcome center you have a hard, but manageable climb to start your day but you'll be able to finish off with Kitchel which is just an amazing run. We wound up lapping it atleast twice each day using a short road climb to get back to the top. Must do trails IMO: Kitchel and Sidewinder (the obvious 2), Tap&Die, Tody's Tour, Moose Alley, Skydive, Pines, Jaw, and Ridge into Rim.
Nothing is too technical especially if you're used to North Jersey or Wiss. There were some spots where I wish I was running 2x10 instead of 1x10. Anybody attempting to ride SS there should needs a psych eval. I felt like my Misfit handle the chunky stuff more than adequately but if you have the choice FS might be a bit more fun. Hopefully by next year I'll have a Jet 9 and bring both. everything is still fresh in my mind, so feel free to ask any questions. here's some pics:
If you're riding from the site, you'll either need to drop a car at the bottom or make sure to use the free shuttle service which drops you literally 1/4 mile from the site. The climb from town to the campground would be hellacious and you don't wanna get caught with no ride. Just amazing riding, we 50 miles over 3 days and just about 5,000ft of climbing. If you start from the welcome center you have a hard, but manageable climb to start your day but you'll be able to finish off with Kitchel which is just an amazing run. We wound up lapping it atleast twice each day using a short road climb to get back to the top. Must do trails IMO: Kitchel and Sidewinder (the obvious 2), Tap&Die, Tody's Tour, Moose Alley, Skydive, Pines, Jaw, and Ridge into Rim.
Nothing is too technical especially if you're used to North Jersey or Wiss. There were some spots where I wish I was running 2x10 instead of 1x10. Anybody attempting to ride SS there should needs a psych eval. I felt like my Misfit handle the chunky stuff more than adequately but if you have the choice FS might be a bit more fun. Hopefully by next year I'll have a Jet 9 and bring both. everything is still fresh in my mind, so feel free to ask any questions. here's some pics:
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MikeP
Well-Known Member
it's a decent amount of climbing, if you go up with to cars you can do some shuttling, atleast eliminate the climb from the welcome center to Loop (where we started 2 of the 3 days). I looked at the riding we did at Raystown last year and there's more climbing but didn't seem like a lot more. There's a parking lot right where Loop starts but if you park there you'd have to do the full road climb after Kitchel and you HAVE TO DO KITCHEL. Below are the loops we did.
day 1, start at welcome center http://app.strava.com/activities/70011672
day 2, start from campground http://app.strava.com/activities/70238795
day 2, evening ride, from campground http://app.strava.com/activities/70287715
day 3, tried doing a slightly shorter ride before driving home, from welcome center http://app.strava.com/activities/70453832
I'd say I have above average endurance, I'm by no means a racer or very fast. Keep in mind I'm running 1x10 so I really can't drop down anymore when my legs are screaming. The trails are awesome, just take your time and enjoy it. You're gonna stop a lot just to pull out the map and make sure you're going the way you want. I can't really speak much to the FS vs hardtail too much I have limited time on FS. Bring both, I hope when we go next year to have a FS built and I will be bringing both.
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Anti-singlespeed comments?
Theres not a single trail in the network that isn't fun on a singlespeed, save for the doubletrack connector trails and I question whether or not the doubletrack is fun on any bike.
Whoever is going there; if you ride a singlespeed normally, then you'll be fine at the Kingdom Trails. There's a decent amount of elevation change, but everything flows really well - even the climbs.
By and large the main trails are not very technical, however they get a ton of use and can be chattery in spots. The Burke trails tend to be more technical and raw (and are awesome!) Because of that and the tendency to ride long there, I usually opt for a squishy fork; just for a little extra comfort toward the end of the rides. I've ridden rigid there, and that's totally fine too.
MikeP
Well-Known Member
Not trying to be anti SS. But didn't see a single one over 3 days. No the climbs aren't brutal by any means but it's more than Raystown and some of the SS'ers I saw there were having issues.
If you have the means, bring both. If you can only bring one bike, bring the one that you are most comfortable on.
I know what you're saying... I just didnt want people to read a comment like that and think that bringing a singlespeed there is a bad idea. I see plenty of people on geared bikes suffering just as bad. Come to think of it... I see a ton of people riding 6-7" big hit bikes on the darling hill trails, but that doesnt mean we shouldnt bring our hardtails ;-)