Beginner Trails?

[rrogers]

This weekend I was asked a complex question, "What are the beginner trails at SWK?" Chuckling my answer is almost as complex as the question.

Jackrabbit is probably the most beginner like trail at SWK. The problem is after riding Jackrabbit and continuing course you find yourself on Colossus. Colossus is not a beginner trail. You can ride Jackrabbit as an out and back but where do you go from there? What trails should someone ride that is a novice singletrack cyclist and wants to ride more than just doubletrack/fire roads?

Are there any beginner riders that have a typical route they ride at SWK?

[TrailJumper]

SWK is where I learned to ride as a beginner. Although there's opportunity to hurt yourself out there, I don't think it's too dangerous for a beginner to ride 70% of it. The steep ups and downs made it almost impossible for a novice rider to maintain any good speed, making it more frustrating than dangerous. I think it becomes more dangerous as your learn to ride it more aggressivly. So for that reason, I don't think it's out of anyone's league, assuming you don't lock up your front wheel and lean forward. Or just walk down anything that makes you nervous.

I agree that SWK prob isn't a family Sunday cruise location. I wouldn't recommend a mom with kids go on a causal afternoon ride there. But for someone new to the sport, who enjoys riding a challenge, I would say, "go for it".

I would avoid Wildcat, Vertical Velocity, Dominator (at least some of it), Kentucky Rumbler, and Vortex.

I would think Boulder Dash, Anaconda, Colossus, Jackrabbit, Lollygagger, Doppleganger, Cat's Tail, Concession Stand and the Freeway are all good to go, using caution of course.  

[Echo5Mike]

The Map is color coded by difficulty. If only there was a kiosk with map(s) for people new to the trails.

[Jeff Hanson]

After scaring a few beginner off by riding the trails as I normally do, I realized I needed to make a "beginner friendly" route.  Here's the route I take when bring a newbie to SWK:

Bobcat to Cat's Tail to Lolligager to Jackrabbit to Devil's Dip to Cotton Candy, back to Doppleganger, again to Lolligager and then the Freeway all the way to the far side of the park. 

After that if they want to see more, I'll give them a fair warning and take them onto Anaconda, Vertical Velocity, etc.  I think the most important part is to get them started on something they aren't overwhelmed with, and then show them what they can learn to master!

[r0ckh0und]

Determining a route could be a bit of a challenge......................I would recommend riding CAMBr Freeway from the first lot to Lolligagger, Doppleganger, Devil's Dip, Cotton Candy and then back. With Devil's Dip being the biggest challenge. Even a lot of experienced riders tend to have trouble there.

Then try Boulder Dash (bypass the Vortex part) and the area around the Stump lot, Concession Stand, Bobcat, Cat's Tail and the flat section of Dominator.

When comfortable with those, start adding in Vertical, Anaconda, WildCat and Colossus.

I like to ride from one end of the park to the other as a warm up. I also like to intermix some of the flat areas with the more difficult trails in an effort to keep my heart rate from going thru the roof.

[BMX Crisis]

The hardest part I've found for newbies is their lack of wind. Unless you ride casual on the multi tracks and doppelganger, they stop mid trail 3-5 times for air and water.

I tend to ride my a** off first then go back with the newbie shortly when I"m more sensitive to their condition.

[rrogers]

Great advice guys!

First time visitors to SWK appreciated me calling out what is ahead of them when leading their group ride. Calling out steep climb, hard right, downhill chute...helped them prepare for the upcoming trail obstacle. The new riders seemed to enjoy their ride more.

[Principal (Snake) Skinner]

There's a bypass on Rumbler that allows beginners to skip the big rollers, but we need to clear that out before it get lost to the woods. Once that's done, I'd recommend doing that section for the flat twists and turns. So my beginner route would be:

Start at 1st lot, go thru the flat part of Rumbler, then Freeway to Concession Stand, thru the Stump Lot, 2nd 1/2 of Bobcat to Cat's Tail, Lolligagger to Jack Rabbit, Devil's Dip to end of Cotton Candy. Then back to Devil's Dip and Doppleganger to Lolligagger, Cat's Tail to Bobcat til you get to the Stump Lot, Concession Stand to bypass the pogo section of Bobcat, then back on Bobcat to the 2nd lot. From there, Gnat Catcher to the 1st lot.

I like to think the wood chips on Gnat Catcher have matted down enough to be ridable. And you can make a route thru Dominator that skips all the big stuff, but it's definitely a guided tour option. And I'd add Vortex, except for the bubble of extra trail, and Boulderdash - but only if they can handle the downhill section at the end.

[AerixJ]

+1 on lack of wind. That's the biggest problem for newbies by far out there, in my experience.

Another is lack of familiarity with the trails. I don't think we regulars always appreciate how much we benefit from knowing what's around the corner. Even when I ride out there with experienced riders, their unfamiliarity with the system slows them way down, not only out of caution but because they don't know when to punch it.

May be helpful to carry a map and show people where you are, where you've just been, and where you're going. The latest SWK map is outstanding.

-- Eric

[kevin marley]

Gnatcatcher was the beginner trail 

[Jacque O]

I'm still learning to ride at SWK. I do well there on the trails that I'm familiar with, then have a tough time at Palos in areas that are easier, just because I don't know what's coming up. When I have time, I try to take on a little bit more each time at SWK without getting lost.

[Moto Rider]

I'm still learning to ride at SWK. I do well there on the trails that I'm familiar with, then have a tough time at Palos in areas that are easier, just because I don't know what's coming up. When I have time, I try to take on a little bit more each time at SWK without getting lost.

SWK Tip:

Ride in the winter. Snow cushions your fall.

Devil's Dip 

[Jacque O]

   Holy crap! Looks scary & fun! Maybe the ice would get me going fast enough and the snow would be packed down enough to get over the big root at the top of Devil's Dip.

[TrailJumper]

I don't think that pic is of Devil's Dip. Looks more like the section in the middle of Colossus.

Cool pic regardless.

[Seanbikes]

I don't think that pic is of Devil's Dip. Looks more like the section in the middle of Colossus.

Cool pic regardless.

I was thinking the same