Friday riding
These rides are scheduled for the folks who are registered for the Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest. Rides are presented in conjunction with Desert Sports, Big Bend National Park, the Big Bend Trails Alliance, the Big Bend Ranch State Park and Lajitas Golf Resort. Helmets are mandatory. Every minor should bring their own adult.
On Friday there are LOTS of options for different rides so keep on scrolling down for lots more info!
LAJITAS TRAIL SYSTEM: rides meet at Maverick Ranch RV Park (except the Kid’s ride)
These are the sweet trails that we all dream of when we think of West Texas. Groomed and well ridden; you’ll see all the classics: mini-monument valley, Fun Valley, JR’s singletrack and more! Fast, fun singletrack interspersed with crunchy creekbeds and tumbly rock sections. And the views!! Kick-ass downhills! Looking back at the Chisos from the top of Big Hair. Ahh. This is mountainbiking!
>> Longer Ride (20+ miles): 10AM, explore all the singletrack available! Choose a ride leader and stick with ‘em or head out on your own.
>> Shorter Ride (12+ miles): 10AM, visit some of the old classics close to the resort as well as some of the trails closer to the Airport.
>> KID’s RIDE!! 2PM: **meet at the Lajitas Airport. Fun, accessible ride for kids of all shapes and sizes. Every kid needs to have their own adult with them. Kids ride for free (but still need to go through registration)
…also on Friday the fine folks at the Big Bend Ranch State Park are joining in with the Epic Celebrations and are hosting two rides from the Barton Warnock Center. They are also waiving all day use fees for the entire four days. Hats off to the folks at Big Bend Ranch State Park!
> CONTRABANDO TRAIL SYSTEM The scuttlebutt about the Big Bend Ranch State Park as a mountainbiker’s mecca has really increased this year. Check out the Park’s own website where there is lots and lots of information about mountainbiking: including a video about riding, downloadable maps of the park and the trails, and a PDF of the new Guidebook for Bicycling in the Park.
>> Longer Ride: RINCON LOOP meet at Barton Warnock Center at 9:30am. 30+ miles. Ride the singletrack on the way up to the Fresno/Whitroy mines, up Fresno Creek and around Chimney Rock to loop back to the mines and zoom back down to the Warnock Centre.
>> Shorter Ride: DOME TRAIL meet Barton Warnock Center at 10am. 20+ miles. Ride up to the new Waterhole Trail and take the Dome back to the Camino Viejo trail and more singletrack options.
…also on Friday the second of the 2-day EPIC Option trips starts out as well. Check out more info about the 2-day EPIC Option on it’s own page.
Trail Access during this event:
The fine folks at Big Bend Ranch State Park are waiving all Day Use fees Thursday, February 16 through Saturday, February 18, 2012. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. Helmets are mandatory. And feel free to drop by the Barton Warnock Center and tell them thanks!
The trails on the Lajitas Property are open for public use every day from dawn to dusk.
A few practical notes about riding out here in the Chihuahuan Desert.
- HELMETS are mandatory at all time that bicycles are being riddden. Butt on bike, Helmet on head, smile on face.
- WATER: it is a desert out here. Bring water. Drink water. Bring more water. Drink more water.
- CACTUS: there are A LOT of spikey things out here that want to give you a flat. Most local riders use some type of sealant in their tires (Slime, Stans, Latex etc.) and carry at least TWO spare tubes (with sealant, too!). There are very sharp rocks out here as well and many opportunities to be going very fast so a tire boot is not a bad idea, either.
- TUBELESS TIRES: many folks run tubeless out here and love them and have great success with keeping air in their tires. BUT many folks also have frustrating days. Even if you are running tubeless make sure you carry spare tubes.
- WEATHER: can change quickly. Be prepared.