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@@khoi_tran sure was. Awfully cold, but the trails dried up after a while!

@@mtbtraildoctor It didn't dawn on me it was you until after we left. Only recognized you by your santa cruz. Your vids really helped us navigate , thanks! Windrock is wild and best ridden on a DH bike. I'm on ST 115/130 and it was impossible to ride at speed safely. Even on the smoothest trail, Talladega, it shook me so bad it blurred my vision and I had to keep slowing down. Bless those two boys out there on hardtails that day lol.

I live about an hour and 40 minutes away, but am on a season pass for the winter season, so I get up there almost every Friday and Saturday. Let me know!

Was my pleasure! Glad you guys had a good Windsock experience. See you out on the trails some day soon!

For sure. I've had multiple conversations with Aaron about the trail system and their goals for the park. They are working toward making the park more accessible to riders of every type. The "true blue" trail is currently in process (per the video) and work continues. They have already marked out the first green trail from the drop off, so things are looking up for all riders!

@mtbtraildoctor That's very exciting. I know Windrock has been the dedicated "gnarly" park for years but I'm excited to see some trails that don't test my will to live every time haha. I love that Windrock is so gnarly but I cant handle gnraly all day which makes it tough for me to choose to go to Windrock. It's why I have loved so many of the other local new parks over the years (Vee Hollow, Ober, Wildside), granted Wildside currently lacks gnarly stuff but its coming. Now with Windrock getting some true blues, it will definitely pop up on my radar again more and more. This will hopefully put it more in line with a place like Ride Rock Creek. Somewhere I'm more confident also bringing friends who don't bike as much.

Much appreciated! Things are really riding great lately. Post up if you visit some Friday or Saturday and I'll be happy to show you around the place!

Thanks! I consider Windrock to be my home bike park, so I do everything I can to help people have a great first experience. I weight 195lbs, and I strictly run 27 in the rear and 26 up front. I could go softer, but that's the pressure where I can have rim hits (rarely) and keep riding. Never had a flat there with that pressure. I run assagai front and rear with no inserts.

Thanks dude. It's been riding great lately! See you on the trails :-)

Thanks man! That's why I make them. I really want to help people have a good time when they make the effort to visit a new trail system/park. I happen to ride Windsock most weekends, so hmu if you want a quick tour some weekend! I love showing people around.

@@mtbtraildoctor I plan to be there this Friday on the first shuttle if you're around! two days away and I'm still studying and memorizing your videos haha

@@yoshidoshi123 Good on ya man! I'm happy to report that I did the local race league last weekend, and we raced Reacharound from the top, which just opened and it's actually running as good as I've seen it in the past few years. I'm working to be there Friday so look for a silver SUV with two Santa Cruz Bikes on the back. Or, the V10 that's in all my videos! Look forward to showing you the place!

I have not! I label myself as a "Strong Intermediate" rider, and as such I have not ridden Trail One, or Middle Finger from the top. That said, they have re-labeled all the trails in the park, so Cave Boy, Snake Rock and Reach Around are all Black Diamond trails now, and I have ridden those. I'm going to check out Reach Around this weekend, as it was just re-opened after months of being closed. And Talladega is now property labeled as a Black Diamond. I would hit Talladega, warm up on Drop out a couple times and then hit Cave Boy to Snake Rock to lower Reach Around. Then try Reach Around from the top. If all that sits well, you can sneak onto Middle Finger from the first bridge on Talladega, or Lower Trail One from Talladega, right after the infinite berm and 30' table. Both of those options peel off to the left. Trail one is labeled, and middle finger, you just follow the exit of that bridge and pick a trail... there are a few race lines that are mixed up there. Good luck!

@@mtbtraildoctor Thanks for the advice!

Thanks dude! I noticed they just re-opened one of the trails from the top and did some work after being close for months. Hoping to shoot that one in the next week or so!

@@mtbtraildoctor 👌👌👌👌👍👍👍👍

Sweet dude! It's always an awesome coincidence when I happen to capture someone riding when I'm doing the still shots. Helps the viewer a lot I think. Just too much time to do this all with multiple people, or camera stands, etc.

You can slow roll the new Blue trail (different video recently published) into Talladega and it's all pretty safe if you have good speed and bike control. I checked that mark in the Dropout video, but there's no wooden features on that entire run, so maybe it's hiding in the background somewhere? Anyhow, Almost everything in Dropout can also be slow rolled. Just need to take some of the bumpy stuff with caution if you are feeling more like a strong beginner rather than an intermediate.

@@mtbtraildoctor Thank you for the response. I am trying to get my bike set up right. Once that is done I'll try Dropout but I want to go back to Waldens again and do some more setup there.

Thanks man! Much appreciated. Let’s go ride some time!

@@terrymitchell3670 I'm no where as skilled as you. I'm much slower but I'd love to! I do have a channel on here but its only for the family to see what the old man is doing. Let me know sometime and I'll try to join up with ya!

Right on. Unfortunately, the re-surface made the knuckle a little less forgiving, so when the time comes, rail that berm and pull hard. Happy trails!

100% you would love it for sure... just coordinate a shuttle partner. The climb is rough.

Thanks dude! See you out on the trails!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Looking forward to opening weekend at Snowshoe in a couple weeks.

Always happy to help people get to know the place! Had a great time myself!

Great ride this weekend at jarrods and windrock, can thank you enough we had a blast🙏🤙

They've done some work since I took that video, but all for the better. Have a great time, and be sure to get the Howler Burger. Absolutely lit.

Hahaha... yea, definitely a lot for a trail bike. But, for me, it doubles as a park bike when I go to places that are more flow-ish and mostly jumps and small features, like the bottom half of Jarrod's, or Most of Howler, or Ober... If I was doing serious milage most weeks, I'd probably go to a 150 bike, but I don't like long rides ;-)

Thanks! Actually went OTB this past weekend riding that trail. It was the corner right at 6:21 or 6:44 on the video. Used all my protective gear and rode away from it. Sheesh!

Thanks man. That's great to hear. I found the same struggle when I starting traveling to parks a couple years ago and figured, if I'm going to ride all these places, I might as well find a way to help some people out! Please share the channel with others who might benefit. Happy trails!

Also, if you want to give Windrock a go, I'm there almost every weekend in the Winter season. I'd be more than happy to show you around and make sure you don't get in over your head. It's one of my favorite things to do!

Tennessee

Not sure if you mean the park or the trail in the park. But, the Park is Windrock, located in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. Just outside Knoxville. The trail sign can be found at the top of the small hill where the shuttle drops off (everyone will ride up there, so no problem knowing where). Once in the clearing at the top, look straight left. I'm sitting at the edge of the clearing when the video starts. Happy trails!

Thanks man. Happy to help. They did change the first bit a couple months back. I probably need to start making the rounds to all these parks again and updating my footage! Hope you did well!

@@mtbtraildoctor 1st place and overall series win. Happy holidays.

Thanks! I always try to help people know what they are getting into before showing up at a place. FWIW, Senior discount's first two jumps are getting more twitchy. There's a new trail just to the left of the Senior Discount called "kids eat free". The jumps are better built, and "bigger" in terms of height. But, I can't get enough speed to clear the first 5-6 due to the track being build around short travel, jumping bikes. I tried with my DH and didn't get close. Tried the Enduro and got to 50-50 the first several, but never really felt good. I hope they solve the speed issue coming in soon because they are awesome jumps!

The dirt is quite a bit different (more gravel-ish at Howler) but the vibe at Hower is better. I've made the drive twice (9+ hours one way) and plan to do it again. If you like big man-made features Hower is the win. Jared's has better jump lines if that's your jam. They both have stuff from true green to "above my pay grade". Elevation at the drop-off is similar, though you can push your bike another 12-14 minutes up the mountain at Jarod's to hit their black trails to get more elevation. But, you have to push... Howler has better hotel options close by, but Jared's has inexpensive camp sites. both have showers now, and bike shops for mechanicals. Both have you park a long way from shuttle pick-up, though this year, Jared's cut a green trail in that runs all the way back to the lot which is a big deal when you are worn out. And, that dang cheeseburger at Howler is legit. I'd hit both if you can. If it's one or the other, and the drive is the same, Howler is my pick if you can only do one.

@@mtbtraildoctor thanks! That’s a great response. I’m a lot closer to Howler, but have enjoyed watching videos of both places.

Thanks. I plan to make a third trip up in a month or so. I'll give it a go and see what's up!

Had three in a row, actually! 4th day Lightning around 1:00pm, so I packed it in.

Awesome! Skyline is THE trail for someone learning to jump! See you out there next time.

@@mtbtraildoctor I'll probably opt for a pass next year. Rented a Trek Slash and really enjoyed it. I own a Roscoe 8 and it's teaching me a lot, but I didn't wanna ride it on Snowshoe for obvious reasons haha

Thanks man. Appreciate that very much! Just got back from Snowshoe and will be posting some stuff soon. Ride on!

Glad you found it helpful! I think Kanuga is close to Rock Creek, if you are ok to climb every lap. I did Kanuga one weekend and never went back due to the climb. Beech and Sugar mountain are great options in that area once the ski season closes. Sugar is vary rocky, but the lifts are great. Beech is more varied in terms of terrain, but the lift is pretty slow, since they stall for every chair that off-lifts.

I do the same if i'm going fast. Hit a loose rock one time and got kicked into a pair of trees ;-(. That kinda thing sticks with a person.

Totally agree! Perfect for a wide range of riders.

For sure. Perfect trail to get warmed up for the day.

Thanks! It's one of my favorites across the TN/NC area. Just big enough to be fun, and small enough to be fun, ;-)

Thanks! See you on the trail!

I really love it there. Great trails, family that runs the place is awesome, and the are always working to improve the place. The new building was dried in when I was there last, so it won't be long before showers and proper bathrooms are available. Once that's in place, I'll be camping there when I go.

The first time I went to Howler I planned for a day at Shepherd... unfortunately they had a freak snow storm a few days before i got there and the entire mountain was covered in 3-4" of snow. It on my list though.

That's what this channel is all about. I want to help people see as close to reality as I can get, so when you decide to go, you aren't surprised (in a bad way).

Awesome I just found your channel on the tubes I subscribed to it . The insight on we’re to start and end on Bear creek is appreciated I haven’t found anyone that lives as close as I d to show me all these trails.

@@jeremyohart4536 Mulberry Gap does a great job of providing maps and info for the trails they shuttle to. Very few detailed videos out there, but their guidance is spot-on. I plan to hit their group ride on the 30th to shoot Windy Gap twice in one day, both shuttled. Expecting great stuff.

@@mtbtraildoctor cool man thank you i am going to try to get there idk about doing windy gap twice but hopefully just ride some new stuff and learn the trails.

Thanks! Looking forward to getting back there some day when everything is dry. I tried riding my DH bike the first day and it was just rolling too slow for that.

I rolled/walked it and it does look cool... just a few things above my abilities right now. Maybe some day!

Yea, it's a great place to ride. Definitely something for every level of rider. The Green trail is perfect for beginners, and the Blues are both types of Intermediate terrain and perfectly fun in their own unique ways. And the Pro DH course... very "Pro".

@@mtbtraildoctor 100% agree!!

They are on my list, and expect to get to Live Wire 1 and 2 soon. My quick take after riding them a handful of times, is that Live Wire 1 is great for a confident beginner or intermediate. Just straight-out fun after a small bit of climbing early on. Live wire 2 is much more challenging, and some of the climbs, though short, will probably overcome the intermediate rider who isn't great at technical climbs. I don't think I've cleaned everything there yet after 5-6 attempts. Good news is no serious exposure on either trail, so low risk.

@@mtbtraildoctor awesome. Look forward to seeing the Final Cut. I'm the kind of intermediate rider that if something is too technical and I can't clear it, I'll stop and session on it a few times until I get it. I'm looking for something far more technical than Enterprise, but not so chunky that it takes 4 hours to ride 12 miles 😂

@@nicko454 If you can find someone to shuttle with you, I'd start with Live Wire 1 and see what you think. If that's fun but not at all challenging, Live Wire 2 will hit the spot. I've climbed the road for Live Wire 2 a handful to times. It's bearable if you pump up your tires, lock out your shock and put on an audio book ;-)