Kids on Trails

[gravytrain1972]

So I took my daughter to the US Open last year, but did not test or try any trails with her. She does really well on cross country trails and races bmx. Are there trails that would fit her skill level?

During the Open, are the other trails open? I want to enter the open, but also take my 9 y/o on the blue trails...feasible?

If not, anyone have any info on the trails around the Wawayanda camp ground?

Any help would b great.
Thanks in advance,

Gravy

[pinkshirtphotos]

give a call www.towncycle.com they know everything about wawayanda trails. all trails are open unless they conflict with the us open course. the blue square trails are easy. for your daughter the trails tripple drop, dominion, upper and lower brakeout, and alpine are all easy. tempest might also be a good trail too.

[jcook90]

sean's pretty right. dominion might be kinda annoying cuz of all the jumps, as might tempest. but all the fireroads down, alpine would work too cuz theres nothing intense on it, breakout's are fun and not too hard (upper's easier than lower). triple drop sounds worse than it actually is, i think theres b-lines (yes/no?)

[DownCycles_Stef]

everyone has pretty much nailed it, my only suggestion would be trying to let your daughter take the lead. while I could see how you may want to go in front to spot the trail for her, it's probably better for you to stay back...it'll be easier for faster riders to see you coming up than your daughter that (depending on her height) may get a little more out-of-sight as the terrain drops. and although I've never seen a situation like this at Diablo, if one of the two of you does get hit or tapped by a rider from behind, I'd venture to say, you'd fare much better than your kid. good luck, and tell your daughter to keep it up....wish I was DH'ing when I was 9

[pinkshirtphotos]

flatliner is a good trail too. i did my first bridge on that trail. put the widest tires you can on her bike. that will also help

[skatetokil]

widest and stickiest

[gravytrain1972]

Thanks, i have a much better feeling now. With her BMXperiance and trail sense, she will be going for it. I could hardly keep her off the hill last year, and she kept riding the stairs in the courtyard where everyone waits for the lift.
I will have her in front of me like downcycles mentioned. VERY good point on me being the collision buffer..what's another dislocated shoulder anyways?
PEACE!

[runnin12s]

I just took my 9 year old son last weekend, and last year when he was 8. A few things I learned by taking him.

a) teach her immediately how to get out of the trail if she feels uncomfortable rather than stop in the middle (my son got hit once and many of the locals have very choice words for children stopped in the trail)

b) Let her ride in front of you and pick her own pace, keep your distance and only provide confidence inspiring words of wisdon (no comeon you pussy speed up, by the end of the day you will be surprised how fast she goes)

c) If she bugs to go on the really technical stuff, deny once then say ok and proceed with caution, she may surprise you just keep more distance and if the racers come up behind you teach her "rider coming up" and have her move to the side. ( my son was flowing down most of the double black diamonds by the end of the day)

d) Learn lots of high 5's, when they feel a sense of accomplishment, nothing feels greater than their father showing the same sense of accomplishment they are feeling.

e) when she get's tired, swallow hard and say ok let's leave or take a long brake, it's hard to do I know I talked my son into one more run, I just couldn't bear leaving an hour earlier, by the way that run he ate it hard thank god for the chest protector, helmet, gloves, shin pads, race pants and jersey and the soft spot he landed in after taking a header off a 3 foot drop (he swears he will never go again, till next time comes anyway).

f) I think the run is called upper and lower dominion(all the jumps) and then onto the switchback trail with the wall rides seemed to be my son's favorites, he spent all day on those trails last year (his first time there) as he also comes from a BMX background and those trails most mimic that type of riding, and besides by the end of the day you will be an expert at jumping and wallriding, that's what happened to me you would be surprise at how many different tricks you will try after spending 8 hours on jumps

g) DON'T TAKE HER UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE YOUR RIDING DAY FOR HER. YOU WILL NOT BE MAKING HAIR RAISING SHUTTLE RUNS, AND RECORD TIMES DOWN THE HILL. IF YOU TRY DIFFERENT RUNS PLAN ON ONLY MAKING 8 TO 10 RUNS ALL DAY, THIS WILL BE ALL SHE IS UP FOR AND ALL YOU WILL HAVE TIME FOR 12 OR 13 IF YOU GET THERE RIGHT AT OPENING TIME. THIS TRIP WILL BE ABOUT GETTING HER HOOKED AND SHOWING HER HOW MUCH FUN THIS SPORT IS SO THAT YOU CAN ENJOY IT WITH HER FOR YEARS TO COME, PUSH IT TOO HARD OR TOO FAST AND YOU WILL LOOSE A FUTURE RIDING PARTNER, TRAINING PARTNER AND BEST FRIEND.

[gravytrain1972]

I am STOKED to take her. She constantly surprises me at what she is willing and able to accomplish on a track and trails, and this will certainly be a bar raising experience for her, and me.
ALL very good advice. See ya there!

[dirttastesgood]

yeah if you hear a rider coming up get her to the side, and don't take her on domionion, she would learn more than a couple new words.

[skatetokil]

this thread is filled with good advice for starting any new rider. I've found all too often that when I ride out front the person I'm with gets hurt trying to keep up. I know I did the same thing when I was starting out (the "oh, that looks so easy" phenomenon). Better to sit at the top of a run and clean my goggles for a minute than sit for the same amount of time down at the bottom wondering if my riding buddy is dead.

[dante]

Better to sit at the top of a run and clean my goggles for a minute than sit for the same amount of time down at the bottom wondering if my riding buddy is dead.

this also helps to give other riders a heads up that there's a slower rider up ahead.