GHORBA Road Trip – Pace Bend & Walnut Creek

Event category: Rides [1]Saturday, November 3, 2012 – 10:00am  

Now that the weather is cooling off it’s a good time for us to head up to Austin for a weekend road trip! With all the excellent mtb trails in the area it’s hard to decide which ones to ride so I’ve selected two of the most popular that are easy enough for most beginners but still challenging for more experienced riders. We’ll meet at Pace Bend Park the morning of Saturday November 3rd and assemble our groups at 10:00 am. Trail steward Leif Dove is providing ride leaders so we’ll be able to divide into groups based on skill level and endurance. Forum trolls may know Leif as Spicewookie on the bikemojo.com website. If after the ride you’re still jones-ing for some more gnar you can drive a short 20 minutes down the road to Muleshoe Bend State Park to get your fix. We won’t have ride leaders at Muleshoe but the trail is easy enough to follow without getting lost. Camping is available at Pace Bend for those who dig that scene as well as swimming in the Pedernales River. Brrrr! Not the camping type? There are plenty of motel rooms in nearby Austin for those who are less adventurous. Sunday morning at 9:30 am we’ll meet up with the Austin Ridge Riders for their weekly all-level group ride at Walnut Creek Metro Park. Always a popular event, the Ridge Riders cater mostly to beginner riders but will have groups for everyone no matter what your skill or endurance level. So, scratch any plans you have for the weekend of November 3rd and 4th and join us for a weekend of mountain biking excitement!

*Saturday November 3rd – Pace Bend Park:*

Located northwest of Austin in Spicewood, TX Pace Bend Park is the newest trail in the Austin area. There you’ll find nearly 10 miles of sweet single track with nearly anything you could ask for. Rocks? Yep, Roots? Got those. Fast downhills? Uh-huh. Man-made technical features? Oh yes! A rock garden of greatness? They’ve got that too! Pace Bend has it all. For those of the less technical variety i.e. beginners, there’s less challenging trail available for you too and we’ll have ride leaders to show you around. We’ll have our GHORBA tent set up at the East Trailhead and will start our ride from there. Make sure you print a trail map for the location of the East Trailhead and check out their website for camping information. Cost to enter the park is $10.00 per can and they only take cash or checks. No debit cards.

Here’s a map to Pace Bend Park: http://goo.gl/maps/K8W8w [2]

Pace Bend Park website: https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/pace-bend [3]

Pace Bend Trail map: http://www.austinbike.com/mtb/pacebend/pacebend.pdf [4]

*Sunday November 4th – Walnut Creek Metro Park *

Without a doubt the most popular trail in the Austin area and with good reason, Walnut Creek has over 20 miles of well maintained trails for you to explore. It’s the perfect place for beginner riders as well as those with more advanced skills. Have you just started riding? There’s easy, non-technical trails that will keep you interested but not throw you for a loop. More of an intermediate rider? This is the trail you’ve been waiting for! Fast downhills, small drop-offs, a few log rollers, wet creek crossings, and a couple of climbs that will leave you winded are waiting for you. Are you an advanced rider that needs a good thrill? Try your luck at Root Drop (instant death!) or the well named Endo Valley. No matter what you’re skill level there’s something for you at Walnut Creek and we’ll have the guides to show you around.  Thre is no cost to enter the park.

Here’s a map to Walnut Creek Metro Park – http://goo.gl/maps/6DRN7 [5]

Walnut Creek Trail map – http://www.austinridgeriders.com/sites/default/files/book/2011/05/Walnut… [6] As always, GHORBA will provide drinking water, Gatorade, and light snacks for all riders.

GHORBA group rides are free to all riders and not just GHORBA members so invite your friends and family! All riders under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. All riders must have a mountain bike, helmet, and either a water bottle or hydration pack.

Mike Strawn

GHORBA Ride Leader

[1] http://ghorba.org/events/rides [2] http://goo.gl/maps/K8W8w [3] https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/find-a-park/pace-bend [4] http://www.austinbike.com/mtb/pacebend/pacebend.pdf [5] http://goo.gl/maps/6DRN7 [6] http://www.austinridgeriders.com/sites/default/files/book/2011/05/Walnut%20Creek%20Metro%20Park_Kiosk.pdf