Review: Randy King
Photos: Courtesy of Redcloud Productions

The new mountain bike film, The Potential Inside, premiered in Lynchburg, Virginia on March 10, 2011. Liberty University’s Tower Theater hosted the premier of this inspirational film, and several hundred attended the red carpet event and the showing.

The singletrack of Candler's / Liberty Mountain played a pivotal role in the film. PHOTO: REDCLOUD PRODUCTIONS

The film is well produced, and shows off the Blue Ridge Mountains and Central Virginia’s trails and twisty mountain roads. For a local rider who built my riding skills in these hills, it was a joy to see how good The Potential Inside made this area look on the big screen.

The film has a strong faith-based message, and is a Christian film as much as it is a mountain bike film. Director Scotty Curlee, who also wrote the script and stars in the film, does a good job of showing (not telling), and the serious messages conveyed in the movie are not meted out with a heavy hand. I’d summarize it as being a movie about the challenges and ups and downs of both cycling and life, and how we can overcome.

Most who have spent a significant time aboard bikes know that there is a spiritual component to our pursuit – it’s one of the elements that warrant our obsession. The lessons learned striving for hard-to-achieve goals, suffering setbacks and overcoming trials mirror life and our spiritual journeys.

Rookie Jake gets lectured by veteran Chris. PHOTO: REDCLOUD PRODUCTIONS

The Potential Inside is also a cycling film, and features mountain and road riding, with extensive race scenes and in-depth physical performance testing with Hunter Allen.

The dynamic between Jake (Michael Cuddire), who is not young although he is a racing rookie, and Chris (Scotty Curlee), the veteran who is at a loss in how to handle a deep personal loss, is what makes this film standout. As Chris shares from his expertise to help Jake realize his full potential as a mountain bike racer, Jake is able to help Chris come to terms with his deep loss and move forward with his life. Jake’s age – which almost made Chris refuse to coach him – is what makes him believable as someone who has experienced and overcome tragedy in his own life. The dynamic is a well-executed example of Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

The bridges of Blackwater Creek Trail PHOTO: REDCLOUD PRODUCTIONS

I enjoyed watching The Potential Inside. While some of my enjoyment stemmed from seeing someone from my earliest days of mountain biking succeed in achieving their vision (Scotty Curlee was instrumental in LU’s mountain bike club when I attended), and from seeing the trails I know and love on the big screen, I also enjoyed The Potential Inside for its quality storytelling, production and mountain bike scenes. I’ll be picking up several copies of the film for those on my gift list when it goes on sale on April 19, 2011.

© 2011 Big Mountain Riding

From The Lynchburg News & Advance

By Nolan Connelly
Published: February 28, 2011

Bikes Unlimited Bikes Unlimited manager Douglas Main looks over a bicycle in the service area of the shop's new location. Photo: News & Advance

It’s a tight, perfect space.

That’s what Jack Parker, owner of Bikes Unlimited, said about the new home for his business.

Two months ago, he moved the bike shop from a box store on Lakeside Drive to an 1897 warehouse on Jefferson Street, once a bottling facility for Anheuser-Busch.

“It’s quite a change,” he said.

Parker bought Bikes Unlimited in 2004. The business opened in 1967 and had been on Lakeside Drive since the 1980s, he said.

His inspiration to move the store came partly from customer feedback, partly from experience.

Parker said he wanted the store’s atmosphere to reflect a Winter Park, Colo., bike shop where he had been a part owner. It also is in a downtown setting.

A native of Lynchburg, he was impressed by the changes that have taken place along Jefferson Street between the time he left in the ’80s and returned in 2004.

“It used to just be all industrial down here,” he recalled. Now, amenities include the James River Heritage Bike Trail.

When the lease expired on Lakeside Drive, moving downtown and closer to that trail was an easy decision.

“We’re very fortunate to have something like that right here that everyone can use,” he said. “…Usually you’ll only see that in a bigger city.”

The move opens up a lot of new possibilities.

Once a fleet of rental bikes comes in March, for example, Parker plans to use the location’s easy access to the James River Heritage Bike Trail as a bike rental point.

“We came to where the customers are,” he said.

Except for when the train rolls by, the new parking lot is quieter without the U.S. 221 traffic, Parker said, making it easier to hold Saturday classes that teach basic bicycle maintenance.

He sacrificed his old building’s 8,000 square feet for something smaller, with a bit more character. There are tall windows, exposed brick, iron beams and a slight ripple to the floor.

“That’s what you get with a building of this age,” he said. “I was looking for something that fit my personality and my type of business I wanted to create.”

Part-time employee Bob Dunn said the store’s new location is an improvement in atmosphere, with more natural light.

“It’s so much better than being in a big box,” he said.

Already it resembles the look of an established shop, with rows of bikes from the floor almost to the ceiling, and racks of clothing and accessories.

“It’s almost like it was meant to be,” Parker said. “It just fit.”

An informal log of training rides as I prep for the pain of the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race on May 1.

Bomber!

Training Exercise #1 – 40-minute ride time at Blackwater Creek. Orthodox Church, Creekside Trail to bikeway, Sticks ‘n’ Stones, back out on Creekside Trail. Off day, bouncing all around on obstacles.

Training Exercise #2 – 1-hour ride time at Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Saturday Group Ride, Blind Faith, A Trail Too Far, Lasso, lower Lake Trail, Perimeter to Raptor Run to Bald Spot, Peak-to-Peak to Five Points, out on Lower Dam. A day of firsts – First time getting the big log crossing on lower Lake Trail, and first time riding the dam from the downhill side.

Training Exercise #3 – 2-hour ride time, +2,200 feet altitude gain in 12-miles. Sunday Group Ride at Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Lake Trail to Perimeter to the fire road leading up to Power Line. Power Line Loop rocky DH, Horton’s Loop to Oak’s Way, right on Split Decision to the skills area, fire road to Logo Rd. Alternate Flight Pattern to Psycle Pathe, to Racoon Alley to Perimeter back to Camp Hydaway. Out on A Trail Too Far. Firsts – railing the big log ride on ATTF from the lower side, getting the final climb on ATTF, including the final pitch with the log.

Training Exercise #4 - 2.5-hour rambling small group ride, lots of exploration and putzing about in the clear cut area. Upper Dam to Luge Trail. Luge climb to Peak-to-Peak to Horton’s Loop. Down the big sets of switch backs – had brake problems. Aargh! Shredded the little spring clip that holds the pads in. Or doesn’t. When I finally broke the clip, the pads stayed in and worked fine. All of Hortons, back to Five Points. Then, DH trail, back up on the climb, up Powerline fire road side, middle ringed it the whole way up that steepy as a challenge. Rode out into the clear cut on the fire road descent. Hit Perimeter for a bit, then headed off over logging roads. Meandered through the clear cut, finding impossibly steep climbs and rough stuff. Back up to the top of Powerline hill, down the fireroad, over on Flames Rd., cut across country to Split Fork road. Back to the Perimeter at the power line crossing.

Training Exercise #5 - 1.25-hour ride time, Tuesday night group ride at Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Lower Dam to Five Points. Peak-to-Peak climb, to Playground. Playground DH to Horton’s Loop descent. Oak’s Way to Perimeter Loop, turned right, Perimeter to Camp Hydaway. Lake trail around the lake to Lasso, bridge ride on Lasso – a first for Chris, A Trail Too Far with the new and repaired bridges. Had a bit of a challenge with the new skinny to wide contraption, but got it. Out via Candler’s Mt. road and Candler’s Climb. Firsts: Riding the Dam coming from the parking lot.

Training Exercise #6 – 10 lap swim at Lynchburg’s Jamerson YMCA = 500 yards.

Training Exercise #7 – 1 km swim at Lynchburg’s Downtown YMCA.

Training Exercise #8 - 4-mile solo skills ride on A Trail Too Far and Lasso. Practicing my elevated feature work and flow. Videoed some tutorial stuff for elevated features riding. Hope to create a skills video. Modified the uphill entry to the new bridge on ATTF, which I’ve dubbed “EZ Doz It,” because it is best done casually and without getting too aggro.

Training Exercise #9 - 11.3 mile solo ride on a modified perimeter loop ride. 1-hour 50-minutes, brisk pace in the hot sun. Lower Dam out to Five Points, DH trail to perimeter, to the Power line crossing, then off perimeter, on Split Fork Rd to Flames Rd. To Clear Cut Rd., up the climb to Power line hill and a tearing big-ring descent through the clear cut all the way back to the perimeter loop. Continued on perimeter, came out on Lake Trail, riding the off-camber log there from the lower side for the first time. Slipped a cog on the final climb and almost put my bars through my ribs. Came into the parking lot out of water and with an almost flat rear tire. But I made my goal of sub two hours.

Training Exercise #10 – Swam 20 laps in 25-minutes at Lynchburg’s Jamerson YMCA = 1000-yards.

Training Exercise #11 – Swam 20 laps in 20-minutes at Lynchburg’s Jamerson YMCA = 1000-yards.

Training Exercise #12 – Saturday Group Ride at Candler’s / Liberty Mountain trails. 2.5-hours ride time, I had 11.7 miles on my GPS. Scott measured 15+ miles on his cycl0-computer. Struggled with mechanical problems – mine revolved around my Crank Bro’s cleats. Firsts – Made the Dam ride on a roll through from the South. Swung wide, dropped into the fall line next to the tree, bounced around the roots a bit, only straightened it all out once I was out on the thing. Rode across. E-Z. Firsts – Made the final switchback coming back Lower Dam Trail to the parking lot. One time out of six or so, but it was a go.

Training Exercise #13 – Sunday solo in the ‘hood. Wind sprints on the hill by the Y. 4.2 miles of up the 50-foot vertical gain climb and back. Did it in leap frog fashion, sprinting up a 1/3 of the way, back down, sprint 2/3 of the way, back down, sprint the whole way. Good work out, though boring.

Don't let 'em tell ya it don't hurt!

Training Exercise #14 - Solo on Candler’s / Liberty Mountain trail system. 13.4 miles via an extended version of the Perimeter Trail, reversed – starting with Candler’s Climb and down Lake Trail, back up to the top of A Trail Too Far, all the way down and over to Camp Hyde-away lake to pick up the Perimeter. What a tough ride. Bit it on the big log ride on A Trail Too Far. Freaked out on the next bridge. Then, on the cut-across on Split Forks Rd, I rode through a limb and tore the derailleur off my bike. Luckily I had a spare hanger along. Glad when this one was over!

Training Exercise #15 – Group ride on Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Fast-paced reverse perimeter extended. Hit the bridges from Lake Trail to Lasso, only missing the skinny on ATTF. Put the hammer down for the last bit, racing gravel road against singletrack back to the parking lot from the end of Dead End Rd.

Training Exercise #16 -Friday solo on Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Rode till I had heat exhaustion. An even more extended Perimeter loop, with the Powerline Loop and one of Split Decision’s climbs thrown in for good measure. Rode till I was ready to drop.

Training Exercise #17 – Sherando Lake State Park with my race partner, Randy Lewis. Despite a few mechanical issues (chain break and flat tire), and Torrey Ridge trail being even rougher than I had remembered it, we made it through 20 some miles. Don’t consider it a good sign that we were both at the end of the tank when we got back to the truck for a late lunch. The Mills Creek trail with its huge climbing switchbacks put a nail in our coffin. Went over the bars in the big rock garden, but landed on a soft spot.

Training Exercise #18 – Solo frontside ride on Candler’s / Liberty Mountain. Stuck to the front side, riding Upper Dam out to 5 points, DH trail to Boblsed up to 5 points again and then the Powerline Loop. Climbed Peak-to-Peak all the way over two peaks to Monorail Trail, and then out on Lower Dam.

Higgedly Piggedly but rubber side down. Yee-ha!

Training Exercise #19 – Solo hill climb up Candler’s Climb from Wingate Inn to the ATV trail to the powerline to top of the FAA tower hill, then down to Lake Trail via rogue trails and climbing Lake Trail back to Snowflex. Met up with Scott. Rode casually all over the mountain, hitting Lake Trail again, Lasso, to ATTF, branched off on a rogue trail or two and looped back to Lasso. Then up past Hydaway Lake and up that hill to the old jeep trail coming down the back of the Snowflex mountain. Over to Racoon Alley and up the new, soft climb to the fire road. Split Decision to Rogue’s Gallery and up past Horton’s Loop to 5 points. Lower Dam out to the parking lot.

Training Exercise #20 – 15 laps in the Jamerson YMCA’s pool. 750 yards.

Training Exercise #21 - 1-hour solo ride at Lynchburg’s Peaks View Park. Enjoyed riding the newly cleared (love trail gnomes!) trails at this fun, tight and twisty park. Nice small jumps on Squeeze Trail. Still can’t get the big log ride. Doh!

Training Exercise #22 – 3-hour ride with Randy Lewis, my team mate for the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race. Rode the 2008 Assault on Liberty Mountain race course at a moderate pace. Humid and slick conditions. Wore out my rear break pads. Time to mend and tune the bike, pack up and get ready for the big ride. It’s on like Donkey Kong!

© 2010 Big Mountain Riding

The smooth "on-ramp" makes for an easy entrance to this off-camber log ride.

Liberty Mountain Trail System on Candler’s Mountain, outside Lynchburg, VA, boasts more than 60-miles of trails ranging from wide service roads to narrow hillside singletrack. Please see the Getting There page for a trail map and more details on access, eats and lodging.  The system has grown greatly in the past few years thanks to the work of Liberty’s Lars Larson and his team and willing volunteers from around the region.  Some of the more exciting additions to the trails are the bridges and technical features. Advanced riders looking for something to spice up their riding can hit most of the features the mountain has to offer in this 30-60 minute loop that I’ve dubbed the Tour de Bridges, for a little cycling history flair.

Story: Randy King

Photos: Randy King, Scott Schekman

Park at Liberty’s Snowflex Center (out in the gravel section of the lot) or on the shoulder at the FAA Tower road, about 1/3 mile up Candlers Mt. Road past the Snowflex Center. From the Snowflex Center lot, start down Lake Trail (in the corner of lot). [If you park at the FAA tower, you'll be riding the tour in reverse, starting from and ending at the top of A Trail Too Far.] There are two features on Lake Trail. One is obviously located trail side to the rider’s right after reaching the flat part of the trail and before the first trail junction. It is easier from the uphill side. It’s an off-camber, flat-topped log (about 8″ wide) ride with a very good angled entrance ramp on the uphill side and a straight exit ramp on the downhill end. It is about 18″ off the ground at its highest point, and sloped downhill. Very easy ride, though visually challenging with the off-camber top. The other feature is near the two wooden bridges crossing the creek to the left of the trail at the first junction. It is easier from the uphill end. Cross the creek and take the new trail almost immediately to the right. The log has an angled ramp approach from this, the uphill side, and a straight exit ramp off the downhill side. The log is flat-topped and has traction cross-cuts. It is about 8″-1o” wide and crosses a creek. It is about three-feet off the creek bed at its highest point.  After railing these features, follow Lake Trail all the way to its end, skirting around Hydeaway Lake.

Riding the edge - getting all higgledy-piggledy - before getting back on track.

At the end of Lake Trail, turn left and watch for the right onto The Lasso. The Lasso follows a creek for awhile and then starts uphill. The next feature is at the top of the first rise, to the right of the trail. It is a flat-topped, log feature with earthen, angled ramps on each end. Its 6″ wide top is cross-cut for traction and it is easily rideable from either end. The log is about 18″ to two-feet high at its highest point. Follow Lasso to its intersection with itself, and turn left, continuing gradually uphill. The Lasso tees into an unnamed singletrack. Turn left and descend an eroded section through a sharp U to a creek. Cross the creeks on a 2″X6″ skinny to your left and a wooden ladder bridge. Follow the unnamed trail until it leads to A Trail Too Far, to the right at a worn-down log crossing.

A Trail Too Far (ATTF) tracks gradually uphill along a creek valley. Along the way riders will encounter the densest concentration of bridges and features on the mountain. Two “rainbow” ladder bridges, a big log ride with wooden ladder ramp, and three level ladder bridges make the trail a fun mix of weaving singletrack and skills riding. Several log crossings keep riders focused.

The first “rainbow” ladder bridge on ATTF is a Candler’s Mountain classic. About 12″-18″ wide, it curves and arches and is about three-feet above the creek at its highest. The easy route is through the creek to the bridge’s left. Immediately following this bridge is the mountain’s burliest log ride, a large downed natural log (with no flattened top or traction cross-cuts). It features significant ramps on either end, and a 20-foot long log ride. It is easier from the uphill end. The ramp on the downhill end is a ladder with a four-foot long incline and an eight-foot long angled level ladder and then a three-foot down ramp onto the log. The log is a natural surface, and has two recesses that can stop a slow-moving front tire. It is about two and half-feet off the ground at its highest. The ramp on the uphill end is another “rainbow,” an arched, straight line ladder bridge. It is the easy part of this feature.

Shortly after sewing together these two features, riders will cross the intersection of ATTF and a jeep trail. Continue straight on ATTF, to the next two features. One is a simple, low ladder bridge, crossing a wet spot. It is about 18″ wide by 3-feet long and only about eight inches off the ground. Next up is a more challenging feature. Only about a foot off the ground at its highest, this feature’s challenge is in its transitions. It starts off only six inches wide, with a 2″X6″. Eight feet in, it widens into a 10′ ladder bridge that goes from about 10″ wide to 18″ wide before ending with a tight squeeze between two trees. This feature is easier from the downhill end.

The final bridge on ATTF is a 12′ long ladder bridge over a creek. It is about a foot wide and about four-feet above the creek at its highest. It is straight and flush with the trail bed. Only two challenges stand between the rider and the top of ATTF – one foot-high log crossing and a steep climb. At the top of the very sudden and steep (yet ride-able) final 100-yards of A Trail Too Far, turn right on the grassy Lake Hydeaway Rd.

Follow Lake Hydeaway Rd. downhill till it begins to climb. At the top of the first stage of the rise, turn into the woods to the left on the clearly worn, unsigned doubletrack that heads downhill. Descend to the intersection with Lake Trail. Turn left and start back uphill to the parking lot and the end of the ride.

©2010 Big Mountain Riding

WDBJ 7’s latest. The body has been identified as a Lynchburg resident.

Keith tackling the Dam Trail switchbacks on his first ride - way to kick it!

Story & Photos: Randy King

Part III – Highlighting the “best” of the mountain’s trails.

Scott working those Jedi skills on The Playground

Candler’s Mountain and the Liberty Mountain Trail System are located on the outskirts of Lynchburg, VA, next to Liberty University. The mountain is easy to spot from a distance because of two distinct and recent man-made additions. One is the giant LU monogram and the other is the only Snowflex recreation facility in the U.S. Hidden in the trees that cover most of the rest of the mountain’s many ridges and ravines are dozens of trails harboring miles of entertainment and challenge for mountain bikers of all levels. It is a big mountain riding destination; one could ride all day here without duplicating many yards of trails. Please see the Getting There page for a trail map and more details on access, eats and lodging. If you are looking for someone to ride with while you explore the trails, feel free to contact me via the comments feature at the bottom of this post, or at rides@bigmountainriding.com

The best part of the recent improvements is the naming / marking of the main trails and the improved rescue-factor thanks to way-point markers and additional fire roads. Also, the most-used single track has been made more sustainable.

Symbols for trail rating:

NOTE: All ratings are based on if the rider rode the entire trail in its standard course. They are more realistic than the ratings published by Liberty University and are based on extensive riding and observation of other riders on this trail system year-round. (However, the trail names are color-coded to LU’s rating – which is based mostly on distance – Green=Beginner, Blue=Intermediate, Yellow=Advanced)

◊ – intermediate = requires conditioned cardiovascular fitness, strong legs and good balance. Experience in riding off road.
♦ – advanced = requires the above and conditioned bike handling skills on narrow and uneven trails. May feature short steep sections that border on very advanced.
♦♦ – very advanced = requires the above and features sections with dire consequences for the rider who loses control. Some inclines will require walking up/down by all but very advanced riders.
Θ – not public knowledge = These trails are not on the map and these names are not commonly used. However, feel free to seek them out and to use the names.

Best Singletrack:

◊Lower Dam Trail - The flowier of the two Dam trails. Swoops along the lower side of the mountain and takes the rider instantly to a good place.
◊Upper Dam Trail – More of a workout than its lower sibling. Rougher as well. For a fast loop, do a circuit of both Dam trails (15-30 min. DOE)
♦Alternate Flight Pattern - A fun, tough trail that dives into ravines and treks up slopes as it winds around the mountain. Hard to follow where the new road intersects the trail.

Chris charging a log on A Walk in The Woods

Best technical trails:

♦♦Split Decision – The main decision for most riders is to turn away to something easier, but this is a rewarding challenge for very advanced riders. This bad boy features steeps on both ends and nary a flat spot between. Lots of logs, roots and rocks.
♦♦The Playground – Boasts one of the steepest sections on the mountain. Bring your iron lungs and any inner-demons you want to scourge.
♦Psycho-Pathé – Technical fun fest. Narrow lines and rougher options abound. Mind-emptying at speed.
♦Lake Trail – The soul of Eastern mountain biking. Side hill, stream-side to lake side. Mellow, with challenging sections to keep you focused.

Best cardio-climbs:

♦Powerline Loop – This is a torturous climb, especially in the warmer months. Great for building climbing skill and power, though. Finishes with a rough DH.
◊Monogram Rd (from Top Ridge Trail head to the gazebo atop the monogram) – Good section for working on tiered intervals. May make you hate yourself and your bike if you overdo it.
♦Luge Trail to Peak 2 Peak to the gazebo – If you’re in it to pin it, then dive into the woods on Upper Dam and take this route popular with hikers all the way up.

Best Rogue trails:

◊ Rogue’s Gallery (Five Points to Split Decision)
♦Θ Rogue 1 (Snowflex drive Candlers Mt. Trail head) – a fast alternative to descending Candler’s Climb or Candler’s Mt Rd.
♦♦Θ Going Rogue DH (Monogram Rd to gas line / US 460) – don’t even think about it unless very experienced or very brash. Drops faster than the Dow in a recession.
♦Θ Rogue Leader DH (Peak 2 Peak/The Playground intersection to Five Points) – an alternative, shorter descent to Five Points.

Tackling the woodwork - the evolution continues

Best far-out trails:

♦ A Trail Too Far – an instant classic that is different every time one rides it. A peaceful stream side saunter, pushing the pace brings out the bite.
♦Θ Oil Jug (Its namesake is the only marker for the entry to this back country beauty. It is far out and limited release.)
♦Θ Blind Faith (an old-school, sweet singletrack bypass for some of Lake Hydeaway Rd. Watch for fire road to the right when Camp Hydeaway Rd veers left. Blind Faith is a singletrack off to the left at the top of the rise.)
♦♦Θ The Ghost (You’d feel like Hiawatha or Hawkeye on this extremely narrow front face side hill trail if it weren’t for the encroaching development and city sprawled out below.)

© 2009 Big Mountain Riding

Handcrafted turns like this one set the Montvale Trails apart

Fun alternatives are built into the Montvale Trails

Ahead, the red dirt trail dipped downhill to the right and dove into a tight switchback. It straightened out for a moment, only to dive into another descending turn. This sweeper featured a robust berm, and my bike railed right around the curve, setting me up to carry through the needed momentum for the upcoming short climb. This was Ridgeline, a 1/2 mile, mostly downhill “Expert” trail at Bedford County’s newest trail system, the Montvale Trails. It bears the trademark flow and handcrafted swooping turns of its designer, Bedford County’s Trails Manager, Kenny Palmer. Trails like this bring sheer joy, and have to be experienced to be appreciated – they add up to much more than what you see on paper.

Kenny’s other work includes Bedford’s Falling Creek Park and Lynchburg’s Peaks View Park. He knows how to maximize the mileage from terrain, and he knows how to make fun trails.

The park features approximately 6.5 miles of easy, intermediate and expert labeled single track with a dirt access road running up the middle (sort of). The access road serves as a self-powered lift line for getting back up to the top, vertically-speaking. This means that you can rail the descents and save some fuel on the climb back. Don’t believe that any of these trails only goes downhill. However, many of the trails work their way down the ridge from the parking lot on Quarterwood Road, with lots of ups and downs along the way.

The hardest part is getting there for this trail system. While it is off a major highway, it is far from a town of any size. And the 10-car parking lot currently is not marked (unlike the trails), so careful navigation is a must. I’ve included the coordinates, for those with a GPSr. About a 35-mile drive from Lynchburg, where I live, the Montvale Trails system is high on my list of “Let’s do something different today” trails.

Personal fav’s:

Beale Treasure Trail (Intermediate) – Just plain fun. Starts just off the access road, which it crisscrosses on its way down the ridge. Just over a mile, the trail features lots of turns, varied terrain like log crossings, off-camber sections, bermed turns, etc. My favorite. High point, approx. 1090 feet; low point: approx. 950 feet.

The woods are dark at the bottom of Moto X

Moto X (Expert) – Although only a little more than a half mile, this trail features the longest straight downhill sections in the park. Starting out at approx. 1125 feet, bermed turns at the top lead into a straight shot of gravity that speeds the rider into the more complex part of the trail. Intersecting with the park’s only other “Expert” trail, Ridgeline, Moto X doglegs to the right and then drops to its lowest point (approx. 735 feet), an au naturel creek crossing that requires poise and balance to successfully maneuver. The remainder of the trail snakes through the dark woods, angling along hillsides and crossing the creek a few more times before dumping out on the access road.

Vital info:

Trail Map

GPS coordinates for the parking lot: 37.36317° N 079.70798° W

From Lynchburg: 460W to Montvale, pass elementary school on left, turn left directly across from the “Roadside Market” onto Quarterwood Rd (VA 691).  Go approximately 1.5 miles and the entrance is on your left.

From Roanoke: 460E to Montvale, you will pass Buchanan’s Auto Auction on your Right  and then you will take your next Right onto Quarterwood Rd (VA 691).  Go approximately 1.5 miles and the entrance is on your left.

© 2009 Big Mountain Riding

Railing the classic bridge on LU's A Trail Too Far

Second Annual Assault On Liberty Mountain

This is a challenging, fun event in the heart of Virginia. Dishing up 19-miles of back-country style riding, the Liberty Mountain race shows off some of the breadth of the trail system (while leaving lots of the extensive trail system to be explored.) Last year’s event was an eye-opener for many regional riders who had not previously pedaled this recently upgraded trail system.

Support local trails! Sign-up as a show of the strength of the local cycling community.

October 24, 2009

Camp Hydeaway

(Google Street Address: Lake Front Dr. Rustburg, VA 24588)

10:00 am START!

Click Here, to download application.

Click Here, to register online.

For more information or questions e-mail Race Director Joshua Yeoman

DOWNLOAD THE COURSE MAPS – GREAT FOR PRE-RIDING COURSE!

Pro/Expert/Sport Course Map

Novice Course Map

Trail Map:

Click here for a photo map of the trails. Sorry, no topo map is available currently.

Trail heads:

Candlers Mountain Trail Head: The most used and most convenient. Located across Candler’s Mountain Rd from the Wingate Inn. Paved, lit parking available. When entering the Wingate Parking lot, park in the overflow lot to the right. Be courteous and responsible so others can enjoy this convenient parking. Watch for cars when crossing the road. A kiosk with a large map is located just into the woods. Nearest street address: 3777 Candlers Mtn. Road Lynchburg, VA 24502

460 Trail Head: +/- 100-yards downhill from the Candler’s Mountain Trail Head.

Hydeaway Trail Head: Easiest access to more easier grade trails. A small gravel parking area (4-cars). A kiosk with a large map is right across the chained entrance. Don’t block the drive completely – in case emergency vehicles need to rescue you or somebody else. Follow Candler’s Mt. Rd to intersection with Camp Hydeaway Rd, right before Candler’s Mt. Rd. ends at a T-intersection. Turn left on Camp Hydeaway Rd. Parking lot is on your left at the bottom of the first hill after leaving civilization. Nearest street address: Lake Front Dr. Rustburg, VA 24588

Top Ridge Trail Head: Have fun finding this one! Allows a different take on some well-used trails. Access Top Ridge Rd / State Route 837  on your right off of Old Rustburg Road – Take Martin Street off of Campbell Ave next to the US 460 interchange.

Lodging

Lynchburg has most of the national chain hotels. For ease of access though, you can’t beat the Wingate Inn, located across from the main trail head.

Eats

American family fare: Sundae Grill – On your right 1/4 mile downhill from Candlers Mountain Trail Head.

American fare with brews: Macado’s – On your right just past the Sundae Grill.

Mediterranean – Kabob Grill - From Candlers Mountain Trail Head, get on 460 W and take the next exit, Wards Rd. Turn left at the entrance to Target / McDonald’s. Kabob Grill is in the strip mall to your right – across from McDonald’s.

Mexican – La Carreta – From Candlers Mountain Trail Head, get on 460 W and take the next exit, Wards Rd. You will need to U-turn and head back toward 460 on Wards Rd (Business 29). Turn right on Wards Ferry Rd.La Carreta, a locally-owned joint, is in the strip mall to your left.

Pizza & Microbrews – Waterstone Pizza Downtown Lynchburg. 1309 Jefferson Street Lynchburg VA 24504

Pizza (cheap) – CiCi’s Pizza in the Candler’s Mt Shopping Center, on your right 1/4 mile downhill from the Candlers Mountain Trail Head

© 2009 Big Mountain Riding

The classic Candler's Bridge

Part II – click here for Part I – While a select group of riders continued to visit Candler’s Mountain, it fell out of the popular scene in the first half of the ’00’s. The introduction of the Derailer series – a group of races at regional parks like Peaks View and others drew attention to a faster, flatter style of mountain biking on tight, twisty singletrack. The big mountain gnarly rutted jeep trails and mud-bath action of Candler’s, and its questionable legality made it less desirable for social rides.

However, deep in the woods something was happening. A few really nice singletrack trails were crafted, and managed to remain unpoached by four-wheelers. This was mostly because of their side-hill nature, or the amount of big downed logs they crossed. And then, on a sweet, wet trail leading down a valley from the FAA tower hill, someone built the first quality bridges.

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