There are more than 4 to 5 more rides like this...maybe even better. The Cheat river area, Charleston for KSF, New/Gauley river gorges area, Tygart river (?Been over 10 years since I went there), Snowshoe, Greenbriar and down to Bluestone. Never straightforward always entertaining. Thats just the start.
To do it West Virginian style you have to take a deep breath and yell the state name as loud as you possibly can. Watch the end of any WVU football game and you'll see (granted you probably can't this season).
Man, I missed you out there by one day. I did the whole North Fork Trail the next day. The second half of the trail and that downhill at the end you got to ride was definitely the best part!
That trail only sees a few dozen riders a year if that, and maybe fewer hikers. Add in the burned areas any several sections are in need of some trimming.
West Virginia is probably one of the most untapped outdoor states when it comes to potential. I love how beautiful the state is. Thanks to the beautiful Geometry, forest, and rivers I 100% believe it could be one of the best destinations for MTB parks and trail systems in the world. It's potential is almost limitless and I believe almost anyone else who has visited there regularly would agree.
Almost heaven, West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River Life is old there, older than the trees Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze Country roads, take me home To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama Take me home, country roads All my memories gather 'round her Miner's lady, stranger to blue water Dark and dusty, painted on the sky Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye Country roads, take me home To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama Take me home, country roads I hear her voice in the mornin' hour, she calls me The radio reminds me of my home far away Drivin' down the road, I get a feelin' That I should've been home yesterday, yesterday Country roads, take me home To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama Take me home, country roads Country roads, take me home To the place I belong West Virginia, mountain mama Take me home, country roads Take me home, down country roads Take me home, down country roads John Denver
I backpacked this trail before I got really into mountain biking. I remember slogging uphill as a group of mountain bikers flew past us. I couldn't believe it was bikeable haha
Rugged and rocky is definitely WV. It is very underrated. If you get a chance to go back and check out more trails you can explore Davis, WV. Moon rocks, splash dam, table rock are just a start to some typical WV goodies. Slatyfork is also a rugged, rocky fun time. The folks at Elk River Touring do shuttles. The riding may be wild and painful sometimes but it sure is fun and beautiful.
@@chriskoutroulis4531 Not so much in the east I don't believe! That's more of a western US thing, but nearly the same thing as Poison Ivy, just shaped more like Oak leaves. Not a lot of PI on this ridge.
North Fork is always an epic WV backcountry ride! For more backcountry goodness in West By God, I would recommend Slaty Fork, Huckleberry Trail at Spruce Knob, and the rad new Enduro lines at Snowshoe.
North Eastern West Virginia has a Large radio telescope that requires a “quiet zone” which restricts wireless device use. Might be partially to blame for crap cell service...
If they are close to Green Bank Observatory, well renowned satellites dishes to listen for noise in outer space. That area has a strict no cell tower policy. Closes towers maybe around 20 to 30 miles away. And those towers might have restrictions.
West Virginia is the best place to mountain bike in the east. But c'mon Brian... your wheels will still be on the van when you get back. West Virginia has low crime and the people are great. Cudos for pronouncing Appalachia correctly.
BlackMan614 He’s been complaining about hillbillies and cell service since he hit the mid Atlantic like its some third world country. It can’t all be like commiefornia.
I know West Virginia is the butt of a lot of jokes and gets a bad rap because it's a poorer state, but man is it gorgeous. I went white water rafting out there when I was in high school and it was amazing.
I grew up in WV. people are nice and crime is pretty much the lowest in the whole east coast so your wheels would be fine. By the way, Greenbriar & Pocahontas counties are the best areas in WV to ride and the highest mountains in the state. Back in the 90's when u was in my teens I used to race XC in the WVMBA. Every summer at the Elk River Touring Center I used to go to the annual fat tire festival which still to this day I haven't found another Fat Fire festival better than it was back then in West Virginia. It was a whole week long with daily guided group rides you could sign up for depends g on your skill level. They also had bicycle polo, bike toss, home brewing contest, naked night ride, camping, bike demos, WVMBA sanctioned race, whitewater rafting midweek, and last day ya loaded up the bikes on the old steam locomotive on the Cass scenic railroad and rode to the top of Bald Knob(2nd highest peak in WV) and rode back down. At the bottom we had a big barbeque which concluded the festival. I don't even know if they still have the West Virginia Fat Tire Festival anymore. That was more than 20yrs ago. By the way, props run is the funnest downhill trail in the state with multiple water crossing at the bottom. It's a 7 mile downhill.
Once you get to Ohio, you have to check out either Mohican or Vulture's Knob! Mohican is a 24 mile epic ride, and the Knob is 6.5 miles of some flow, some tech, and some of the strangest features you'll see on a trail!
Love seeing you ride in TN in my current town and in WV which is my home state! WV is soooo Beautiful! there is a lot of good riding south of where you are at the New river gorge as well. the whole state could be a giant MTB park with all the natural features around.
I 100% agree. I would love to see the state and the federal government really sink money into West Virginia's park system for mountain biking, bike backpacking, and at a particular enduro races would be spectacular there. That state is absolutely an outdoorsman's paradise and I'd love to see its economy just come swinging back based on that. I say this is someone who's visited huge swaths of this country that I would bet that West Virginia is one of the most untapped outdoor economies in the country.
@Christine Taggart I think you'd be surprised how much people who moved there would gladly adapt to Appalachian outdoor lifestyle. It's pretty dang laid back just enjoying day to day life without getting overworked up about much of anything. WV likes it relaxed evenings near a fire with other people just having some good beer, homemade hooch, and good food. I love WV and have to say that the sheer number of people it would take to change WV in any big way would be insane. WV and their people are very much who they are and culturally set in the ways they prefer to be. Even if the state obtained the ideal I layed out, a powerhouse of outdoor recreation, that's not the sort of economy that invites some massive number of people to immigrate from economic centers like DC Metro, NYC, or CA/CO.
@Christine Taggart I had no intention of offending in anyway. I have studied the history and understand that since Columbus there is a litany of crimes committed against natives by European countries followed by the American nation with no real restitution made in any real way. It's also unfortunately you believe the stereotype of Californians so strongly as Brian pretty clearly had nothing bad to say about the state WV if you watched the video. As with any place on earth there are people who live there that aren't so nice. I experienced as much when I was in the state but the majority people living there are still decent people meaning no harm to anyone. I hope you have a good week and weekend.
Glad you enjoyed N. Fk. Mtn. Trail. I've ridden parts of it as well, mostly on the south end. Obviously I need to try the descent on the north end! But hopefully now you see why some folks are so crazy about West Virginia. Hope you get back there to ride some time - try out the Gauley Mountain trails, or the Huckleberry Trail down from state hi-point Spruce Knob, or any of the legendary trails in the Davis area. Keep up the good work, and stay well.
The topography of the USA is incredible. Very lucky to be able to ride all these different terrains. Thanks for the uploads watching them has given me the confidence to set up my own channel and document my progress on an mtb. I’m heading to mega next year, you ever thought about doing that race?
It’s cool to see you on my “local” trails in VA and WVA. We really have great resources with all the National Forests, wilderness areas, and national parks close to us.
WOW, Dan sure is a strong and in shape Country boy--Guess you never know who you'll meet up and decide to ride with, doesnt look like he is a kid either, VERY impressive Dan
What you hear every time you ride a new state: oh man, the number of amazing and better trails throughout the WV. Don’t be afraid to come back sometime. Keep up the good work!
@BKXC Snowshoe, Slatyfork, Davis/Canaan Valley, Kanawha State Forest, Valley Falls State Park, Richwood/Kennison Mtn, GW National Forest Trails (technically VA, but still the same topo!)...that's your WV residency opportunity!
My thoughts on that overgrown trail "they're gonna come out covered in ticks and poison ivy". I'm impressed he was able to do that well on that super gnarly descent riding an XC bike, Giant Anthems usually aren't associated with descending rocky gnar like that :)
I have always like you channel. But I feel jealous. The areas you go to I can not. I can not feel comfortable being around the same people that you easily take in. Being black has a lot of disadvantages especially now. I have to deal with not too friendly individuals. I ride a lot in UCSC. When I see you ride like all the other U-tubers I think, "I wonder If I could ride with them or their patrions?" Be safe out there and wear your mask. I am a nurse and this is real!
It really affects me to hear it put this way. I’m Canadian but used to live in Colorado and rode with a black friend. I think I was blind to many of the challenges he faced. If you ever want to ride in British Columbia, Canada, send me a message and we’ll make it happen. I think you’ll be be able to just enjoy the riding and the people.
To be fair, that's quite a lot of action for an XC bike (The Giant Anthem). It was never going to do as well on the downhill sections as a Ripmo, although it did look pretty handy on the way up and the flat stuff.
"What else is hiding in WV?", you ask. Well, let me tell ya - Afjankistan, that's what. Located near Oak Hill and New River Gorge, bootleg, jank trails are continually expanding and you are invited for a tour, if you're into those kind of trails? Check the vids.
I visited Washington DC at the end of my boys week trip to the us in 2018, like you said, really cool place. I was in West Virginia and then Kentucky during that trip too, really amazing experience and fun to see the rural parts of America that don't get mentioned!
My biggest fear is falling down a small cliff thing and losing my bike. I ride around a lake, and it gets really close to the side. I’m not that great at keeping my wheel straight, so my heart jumps every time 🤣
Awww, we got more than that, prepare for your residency. There's the Arrowhead trails in the Gorge, there of course is Snowshoe, there's the Wolf Creek Trails, the Grey Flats Trails, Beaver Pond, Lotito Park, man I can go on. It's mountain biking and we're the most mountainous state in the country. And we haven't even begun to tap all the places we could put in trails. And then you have the Virginia stuff right over the border like Round Mountain and McDonald's Hollow
I've only been to West Virginia for work and have always wanted to return to enjoy the outdoors. It is beautiful and rugged, but I hope all their trails aren't as encroached by vegetation as was this one.
Brian my boy. You have to check out the East rim in Cuyahoga national park when u roll through Ohio. Super flowy and some tech. Even an insane jump line called Edison Run.
Just an FYI for anyone looking to ride this trail. PLEASE don’t underestimate the physical conditioning and technical skills needed to complete it. Whether you’re doing the full loop( North Fork Mtn. Trail) or the half loop(Better than Canaan) each has its own challenges so be prepared with plenty of water and food. If opting for the half loop be prepared for Landis Trail (about 1500ft of climbing in 1.5mi). Also, once on the ridge line definitely check out chimney rocks( one of the best views in WV, keep left at the fork where the blue arrow points right). Have fun and be safe!
Bryan, when you get to Maryland you should definitely find Patapsco State Park area. Start at the Avalon section and work your way to Woodstock and back. You’d love that loop 🤘🏻
For Pennsylvania, I highly recommend the trails in the Pittsburg area. Frick park, alameda park, and North park are the most challenging and most fun places to ride. If you contact TrailPittsburg, I’m sure they’d be happy to show you around! (Just like they did with Jeff Kendall-Weed)
I live there, and I never came to appreciate it until now, white water rafting, mountain biking, and snowboarding. Will all 3 seasons there’s not a lot off limits
Pro tip: Down load a free fan app if you like the sound of a fan and you don’t have a real fan with you. This would also save battery on you fan since it’s just a app making noise and not a real fan. You can run the app in airplane mode and low battery mode to save battery but I would suggest having the phone on the charge while you sleep with the fan noise. 👍🏼happy trails.
what a great trail. I loved every minute of that.Very impressive climbing, followed by silky smooth bike handling on the descent. This trail is up there with my #1 trail you have done, Razors Edge . Great job BK. Hope you took a couple days off to recharge after that lot!
BRIAN PLEASE SHOW US WHENEVER YOU CHANGE ANYTHING ON BIKE LIKE TIRE OR SOMETHING IN VIDEO AND ALSO ANY UPGRADE TO VAN AS WELL THANKS DUDE AWESOME VIDEOS !!!
AMAN That was not what I was thinking, I really do understand why he is not replying. He sure has a lot on his hands. Join his patreon if you want answers.
You were very close to Huckleberry Trail- Seneca Creek backcountry!!! Trailhead located at the very top of the mountain state- Spruce Knob, 4,863’!!! Can’t go wrong with NFMtn though!
