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EDITORIAL

If You Can't Ride From Home, Ride From Somewhere

Photos Dave Smith (unless noted)

Riding From Home

I'm fortunate that multiple trailheads on my favourite mountain are within a thirty-minute ride from my house. No matter where I choose to enter the network, it starts with a flat pedal to spin my legs up and then a steep paved road to get everything humming. I arrive five minutes before I'm due to meet friends for a ride and I'm ready to pedal.

Compared to pulling the car out of the underground and loading my bike on the roof, and doing the opposite on return, I've worked it out to add around fifteen minutes round trip on an average traffic day. Living in North Vancouver, some days I'm passing cars like they're standing still - because they are - and I'm going to come back to that in a minute because it's the key.

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I'm not anti-car, I'm pro-you. I drive to ride places outside my backyard too. Going forward, I'll try to take my own advice and get some extra pedaling in when I arrive early. Photo: Bryce Borlick

Riding from home is awesome for all the reasons that sitting on a bike isn't sitting in a car, but the biggest one I've noticed is fitness. That relatively painless addition of forty-ish minutes of pavement a couple times a week really does add up. Hard to argue against the mental and physical health benefit. The first few times I was certainly more tired at the end of my ride than if I'd driven part way but I really don't notice it now. Progress.

Also, spinning home after a ride makes me aware of what I need to fix before the next time I pedal. Bent rotors, sagging tires, crooked stem, creaking whatever. It's all more apparent when you're rolling on fresh tarmac.

A Conversation

I was a bit gassed after standing and hammering up a steep road pitch to my second favourite mountain bike climb, No Quarter on Mt. Fromme. It was a solo ride without someone to talk to so I just kept cranking away, but I'm always happy to stop and chat* for a couple of minutes.

There's a chap leaning against a fresh carbon Enduro 29" reading something on his phone. He glances up and says heya as I'm riding by. "I saw you pedaling up the road, must be great to live nearby. I drive in from Surrey." He's meeting a group of local guys he's been riding with for years but thanks to unpredictable traffic he's thirty minutes early for his ride. Just hanging out.

*I've been told I have two sets of lungs: one for riding and one for bs-ing.

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The one negative to riding from home is that I seem to spend a lot less time post-ride bullshitting at my favourite local institutions.

In addition to making the long drive over he's the caboose of his group on climbs. "I usually start climbing once a few of the others have shown up. I don't get much time to ride so it's good to get a headstart." But wait, you're thirty minutes early for your ride? "Yeah, usually it's a bit less and a couple of times I've been late even though I always leave at the same time."

So, why not park down the hill? If you can't ride from home and you have some time to kill why not ride from somewhere? Don't hammer yourself before your ride but from my experience, the extra pavement warmup is a net benefit.

Park & Pedal

I'm not trying to get preachy. It's mountain biking and there are bigger things to stress about. You do you, etc. But it seems to me disagreements between riders and residents near trail access points would diminish if we diluted neighbourhood parking, turned down the tunes, picked up after ourselves, and changed discretely.

Maybe that's a little bit preachy, but would it kill you to park a few blocks away instead of right next to the trailhead? You do have a bike.

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Look I get it's the law, but no one says you can't park your Taco a few blocks from everyone else's. Photo: Mark Mackay

Now I've got myself started. If I had a loonie for every time one of my friends complained about having to wait for a parking spot in the Fromme parking Lot on a busy Saturday or Sunday I could afford to drown my sorrows and pay someone to un-knot my knickers.

I like to think of limited parking situations at busy trailheads like the courtesy seating on buses. If the bus is empty sit wherever you want. During peak hours you suck if you don't give up your seat to children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

I realize we live in a first-come-first-serve society but it's worth considering that every time you choose not take the last spot near a busy trailhead that's someone who can take their dog or kid riding, haul in trail building tools, introduce a less-fit friend to sport, go for a hike, etc.

Riding From Somewhere

On occasions when I drive, I've discovered quiet parking spots that are great for a post-ride chew-and-brew without impacting relations with trail-neighbours. I've also found new ways to link up some of my beloved trails with new and rediscovered favourites thanks to a floating termination point. And there's a surprising amount of urban gravel and singletrack to explore away from traffic.

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The camera adds what - 30 kilos? But still! Who would have thought that pedaling instead of sitting around waiting for friends to show would improve my fitness?

Don't take my word for it, try riding from somewhere next time traffic is light. Then try it a few more times and see if you don't pick up some climbing speed on the trail and start saving the 'I don't get to ride enough' excuse for when you really need it.

Remember, I'm pulling for you and we're all in this together.

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Comments

earleb
+5 Andrew Major Niels van Kampenhout natbrown Andy Eunson yahs

Some suggested Fromme parking spots. 

If you are climbing via No Quarter try parking just a touch lower down at Princess Park. Has a supplied parking lot and washrooms. 

If planning to climb up Mtn Hwy park at the Legion in Lynn Valley. Well first become a Legion member, then park there and finish you ride there with a nice cold beer.

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deleted_user_1211
+5 Velocipedestrian natbrown Metacomet Niels van Kampenhout Andrew Major

This comment has been removed.

niels@nsmb.com
+4 natbrown wizardB Andrew Major Lynx .

The queue at the Fromme parking lot this morning:

I rode up Lower Griffen and King of the Shore and saw exactly 0 other riders.

Idling in your car vs. extra riding time, people are strange...

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AndrewMajor
+1 natbrown

Exactly. 

Guaranteed there was plenty of room on Coleman and starting there means more singletrack!

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mark.burgener@sks-usa.com
+3 Andrew Major Pete Roggeman ehfour

Great article.  Your nailed it.  I always ride the 4 miles to our local trail.  And I always ride with headphones, but that's another story........

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WalterWhite
+3 Andrew Major Niels van Kampenhout ehfour

I love riding from home, 15 min straight up to the parking lot but climbing up though Princess is such a nice start to the day. Can't wait for the new bridge to be finished to connect up to Seymour easier as well.

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AndrewMajor
+1 Cooper Quinn

Love to climb through Princess (minimize pavement) when I’m not meeting folks or not on the clock. Thanks for the addition!

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Brocklanders
0

Same, the parks guys even fixed up the trail on the south entrance, off the power lines... Nice easy spin to Breamar from home is great. When I take my 8 year old trail dog I drive, he doesn't have the range he used to.

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Kenny
+1 Sanesh Iyer

Same. I live on the west side of Seymour and thus ride Seymour 19 times out of 20 because I can ride from my house, and riding very far on the road sketches me out. Yes I  realize I'm a bit spoiled and having  to ride on the road to get to fromme is definitely a first world problem, but it is what it is. The new bridge will mean fromme access with minimal on-road riding which will be awesome.

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legbacon
+2 Cam McRae Andrew Major

I agree with you, but I'm not going to move further away from the trail head just so I can warm up😉.

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andy-eunson
+2 Todd Hellinga ZigaK

That was always my way when lived in North Van even with the dog. It wasn’t too hard to find a quiet lane to get where I was heading but at a certain point it became easier and simpler to drive with the dogs. I like to avoid driving if I can now .  Where I live now I tend to ride the trails close to home to avoid parking issues and other people too. But avoiding other folks is another article.

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Vincent66
+1 Cam McRae

Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! Every time I ride on Fromme, I start a the the tennis court on Breamar. You can't find a better workout !

Every time I take my 5 y-o son for a ride, I try to park on the main parking lot on top of mtn hwy ... ... and I complain !

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Kieran
+1 ZigaK

All very well and good but when you have kids it becomes difficult to get the time to do anything other than riding.

A ride to work would be the most beneficial to all I'd say.

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AndrewMajor
0

There’s 24hrs in a day. It was ~ dark when I pedalled out the door yesterday night.

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Kieran
0

Are you going to pay for child sitter when my kids aren't in school / day care so I can go for a longer ride?

When I get the chance, I'll see you in the car park.  :)

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AndrewMajor
0

Fully appreciating that everyone’s circumstances are different - and in the immortal words of Brett Tippie “one is an accessory, two is a life change” - I have a wee one, an active partner that also wants rec time, and share the weight of making ends meet. I get that the struggle is real. 

A lot of my riding happens when the little one is in bed.

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Kieran
+5 natbrown Andrew Major Pete Roggeman ZigaK ehfour

And as my buddy said, add a third and you are f**ked! :)

Thats the thing peoples circumstances are different. I wish I lived closer and had more time.

Seems these days if you ain't doing it right, if you aren't doing it like I me. I love the editorials but this one misses the mark for me.

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AndrewMajor
+1 Niels van Kampenhout

Believe me I hear you. Wanted to answer this sooner but wanted to run it by my buddy first since it ended up being a bit of an embarrassment.

Keeping in mind I’ve been called lots of names over things I’ve written (I’ve even been compared angrily to Trump on two separate occasions) and I received some solid hate mail over ‘Man Specific Bikes’ and I could go on ad naseum, the most angry / verbally-violent response I’ve gotten to a piece was actually from a friend regarding something I wrote on min-maxing.

He was solidly angry because (paraphrasing) he works really hard and makes lots of money and spends his disposable income on wicked high end bikes and XTR is way better than Deore (and etc - lots of examples)  and totally worth the money. 

I like high-end bike parts (especially rear hubs, brakes, and suspension - always be min-maxing), custom metal, and etc as much as the next person so I didn’t really get it but he was PISSED. 

I think there’s tonnes of info on high end stuff and budget product is underserviced in terms of review content and also it’s more interesting to write about in terms of creating the best user experience / $ in an area where a lot of riders fall into the trap of thinking they need a high end machine to enjoy the highly technical riding. 

I wasn’t trying to devalue someone else’s purchasing decision or opinion but the way he read it was just so. 

Anyways, when I wrote this it was intended, as always, to entertain and to present an option that maybe some people hadn’t considered. Not to devalue other’s experiences. 

Cheers!

natbrown
0

I've got three kids (1, 3 and 5) and it's pretty bonkers. I also try pretty damn hard to truly do my share in running the house, and spend time as a family having fun, so time is insanely precious for me. I don't think I'm totally exceptional by any means, but for a lot of the people who read and comment here, I bet they simply spend more of their time riding than I do. They prioritise it more than I do, presumably.

Perhaps we have something in common relative to most here, and I think it's probably those other people who are Andrew's intended audience here. I know you're not trying to beat Andrew up here, I'm just saying I don't think he's quite saying it the way you think. And I have disagreed with Andrew here in the comments, and he bit back once, haha. I don't recall it ever being particularly emotional on my part, but I do enjoy a good debate. Plus, it's the internet. Every knuckle dragging anthropoid who learned how to type, but not think, has access and it shows.

I headed out to ride last night from my door though, partly because I feel like the fitness gains from that will help me. It's about 250 m elevation gain from my place, and with my fitness levels I can definitely feel my legs very shortly after climbing on dirt. So that makes it seem like a bad idea, but like Andrew said, the time differential isn't so bad for me. So I definitely get more exercise in overall, which I figure must help maintain my fitness levels at something considered poor, as opposed to terrible. 

Another way I differ from the more typical reader here is my budget for bikes. It certainly makes people seem foolish to me when they go on about how if you love riding enough, you'll find a way be on decent gear. I don't find the contributors here do that too much, but some commenters do. I also don't have time to maintain my stuff as much as I 'should'. Whatever. I do think there are a few people out there who are like me in that they make it work, however they can, with limited time and/or financial resources, because they do love it. Or like it a lot, or something.

AndrewMajor
+2 Niels van Kampenhout natbrown

Nat! When did I bite back at you? I would have said I always appreciate your comments :-). 

Admittedly I don't really see any riders that wouldn't be in my target audience. If someone gets out once a month and is early for their ride thanks to traffic why not turn that into some extra pedaling instead of answering one more e-mail?

Living on Lonsdale? Then time a round trip (including setup and cleanup) ride driving vs. riding Fromme. Even if you do the same route (instead of maximizing for not having to retrieve a car and ending on the west side and bombing home down Lonsdale)I think the time cost of riding from home will prove minimal. 

Anyways, moral of the story - if you're ever looking for some added motivation to get out and ride on a weeknight in the pitch black after your gaggle of groms is down let me know. I prefer to be home by midnight but whatever.

Kieran
0

If I lived on the north shore then yeah I'd probably ride from my door, as I'd use the travel time I gained to ride. But I don't. So that means driving to the trails. I just can't justify parking lower down to ride and I certainly wouldn't try to explain that to the GF ;) and she rides too.

deleted_user_5817
0

This comment has been removed.

natbrown
0

I read your article Geof, nice. Like you wrote, I think it just comes down to expectations and prioritisation. I like the title and it made me think of my childhood. My folks were both heavily into organized sport and I got dragged all over for 10-20 hours of games and practice every week, and that was my normal. Despite my parents commitment to those things, my family has always been really tight

Andrew! Haha. You didn’t lose your shit at me, but I think I got under your skin when I said something about a hub manufacturer also making weapons componentry for military applications. Whatever. I only think about it once or twice a day, every day 🙂

I’ve timed stuff and you’re right. I had independently thought this stuff through with respect to myself anyway. You know, coz I’m pretty nerdy. I just think there are some people who it might actually result in a significant reduction in trail time given that they might not ride much already. Especially shorter rides, and I know I relate to doing almost exclusively short rides these days. Factor in the amount of travel time by car too (the closer you live the larger the relative contribution packing and unpacking your shit), and I can see there being some people who this idea won’t commonly apply to. Hence, your scenario of being early for a group ride notwithstanding, these people would be outside your audience. Don’t you think? I don’t mean that they wouldn’t find it interesting necessarily, but as an idea, it might not apply well to some. Anyway, I also didn’t read this as some sort of dictum. There’s a relative dearth of creative mountain bike content, so I find these kinds of articles quite valuable. So thanks.

Since the subject of this little thread is on family life leaving little time I thought I’d add this little note. I drafted a comment right here, about twice as long as this, with a couple of extra points, and it evaporated when I slipped a touch pad and accidentally went back in my browser- lost the fucking lot, haha.

craw
+1 Andrew Major

That last photo of you is amazing. That is all.

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AndrewMajor
0

There are a couple winners in Fatness Goals (and some winning advice in Survival Of The Fattest). Write about what you know right?

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peterk
+1 Andrew Major

I too enjoy the articles. Imagine if bike companies read what he writes. We would have better bikes coming right out of the box!

Riding from somewhere else to the trails is also a great idea from a safety perspective. Not specific to the shore, but many places have trails that spill out or cross the access road. Less cars = less danger for our fellow riders.

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grcgrc
+1 Niels van Kampenhout

I live in downtown Vancouver and despise driving over the bridges unless absolutely necessary. So I often ride the Seabus across and catch the #228 from Lonsdale Quay. That leaves me facing the daunting climb up Mountain Highway (which honestly looks worse than it is).

Alternatively I can also catch the #210 from town. This option get me further up Mountain Highway but leaves me sitting in a vehicle on a bridge again. A situation I despise. 

Or finally, I can just ride the whole thing. This is the longest option in terms of time. It is also the most satisfying. I am exhausted by the end of the ride. Starving. And looking for an energy drink with the code IPA emblazoned somewhere on the label.

I tend to use an auto only when I head out of town. Driving in town gives me an appreciation for how road rage starts.

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cam@nsmb.com
0

My mini colour full of ice and beer won't fit in my bumbag.

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earleb
+3 Andrew Major Niels van Kampenhout ehfour

Once a month haul a stash of beer up to a nice cold creek high up on Fromme. Then you'll have a nice cold beer waiting for you at the top of the climb each time you head up the mountain. Consider the "haul ride" a special training ride for a double bonus.

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cam@nsmb.com
0

I've done that before. But how does that help me at the end of the ride?

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earleb
0

You no like cold beer at the top of the climb? I find that helps delay the desire for cold beer post ride.

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AndrewMajor
0

I have one of those Yeti coasters. I can have a cold beer at the top in August or a cold-enough beer at the bottom. I guess if I had two then I could do both!

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earleb
+7 Andrew Major Todd Hellinga Mammal Pete Roggeman AM ZigaK skidrc

Wide mouth opening water bladder. 1/3rd water, 1/3rd ice, and a can of beer*. 

Cold beer AND cold water at the top of the mountain. No extra weight of a coaster being dragged around. 

*give the beer can a wash before putting it into the bladder with your drinking water.

AndrewMajor
+1 Mammal

Damn. Brian. Just. Damn. I’m going to try it with two!

zigak
+1 Andrew Major

You just made me want a camelback - from a roadie/xc-er who never, ever would consider it.

"wide mouth opening water bladder"- does that mean some sort of ziplock on the top? What about shaking? Are there beers that are less susceptible to this? Or should I wait a couple of minutes before opening it? Is bringing alcohol with you frowned upon? How about wine?

AndrewMajor
0

ZigaK my Hydrapak and Platypus bladder both work great (fully open at the top for cleaning / beer insertion).

I tap the bottom of the can at the top of my climb and find I don’t lose much.

I’ve  brought a bladder of red wine into the woods - great for a date night ride. Re. other alcohol it’s the winter so Flask Friday is any day ending in Y that bikes are ridden.

cam@nsmb.com
0

Me likey and I know the bladder trick. It's an excellent one! And it even works with my bumbag without having to sacrifice my flask. #beprepared

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DemonMike
0

I used to ride to my spots a lot. Used to commute as well. With handheld devices and a drink of some kind in everyone's hands these days. I stay off the roads with my bikes.

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AndrewMajor
0

I’m on the road quite a bit with my little one on a trailer bikes (flag and daytime running lights) and I’ve had a mixed experience.

On the one hand, compared to commuting even five years ago the average driver is WAY more bike aware. I experience significantly less near-doorings and right-hand-turn cutoffs then I used to. 

On the other hand I do see a number of distracted drivers and we ride very defensively - take the lane, etc, to compensate. We plan our routes way more carefully then we should have to, and we always yield right of way even to guys torching through stop signs while flipping us the bird.

I’ve only had one incident - night or day | up or down - riding on Lonsdale to access trails and I’m confident that fine fellow internalized my brief presentation on traffic right of way as it pertains to bicycles on the road to such an extent that the world is now a safer place.

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flowrider
0

Hi I'm Steve.... and I'm a Fatass... I'd love to ride to the trails but unfortunately I'm one of those that use the Fromme parking lot every weekend because I live in Langley. There isn't too much mountain biking out this way. Even the Delta Watershed would be about an hour ride on some pretty treacherous roads.

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AndrewMajor
+1 Niels van Kampenhout

Hi Steve, totally in line with what I'm suggesting - you can't realistically ride from home but next time you're early to meet a group because it turns out you crossed two bridges without incident (what are the chances?) why not park down the hill and ride from somewhere. 

For example, park on Coleman at the elementary school and climb King Of The Shore for some added singletrack that spits you out right at the parking lot.

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CPL
0

What's a Loonie? In the UK that'd be a nutter!

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sanesh-iyer
0

This came up in a heated Christmas dinner debate between some experienced North Shore trail users and some people newer to the area. The end result:

1) Parking Lots (Fromme, Lynn Headwaters, Mushroom) need to clearly list alternative parking places. Lots of people (new day hikers) apparently don't know about less apparent lots and spaces.

2) Routing. Newer trail users don't know about the different access routes to trails, viewpoints, attractions, etc. They do their due diligence planning a hike, printing a map, etc. However they're understandably uncomfortable starting from a point different to their plan. The Google search result for most popular routes reinforces stress on certain parking areas. 

So, maps at lots and clearly marked alternative lots should help distribute use, maybe?

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AndrewMajor
0

Just Fromme as an example, on weekends there are plenty of parking spots on Coleman (including in the school) with easy access to same trail network as the parking lot via a nice singletrack climb. It is a bit of a stretch to expect folks trying to take their kids up to Bobsled or hike with less-able family members to go park over on Braemar. 

I don't disagree with you re. alternative lots but the really simple solution is to reopen PUBLIC STREET PARKING on McNair, Mountain Hwy and the other NIMBY streets where it was originally banned in an effort to limit citizens from using public lands.

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AndrewMajor
0

And answering myself here - YES, I do know the reasons that were originally given for banning parking/access from those streets. It's the same reason that everyone who lives anywhere near a school hates ALL parents twice a day Monday-Friday, and your kid will learn some interesting words if you live across the street from a pub, and no one who visits me can ever find parking anywhere near my apartment during business hours. Sorry - that's life.

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sanesh-iyer
0

Andrew, I absolutely agree with you on public street parking in that area (most of those houses have driveways or are big enough to have one anyways). 
About the places to park, I'm aware of them (even though I don't drive...) but the problem is newer users aren't. There needs to be some sort of signage saying "If full, go to Coleman or Braemar".

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AndrewMajor
0

Hi Sanesh, yes - didn't mean to argue with your point. Definitely, there should be an indication of available parking alternatives for when the lot is full. 

My problem is that the alternate parking options are truly useless for the majority of people that actually need the parking lot to begin with. 

.

On a bike (and with the basic fitness required to get to Bobsled) and adult mountain biker can park down at Coleman and ride back up to the parking lot. So sure, mark that as an option.

Braemar is another story altogether as significantly more advanced fitness and skill on a bike is required to access the trail network from that point. 

Hiking wise - and I've experienced this first hand - trying to access the easiest hiking trails on Fromme from any legal parking spot that isn't the parking lot is essentially impossible with very small children and less-abled people. It's an artificial problem that the DNV has created and can easily rescind but likely never will in a standard case of spine vs. NIMBY (I'd love to be surprised).

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wizardB
0

I personally hate the parking lots, I liked it better when they weren't there, lots more room on the hill and a lot less wear on the trails.

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AndrewMajor
+1 Niels van Kampenhout

I guess it depends on what trails you ride from where. Even on the busiest weekend days riding from home, up No Quarter and riding down not 7th/Expresso I rarely see anyone on Fromme.

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