New bundle of joy

I've been neglecting this site because I have been preoccupied with a new addition to my family that has been in the works for nearly nine months!  She came into my world only two weeks ago and I have had time for little else, always needing constant attention and care.  You don't get much else done when you get a new Waltworks 29'r hardtail!  It was my first time assembling from the frame up and I nearly jacked it up two or three times.  But, after three trips to the professionals at Bikemasters, she was fine tuned and ready to hit the trail.  The first ride was heartbreaking when the first spec of dirt attached to the chain and the first piece of gravel bounced off the frame, but it would be a crime to lock a bike this pretty up.  You have to ride!! 

Buster loyally guarding my mistress

Anyway, for those of you that want to know, I do plan on getting to Lewis and Clark Monument in CB this season yet before we get real snow here.  I have taken the gps on a ride there before, but there have been a couple of re-routes since then.  Plus, I made a few wrong turns and generally F'd up the whole track.  I am shooting for this weekend! 

-Phil

Swanson Park / Bellevue, NE

(map is oriented with north to the left)

Trail Notes:
A) 0.0 miles Trail entrance
B) 0.5 miles Drop with steep, short, rooty up
C) 1.16 miles Quick down and up with airtime
D) 1.36 miles Creepy pile of pompoms
E) 1.5 miles Ravine dive
F) 1.9 miles Start of big climb
G) 2.56 miles Top of big climb
H) 2.8 miles Decent around firefighter training area
I) 3.4 miles Fun series of hops
J) 3.5 miles Start of rooty climb
K) 3.7 miles Top of rooty climb
L) 4.31 miles Trail exit to parking lot

Swanson Park in Bellevue is the original trail system in the area.  Whether you are looking for windy singletrack, rooty climbs, or speedy descents, Swanson has it.

Calvin Crest / Fremont, NE



Trail Notes:
A) 0.2 miles Trail entrance
B) 0.4 miles Downhill slope with a sharp right turn at bottom
C) 0.55 miles Short steep uphill grunt
D) 0.95 miles Top of climb 1
E) 1.15 miles Gravity cavities and bridges
F) 1.95 miles Short, steep, tight switchback series
G) 2.1 miles Spider outhouse and observation tower
H) 2.25 miles Top of tricky decent
I) 2.7 miles Swinging bridge
J) 2.95 miles Start of final climb
K) 3.45 miles Parking lot

Calvin Crest is a jem of a trail situated on the southern bluffs of the Platte River just south of Fremont NE.

Tranquility Park / Omaha, NE

(trail map is oriented with north to the left)

Trail Notes:
A) 0.7 miles  Enter pine tree grove
B) 1.2 miles  Pine tree switchbacks
C) 2.1 miles  North downhill
D) 2.4 miles  South hill switchbacks
E) 2.8 miles  BMX-ish dirt hills
F) 3.0 miles  South downhill 1
G) 3.7 miles  South downhill 2 with construction dirt mound traverse
H) 4.6 miles  Small log crossing leading to last south hill grunt
I) 4.8 miles  South downhill 2 (with jumps!)
J) 5.1 miles  Mild technical section with log crossings and whoop de whoops
K) 5.2 miles  Cross wee bridge and bear right to north loop OR bear left and return to parking lot
L) 6.1 miles  Speed loop in powerline meadow
M) 6.6 miles  Pine tree dash
N) 8.31 miles  Arrive back at vehicle

Tranquility Park is my go to trail.  It's rideable from my house, well constructed, and a lot of fun! 

Jewel Park / Bellevue, NE

Trail Notes:
A) 0.2 miles  Begin inner loop with log crossing and steep ups.  Bear right 200ft and begin singletrack.
B) 0.3 miles  More ups with roots and tight switchbacks.
C) 0.6 miles  Rollercoaster
D) 1.4 miles  Begin outer loop
E) 1.7 miles  Leg burnin' hill of love 1
F) 2.1 miles  Leg burnin' hill of love 2
G) 2.4 miles  Downhill rewards
H) 2.6 miles  Gravity bomb!
I) 2.96 miles  Arrive at vehicle

Jewel Park is an enigma of a trail consisting of tightly packed loops carved into a 150ft bluff.  If you are lucky enough to find this trail, as it is not unlike the quest for the Lost Ark, it is well worth the search.

Hall Ranch / Lyons, CO

Hall Ranch is another beauty created and maintained by Boulder County.  This multi use trail system nestled in the foothills of the Rockies north of Lyons, CO offers bikers, hikers, and horseback riders access to a fantastic outdoor playground.

Heil Valley Ranch / Lyons, CO

Heil Valley Ranch is a public open space with multi-use trails made possible and maintained by Boulder County.  I had my first encounter with this trail on my last trip to Colorado in July 2011.

Platte River State Park / South Bend, NE


Trail Notes:
A) 0.2 miles  Stone Creek Falls
B) 0.5 miles  Left turn to east trails
C) 0.7 miles  Short steep section down to wide horse trail (do not ride 9a-4p, Memorial Day-Oct 31st)
D) 1.2 miles  Horse trail uphill grunt
E) 1.5 miles  Singletrack begins
F) 2.3 miles  Left turn on a flowy ridge ride
G) 2.6 miles  Platte River overlook
H) 3.0 miles  Trail opens to meadow
I) 3.2 miles  High point of trail 1199ft
J) 3.4 miles  Rollercoaster downhill begins
K) 4.3 miles  Small rock garden
L) 4.7 miles  The Gully begins
M) 6.25 miles  Arrive back at vehicle

Platte River State Park is one of the best trail systems in eastern Nebraska.  It is a beautiful network of fast flowing singletrack cut into the bluffs above the Platte River.  These trails wind themselves up and down the forested bluffs, across open fields at the crest, and rocket down gullies in between.  It is a haven of mountain biking bliss!