| Sure you can ride your mountain bike just | | | | goodness. The North Loop will be complete in |
| about anywhere but there's nothing like | | | | spring 2008 and is going to bust the guts of |
| riding miles of winding hand-built single | | | | all but the most experienced cyclists. With |
| track (just wide enough for one) through the | | | | breakneck climbs and headlong descents, you |
| forests of North Georgia. But where? | | | | really have to know how to handle your bike |
| Unfortunately, mountain bikes have been | | | | if you want to make it to the end of this |
| unceremoniously kicked out of public parks | | | | four mile trail. Fortunately there's plenty |
| all over the Southeast for their tendancy to | | | | of opportunity to train up. |
| erode paths built for hikers and even collide | | | | |
| with the hikers themselves. The solution? | | | | The Mosquito Flats trail and the slightly |
| Well if you live in Woodstock Georgia, you | | | | more challenging Mosquito Bite Trail (1.3 |
| wrangle your own park and build your own | | | | miles total) are fun easy rides perfect for |
| trail. | | | | kids and beginners or to get your heart rate |
| | | | up before taking on the more challenging |
| The Southeast Off-Road Bicycle Organization | | | | trails. Intermediate riders can try the |
| (SORBA) is responsible for the wildly popular | | | | Dwelling loop (3.5 miles) and advanced riders |
| Blankets Creek trail system that skirts | | | | can try the South Loop (4 miles) for a steady |
| Blankets Creek at the edge of Lake Allatoona. | | | | stream of switchbacks, climbing, rock |
| Other nearby SORBA projects include Atlanta's | | | | gardens, roots and log crossings. |
| Morningside Nature Preserve trail that links | | | | |
| Midtown Atlanta with Buckhead through a 30 | | | | Though all previous trails were built by hand |
| acre forested trail, and Big Creek Park in | | | | with rakes, shovels and a lot of |
| Roswell. | | | | back-breaking labour, the new North Loop |
| | | | trail is being blazed by a mini-excavator. |
| BLANKETS CREEK | | | | The main benefit is that the trail will be |
| | | | complete in less than half the time it would |
| Almost entirely built by hand by a team of | | | | take to build it by hand. |
| volunteers, Blankets Creek Park is Cherokee | | | | |
| County's only designated bike park and is | | | | GETTING HERE |
| proving itself to be one of the state's best | | | | |
| rides. Right in Woodstock, just off Sixes | | | | Blankets Creek is located in Woodstock on the |
| Road, not too far from downtown and just 25 | | | | shores of Lake Allatoona. To get here, take |
| miles outside of Atlanta, the park draws over | | | | I-75 north to I-575 north and take exit 11. |
| 100,000 bikes annually. Kids, men, women, | | | | Turn left on Sixes Road, go about 1.8 miles |
| families, couples, lone wolves, seasoned | | | | and turn left into the trail head parking |
| riders and even hikers all converge here for | | | | lot. The park is open every day, but closed |
| the great trails, a good workout and fun | | | | for rain. Check the trail direction before |
| times. | | | | you begin as it changes daily. Admission is a |
| | | | $1 suggested donation. |
| The park has three short loops that let you | | | | |
| choose your own adventure - from beginner | | | | WHAT TO BRING |
| trails to hair-raisers that demand technical | | | | |
| skill. The group is currently building a | | | | - A helmet. You can't ride the trails without |
| fourth for a total of 16 miles of off-road | | | | one. |