The only problem with trails being marked "Green" or "Easy"  is that they usually get me all winded (especially after a winter of inactivity).  I would feel so much better about myself if I got beat by an easy trail that was marked "Difficult."   

Regardless, the trail is what it is...  pick your favorites, ride and have a blast!!  

73   

Please go out and ride your bikes and enjoy your time in the woods. Those of us who have invested decades, yes decades!, into our trail system while working full time jobs and spending time with our families are too tired to take mtb'ing so seriously.  We really just want to ride in the woods.

Teach your kids that failure is OK, is a great learning experience and doesn't make them less of a person.  If you're spouse doesn't like it then you may count yourself lucky!    

And here's some dancing bananas for you.   



As Rocky would say.....RAMFB!!!  Just sayin,,,,

Meanwhile I'll be out hitting Beatty's black diamond with my two year old. THE SYSTEM WORKS!
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The Cycle Path wrote on 03/01/17 at 6:45pm:

Mark just gave parenting advise   

You should charge $$$ for such advise

I'm with the OP on this one. The green loop at Fisher is completely out of hand and should be labeled double black diamond immediately in order to save others from the horror. However, there's been a new addition at Fisher which I think will be perfect for them. If we're going to give it a level of difficulty, I'd call it "chartreuse."  Careful, though, you may need to bypass some pebbles on foot.  Highly recommend pre-riding it before taking the family through the gauntlet.
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I for one have never found a trail labeled as green even remotely challenging from a tech standpoint. 
Humble Brag

3milesup wrote on 03/01/17 at 6:09pm:


I recommend you read this link in it's entirety.  (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Think about how much better this could have gone if OP simply said:

"I took my family for a ride on the green loop at Fisher Farm, and it was just too challenging for them - they were really frustrated.  Any recommendations for an easier trail to break them in on?"

Back before I knew better, I used to take my 7 yo son, on his 40lb Wal-Mart full suspension bike (wow was that an error) to ride at Andrews on Poplar Tent.  We would ride everything except Devils Drop.  He would push his bike up hills, and we would walk down things that were scary.  It was hard.  Challenging.  We didn't know anything about trail ratings.  We got better, it became more fun.  We still skipped some tough spots.

Now he's 18, and teaches me how to get through technical stuff.  We race together.  If there's a tough obstacle we fail on, we turn around, go back and try it again.  We try it five times in a row until we clean it easier and easier each time.  There are still spots where I unclip or walk, and I'm ok with that - it just means they're tough.

To the OP - try the "gravel road and nothing but right turns approach" at Sherman.  Then the full loop.  Then all of it.  You ride it before hand.  Then lead the family and warn them about what is coming, or guide and teach them how to attack an obstacle.  Hey guys, a rock garden ahead, want to try it this time?  Mountain biking is challenging.  The fastest guys on here are still learning how to get faster.  Look at it as a challenge to overcome, not a challenge to avoid.

Charlotte is an amazing place, with over a dozen trails in the area - we're very lucky.  Learn to master them, and you'll have so much fun.

Rockys Smarter Brother wrote on 03/02/17 at 1:59pm:


That's good thinking. Comments from anonymous posters on a forum definitely impact your experience on the trail.

This might be the wrong place but does anyone have any suggestions how to convert my 26er into a two-niner?  I am trying to keep up with KevinB and now realize it's all about the wheel size.