Short lift lines, terrain that includes easy beginner runs as well as technical, advanced trails, and amazing views make this bike park one of the premier mountain bike destinations in the state. Riders can access trails via the chairlift. Stevens Pass Ski Resort transforms into the Stevens Pass Bike Park in the summer months. The trail alternates between downhill, cross-country, and steep climbing terrain. This highly scenic advanced trail near Carson, Washington flows through deep forest and parallels a river. The park sits in a 120-acre second growth forest and features flowing cross-country trails, technical freeride trails, and skill-building features for riders of all levels. The Duthie Hill Mountain Bike Park is located near Evergreen, Washington on the Issaquah Plateau. Contact Us Today About Your Pacific Northwest Adventure 3. The trails are well-maintained and feature challenging climbs in addition to the challenging singletrack. Located near Issaquah, Washington, this trail system that winds through evergreen forest is definitely a local favorite. Rainier and double black diamond downhill you’re after, Tiger Mountain is for you. Riders of all experience levels will find something for them here, though it’s really known for the epic downhills (preceded only by steep climbs). Singletrack, double track, and dirt roads abound throughout this trail system. Galbraith MountainĦ4 miles of trails can be found at Galbraith Mountain near Bellingham, Washington. With help from Singletracks, a nationwide online mountain biking community, we’ve put together an aggregated list of some of the most frequented and well-loved mountain biking trails in Washington.
From fast-paced singletrack to racing through old growth forests, mountain biking trails in Washington are unforgettable. If you can build up to doing six or seven of these intervals a couple times a week as part of your XC mountain bike training program, you should see great improvement in your race day performance.Mountain biking in Washington is one of the most unique and incredible experiences in the country.
You’ll also get in better overall race shape by doing “3 x 3” minute interval workouts with three minutes of max effort followed by three minutes of recovery riding. Do this two-to-four times, three times a week. Practice interval training from a stopped position with a foot on the ground, accelerating to near-max effort for two minutes, followed by five minutes of steady threshold effort at a power level of four. This requires an intense anaerobic effort for several minutes at the start, followed by a quick recovery into a threshold output.
While the race may last for 90 minutes to two hours, getting a burst at the beginning ensures you are in a front-running position when the trail narrows to a single track. In XC racing, the start is very important-every MTB XC training plan should include specific training to get the strongest, fastest, most powerful start possible.
And, if you aren’t quite that speedy, expect to spend quite a bit more time in the saddle.Ĭross Country Mountain Bike Training PlanĬross country (XC) is a different category, and there are a few different things to keep in mind when thinking about how to train for XC mountain bike racing. The men in the Open division at Breck race an average of 2.5 hours a day, with most stages being closer to three hours. For many road cyclists, the mileage is actually shy of weekly training totals, but that amount of riding on trails in a six-day period quickly takes its toll. You’ll need a comprehensive mountain bike training plan.įor example, the Breck Epic in Colorado is a six-day stage race during which participants ride approximately 240 miles and climb 40,000 feet. But, if your goal is to win a stage or even end up on the final podium, you’ll need more than just miles in your legs. And for many first-timers, that is the best approach to mountain bike training (also known as mtb training). And while each sub-section within the discipline requires a different training focus, they all share one thing in common: to compete in-or even complete-a marathon bike race, you’ll need to spend hours and hours in the saddle. Endurance mountain biking sees a variety of formats, from 24 hours to multi-day stage races.