...and from Kansas City we have...

I thought I'd add Kansas City to the growing list of riders representing this site. Since I don't have much to say about myself, I'll introduce you all to our trails. For those considering KC as a place to ride, it's pretty nice for XC riding. Not much in the way of freeride but we're getting started with a few nice sized drops on some of our more chellenging trails. Personally, your author favors all things fast and freeride.

With trails being ridable 9-10 months each year we get plenty of time in the saddle so while the mountain states may have more elevation and scenery, we get more riding each year. And all of our trails are under a dense forest canopy so there's always shade & shelter. Almost all of our trails are composed of a heavy clay'ish soil and are probably 'average' on the water shedding scale but it isn't uncommon for our trails to by too muddy to ride for several weeks during the early spring or heavy summer rains. This place is green for good reason, we get a lot of rain here, and all at once it seems.

Kansas City has several trail systems:

Landahl- Without a doubt the best riding in this area. In fact, I ride all over the country and I'll still put this place on my top ten for overall XC bliss. This trail system is on the east side of KC just north of Blue Springs (MO) and hosts about 20 miles of premium singletrack. I could be off in my esimation because I've never had a cycle computer on my bike. For an above-average rider you'll probably get a solid 3-4 hours worth of riding and never ride the same trail twice. The trails are pretty well marked and are growing every year thanks to the help of a solid foundation of riders working on expanding the area. Landahl also lays claim to having the closest thing you'll find to freeride, with a drop zone containing several drops and step-downs with one that is about 6 feet in height.

Blue River Parkway- Also called BuRP or sometimes Minor Park and sitting south-centrally to KC, BuRP is another good trail system but is probably more geared toward the rider with a couple years of solid riding under his/her helmet. There are many trails that are totally ridable by the newbies, however, it is easy to find yourself stuck on the advanced trails (High Line in particular) which will take a newbie's soul without so much as a chance for redemtption. I'm not trying to scare anyone or exaggerate this area but I've seen lost people out on High Line during the middle of summer and they definitely had their souls removed.

Smithiville Lake- Also called Smitty or Smokin' Davies and located just north of Kansas City, Smithville has trails paralleling a very nice sized lake and will give you about 10 miles worth of easy-to-advanced singletrack. The good thing about Smitty is that it will often be missed by whatever weather hits KC proper. The downside is that Smitty may get the rains that missed KC proper and if you don't get a good trail report you may end up on muddy trails.

Shawnee Mission Park- Often called SMP for short, this is a newly renovated trail system just on the west side of KC is also located beside a lake and will give you about 7 miles of singletrack to ride. It's located on the west side of KC and serves up their trails in the form of a big figure-8. One loop will give you an easy 2.5-3 miles of pretty level singletrack great for someone new to mountain biking. The full figure-8 will give you an additional loop that is chock full of rocks but maintains a fairly level trail that doesn't require any granny-gearing.

Lawrence River Trails- Sitting about 30 miles west of Kansas City in Lawrence, KS are the River Trails. Also called the Levy (by few) and more commonly LRT (we seem to love acronymizing things here don't we?), LRT offers something truly unique to this area. LRT is usually the last place to succumb to the wetness and when it does, it's usually the first place to dry up due to its sandy/hardpack trail texture. It is also the perfect place to introduce a beginner or significant other to mountain biking. Totally flat (and I mean flaaaaat)* but not boring at all, the 10 miles of single track at LRT is directional specific (due to trail runners and hikers) twist and wind their way along the Missouri River. The soil is a sandy hardpack and you will not find a single rock and only a handful of small man-made log crossings that can be easily ridden around if you choose. Just be aware that trail runners/hikers are enjoying the trail in the opposite direction you are and although they usually see/hear you long before you see them, keep an eye out in the faster corners. For you seasoned riders, don't write off LRT as a newbie-only place. Go big-ring style and rail this place for all it's worth. This trail doesn't stay straight for more than 10 feet at a time and the turns all have natural bermage to them so you can hit them at full-speed (I often find myself drifting them) without the fear of sliding out. *Okay, at the very begining of the trail there are two steep little climbs that are less than 20 feet tall so I didn't count those in my 'flaaaaaat' description.

Clinton Lake- These trails reside on the west end of Lawrence (about an hour west of KC proper) and feature about 20 miles of singletrack paralleling Clinton Lake (a monster of a lake by anyone outside of the Land O'Lakes) on two main trails: White and Blue. Both trails intertwine with each other at various points and are usually just a stone's-throw from each other. The White trail is the more advanced trail with steeper (but short) climbs along a very rocky trail. The Blue is more tame but still has some solid climbs and plenty of rocks. Recently, the Red trail has been totally revamped and, as the color would imply, will chellenge all but the most advanced riders. This trail is all rock. And I don't mean that figuratively. For about one mile you will be right at the edge of the lake and riding on the rockiest, most challenging trail you'll find within 100 miles of KC. I'm leaving myself open to the super-dooper rider who will ride this trail and go, "Oh, this thing was easy." If so, great. I'm proud of you. I hope you'll be saving me a cold beer when the rest of the real world of riders gets thru with this trail. =] The Red trail can be picked up at a place where the Blue and White trails intersect and will return you to the Blue trail when you finish riding it. All of these trails are marked with a wide paint marking on tree trunks indicating the trail you are on. Also recently, they are building a 'skills area' at Clinton that features all sorts of ladder bridges (sorry freeriders, no drops here) skinnies, about 8 teeters and a couple of intersting log rides. Bring plenty of tube patches if you ride at Clinton. You will get a flat. I repeat, prepare to flat here. Although it's a beautiful trail system, it is forested with a lot of locust trees. Locust trees have ridiculously long thorny masses resembling a Christmas ornament from Hell and reaching 6 inches on mature trees that will make short work of any tube or tubeless system. Althogh I have had several rides without flatting, an ill-prepared rider at Clinton will have a long, long walk back to the trail head if they aren't careful. My record is six flats on one full-day of riding out there.

Swope Park- As of the writing of this post (December of 2007), Swope Park is still only on the drawing board but from what I've seen of the topography, this area will be a real destination trail for seekers of singletrack. No singletrack has been cut yet but hopes are that by next Summer we should have some singletrack ranging from average to well above average levels, including some freeride features. Yeahhh freeride!

For news, trail reporst, group rides and forum chatting, our local riding group is called the Earth Riders ( http://EarthRiders.com ).

Well, that's your introduction to me and the trails I frequently ride. Oh, I guess I could shamelessly pimp out my website in case you're looking for a photographer. I'm a photographer by profession so here ya go...

http://AdrenalineImages.net

I hope this gives anyone considering KC a good idea of what we have here. I'll try to attach a couple of pictures of my buddies riding/racing around here.

Laters....