It's 29 miles from Clear lake back to Horse Creek Lodge where most people shuttle from in McKenzie Bridge. Trail is 26.1 miles long. There's also a new 2 mile bypass at Blue Pool just for bikers so no more hikers.
Many many people rode MRT before even front suspension was available, ride what you've got and don't make excuses. More travel may equal more fun, but no travel is still fun.
It's unfortunate that so many mountain bikers have come to equate only down hill with fun. Flat or rolling s-curve swoopy trails (such as the bottom few miles of the MRT) are a blast when one uses fitness and cranks up the speed. This stretch of the MRT has a near perfect balance of smooth and technical, straight and curvy, flat and rolling trail. Eating miles like these on an aggressive XC bike is one of the highlights of mountain biking - in my opinion. In this regard, out and back on the MRT is wonderful when your fitness level is adequate. Even better on a single speed.
To be fair, out and back on the MRT is also 50 miles with 5000 feet of pretty technical climbing and descending. That's a difficult level of fitness and skill for most people to attain. I try to make these reviews relevant to more average fitness level riders.
@@VoiceOverTrailReviews Very good point. And there are certainly years where out and back, let alone single speed out and back are beyond my limits. Thanks for all the great reviews!!
First time I rode MRT I hated the lava hiker section. 2 years and hundreds more miles on the bike and my skill increased enough to ride almost the entire thing and it was a blast! I kind of wonder what the East side of Clear Lake would be like now. I think that section was ultimately one of my favorite surprises this time.
I love the lava sections. Clear lake, Sahalie falls, and Blue-Pool lava are a challenge. Bring your knee pads. And perhaps elbow pads. And those Carbon knuckled Fox Gloves. Leave the cut-offs at home. That is, if you are really trying. And I recommend really trying. As for the lower section, I found it to be a lot of fun if taken at ludicrous speed. Just go plaid and punch it. A great way to push your fitness to the next level and work on those hip-checking turns. I totally second riding O'Lallie-O'Leary-CastleRock-KingsCastle as a shuttle as well. Harder then MRT but an absolutely fantastic way to spend a weekend in the McKenzie area Excellent channel dude.. Great humor and very informative. We should ride someday.
I did this trail a couple summers ago and there were so many hikers I had to walk my bike for a couple miles. Also broke a pedal on that lava rock. But it’s a beautiful area.
1) Don't jump into Blue Pool. People have died. 2) If I were ever to ride it again I'd probably stop at Belknap Hot Springs. That'd cut out that last shitty "why are we climbing for no reason?" climb and minimize the section of trail on the same side of the river as the road. Plus ... hot springs! 3) Shuttling up to Horsepasture Trailhead then riding O'Leary to Castle Rock to King-Castle is so much better than the MRT. You can still go see Sahalie and Koosah from the road anyway, so all you really miss is the shitty lava and the hikers and the Blue Pool. 4) Don't jump into Blue Pool. People have died.
Faris Guerouate The issue is jumping in from the high cliffs above. It's much higher than people think and hitting that frigid water puts you in shock. Every year there are people who die cliff jumping.
The section between blue pool and the blue pool trailhead is split into two routes. One for hikers and one for bicyclists. You should not be coming across hikers
It's 29 miles from Clear lake back to Horse Creek Lodge where most people shuttle from in McKenzie Bridge. Trail is 26.1 miles long.
There's also a new 2 mile bypass at Blue Pool just for bikers so no more hikers.
Many many people rode MRT before even front suspension was available, ride what you've got and don't make excuses. More travel may equal more fun, but no travel is still fun.
Clear Lake is an easy drysuit dive. No "exotic" equipment needed.
It's unfortunate that so many mountain bikers have come to equate only down hill with fun. Flat or rolling s-curve swoopy trails (such as the bottom few miles of the MRT) are a blast when one uses fitness and cranks up the speed. This stretch of the MRT has a near perfect balance of smooth and technical, straight and curvy, flat and rolling trail. Eating miles like these on an aggressive XC bike is one of the highlights of mountain biking - in my opinion. In this regard, out and back on the MRT is wonderful when your fitness level is adequate. Even better on a single speed.
To be fair, out and back on the MRT is also 50 miles with 5000 feet of pretty technical climbing and descending. That's a difficult level of fitness and skill for most people to attain. I try to make these reviews relevant to more average fitness level riders.
@@VoiceOverTrailReviews Very good point. And there are certainly years where out and back, let alone single speed out and back are beyond my limits.
Thanks for all the great reviews!!
First time I rode MRT I hated the lava hiker section. 2 years and hundreds more miles on the bike and my skill increased enough to ride almost the entire thing and it was a blast! I kind of wonder what the East side of Clear Lake would be like now. I think that section was ultimately one of my favorite surprises this time.
I love the lava sections. Clear lake, Sahalie falls, and Blue-Pool lava are a challenge. Bring your knee pads. And perhaps elbow pads. And those Carbon knuckled Fox Gloves. Leave the cut-offs at home. That is, if you are really trying. And I recommend really trying.
As for the lower section, I found it to be a lot of fun if taken at ludicrous speed. Just go plaid and punch it. A great way to push your fitness to the next level and work on those hip-checking turns.
I totally second riding O'Lallie-O'Leary-CastleRock-KingsCastle as a shuttle as well. Harder then MRT but an absolutely fantastic way to spend a weekend in the McKenzie area
Excellent channel dude.. Great humor and very informative. We should ride someday.
I did this trail a couple summers ago and there were so many hikers I had to walk my bike for a couple miles. Also broke a pedal on that lava rock. But it’s a beautiful area.
We rode it on hardtails , super good fun😃
1) Don't jump into Blue Pool. People have died.
2) If I were ever to ride it again I'd probably stop at Belknap Hot Springs. That'd cut out that last shitty "why are we climbing for no reason?" climb and minimize the section of trail on the same side of the river as the road. Plus ... hot springs!
3) Shuttling up to Horsepasture Trailhead then riding O'Leary to Castle Rock to King-Castle is so much better than the MRT. You can still go see Sahalie and Koosah from the road anyway, so all you really miss is the shitty lava and the hikers and the Blue Pool.
4) Don't jump into Blue Pool. People have died.
Tim Maddux people swim in blue pool, it’s amazing but very cold
Faris Guerouate The issue is jumping in from the high cliffs above. It's much higher than people think and hitting that frigid water puts you in shock. Every year there are people who die cliff jumping.
The trail is beautiful but there is no real payoff for the miles you put in.
It’s very anti-climactic.
Great vid. Did you get tire damage from the rock?
No tire damage, luckily.
IMHO MRT is the most over rates mountain bike trail I have ever ridden.
The section between blue pool and the blue pool trailhead is split into two routes. One for hikers and one for bicyclists. You should not be coming across hikers
The reroute was added a couple years after I made this video. I need to go back and ride it again.
That makes sense, my first time was 3 years ago. Love the video, and the advice on taking a shuttle. Best advice I was given.@@VoiceOverTrailReviews
30 seconds is being generous
I am underwhelmed