How to get on Fromme?

[lilpunk1302]

Hi, well how do I start... I'm a 13 year old teen that got a 05 Sasquatch last fall (don't get mad at me...please?). It was in somewhat poor condition when I got it9brakes need new everything, and the derailleurs needed major adjustment, ect. Well come summer, I got some funding, got everything adjusted and fixed, and here I am. I found this forum through Google (LONG LIVE GOOGLE :P) and found out about the Fromme trails, well right after reading I tried to take my newly fixed bike out there, and looked around, but couldn't find the start of the trail...I live in the westview region and took Queens/29th to get tehre, went up and down the street, couldn't find it so I took mountain hwy back down and took a bus home. But yeah, could someone help me find the trail, and any otehr trails around here that I can ride. So far the most "extreme" (if I can call it that) that I have ridden would have to be some forest trails in Mission, but those were really small and bored me. So yeah, anyways, I'm just gonna stop talking now and let you say something.


P.S. Anyone my age (13) riding in the North Shore, I could use a riding buddy :P

[DUDEONABIKE]

You have to go all the way to the top of mountain hwy passed the gates. Buy a trail map if you haven't already because you can get lost quite easily.

[lilpunk1302]

Oh ok, thanks, but yeah, I only went up Fromme, because that's what everyone called it, I'll try to scrape together my leftover cash (fixing it took up pretty much all of it) and get a map, because I see that I'll probably need it. Oh yeah, and i also wanted to say that I really want to go up to Whistler, but only problem is that I don't know anyone else that rides, I don't exactly have $60ish to go, and it's pretty damn hard for a 13 year old to get a ride up there, so yeah, if you're about to suggest it, I'm one step ahead of you...or am I...

[synchro]

check out this link for a free trail map of fromme.

http://www.nsmba.bc.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=21&Itemid=34

while your sense of adventure is great, it would be a smart idea to ride with someone who knows the area in case you get hurt or lost. when you go riding, tell someone (your parents) where you're going, what trails you'll be riding and what time you expect to be home. you should also consider bringing some water, an energy bar or something to munch on, some basic tools, a spare tube or two and a cell phone.

if you're looking for a ride buddy try posting in the ride planning and tales forum.

cheers and good luck

[Heathen]

I don't know what level your at,but a good trail to start off on would be bobsled to natural high. Just to get an idea. Then you should try pipe line. The first 2 trails I said are lower on the MTN so that will help you to get used to the climb. Good luck.


BTW like synchro said if you post in the ride planing section you should be able to find someone to ride with.

[stillgoing]

If you are out Mission way - try Bear Mtn - it's much closer to you than Fromme. But... go with someone.

[lilpunk1302]

If you are out Mission way - try Bear Mtn - it's much closer to you than Fromme. But... go with someone.

By in Mission I meant that I used to live there, my mom moved and I'm spending the summer at my dads in North Van anyways, so yeah.

[Silk]

Welcome to the shore!

you will not regret getting into this and it will provide a lifetime of friends and rides.

Send me a PM and I would be happy to take you up on Fromme this weekend.

[yea ok!]

i like to use my dirt bike when going up fromme. its the fastest and all the other biokers move out of the way and go off the road when i come up

[lilpunk1302]

Ok well I looked at the free map that synchro supplied (thx btw +1 rep) and I'm thinking of going for a ride sometime this week. But Instead of dragging my bike half way across the north shore, (Yeah really, I live on westview right behind the Safeway) I'm thinking of taking my bike up to the top left region of the map, aka trail #4 and riding it down and all the way across from there ending on mtn highway and taking a bus back. Anyone have a clue where #4 starts? There's no street makings on the map and I think that it would be a good route. I tried riding down to Steed cycles to get a real Fromme trail map today but they were out. So maybe better luck sometime later on. So yeah, just to wrap it up, 1) where does the top left corner of trail #4 on that map start(it says it's the Mtn highway trail)(maybe drop me a link to a google map or something) and 2) should I seriously wait 'till I have my trail map or can I print out this one and kinda try and get around with that alone for once?

So yeah, thanks again in advance. You guys/girls all rock :P

[Ozibatla]

Lilpunk No.4 is mountain hwy, thats the road ya gotta hike/bike up to get to all the trails. It goes all the way to the ski area on Grouse. Ya dont want to ride that. Go ride what Heathen said in his post, bobsled - natural high and then try pipeline. Best to ride with someone if ya can atleast until you know where your goin a little better. And if you do go alone dont be afraid to ask other mtbikers questions, they'll be glad to help. Good luck mate, have fun.

[lilpunk1302]

What would be the simplest way to get to the trail? From what i see on www.gutsploder.com (a more comprehensive fromme trail map) mtn hwy merges right into bobsled, so should I hike up bobsled backwards, from bottom up then ride down, or take teh acces road ALLLLLL the way around and ride directly down? Or am I missing something?

[FullMonty]

well, you'll be the object of hatred of everyone coming down bobsled if you're trying to hike your way backwards up a trail. 2nd switchback isn't far at all, plus, riding up makes you strong like ox.

[Bobb]

well, you'll be the object of hatred of everyone coming down bobsled if you're trying to hike your way backwards up a trail. 2nd switchback isn't far at all, plus, riding up makes you strong like ox.

There is also a very good chance that he won't find the exit to Bobsled on his first trip up the mountain.

[heckler]

well, you'll be the object of hatred of everyone coming down bobsled if you're trying to hike your way backwards up a trail. 2nd switchback isn't far at all, plus, riding up makes you strong like ox.


not really hatred though. The looks were more of confusion and disbelief as I hiked up UOC with the bike. :lol:

And hike-a-biking up the trail is what makes you strong like ox. Pedaling up the road makes you fit like gazelle.

[TheGiggler]

if you're gonna hike up a trail on fromme, i'd recommend the St George's hiking trail. nasty, but very quick.

you should really get a buddy to go with you. if you were to get lost or hurt by yourself on trails which you do not know, things could ugly fast once it gets dark out. fromme can be busy, but also very quiet with no one around ...

[Knnn]

Unless you are just hiking to find trails, it is far simpler and easier to ride up the fire road at the end of Mountain Hwy and it's easier to keep track of the number of switchbacks you pass to figure out where you are on the map.

Also the 210 bus (most have bike racks) will drop you at McNair/Mountain which is only a couple of hundred meters below the start of the fire road.

As already mentioned, it's probably not a good idea for you to go exploring Fromme until you you have a good handle on where the trails are. There are also many inherent dangers of biking by yourself on very technical and steep terrain. Please be careful and ride with someone else and if you feel you must ride by yourself, tell someone where you are going and what trails you are going to ride. If I ride solo, I always do this and I'm an old bugger, who knows the trails fairly well.

[Knnn]

What would be the simplest way to get to the trail? From what i see on www.gutsploder.com (a more comprehensive fromme trail map) mtn hwy merges right into bobsled, so should I hike up bobsled backwards, from bottom up then ride down, or take teh acces road ALLLLLL the way around and ride directly down? Or am I missing something?

Ok I see what you mean. No Moutain Hwy does not merge right into Bobsled. Mountain Hwy is a two vehicle wide gravel road and unless you know the trails I bet you would walk right past the exit to Bobsled. It's the grey coloured trail on the Gutsploder map and as you can see it winds up Fromme through a series of switchbacks. The best way is to take the access road (fire road) ALLLLL :) the way round and ride down. Nope not missing anything.

Just keep taking the access road up past the green water towers on your left , go past another yellow gate (double click the red dot on the gutsploder map on the fire road immediately above the trail called Natural High to see a photo of the gate) and approximately 400 m later you come to the 1 st Switchback and the road takes a sharp left.

Just before the 1st switchback is a trail called Griffin on the right hand side. You can see upper and lower Griffin marked on the Gutsploder map. I would suggest you try roadside attraction on the right hand side (see Gutsploder map), it's probably the easiest trail on the mountain. It drops you back at the water towers and you can ride back up.

As you ride up past the 1st switchback you have the option of trying three trails that drop off the road to your left.

The first (with no name and it is not marked on gutsploder?) is a very straight run with a few small (1 foot steps) that takes you back to the fire road above the second yellow gate. It's a very easy trail, for Fromme.

The second is called Floppy Bunny or After School Special. It's not marked on the Gutsploder map but is located approximately half way between the 1st and 2nd switchbacks. It is shown on the NSMBA map in blue but it is not named ( go here for a copy of the NSMBA map url]http://www.nsmba.bc.ca/cms/pdf/MapOfFromme.pdf[/url] ). This trail is a little more difficult and has some steeper rolls and some small jumps, but all have easy ride arounds. The trail dumps you back on the Fire Road just above the green water tanks.

You can now ride up again and find the third trail access point which is Bobsled. As you can see Bobsled is almost at the 2nd switchback. This trail will take you back down to the bottom of the fire road.

Hope that helps and have fun. Let us know how your first ride on Fromme goes?

Cheers.

[lilpunk1302]

Oh ok, thanks very much. I would go today but the rain :( and I have to babysit so yeah, nearest non-rainy day I'll go. Or if i get a msg from Silk today or tomorrow (I sent a PM) I'll wait and go with him/her. So yeah, thanks all of yous, I guess I just have to go out there and see how it all works. Maybe I'll meet some of you's there( I got a 04 or 05 0r 03(I have NO clue, google images returned nothing and the Norco site only goes to 05) Norco Sasquatch with BRIGHT LIME GREEN bombers. I also wear a black/green X Games branded fullface.) So yeah, thanks everyone.

P.S. I got my dad to fund me for an Endless Biking Freeride course in first half of August, so yeah.

P.P.S. I'll get pictures of my bike and upload them here as soon as I find my dads camera, maybe one of you will know what it is.

[Tonestar]

Welcome to the addiction of mountain biking.
It is sure nice to read literate posts from an educated sounding 13 year old.

Props to you for getting out there on the trails. If you are keen on meeting people in the community, I suggest trying to get out to one of the "trail days" put on by the NSMBA. Also, you should become a registered member (doesn't cost anything), this will keep you informed of what is going on in the local mtn biking community.

www.nsmba.bc.ca

[lilpunk1302]

Ok well I cought today, becuse it finally stopped raining kidna but it was ok) and I went out on the mountain. What can I say it could have been better/more fun, but I had fun anyways, here's what happend.

First off, let me say that I forgot to bring my printout trail map and didn't buy one on the way(it's ok I survived, now I have my map.)

I get to the mountain, and start climbing(it was half hiking half biking, I reallly really suck at climbing, working on getting better tho.) As I go up and get to the first switchback I notice the fact that there are no trail markers/names(I noticed earlier but thought that those were just the "mini trails")
So I keep going pretty much right to the second SB, and notice the fact that the trail I see going down is like a 3 foot jump(it was bobsled...wait...WHAT, u guys tried to send me to bobsled, u kno the mountain with the 3 foot jump at the start...) anyways, the one thing I remember from the printable trail map is the fact that most of the easy trails are at the beginning, so when I saw a hard one.
I decided to go back, so I roll down to mtn hwy a little(ok I'm getting too detailed...this is gonna be too long, I'll stop.) and I start going down the nearest trail I see. I roll down it and end up back at mtn hwy(I later realized with the help of my newly bought trail map(after I came back) that this trail was floppy bunny) my experience with that was mixed. It was fairly easy but was quite grown in so it was hard too see the rocks in front of me(thank god for my fullface, it saved my face from thrashing). Then I went up MH again and went down the nearest trail again, that was a bad decision...what I thought was Roadside attraction, was really something along the lines of Dreamland, it was a tough ride down with too alot of bridges(technically I could go down more of it than I did (I hiked alot of the way down) it was all wet so didn't wanna slip and slide off the edge.) So after going through all this wet/mussy hellishness I finally came out and hit baden powel where I found a tiny little trail/staircase and got out to street level when I sat around on a bench at Zellers and waited for a pickup.


So yeah, really the purpose of this ride was too see what the trails really looked like. how well they're all labeled ect. So yeah. next ride up is hopefully going to be with someone else that knows the trails and how to ride them ect.

One question though, why do you guys say that bobsled is a good beginners trail if from what I see 1.it's a black diamond, and 2. it starts with a 2/3 foot jump...

Anyways, this is already a really long post and I'm gonna wrap it up so yeah. Again thanks to everyone for helping me find the mount and giving me advice on trails ect.

P.S. Since I already know where Fromme is, this thread is kinda veering off topic. Should I start a new thread or just keep this one going? Suggestions for new thread name?

[Cobster]

haha
not alot of people bomb down bobsled...
if you good enough to bomb it... you shouldent be riding it

[Ducati]

The trail you found first (with the drop) was floppy bunny. You needed to continue another 200 meters to get to bobsled. With exception to the first drop floppy bunny is pretty tame. Fromme can be kind of confusing the first couple of times. I'm sure you'll have a better ride the next time up.

[Tonestar]

The trail you found first (with the drop) was floppy bunny. You needed to continue another 200 meters to get to bobsled. With exception to the first drop floppy bunny is pretty tame. Fromme can be kind of confusing the first couple of times. I'm sure you'll have a better ride the next time up.

Floppy Bunny is also known as After School Special. There are ride arounds on every stunt or jump on that trail. You can just do what you are comfortable with and ride around the stuff you aren't.

Bobsled, like someone else said, is about another 200 meters up, it is the last trail you will come across before the 2nd swithcback.

Both trails are good starters for the shore style riding. Remember, with this kind of riding, everything will look difficult at first, it takes a little time out there to get the hang of it.

Keep on ridin'!

[Niggz]

Nothing on the shore is easy. The easy trails are just easier compared to the other trails.
But that is the way to do it. Don't feel bad for basically walking everything. This is how everyone starts on the shore. You ride what you can and walk what you can't.
After the first couple rides you will start riding a little more each time and that is when it starts to get really fun when you conquer sections that you first thought were impossible. Often the sections will conquer you though. That is why I would recommend some shin and possibly arm pads if you don't have any already.

[Brad Dawg]

Go with someone who knows the trails... alot easier

[Knnn]

As Ducati says, the trail with the 2-3 foot drop at the start is Floppy Bunny and you did not make it to Bobsled. I think you went back down to a trail I know as slippery canoe, because this is very grown in, which Floppy is not. Although Bobsled has a much more gentle entrance it's a harder trail than Floppy Bunny. We were not sending you to difficult trails, these are honestly the easiest you will find on Fromme. This is the nature of the North Shore and that's why it has the reputation it has.

Sounds like you need to get yourself on a training course to learn some of the skills needed to ride down steep, rocky and rooty trails so are a little bit more comfortable. From my own experience I can tell you that it does get easier, especially once you have ridden the trails once or twice and know what to expect.

I hope you were not discouraged, once you get over the initial intimidation it's a hell of a lot of fun. Riding with someone else also make a big difference.

No need for a new thread, just keep posting here, unless you are looking to arrange a ride then use the Ride Planning thread.

[lilpunk1302]

I'm not in any way discouraged, I'd probably be out tehre right now if it wasn't for teh rain(but in a way the rain helped, it finally forced me to fix my brake levers(they were too far forward and wayyy too tight)) but yeah, I dunno maybe my map's gimped, maybe I wrote it down wrong here, but yeah, lemme try again.Note that the map I now refer too is the official map that i bought at cove for $5.95 so yeah. So I went up the trail and from what I remember, I went up past the first Sb, and after going up and back down, i ended up going down(what I think) is the Floppy bunny it is labeled on my map right after the first switchback and has 22 as it's number. So yeah. wait...are you guys counting the little mini-SB type thing tht's near the very beginning near the Baden Powel cuz yeah, I'm not counting that. And from what I see Floppy bunny and Bobsled are on the same...strip between SB's. So yeah, maybe it was just the counting of SB's or something, point is, I went up, got to a hill goind down with a 2 foot jump at the start, thought I went too far, went back down and rid the nearest trail I saw.all in all, I survived, and yeah, next time I go I'm goin with someone else. And as I mentioned earlier, I'm registered for an Endless biking course on August 10th I think, and yeah.

againagainagain thanks to all for the help.