Video: Riding Pisgah - Exploring Western North Carolina

Oct 20, 2015 at 9:27
by Freehub Magazine  
(Password protected)
Views: 6,287    Faves: 59    Comments: 3
This video is password protected.


For each volume of our photo book, we choose a destination that is a microcosm of highly renowned trails and Pisgah National Forest is no exception. However words and photos can only go so far, so in collaboration with our photo book, we continue the story here, talking with the locals and touring the riding destinations. While the trails are certainly one of the biggest factors of any mountain biking community, they would simply be dirt paths if it weren't for the after-work warriors, the local shop employees, the young groms, the advocates and the local brews. So welcome to Pisgah, a unique place of Southern charm, wild geography and serious mountain bike fanatics. — Presented by New Belgium Brewery
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73 Comments
  • 9 1
 Cool video. I live in Colorado, but due to some family near Brevard, have been lucky enough to ride the area maybe 10 days over the past 3 or 4 years.
There really is some sweet riding trails with a lot of speed, some fun tech, and lots of air options. The people at The Hub shop in Brevard/Pisgah have always been great. Recognize one of the dudes ripping in the video from the shop there.
Totally worth checking out.
  • 3 1
 We used to road trip out to Brevard during college. I live in CO now also. I was at Winter Park a few years ago when the crew from sycamore cycles was in WP also. Small world. I remember riding the Black Mtn Epic on a Kona Cowan. Beer in Asheville is good too!
  • 10 2
 Apparently the Ardent is the rear tire of choice in the area haha
  • 8 0
 Yeah Buddy! Welcome all to NC! You'll learn to love the bluegrass....
  • 2 0
 Yeah the bluegrass, moved to Roanoke VA a decade ago and have finally aquired a taste for at least some of the instrumental stuff . I think it's funny that they were dismissing some of the Appalachian sterotypes at the intro but decided to go with a Bluegrass soundtrack.
  • 3 0
 I have really started to love bluegrass also as of late. I get that people who have had to live with the stereotype since birth are tired of it, but it truly is such a unique, pure, style of Americana.
  • 2 1
 I think it's more we just don't appreciate it when we're younger is all. I hated that stuff as a kid, but as I got older I really like some of it now.
  • 7 1
 Pisgah is what got me hooked on mountain biking as a 10 year old at summer camp!!! LOVE this place!!!
  • 4 1
 Pisgah got me hooked on biking also! Such a great place, I am definitely going back to get my bike on again!
  • 4 0
 I live just a few hours away, it's great riding. This video must have been shot every smooth section of trail they could find, and it was dry. Not sure I have ever had the pleasure of really dry trail there.
  • 4 1
 That was my thought too, they should have just done the whole segment riding up clawhammer... Still sweet though! It would have been cool to throw in some Pisgah proper stuff to show real east coast gnarly riding. Also, give Bailey's Bike Park some love, the east coasts first year-round downhill park.
  • 3 0
 I'm lucky enough to live within 2 hrs of all these trails! Awesome riding around here for sure! check out Bailey Mtn bike park in Mars Hill. Just opened earlier this yr and already has super fun DH jump lines and trails with shuttle service. And also not everyone in NC is into bluegrass lol some of us like metal!! Rock on y'all
  • 3 1
 Definitely a awesome place to ride! I was just up there riding and the trails are super fun. I've traveled up to NC for years racing DH and have never really had the opportunity to ride the local XC trails in the area. Damn I've been missing out for years! Already planning a trip back very soon.
  • 4 1
 Hey! Could y'all NOT give away our secret, please?!?!?! Gonna have 2 million riders and 6 foot wide trails! Will all those "tourists" being doing some trail work? Or at least a nice donation to PAS?
  • 2 0
 did u not notice there was not one good trail in the video?all the good trails are hard to find unless u know someone.place is full of secret trails.eeeeeeepppppppiiiiiicccccc,
  • 5 0
 if u ride Pisgah you need to bring a map and use it or u will suffer.Rode Pisgah all last weekend and it was epic as always.
  • 3 0
 Ran into a guy yesterday afternoon about 4 oclock. who was planning on driving up Hwy 276 and riding from there to Club Gap/Black. I asked "Got a light just in case?" He changed his ride. Big Grin

Intent wasn't to scare him but he thought he'd have a 9 mph pace across Buckhorn, Black and Hickory. Just said...there are a pair of hike a bikes in that route. Hated that he changed it in a way because he probably could have made it fine, but one flat tire and he'd be in the pitch black come Maxwell Cove and just told him to take his light to be smart.
  • 1 0
 Hike a bikes in Pisgah?! Naaa lol. Shit up buckhorn/claw then down full black alone is what 22mi?
  • 1 0
 Ran this by a couple fit riders today. They agreed he'd have been in for some dark thirty too. Feeling better
  • 1 0
 Yeah I was being sarcastic. Most definitely a killer ride. I did it a few weeks ago but turned left up to the top top of black mtn to club gap then turned around and did black mtn to FR5098(maybe, whatever comes out by the horse stable). Didn't have enough daylight to finish black mtn descent and get back to my car at buckhorn trail head.
  • 2 0
 I am lucky enough to to have been born, raised and currently near Charlotte, NC! Super blessed part of the country and so stoked to see these mountain towns getting recognition!
  • 2 1
 Grew up in SC and started riding in 99. My first year riding I always heard that Pisgah, brevard, and tsali was the MTB mecca of the southeast. Seems like I need to make a side trip next time I am home.
  • 4 0
 Don't waste your time with Tsali unless you're into really pedally XC stuff. Pisgah is where the chunky, rooty steeps are, and DuPont has some great flow. But nevertheless, it's hard to beat any of them!
  • 3 0
 I really miss these trails. Do yourselves a favor and go ride there. You won't be sorry...
  • 7 2
 Wilsons creek though..
  • 8 1
 WILSOOOONNNN!!!!
  • 13 0
 SHHHHHHHHHH. No such place, nothin to see here...
  • 6 0
 dont go there.....there are...bandits and they will steal your bike.....and there is a yeti.....its dangerous.....best stay away.....yup
  • 4 0
 just good boating, nothing else. oh wait, fishing too
  • 2 0
 I mean i was talking about camping... i wouldn't bother taking a bike there.
  • 3 0
 It's so awesome to see asheville getting respect from the bike world. Great people, great trails, great beer!
  • 2 0
 Why did the video get password protected? I was just watching all my western NC vids to get stoked... and now my stoke is gone!
  • 3 1
 Nice work folk! Headed up there this weekend for my first "Couch Potato" race....looking forward to being mashed potato!
  • 1 0
 awesome video. i've traveled a lot around the south and my favorite place was by far asheville/boone/blue ridge. too bad i wasn't mountain biking at the time, doh!
  • 3 1
 Planning a trip down in March, cannot wait to explore this corner of the South East!
  • 1 1
 I have been wanting to move to western North Carolina for a while now. I'm currently in the bike industry with an engineering background. Anyone know of any shops that are hiring?
  • 4 0
 Cane Creek and Industry 9 in the area...
  • 1 0
 Yeah it would be awesome to work for either of those companies.
  • 2 0
 Ol' Walker Shaw took 2nd in the D1 omnium at USAC collegiate nats this past weekend. That's not shabby.
  • 1 0
 I rode Avery and Bennet in Pisgah last Saturday and a Kitsuma lap on Sunday. The sheer amount of color on display was just staggering...talkin bout that leaf peeping, y'all!
  • 1 0
 Been almost everywhere on the east coast to ride and this was by far my favorite place ever to ride.
  • 2 1
 Thinking of taking a spring break trip to area...is the riding usually good in march? or is it too soggy to ride?
  • 3 0
 I went down last March from Boston and it was PERFECT....Great place
  • 3 0
 You can ride year round in that area. Always something good enough to ride.
  • 1 0
 yessssss! I'm based in the northeast. If this winter goes like last year for us, I'll dying to get back on the mountain bike by march!
  • 5 0
 Not the mention about 1 hour north of Brevard is Baily MTB Park which is open all year round! It just opened a few months ago. They have a few flowy trails, a jump trail and a pretty steep technical Dh trail. All shuttled by them. They have plans to put in a lift.
  • 2 0
 I went there for spring break last year and it was a little rainy but the trails were DIALED. It was incredibly fun. I would definitely recommend it.
  • 3 0
 I went there a week after the area got 12 inches of rain due to that front that got stalled by Hurricane Joaquin. Could not believe how dry(tacky) it was after that much rain! Definitely built right.
  • 2 0
 Love me some NC beer/trails.
  • 2 1
 (damn) I Really Loved Wicket Weed !!! Great Food and Great Beer! What else do you need?

"The Tourist"
  • 1 0
 Super nice to have this on my backyard.
  • 2 1
 gotta visit a buddy in raleigh and do a nc tour.
  • 2 1
 wicked weed, why did they start at that tourist shithole?
  • 2 1
 You don't like a half dozen foo foo flavory beers being served by excessively snobby waitstaff?

oh..me neither.
  • 1 0
 Easy, boys. Let em...
  • 1 0
 Lol so true. Full of yuppies and hipsters. Luckily you have 39 other breweries to choose from.
  • 2 0
 Yeah, downtown is great these days if you can find a f*cking parking space at a decent hour. f*cking hipsters and ass hat yuppies (i.e. newcomers) have nearly ruined it. And the city needs to build a few public restrooms if they haven't already (haven't been there in 2 years). rant done
  • 1 0
 Aaand that's why I stay in Brevard when I go out to ride lol.
  • 3 2
 North Cak. Love the repping
  • 1 0
 I will be making the ~ 6.5 hr drive down there in the near future!
  • 1 0
 I hear the triangle has way better beer and trails
  • 1 0
 i live in the triangle and i assume you're joking
  • 1 0
 very much so
  • 3 2
 3:12
  • 1 0
 Funny rear-end sway!
  • 1 0
 The rock sections!
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