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Reviews 1 - 5 (52 Reviews Total)
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Review Date
October 16, 2011 Overall Rating
 3 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5
Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5
Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once
Visitors rate this review
1.50 of 5,
2.00 votes
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Reviewed by: ridesette
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Cross Country Rider Summary:
I hated it. Mostly because my brother dragged me on it 3 days after I got my first clips. (welgo m3 spd) Now it would be fun because i got candys. When i rode it it flode amazingly. I wish i lived closer. I wouldn't say this is a beginner trail though. A lot of rock gardens though and a lot of @#$&ing peice of $!%& switch backs. Recommended Route:
conter clockwise
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Review Date
January 28, 2010 Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty
4 of 5
Ridden Trail:
Once a month
Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
1.00 votes
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Reviewed by: boughey
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Cross Country Rider Summary:
First: PLEASE ride this trail clockwise. It makes for a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Second: this is a great trail, and there are many ways to make the ride longer than 11 miles, but that involved leaving the park, or multiple loops. Third: This is the most fun single track in the bay area, its challenging and rolling up and down - very fun. Fourth: If it has recently rained, please don't ride here, the trail gets really muddy, some of the stickiest in the North Bay (not much sand in the soil like other areas). Recommended Route:
Clockwise - PLEASE ride it clockwise. Other recommended trails in the same area:
China Camp, Pine Mountain, Tenderfoot, Annadel and Eldridge Grade to the East Peak.
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Review Date
October 4, 2008 Overall Rating
 4 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty
3 of 5
Technical Difficulty
2 of 5
Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once
Visitors rate this review
2.50 of 5,
2.00 votes
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Reviewed by: s1lv3rsc00by
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Cross Country Rider Summary:
I just rode this loop 2 weeks ago (Sept 2008). Park in the Java Hut parking lot. Sunshine Bicycle Shop is right across the street where you can buy a $5 day pass (cash/check only, no credit cards). The bar next door does have an ATM machine so you can get cash there. Ride through downtown Fairfax, through some residential neighborhoods and then up a paved rode. Then it tuns to loose gravel. After a few more turns up hill, you will see the bike rack and trailhead on the left - the alchemist trail.
(for trail map and directions to get there http://www.boyscouts-marin.org/)
All the reviews I read recommended to do the loop clockwise, so that's what my brother & I did. (Alchemist-Serpentine-Goldman-Wagon Wheel-B17-Broken Damn-Goldman-Alchemist.) After riding that way, we think that it might actually be funner to ride it counter clockwise. We didn't have a chance to do the outer Porcupine-White Hill trail. From our ride that day, it seems like about 60% of the clockwise route was climbing. This is pretty much beginner with a little bit of intermediate riding. There are TONS of switchbacks (none too steep or sharp to handle), some roots and some rocks. I believe it's part of the Serpentine trail that has a short mini "rock garden" section. The climbing is gradual for the most part. There are a handful of short steep sections. But nothing most riders can't handle if you just kick it into granny gear and spin. Recommended Route:
counter clockwise.
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Review Date
May 17, 2006 Overall Rating
5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty
3 of 5
Technical Difficulty
4 of 5
Ridden Trail:
Once a month
Visitors rate this review
4.67 of 5,
3.00 votes
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Reviewed by: datenschwanz
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Cross Country Rider Summary:
WOW. That's all I can say if I had one word to describe the park right now. I went out last Saturday and I can't believe how much trail work has been done. A month ago the trail was a wreck or ruts and dug out roots from the near two months of virtually continual rain. Not now! Almost every rut has been broken up and repacked. The switchbacks look groomed like a ski run. All rain damage has been repaired and it's Heaven on the trail from start to finish. $5 a day to ride this is a deal and a half. I'm buying a season pass this year for sure. The route is signposted better than ever and the conditions are bettere than i've ever seen them!
Get out here! There's something for experts and mid level riders too! Recommended Route:
Park at Java hut thingy in the Albertsons parking lot in Fairfax and ride to the trail from there, less than a mile to the road climb up to the single track. Go across the street to the bike shop (next to the brewery) and get your pass and directions from them at the same time. I always ride this trail clockwise. I've never ridden it the other way. Other recommended trails in the same area:
soquel demo forest, mr toads, mt rose, and UCSC in Santa Cruz.
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Review Date
November 25, 2005 Overall Rating
5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty
3 of 5
Technical Difficulty
4 of 5
Ridden Trail:
Once a week
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Reviewed by: 13yroldbikerkid
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Weekend Warrior Summary:
Sharp hairpins, loose rocks, and roots make up the technical sections of this trail. Depending on where you are on the mountain, you are exposed to many diverse enviornments from open spaces to dense groves of trees. Tamarancho is a popular and well known trail and the favorite of many Marinite weekend warriors. Recommended Route:
Lots of different backroads you can take through Fairfax to get to the mountain and all of the trails on the mountain are fun. No recommended route. Other recommended trails in the same area:
Shoreline Trail (China Camp), Pine Mountain Loop, and Pine Mountain to Repack.
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Reviews 1 - 5 (52 Reviews Total)
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(4.12 of 5)
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