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FATS - Brown Wave
7 reviews
5 of 5
The Forks Area Trail System (FATS) opened MArch 25th with 11 miles open for riding. This listing is for the bottom loop, AKA The Brown Wave. The Brown Wave is 5.6 miles in length. It is full of jumps, bermed turns, 2 rock gardens and enough dips to make a ice cream vendor jealous. I''ve seen some of the jumps doubled by a highly skilled rider.
To get to The Brown Wave, take the trail out of the parking lot. Presently there is only one trail, but eventually this will be the option to the left. Take this about 1/2 mile to the and go left, crossing a gravel road. At the main junction just below this road, take the Skinny Loop to the next junction. Follow the signs to The Brown Wave (TBW). You can either way on TBW, but I like counter clockwise better. This would taking a right onto the trail.
Now, you are on TBW. Cross the powerlines, and get ready for a DH full of BIG HITS. We call this Junior Brown. It''s a hell of climb if riding the other direction. Be careful the first time you ride this section. Ride it a few times before you decide to go big.
The trail roles along nicely until you see a sign that says Dips Area. This we call The Brown Wave Proper. BE CAREFUL IN HERE. Roll these dips the first few times. Some of these can be doubled if you have skill. It is easy to get out of control if you don''t control your speed. This DH ends with a nice view of the Savannah River. It''s a nice rolling climb out, then a cool section that seems too tight to have been built with machines - but it was. After crossing the next gravel road, you go up Dark Side of the Moon and then up Shuttle Run. Dark Side is deep craters and Shuttle Run the big climb on TBW when riding CCW. Shuttle Run into Dark Side is a hoot when riding clockwise.
At the top of Shuttle Run, you cross another gravel road and take this back to the connection with the Skinny Loop. Ride the Skinny Loop up to the trailhead.
Have fun and be careful.
From I-20. Take exit #1 (the first exit in South Carolina if leaving Augusta, GA.) Go North on Hwy 230 for 5.6 miles. Take a left onto Woodlawn Rd at Sportsman Corner. Go about 3.8 miles and park in the left on the FATS parking lot. If you pass Deep Step Road on the left, you went too far.
From Hwy 28 traveling south. Come South on Hwy 28 and turn left onto Woodlawn Rd. Go about 6 miles. Just past Deep Step Rd on the right, turn right into the parking lot.
From Hwy 28 traveling north. Cross into South Carolina from Georgia. Take your first right onto Hopewell Church Rd (also called Deep Step Rd) and take til it ends. Turn right onto Woodlawn and go about 200 feet. Turn right into the parking lot.
Summary: AWESOME TRAIL!!!! This is probably the best trail I have ever ridden! There are MANY whoops jumps, and dips with minimal climbing. It is hard to keep your bike on the ground at times...if you jump at the wrong time you will case the next jump with ugly consequences. There are a couple of warning signs riding CCW...take them serious the whoops can throw you off your bike.
Recommended Route: CCW ride as figure 8 riding up the hill on the gravel road...hard to explain
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Summary: I have ridden all over the country and usually catagorize trails as either challenging, scenic or just plain fun. There were two trails in the simply fun class until now. TBW was just added to one in Fruita which I have forgotten the name but it was a carnival ride up and down the sides of a wash that I have ridden numerous times just cause it is FUN. Phil's trail near Bend, OR is lots of laughs too. But now TBW is in this same group too. I rode out Skinny then did TBW clockwise. This trail is a hoot. It had me laughing out loud! I did have some trouble figuring where to go, so basically just kept going left until I came back to a point I recognised. I saw no signs giving directions. There were lots of sign posts but no locations or directions were posted.
Recommended Route: I think TBW might be better ridden CCW but I enjoyed it emmensly going CW and could not see where it would make a lot of difference. There was a lot of red ribbon and paper arrows around but little to tell me which way to go. I should have taken a photo of the posted trail map and carried it with me. There was a place for maps but it was MT that day.
I came down Hwy 28 from the north and had no idea where to turn but luckily spotted the described road. This was about 6 miles south of Clarks Hill.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Can't say as Skinny/TBW were all I rode, got there late in the day.
If they are as good as TBW this could be a new mecca for mountain bikers.
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Summary: What a great trail system. The whole thing is fun, fast & fantastic! I wish it was in my back yard! Kudos to the guys out there who've put in a great deal of time & effort to make this trail system a reality. From the minute I got out of my car until I got back in to take off everyone I came in contact w/ was very nice & helpful. Brian, a guy who I met in the parking lot asked if I wanted to tag along when he heard it was my first ride @ FATS. The trails are amazing. Banked turns, dips... (a word of caution-- be prepared to take flight if you carry too much speed into the DIPS area). I think I scuffed up my chamois w/ my rear tire trying to stay on my bike on the first big dip! Yeehaw! The trails are nicely packed to allow you to really go. To those guys who always complain about the trail not being "supremely technical" -- pedal harder & find some sunshine Pal! Congratulations SORBA members you have a great trail system to match your great MTB community! I'm smiling thinking about my next trip. Thank you!
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Summary: This trail is a lot of fun. Well designed and constructed. Tons of rollers and dips for catching air. The trail flows very well and the climbs are neither very long or very steep. Riding this trail is like riding a roller coaster. I can think of no other trail to compare it to other than the Great Wall. Well woth the 3 hour drive from Atlanta if you do all 3 FATS trails.
Recommended Route: Counterclockwise
Other recommended trails in the same area: Great Wall is very similiar. Skinny is fun but not as much as Great Wall or Brown Wave
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