I’ve ridden this trail many times and actually helped build several additions to it back in the 90’s. Having ridden it recently I’d have to say it’s mostly intermediate with some advanced features. It is also a lot rougher than can be seen in a video. If your suspension isn’t very good it will beat you to death. There is also a lot of climbing so if you aren’t in decent shape I would avoid this one until you are prepared for that, otherwise it just isn’t much fun. Keep your eyes open first time around. There are some drops and technical features that can catch you off guard and cause you to crash. It is a challenging and rewarding ride if you are up to it.
Hey Garrison, thanks for checking out our video. It's true, sometimes the GoPro doesn't show the minor details of a trail and makes the hills and drops look smaller than they actually are. Hobby isn't a beginner trail and is still a tough ride for me. I know of a few riders that really love that trail, you guys did a great job back in the 90's!
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways Thanks. I’d have to give most of the credit to Wake Fulp. He was the driving force behind most of the additions to the trail. I spent quite a few weekends following him around as he was working it out. We were always excited to complete a section and then ride it for the first time. Although since then the trail has changed some and the addition of nicer bridge crossings over the pallets and rough structures we were using is nice to see. I will say that whenever we had races there the Expert riders always made everything look easy even with the soap box hill included. Their strength and stamina was always astounding.
Spontaneously raced here with racinginthewoods and it half kicked my ass, ive been more than a few times to the jump section - but also has some rly cool logs and rock drops and such. Abt the best mtb I know in Winston other than salem lake or hanging rock.
Heck yea, you described it perfectly. It really does have a little bit of everything, the climbs are quite challenging but that's how we get stronger, right? Thanks for checking out the vid!
That's my old standby Giant Trance 29, the best bike I've ever owned! For me it's the perfect "do everything" bike. It's rideable on the greenways and very capable at Sugar and Beech mountains!
This is helpful. When I rode this trail a few months ago, I followed the signs that said, "trail" and found it almost unrideable (at least for my ability level). Maybe I'll try again and skip to the DH parts!
Hobby is a challenge, for sure! There are several sections I have to hike-a-bike but it gets easier the more times you ride it, so they say. Lol! Finch Park is a good ride without the big climbs that Hobby has. Thanks for the comment.
Hobby is a great trail, but it can be a lot to take on at first. I think Tanglewood is a good nearby trail to ride that is a little easier and more approachable. Once you get pretty comfortable there and have no problem doing 2 laps at Tanglewood, you can usually go to Hobby and do a lap and enjoy yourself there as well. If you do just the downhill sections of trail at Hobby Park, you'll only get about a mile and a half of riding. The full trail covers all of the downhill in addition to many more fun trail sections and loops back towards the parking lot several times so there's plenty of places you can bailout if you don't want to do the full trail.
Nice place, my job is less than 15 mins away from there so i used to bring my bike and after work hit that, those jumps are bit much for me especially that TALL one but i see people land smooth a silk so i should have been practicing on the lower ones, i can see why theyre rated Black though
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways Sold my 2019 RM instinct BC edition about a year ago so now i have a 2021 Niner RDO hardtail thats under 21 pounds but not suited for that place, better at Salem lake and riding to Quarry park, so light and the 2.35 XC tires are great for speed on mild terrain.
Hey Ian, personally I think Hobby wouldn't be the best trail to take a hybrid bike on. That being said, the beginning part of the trail isn't as tough and would be worth exploring with a hybrid. Let me know if you check it out!
@@iansimpson5301 There is also the Salem Lake trail that is mostly dirt but more of a greenway type of trail along with several paved greenways in the city.
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I’ve ridden this trail many times and actually helped build several additions to it back in the 90’s. Having ridden it recently I’d have to say it’s mostly intermediate with some advanced features. It is also a lot rougher than can be seen in a video. If your suspension isn’t very good it will beat you to death. There is also a lot of climbing so if you aren’t in decent shape I would avoid this one until you are prepared for that, otherwise it just isn’t much fun. Keep your eyes open first time around. There are some drops and technical features that can catch you off guard and cause you to crash. It is a challenging and rewarding ride if you are up to it.
Hey Garrison, thanks for checking out our video. It's true, sometimes the GoPro doesn't show the minor details of a trail and makes the hills and drops look smaller than they actually are. Hobby isn't a beginner trail and is still a tough ride for me. I know of a few riders that really love that trail, you guys did a great job back in the 90's!
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways Thanks. I’d have to give most of the credit to Wake Fulp. He was the driving force behind most of the additions to the trail. I spent quite a few weekends following him around as he was working it out. We were always excited to complete a section and then ride it for the first time. Although since then the trail has changed some and the addition of nicer bridge crossings over the pallets and rough structures we were using is nice to see. I will say that whenever we had races there the Expert riders always made everything look easy even with the soap box hill included. Their strength and stamina was always astounding.
Spontaneously raced here with racinginthewoods and it half kicked my ass, ive been more than a few times to the jump section - but also has some rly cool logs and rock drops and such. Abt the best mtb I know in Winston other than salem lake or hanging rock.
Hobby has always been a challenge for me but keep coming back!
Looks like my kind of trail, flowy with a nice bit of rooty chunder and some berms and drops thrown in for fun.
Heck yea, you described it perfectly. It really does have a little bit of everything, the climbs are quite challenging but that's how we get stronger, right? Thanks for checking out the vid!
Nice ride! What bike are you riding in the video?
That's my old standby Giant Trance 29, the best bike I've ever owned! For me it's the perfect "do everything" bike. It's rideable on the greenways and very capable at Sugar and Beech mountains!
Do you guys still do the weekly rides? My son and I have been riding for about 2 years and would like to meet more riders.
There is a group ride on Tuesday afternoons with several riders every week, check them out!
Great video Keith! You look like you're getting faster too man! That's awesome.
Thanks Dan I'm trying to be like you! Gravitational pull is my friend on the downhills! Not so much on the climbs.
This is helpful. When I rode this trail a few months ago, I followed the signs that said, "trail" and found it almost unrideable (at least for my ability level). Maybe I'll try again and skip to the DH parts!
Hobby is a challenge, for sure! There are several sections I have to hike-a-bike but it gets easier the more times you ride it, so they say. Lol! Finch Park is a good ride without the big climbs that Hobby has. Thanks for the comment.
Hobby is a great trail, but it can be a lot to take on at first. I think Tanglewood is a good nearby trail to ride that is a little easier and more approachable. Once you get pretty comfortable there and have no problem doing 2 laps at Tanglewood, you can usually go to Hobby and do a lap and enjoy yourself there as well.
If you do just the downhill sections of trail at Hobby Park, you'll only get about a mile and a half of riding. The full trail covers all of the downhill in addition to many more fun trail sections and loops back towards the parking lot several times so there's plenty of places you can bailout if you don't want to do the full trail.
Nice place, my job is less than 15 mins away from there so i used to bring my bike and after work hit that, those jumps are bit much for me especially that TALL one but i see people land smooth a silk so i should have been practicing on the lower ones, i can see why theyre rated Black though
Hobby is a nice trail to have close by, for sure. I need to get back to work on the downhill part of the trail!
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways Sold my 2019 RM instinct BC edition about a year ago so now i have a 2021 Niner RDO hardtail thats under 21 pounds but not suited for that place, better at Salem lake and riding to Quarry park, so light and the 2.35 XC tires are great for speed on mild terrain.
can you do this on a hybrid bike?
Hey Ian, personally I think Hobby wouldn't be the best trail to take a hybrid bike on. That being said, the beginning part of the trail isn't as tough and would be worth exploring with a hybrid. Let me know if you check it out!
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways I will. Moving to winston salem in a couple months. Is there a pretty big portion of wood trails, or not really?
@@iansimpson5301 I would say Hobby Park is mostly wooded trail.
@@iansimpson5301 There is also the Salem Lake trail that is mostly dirt but more of a greenway type of trail along with several paved greenways in the city.
@@BikesTrailsandGreenways thanks for the info