Mountain Biking in New Jersey – The Rock Garden State
Mountain Biking in New Jersey – The Rock Garden State
CORRECTION: In the video I referred to “JORBA” with an N, instead of a J. That’s what happens when you’re up late editing.
Coming from New York, I’ve always had mixed feelings about New Jersey. Mention its name, and I used to think of angry drivers sipping 20oz RedBulls, cutting each other off in their BMW’s. Although this assessment is 100% correct, it doesn’t quite paint the entire picture. Venture off the beaten path, and you’ll see why New Jersey has been dubbed, “The Garden State”. In the foothills of the Appalachians, lies a mountain bike trail system only minutes from New York City.
I drove to Ringwood on Saturday morning to meet with locals, Dave, Bob, Al, and Brian.
Al was in charge of leading the ride and keeping us safe. If you ever wondered why full suspension fat bikes even exist, look no further than Ringwood. We headed out towards Skyland’s Ridge, and I got a taste of what North Jersey terrain is like. There were plenty of features to stop at, on and off the trail. I was having a great time with my new friends, and really liking what New Jersey had to offer.
The Release 3 I’m riding was lent to me by my friends at Diamondback, who by now understand the implications of lending me a bicycle. I was feeling really good on the release, and getting terrible ideas.
This fallen tree was clearly not part of the trail.
Riding with locals is definitely the way to go. Having never ridden here, holding Al’s wheel was challenging. He shouted out the turns and features up ahead which ended up being really helpful. If I had gone by myself, I would have missed out on a lot of cool stuff. Luckily I was able to find Dave on Singletracks.com, checking into the trail.
A few more miles of pure rock garden and we were back in the parking lot. Al offered to take us on another outing through the New White Line, but he seemed to be the only one crazy enough to do that after the exhausting ride we were just on. I couldn’t say no, so off we went for round 2. This route started off with pure climbing.
Al paced himself, nonchalantly pedaling a sustained climb for what seemed like 40 minutes straight. I followed far behind, slowly making my way up. When we were finally done pedaling, it was clear that all that climbing would be well worth it. We had over 15 minutes of downhill switchbacks ahead of us, complete with big freaking rocks everywhere.
According to JORBA, the New White Line took 3 years to build by hand. Since then, people all over the Northeast have been checking into Ringwood, to brave the rock gardens of the garden state.
On just a few hours of sleep I had ridden over 12 miles and climbed around 1500 feet. 12 miles doesn’t seem like a lot, but this wasn’t on sand or gravel. Riding this place gives your upper body just as much of a workout as your legs. This type of singletrack isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s most definitely not for beginners. With so many trails getting dumbed down and smoothed out, it’s refreshing to see what JORBA is doing here. So thanks JORBA, thanks to my new friends in Ringwood, and thanks to Diamondback for lending me this sweet bike.
Oh yeah, and thanks for riding with me today, I’ll see you next time.
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Hey Seth, is the ROCKRIDER 520S a good bike ?
Love how the guy in the white SUV cutting people off had NY plates.
I live in NJ, and there are so many beautiful MTN bike trails! you should check it out more.
I live in NJ and have similar trails with similar levels of difficulty, and I ride an old steel rigid, that has a very wobbly back tire, barely working brakes, and sucky shifting, but i have so much fun and I usually can ride more obstacles than my friends. Even though the trails are very hard, i grew up with them, so most of the time I have little difficulty riding them.
Try mountain biking in the pine lands in Nj. Just so you know you will need a fat bike with the amount of sand.
This is the kind of terain I ride everyday, a bit more rocky, and if not rocky, than very rootie… Can’t find a nice flow track around unfortunately
NO WAY IM FREAKING OUT YOU ARE MY FAVORITE YOUTUBE AND I WAS LIVING THERE ONE YEAR AGO please if you plan going there again tell me
I live in NJ seth and I am a new sub too!
I live in New Jersey
I like the part at about 2:15 when the local ask Seth if he’s with him. Seth’s tire is practically touching his tire lol
noice! im not to far from there. once i build my 2 new rigs, 1 dh whip, and another free-ride +_+ trail bike (but, more leaning towards freeride regarding the travel.). i want the trail / fr bike to be flexible around corners, but beefy enough to attempt dh trails if need be, and deff be able to hit 15 foot drops and such. i truly can’t wait to ride again, it’s been a damn near 8 years or no solid riding. -sigh,… *SOON*
Reminds me a lot of the trails up here in Maine
Please what’s the jazz music title/artist? thank you.
Guess like Seth found my dad XD
i love all of your videos and subscribed on every single video aswell
Seth come to NZ like if you agree 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
This is the video that put the Diamondback Release aka The Poormans Santa Cruz Bronson on the map.
If you liked Ringwood, you should checkout Miller’s Pond on Durham CT.
I live in nj
If your ever back in NY check out Sprain Ridge Park in Yonkers, its a small compact area that really rocks, in many ways. Its my go to local ride that never gets old. Take care
You should come to west Windsor New Jersey there a park 22 mind away from me Mercer it’s not much but it’s all we have! You should come ride some time!
That 2nd trail looks a lot like a race I pre-rode in about 1991 or so
I love the white trail by the way I’m 11 did u know the white trail is only a blue
Your from NY ?
You should go to this bike park in queens baringham park it’s really fun with steep tech, to flowy jump trails. There are 3 jump parks. One pump track, 2 jump trails. There is a few rock rolls and awesome north shore features
Hey Seth, I hope you see this. I live in new york to and I want to get into dmb. Where are good places to go,
I gotta get a mountain bike…. such a good rider with a crap bike that is beat up…. but I don’t have the money to get one
A full suspension fat bike must be unstoppable
Scotty cranmer
Dave sounds like my dad. Its pretty funny 🙂
New Jersians can also make anything a question. (Is that even a word?)
Hi Seth, I had to laugh with your feeling towards NJ drives, i moved to Westchester two years ago and I admit NJ suck but NY are right there with them. I used to live in Western Ma and I would go to Killington skiing ever weekend and we would always get cut off my NY or NJ drivers and we would always say, fucken NY, Thankfully I will not be spending to long in NY, its crazy but I have found some very good riding. I think I will have to look this place up and take a ride over the Hudson. Take care
Name of this tune please
HOLY CRAP!!!! I ONLY LIVE 15 MINUTES FROM THERE! I COULDVE SEEN YOU!
wow thats some rough stuff, cool footage
sweetttt!
Can you go to mountain creek again it was awesome I was their yesterday
Seth, have you ever been to the Frederick watershed in MD ? The clips you show here look a lot like the "shed" as we call it. Lots of the trails are not marked and its some tough stuff ! If you find yourself in the tristate area check it out! I’m sure you can find some locals to show you around. Rocks, Rocks and more rocks lol.
South jersey is just the beach with pine trees
I will like meet you so I can ride with you are one of my favorite YouTuber and I gave you a like to your video.
I ride at ring wood all the time so fun I ride the white trail
Hey check out Blue Mountain bike park in Pennsylvania .
Sorba?
Its ctm raptor 2016 1.0 good for downhill ?
Nice video but your playing with fire riding down wet slippery logs.if you fall you got no protection.I don’t ride down hill and stay away from fools that do.We are not kids anymore sledding down a hill.it’s funny seeing grown adult guys acting like kids.Fuck this shit .
Love this trail, spotted my friend’s trail dog Judy!
The only problem with this video is that New Yorkers are so arrogant they don’t realize how crude rude and reckless they are especially when they are driving. They actually believe NewJersians are what they are!!!
Plz make a video about what to do when you encounter a bear when mtbing
Would a downhill fat bike be good just thinking about it the fat tires would just be beneficial?
Come ride allaire!