Ogre and I needed to go to Sacramento on Sunday, so we brought the bikes along and got in a great ride. Starting at the Hazel parking lot, we rode across the bridge, down the bike trail, and out onto some dirt trails that break off the American Bike Trail’s paved surface to the north. These trails wander around in some old quarry areas. A beginner/intermediate rider would find some great areas for practicing their skills.

We wound around the lake mostly on the dirt with short connector sections of pavement. As we went along there were 2 rather steep hill climbs, but nothing unhikable (if needed) and one downhill by Negro Bar that is like riding down a trough. The blackberry brambles and thistles overgrew the trail and beat up our legs and arms. I had a hard time keeping up with the Ogre even with him keeping it slow for him, but I was afraid of going too fast. All-in-all it was a fun adventure culminating in a quick dip in the lake near the CSUS boat area.  (More Details about Riding at Lake Natomas)

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The Trail Princess and I went on a FATRAC beginners ride this weekend so she could ride with some people a little closer to her skill level. The ride was along the gravel multi use trail which paralells the American River Bike trail on the south side of Lake Natomas. We took a combination of singletrack and paved bike paths from the fish hatchery off of Hazel Avenue just east of Gold River all the way to where the trail ends abruptly at the property line for Folsom Prison. Pictures from the Ride are here.

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