Riding My Favorite Trails in Pisgah

[@misterplissken]

As I wait patiently for my Sentinel to arrive, any vid with a Sentinel in it gets a watch. Thanks for all of you vids, Clint! Your review on this back helped solidify my decision. Well, that and a demo ride.

[@pauldoyle2554]

That mtb noise over the chunk is something only us mountain bikers can appreciate. Great video, looks pretty tough going in places, would be very challenging in the wet.

[@dj_ath]

Good morning. Loving my new Jet 9 RDO. I really appreciate your extensive reviews. You helped me find the perfect bike.

[@ClintGibbs]

Nice! I've got a good midterm review on that bike coming out in a few weeks. Such a great bike!

[@50mtb44]

We rode everything with out a dropper post back in the day. : ) Did not know any better. Quick release on the seat post ... and we were set. Got my first dropper 18 months ago. Game changer. Now a dropper is just as natural as shifting gears.

[@AndyBeal1]

Hoping to ride Pisgah sometime in the fall. As a newbie rider, I was encouraged that even someone as skilled as you sometimes decides it's smarter to walk a trail.

[@macabrecreation1067]

that's one beautiful trail.

[@terrymtbnurse4760]

Thanks for taking us on your ride, I felt like I was on the bike, LOL . Great stuff as always. Ride fast, be safe.

[@thebeans66]

Whoah man, there is something up with the GoPro or its settings. I've seen lots of footage of rough trails that wasn't nearly as jumpy. Been watching your videos for a while. Really like your style. It is refreshing to watch videos where the rider doesn't feel the need to make constant comments, grunts, whoops, and all manner of noise. Just the sweet sound of the bike, the tires, the rocks. Sweet!! Nothing wrong with some commentary of course, just nice to have some quiet too.

[@mrsmtw5210]

My favorite is when they put their ride to some bad stock music. Lol 😂 NOT Love the sound of the bike and the sound the tires make in the dirt etc..,

[@Acrata49]

An impressive video. The route has incredible degrees of difficulty. And the best part is a long route.

[@TheNationalTrails]

Good color for a buttery-smooth ride! "Like Butter!!!"

[@TheBassallyear100]

good memories from Brevard! those moments coming down when you transition from rocks to smooth are like when going up and it goes from 20% to 6%!

[@ashevillescarborough]

Sweet footage! Yeah, I think the Sentinel is a perfect Pisgah bike! And a perfect loop- just add Avery in there next time you are up.

[@sanfordcbutler]

Wow. We have a trip planned for Pisgah in October. It looks intimidating in a few areas.

[@joshschrader4732]

It is but DuPont is close by 👍

[@dad2trips52]

good video other than the of lack of stabilization on GoPro. still a thumbs up from me for the realism of the bone shaking ride! Keep them coming Clint!

[@jssaylor]

45 minutes up Clawhammer Road is pretty damn good!

[@Lloydytwo]

Wow some trail that one,looked the business to ride.The bike just blows the coarse away! Really enjoyed the film Lloydy (uk)

[@tombittikoffer412]

Love these videos. They really motivate me to get out there.

[@TylerBoothGolf]

Looks like a fun place! Def looks fun on a Sentinel.

[@mtbbuddys2545]

Amazing trail I was there last weekend...

[@JJ_MTB_15]

Authentic mountain biking 👍

[@Riley880]

Honestly I have no idea how we survived without dropper posts. Not sure witch is a better innovation dropper posts, or tubless tires.

[@ClintGibbs]

We learned to descend with the back of a saddle in belly buttons. It's a very unique skill...

[@Riley880]

@@ClintGibbs You need to hit Racoon Mountain, and 5 Points on the way back down.

[@jeffrogers2180]

I'm taking mine off. I live in Phoenix, I'm 60, and I never use it... So I'm going to save three quarters of a pound and just use a Thomson and a quick release.

[@jeffrogers2180]

@@ClintGibbs yeah man... Saddle in your stomach, butt on the back tire... On a hardtail 26er... I wouldn't go back, but we were having just as much fun back then.. 😊

[@zxtenn]

I was at Dupont 2 summers ago for 4 days and stayed at Red Roof Inn in Hendersonville. While riding a trail i saw 2 cubs then the Momma which scared the XXXX out of me so i immediately stopped then rode the other way for maybe 15 mins then turned around, they're around and riders need to be careful, they run pretty fast short distance. I have seen Bennett on other channels, might be too much for me but i do feel the urge to try a back trail now as i feel comfortable on most Blue trails. Those 'Epics' are crazy and some 100, i have been watching a few of those in Utah and Oregon, i truly wonder how people do it? AMAZING endurance

[@schwagier]

Pisgah is exactly what you would say when it was snowing or raining heavily in Poland. Something like "its fu*king raining.

[@raivkka4313]

45 minute climb up clawhammer? Jeez, too me 1:13. 90 degree heat and 90% humidity make that climb challenging. The decent is worth it though, one of the best I have ever done.

[@bikermark4837]

You did a nice video on a ride I like also.

[@whiteknucklemtb7511]

Seems your chest mount is not tight enough. Cool video👍🏻

[@justinwbohner]

I think I saw 'squatch at 12:28, dark figure lurking on the right.

[@dpstrial]

Awesome descent, Clint. By the way, do you ever encounter any e-bikes and what is your opinion on them? The ones I see in the UK are mainly used by able-bodied middle-aged people on simple trails, who basically just do not want to do the work to get fit. It is true e-bikes encourage more people to get out, but, I think, it makes people less inclined to get fit.

[@ClintGibbs]

I need to try an eBike before I give a proper opinion. I hope to do so a little bit later on this year. I'm sure I'll have some discussions on them 😉

[@awesomexistence]

Native Albion, it’s easy for an e-bike non skilled rider to overide their skills and crash. If you’ve gained fitness by traditional riding which takes time, your skills develop along with the fitness.

[@dpstrial]

@@awesomexistence I agree. And they endanger others, especially when their bikes are illegally deregulated (or whatever the term is). For general leisure use, I must admit, I am totally opposed to e-bikes. They are a lazy option.

[@awesomexistence]

Native Albion, I’m not totally opposed. I do have two friends whom have found they can still keep up with our regular group ride. They are both very skilled from decades of fast group rides and mountain bike rides. I’ve considered it after struggling with a foot injury. E-bikes have a place however most e-bike purchases will be to unskilled riders.

[@thegefster1988]

Other than pure downhill riding what is the difference between rocky cross country trail riding and other types of riding?

[@ClintGibbs]

you could ride a cross country bike on this trail, but you're going to have a lot more fun on a trail bike or enduro bike. Trails like this just have bigger rocks and steeper terrain than a rocky cross-country course. Also, although it's hard to see in the video, there are rock ledges where you're dropping down two or three feet. I limit that kind of riding on my cross-country bike just because everything is so light on the bike.

[@thegefster1988]

@@ClintGibbs Thank you for the response. Appreciated. I ride some pretty rocky and rooty stuff even on my gravel bike but avoid drops, jumps and speed {excessive} As a tennis coach with Hip impingement in my late 50's, injury and possible surgery is a concern. Excessive Speed, Gaining Air and Big drops are the three things that I believe cause the most injury with crashes. Narky terrain at a controlled pace is pretty safe as even if you crash it won't be as bad in my opinion.

[@blueridgeflyguy9551]

Clint, how do you feel about the Sentinel as a single bike for a rider? I live in Roanoke, VA and have to do 1k climbs and have some decently rowdy downhills, also near bike parks. Torn between a lighter bike like the Spur, but, also like feeling more in control on harder/scarier stuff

[@ClintGibbs]

I have my midterm review coming out on the Jet 9 in a week or two. In that video I say that bikes like that and the spur I would choose for about 80% of my riding in the mountains. It's a tough call, but I would go with the shorter travel bike. You really have to make the decision of whether you want to be over biked on the smoother trails or under biked on the rougher trails. I think the latter will make you a better rider. But go with the Sentinel if you just absolutely live for flying down rough terrain. Hope this helps.

[@rascal1234]

If you had to choose between the Sentinel and the Rip for bike parks (big jumps and chunky technical riding) which one would you choose?

[@ClintGibbs]

Probably the Sentinel because it's a little more downhill focused with more travel and slacker angles.

[@808threadripper6]

Hey Clint I am going to ashville for a few days what trails are good for an xc guy with 100mm of travel ?

[@ClintGibbs]

DuPont state forest would be a great choice. And Pisgah, middle and lower Black Mountain would be fine. you could also climb to Claw Hammer Road and go left at the top on Black Mountain. Then do Avery Creek. On an XC bike you would have to take it a little slower but it would still be fun.

[@808threadripper6]

@@ClintGibbs thank you for the recommendations I will check them out

[@alvinting7423]

have you ever roll over any snakes on the trail?

[@ClintGibbs]

Yes. Bunnyhop skills are helpful... snakehop skills can save your life 🙂

[@jonjustinlanier]

do you have a strava route for this ride?

[@ClintGibbs]

It is on Strava. My account is open. The ride was on July 13th.

[@06wv]

Where do you stay when you go to pisgah? We are wanting to visit that area sometime

[@ClintGibbs]

I have a friend who has a nice house in a neighborhood that we usually stay in.

[@joshschrader4732]

Lots of Airbnb here

[@mikeskaggs996]

Sentinel or spur? I know they are both pretty different but if you had to choose one? Thanks

[@Riley880]

Sentinel is more of an all mountain bike, spur is pure trail, it really depends on your area.

[@LightUpNancy]

Anyone know where I can find trails like this in New England? Long pedal up to long ride down style. All my downhill riding is at bike parks. Looking for trails like this.

[@tinshield]

LightUpNancy Bear Brook SP in NH. Lynx trail is a long and steep climb.

[@LightUpNancy]

Greg Katz Thanks so much man!

[@tinshield]

LightUpNancy you’re welcome, you like miles and miles of XC that’s your place. Otherwise head up to Kingdom Trails in VT.

[@chrislindstrom4399]

These trails are so much gnarlier than the gopro shows, you can tell by rattling though.

[@trob6108]

If you don’t mind me asking, which GoPro are you using?

[@ClintGibbs]

Hero 8

[@trob6108]

Clint Gibbs thank man, I’m just beginning to learn the art of making mtb videos, currently using the hero 6 black.

[@sanduskyohiobro]

Do you carry bear spray?

[@ClintGibbs]

Not yet

[@tristanwwsd]

I hear if you tie two 8 qt. pans to your handlebars it scares off bears.

[@sanduskyohiobro]

@@tristanwwsd I plan on riding there this Fall

[@sanduskyohiobro]

Thanks for the tip

[@jeffrogers2180]

Man.... Everybody is running those one up ovalized carbon bars... Including me.

[@kellyriffle4750]

You missed Avery!

[@ClintGibbs]

Wanted Dawson with me for that one

[@TheBassallyear100]

@@ClintGibbs we rode up avery to get to the black mountain crossroad last month, and by ride, i mean we walked up it! lol there were a lot of trees down on avery though, one of them on the bad side of a blind corner for the downhillers.

[@jaybs252]

First! You need to put on a gimbal to help stabilize the footage. Camera's stabilization is not enough. :)

[@frankapple4130]

jaybs 25 lame

[@ClintGibbs]

Usually the GoPro Hero 8 is pretty stabilized. This trail was so rough in some spots that it couldn't keep up. I don't want to bring a gimbal on a 4-hour ride.

[@samh.7879]

Hey Clint, love your video's! I ride the Jet 9 RDO you just did a midterm review on, i love your feedback (its my first full suspension and i love it!) Was wondering what settings you run your gopro on for these on trail videos. Thanks you for your time and sharing content!

[@ClintGibbs]

@@samh.7879 Glad you're enjoying the Jet 9. I shoot 24 FPS and shooting 2.7 k. I also shoot flat color and then color grade in post.