Rodeo! (Lambert Park)
STATS
Elevation Gain: ~350 ft
Trailforks Rating: Blue
Technicality: Easy
Who
Rodeo is a great trail for beginning to intermediate riders. While there is a need for basic handling and line choice, even someone who is venturing off of the pavement for the first time can still make it up and down the trail without any major injuries. For more advanced riders, Rodeo can be a great spot to session corners and dial that oh-so-important attack position. Anyone can have a blast on this trail.
What
Lambert park has several natural gulches coming off the foothills, and Rodeo flows in, over, and around the one closest to the rodeo grounds. The trail cuts through small-ish scrub oak, twisting its way around well-maintained berms and over a number of small bridges. Rodeo Up and Spring are the most common ways to reach the popular downhill track, neither of which require large amounts of endurance or technical ability to conquer.
Rodeo is easy enough for most people comfortable on two wheels to ride; it is true. However, at faster speeds many of the corners are tight and the trees start to encroach on your handlebar space. A few corners that seem flat at 10 mph become noticeably off-camber around the 20 mph mark.
When
Rodeo, and Lambert in general, is great for someone that has a tight schedule. If you live in the area, you can hit a considerable amount of trail in under an hour. In the summer, aim for the early morning as the park is west-facing and gets hot fast.
Lambert is rideable from late April until the snow hits. Riding after the first snow is discouraged as it turns to mud rather easily. Don’t be the jerk who leaves the rut in the side of an otherwise perfect berm.
Where
You can easily access the trail from either the rodeo grounds or the parking lot in the middle of the park. For additional access information, here is the TrailForks link. There are a few other great places to park, these are just a few closest to the trail head.
Why
Because you live nearby and need a local jam to ride a few times a week. Maybe you need to work on that corning technique, and the variety of turns in Rodeo has just the right amount of everything. Because you’re just starting out and want someplace that matches your skill level (don’t we all?).
How
Ideally, Rodeo is included in a general riding of the trails in the Lambert Park system. Depending on your speed, a trip up Spring and down Rodeo takes somewhere between 11 minutes for very fast riders and 25 for first timers or those just coming out of hibernation. This hardly merits a trip just to ride Rodeo. Take an hour or two and enjoy the other trails in the area–just make sure to include Rodeo because it is clearly the jewel of the park.
