{"id":20726,"date":"2017-09-28T13:36:07","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T20:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=20726"},"modified":"2023-09-15T15:14:52","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T22:14:52","slug":"bikes-and-brews-mammoth-lakes-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/cycle\/bikes-and-brews-mammoth-lakes-california","title":{"rendered":"Bikes and Brews: Mammoth Lakes, California"},"content":{"rendered":"

.The best places to ride and rehydrate in the Eastern Sierra<\/b><\/p>\n

Downhill mountain bike racing got its start in Mammoth Lakes, California, in the 1980s when Mammoth Mountain Vice President, Bill Cockcroft, dreamed up and then established the Kamikaze Downhill. The world\u2019s best mountain bikers raced the treacherously fast course and in doing so, established Mammoth as a legendary mountain bike destination. The history of mountain biking runs as deep here as anywhere in North America and an enthusiasm for all things bikes abounds throughout the town. Add to that a budding microbrewery scene it\u2019s easy to spend a few days enjoying the open expanse of mountainous terrain, kicking back and riding and exploring a variety of trails throughout the Eastern Sierra.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve paired the area\u2019s must-ride singletrack with top local breweries so you can cheers to the day\u2019s ride with a cold microbrew.<\/p>\n

Lower Rock Creek Trail + Mountain Rambler Brewery<\/h2>\n

Where: Bishop, California<\/em>
\nDistance: 8 miles one-way<\/em>
\nDifficulty: Intermediate to advanced<\/em><\/p>\n

If there’s a flagship mountain bike ride in the Eastern Sierra, Lower Rock Creek Trail is it. Ridden as a shuttle (the locals’ choice), the trail’s nearly 2,000 feet of fast, flowing and sometimes technical creekside singletrack can be enjoyed with very little pedaling required. You\u2019ll speed through tunnels of aspen trees, bounce between banked turns and test your technical\u00a0skills on challenging rock gardens.<\/p>\n

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A rider navigates the bottom, most technical portion of Lower Rock Creek Trail. Photo: Perfect Zero, Flickr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Lower Rock Creek Road effectively divides this trail into three distinct sections, which makes multiple ride\u00a0options possible depending on your persuasion and skill level. Thanks to plenty of parking at both the upper and lower trailheads, the aforementioned shuttle is a piece of cake with two vehicles. The aerobically inclined can opt for a full out-and-back from the bottom trailhead while beginner and intermediate riders can skip the technical bottom section by parking at or shuttling from the middle trailhead.<\/p>\n

After the ride, drive Highway 395 south about 20 minutes to Bishop where the Mountain Rambler Brewery<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>offers nine regularly changing microbrews on draft. It\u2019s the spot where adventurers gather after a day in the mountains to tell tales of the day. The small brewery is rapidly increasing production and consistently releasing new brews, and you can taste the passion for brewing in each glass. Mountain Rambler often hosts live music on its stage on weekends and can often be found at nearby beer tastings and festivals. Try the local\u2019s favorite: Venusian Blonde Ale made with German Magnum hops or the Acrodectes, a West Coast-style IPA. The food is as good as the beer and the menu showcase locally grown ingredients. With an eclectic selection of items like lamb empanadas, flatbread pizza, burgers and brats, you\u2019ll find the perfect bite and brew pairing.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Mountain Rambler Brewery (@mountainramblerbrewery)<\/a> on