Beginner Rides Black Diamond MTB Trail // Raven at Blackstrap Hill Preserve

I went into this day's ride at Blackstrap Hill Preserve in Falmouth, Maine with the goal of learning to jump...and failed pretty completely. I went to Flow Creek, a machine-built flow trail, and tried to session a tabletop/roller near the top. I barely got off the ground.


But that failure led to something pretty cool when I finally decided to throw in the towel there and go try to ride a black diamond trail instead. That trail was Raven, a downhill black tech trail that departs from the summit of Blackstrap, and that includes some cool features, including a 3-foot drop.


Bike: 2020 YT Jeffsy Base 29 with added Funn Zippa Lite chain guide and bash guard
Camera: GoPro Hero 8
Trails: Flow Creek and Raven, Blackstrap Hill Preserve in Falmouth, Maine