2013 Palm Canyon Trail Epic!

Mikie

Mikie

Admin/iMTB Hooligan
2013 Palm Canyon Trail (aka, the Palm Canyon Epic)
This is another "Tom the Bomb" Bomb Squad Production...

Proof: http://app.strava.com/activities/97775935

Damn I'm lucky to know some key people in my life that like to put Epics together like this. This one however was over the top!

Having completed Chantry Flats with Rossage, T-2, Hill^billy, and Tom the Bomb; naturally the conversation quickly turned to the annual Palm Canyon Trail (The Epic) as the next big ride. Well first it was on, then it was off, then it was on Saturday, then on Friday, then back to Saturday due to rain, then off because we had too many riders, then the shuttle dumped our reservation . . . . .aaaaaghhhhh!

Then I get a phone call from Tom the Bomb and he says, "Dude! I got us the ultimate shuttle!" Over the phone, he sounded JACKED UP!
You can learn more about Crazy Bear Bikes Here: http://www.crazybearbikes.com

So it was settled, the ride was on Friday and I had to meet everyone at the Ontario Mills Mall at 5:30am. Ughhh. Living in Lebec, over an hour and 45 minutes away that meant a leave time of 3:30am. But wait! I was meeting Joe Mac at the "Park and Ride" off the 14 freeway and Newhall Avenue. That meant 3:00am....yeah.

So out the door I went, a little behind schedule to meet Joe Mac. Thank goodness for the time machine. Not only did we make it on time (5:27am) we even had time to stop at Carl's Jr. to get some breakfast...

When we got to the meet point, there it was . . . the Shuttle of all Mountain Biking Shuttles. I thought, WOW!
So with that . . . here we go:

Crazy Bear Shuttle Baby!
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_01.jpg


2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_02.jpg


2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_03.jpg


Some Guy named @rossage
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_04.jpg


@scan the Man
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_05.jpg


@JoeMac !
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_06.jpg


Mountain Bike Video's to entertain...
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_07.jpg


Pit Stop for Grub, not the most nutritious... :rolleyes:
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_08.jpg


Xavier and Rossage
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_09.jpg


A few Bucks in Bikes...
2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_10.jpg

 
Last edited:
Despite the large group (I think 15 in total), numerous flats, and a few minor spills; as always, it was a group of great guys who stayed laughing the entire day.

Although towards the end there was "some" talk of mutiny as Tom the Bomb drug us all over some extra curriculum, (I "may" have had something to do with that, "Guys, wait for my signal". ha ha!) Even a bad day of mountain biking is better than your best day at work. But this was a great day!

There is something different about MTB'ers. The sense of exploration, the challenge of tough trails that test our metal, the crazy camaraderie that comes with suffering on wheels powered by humans, as we crash and torture our bikes, we laugh at each other and ourselves. It's a special breed.

By the time I dropped Joe Mac back off at our meet point, got some gas, an iced tea, and some extra crunchy cheetos, I was home just after 9:00pm. If I have said it once . . . then I've said it at least 50 times, I'm going to regret the day I can no longer do this....

Bike On!

~Mikie

2013_Palm_Canyon_Trail_51.jpg
 
Mikey I don't think tan in a can would help those legs.
Another epic ride. Thanks for posting!
 
Thanks to all for making this such a great day!
Xavier is awesome! Music , mtb videos a nap . So cool!
You guys are the best.
I can still hear Ross and Mikey's B.S. banter :lol: I am still laughing.
Great riders make great rides.
Wish you were there Rick.
Till next time .
THE BOMB SQUAD RIDES AGAIN!
 
rossage said:
Hey Tom the Bomb-reserve that bus for next year....now! I'm serious, I will throw in for a down payment. That bus was the Bomb!
Click to expand...

2nd it! That's a do-over!!! ;)
 
Thanks for the pics and RR! What was the flat breakdown? All running tubes or did the tubeless have problems as well? Anybody running slime tubes? Don't mean to sound like Scrooge (although I am thrifty) but $45 a person and a tip on top of that? What for? Did Xavier drive an empty bus to Ontario from the San Fernando valley? Seems like a pick up in the SFV would be better next time so Mikie et al would have a shorter drive then pick up the OC/San Berdo guys at Ontario; if Xavier is based in the SFV. Any shuttle companies in the Palm Springs area? If I lived there, I'd seriously think of starting one just for the PCE.20 bucks a person, drop 'em off and go pick up another group without waiting for them to finish!
 
Maddog said:
Thanks for the pics and RR! What was the flat breakdown? All running tubes or did the tubeless have problems as well? Anybody running slime tubes? Don't mean to sound like Scrooge (although I am thrifty) but $45 a person and a tip on top of that? What for? Did Xavier drive an empty bus to Ontario from the San Fernando valley? Seems like a pick up in the SFV would be better next time so Mikie et al would have a shorter drive then pick up the OC/San Berdo guys at Ontario; if Xavier is based in the SFV. Any shuttle companies in the Palm Springs area? If I lived there, I'd seriously think of starting one just for the PCE.20 bucks a person, drop 'em off and go pick up another group without waiting for them to finish!
Click to expand...

Your right . . . . you sound like a scrooge. We're happy, so let go Luke Skywalker... :lol:

Flats were almost ALL tubed tires. One was with Stans and it was a large slit in the tire. It was Flat Day!
 
Yeah, some guy was running 700X45 tires and they weren't up to the task. He had at least 6 flats.
The shuttle was $45 and that included the tip and RT from Ontario Mills mall. Well worth the money. If you saw the set up and experienced the ride you would probably agree it was worth it. Sometimes you have to pay for quality and this was first class treatment.
 
Hey You guys I am not waiting till next year . We need a couple more this year. Keep you posted. I am gonna go out there and climb Dunn go out claire Burgess and find that damn golf course single track!
Guess Maddog won't be joining us any time soon. :o
 
Shinken said:
great riding with you guys!! this is Jose!! the one with the hard tail 29rd!! What a great ride with cool people!! btw Jeff said sorry for all the trouble. :lol:
Click to expand...

No problem Jose. Great to hook up with you again. Let me know when push a Kona is.
 
Easy there fellas! I'm not trying to stifle your happiness or extinguish the afterglow of an obviously great ride. Just sticking up for us north L.A. County riders by suggesting a possible way for us to save a few bucks by driving less and burning less of our own gas money for the next time. I checked the X-Man's website and saw that the service area is the San Fernando Valley so I thought maybe a pickup could be arranged for us who live near the SFV. Looks like Xavier's main shuttle territory is in Glendora on weekends so who really knows where his shuttle operation is based. If it's not in the SFV my plan totally falls apart!

I also noticed the high quality of the shuttle set up and that $45 including tip is more than fair. Based on the pic in the RR, I erroneously assumed that the tip was in addition to the $45. I've only used MRA and Shuttle Bob in Kernville and neither involved tips.

Tom the Bomb I hate to disagree with you but I would love to join in with "us" anytime soon for a ride! I'm 95% sure I would have gone on this PCE had the date not been changed to Friday. I'm sorry if you perceived my post as critical of the ride and shuttle arrangements you made. That was certainly not my intent. I was just thinking of a way to save some money based on the available information.

I'm not Luke Skywalker; more Mr. Spock. It's simply not logical to drive an empty bus to the pick-up spot forcing some participants to drive an additional and perhaps unnecessary 50+ miles one way. Heck, Mikie and Joe could have passed the bus on the freeway! I did not mean to offend, aggravate or annoy anyone or diminish your ride experience in any way. I'm only seeking to make the next one cheaper, which is better! Scrooge would agree!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top