I Rode My Bike Today...

I got up late on purpose this morning, because my target was Santiago Peak and with the overcast I expected it to be nice and crisp. I parked at the tree farm and headed up Silverado at 0919. Perfect temps all the way up - I was on the Sutra and working my a$$ off. :gag: That 36t chainring just hurts on that climb. EDIT: Ran into Steve (@Stkx66) and his daughter while grinding up Silverado - good to see you!! You should have parked and ridden up with me. o_O

Pavement went by quickly (in my head, not in reality), and onto the dirt. It appears someone took out some safety railing. Looking at Motorway, where I was not going. :whistling:
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Grind up to the peak was just that: A grind. I will say that the flats worked awesomely, even with my boneheaded slip and strike to the bottom of my Achilles tendon. :bang: I said many bad words when that happened. :oops: Other than that, it was just plain cold from 4 Corners up to the Peak, and back down past 4 Corners. This bike does not go fast on uphills, and it certainly doesn't go fast on downhills with no suspension (until I hit smooth pavement, anyway). But man it's a fun bike!!!:cool: It is not a PR bike. :rolleyes:

These weren't working today...
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At least I know where I am. :)
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Fun day. More than 2 pics, but still not worthy of its own RR. There are plenty of Santiago Peak reports already up. :Roflmao
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So someone said yesterday something about Harding to Motorway. It sounded like a good idea yesterday.

When I got up this morning, it wasn't sounding all that great. Geared up and headed out there. Got there, and gotta admit.....it wasn't sparking much joy.

Someone said I wanna see how the "e" bike handles longer rides. So someone else decided to join in the solidarity.

We headed up Harding....some mud here and there. The road that was plowed a while back was hardpacked and damn near concrete. Felt like we were making good time....until we hit 5 mile turn and realized that we had just exceeded my PR time....with 4 miles to go. :sick: Yeah, those shifty bits make you slow.

The ride across Main Divide was really fast on the DH's....the climbs were a lot slower.

Someone wanted to make a run at the Motorway.....something about knocking names off the IMTB leader boards.

Go to the top of the Motorway, and we rolled.....I thought someone was right behind me....apparently I dropped them on the climb. I dragged the "e"bike up there, I was gonna let it run. The trail had already dried out from Thursday. Today I wasn't stopping at the normal spots.....someone was on their own today. I let my pony run....and run she did. The trail is getting slippery and loose again. Had a few mildly blown turns and some 2 wheel drifts. She ran like a champ. Trail was wide open, so why not. Finally ran across a few hikers towards the bottom, and had to slow up just a bit. Now I lost my KOM a few months back. This was the first time I chased it again. I was :15 off my PR from the top with the climb.....I was :02 off my PR from the Helipad. :mad: I know where the time was lost.

Roadie biked it down Silverado Cyn, then Santiago Canyon back to Modjeska. Was feeling it the last mile or so. 17/18 psi is great in the dirt, but it sucks on the pavement.

Based on the video above, someone is learning how fast that horse can really go. ;)

Fun ride.
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I got up late on purpose this morning, because my target was Santiago Peak and with the overcast I expected it to be nice and crisp. I parked at the tree farm and headed up Silverado at 0919. Perfect temps all the way up - I was on the Sutra and working my a$$ off. :gag: That 36t just hurts on that climb. EDIT: Ran into Steve (@Stkx66) and his daughter while grinding up Silverado - good to see you!! You should have parked and ridden up with me. o_O

Pavement went by quickly (in my head, not in reality), and onto the dirt. It appears someone took out some safety railing. Looking at Motorway, where I was not going. :whistling:
View attachment 46638

Grind up to the peak was just that: A grind. I will say that the flats worked awesomely, even with my boneheaded slip and strike to the bottom of my Achilles tendon. :bang: I said many bad words when that happened. :oops: Other than that, it was just plain cold from 4 Corners up to the Peak, and back down past 4 Corners. This bike does not go fast on uphills, and it certainly doesn't go fast on downhills with no suspension (until I hit smooth pavement, anyway). But man it's a fun bike!!!:cool: It is not a PR bike. :rolleyes:

These weren't working today...
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At least I know where I am. :)
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Fun day. More than 2 pics, but still not worthy of its own RR. There are plenty of Santiago Peak reports already up. :Roflmao
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Sorry Mark, We patiently rolled up and passed you in our truck ( I was like " hey I know that guy! " ) mixed in a bunch of "roadies" of which we were happy to maintain a 15-20 mph pace, not passing anybody ( string of roadies ) ( in our truck ) until I was finally @Aholed by impatient Jeepers ( wanting to pass in a no passing zone ) eager to get on with their weekend up Maple Springs. We were then parked and it wasn't until the lifted 4 door Dodge 4X truck came screaming by that I thought this ride was not for us ( today anyway )- that and all the dual sport bikes too. I told my daughter that Black Star would not have the vehicle traffic. Lets do that- She wasn't feeling it so.. the day was cut short. :oops:
 
Rode Exploration today.

Yesterday my wife mentioned needing to collect a bunch of pine cones for a wreath and I instantly suggested we head up to Running Springs with the kids, collect a bunch of pine cones, and maybe just maybe I would bring my bike...well, she bit and so i called my buddy who was planning on being up in the big bear area and let him know my plans, and he said he was in.

We met at the bottom trailhead and shuttled up, then rode down and met wives and kids and dogs at the bottom.

It was my first time up there, much more technical than I expected. Had an awesome run down with one almost otb moment and then at the very end a slow motion otb. Hung out after and ran around with the kids collecting pine cones. Wreath pictures once they’re done.

Weather was perfect, sunny and crisp, and only encountered a couple people at the bottom of the trail. Can’t wait to get back up there again and ride it more!

GoPro footage turned out marginal, may salvage a couple clips out of it but it was pointed too high.
 
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Maple Springs, Main Divide, Motorway ride this mrng. w/ @Andy this would be my 2nd. time doing this loop, and boy did we pick a great day to ride it. First time around on this loop I remember riding in the soup the entire way! visibility about 30-40ft. and "chilly" not today, today's weather was on the cool side partly cloudy and the mountain views where just spectacular! Getting off work this mrng. at 5am. then riding at 8am. I was a bit tired the pavement was a lil tuff this mrng. but really became a good warm up afterwards making the rest of the ride a bit more tolerable. Motorway is just icing on the cake on this ride after all the climbing you do. Stopped for some hikers 2 close calls but very fun decent!!
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Maple Springs, Main Divide, Motorway ride this mrng. w/ @Andy this would be my 2nd. time doing this loop, and boy did we pick a great day to ride it. First time around on this loop I remember riding in the soup the entire way! visibility about 30-40ft. and "chilly" not today, today's weather was on the cool side partly cloudy and the mountain views where just spectacular! Getting off work this mrng. at 5am. then riding at 8am. I was a bit tired the pavement was a lil tuff this mrng. but really became a good warm up afterwards making the rest of the ride a bit more tolerable. Motorway is just icing on the cake on this ride after all the climbing you do. Stopped for some hikers 2 close calls but very fun decent!!
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I guess it was Santa Cruz day at the Motorway yesterday! :thumbsup:
 

I could previously see these two bikes in a photo an know who it was!
Y'all are just confusing me now!!!

Rode Exploration today.
...
It was my first time up there, much more technical than I expected. Had an awesome run down with one almost otb moment and then at the very end a slow motion otb. Hung out after and ran around with the kids collecting pine cones. Wreath pictures once they’re done.

Isn't that a fun ride! I did a similar spousal-shuttle a few weeks ago and had such a great time out there!
 
After the road trip to Zion, my family headed down to the in laws in Phoenix. We do this pretty much every year, and I bring a bike along for mental health. I always do pretty much the same route as I don't feel like driving to get some of the other trails south and east of town. I have a nice 15 mile loop worked out, mostly on trails with a little bit of road on it. I ride Trail 100, which is just a fantastic bit of fun. It meanders through their mountain preserve parks, and while in middle of intense suburbia, is a really challenging and chunky trial. Crazy-busy on a holiday as well!

Ride one was Wednesday before Thanksgiving. It was tough after not riding for a week. Fitness sure fades fast! I did the route, but just wasn't feeling strong. Lots of hikers out, but I just slowed down and waited. NBD. I started late, and it got just dark enough for me to use my new light!

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Second ride was on Thanksgiving, maybe around noon. As expected, tons of hikers, but they were pretty dispersed. This was an amazing ride! I felt fantastic and really pushed it all. I guess I was getting tired at the end, as I did a crazy OTB move on a climb! I hit a little stair step up and was going too slow, standing, and didn't lift the bars. WHACK! On my back on a nice pile of rocks. NBD at the moment, but it hurts a few days later!

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Final day three ride was on Friday. Still a lot of crowds, and I was just feeling kinda' lazy, maybe a little bored. I cut it a bit short and skipped some miles at the end.

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I rounded out my vacation with another tour of Simi with All Pro. Tapo, Zoltan, Marr Ranch, Chivo to name a few of the segments. Good times with a great group of people.

I ended up with 257.1 miles and 31,402 feet for the week. Not my best but not too shabby either.

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second ride this week, dang I need to get our more!

With @Faust29 pointing me in the right direction a couple weeks ago, I found and rode machete in Ladera today.
Rode machete, waterworks x2, and up to a kiosk overlook as the high point, then back.
Its getting where can do mostly single track runs around Ladera Ranch. fun times, apx 15.5 and 1350'.

Also found couple more trails in that area I'll be checking out soon.
 
second ride this week, dang I need to get our more!

With @Faust29 pointing me in the right direction a couple weeks ago, I found and rode machete in Ladera today.
Rode machete, waterworks x2, and up to a kiosk overlook as the high point, then back.
Its getting where can do mostly single track runs around Ladera Ranch. fun times, apx 15.5 and 1350'.

Also found couple more trails in that area I'll be checking out soon.

I can see endless loops of escalator, waterworks, escalator, machete, escalator, spitfire... :thumbsup:
 
Was able to get out for a couple hours near dusk. Rode the local park, 12 miles/1600ft. Kinda' busy so I took the around the outside route, which is actually pretty fun. I'm still very slow and cautious in descending, and even corners on the flat. No railing them, my brain won't let me!!! Kinda' weird riding that way, but it's 100% fantastic to be out!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1985277357

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Was able to get out for a couple hours near dusk. Rode the local park, 12 miles/1600ft. Kinda' busy so I took the around the outside route, which is actually pretty fun. I'm still very slow and cautious in descending, and even corners on the flat. No railing them, my brain won't let me!!! Kinda' weird riding that way, but it's 100% fantastic to be out!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1985277357

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Riding > not riding. ;)
 
Today was ladies choice, and @horsebikerider chose that we would go to Chino Hills.

Started over off Vesuvius Rd. Got some advice about bar width and brake lever location from a homeless man as we climbed up the Carbon Canyon Dam. o_O

Casual pace up Telegraph to Four Corners. Lots more people out than I would have thought considering our 2:45 start.

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Up Bovinian Delight to South Ridge. Had to make a quick trail side adjustment to someone's shifter......
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We saw some cool peeps......
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Fun run down South Ridge.....We both PR'd Diemer back down to Telegraph....
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16 / 1500' :Barefoot:
 
I got up late on purpose this morning, because my target was Santiago Peak and with the overcast I expected it to be nice and crisp. I parked at the tree farm and headed up Silverado at 0919. Perfect temps all the way up - I was on the Sutra and working my a$$ off. :gag: That 36t chainring just hurts on that climb. EDIT: Ran into Steve (@Stkx66) and his daughter while grinding up Silverado - good to see you!! You should have parked and ridden up with me. o_O

Pavement went by quickly (in my head, not in reality), and onto the dirt. It appears someone took out some safety railing. Looking at Motorway, where I was not going. :whistling:
View attachment 46638

Grind up to the peak was just that: A grind. I will say that the flats worked awesomely, even with my boneheaded slip and strike to the bottom of my Achilles tendon. :bang: I said many bad words when that happened. :oops: Other than that, it was just plain cold from 4 Corners up to the Peak, and back down past 4 Corners. This bike does not go fast on uphills, and it certainly doesn't go fast on downhills with no suspension (until I hit smooth pavement, anyway). But man it's a fun bike!!!:cool: It is not a PR bike. :rolleyes:

These weren't working today...
View attachment 46639

At least I know where I am. :)
View attachment 46640

Fun day. More than 2 pics, but still not worthy of its own RR. There are plenty of Santiago Peak reports already up. :Roflmao
View attachment 46644
There may be other Santiago Peak Reports and Pics, but the last time I rode to the top that last couple miles was a chunky doozy. Major props on that bike! :thumbsup:
 
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