Skyline Big Bear - Casual Friday

herzalot

herzalot

iMTB Hooligan
As I recover from my shoulder and rib injuries, I was looking for something enjoyable to push my fitness without being too rough on my shoulder and something to get me into the actual mountains. So I threw it out there that I would head to Skyline in Big Bear today. Luckily, I was joined by a select and delightful band of Hooligans - @Danimal @bvader and @rossage. Unfortunately the Rossage and Gravy ride will have to wait.

Everything pretty much went according to plan. All Hooligans arrived at Aspen Glen prior to the meeting time. There were plenty of places to park. Adventure passes were not required.

So after exchanging pleasantries and preparing ourselves, off we went up 2N10. We picked up Skyline for a nice uphill section and then turned left up Plantation to Clark's Grade. My plan was to turn right and do the western end of Skyline, which includes a really fun DH section, then climb back up Plantation and turn left (east) towards Snow Summit. Yup - we did that. Such incredible weather and the smell of the trees was heavenly.

We made it to the Grandview Point/Pineknot/7-Oaks intersection, enjoying some of the techiest sections of Skyline along the way. @bvader and @rossage cleaned most everything. I cleaned almost nothing.

At Grandview I urged the crew to continue to the Snow Summit exit because I knew that section was really fun westbound. I was getting pretty tired, as were two of the others, but we made it just fine - most of us running low on water - it's dry up there! Out and back as designed, then "down" Pineknot to the cars. There may have been some hootin' and hollerin' along the way - and a squashed chipmunk. There may have been a malfunctioning seatpost, and one of our merry band may have nearly gone over the side of Pineknot. I'll let the others chime in.

I didn't take many photos, 'cause the rest of the crew did so.

Here's Bvader and some awesome trees:

BVader at BB.JPG


And here's @Danimal and some awesome eats at Rocky's:

Dan at Rocky's.JPG


I had us at 21.7 miles and 2600'. Everyone else said 2800'. I'll go with that. It felt like 4000.

Thanks gents for a wonderful day - and for the two of you who said you might make it but ultimately couldn't - you missed a great day, and we missed you.

Bikes are fun. Bikes 'n pines with friends even funerer! :thumbsup: :cool: :)
 
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Good Ride
Good Fun
Good Location
Good Weather
Good Crew
Fun Route
I don't need anything else, it was what I really needed.

Thanks for organizing @herzalot .

@rossage @Danimal and me just an OK view ...

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Ride leaders
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IMG_20200710_125248.jpg

Huh blood on my chain stay took a rock off the shin last 10 mins..not sure I ever blooded the bike before ... It's usually all over me.
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Edit : Oh shoot I forgot.... to that poor Manzanita Bush I'm sorry I ruined your day I'm sure you'll heal up just fine
 
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Oh yeah, that was a great day at altitude with a great group of riders.
Skyline is always fun. Now I want to go back out there.
My Gravity Dropper got stuck down about mile 17 and that made the last few climbs interesting, but not slow. I had to stand and crank!
Wanted to eat at Rocky's, but traffic was clear and my wife said she would have a steak dinner waiting as soon as I got home. She delivered.

The light near the bottom of the 330 sucks. I got stuck for about 3 minutes and I saw the light turn green. 4 cars before I could get through, I got caught at the red. It took 13 minutes! to change to green.
 
So @rossage - you're not going to fess up about the chipmunk? We both killed one today. Well, not the same chipmunk. Me with my car and you with your bike. Sad. I stopped on my way home and put up a cross at the side of the road where I greased mine. Maybe the hikers resuscitated your victim. Theodore and Simon are down. Watch out Alvin. :(

12 minutes at the light on 330 for me. 104° there. 78° when I got to Laguna.
 
herzalot said:
So @rossage - you're not going to fess up about the chipmunk? We both killed one today. Well, not the same chipmunk. Me with my car and you with your bike. Sad. I stopped on my way home and put up a cross at the side of the road where I greased mine. Maybe the hikers resuscitated your victim. Theodore and Simon are down. Watch out Alvin. :(

12 minutes at the light on 330 for me. 104° there. 78° when I got to Laguna.
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I thought he got away! I don't have time to look down at my wheel so I wished him luck and kept on rolling. I don't brake for rodents, except maybe a capybara!
 
Great ride and great company. Herz is right, felt like more elevation than 2800 probably because of the higher altitude. And i'm beat, these rides challenge me in a good way.

For me, I took out a butterfly when it got stuck in my helmet straps while doing a downhill run. But didn't know about the chipmunks...

So:
2 bugs
1 butterfly
2 chipmunks
1 bush

Maybe we are more dangerous than we look. o_O

Edit: Rockys is quite good!
 
tick said:
Dang it, I need to monitor more threads...I had today off and was debating swim vs skyline, swim won...

im neither swim fit nor really bike fit, so it’s probably for the best. (Ok, I’ve never been swim fit, even on race day)
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I'm not bike fit. I had to reduce to granny on several occasions while Ross pulled away.

I'm hearing a suggestion for a repeat next Friday.
 
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rossage said:
I thought he got away! I don't have time to look down at my wheel so I wished him luck and kept on rolling. I don't brake for rodents, except maybe a capybara!
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Unfortunately, the critter was alive but wriggling desperately when I passed him. He may have been critical. I didn't put him out of his misery, but maybe the hikers did. There was a group approaching that spot right after I passed Dying Simon. I yelled out "you hit a f--ing chipmunk" and I am sure they heard (and probably thought "damn mt. bikers killing wildlife!")
 
rossage said:
The light near the bottom of the 330 sucks. I got stuck for about 3 minutes and I saw the light turn green. 4 cars before I could get through, I got caught at the red. It took 13 minutes! to change to green.
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Is there road maintenance going on?

herzalot said:
I'm not riding fit. I had to reduce to granny on several occasions while Ross pulled away.

I'm hearing a suggestion for a repeat next Friday.
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Gonna be with the wife & kids in the western Sierra next weekend. :thumbsup:
 
herzalot said:
Unfortunately, the critter was alive but wriggling desperately when I passed him. He may have been critical. I didn't put him out of his misery, but maybe the hikers did. There was a group approaching that spot right after I passed Dying Simon. I yelled out "you hit a f--ing chipmunk" and I am sure they heard (and probably thought "damn mt. bikers killing wildlife!")
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If I'd known he was suffering, I would've went back and finished the job.
Now there's more fodder for that sick dude in the Bay area to rant about

The 330 is down to one lane on a bridge due to a widening project
 
herzalot said:
Unfortunately, the critter was alive but wriggling desperately when I passed him. He may have been critical. I didn't put him out of his misery, but maybe the hikers did. There was a group approaching that spot right after I passed Dying Simon. I yelled out "you hit a f--ing chipmunk" and I am sure they heard (and probably thought "damn mt. bikers killing wildlife!")
Click to expand...
A squirrel would have been ok, but those chipmunks are so darn cute:(
 
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