Chasing 10k'.......Big Ride Saturday

mtnbikej

mtnbikej

J-Zilla
Sorry....it would only allow me 5 pics per post.




I had all the intentions of getting up before the sun and heading out to get a long ride in. Really wanted to avoid the warm temps. However when the alarm went off, I realized I had only got about 3.5 hours of sleep, and I know from previous experience that this was not gonna be a good thing.

So I slept in and took off right at sunrise. Bit different than usual...biggest difference is the number of people out once the sun comes up.

Rolled out and enjoyed the cool temps. At one point, I almost thought I should turn back and grab my arm warmers. Nah....it's supposed to warm to the mid/high 80's later...and I don't wanna have to carry them all day.

Cruised through the lower road in Oaks and out so Santiago Canyon. Lots of road riders out. Just took it easy. Dropping down Dump Hill to Irvine Lake as really brisk.

Same thing when i got to Blackstar...so many cars, and a couple of big groups of riders getting ready to head out. Rolled on and passed lots of hikers. Caught and passed some other groups of riders on the way up. Still just cruising....wasn't feeling great. Made it up to Beeks' and it was warming up already. Started to 2nd guess heading out to Eagle Rd.
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Home Sweet Home.....Not!!!!


Kept on going, up to the Doplar Ball and looked up to see what was ahead of me.....Main Divide gains 1000' in about 2.5 miles
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Hardest Part of Main Divide....the climb up to Hagador Peak.

Temps were still warming up, and I was a bit worried that it may get really toasty out there.
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Yeah!!!!! Made it to Hagador....should be easier from here on......

Dropped down to Pleasants Peak....thought about doing extra credit and bagging the peak...maybe next time.
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Make the right through the gate to head up Pleasants Peak, or stay straight and continue on Main Divide

First time I had been past Pleasants Peak since VQ last year. Main Divide was in better shape than I expected. Lots of new barriers have been put up at all the short cuts/up and overs/ cut acrosses. Kinda sucks...cause there is one that I usually used. Oh, well.

Continued on.....


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Yes, this section is as steep as it looks, and seems like it just goes on and on.....

Continued......
 
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About 6.5 miles or so across Main Divide, you finally get to Eagle Rd. Was curious as to whether or not there was a Forest Closure sign up there. Seems as thought the FS is preparing to put gates up....there was some brushing being done just before Eagle Rd. Once I stopped, you could hear in the distance the sound of chainsaws going. Someone was doing some work out there.

To answer the question, yes there is a sign posted....
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Closure Sign at the intersection of Main Divide and Eagle Rd

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Straight continues along Main Divide towards Motorway....Left drops down Eagle Rd.

Before dropping down, could see a motorcycle coming across Main Divide in the closure area.....dumbass.
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This would be only the second time I have descended Eagle Rd. Remembered it was a ways down and mostly an abandoned fire road that has grown back to singletrack....similar to STT or the upper sections of Harding.
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One of the wider sections of trail.

Heading down, it was definitely getting warmer. I also knew that there was a bypass to look for since the actual road dead ends into private property. Missed it and pedal back up a little bit to get to it. Got on the bypass and took the wrong line....ended up at the top of a very steep, very loose chute. Since I was solo, and the Ardent Race on the SS is pretty worn out, I chose to walk it.

A few miles of road riding gets me back to the trailhead at Skyline Dr. Quick stop for a water refill...it was 10:30 and it was pretty toasty. Not the way I wanted to climb Skyline. Started pedaling up, and to my surprise, it was kinda quiet....odd...Skyline in like Whiting/Aliso, there is always a million people out there. Maybe they were smart and avoided the heat. A little ways up the breeze began to blow....sweet relief. Actually felt pretty good heading up. About 45 mins later I reached the top. Decision time....bail and head down Blackstar, or continue right and head out to Sierra Peak as planned.....what do you think???



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1/2 mile straight back to Beeks'....or right and climb out to Sierra Peak.

Continued, again......
 
So I chose to stay on the intended route....made the right turn and started the undulating road out to Sierra Peak. Nice and breezy out there...temps were actually pretty cool. Still haven't seen anyone else. Made it up to the Heli-pad as extra credit. Out there all by myself......until, the second I whip it out to take a leak...another rider comes rolling up....on cue.

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Almost there....1 last climb to Sierra Peak.

Got out to Sierra Peak, sent my wife a text to let here know I was running behind and where I was, then I was off and down Coal Cyn. I had done this 2 weeks ago, but it was at night. The ruts were a bit different in the sunlight....only had 1 "Oh Sh!t" moment. Otherwise, made it down without incident.

A bit of pavement on SART, then the bike path to Weir Cyn. Made my normal stop at Circle K for a snack....didn't need it, but I like to treat myself on these long rides. Refilled the bottles and began the climb back to Weir Cyn. Thunder Mtn Trail needs some TLC...but at least there was a breeze and shade. Crested over the top and dropped into Weir Cyn. Looking at the elevation stats, I knew I was gonna have to do some more extra credit to meet the goal....so i did an extra lap around Weir Cyn before going back up into Oaks. Started climbing up Deer Trail...once again, the park was dead...no traffic. Didn't stop at the top, just rolled through and down Barham Ridge. Still needed some extra credit, so dropped down the technical side of Goat, then clmbed back up. Down Chutes....no traffic.

Quick stop in Irvine Park for water, then a quick loop around Horseshoe Loop. Down Santiago Creek Trail down the Dam Hill and headed home. Of course back on Santiago Creek Bike Path was a headwind....typical. Made it home....much later than planned....oooops.

Otherwise a good day on the bike.

Ended up with 79 miles / 10625' accent

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So, now you are doing STRAVA animals of Goldfish drawn by Dr. Seuss? This is what you have time for????

Nice job "J"!

You were only able to post 5 pics per post? Hmmm... Let me check on this. Thanks for taking the time!

Update: "J", AndyB must of dropped it to 5 per post. I bumped back up to 15...
 
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Mikie said:
So, now you are doing STRAVA animals of Goldfish drawn by Dr. Seuss? This is what you have time for????

Nice job "J"!

You were only able to post 5 pics per post? Hmmm... Let me check on this. Thanks for taking the time!

Update: "J", AndyB must of dropped it to 5 per post. I bumped back up to 15...
Click to expand...

Actually was trying to draw out the state of Texas......oooops.

I like that it posts the bigger pics, but was surprised when it told me only 5 pics.

Thx.
 
I recently did B*, Skyline, Coal Oaks as a loop and other than the 102 heat going out the canyon was a great ride. How much harder was it adding the grind over to Eagle? I have been eyeing this loop for a while but the heat and not wanting to head to Eagle solo has stopped me.
 
singlespeedrider said:
I recently did B*, Skyline, Coal Oaks as a loop and other than the 102 heat going out the canyon was a great ride. How much harder was it adding the grind over to Eagle? I have been eyeing this loop for a while but the heat and not wanting to head to Eagle solo has stopped me.
Click to expand...

The grind out to Eagle....is a grind. However it is not that bad. Typically bad til you get to Hadagor Peak, then it gets easier. The road is in pretty good shape with all the gates being closed.

It adds about 6 miles and 2000' to get to Eagle from Beeks'.

I find it easier since it is on the 1st half of the ride....makes the climb up Skyline and out to Sierra Peak tougher.
 
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