SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
Kids by today's standards but back then a boy was well into man duties.
I Rode My Bike Today...
- Thread starter herzalot
- Start date
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
Not Black Star... Some of the surrounding areas did...
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
I saw that this morning was supposed to be less miserable than the last couple mornings, so I promised myself a ride if the temp was under 80... 77 degrees at 6:30, so I headed up Lower Sam to the ruins and then down Sunset and El Prieto... I only saw 6 hikers coming down Lower Sam, and noone else headed up...
The air was heavy...
16.7/2800 with some pavement extra credit... Rolled into the garage just as it hit 90.
Stay on the trail...
Wonder if my plastic wheels will hold up this well...
The air was heavy...
16.7/2800 with some pavement extra credit... Rolled into the garage just as it hit 90.
Stay on the trail...
Wonder if my plastic wheels will hold up this well...
da big hills
iMTB Rockstah
it's 3:30 and 93 degrees. So I picked a couple peaches. I want to make a peach margarita. Is it ok to use the blender during the Flex Your Power Alert?
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
Having seen the alternative, I'll take the alert. In Florida, the land of the free, you just go dark when they decide it's time... Zero warning. It was ok, though... I never saw any temps over 135 in the house.
Maybe higher, though... The metal spring in the thermostat broke off when it wrapped around itself.
Runs with Scissors
iMTB Hooligan
Flex Alert - conserve power between 4 and 9 pm.....
But that's when my A/C runs nonstop, set at 78, and the indoor temp won't get below 80 until about 10 pm. They can perform unnatural acts on me before I shut off my air conditioner. Maybe plan ahead????
But that's when my A/C runs nonstop, set at 78, and the indoor temp won't get below 80 until about 10 pm. They can perform unnatural acts on me before I shut off my air conditioner. Maybe plan ahead????
UPSed
iMTB Hooligan
Freeway sign:
EXTREME HEAT
SAVE POWER 4-9 PM
STAY COOL
Which is it? Save power or stay cool?
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
We apparently live in the same house!
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
But Florida is the Land of the Free!Having seen the alternative, I'll take the alert. In Florida, the land of the free, you just go dark when they decide it's time... Zero warning. It was ok, though... I never saw any temps over 135 in the house.
da big hills
iMTB Rockstah
and has homes that are affordable. Freedom and low cost of living
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
Was watching the temps go up and up in Angelus Oaks, and imagined climbing up MCR in the heat. Noped out of that plan and re-directed to Xplo as Running Springs was supposed to be cooler. Sort of... it was 82F when Firstborn and I grabbed the last spot in the second lot and started up the road. That was at 9:30. Looooong and slow climb up, stopping about six or eight times at least. Neither of us have legs. He had a great ride down, but I was a bit of a mess from the climb. Xplo is 100% the sort of trail you just have to commit to and roll on. Well, I didn't so I didn't. Stop-start at a lot of the features, tons of brake checks, pushing, etc. Still nice to be out, but the climb definitely stole my mojo.
2/8.5/13
2/8.5/13
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
I met @Obsidian and @redwoods in the Pineknot parking lot this morning a lil before 7am. We chatted briefly, geared up, and set off. The climb up 2N10 was painful, as usual. The elevation up there hurts. The plan was to jump onto Plantation trail and take that to Skyline and then go East to Grandview, and then drop down Pineknot. When we reached Skyline, me and my big mouth suggested that we maybe make it a double loop ride and the guys agreed so we turned West and did that portion of Syline. When we popped out on 2N10, we crossed the FR and climbed Plantation again. At Skyline, we turned East, as originally planned. That section of the trail between Clark's Grade and Grandview Point is my fav. Loved every moment of it today. We took a breather at Grandview and then set off on Pineknot. When we reached the intersection with 2N17, the guys suggested a drop down Cabin Trail. I was set on the flow of Pineknot so I stuck with that and they hit Cabin. When it was all said and done, we met in the parking lot where we had started. Wonderful ride with two great guys! I think I finished with 15.25 miles and 1910' gain.
herzalot
iMTB Hooligan
I usually do that same double loop. Up 2N10 until I can catch the newer section of Skyline below Plantation. Then up Plantation. Turn West from Clark's Grade. The "Forest Dream" section between 2N10 crossings is really fun. Then back up Plantation and east as far as one wants to go, then back to Pineknot and down.
Sounds like a good ride for today!
PS: What the hell was Pat @redwoods riding?
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Obsidian
iMTB Rockstah
We did basically the same ride as the last time I rode there with you, except we did not keep going past Grandview, and then Pat and I did Cabin 89 instead of Pineknot. Pat was on some kind of bike that was difficult for a 165 travel bike to keep up with on the climbs. I am blaming the bike.
Obsidian
iMTB Rockstah
Like @SnakeCharmer posted above, I met up with him and @redwoods at the Pineknot trailhead in Big Bear this morning, and we were rolling by 7 AM. It was a toasty 60 degrees at the start. When I left OC this morning it was 77 in the dark and I had the A/C on by the time I hit Riverside.
The altitude in Big Bear hit me as soon as I started climbing ... I am just not used to that, but it got better as the ride went on. I started appreciating inhaling nice, clean mountain air instead of the thick, humid muck I have been riding in lately.
There was a nice breeze for almost the entire ride and bugs were not a factor. My favorite bits were Forest Dream and Cabin 89. Unfortunately, there was a downed tree that slowed us on Forest Dream, and later a group of eBikers coming up. Still, a really fun and fast blast down. I could do that trail all day. Cabin 89 has been rerouted since the last time I rode it, and for the better. It is really fun, but difficult to follow in some spots, especially with me navigating.
Really fun ride and I had a blast riding with and talking to the guys.
When I left OC this morning it was 77 in the dark and I had the A/C on by the time I hit Riverside. The altitude in Big Bear hit me as soon as I started climbing ... I am just not used to that, but it got better as the ride went on. I started appreciating inhaling nice, clean mountain air instead of the thick, humid muck I have been riding in lately.
There was a nice breeze for almost the entire ride and bugs were not a factor. My favorite bits were Forest Dream and Cabin 89. Unfortunately, there was a downed tree that slowed us on Forest Dream, and later a group of eBikers coming up. Still, a really fun and fast blast down. I could do that trail all day. Cabin 89 has been rerouted since the last time I rode it, and for the better. It is really fun, but difficult to follow in some spots, especially with me navigating.
Really fun ride and I had a blast riding with and talking to the guys.
Obsidian
iMTB Rockstah
On the way back home from my morning ride, I stopped at the famous Rocky's Roadhouse for lunch. I realized I was not really that tired ... and Exploration Trail is practically right there.
I decided that if I could find parking at the bottom, I would do an Explo loop, but if there was nothing open I was just going to go home. No way I was going to end that ride with a long climb.
As luck would have it, there was plenty of parking, so off I went. The climb up the road was rough. My car said 87 degrees at the start, Strava says 81 degrees ... it felt like 87. Unfortunately, the breeze I enjoyed on Big Bear was not present on the climb up, and bugs swarmed me all the way. I stopped plenty of times in shady spots to rest ... I am 52 after all and no spring chicken.
I drank all the water I had left on the climb, knowing they had fountains at the top. Unfortunately, they were not running.
I rested for a good 15-20 minutes before venturing to the trailhead. I took it easy on the way down, except when I just could not help myself. 
Only a few hikers and a couple of bikers coming up, so it was a pretty fun trip down. I actually used most of my suspension on Explo, unlike on Skyline. Really fun and glad I did it while I was there.
I decided that if I could find parking at the bottom, I would do an Explo loop, but if there was nothing open I was just going to go home. No way I was going to end that ride with a long climb.
As luck would have it, there was plenty of parking, so off I went. The climb up the road was rough. My car said 87 degrees at the start, Strava says 81 degrees ... it felt like 87. Unfortunately, the breeze I enjoyed on Big Bear was not present on the climb up, and bugs swarmed me all the way. I stopped plenty of times in shady spots to rest ... I am 52 after all and no spring chicken.
I drank all the water I had left on the climb, knowing they had fountains at the top. Unfortunately, they were not running.
I rested for a good 15-20 minutes before venturing to the trailhead. I took it easy on the way down, except when I just could not help myself. Only a few hikers and a couple of bikers coming up, so it was a pretty fun trip down. I actually used most of my suspension on Explo, unlike on Skyline. Really fun and glad I did it while I was there.
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
On the way back home from my morning ride, I stopped at the famous Rocky's Roadhouse for lunch. I realized I was not really that tired ... and Exploration Trail is practically right there.
I decided that if I could find parking at the bottom, I would do an Explo loop, but if there was nothing open I was just going to go home. No way I was going to end that ride with a long climb.
As luck would have it, there was plenty of parking, so off I went. The climb up the road was rough. My car said 87 degrees at the start, Strava says 81 degrees ... it felt like 87. Unfortunately, the breeze I enjoyed on Big Bear was not present on the climb up, and bugs swarmed me all the way. I stopped plenty of times in shady spots to rest ... I am 52 after all and no spring chicken.
I drank all the water I had left on the climb, knowing they had fountains at the top. Unfortunately, they were not running.
View attachment 84309
Good on ya', you probably grabbed my parking spot! Such a good trail... one of my favorites!
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
Yesterday and today... Same route to beat the heat. Up Lower Sam Merrill to the ruins and then down Sunset and the Horsey Trail to finish off the weekly climbing goals. Yesterday was mellow and just under 80 at sunrise. Today it was 85 at 5:00 , so I rolled earlier with a light... The air seemed heavy, as did the legs. Pretty good pace down Sunset today, but for a few hikers... That trail is a gem.
Roughly 15/2500 each day...
You don't really notice the stump going uphill... Looking back it's pretty cool.
, so I rolled earlier with a light... The air seemed heavy, as did the legs. Pretty good pace down Sunset today, but for a few hikers... That trail is a gem. Roughly 15/2500 each day...
You don't really notice the stump going uphill... Looking back it's pretty cool.
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
Pretty darn clear today up here in the foothills.Yesterday and today... Same route to beat the heat. Up Lower Sam Merrill to the ruins and then down Sunset and the Horsey Trail to finish off the weekly climbing goals. Yesterday was mellow and just under 80 at sunrise. Today it was 85 at 5:00
Roughly 15/2500 each day...
You don't really notice the stump going uphill... Looking back it's pretty cool.
View attachment 84314
View attachment 84316
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View attachment 84317
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
redwoods
Well-Known Member
That would be my other enduro bike - it just has less travel. It's actually a joy to ride in places like Big Bear (non-park), Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy...
SnakeCharmer
iMTB Hooligan
Yep and you rode it like a champ up there. Perfect rig for that sort of riding.
That would be my other enduro bike - it just has less travel. It's actually a joy to ride in places like Big Bear (non-park), Wrightwood, Mt. Baldy...
redwoods
Well-Known Member
Rode my other enduro bike today: Manker Flats to Baldy peak.
Baldy Notch, looking north-ish into the desert. This "warm-up" wasn't as easy as I'd hoped, maybe because I was pushing it yesterday trying to keep up with @Obsidian and @SnakeCharmer.
"That look"...because I know what's coming.
Devil's Backbone. Very little riding actually happened on the way up this segment going up to the peak.
Made it. 13.3 miles, 4100' of gain, 2 hours spent over 9000' for that 'fresh out of oxygen' feeling!
Baldy Notch, looking north-ish into the desert. This "warm-up" wasn't as easy as I'd hoped, maybe because I was pushing it yesterday trying to keep up with @Obsidian and @SnakeCharmer.
"That look"...because I know what's coming.
Devil's Backbone. Very little riding actually happened on the way up this segment going up to the peak.
Made it. 13.3 miles, 4100' of gain, 2 hours spent over 9000' for that 'fresh out of oxygen' feeling!
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
I really like this photo!
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
Faust29
iMTB Hooligan
I took one where the tip of the rock points at my house, too... I was enjoying (needing...) the break.
Cyclotourist
iMTB Hooligan
Fun day in Big Bear! The original plan was for four riders, but it dwindled down to two. Pretty cool as Allan has never been up there. I think he loved it! We drove up to Skyline/Radford intersection and parked there (FYI Moonridge has major construction so there's a bit of a detour around the golf course). Temps were 72F at 9:00, which wasn't too bad! The "lot" there at Radford was crazy busy with group camping and day use people. The lower Skyline lot was stupid-busy as well. But once on Skyline, pretty much to ourselves! Ran into internet friend Jeff and talked about the the hidden water spigot out by Plantation (Still haven't found it). Rolled the trail, rested at helipad, Grandview, and Clarks. Halfway up Plantation wonderful cloudcover came in light a light switch was flipped. From that point on we had a cooling breeze and cloud cover and needed it as I was TIRED! Took the fast road from Clarks back to Grandview, then hopped back on the trail for the finish. 76F and the lot was half-filled from what it was earlier. Four hours taking our time. Legs were pretty much spaghetti, but lungs never felt bad. A bit of a headache now, don't know if it's from dehydration, elevation, or just banging around.
20/2,000/4:17
Money shot:
20/2,000/4:17
Money shot:
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mtnbikej
J-Zilla
So I hadn’t ridden since last Sunday. Like many of you, it was just too damn hot after work to get out.
I finally got out last night.
looked at the temps and the coast was showing 86…..looked promising compared to the 104 in Orange.
I pulled up to RidgePark at 4:45….I was 1 of 7 cars up there. Is this a sign? Screw not, I’m here, let’s go.
right away the temps were comfortable….but the air was thick. I was on the cheater bike and just planned to cruise. Up FenceLine and Missing Link. The breeze was blowing and I was given the impression that I’d be good to go.
took Bommer over to Old Emerald, but made a quick out and back over to TnA….no I wasn’t planning to ride it today, and no I didn’t.
turned back and down Old Emerald. Speeds are getting back to normal there. The climb up Emerald Cyn sucked. The first steep section was so loose and silty, there was no traction. From there up, the air just kept getting heavier and thicker. Before the top I looked like I just stepped out of the shower.
back over to Missing Link and FenceLine. Back at RidgePark I was just shy of 10 miles, so I headed down No Dogs for a little bit.
certainly would have been able to breath better had I had gills instead of lungs.
11 / 1500’
andni noticed they attempted to close off Marie Calendar’s again….
I finally got out last night.
looked at the temps and the coast was showing 86…..looked promising compared to the 104 in Orange.
I pulled up to RidgePark at 4:45….I was 1 of 7 cars up there. Is this a sign? Screw not, I’m here, let’s go.
right away the temps were comfortable….but the air was thick. I was on the cheater bike and just planned to cruise. Up FenceLine and Missing Link. The breeze was blowing and I was given the impression that I’d be good to go.
took Bommer over to Old Emerald, but made a quick out and back over to TnA….no I wasn’t planning to ride it today, and no I didn’t.
turned back and down Old Emerald. Speeds are getting back to normal there. The climb up Emerald Cyn sucked. The first steep section was so loose and silty, there was no traction. From there up, the air just kept getting heavier and thicker. Before the top I looked like I just stepped out of the shower.
back over to Missing Link and FenceLine. Back at RidgePark I was just shy of 10 miles, so I headed down No Dogs for a little bit.
certainly would have been able to breath better had I had gills instead of lungs.
11 / 1500’
andni noticed they attempted to close off Marie Calendar’s again….